Customer Reviews

Black Cherry Blues (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Having read James Lee Burke's entire Dave Robicheaux series, I have to say that this novel, which introduced the flawed ex-cop with the mystical bent, is still one of the best. There are several things about this book that hit me as unique and made me want to return every time Burke served up another helping; the first is that Burke's ability with description and locale are unparalled, the second is the depth of character he was able to give Robicheaux by focusing on his personal demons (drink, violence and inner torment from loss and regret), and third is the 'mystical' element that informs each book - sometimes more than others - and allows the plot to be advanced by such devices as messages in dreams and intimations of a 'higher power.' Since Burke himself is a recovering alcoholic he is able to make this side of Dave's life quite real and moving.

This book (which won the Edgar Award in 1990) differs from later ones in the series in that Dave strays far afield from the rural Louisiana coast setting readers normally associate with him. But he is also, in the beginning, a more complex and interesting character. As the series progresses he becomes stiffer and more self righteous. Here he is unsure of himself and trying to come to grips with a life that has him on the ropes.

This is some of Burke's best writing and I would highly recommend it to mystery fans who have never tasted this rich Louisiana stew. It is unique and memorable.

Of all James Lee Burke's wonderful books, this was his first commercial success and remains his best single novel. It is a gritty mystery set in Louisiana which introduces us to Dave Robicheaux, a flawed but intelligent and good-hearted lead character.

Burke is a wonderful writer for two main reasons. First, his characters are well-written; they are memorable, realistic, and intriguing. Their dialogue absolutely CRACKLES.

Secondly, no reader can be unaffected by his descriptions- poetic even in the most grisly scenes. Seeing these scenes through Robicheaux's eyes, scenes as well-crafted as only Burke can do, we realize the depth and beauty of Robicheaux's mind.

Black Cherry Blues is less a Mystery Novel and more a Literary Work, an ideal way to spend an evening.

James Lee Burke has written a wonderful novel in this one. The characters are tough and full of vitality. As always his locations are so well portrayed you feel,see, taste and smell the details. Robicheaux, the ex-cop is coping with the murder of his wife, his service in Vietnam, being a recovering alcoholic, he is being blamed for a murder and he fears for the life of his adopted daughter. He is on the run from New Orleans to beautiful Montana. This is a wonderful book that surprises you with Robicheaux's philosophy. "...because I believe that God is not limited by time and space as we are, I believe that perhaps he can influence the past....and I begin to dwell on the unbearable suffering that people probably experienced before their deaths,I ask God to retroactively relieve their pain, to be with them in mind and body, to numb their senses, to cool whatever flame licked at their eyes in their final moments." James Lee Burke can stun you with his craft. This is a must read!

These are literally books you have to finish and hard to put down. JLB's descriptive powers are awsome. I am trying to catch up on his earlier works now in print. One character trait seems to run through all of them. The main characters are compelled to act in ways that are rarely in their ultimate best interests and often threaten both them and all those around them. Dave Robicheaux's inability to halt himself in the pursuit of "honor" is an interesting take on the alcoholic's egocentrism. I find myself admiring him and, at the same time, hating him for his relentless attmpts to maintain his dignity and right all wrongs, whatever the cost. I am fascinated by JLB's ability to make every scene real in my mind. There aren't many authors who can create atmosphere like Burke.

I hadn't read anything that evocative in a long time. The opener (which I understand is a bit from "Heaven's Prisoners," grabbed me by the throat. I was reminded of "The Angels Fell" by Erik Rush, which pulls you in over the first few pages just like "Blues." JLB is definitely the best!

If Spenser is introspective and articulate, Dave Robicheaux is haunted with his vision. And visions. If Elvis Cole is funny and irreverant, Dave is sad and wry. If Patrick Kenzie is haunted by his catholicism, Dave can't forget his alcoholism.

But most of all, Dave Robicheaux speaks in metaphors and aliteration. James Burke is the Poet Laureate of detective writing. The plots are intricate, the friends have tarnished feet along with the hero, and the bad guys, well, they're really bad.

All of the series is beautifully crafted. Mistakes he made, loves he cherishes, loyalties he prays for, all of these are part of the man.

Black Chery Blues is the beginning of a great series. Start with this one and read them all. You won't be disappointed. James Lee Burke is one of the best. He'll be on your shelf with Lehane, LeCarre, Parker and Crais, and all the rest.

