Customer Reviews

Burn Me Deadly (Eddie LaCrosse, Book 2)(Library Edition)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In March of 2008 I wrote of the first Eddie LaCrosse novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde:

"In private investigator Eddie LaCrosse, Bledsoe creates a character who is equal parts witty and charming, rough-and-tumble and roguish. LaCrosse's journey reveals him to be a character of surprising depth in a novel that is short (232 pages) by today's standards. Bledsoe uses each page to his advantage and has crafted a page turner story that had a few "I didn't see that coming" moments as it reached its conclusion."

Alex Bledsoe had merged the genres of sword-and-sorcery and pulp noir so successfully that I was unsure if such an amalgam could ever be topped. To which Mr. Bledsoe has now replied (to the voices in my head, at any rate), "Take that!"

Alex Bledsoe proved in his first novel that he could deftly interweave the kind of literary worlds created by authors like Robert E. Howard and Ian Fleming, infuse it with a witty sense of humor that respects both genres, and in the course of so doing breathe life into these well-worn literary conventions. Then he went out and did it again.

It takes a special skill, in my opinion, to write a sequel that provides readers, new and old, with enough background information to recap the previous story without bogging down the new story. This is one of many areas in which Burn Me Deadly succeeds. Alex Bledsoe drops the reader right into the action in a manner that compels the pages to be turned, and then he proceeds to introduce Eddie LaCrosse, beloved characters met in The Sword-Edged Blonde, and the world itself so skillfully that I never once felt like I was reading a `previously in The Adventures of Eddie LaCrosse...' info dump.

I had not realized just how much I missed Eddie's world until I cracked open the cover of Burn Me Deadly, and then it all came flooding back. The roguish charm and `damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't' heroism of the main character, `the kick-ass-and-ask-questions-later' women, dastardly-and deadly-villains, Eddie's relationship with his horse...there is just so much to love. Yet even as I type these lines I realize that there are some who might read them and think this is exactly the kind of thing they do not like about the sword-and-sorcery or pulp noir genres. I could list dozens of wonderful-and divergent-books, television shows, and films that come to mind when I read Bledsoe's books, and yet it isn't their similarity that makes this such a fun world to lose yourself in. It is the fact that Alex Bledsoe uses the familiar to do something creative and has once again crafted a read that is thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. Unlike the criticisms of lack of character depth that can be lodged against these genres, Bledsoe writes characters that you care about, that have meat on their literary bones-characters that give you that twinge of melancholy when that last page is turned because you are just not ready to say goodbye.

It might seem prosaic to describe a book as "fun", but when I say that Burn Me Deadly, like its predecessor, is a really fun read, I mean it with genuine affection and see it as the highest praise. It is a book that will surely appeal to those who have found a home within these genres, but I submit that the book has a much more broad appeal if you will only give it a chance. My wife does not typically read books in the fantasy or noir genres. She is a big fan of mysteries, however. When she saw how much I was enjoying Burn Me Deadly, she quickly picked up The Sword-Edged Blonde and tore through it and then devoured Burn Me Deadly in its wake and she thought they were great.

As is my wont, I will not delve into great detail about the plot. That would spoil the fun. Suffice it to say that Alex Bledsoe has taken all the best from the genres he is paying homage to, has mixed in some religion, some dragons, some humor, romance, adventure and has crafted a book that will leave you thoroughly satisfied with the time spent reading it.


Thank you, Mr. Bledsoe, for more of Eddie LaCrosse, a character who is fast becoming one of my very favorites. I certainly hope to see more of Eddie in the future.

I hope it's not giving too much away, but this story is about dragons. It's not complicated, and it's easy to recognize the good guys from the bad guys, which I like. There are a few twists that you don't necessarily see coming, but the real enjoyment in reading this novel is in getting to spend a bit more time with Eddie LaCrosse. Eddie LaCrosse is a character you wish you could sit down and have a beer with just so you could hear his tales, and you know he's got a million of them. He's a lovely mix of impulse, experience, capability, and roguish charm, and he has a quiet deadpan wit that just draws you in. I look forward to more of his adventures. In fact, I hope he runs afoul of pirates next, that is a story I'd love to hear.

Burn Me Deadly is Bledsoe's second Eddie LaCrosse novel, which again plays the Noir/Fantasy combo very well. The action is believable as its main character Eddie gets as good as he gives most times. The pacing of Burn Me Deadly is a bit slower this time around, but it serves the story well after some hard action on Eddie at the start.

Eddie is one tough nut and won't let go even if he has no clue what is going. A promise made to someone he just met leads him down a harsh road and into the hands of [...] and questioning the allegiance of those closest to him. Although you get the feeling he is avenging his horse and pride more than the girl. Again the magic is on the low side, which makes you appreciate the little this is included. This is a land where legends have lied dormant for a long time and are just now stirring. But legends don't always turn out to be what you expect as Eddie and his companion Liz learn as they step into the mud. Liz was given some expected and needed depth this time around.

Burn Me Deadly comes off a bit like Abercrombie-light, which is not necessarily a bad thing as Abercrombie can be a bit much for some stomachs as was evidenced by some of the harsher scenes in Best Served Cold. That said this is the gruesome side of Bledsoe as he lets some truly harrowing things happen to a few characters with deeply tortuous acts. All in all this was a great revenge tale that pleases on all levels including the ending.

Bledsoe has again achieved an action packed adventure as Burn Me Deadly will keep you guessing at the truth of the matter in its truly noir style along with its likeable protagonist LaCrosse. Highly recommend to fans of detective style mashups. Folks new to the world should start at the beginning to get the best idea of where the characters have come from. I'd really like to see a map included in the next volume as the region and its divisions are discussed quite a bit and LaCrosse moves around a lot it would help to get some more footing for his movements.

