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Summary: James Lee Burke - good as ever
Review: Billy Bob Holland, ex-Texas Ranger and now a successful lawyer agrees to defend Wibur Pickett who's accused of stealing $300,000 in bearer bonds from rich Earl Deitrich. Deitrich comes from big money and thinks nothing of riding roughshod over anyone who gets in the way of what he wants. However, that doesn't work with Billy Bob Holland who stands up to Deitrich and his equally corrupt son. Matters escalate and soon Wilbur Pickett's wife is accused of murder for defending herself against a rapist/killer sent by Earl Dietrich. Why, Billy Bob wonders, is Dietrich going to so much trouble to railroad a poor man into jail? What does Pickett have that Earl Deitrich could possibly want. There are few writers today who can touch James Lee Burke for his use of prose, his characterization and his ear for dialog. I've been a Burke fan since reading Black Cherry Blues years ago and he never disappoints. Though he writes in the mystery genre (check out his Dave Robicheaux series of novels) the writing is literate while being entertaining. His novels are a nice change from all of the ex-cops who are now writing mysteries that, while technically correct, have no heart or soul. I would recommend this, and any James Lee Burke novel, highly.
Rating: 
Summary: Stick with Robicheaux
Review: Billy Bob is a weak second to Dave R. and while the descriptions of Texas country are typical excellent prose by James Lee Burke it doesn't match the Bayou of LA. The book could be 100 pages shorter and still finished the story. Can't wait for another Dave R. Book.
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Summary: Strong Burke story with minimal echoes of previous works.
Review: Burke delivers his usual tragic, social comment on past and present-day moral problems and dilemnas. The echoes to previous works are stronger than usual because we are now reading more of his works and unconsciously mentally reinforcing his style from our past recollections. Burke fans will have no problems gobbling up this morsel. Like previous repasts of the mind, a second or third helping does not dull the palate!
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Summary: A cerebral departure in Burke's storytelling style
Review: Burke fans are used to in your face violence and sex spicing the always anxious, but simple plotlines. Heartwood isn't as graphic, but the feelings of the characters resonate with most of us who have made a big mistake or really blown it but tried to keep on keeping on. The multiple characters' hurts and wounds are implied, leaving out the heavy handed violence and sweaty couplings. Nothing is gratuitous in Heartwood. The reader has probably seen and experienced the cultural mismatches. Although, set in the beautiful hill country of Texas, Heartwood could be about anyplace. Billy Bob Holland is more believable than Dave Robicheaux. After only two novels in the Billy Bob series, readers familiar with Burke's character development can only hope the next book is another Billy Bob Holland. The ghost of L.Q. Navarro is a Greek chorus facility making the book a haunting reminder of every tragedy any of us have caused, never minding how innocent and well intended. Heartwood is an advancement in the James Lee Burke repertoire of fine writing. I lingered over the pages not wanting the book to end. When you put it down after the last paragraph, you will probably look out the window and just think about yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Burke at his top form.
Review: Complex, wonderfully written plot again. Characters we feel we are in the scene with. You read Burke because you love each page, not to rush to the end of his novel.
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Summary: Small Town Life?
Review: Every couple of years, I pick up a James Lee Burke novel because I really want to like the guy. He's capable of portraying a terrific sense of place...whether the Louisiana bayou or the Texas hill country, you can feel the atmosphere, smell the smells, see the country. What an extrordinary gift. On the other hand, his plots reel from one act of gratuitous violence to another. I found my stomach tightening everytime Chub, Cholo, or Jeff got in their cars. Poking out somebody's eye is no big deal. No wonder Temple Carol spends her spare time practicing boxing and perfecting her karate kick. I wondered how anyone ever got any sleep, as it was perfectly possible his front door would be kicked in, his women raped and their children sold into slavery by any one of a number of trios of cro-magnons he might have offended by the color of his tie or the cut of his jib. At least, most of the good guys are left standing, but I fear only to fight another day.
Rating:
Summary: Get An Editor!
Review: Everybody in this book gives off a smell--our Billy Bob computes the subtleties of body odors even as he deals with life-and-death matters. And then we're told not once, but maybe a hundred times, that he drives an Avalon. It's "my Avalon this," "my Avalon that." James Lee Burke apparently thinks the word "car" is too ordinary for his main man. Or is he getting money from Toyota or what? As with the Robicheaux books, this character has a doppelganger--but it's a more effective touch in Robicheaux's Louisiana, where you expect this kind of superheated spiritualist-medium stuff. One thing the book helps make clear, though: if characters like this do live in Texas, no wonder George W. signed that law saying it's okay to carry guns into churches. Shooting characters like these would be a sacrament. This book gives off a distinctive smell, too: of warmed-over leftovers awash in catsup.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwood
Review: Great read! Burke has once again written another heartrending story that depicts many of the ills of our society. This book wonderfully illustrates the pain caused by class barriers and bigotry while showing the complexity of human relationships. As in his other books, Burke paints a vivid picture with his pen in his descriptions. He makes you see the sights, smell the smells, and feel the pain and throws in a touch of the supernatural for added flavor. He has once again proven what a great storyteller he is.
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Summary: Brillant
Review: Heartwood James Lee Burke Doubleday 1999 ISBN 0385488432 H.C. Mystery This is the 2nd book centered around Billy Bob Holland. The 1st was Cimarron Rose in 1997. When Holland takes on the defense of Wilbur Pickett, who has had allot of bad luck in his past, now finds himself accused of stealing bearer bonds from the rich Dietrichs family. Holland is going up against Dietrichs whom he does not care for because Dietrich has made a fortune running over people and tainting anyone who stands in his way. Plus Holland can not forget the passion he fills for Dietrichs wife Peggy Jean. James Burke makes you see the town and characters in your mind so clearly as he describes them. The only issue I had with this book is James Burke talks of rain on 25 pages of this book, but I find that hard to believe because this book takes place in Texas Hill country, and Texans know that it hardly ever rains in the Texas Hill country. Other than that this book is a winner. Burke is a master at setting mood, laying in atmosphere, fall with quirky raunchy language that befits Texas. I am looking forward to the next installment of Billy Bob Holland. A brilliant novel of crime from the two-time Edgar Award winner, Gold Dagger award winner and New York Times Bestseller author of several books.
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Summary: I'm Warming Up to Billy Bob
Review: I am a loyal Burke fan, particularly of his Robicheaux books, but "Cimarron Rose" was a slight disappointment. With time and forgiveness under my belt, I cracked open "Heartwood" and found myself swept away. The story has an actual plot, the characters have true struggles, and the narrative flows with sympathy and violence in incongruous dance. Let's face it, few people can write with the descriptive and allegorical power of Burke. If anything, it can be overwhelming at times, although I prefer to think of it as intoxicating. Then, to keep things in check, Burke pens some of the most forceful dialogue that you'll ever run across this side of the Elmore Leonard and Dashiell Hammett. His characters are electric with their moral conflicts and emotional hangups. "Heartwood," for me, encapsulated all the things Burke does well: the dialogue, narrative, Greek tragedy themes, and eventual redemption at a price. Yes, it harkens to the Robicheaux books, but I'm warming up to Billy Bob Holland and beginning to see him as his own fictional entity. Although this series lacks the humorous sidekick of a Clete Purcell, it hits home with powerful story and truth. Mr. Burke, you're starting to convince me...spending time with Billy Bob and Temple Carrol has its payoffs. Do I sense a hint of romance even? I can't wait to read "Bitterroot," the next in the series.
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