Swan Peak

James Lee Burkes beloved Louisiana lawman Dave Robicheaux returnsthis time, traveling from New Iberia Parish to the wilds of Montana in this adventure-filled sequel to Black Cherry Blues . Dave Robicheaux, his wife, and his buddy Clete Purcell have retreated to an old friends ranch, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying their distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina. But the serenity is soon shattered when two college students are found brutally murdered in the hills behind where the Robicheauxs and Purcell are staying. They quickly find themselves involved in a twisted and dangerous mystery involving a wealthy, vicious oil tycoon, his deformed brother and beautiful wife, a sexually deviant minister, an escaped con and former country music star, and a vigilante Texas gunbull out for blood. At the center of the storm is Clete, who cannot shake the feeling that he is being haunted by the ghosts from his pastnamely Sally Dio, the mob boss hed sabotaged and killed years before. Deftly weaving intricate, engaging plotlines and original, compelling characters with his graceful prose, Burke transcends genre yet again in the latest thrilling addition to his New York Times bestselling series. From Publishers Weekly Detective Dave Robicheaux is pitted against all types, from an oil tycoon's deformed brother to a sexually indiscreet minister. With these colorful characters running rampant, narrator Will Patton never stumbles in his delivery or interpretations, offering realistic, entertaining characters who are sure to engage listeners right from the start. Patton's voice is perfectly suited for Burke's rough and tumble tale, his gritty Southern dialect sets the tone for this brooding murder mystery. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, May 19). (July) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Bookmarks Magazine Although Dave Robicheaux has (temporarily) left his beloved New Orleans, fans will not be disappointed in this fast-moving, taut, and riveting thriller. Critics noted James Lee Burkes somewhat lighter tone and brighter mood since his last novel, The Tin Roof Blowdown (2006), a furious reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, though the Miami Herald felt that Swan Peak didnt measure up to the former novels ferocity and immediacy. Burkes lyrical language and eye for detail are well suited to the rugged physical beauty of Montana, and his characters spring to life as he deftly juggles several different plotlines. Despite a glut of violence and some potentially confusing narrative shifts, Robicheauxs followers are in for a deeply terrifying ride ( Oregonian ). Copyright 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. Formats : EPUB, MOBI