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greybeard49's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoy this author. However found this book a little too cliche ridden. To many clever threats, plot rambles with darkest villains suddenly hitting the Damascus Road and acting benevolently and in saint like fashion. The female deputy a little overwritten and stretching credibility.
Disappointing from one of my favourite noir authors.
Disappointing from one of my favourite noir authors.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't enjoy this instalment as much as the other in the series but will probably continue. Didn't get hooked on the story and the characters wasn't that interesting but it's not a bad book, just wasn't my jam
tobyyy's review against another edition
5.0
For once the quotes on the cover got it right — “a riveting novel with broad sociological and biblical themes that evoke past American greats, such as Steinbeck and Cain” says the Lincoln Star Journal. I concur. This novel was what you’d get if you mixed Steinbeck, Harper Lee, and Greg Iles. Pretty high praise, but I was also quite surprised at the quality of the writing and my enjoyment of the story. This was my first book by James Lee Burke and it won’t be my last. It was a dense read — and a brutal one at times — but I loved how all of the characters were multidimensional, even the so-called “bad” characters like Krill and Jack Collins. That isn’t how “bad” characters are typically written and I so appreciated the change!
solshines68's review against another edition
4.0
I've just started listening to this and, for all things holy, Will Patton could be reading a book of license plates and I think I'd give the book five stars. His voice is incredible and is perfect for the mesmerizing prose of Burke. It makes me want to catch every red light in town while I'm listening in my truckette.
nikchick's review against another edition
4.0
Quite a cast of characters in this one, but what pushes this audiobook over the top is the stellar narration by Will Patton.
claudetteb's review against another edition
2.0
I quite enjoyed the Rain Gods and was excited to read this book. Although I love heroes, this group of 4 people are a little over the top. Hack, his 2 deputies, and their dispatcher face Mexican gangsters, American criminals, RUSSIAN criminals (for heaven's sakes!!) and the U. S. Government (good grief) and come out on top. Actually, there isn't all that much action by the Sheriff and his group; it seems mostly the different factions killing each other off then whining to the Sheriff's department about it.
All in all, I found this story convoluted, unbelievable, and mostly boring. While I was able to finish it, I must admit that about a third into the book I started skimming the parts where everyone is suffering from angst.
On the plus side, the dialogue is very good, and the writing is excellent, just that there is too much of it! This book would have been much better if it were 100 pages shorter.
All in all, I found this story convoluted, unbelievable, and mostly boring. While I was able to finish it, I must admit that about a third into the book I started skimming the parts where everyone is suffering from angst.
On the plus side, the dialogue is very good, and the writing is excellent, just that there is too much of it! This book would have been much better if it were 100 pages shorter.
mart15inez's review against another edition
4.0
The writing was tremendous and I really enjoyed the characters. This is what James Lee Burke is really good at - capturing the scenery and mood of a place. It is a violent book however and a couple of the murders are really cruel and gory.
lisadolak's review against another edition
4.0
I won an advanced copy of this book.
I will not go into a summary as I feel that has already been done on many other reviews. I will say that I truly enjoyed this book. It was the first time I read James Lee Burke but not the last; I purchased another of his books just yesterday.
The author told a very well-paced story. I enjoyed how he not only switched point of view, but also was able to alter the voice to project each of the different characters. There were a lot of characters in this novel, most of who were 'bad guys', but not too many to keep up with. Also, he developed each of the characters so well. He even made me sympathetic to one of the villains and the 'good guys' weren't always so good.
There were many passages in the book that I would stop to reread. This author describes the landscape of Texas so well it's almost poetic.
This books was not one to devour in one night. Take your time. Enjoy the dialogue, prose, and conflicts this book provides. It will leave you thinking about quite a few aspects of humanity.
I will not go into a summary as I feel that has already been done on many other reviews. I will say that I truly enjoyed this book. It was the first time I read James Lee Burke but not the last; I purchased another of his books just yesterday.
The author told a very well-paced story. I enjoyed how he not only switched point of view, but also was able to alter the voice to project each of the different characters. There were a lot of characters in this novel, most of who were 'bad guys', but not too many to keep up with. Also, he developed each of the characters so well. He even made me sympathetic to one of the villains and the 'good guys' weren't always so good.
There were many passages in the book that I would stop to reread. This author describes the landscape of Texas so well it's almost poetic.
This books was not one to devour in one night. Take your time. Enjoy the dialogue, prose, and conflicts this book provides. It will leave you thinking about quite a few aspects of humanity.
greggmpls's review against another edition
4.0
I won this in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. Thanks!
James Lee Burke has created an outstanding cast of characters in this story that takes place in the wastelands and small towns of the Texas-Mexico border area. Burke writes with an almost poetic narrative of the beauty and danger of the people and compares them quite well with the equally challenging and sometimes awe-inspiring landscape. The value of your life depends on who or what you run into on any given day.
Fans of "No Country for Old Men" should enjoy this book as well.
James Lee Burke has created an outstanding cast of characters in this story that takes place in the wastelands and small towns of the Texas-Mexico border area. Burke writes with an almost poetic narrative of the beauty and danger of the people and compares them quite well with the equally challenging and sometimes awe-inspiring landscape. The value of your life depends on who or what you run into on any given day.
Fans of "No Country for Old Men" should enjoy this book as well.
jcbmathcat's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a selection for our mystery book club.
I felt as if this qualifies as a novel more than as a mystery, even when looking at "mystery" as "solving a puzzle" and not necessarily as "solving a murder."
Once you learn the meaning behind Feast Day of Fools, the title becomes a perfect fit for the storyline.
I have not read a Hackberry Holland book before and enjoyed Burke's story and character development. At times, his lush language got in the way and distracted me, but I know many people rave about his use of language and allegory. I like a good story. Burke tells a good story. I could use less descriptors at times, but this is minor.
It helped to have a list of characters. They were plentiful and at times, the plot seemed like a Keystone Kops story, as everyone seemed to be hunting down everyone else.
There was violence and some of it was graphic. Again, it fit with the title of the book.
When I was nearing the end, I realized I could not go to bed until I finished the book. The body count started to ratchet up, and it seemed as if there might not be anyone left standing.
It might have been helpful to read the first two books in the series, especially because of one particular character from Rain Gods. To say more might constitute a spoiler.
Most people know James Lee Burke for his Dave Robicheaux series, but Hackberry Holland is definitely a memorable character and his stories deserve to be read.
I felt as if this qualifies as a novel more than as a mystery, even when looking at "mystery" as "solving a puzzle" and not necessarily as "solving a murder."
Once you learn the meaning behind Feast Day of Fools, the title becomes a perfect fit for the storyline.
I have not read a Hackberry Holland book before and enjoyed Burke's story and character development. At times, his lush language got in the way and distracted me, but I know many people rave about his use of language and allegory. I like a good story. Burke tells a good story. I could use less descriptors at times, but this is minor.
It helped to have a list of characters. They were plentiful and at times, the plot seemed like a Keystone Kops story, as everyone seemed to be hunting down everyone else.
There was violence and some of it was graphic. Again, it fit with the title of the book.
When I was nearing the end, I realized I could not go to bed until I finished the book. The body count started to ratchet up, and it seemed as if there might not be anyone left standing.
It might have been helpful to read the first two books in the series, especially because of one particular character from Rain Gods. To say more might constitute a spoiler.
Most people know James Lee Burke for his Dave Robicheaux series, but Hackberry Holland is definitely a memorable character and his stories deserve to be read.