Light of the World

A Dave Robicheaux Novel, Book 20

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

"America’s best novelist" (The Denver Post) and "the reigning champ of nostalgia noir" (The New York Times Book Review) introduces his most evil character yet in the 20th thriller in the best-selling Dave Robicheaux series.

A New York Times best-selling author many times over, James Lee Burke is a two-time Edgar Award-winner whose every book is cause for excitement, especially those in the wildly popular Dave Robicheaux series.

In Light of the World, sadist and serial killer Asa Surrette narrowly escaped the death penalty for the string of heinous murders he committed while capital punishment was outlawed in Kansas. But following a series of damning articles written by Dave Robicheaux’s daughter Alafair about possible other crimes committed by Surette, the killer escapes from a prison transport van and heads to Montana - where an unsuspecting Dave happens to have gone to take in the sweet summer air, accompanied by Alafair, his wife Molly, faithful partner Clete, and Clete’s newfound daughter, Gretchen Horowitz, whom listeners met in Burke’s most recent best seller Creole Belle.

"James Lee Burke remains the heavy weight champ," says New York Times best-seller Michael Connelly, "a great American novelist whose work...is unsurpassed." The master proves it once again with this harrowing novel that examines the nature of evil and pits Dave Robicheaux against the most diabolical villain he has ever faced.

©2013 James Lee Burke (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Hope this isn't the last we'll hear from Dave

Enjoyed it as always. Amazing how Dave and Clete hold it together despite the madness around them.

Best Burke ever!

I gave the last Burke read only 4 stars because I thought the characters might be getting a little long-in-the-tooth. I'm happy to say how wrong I was. This one tops them all. I've heard some readers describe a book as a roller coaster of emotions. This one is more like careening out of control down a mountain road with a death grip on the steering wheel and daring not to blink. I feel exhausted after reaching the end but know I've experienced a heck of a ride.

It's getting darker in Dave's world . . .

I'm a huge fan of every Dave Robicheaux novel that Burke has written. If I have one tiny quibble with this one, it's that more than a few times while listening, I thought, whew, this is getting really dark. The character of Asa Surette, as brilliantly brought to life by Will Patton, is one of the creepiest characters I've ever encountered in fiction. But overall, the book is excellent, and Patton's reading is nearly flawless -- I say "nearly," because along with another reviewer, I feel his voice for Gretchen doesn't quite work, and because Clete just doesn't sound like the Clete in my head, though I've made my peace with it. If you're a fan, don't hesitate to get this audiobook; if you're new to Burke -- start at the beginning! I totally envy you for what you have ahead of you.

A bit long winded...

I always enjoy Burke. But this could have been 5-6 hours shorter for what was there story wise.

Great read by Patton.

Another intense and grueling Robicheaux adventure

Fans of Dave Robicheaux should find this book just as thrilling as his past adventures, especially as the irrepressible Clete Purcell is along for much of the ride. The addition of the now-grown daughters of both men, Alafair and Gretchen, added a new dimension that will allow this series to grow in vision.

Will Patton is iconic in his narration of Dave and Clete. His intensely male voice is a bit stretched to handle Alafair and Gretchen, though.

As usual, some suspension of disbelief is necessary to cope with the amazing amount of violence, death and gunplay in the Robicheaux stories. I had no idea that lawmen acting as private citizens could get away with that much mayhem. Dave still struggles emotionally with abhorrence of such scenes while recognizing that he chooses paths that bring him close to the sources of darkness and evil.

Deliberations on the personal choices and inner demons of both the heroes and the villains continues apace. This time Burke offers a few more fleeting moments of character to a few of his bad guys, briefly breaking up their usual cartoonish villainy.

It's a bit contrived that the daughters Alafair and Gretchen are choosing paths similar to those of their fathers, as they join the good guys in the eternal fight against the bad guys. But so are many things in Burke's stories, and acceptance is part of appreciating his art.

The one thing that broke the spell for me was an increasing tendency of the bad guys in the heat of violent situations to throw out a few deeper existential remarks on the nature of the human soul. This is the territory of Dave and Clete, and it is the thing that keeps them on the same side despite their considerable differences. It struck me as odd that a stone cold villain would echo the same sort of voice. But it's a minor ripple, easily dismissed in favor of a really good story.

Fantastic

Another wonderful story. I’ve recently lost a dear friend because of cancer. I was asked to speak at her memorial. I was listening to this novel and my opening was gifted to me. “James Lee Burke once wrote that ‘the real heroes in our midst are never noticed’”. A beautiful thought.

Thanks James Lee- your novels keep a lot of us going with our heads looking to the horizon and noticing the little things- and reflecting on the big ones.

By the way, Cletus is my favorite character- I just love that guy. Semper Fi, Clete!

Sorry, JLB, not my favorite Robicheaux

I agree that JLB is probably the best American fiction writer alive today. And after I read Creole Belle, the book that preceded this one, I did not think that the series could get any better. Unfortunately, for me, it didn't.

While listening to an audio book, I find it difficult to separate the writing from the narrator. Will Patton is one of my favorite narrators, and I just finished his masterful performance of Alas, Babylon. So I was surprised to find (as other reviewers have mentioned) that his performance in this book is somewhat lackluster. I agree that his rendering of Gretchen is so poor as to be distracting. And he seems to lose his place from time to time, carrying over in one character's voice into another's, or the narration. I was tempted to simply give up and purchase the print version, and I probably eventually will.

This book was a blast

I love Dave Robichaux and Cleat Parnell. And with the expanded contributions of Ellafair and Gretchen the story really held me attention. All the characters well-developed and right away I cared about them.

And of course will Patton is Dave
Robichaux and a whole cast

Another Hit

I think Burke has been eating a lot of spicy food and having some crazy dreams to think up this story and the previous book. A little far fetched especially when it comes to Cleat daughter being a hitman (or hitwoman) but you have to love the one liners he comes up with for Cleat and Dave. Corny... yes but very funny. I am a fan and if you are already a Robicheaux fan then download this book and enjoy the ride.

Will it ever end!?!?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes. I love Burke. He is one of the best story tellers I have ever read. I always look forward to his next work. HOWEVER- this book is just tedious! The story line is not good. I found myself dreading to read, but I was determined to finish. If the next book in this series is no better, I will be done. This is the first time that I am not eagerly waiting for the next book. :(

Would you recommend Light of the World to your friends? Why or why not?

No. I would not want them to base their opinion of Burke as an author on this book.

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

Will Patton is amazing.

Could you see Light of the World being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No way. Bury it in the back yard and pretend it never happened.

Any additional comments?

Anyone following this series is going to read this book. However, if you are new to Burke, I do not recommend this.