Rating: 
Summary: My favorite of the Robicheaux novels.
Review: All the Dave Robicheaux novels are excellent, but this one sings. The hallucinatory prose is as thick and rich as the swamplands it describes. Dave talks to some curious characters here, some of whom may or may not be of this world. And that's the way it should be. This one will keep you guessing.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story with the southern literary ghost tradition
Review: Burke uses the southern ghost tradition in literature and story telling for the first time in this book. In subsequent books, ghosts again are important, guiding, and protective influences but none are as important as the General, who gives the reader insight into Dave. As always, I leave a Burke novel wishing Dave Roubicheaux and his family were my neighbor's, hoping Burke is busy on his next novel.
Rating: 
Summary: A delightful tough guy
Review: David Robichaux is a hardbitten cop from the Louisiana bayous. His adventures usually involve people or incidents from his past coming back to cause a problem. This time a boyhood friend turned Mafioso may be behind the death of several women. In addition, Dave is being visited by the ghost of John Bell Hood, a Civil War general. The tough alcoholic cop also has an drunken Hollywood star foist upon him and his family-the lovely Bootsy and the always amusing Alafair. In the end, Dave finds himself rushing to save Alafair from the clutches of a pedophile who has taken her hostage. Burke's prose is as descriptive as ever and his conversations as hard-boiled as can be. If you enjoy Robert Parker and his Spenser, Burke's detective is like the Spenser of old-before the stories became endless wisecracks hung on a miniscule plot.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful tough guy
Review: David Robichaux is a hardbitten cop from the Louisiana bayous. His adventures usually involve people or incidents from his past coming back to cause a problem. This time a boyhood friend turned Mafioso may be behind the death of several women. In addition, Dave is being visited by the ghost of John Bell Hood, a Civil War general. The tough alcoholic cop also has an drunken Hollywood star foist upon him and his family-the lovely Bootsy and the always amusing Alafair. In the end, Dave finds himself rushing to save Alafair from the clutches of a pedophile who has taken her hostage. Burke's prose is as descriptive as ever and his conversations as hard-boiled as can be. If you enjoy Robert Parker and his Spenser, Burke's detective is like the Spenser of old-before the stories became endless wisecracks hung on a miniscule plot.
Rating:
Summary: good, but the scenes with the confederates are a bit much
Review: Ever since I was required to read Black Cherry Blues for a writing class at the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop, I have been fan of James Lee Burke. This book is not disappointing. Detective Dave Robicheaux is in fine form, doing ace investigative work. There are some great characters - Rosie Gomez, an entirely likeable FBI agent, and Elrod Sykes, the chronically drunk actor. There are also some great bad guys - Julie Balboni, Dave's childhood acquaintance, and his crew. The Louisiana scenery is beautifully described, as is the Cajun grub they are always eating. BUT! Dave keeps having these discussions with these Confederate soldiers that really mess up the book. They keep appearing in the swamp - hence the book's title. Worth reading - but skip over the italicized conversations with the past
Rating: 
Summary: Will definitely continue this series!
Review: I don't have the first five books in this series, so I started with this one. I have to say, I was hooked. I enjoyed Burke's insights into and references to Dave's past. Dave's new partner, Rosie Gomez, was standup, and Dave's 'visions' and continuing dialogue with a dead confederate soldier is what really held my attention. This is a definite must read, and I hope the other books in this series are as good.
Rating:
Summary: Will definitely continue this series!
Review: I don't have the first five books in this series, so I started with this one. I have to say, I was hooked. I enjoyed Burke's insights into and references to Dave's past. Dave's new partner, Rosie Gomez, was standup, and Dave's 'visions' and continuing dialogue with a dead confederate soldier is what really held my attention. This is a definite must read, and I hope the other books in this series are as good.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best!
Review: I don't know anyone who tops James Lee Burke for excellence in crime fiction; his characters, their development from book to book, the relationships, the dialogue, the humor, the setting, the language - as far as I am concerned, he is absolutely at the top of his class. And this book is exquisite - it just doesn't get better than this. I am constantly recommending this series to friends and total strangers who enjoy mystery fiction - or who just enjoy any fiction at all! Dave Robicheaux never disappoints...
Rating:
Summary: Best Dave Robicheaux Book?
Review: I don't know, I sure did like it. On one hand, I agree with other reviewers that the ghost soldiers might seem a bit much - in hind sight. At the time I was reading the book I loved the extra touch. I would have to say I enjoyed this book most of all the Burke stories I have read so far. You might try to read them in order, otherwise you learn things that are supposed to surprise you in the earlier books.
Rating:
Summary: Best Dave Robicheaux Book?
Review: I don't know, I sure did like it. On one hand, I agree with other reviewers that the ghost soldiers might seem a bit much - in hind sight. At the time I was reading the book I loved the extra touch. I would have to say I enjoyed this book most of all the Burke stories I have read so far. You might try to read them in order, otherwise you learn things that are supposed to surprise you in the earlier books.
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