Crusader's Cross

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Critically acclaimed and best-selling crime writer James Lee Burke returns to Louisiana where his ever-popular hero, Dave Robicheaux, sleuths his way through a hotbed of sin and uncertainty.

For Dave Robicheaux, life in Louisiana is filled with haunting memories of the past. In Crusader's Cross, a deathbed confession from an old schoolmate resurrects a story of injustice, the murder of a young woman, and a time in Robicheaux's life he has tried to forget.

Her name may or may not have been Ida Durbin. It was back in the innocent days of the 1950s when Robicheaux and his brother, Jimmie, met her on a Galveston beach. She was pretty, and Jimmie fell for her hard, not knowing she was a prostitute on infamous Post Office Street, with ties to the mob. Then Ida was abducted and never seen again.

Now, decades later, Robicheaux is asking questions about Ida Durbin, and a couple of redneck deputy sheriffs make it clear that asking questions is a dangerous game. With a series of horrifying murders and the sudden appearance of Valentine Chalons and his sister, Robicheaux is soon involved with the murderous energies of the New Orleans underworld.

©2005 James Lee Burke (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division.

Perfection!

Any additional comments?

Will Patton delivers an amazing work of fiction. James Lee Burke knows how to write. I could smell the Bayou and see the brown pelicans gliding over the water.

Another great performance

If you could sum up Crusader's Cross in three words, what would they be?

Dangerous secrets revealed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to choose between Dave and Clete. I want to marry Dave, and have a torrid fling with Clete.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Clete Purcell

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

Made me book a trip to New Orleans this winter!

A Homerun

Another page turning 5 star book from James Burke. It does not hurt to have Will Patton read it truly a great voce. I couldn't put it down, clean my house, clean the back yard, took a walk at 2 in the morning, finished it. Dam!!!! I read them to fast, I love the way this Burke guy writes. Thank You Marion

Another Will Patton masterpiece

Richly visual story, Epic moving performance
transcendent of space between words and hearing.
ty Will

Big Fan!

Being from California, I love hearing the tales of Dave Robicheaux and New Orleans. What an interesting and historical place. James Lee Burke always tells an interesting story and I wish I had begun them in chronilogical order so I could keep up with all of his wives and Clete's activity. But, I have nearly listened to them all and am greatful he has kept the same narrator, who does a fantastic job. Love em!

Great book, poorly read

As usual, JLB had brought us a wonderful book. Dave Robicheaux, who must be pushing or past 60, is still in prime form. But the reader, Will Patton, sounds too young, and his indefinite "Southern" accent detracts from Dave's Cajun roots. If Mark Hammer had read, I would have given five stars.

First Time Burke Reader

This is the first Burke novel I read. I liked the main character, Robichaux, and I liked the description of people and places. This is a drama, detective, mystery story. Not my favorite genre. Lacks the thrill and adventure that I enjoy, never the less, giving it three stars and will probably get The Tin Roof Blowdown sometime in the future. Even though it was a little slow for me it was every well written.

Kept my interest to the very end.

I love JLB. I started with his audio books by accident. This is my third one and I will get more. His writing is like ghetto that reads poetry, a dictionary and an encyclopedia. Very good.

Great Listen

I read Tin Roof Blowdown first, so this was my second James Lee Burke / Dave Robichaux novel.

Even though I gave it 5 stars, it is not as good as Tin Roof Blowdown. This was more like a 4 to a 4.5, so I rounded up because the reader was terrific.

The only thing I didn't like was that too much of the story was wrapped up in the epilogue all too quickly and sumarily; it was more like a dinner murder mystery conclusion.

Other than that, it's a good listen.

Will Patton is a phenomenal reader!!

I am now going to go back and listen to the rest of the Robichaux stories in order :)

Great Story Great Narration!!

Burke and Patton do it again! I haven't listened to the Robicheaux novels in order, but it doesn't matter. This one gave me a little more history of Robicheaux's early years. Will Patton is an amazing narrator, not to disrespect the late Mark Hammer, but the narration is awesome!! If you are a fan of the Robicheaux novels this is a must listen!