A Morning for Flamingoes

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

James lee Burke and mark hammer Great match!!!

There is nothing like being able to listen to book versus reading it yourself. Mark Hammer is the voice that helps you feel like you are a part of the story. I like Will Payton but I will miss Mark. I have listened to this series many times and it never gets dull.

A Morning For Flamingoes

I love his stories. I have read James Lee Burke for many years. It’s great to have the audio books now
The story keeps you right into it And the narrator makes you feel involved

Possibly my favorite Robicheaux novel

This is James Lee Burke at the top of his game. Dave Robicheaux is one of my favorite characters and Burke is a master of mood and scenery. This one was free, but it would have been worth a credit. The language is definitely from the late 20th Century and some words sound surprising in 2023.

Where is Will Patton.

The story is good but The book just doesn't have it without Will Patton. Period. He is Dave

Loved the story hated the story teller

Great book by James Lee Burke, but mark Hammer almost ruined the entire thing. Considered several times returning it because of the narration. He was so slow in speaking I had to make the speed 1.5 X . Coming off of Will Patton narrating (he makes a grocery list sound interesting) this was just shy of nails on the chalk board. If I didn’t want to have all the pieces of Dave Robichioux’s character, I would have given up in the first 30 min.

Early Robicheaux, a little slow,

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I favor Will Patton but Mark Hammer has a similar presentation, slow and drawn out. In this case its a little too slow. I cant really fault the reading too much as it was still compelling enough.

If you’ve listened to books by James Lee Burke before, how does this one compare?

I didnt like this one as well as most others. It was too long given the story/plot. I found many of the characters, including Dave Robicheaux to be inconsistent and a bit unreal. righteous anger that didnt seem to last, moralizing on one subject but neutral on another that would have required equal outrage. Anyway, as always Burkes writing is near poetry, and very compelling.

What aspect of Mark Hammer’s performance would you have changed?

Hammer reads too slow, even though he is trying to impart the feeling of the moment, it just drags.

Nice writing, great narration

I'm a fan of JLB novels and this one stands out as more complex, less predictable. At the end of the first reel, the story had gotten us through a climax, but certainly the story was far from finished. As another reviewer noted, the characters are somewhat more believeable and the protagonist actually develops an ambivalent relationship with the "baddie," finding redeeming qualities and commonalities with him. Mark Hammer did a stand-up job narrating the characters, mood and pacing. You can tell he enjoyed this story.

Prefer different reader

I enjoyed the story line, however, the reader made it difficult to understand which character was speaking.

Review

Good character development easy to follow story to follow well written by author . Great series

Excellent as all his books are. Very intense and i

In-depth emotionally. hated for this one to end. I get great enjoyment from the Louisiana description s. like going on a trip.