The New Iberia Blues

Dave Robicheaux Series, Book 22

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

The shocking death of a young woman leads detective Dave Robicheaux into the dark corners of Hollywood, the mafia, and the backwoods of Louisiana in this gripping mystery from “modern master” (Publishers Weekly) James Lee Burke.

Detective Dave Robicheaux’s world isn’t filled with too many happy stories, but Desmond Cormier’s rags-to-riches tale is certainly one of them. Robicheaux first met Cormier on the streets of New Orleans, when the young, undersized boy had foolish dreams of becoming a Hollywood director.

Twenty-five years later, when Robicheaux knocks on Cormier’s door, it isn’t to congratulate him on his Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. Robicheaux has discovered the body of a young woman who’s been crucified, wearing only a small chain on her ankle. She disappeared near Cormier’s Cyrpemort Point estate, and Robicheaux, along with young Deputy Sean McClain, are looking for answers. Neither Cormier nor his enigmatic actor friend Antoine Butterworth are saying much, but Robicheaux knows better.

As always, Clete Purcel and Davie’s daughter, Alafair, have Robicheaux’s back. Clete witnesses the escape of Texas inmate Hugo Tillinger, who may hold the key to Robicheaux’s case. As they wade further into the investigation, they end up in the cross hairs of the mob, the deranged Chester Wimple, and the dark ghosts Robicheaux has been running from for years. Ultimately, it’s up to Robicheaux to stop them all, but he’ll have to summon a light he’s never seen or felt to save himself and those he loves.

Stephen King hailed New York Times best-selling author James Lee Burke “as good as he ever was”. Now, with The New Iberia Blues, Burke proves that he “remains the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed” (Michael Connelly).

©2019 James Lee Burke (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Hmmmmm

Far and away the most dragged out and convoluted of the series.
Let me say this too-I’m a massive fan of these books and these characters. They are alive to me. Burkes’s descriptions and development of the participants as well as the environs in which they are set come alive each time I turn the book back on.
That said, sometimes I didn’t know quite what the hell was going on. And I’m not sure I’ve known Robicheaux to have SO MUCH ANGST. Every decision, that in other books Robicheaux seems to have made easily, was questioned, torn apart and reassembled-then there would be no resolution. It would be over the smallest matter, too. I’m relieved it’s over, frankly. Maybe I don’t understand the development of the character over the years. Maybe it’s because this is where Robicheaux is where he is in his life. Hell I don’t know. I just know it was painful and not in a metaphorical way to listen to him.
And finally, I loved Clete, Alafair and Smiley. They didn’t change! Oh and Burke gets major points for the names of all the characters. He always does a fantastic job with that.
The story was good I just couldn’t roll with large chunks of Dave’s role in this book. It didn’t seem like him.

Thank Goodness Will Patton is back!

I’ve read all of the Dave Robicheaux novels on audible because of the stunning and authentic performances of Will Patton. He makes the books come alive. Recently I read one performed by someone else and it was a bitter disappointment. The book was good.....Just not the same. Wish I could give the performance a 10.

ROBICHEAUX IS BACK ON FULL FLEEK!

I am a big fan of this series, mainly due to Will Patton’s masterful narration. My late husband and our children are descendants of pre-Civil War free people of color, who still live and farm in New Iberia LA. Burke provides rich descriptions of the people, locale, food, even, the smells of New Iberia. His crime writing is well-crafted and suspenseful. I had listened to all of the books in this series but was very disappointed by the previous one “Robicheaux”. It was such a rambling mess of similes and sustained angst about his dead wife that I thought I would kill myself!!! Even Will Patton seemed to be bored, not sustaining the different voice characteristics in each person, even losing Dave and the glorious gangsta P.I. Clete Purcell in the messiness of his narration. But everyone is back in da house in “The New Iberia Blues”! Dave is finally over his tragedy and the loveable rogue, Crete, is as grumpy and out-of-control as ever! Even the “Sweet Sociopath” Smiley makes us want to fist bump him like you know want to do with Hannibal Lecter! Well worth the credit/cash. I can’t wait for the next installment!

Fair Book Difficult to Follow

Once again we have a fair book by this author performed well by actor Will Patton. The story line of this book is about s string of murders in a small town in Louisiana. The plot begins off well enough, but the author put so much mystic descriptions and daydreams that it is really hard to follow along. Mr Burke does a good job of building the characters, however he must have decided that the book wasn't long enough so he went back and added a bunch of vague descriptions for "fluff". Descriptions filled with metaphors that really have nothing to do with the actual book or what is going on in the book.
Mr Patton did a great job performing the book in all of the different voices of the characters. Actually Mr Patton was part of the reason that I purchased this book.

Disappointed

James Lee Burke has always been an excellent wordsmith and Will Patton’s ability to mimic the Louisiana dialect usually makes for a great audiobook experience.
Unfortunately, I thought this was the weakest of Burke’s storylines and with less interesting character development.

Okay, but ...

Sorry, but this title just wasn't up to JLB's excellent previous work. The gratuitous violence didn't need such thorough handling. When certain characters met their demise, I had no need to smell the blood and experience the image of body parts, too. The personal chronology of certain characters is, of course, a stretch, but this is fiction and therefore excusable. Many, many excellent passages and characters that keep me reading, and yet as a singular work, maybe not one of his best.

This is why I have audible

This performance by Will Patton was simply extraordinary. I have read all the Dave Robicheaux books save this one. The surprises and new sides of Dave, Clete and Helen were many. The prose was sparkling and always moved the story forward. The return of Smiley was also surprising and well integrated into the mystery. Every day that I listened was a happy, thrilling day. No need to say more. Just listen, smile and thrill to Patton’s gifted storytelling.

NO ONE WRITES LIKE JAMES LEE BURKE & NO ONE ...

...reads his work like Will Patten. Gorgeous and poignant, tense and disturbing storyline, richly layered characters (even the bad guys), and served up in a performance that
makes it cohesive , brings it alive. No one will ever be able to perform Robicheaux like Patten.

Marvelous!

One of the very best of the best in the Robicheaux series. It’s a poetic, beautiful struggle of good over evil while remaining true to the characters we love. Will Patton is perfectly on target as always.

Desperate book

This book is too wordy, unbelievable characters and desperate try at a mystery. It’s a very frustrating despicable book.