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

Extremely Hard to Listen to....

I've really enjoyed all the past Dave Robicheaux books but have had the hardest time listening to this one. Very hard to hold my attention and extremely hard to stop myself from constantly rolling my eyes at some of the horrible dialogue - seriously, people do not talk this way to each other - I don't care where you're from or where you're at - the constant smart @$$ repartee gets really old when piled on so constantly. Also - some of the little details thrown in for what? gross out factor? not at all sure "popped a pimple on his shoulder and wiped it on his pants" why? Burke, you're better than this.

bizarre rage violence brutality

If you could sum up Light of the World in three words, what would they be?

i love the dave robicheaux series. dave and cleet - or are they just one???? continue into an ever more surreal vortex of violence.

What did you like best about this story?

hands down the best narrated novels ever done. will patton channels james lee burke like no other narrator.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

cleet

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

darkness, violence, fury and the shallowness of greed

Any additional comments?

if you are new to james lee burke, this is definitely not the book to start with. this series gets weirder and weirder. great but not for JLB newbies or the squeemish.

What a great book!!!

If you could sum up Light of the World in three words, what would they be?

Best Must Hear

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like Cleet, and love Gretchen, but Robicheaux is the man. He is the anchor that keeps the other 2 from spinning out of control.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to say. Almost every scene has you sitting there wondering what will happen next, and when it does, it blows you away. Do not try to listen to this book while trying to accomplish anything else.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book left my head spinning. Just....Wow.

Any additional comments?

To me, Will Patton IS Dave Robicheaux. Because of his acting, its impossible for me to picture anyone else as one of the most interesting characters in any audio book series.
Like Joe Pike, and Detective Pendergast, I find myself wishing I could hang out with these guys and get to know them better.

Dave and Clete are up to old tricks.

What made the experience of listening to Light of the World the most enjoyable?

Catching up to old friends. I've been a faithful J.L.B. fan for well over 10 years. I grew up on the poor side of town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has the ability to step me back in time with every novel. His gift of showing the true conflicted heart of a man has brought me to tears at times because it has opened up memories of how I was raised. How the worst people can at times standup and make a differance when least expected. It reminds me we are all capable of the finest acts of self sacrifice and bravery. And also sometimes only a hairs breadth of unspeakable horror. Very rarely do you see characters with such unbridled humanity.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Seeing Dave's and Clete's daughters bring a fresh dynamic to the storyline. They both are enjoyable characters and pump new blood into the series.

As a father with two daughters age 22 and18, I felt Alifair and Gretchen's vocabulary and sayings were too much of a mirror of Dave's and Clete's old standbys. There is a 30 year gap in generational slang. And it makes the girls to much of a carbon copy. Young women don't regularly use their father's 20 or 30 year old slang. It sounds as awkward as me trying to use the new stuff kids/ young adults say. I used "gitting jiggy with it" at my youngest girl's 16th birthday. She asked me to never say that again! She was right though.thats not me. That's all that bugged me.

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

When Will Patton took over for Mark Hammer on this series I stopped reading the books and only listen to the audio version now. Will really fleshes out the supporting cast. He also put an edge in Dave's voice. Not so tired and beat by life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not this one. Montana is nice, but it don't have the passion for play or capicty for hard times like the 2 poorest states in the Union.

Any additional comments?

Not his best. But Still a good J.L.B. trip through the frailties of the human condition.

Classic Burke

Where does Light of the World rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

About a seven on a ten point scale.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cleet continues to be my favorite. He is only and lovable.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Cleet.

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

Yes, but it is too long to do so. I needed three nights.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the better Dave Ribicheaux mysteries. If one listens to only a few of them, this is one I especially recommend.

Will Patton is one of the best readers!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. James Lee Burke has a wonderful way of "turning a phrase". Will Patton has a wonderful way of verbally interpreting that phrase. I love following Dave Robicheaux and Cleet.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cleet has to be my favorite. He is human in his flaws and goodness plus - he gets all the best lines.

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

I drive long distances frequently. The Dave Robicheaux series are perfect for those long drives. I would love to listen to the entire book at one sitting.

Another JLB Homerun!

I couldn't wait to purchase this one after CREOLE BELL and I wasn't disappointed. I haven't read them in order so I was surprised to be taken to the beautiful land of Montana.Will Patton is an exceptional narrator and really brings Dave and Clete alive. If I could make a suggestion I would like to see the addition of a female narrator, especially when the female family members play a significant roles in the story. Bringing Gretchen Horowitz back adds a complex dimension to the story. She also, provides a good companion character to Alafair. I will be excited to learn when Book 21 is to be published, but in the meantime I will go back and fill in the earlier ones that I haven't listened to.

Making Things Right--Family Style

Dave, his wife, Mollie, daughter Alafair, Clete and his daughter Gretchen head to Montana for a vacation, which soon turns into a battle with a bad rich man, his son, and a very crazy escaped felon. Alafair and Gretchen are their fathers' daughters, not backing down, and facing off evil without blinking an eye. A great story, with, as usual, Burke's fluent language describing people, places and events.

But I have to say none of it would be as wonderful if not for Will Patton. He is Dave, and Clete, and Alafair and Gretchen. With a slight change in his voice, you can "see" who is speaking. His pauses and emphasis make the story that much greater. May he always be the voice of Dave and his kin.

Not as good as some others in the series

1. Did you enjoy this audible book?

Yes.
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2. What did you love best about the book/story?

My husband and I enjoy listening to the Dave Robicheaux series together. We both love the narration by Will Patton. He never disappoints.
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3. Did you have a favorite scene? Which one was your favorite?

Gretchen in a shootout with the 3 men in the pickup.
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4. Did you have a favorite character? Who and why?

Bertha.
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5. Was there any aspect of the book that particularly moved you, or you found memorable?

The scenes with Gretchen and Alafair conversing.
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6. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The character conversations do sometimes make my husband and I laugh out loud.
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7. What was your experience of the narration in this book?

Will Patton is extremely talented. It doesn't matter whether he's narrating a male or female voice in the book, he does it extremely well and incredibly believable. I'm not sure if we follow the series because of the storyline, or the narration. Probably both I guess, although without Will narrating, I don't think we would enjoy it as much.
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8. Have you listened to any of the narrator’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Other books in the Dave Robicheaux series.
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9. What does the narrator(s) bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had just read the book?

Authenticity and humor.
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10. Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?

I would recommend the entire series. Yes.
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10. Did you read the print version of this book?

I did not read the print version, so I can't compare the print version with the audio version.
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11. Any additional comments? None

Good read

After reading some of the negative reviews I was a little concerned I wouldn’t enjoy this book. As it turned out I thought it was good.

The story keeps the reader thinking and wondering what was coming next. There were some drawn out descriptions at times but not so much to cause me to dislike the book.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.