The Washington Times
published my review of James Lee Burke’s Robicheaux.
Dave Robicheaux, James Lee
Burke’s troubled, flawed and heroic character, first appeared in the 1987 crime
novel “Neon Rain.” The Cajun, semi-retired New Iberia, Louisiana, sheriff’s
detective, a Vietnam veteran, former New Orleans homicide detective and struggling
alcoholic, has throughout the series of novels seen more than one man’s share
of violence and tragedy.
In “Robicheaux” Mr. Burke
brings back his popular character to face off against his usual suspects;
crooked cops, gangsters, corrupt politicians, psychotic killers, and heartless
and greedy patricians.
Once again, Dave Robicheaux
is both aided and hampered by Clete Purcel, his former New Orleans homicide
partner and fellow Vietnam veteran. Purcel, a private detective, is a big and
heavy man who drinks and eats to excess. Wearing a porkpie hat over his short
blond hair and colorful Hawaiian shirts over his girth, he might appear comical
to a casual observer, but Purcel is a dangerous, one-man wrecking crew.
Haunted by his abusive
father, war memories and his violent past on both sides of the law, Purcel is
self-destructive and prone to violence. But he also has a strong sense of
justice and truly cares about crime victims and the oppressed. He is also loyal
and protective of his few friends, Dave Robicheaux being one of them.
“The man I came to see was Fat Tony Nemo, also
known as Tony the Nose, Tony Squid, or Tony Nine Ball, the latter not because
he was a pool shark but because he packed a nine ball into a bartender’s mouth
with the butt of a pool cue. Of course, that was during his earlier
incarnation, when he was a collector for Didoni Giacano and the two of them
used to drive around New Orleans in Didi’s Caddy convertible, terrifying
whoever couldn’t make the weekly vig, a bloodstained baseball bat propped up in
the backseat,” Robicheaux, the narrator, informs us in the beginning of the
novel. “Currently, Fat Tony was involved in politics and narcotics and porn and
casinos and Hollywood movies and the concrete business.”
… Robicheaux is a provocative
and powerful crime novel; gritty, atmospheric and mystical.
You can read the rest of the
review via the below link:
