Creole Belle: A Dave Robicheaux Novel, Book 19

Two tops in their fields bring their A-game to this production and the result of this perfect union is Creole Belle. Burke is so highly regarded in the literary world that any praise seems redundant and almost cliche; if you've read his works, you know this already. One critic said that "nobody can touch Burke in lyrical expression..." Will Patton, with his smart interpretation skills, is one of the best narrators in the business. With a voice rich in texture and hypnotic appeal, he enhances everything I've heard him read. The two of them together are a match made in audible heaven. I could listen to this collaboration and be lost in words and voice - almost forget to hear the story if it wasn't so explosive.

I'm assuming that readers of this 19th in the Robicheaux series know the basics. This book picks up at The Glass Rainbow's conclusion, and begins a new adventure for the well-seasoned team of Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcel. A darker and more complex plot than previous books, involving drug runners, human trafficking, art forgery, Nazi war criminals, the Gulf oil *spill,* and as always...a cast of characters as wonderful as their names, and the ruination of Robicheaux's beloved Louisiana wetlands. (With some fascinating, and alarming, insights in to oil rigs - Burke himself having worked on oil rigs in the gulf). Burke has stated that Dave and Clete are "actually one character; they are opposite sides of the same coin," and this time he focuses more sharply on Clete, revealing the differences, and the similarities, in this duo. He also writes more about the forces that shaped the characters in this novel. Creole Belle is comfortably familiar, but not a re-telling of the same story, and Burke somehow manages to add new dimensionality to this already dynamic team with each book.

[* an aside for anyone that might be thinking 19th?! Why jump in now?: Like many book-series, these books can be picked up at any point and enjoyed. Burke often includes backstories; some avid followers might accuse him of repeating portions of previous books, but this practice makes it possible for each novel to be read as its own story. It's more a *pleasurable advantage* to grow-up with the characters, than a *necessity*. I have read several, but not all of the previous 19 novels.]

Some readers say that Burke tends to be too poetic or reflective, that he ruminates and reminisces...my opinion (call me antiquarian)...I love listening to anything he has to say! Burke's poetic style and beautiful atmospheric writing is magical and mesmerizing to me. Just listening to Will Patton read James Lee Burke - I am captivated each time. Highly recommend.

James Lee Burke created Dave Robicheaux 25 years ago, in The Neon Rain, in 1987. Burke is a brilliant writer. His ability to describe the place of his birth, Southern Louisiana, is unparalleled. New Orleans and Iberia Parish are places that you want to visit, because Mr. Burke has captured them so vividly. Likewise, Dave Robicheaux is such a vivid creation that you almost believe he is flesh and blood. Dave and his best friend, Clete Purcel, have suffered in their lives, the rages of alcoholism and Viet Nam, among other curses. Dave has married twice and has adopted Alafair, in a rescue scene so extraordinary that I remember it clearly, almost a decade later. Alafair Burke is now a novelist herself, in the real world. These books are full of violence and thoughtfulness, scholarly reasoning and deep moral convictions. In this book the bad guys are horrendous, a family named Duprix, wealthy and sinister, an incestuous grandfather at the top, a man who was also a highly-placed Nazi at one of the death camps. The reading is not for the faint of heart or stomach, but it is brilliant for all of that. Will Patton is perfect for these books. His voices are of extraordinary range and expressiveness. Male or female, his characters speak with astonishingly human voices and a range of emotions that rival those of the best narrators. I began reading Dave Robicheaux books 25 years ago, and I hope to keep reading them for a long time. James Lee Burke has lost none of his unique talent, and it is a pleasure for me to be able to recommend his work to you. It is thrilling.

JLB is one of my very favorite authors. This book gives us a bit of "more of the same" however, one may consider.... when is too much of something you love a bad thing? Well maybe when it becomes predictable and when one can get a whiff of staleness. I truly can't say this happens throughout this book, but I confess during most of part one, I was asking myself these questions.
So to the good parts..... great scary bad guys....including one guy that has such a dirty past, it will make your skin crawl. And as always the reader/listener gets to enjoy the push/pull relationship between Dave and Clete. Clete has a long lost family member appear in this book and her part makes for some interesting happenings.
Then there is Alafair, in this story she plays an interesting role. I couldn't quite figure out why as an adult she is at home living with her parents. And at times her involvement in the intrigue with the bad guys really doesn't make sense.
Oh and of course Will Patton is always perfect narrating these books for JLB.
So for me it was a wee bit of a mix. But as the story progressed, I as always, couldn't help myself, I just fell in love with this book.

