Swan Peak

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

2009 Audie Award Finalist for Mystery

Beloved Louisiana lawman Dave Robicheaux returns—this time, traveling from New Iberia Parish to the wilds of Montana.

Dave Robicheaux, his wife, and his buddy Clete Purcell have retreated to an old friend’s ranch, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying their distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina. But the serenity is soon shattered when two college students are found brutally murdered in the hills behind where the Robicheauxs and Purcell are staying.

Deftly weaving intricate, engaging plotlines and original, compelling characters with his graceful prose, Burke transcends genre yet again.©2008 James Lee Burke; (P)2008 Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Great Cast!

Troyce Nix and Candace made this book for me. As with "Tin Roof Blowdown," this novel turns on the complexity of the human heart and the possibility for change and redemption. Only the truly evil people seem one-dimensional. Though always lyrical, Burke's descriptions of the Montana landscape do not have the intimacy and power that characterize his treatment of Louisiana venues. In this novel he supplants the wistfulness for an earlier, more innocent Louisiana with frank distaste for the intrusion of wealthy, out-of-state usurpers into the Montana landscape. The cast is fascinating, and the denouement surprising and satisfying. It is a rewarding read.

Utterly brilliant

This is another outstanding James Lee Burke novel with a value-added feature: an audiobook also provides the talented Will Patton as narrator. In fact, it is difficult to decide what I enjoy the most - Burke's brilliant plots, complex characters and detailed panoramic scenery or Patton's voices.
I was worried when I read that Dave, Molly and Clete had left the enticing confines of Louisiana for Montana. I was wrong. This is vintage James Lee Burke, who I believe is the best mystery novelist in the world.

annoying at first...

I'm new to the character Robicheaux, and initially I just didn't get Patton's voice and cadence. But it grew on me very quickly, sold me on the nuances of the characters, and captured more of their personalities than I would have gleaned from reading it myself.
Next on the list is more from the author, as long as it is read by Patton.

Absolutely fantastic

I listened to this audiobook perhaps three years ago, and randomly started listening to it again. I think this may be one of the best Robicheaux novels--even at second reading. James Lee Burke's luscious environments and artful dialog are never better exemplified than in Swan Peak. Burke gets away with the deus ex machina like no other writer because he sets it up so carefully in advance, and it ends up feeling completely plausible.

great book

Loved this book. It was good to see Dave and Clete in a different setting. Narrator seemed to have a little difficulty going between characters but i could still follow along.