Rating: 
Summary: A little too much of a good thing
Review: There are two strong aspects of James Lee Burke's series about Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux that make them unique and memorable: the lush description that absolutely puts the reader in the locale and the recurrance of 'mystic' elements - images in dreams etc - that give the plots a mythic, larger than life, stature. In this book, I think, both elements are overplayed just a bit too much. One longs for more story and less atmosphere, and the materialization of Confederate 'ghosts' that impinge on the outcome of the plot strains credulity severly.I enjoy this series, even when it is over the top as is sometimes the case. There is nothing else quite like it in contemporary crime fiction. But every now and then I wish that Burke would reign himself in. He seems to get seduced by his own words and carried away to a place that the reader cannot always follow. Of course, when he is on the mark, no one can touch him for description and atmosphere. In the case of this book, I just wanted more story - and more flesh and blood.
Rating: 
Summary: An Irresistible Title
Review: This is the first of Burke's books that I read - and what drew me was the title! While browsing one day, I spotted "In the Electric Mist with the Confederate Dead". Good grief - any author who would think up such a title had to be an 'original'. The book lived up to expectations. It was intriguing, original with an almost poetic turn of phrase. I mean - this guy is good. Don't be turned off by the esoteric words in this review - Burke knows how to grab you by the throat! A good read!
Rating:
Summary: hot, steamy and dark
Review: This is the sixth Dave Robicheaux book I have read. Trying to read them in order. This, to me, was not very good. Well, thats not really right. Some of it was so great and some of it was so bad. I guess thats the reason for the three rateing. I really liked the first five I read and will continue to read them as I don't think any more will be like this. This one had such catching names as Baby Feet Balboni and Twinky Herbert Lemoyne. This a fast moving book. I liked Dave's partner, Rosa Gomez, a stand up FBI agent. What I did not like was all the talk to the Confederate Dead. Come on. I know this is fiction and some is hard to believe, but this. Also, a friend who gets killed comes to Dave in a dream and tells him what to do. I really like Burke and Dave but this one is not to be believed.
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