Feast Day of Fools

A Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 16 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Celebrated crime master and two-time Edgar Award winner James Lee Burke returns with a gorgeously crafted, brutally resonant chronicle of violence along the Texas-Mexico border.

Sheriff Hackberry Holland patrols a small Southwest Texas border town, meting out punishment and delivering justice in his small square of this magnificent but lawless land. When an alcoholic ex-boxer named Danny Boy Lorca begs to be locked up after witnessing a man tortured to death by a group of bandits, Hack and his deputy, Pam Tibbs, slowly extract the Indian man’s gruesome tale. It becomes clear that the desert contains a multitude of criminals, including serial murderer Preacher Jack Collins (whom The New York Times called “one of Burke’s most inspired villains”).

Holland’s investigation leads him to Anton Ling, a mysterious Chinese woman whose steely demeanor and aristocratic beauty compel Hackberry to return to her home again and again as the investigation unfolds.

James Lee Burke is at his engrossing and atmospheric best in this, his 13th novel, as Hackberry plumbs the depths of man’s inhumanity to man - from killers-for-hire, to the U.S. government, to the misguided souls in search of a better life across the border.

©2011 James Lee Burke (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“[O]utstanding.... The richness of Burke's characters, always one of his strengths, reaches new heights.... The intricately plotted narrative takes numerous unexpected turns, and Burke handles his trademark themes of social justice and corruption with his usual subtlety.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“As Burke steers the elaborately structured narrative toward its violent conclusion, we are afforded looks inside the tortured psyches of his various combatants, finding there the most unlikely of connections between the players. This is one of Burke’s biggest novels, in terms of narrative design, thematic richness, and character interplay, and he rises to the occasion superbly, a stand-up guy at the keyboard, as always... Though he is best known for his Dave Robicheaux series, the broader canvas of this Hackberry Holland adventure makes a fittingly grand stage on which to play out such a landmark event in American publishing.” (Bill Ott, Booklist)

“The dialogue scenes, along with the action sequences, the South Texas landscape and the indelibly conflicted characters make you want to give Burke a medal.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Perfect combination ... James Lee Burke and Will Patton!

I’ve never been disappointed in this partnership. I believe each makes the other come alive.

Robicheaux books are better.

I normally love his writing, but in this book, his florid descriptions of nearly everything imaginable seemed to be a bit too much.

Fabulous Book!

If you are a fan of James Lee Burke, this is one of his best.

another good Burke

I really enjoy James Lee Burke, he has become one of my faborite authors. And, Will Patton is a great narrator. Burke has good insight into human nature and comes up with some colorful characters. He brings history into his stories and weaves a great tale. Most of his books have been about Detective Dave Robicheaux and they are great set both in Louisiana and Montane. Now, with Sheriff Hackberry Holland he writes about SW Texas along the border where the good buys and bad guys are going both ways across the border.

Another OK listen

First, let me say the narration is awesome. I really enjoyed the gruff voice and it helped the story line very well. I wish I could say the same for the story and its characters. Even though I finished the book, I really wanted it to end much sooner. Perhaps it was a tad too long and a little too contrived for my taste. It isn’t a bad story and surely not a great page turner. But I can see why this type of novel is popular amongst other listeners. It just wasn’t my type of book.

If You Liked No Country for Old Men

Where does Feast Day of Fools rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His accents are perfect for the characters.

Any additional comments?

The author obviously knows Texas and its people. The story is unique and exciting. Although this book is not the same, if you liked No Country for Old Men, you will like this.

So much violence

Will Patton turns characters into friends with his wonderful vocal interpretations. James Lee Burke paints pictures with words that let you see, feel, and practically smell a scene. Unfortunately, Burke's characters seem to get more sadistic with each novel. The level of violence and the physical and verbal abuse have risen to levels that detract from the story. Scene after scene deteriorates into obscene language, torture, and/or graphically described suffering. And certain scathing psychological putdowns return repeatedly from novel to novel. I guess there are limited ways to be gross & disgusting. I'm sorry a writer as talented as Mr. Burke has become so sadistic. I don't think I'll listen to another Burke novel any time soon. Too bad, because I like the introspection and complexity of characters, and I love listening to Will Patton. If you like man's inhumanity to man in every third scene, you'll like this book. If beatings, burnings, and cursings make you flinch, stay away.

Riveting story, wonderfully narrated

If you could sum up Feast Day of Fools in three words, what would they be?

Thrilling, gritty, and sensory

What did you like best about this story?

Will Patton's narration

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

NO

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't know what a tag line is

Any additional comments?

I will read more of James Lee Burke, and I will certainly listen to anything and everything narrated by Mr. Patton.

Compelling story fabulously performed

James Lee Burke is a splendid storyteller whose novels feature complex and unpredictable plots and vivid, morally conflicted characters. He also has a gift for language rarely encountered in genre writing. He surpasses himself in both style and content here. However--and it's a big however--the book was in desperate need of editing and could have been cut by one-third, simply by eliminating some of the weather descriptions, half the metaphors for the look in the bad guys's eyes, and three-quarters of the main character's flashbacks to his war years in Korea. Not that the language and the message weren't powerful, just that he says the same thing too many times.

Nonetheless, Will Patton's truly amazing reading makes any repetition worth listening to. He brings all the characters to life convincingly. I've listened to many recorded books and this was the first time I felt compelled to look up the reader/actor--who I then recognized from films and television. I was dazzled by his talent, which dovetailed perfectly with Burke's narrative.

Burke: A Different Setting with Great Characters

I can't seem to resist James Lee Burke's books. . . buying them one after the other it seems. This one provided a real change of pace and setting, which was an enjoyable nuance within his nearly flawless writing. Texas is the setting and the main characters -- a middling, aging, widowed lawman; a young, vivacious female deputy; a crusty receptionist and assistant; and a cadre of victims and the criminals who terrorize south Texas and northern Mexico really come to life in this story.

The plot is good, the characterization is good, the writing is good and the narration is GREAT.