Clete

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

In the latest installment in his famous Detective Dave Robicheaux series, New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke brings Dave’s partner and friend Clete Purcel to the forefront for the first time as Clete and Dave attempt to stop ruthless smugglers of a dangerous new drug.

Clete Purcel—private investigator, ex-member of the New Orleans Police Department, and war veteran with a hard shell and just a few soft spots—is Dave Robicheaux’s longtime friend and partner in detective work. But he has a troubled past. When Clete leaves his car at the local car wash, only to return to find it ransacked by a group of thugs tied to the drug trade from Mexican cartels to Louisiana, it feels personal—his grandniece died of a fentanyl overdose, and his fists curl when he thinks of the dealers who sold it.

Just as Clete starts to trail the culprits, Clara Bow, a woman with a dark past hires Clete as a detective to investigate her scheming, slippery ex-husband, and a string of brutal deaths all link back to a heavily tattooed man who seems to lurk around every corner. Clete is experiencing shockingly lifelike hallucinations and questioning Clara’s ulterior motives when he and Dave start to hear rumors of a dangerous substance with potentially catastrophic effects. The thugs who destroyed his car might have been pawns in a scheme far darker than they could’ve imagined.

Gripping, violent, yet interlaced with Clete’s humor and consistent drive to protect those he loves, Clete brings a fresh perspective to a truly iconic series. James Lee Burke proves yet again that he is the “heavyweight champ” and “great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed” (Michael Connelly).

Critic reviews

"...Patton’s gravelly intonation suits Clete; he brings the war veteran to life, capturing his emotional core. Every sentence and conversation is deliberate and captivating. The prose is gritty and unfiltered, and Patton’s narration carefully alternates between the humorous and the brutal. Fans of the series and newcomers alike will fall under Patton’s spell as he voices a gut punch of a mystery."

"...Patton’s gravelly intonation suits Clete; he brings the war veteran to life, capturing his emotional core. Every sentence and conversation is deliberate and captivating. The prose is gritty and unfiltered, and Patton’s narration carefully alternates between the humorous and the brutal. Fans of the series and newcomers alike will fall under Patton’s spell as he voices a gut punch of a mystery."

James Lee Burke lost me with all the woo woo

In honor of James and all the wonderful novels I have read in the past, I soldiered through to the end. But this just was not even sensible to me. I like the lyrical descriptions of the surroundings and, of course, Clete has always been an interesting character. But not enough to save this bad acid trip.

worth the wait as always

Will Patton provides an extra layer of magnificence to every book, and he was born to provide the voice of Clete and Dave. What an enjoyable listen! I only wish it was longer.

Will Pattin's Outstanding Narration

Great story, beautiful prose as usual. His books are so mystical and down to earth at the same time.

Extremely carful descriptions put you right in the story.

James Lee Burke makes you feel that you are there experiencing what the characters are feeling, sensing, and living through in their minds.

cletes side stories and concerns

unique mini stories which span cletes career from NOPD to private eye. look into the culture of the boyou