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bethl28's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Rape, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicide attempt, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
ruswornom's review
4.0
After reading all the Dave Robicheaux novels, this may not be the best, but it is one of the most primal, and perhaps the truest to the spirit of the character so far. I love the introduction of the supernatural, no matter how subtle, that began a few novels beforehand. This is true Southern Noir.
kregerator's review
4.0
I've been reading the Robicheaux books since college. This was a good one, feels like old school Robicheaux. Not a life changing book but a good story that I couldn't put down.
stanl's review
5.0
If you've ever met James Lee Burke, you would have to believe no one could be farther from the violence in his novels. At one point, after another wife was killed, I had to part ways with Dave for a while. But I always came back. I find, sometimes, myself asking, after reading a new Burke novel, can he get any better? In the course of reading Robicheaux, I asked that question again and again. Numerous times in conversation, I have heard people use JBL's descriptive power of the flora of Louisiana as the indicator of his writing talents. In this novel, I think he has transferred that talent to present aspects of human interiority, the likes of which making money, making America great again, engaging in religious sentimentality, and, otherwise, not acknowledging the power of corruption and evil in our world, present courses of action which divert lives from acting justly and loving mercy. Mr. Burke says "Hold up, pardner. Consider this."
In earlier work, the introduction of Dave's vision of the Confederate dead perplexed me. Yes, Robicheaux was a practicing Roman Catholic, but he, otherwise, seemed to operate in a closed-system, empirical world. The element of other dimensions seemed out of character to me. In Robicheaux, that element is back in full force. The eponymous title suggested to me that, perhaps, Mr. Burke was giving us a summing up, that having created a world view for Dave Robicheaux, he was, now, to give some hint of the metaphysic underlying that world view. Mr. Burke, however, intentionally or not complicates things in the end. There's no question in my mind that a character in this novel, Jimmy Nightingale, is a thinly disguised allusion to that for which Donald Trump stands. In the light of Charlottesville, Robicheaux's vision becomes complicated. Yet, does one want to argue with his parting words, " I think of each dawn as a gift, and I try to remember that the horns blowing along the road to Roncevaux save us from ourselves and the curse of mediocrity. But maybe that's just another way of saying fuck it. You've got me. I never figured out anything."
Paul Ricouer wrote, "The symbol gives rise to thought." JLB's work gives rise to thought for me. Addressing addiction, violence, corruption, and, indirectly, religious faith in an addicted, violent, and corrupt world, Robicheaux fulfills Horace's dicta and fulfills the role of a 21st century social novel. As much as I like the writing of James Ellroy, he is simply so wrong about the writing of James Lee Burke.
(And it is no drawback that this novel presents, I believe, the most full development of the Clete Purcel character to date.
In earlier work, the introduction of Dave's vision of the Confederate dead perplexed me. Yes, Robicheaux was a practicing Roman Catholic, but he, otherwise, seemed to operate in a closed-system, empirical world. The element of other dimensions seemed out of character to me. In Robicheaux, that element is back in full force. The eponymous title suggested to me that, perhaps, Mr. Burke was giving us a summing up, that having created a world view for Dave Robicheaux, he was, now, to give some hint of the metaphysic underlying that world view. Mr. Burke, however, intentionally or not complicates things in the end. There's no question in my mind that a character in this novel, Jimmy Nightingale, is a thinly disguised allusion to that for which Donald Trump stands. In the light of Charlottesville, Robicheaux's vision becomes complicated. Yet, does one want to argue with his parting words, " I think of each dawn as a gift, and I try to remember that the horns blowing along the road to Roncevaux save us from ourselves and the curse of mediocrity. But maybe that's just another way of saying fuck it. You've got me. I never figured out anything."
Paul Ricouer wrote, "The symbol gives rise to thought." JLB's work gives rise to thought for me. Addressing addiction, violence, corruption, and, indirectly, religious faith in an addicted, violent, and corrupt world, Robicheaux fulfills Horace's dicta and fulfills the role of a 21st century social novel. As much as I like the writing of James Ellroy, he is simply so wrong about the writing of James Lee Burke.
(And it is no drawback that this novel presents, I believe, the most full development of the Clete Purcel character to date.
bianca89279's review
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.
