Cadillac Jukebox

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

James Lee Burke has been hailed as a “national treasure” (Tampa Bay Times), and in his ninth Dave Robicheaux thriller, it’s easy to see why. This taut, twisted tale of corruption in the Louisiana bayou truly brands Burke as “America’s best novelist” (The Denver Post).

No one was surprised when Aaron Crown was arrested for the decades-old murder of the most famous black civil rights leader in Louisiana. After all, his family were shiftless timber people who brought their ways into the Cajun wetlands—trailing rumors of ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Only Dave Robicheaux, to whom Crown proclaims his innocence, worries that Crown had been made a scapegoat for the collective guilt of a generation.

But when Buford LaRose, scion of an old Southern family and author of a book that sent Crown to prison, is elected governor, strange things start to happen. Dave is offered a job as head of the state police; a documentary filmmaker seeking to prove Crown's innocence is killed; and the governor’s wife—a former flame—once again turns her seductive powers on Dave. It’s clear that Dave must find out the dark truth about Aaron Crown, a truth that too many people want to remain hidden.

“A ripeness of villains, the familiar good guys, and some who travel the territory in between comprise the cast of the rich ninth Dave Robicheaux adventure” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). “Terrific” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), “compelling and suspenseful…vivid and complete” (Los Angeles Times), “Cadillac Jukebox is pure James Lee Burke—equal parts hardboiled action, lush descriptions of the natural world, and dialogue that leaps from the page” (People). “If you haven’t read Burke, get going” (Playboy).

A tougher listen...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I love this series but I'm struggling to get through this one. Just not happy with the narration. Think if Patton had narrated this one it'd be a great as the rest.

How could the performance have been better?

I'm not feeling the characters on this one...

James Lee Burke uses his descriptive and eloquent prose to color a beautiful picture! Another classic!

3 stara for benefit of the doubt

Sometimes, Mark Hammer narrates books quite respectably. This isn't one of those times. He sounds like he's stoned, and turning up the speed helps little. He doesn't finish words. The characters sound a like, and nobody gets excited. Enunciation is even worse on Black or very uneducated characters, and the former frequently sound like they're whining. No way to tell one character from another or male from female. This is work to listen to, a chore to follow. I gave 3 stars for overall and story because James Lee Burke wrote it, but I only have a very general of what it's about.

Narration

I like all Dave Robicheux books by James lee burk I had a hard time getting used to hearing its narration by mark hammer but only because I am partial to Will Pattern, I finally gave Hammer a chance and listening to a different narrator became easier. I still Pattern but I can now listen to more books by Hammer.

Hi jingo, to borrow a phrase...

Good story as usual, this one involving a newly elected governor of Louisiana no less. Dave is his usual stand up self and as usual it almost gets him whacked. But it's Dave and Cleet and Bootsy so ya gotta love it