Reviews

Robicheaux by James Lee Burke

mikeb71's review against another edition

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5.0

This series just keeps getting better and better. Can't wait for the next. Thanks, James Lee Burke.

emckeon1002's review against another edition

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5.0

For me, the annual James Lee Burke novel is an event. Burke writes beautifully about his tormented heroes. Here, again, it's Dave Robicheaux who seems as ageless as the author himself. Burke's Louisiana is a string of mismatched Mardi Gras beads where the misplaced honor of the Confederacy mixes with the stain of racial hate, criminals and lawmen with pathological tendencies, twisted anti-heroes who place honor above law, and are not far from being misguided vigilantes. There are no high-tech criminal investigations here, just shoe leather and tough talk. Robicheaux himself is an admirable, proud and vain lawman, whose law is his own. Burke brings depth to Robicheaux's alcoholism, the joys and struggles of Cajun and Creole culture, the struggle of young novelists, and the lure of Hollywood and the mafia. What will we do when Burke and Robicheaux are gone?

bianca89279's review against another edition

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3.0

I've only heard of James Lee Burke this year. I read the first novel in this long series earlier in the year. This is the latest instalment.

There were a lot of things to like about this novel: the settings and the descriptions were wonderful, honestly, I can't remember the last time I read a thriller/mystery novel that had so many detailed descriptions. As much as I admired Lee Burke's ability to come up with so many descriptions of settings, smells, atmospheric conditions because it was narrated by Robicheaux, a policeman, I thought it was a bit over-the-top. The same thing applies to the many life observations and philosophies that Robicheaux was coming up with. I mean the guy is a philosopher. So yeah, I am a bit conflicted, as the things I appreciated the most about this novel, were also the things that were over-done. I could have done with fewer expositions or shorter ones.

As far as the police work and mysteries were concerned, there were quite a few different threads going on. A simpler, less convoluted plot would have worked better for me. It would have allowed for some pruning because, at 464 pages, this was a tad too long.

sallyallyally's review against another edition

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4.0

Usual reliable read from J L Burke. Robicheaux is quite long in the tooth and continues to have "visions" of confederate soldiers.
Once again cleaning up scumbags who've strayed onto his sight line. Molly is no longer- cleaned up in a car accident and this is a big part of the plot.
Cletus helps him in his well meaning bumbling fashion.
Poetic and insightful writing.

sjj169's review against another edition

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2.0



I've been recommended books from this series since I joined Goodreads and I finally got my hands on one of them.

It took me around two weeks to read it. Even I'm not that slow at reading. I just could not find the will power to want to pick it up. I did finish the sucker though so I'm giving it a big old two star. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read but it was not my favorite so we will go with the average...


You have your main character who has recently lost his wife. Battles the alcohol. Has a bestie who might go off the deep end on some bad guys at any point in the story. Then throw in some mob guys, a crooked politician and a weird serial killer.

Wait, that sounds like I'd sell a kidney for a book like that! The thing is? I just never felt into the story. I never gave any craps to what the outcome was going to be or who was going to end up with bullets holes.
I do work nights and the last few weeks have me so sleep deprived that I have a new obsession.

nah...I'm not excusing it. I can not even work up a good review for this one. I'm just glad I finally finished the sucker.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

_anis's review against another edition

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Sometimes too violent for my taste.

arthur_pendrgn's review against another edition

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2.5

2.5 stars Well, I'm still not sure what was actually going on, but I assume that will be cleared up in the next book. Alafair's choice to work on the movie seemed out of character given what her father was telling her.

wnicodemo's review against another edition

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5.0

This series might not be for everyone, but it's one of my favorites. It can be a bit dark and violent, but it's also poetically beautiful at times. I've listened to every single book in this series as well as other Burke titles and enjoyed them all. Will Patton as a narrator is also amazing!

baxtervallens's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

kolyejar's review against another edition

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4.0

James Lee Burke is always wonderful! This story rambles a bit, but not always in bad ways.