Robicheaux

A Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

James Lee Burke’s most beloved character, Dave Robicheaux, returns in this New York Times bestselling mystery set in the towns and backwoods of Louisiana: an “enthralling yet grim novel that…will captivate, start to finish” (Publishers Weekly).

Dave Robicheaux is a haunted man. From the acts he committed in Vietnam, to his battles with alcoholism, to the sudden loss of his beloved wife, Molly, his thoughts drift from one irreconcilable memory to the next. Images of ghosts pepper his reality. Robicheaux’s only beacon remains serving as a detective in New Iberia, Louisiana.

It’s in that capacity that Robicheaux crosses paths with powerful mob boss, Tony Nemo. Tony has a Civil War sword he’d like to give to Levon Broussard, a popular local author whose books have been adapted into major Hollywood films. Then there’s Jimmy Nightengale, the young poster boy of New Orleans wealth and glamour. Jimmy’s fond of Levon’s work, and even fonder of his beautiful, enigmatic wife, Rowena. Tony thinks Jimmy can be a US Senator someday, and has the resources and clout to make it happen. There’s something off about the relationship among these three men, and after a vicious assault, it’s up to Robicheaux to uncover the truth “in the barn-burner of a climax” (Booklist, starred review).

Complicating matters is the sudden death of the New Iberian local responsible for Molly’s death; namely that Robicheaux’s colleague thinks Robicheaux had something to do with it. As Robicheaux works to clear his name and make sense of the murder, a harrowing study of America emerges: this nation’s abiding conflict between a sense of past grandeur and a legacy of shame, its easy seduction by demagogues and wealth, and its predilection for violence and revenge. “It has been almost five years since James Lee Burke’s last Dave Robicheaux novel, and it was absolutely worth the wait” (Associated Press).

James Lee Burke

The master of the "thinking man's novel". No one does better and no one delivers it like Will Patton.

Hard to Hear

I have read all of Burke’s Robichaux novels, and have thoroughly enjoyed the story and Will Patton who read them. But the production on this one was such a low volume compared to the others and Mr. Patton descends to whispers at times that it was impossible to hear some phrases. That was very disconcerting during the reading and very annoying. Other than that it’s classic James Lee Burke and Will Patton.

Best JLB yet

I began my Robicheaux journey with Heavens Prisoners and I was hooked. That was the beginning of his life in the Bayou and the book that introduced Alifair when Dave rescues her from a small plane that has crashed in the bayou near his house. Needless to say I was immediately addicted.

Burke’s prose is unlike and unparalleled by any modern American author. I would read passages of his books to my wife as we lay in bed about to sleep, both of us with tears in our eyes because of the pictures he painted in our heads with his words. Now I’ve read or listened to everyone of his novels and with each new one I’m convinced that he will never be able to top it with with another and with each new book I revel in the magnificence of his creation.

Will Patton would win an academy award for each new JLB book he narrates. He has created every character with the mastery of brilliant story teller. Particularly Cleat and Dave. Needless to say I loved Robicheaux and cannot recommend it highly enough.

James lee Burke is back!

I have bought every book he has written and have been disappointed in the last three because it didn’t even seem to be his writing but Robicheaux was great! The story line and will Patton was perfect. So happy to see him writing like he use to and have recommended this book to so many

Long May He Write

One of my favorite writers of all time. Even while finishing the latest, looking forward to the next. And Will Patton is without peer among narrators.