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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
A deceptively complex mystery that evokes its setting like none other.
Eh. But it was Shabbat and I didn’t have much else to read.
This was the first Robicheaux novel I read, and my favorite. I've since read most of them twice. The great title of this one foreshadows the fantastic writing and story that follows. Robicheaux is one of the best protagonists in modern literature. Burke is one of the best writers.
Mystery, murders, an unsolved murder from the 1950s, set in the south, and a Confederate General's ghost. This book was really right my alley and I enjoyed every minute of it.
1.5 stars - I didn't like it.
Stereotypes and tropes galore, I could not wait to leave the southern Louisiana town full of hatred, vitriol, racisim, bigotry, sexism, and where ignorance in general just runs amuck. There was no enjoyment to be found spending literary time in a shoddy place full of weak, despicable people. Not even the paranormal ghost story element could save this one for me, which is normally a fictional favorite for me.
If it had not been a selection for a local book club, it would have been DNF'd early on, easily and without regret. I never became invested in any of the characters and found almost every character to be dislikeable. To be fair, this was the first book for me in this series, so maybe those that have read the others will have more of an attachment to the characters. I dislike reading a series out of order, but again, it was chosen for a local book club.
I will say the author developed the characters enough for me to detest spending time with them, which requires more skill than poor characterization with flat, cardboard cut-outs, for which you feel nothing. I'd be open to reading something else by him, but have no inclination to pick up anything else from this particular series.
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Favorite Quote: Maybe we have so much collective guilt as a society that we fear to punish our individual members.
First Sentence: The sky had gone black at sunset, and the storm had churned inland from the Gulf and drenched New Iberia and littered East Main with leaves and tree branches from the long canopy of oaks that covered the street from the old brick post office to the drawbridge over bayou Teche at the edge of town.
Stereotypes and tropes galore, I could not wait to leave the southern Louisiana town full of hatred, vitriol, racisim, bigotry, sexism, and where ignorance in general just runs amuck. There was no enjoyment to be found spending literary time in a shoddy place full of weak, despicable people. Not even the paranormal ghost story element could save this one for me, which is normally a fictional favorite for me.
If it had not been a selection for a local book club, it would have been DNF'd early on, easily and without regret. I never became invested in any of the characters and found almost every character to be dislikeable. To be fair, this was the first book for me in this series, so maybe those that have read the others will have more of an attachment to the characters. I dislike reading a series out of order, but again, it was chosen for a local book club.
I will say the author developed the characters enough for me to detest spending time with them, which requires more skill than poor characterization with flat, cardboard cut-outs, for which you feel nothing. I'd be open to reading something else by him, but have no inclination to pick up anything else from this particular series.
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Favorite Quote: Maybe we have so much collective guilt as a society that we fear to punish our individual members.
First Sentence: The sky had gone black at sunset, and the storm had churned inland from the Gulf and drenched New Iberia and littered East Main with leaves and tree branches from the long canopy of oaks that covered the street from the old brick post office to the drawbridge over bayou Teche at the edge of town.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely one of the stranger installments in this series. Still enjoyable, but veers oddly into the supernatural and contains several subplots that dragged along seemingly unnecessarily. Maybe they were groundwork for something that will resurface in another book, but if you're looking to skip a book in this series, this may well be the one.
Recommended by Andrea. Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sin%20the%20electric%20mist%20burke__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl
3.5 stars. The plot holds together better this time, certainly better than it did in White Radiance. The plot entanglements are resolved this time in a way the reader can follow. Still full of society's ills--racism, predation, violence that are the features of this series but also features of the dark side of society at large. Poor Alafair will need some therapy, I think. Thanks to Burke's descriptions of the weather, I now have no desire to live in Louisiana.