Black Cherry Blues

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Louisiana Hot

Would you consider the audio edition of Black Cherry Blues to be better than the print version?

Never had a chance to read the book but the audio is good. Its got it all. Good story, great narrator, quick pace.

What about Mark Hammer’s performance did you like?

This was my first listen to Mark Hammer. Not bad, not bad at all. He does keep the story going nicely. Just the right combo of sensitivity and hard nosed story teller.

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

I wish Audible.com sold Book #2 so I knew what happened. Dave is a widower and father now. I hope soon to get to fill in the blanks. He sounds like a good, patient and loving father. Wish I knew the back story.

A good read, but narrator isn't nearly as good

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator. Will Patton brings life to Burke's books that is simply not harnessed by Hammer.

Would you recommend Black Cherry Blues to your friends? Why or why not?

Not unless they have already read the books narrated by Patton.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

It was ok.

Did Black Cherry Blues inspire you to do anything?

No. I wouldn't have read any other books in the series if I hadn't already fallen in love with the characters through other books.

Fine book, excellent presentation

Burke is a neonoir poet. This is one of his best. The reading is excellent. Well worth your time

Great book. Great narration.

Burke is one if my favorite writers and lve read most his novels. I'm a huge Wil Patton fan but really enjoyed Hammer's performance. All you nay sayers - it's called voice acting people. Both men are gifted.

Great Book

This is my third in the series... excellent story and writing... I like Will Patton better as a narrator... in any case, a really terrific story... great writing style... worth anyone's time... glad I found this supremely talented writer...

Fantastic

I have been a very keen reader of James Lee Burke's books for quite a long time and have enjoyed them all.I recently listened to The Tin Roof Blowdown and thought that was excellent.This book is even better,Will Paton was a fine narrator in " Blowdown " but Mark Hammer is in a class of his own here. This is a fabulous audio book and I thoroughly recommend it to all.

Marred by violence

Extremely well written, this book would have benefited by a more subtle portrayal of violence, in my opinion.

Now. hear me out...

This narrator in comparison to Will Patton is like comparing a broken legless merry go round horse to a Kentucky Derby winner. I have turned the play speed up 1.5 times the normal speed that I normally listen at yet the man still sounds like he's about to fall asleep next to a fireplace on a cold winter's night. in addition, his voice does not match the age of Dave Robicheaux. I have not finished the book yet, I will finish the book and I'm sure the story is going to be great but this narrator is absolutely not cut out for this type of book. Will Patton I'm sorry to say is just meant for this series. the way this narrator does Clete Purcell's voice is just not cutting it. maybe by the end of the store I will have changed my thoughts but I highly doubt it.

JLB had a lot to say in this novel.

Some of his words are pure gold. The disadvantage of listening to a book is that you cannot highlight or bookmark a special few words. Burke's point of view becomes solid in this book and what he wants to say about life, through Dave Robicheaux's errors in judgment and liaisons with the spirit world, becomes apparent, at least for now.

This is not a plot-driven book; it is character-driven. Cletus makes a welcome return (I always picture him as Gary Busey). The plot is fairly mundane, and portrays Dave getting involved with some dangerous people as a consequence of helping an old friend. Most of the action takes place in Montana, and JLB establishes the ambiance in a manner that is similar to his lyrical descriptions of Louisiana, yet not as successful. The outcome is really never in doubt; it is the manner in which it will be reached that is the question, and the mythic/magical elements (of which I am very fond) do play a role here.

I have already read ALL of the Dave Robicheaux books, but not in order, so I am starting over, and enjoying them as audiobooks, except for Heaven's Prisoners, which is not available as an unabridged audio book. I have to say that I am not as fond of Mark Hammer's narration as I am of Will Patton's. In fact, I almost gave up on this book in the first few chapters, but I eventually got used to his voice. He does an abysmal job with Alafair and Batiste, and when Dave is having a conversation with Cleet, it is difficult to tell them apart. He gives everyone a Southern/Texas accent for some strange reason. I have to stop thinking of this as a performance and just imagine that Mark Hammer is reading to me, and doing the best he can. Unfortunately, it's just not very good.

Great story😃

Enjoyed this book &the narrator very much, will looking for more in this series. ?