Black Cherry Blues

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

Dave Robicheaux had begun to put the pieces of his broken life together again when an old friend turned up on his doorstep, dredging up old memories and new threats.©1989 James Lee Burke (P)1993 Recorded Books, LLC.

A Great Story With Wonderful Narration

I am so happy that this story was included in the romance package (romance is its least ingredient), so I got a great story for slight cost.

Burke's storytelling enfolds one in an envelope of setting and mood. The narrative is well-paced and the characters are multi-dimensional.

I have seen other reviewers dismiss the narrator. For shame. Mark Hammer brings a sonorous ease to the telling of this tale. I am not going to worry about if he displayed the spot on regional accent. His career as an acclaimed actor has given him the tools to give life, humor, and even menace to the characters in this tale. With writer Burke and narrator Hammer, one gets to spend a most satisfying time with two wonderful tellers of Southern stories.

Narrator is Poor

I started with the Neon Rain, which is excellent, and now Black Cherry Blues. I cannot tell you if the Cherry story is good since the narrator is so pitiful and totally distracts the listener.
Warning, Amazon is illustrating author composite ratings for individual books unlike what Audible used to do.

This book has it all!

Would you listen to Black Cherry Blues again? Why?

Absolutely. I rarely do this but I would listen again in this case.

What did you like best about this story?

Dave is an American hero figure with good values, humility and strength and a very human tender side with his daughter.

Have you listened to any of Mark Hammer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Does a great job.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No "extreme" reaction but thought about it for a long time after hearing.

Any additional comments?

My fourth JLB book and now on a quest to hear them all.

Slow Burn

I enjoyed it, but I kept waiting for a huge betrayal that never occurred. Towards the end I kept waiting on a plot twist of some sort, but it just burned out. James Lee could write a toliet manual and I would read it. Just hope the series gets back to the Neon Rain level again..

Slow moving but delicious...

What made the experience of listening to Black Cherry Blues the most enjoyable?

I decided to follow all Robicheaux series and that is my third book in the series. When you think of it, the book is slow moving in a way. However it realy does the job of taking you there to the Bayou... to the baitshop with all those smells and images. I liked the experience of it all together.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The story is really very believable, the performance really good. I wondered how Dave was going to prove he was innocent while the events rolled.

Which character – as performed by Mark Hammer – was your favorite?

I like Dave ... his character is genuine and not without flows... the events he went through.. the AA meetings and dringking and all. I especially like when he is sober and goes running 4 miles and pumps iron.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Especially James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series are not to be finished in one sitting... I observe his work like an apprentice, how he is bringing the characters to life and what words he is carefully chossing in the process....

Any additional comments?

Will try to finish all his books especially in this series regardless of I like or dislike the story.

Simply Excellent

James Lee Burke is a gifted writer. The story is wonderful always keeping you on edge in anticipation of what is to come. The last scene left me with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Mark Hammer does an excellent job with the reading. His pacing is great, and he pauses at exactly the right moments and for exactly the right amount of time. Overall, 5 stars -- simply excellent!

Great story and narrator.

I like will Patton best , but this guy was good too. Great story telling as always.

So original

Never guess the outcome of the hundreds of twists and turns. Always asking “how is Dave going to get out of this mess”

Dave a troubled but caring detective

Narrator brings life to wonderful writing. Dave is a complex guy. With many strong loves and enemies galore. Makes for interesting reading. Gotta love a good detective story.

Burke's Black Cherry Blues is a great listen

James Lee Burke weaves a story that is great for the ears. I really enjoy his style and vocabulary. It is like listening to a cajun Faulkner. His story lines may not be for everyone but he has a knack at painting pictures in your mind with his words. The setting is from Dave's earlier life.