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.
vkemp's review
5.0
James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books are such a satisfying read. His ability to create the bayous of Louisiana knows no bounds. His evocation of the South and The Lost Cause is masterful. In this tale, Dave is still working for the sheriff's office; his beloved wife, Molly, has been killed in a car accident, and we see Dave slip from his sobriety back into the hellscape of alcoholism. When the man suspected of killing Molly turns up dead, it turns out Dave was in a blackout and remembers nothing. The new detective in the office is suspected of being a little too much in the pockets of the local mob guys. And, Dave's friends, Jimmy Nightingale and Levon Broussard, are having a lot of difficulties as well. Clete Purcel has his own problems to deal with; he is fostering a little boy whose father he may or may not have killed and dating the social worker who in in charge of Homer. Alafair Burke comes home to see her father and ends up writing a screenplay for a movie based on a novel written by Levon Broussard. A lot of threads to tie together, but as always, Burke manages to keep the story moving with his elegant writing. Always recommended.
judya's review
3.0
After a long personal hiatus from this series, after reading positive reviews I decided to give Burke another chance. His writing is still as eloquent as ever, and the plot was certainly more relevant. However, at times I found myself siding with the somewhat familiar-seeming villain, Smiley, which may not be the effect Burke was attempting to elicit.
eleellis's review
5.0
I have to admit - when it comes to James Lee Burke, I am biased. He is one of my favorite authors and his new novel Robicheaux was not a disappointment.
HIs writing is so visually descriptive and as colorful as a painter's palette When reading Robicheaux, you can hear the dead leaves blowing in the wind and across the ground, smell the particulates carried by rain and taste the salt blown into the air.
Burke's characters are three dimensional and complex and often times, Burke purposely leaves the full meaning of their spoken words somewhat ambiguous, forcing the reader to develop his or her own interpretation of their full meaning.
Characters from all walks of life - the mob, religion, politics, the sewer and upper society - are thrown in, often with murky motives and often not what they seem or purport to be.
How to describe the plot? In one way, it's difficult and that is part of the appeal of Robicheaux. The story starts when a dying mobster asks Dave Robicheaux to return a family heirloom, Confederate sword to a man of status in hopes of entering into a film-making venture with the man.
From here, an odd assortment of characters start to emerge and then people start dying. The villains in this novel include corrupt law enforcement officers, people of means and a deadly, enigmatic hitman named "Smiley."
As the story unfolds, the many plot lines start to merge leading the reader to a satisfying ending.
Burke brings along Robicheaux's daughter Alafair, close friend Cletus Purcel and Sheriff Helen Soileau for the ride. When needed, he also provides nuggets of backstory from previous novels so that the reader can easily remember past events.
Burke's writing is also sprinkled woven in historical facts and mysteries of the Southern past that adds additional layers to the complexity of the Robicheaux character's life. As in past novels, Robicheaux is in a constant battle with his violent ways and horrifically, destructive alcoholism.
HIs writing is so visually descriptive and as colorful as a painter's palette When reading Robicheaux, you can hear the dead leaves blowing in the wind and across the ground, smell the particulates carried by rain and taste the salt blown into the air.
Burke's characters are three dimensional and complex and often times, Burke purposely leaves the full meaning of their spoken words somewhat ambiguous, forcing the reader to develop his or her own interpretation of their full meaning.
Characters from all walks of life - the mob, religion, politics, the sewer and upper society - are thrown in, often with murky motives and often not what they seem or purport to be.
How to describe the plot? In one way, it's difficult and that is part of the appeal of Robicheaux. The story starts when a dying mobster asks Dave Robicheaux to return a family heirloom, Confederate sword to a man of status in hopes of entering into a film-making venture with the man.
From here, an odd assortment of characters start to emerge and then people start dying. The villains in this novel include corrupt law enforcement officers, people of means and a deadly, enigmatic hitman named "Smiley."
As the story unfolds, the many plot lines start to merge leading the reader to a satisfying ending.
Burke brings along Robicheaux's daughter Alafair, close friend Cletus Purcel and Sheriff Helen Soileau for the ride. When needed, he also provides nuggets of backstory from previous novels so that the reader can easily remember past events.
Burke's writing is also sprinkled woven in historical facts and mysteries of the Southern past that adds additional layers to the complexity of the Robicheaux character's life. As in past novels, Robicheaux is in a constant battle with his violent ways and horrifically, destructive alcoholism.
davebushe's review
3.0
More of the same. Wearing a little thin for me, only so many times the lead characters can be good and noble men but then not actually be...
alanfederman's review
4.0
One can never go wrong with a Dave Robicheaux book and this is no exception. It has all the elements one expects - complicated plot line, colorful characters and of course Dave and Clete and all the demons that they carry with them. There was nothing ground-breaking about this one, just a great story, dialogue and setting. May James Lee Burke write many, many more!!