Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed!
Review: I have read every Dave Robicheaux novel by James Lee Burke and absolutely loved them all and recommended them to every person I know. I have to say that now after just completing the 12th, "Purple Cane Road" I don't think I will read any more. Dave Robicheaux, who I once thought was the sexiest man in fiction, has now become tired, predictable and self righteous. In the early novels he was a deeply flawed but very sympathetic and believable character, now it seems he is hell bent on self destruction and doesn't care who he takes with him. His wife Bootsie and daughter Alfie seem to written as sidelines, just pulled out to fill a few gaps and the character of Clete Purcell has gone way beyond anything creditable.I was never a fan of the violence, but in the earlier novels it was not predominant over the plot. In "Purple Cane Road" I found myself skipping over pages and then losing the thread of the story. It has taken me a long while to write this review and I do feel something of a traitor expressing these opinions but I am extremely disappointed. Maybe it is time for Dave to hang up his badge and retire to his fishing shack! For any first time readers of James Lee Burke, don't start with this novel, try the early ones, I highly recommend "Heavan's Prisoners", and "Black Cherry Blues" which are my favourites in the Dave Robicheaux series. <
Rating: 
Summary: The best of a great series
Review: Burke has saved his best for last. I've read and loved the whole series, but "Purple Cane Road" is the best so far. It saddens me to think the series has come to an end, so I'll just hope it hasn't.
Rating: 
Summary: Moving..
Review: Dave Robicheaux, a Lousiana cop, is suddenly confronted with his identity and his past when he learned by chance that his mother had been murdered, from then on his investigation to find the real truth about her ordeal during the last moments of her life, brings about a lot of Louisiana characters, landscapes, foods, colors and tastes shown as vivid portraits by the author who benefits from his thorough knowledge of the culture and way of life of some particular areas of the state, all told with the particular southern language. What I liked the most in this novel are two things that I would like to highlight, firstly the special characterizacion of Dave Robicheaux as a multidimensional memorable, likeable, determined, human being and secondly the slow subtly construction of the mystery surrounding his mother tough life, awful marriage and death. Burke is one of the few authors I came upon who likes to employs novelist descriptive detailed narrative to carry out a crime fiction plot, making a great product A must read for those currently leaving in Lousiana and surrounding states and also for those who spent their childhood in this state and want to dig inside themselves to refresh unforgettable memories
Rating:
Summary: Moving..
Review: Dave Robicheaux, a Lousiana cop, is suddenly confronted with his identity and his past when he learns by chance that his mother had been murdered, from then on his investigation to find the real truth about her ordeal during the last moments of her life, brings about a lot of Louisiana characters, landscapes, foods, colors and tastes shown as vivid portraits by the author who benefits from his thorough knowledge of the culture and way of life of some particular areas of the state, all told with the particular southern language. What I liked the most in this novel are two things that I would like to highlight, firstly the special characterizacion of Dave Robicheaux as a multidimensional memorable, likeable, determined, human being and secondly the slow subtly construction of the mystery surrounding his mother tough life, awful marriage and death. Burke is one of the few authors I came upon who likes to employs novelist descriptive detailed narrative to carry out a crime fiction plot, making a great product A must read for those currently leaving in Lousiana and surrounding states and also for those who spent their childhood in this state and want to dig inside themselves to refresh unforgettable memories
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: This book was fast paced and emotionally moving. Burke was superb as usual. This book tugged at my heart strings. I was glad to know what really happened to his mother. Although I cried several times reading this book, but I loved it!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: I Need Some Deep Fried Shrimp & Potato Salad
Review: James Lee Burke has done it again. Sort of reminds me of John MacDonald's Travis McGee series with his love of the Deep South shining through every chapter. After you read a few chapters you will be craving some "down-home" cooking, and if you've never had it, you will want to try it. Burke writes with glorious colors and descriptions, realistic characters, and realistic police procedure. Great, intricate plot development. By "realistic characters" I mean the "good guys" have their problems and the "bad guys" have some redeeming qualities, however faint. Burke's hero has his own problems, is somewhat of a rebel, and has a great friend in Clete Purcell, sort of a "good-ol'-boy" counterpart to Spenser's Hawk. Both would make great friends when the chips were down. A great read when you can concentrate, not really a book to read on BART.
Rating:
Summary: The Literary Blues
Review: James Lee Burke's novels are the literary equivalent of the blues: somtimes lyrical, sometimes gritty and profane, sometimes pathetically comic or violent, but always moving. The story is always first-rate, but the reason to read Burke is the prose -- his glorious and somehow incredibly Southern voice. He's Eudora Welty crossed with Conan Doyle, Faulkner mixed with Elmore Leonard. All in all, he's not to be missed. Read them all. This one's as good a place to start as any.
Rating:
Summary: Swamp People
Review: Pick any page and you'll find a sentence to copy and hang on the wall. Another story of a beatup ex-cop solving a crime. The locale is between bayou and big easy. A few too many scenes of raindrops. The characters are complex, unusual and believable. The sex is not just another peep show, but shows the characters' emotions. The suspense makes one cringe at the possible outcome. All the baddies-- a whole cast -- get crunched. Satisfying on many levels.
Rating:
Summary: Burke At His Best
Review: If you are new to James Lee Burke, "Purple Cane Road" would be a good place to start. The moody, broody Dave Robicheaux collects a clue concerning the long ago murder of his mother while trying to get a friend off death row. The steamy Louisiana bayous are an ever-present background to Dave's search. The story is quickly paced in spite of the subplots and diversions. The characterizations are unforgettable: Clintonesque Governor Belmont Pugh, sidekick Clete Purcel who has no sense of proportion (if a little disturbance is good, a full-scale riot is better!), more than slightly mad Mrs. Cora Gable, and John Reneta, a hit man like no other. The low life scum of New Orleans and New Iberia are delightful cameos. Sometimes they are far more attractive than the citizens who are the pillars of the community. Though there are a few places where the solutions are a mite slick, the overall strength and great story weaving overcome any minor flaws. Best of all, Dave Robicheaux makes a good companion and friend. You get to do all the talking, as Dave is a man of very few words. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: The Smells!
Review: I have never "smelled" the sceenery of a book before; the rain, the musty leaves, the fish, the water, the flowers. However, I am always suspicious of stories about "Mothers" - especially by sons. Fraud has done it all - nothing new can be added. When authors begin to rip into their families usually it is s sure sign that they are running out of ideas. I sincerely hope it's not the case. There is a bit too much brutality in the violence - nevertheless there is something mesmerizing abut the book; its impressionistic style and dreamy progression. I can still see the purple cane road in the lightning.
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