This was without a doubt one of the best Dave R. novels so far. It held you and gave you a graphic image of Southern Louisiana and the human condition, not to mention the hurt man visits on man. I love all of Mr. Burke's books and was not disappointed.

I have read all of James Lee Burke books. I have never done a review like this before. I am only 1/3 of the way through this book. It is unbelievable. This is one of those few books where I don't really care how it ends, the story is so rich, vivid and compelling it doesn't matter. Clete Purcell is back and better than ever. Will Patton shines. Do yourself a favor, stop listening to whatever you are listening to and get this book. It is a 3 part book, and although I am only 1/3 of the way through, I am going to be thoroughly depressed when it ends.

I have read every word the man has published (that I was able to find) and this one really got to me. When one reads Burke, the plot is nearly superfluous as he paints flawless dioramas of life, its beauty, its evil, its life-giving and its life-taking and many of the nuanced, indelible connections twix the two.
I used to think his ending were weak. But now I understand there are no 'endings', just pauses where one can reflect or suffer.
His brief description of withdrawal from drug/alcohol addiction was crystalline in its accuracy. My soul ached as I read it.
One of the few authors where it absolutely does not matter where in his bibliography you start. There are simply pauses in between.

Yes! Thanks to Will Patton. He makes the story live.

Yes. Love the characters. Like seeing old friends.

He is the only one that should ever be allowed to preform this series.

Yes.

Mr. Burke can't write this series as fast as I would listen to them.

Absolutely! Thanks to Will Patton!

It is difficult to determine a favorite character because James Lee Burke creates characters like Charles Dickens did years ago. They are alive; they are vivid; they are complex; they are real people with their heroic abilities and lingering weaknesses. They fight injustice; they take on corrupt corporations, government and evil people and they also fight their own demons. That said, Dave Robicheaux is one of my favorite characters in all literature. And in the J L Burke series, dear old lovable Cletis is not far behind.

See above

Most moments in a James Lee Burke novel are moving and I consider "Creole Belle" as one of his best. This novel is filled with memorable and deeply moving scenes; Clete's revelation to Gretchen particularly moved me.

This is something I've never done before. I finished "Creole Belle" and then went immediately back to the beginning and I'm now re-listening to the story. James Lee Burke takes on the BP oil spill off the Gulf coast, Nazi war criminals, systemic racism, human torture, complacent law officers and other manifestations of the "dark clouds" of humanity. However, amid this battle waged primarily by Dave and his loyal and dangerous friend, Clete, there is humor (I thought this was J L Burke's most humorous work), there is love between fathers and daughters, husband and wife, friends, colleagues - and all clothed in the author's beautiful poetic language.
I believe many books and stories are read and forgotten. "Creole Belle" will stay with you as long as you live.
And long live James Lee Burke! Long live Will Patton!

I must qualify my review by disclosing that I am a huge James Lee Burke fan - he's one of my favorite authors of all time. Likewise, I love the Dave Robicheaux series.

This book is heavy on Clete, meaning a large chunk of the story deals with Clete Purcell and a new character, who turns out may be his daughter. While there are some issues with this new "daughter" character, to the extent she detracts from the story, the big role Clete plays in this story is fun. The dialogue throughout is TERRIFIC!

As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a lot to this story, with several relevant story lines throughout. While a lot of these stories are in fact formulaic with JLB, there are a few twists in this one that I enjoyed.

Likewise, I am not typically a fan of authors going overboard on describing the aesthetics in their scenes, but JLB is by far the best I have ever read in this area. He is the master, and it amazes me every time how much I love it when he does it.

As usual, Will Patton is fabulous. He is one of the best in the business and JLB writing is simply made for Will Patton.

Highly Recommended, if you haven't got it - GET IT!!

Burke's writing is lovely (as always), the story is complex and interesting, the characters are compelling, and Will Patton brings the story to life. This one is very dark, but not heavy handed. I have come to adore these characters--even the bad guys. As most Audible listeners will agree, the narrator can make or break a novel. Will Patton is among the very best narrators. I think the guy could make the classified section of a small town newspaper hard to turn off! Combine him with a novelist like Burke and you've got a winner. If only EVERY audio book could be this good! I'm tempted to postpone using my next credit in favor of listening to this book again. Get it! You'll be glad you did!