A Morning for Flamingoes

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

Dave Robicheaux felt the bone-grinding pain rip through his body as the .45 did its damage. Through the agonizing haze that enveloped him, he heard an almost inhuman laugh: the hideous, victorious cackling of Jimmie Lee Boggs - a sound he would never forget.

It had started out as an ordinary prisoner transfer, then turned into a blood bath when the convicted murderer got hold of a gun. Robicheaux could still hear that contemptible laughter, replacing the horrors from 'Nam he relived every night, echoing in the still of his darkened bedroom.

When Boggs is spotted in New Orleans, Robicheaux follows, joining a DEA sting operation in the Quarter. Poised for revenge, he prepares to face his fears and silence the laughter once and for all. But, in the murky water of the Pearl River, Robicheaux finds that some things are more important than sweet, simple revenge.

More mayhem? Listen to another of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux thrillers.©1990 James Lee Burke (P)1993 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"A highly spiced gumbo of vice, violence, voodoo." ( Observer)

Thought Provoking Thriller

Dave Robicheaux is one of my favorite sleuths, and James Lee Burke is a superlative author. His prose is gorgeous, so much so that at times I stopped to record a particularly pithy observation in my journal, to chew on in the future.

This is a marvelous book that will grab your attention and hold it throughout; I couldn't stop listening until I reached the end.

Some reviewers have commented on the narrator. I've heard both, and although I like the Swan Peak narrator better, Hammer does an acceptable job.

Don't miss it!

Mark Hammer does James Lee Burke Justice

It’s a paring made in listener heaven. What Burke puts on the page, Hammer brings to life with his smokey voice and easy Louisiana drawl. The book is a relatively early one so it felt a little dated. That might be because I’ve read several more recent ones as Robicheaux as aged. In my opinion, Burke is one of our great American writers. You can’t go wrong choosing his books.

I wished it would have lasted longer 😪

Another wonderful tail by one of my favorite authors (James Lee Burke) and one of the best on going series ever!

OK, but not the best

What did you love best about A Morning for Flamingoes?

Burke continues his excellent prose with Robicheaux's gritty reality offset by his own mental demons.

What other book might you compare A Morning for Flamingoes to and why?

The story line is similar to previous Robicheaux novels - and continues the story of the New Orleans detective. Check out "Neon Rain" for a great novel and narration.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I guess I prefer Will Patton's narrations over Mark Hammer's. This is probably a personal preference that you may not share.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't have the time to listen to a book in one setting, generally, but I nearly did just that with the "Neon Rain"

Gripping thrill ride

James Lee Burke does a terrific job weaving the storyline with the thoughts and feelings experienced by each character in this book.