I've read about half of Burke's Robicheaux novels, in no particular order, and I consider it one of the better ones in the series. The simple, powerful eloquence of Burke's writing is a beautiful thing to behold. He truly posesses a gift for metaphorical description, the likes of which have not been seen since Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe spun his morality plays of Los Angeles in the 1930's and 40's. The strength of the books in general are the emphasis on the thoughts and feelings of the main character, with the action of the story sometimes taking a back seat. I found myself looking forward to these brief respites throughout the novel. For example, I found the insight by Robicheaux that we all essentially become the reflection we see of our selves in other peoples eyes to be particularly touching and often quite true. The only criticism I really had was sometimes things got a little too metaphysicial and "otherworldly", case in point being how the dead woman told him in a dream about where to look for buried murder victims. There was in my mind a similar weakness in the "In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead", but I'll save my thoughts on that for another review.

This is the third book in the Dave Robicheaux series and, once again, it fairly drips with melancholy as Dave is still gripped with guilt and remorse over the death of his wife. Fortunately, this mood is tempered by his adopted daughter Alafair, who he first took care of in Heaven's Prisoners. She has provided a spark for his affections and has bestowed on him a much needed reason t act more responsibly.

Dave is drawn into danger, which in turn endangers Alafair, after a chance meeting with an old college room-mate named Dixie Lee Pugh, who is now a washed up jazz musician. Dixie Lee feels he is in some trouble after overhearing a couple of men discussing a murder and wants Dave to investigate. He only actually becomes involved after failing to control his temper which lands him in trouble with the law. To get himself out of this trouble he moves temporarily to Montana which is the setting for the bulk of the story. He takes Alafair with him rather than leaving her with his relatives, underlining his new found sense of responsibility.

James Lee Burke does a wonderful job of capturing the mood of a setting and incorporating it into the story. The Louisiana setting of this and his earlier books proved his affinity with the area with special highlights given to the cuisine. A new facet was uncovered be his wondrous descriptions of the Bitterroot Valley and surrounding locales in Montana.

Having now read the first three books in the Dave Robicheaux series I've found that my appetite for more has been whetted. His forthright style and general toughness in the face of adversity makes him a character who is easy to cheer for.

Over and above anything else, the first thing that struck me about James Lee Burke's "Black Cherry Blues" was the quality of the writing. Burke has an incredibly ability to beautifully describe his settings, making small town Louisiana and rural Montana vividly real to the reader. His descriptions are so good that I would often have to suppress the urge to have a late night snack after having my appetite whet when reading about something so basic as what Dave and his daughter made for dinner. Take away the whole suspense/mystery/thriller aspects of this novel, and it would almost still be worth reading just for Burke's descriptive abilities.

The plot itself is the classic "innocent man falsely accused" story. Dave Robicheaux, who is trying to live a quiet, simple life running a boat dock/bait shop and raising his daughter in New Iberia, LA, begrudgingly helps out an old college friend who is involved with some unscrupulous individuals. This leads to a series of events involving ominous threats towards Dave's daughter, Alafair, and culminates in Robicheaux being accused of a murder he didn't commit. The majority of the book takes place after Robicheaux heads to Montana to attempt to clear his name before his trial begins.

Burke seems to take great care in formulating his plot to make sure all his bases are covered. One small thing he did in this book that I really appreciated was to actually attempt to logically explain some of those bizarre coincidences that happen so often in suspense novels that immediately take me out of the novel because they come off as so unrealistic. There is a scene in "Black Cherry Blues" that is reminiscent of many thrillers, where a character is a second of two from having a knife stabbed into his chest, but is saved when somebody "happens" to walk in just at the right time. Many authors just take if for granted the readers will actually buy this, when my usual reaction is "yeah, right". Burke, on the other hand, actually takes this thriller cliche and gives a logical, believable explanation as to why this person knew to be where he was at exactly the right moment. This kind of care is taken throughout the book.

If I were to nitpick I would say that I was sometimes confused by Robicheaux's behavior, in that at times he seemed like someone who genuinely wanted to lead a peaceful life, and then would knowingly behave in a way that would get him into trouble with the wrong people. To be fair, if I had read the previous two Dave Robicheaux novels in the series (and after the quality of "Black Cherry Blues" I fully intend to) perhaps I would have had a better understanding of his character and personality.

I started reading James Lee Burke last year, and I have to say, so far this is the best series that I've come across. After reading The Neon Rain, Heaven's Prisoners, and this gem, Burke has captivated me from page one. If he wrote the directions for programming a VCR, I would be first in line to buy a copy. His characters are real, the writing witty and thought provoking, not to mention truly beautiful. James Lee Burke is in a class by himself. When Clete and Dave get together, the book comes to life like never before. If you haven't read it, read it. You will be thankful.