Ah, the combination of Alex Bledsoe (the author), Eddie LaCrosse (the hero) and Stefan Rudnicki (the reader) -- it doesn't get much better than that!

Burn Me Deadly is the sequel to The Sword-Edged Blonde, which I adored, and since Mr. Bledsoe has been picked up by Tor, I'm guessing I'm not the only one who felt that way. I'm happy to report that I enjoyed Burn Me Deadly even more than The Sword-Edged Blonde. Mr. Bledsoe's got a good thing going here and I think his success results primarily from three factors:

1. His writing style is consistently clear, spare, and straightforward. There is no feel of a conscious attempt to be stylish, yet there are occasional beautiful insights and figures of speech (especially Eddie's similes) and a splash of grim humor. This style works perfectly with the first-person voice and noir style of these books -- just the facts, ma'am.
2. His hero is mature (not an angsty teenager) and naturally likable. Eddie LaCrosse is just a normal guy. Well, he's actually from a minor noble family, but this is almost irrelevant so far. (I'm not sure if Mr. Bledsoe plans to capitalize on Eddie's connections later, but if so, thankfully there's no foreshadowing.) Eddie's got some serious skills since he worked as a sword-jockey, but he doesn't have any magical powers or instruments, or any sort of prophecy, destiny, or hero complex.
3. His plot is quick, exciting, tense, and realistic. There are no foreshadowed events or ridiculous plot contortions to get characters in the right places at the right times, and the things you think you see coming don't come. You often feel like you're reading a straight crime novel (in a different world), until suddenly there's a god or a dragon. Also, nothing is prettied up. Sex happens, torture happens, swearing happens, murders happen. Not in an Abercrombie shock-value kind of way; just in a real-life kind of way.

Those three things make for a terrific original fantasy, but add in one more factor -- Stefan Rudnicki as the reader in the audio version -- and you've got something that goes beyond. Rudnicki is always a wonderful reader, but this part was made for him. Not only does he have the perfect deep gruff voice for noir, but he also pulls off female characters quite well. Kudos to Blackstone Audio for recognizing this obvious pairing.

If you listen to audiobooks, you absolutely must choose that format for The Eddie LaCrosse Mysteries. If you don't listen to audiobooks, it's time to start with The Sword-Edged Blonde.

In sleazy downtrodden Neceda, self-employed private investigator with a sharp sword Eddie LaCrosse will do anything except murder for twenty-five pieces of gold. After finishing an inquiry for a paying customer, Eddie is riding back on his horse Lola to his seedy office over slimy Angelina's Tavern.

However, this trek home is a bit different when he almost runs over a severely injured almost nude blonde. His head tells him to keep going as no good deed goes unpunished; but his lower head wins the debate. Eddie stops to help Laura Lesperitt, but soon is waylaid by some vicious thugs who torture him and Laura before knocking him out. When he regains consciousness, the outraged master swordsman sees in the moonlight the dead battered Laura lying near him. He is taken to the moon goddess hospital where his girlfriend freelance courier Liz Dumont tells him he is a mess who lost a week. Eddie owes three torturers payback even if that means as he learns dealing with a dragon cult tied to criminal gangs and the house of King Archibald; Liz is at his side helping him stand up though he knows he must tell her the secret about her twin sister that stands between them; alas that is for another time.

The second La Crosse medieval sword and sorcery Noir (see THE SWORD-EDGED BLONDE) pays obvious homage to Mickey Spillane with terrific action from the onset when the hero breaks his basic rule of non-involvement (except for a fee) and gives Laura a lift. Once he regains consciousness in spite of aching ribs and other bruises, Eddie knows three men deserve his pin point sword. Fans will enjoy this entertaining thriller as the hero finds vengeance Spillane style as Eddie (like Hammer) learns blondes can prove deadly.

Harriet Klausner

This is the second novel in a series about a "private detective" in a fantasy medieval world. There is a bit of magic, as there was in the first novel, but mostly it is played straight. The detective solves the mysteries with his head and muscle, not with an abracadabra. The story is gritty and "believable." All in all, an entertaining read for a gloomy winter's day.

I am a new fan to the Eddie LaCrosse novels. I read the first one and then downloaded the other two on my kindle as soon as I finished. If you like fantasy and are looking for a fun read I highly recomend the Eddie LaCrosse novels

I read the first of Bledoe's "Eddie LaCross" novels last year, and thinking back on it I'm still impressed that the main conceit of the story is still with me (mostly in the form of the rhyme). So I was quite hopeful that his second outing in the noir-and-sorcery genre would be as equally engaging, and my hopes were realized.

One of the blurbs on the book jacket mentions that reading the previous book ('The Sword-Crossed Blonde') isn't necessary to enjoy 'Burn Me Deadly,' and I would concur with that statement - for the most part. There are references throughout the book that hint at what has happened previously, but said knowledge isn't required for the plot of 'BMD.'

Having said THAT, some of the events in 'BMD' don't exactly come as a shock having read the previous book; knowing what Eddie has experienced in the past makes the ending just a little easier to guess at.

I will say that there is a shade less of a mystery to this book; too much of the plot unfolds linearly and looking back at what happens in the book isn't a good indicator as to what might happen at the end.

All in all, I look forward to future books in this series by Bledsoe.

Although I have a soft spot for Wisconsin authors, I am especially fond of ones that take genres where they were not originally meant to go. Alex does just that (again) with the second Eddie Lacrosse book. Although set in a fictional sword-wielding land (with strongly Wisconsin names), the style of the story and most of the characters personalities are drawn from detective noir.

When you finally see a traditional fantasy trope used, you are so involved in the noir feel for it that you have the sense of disbelief that those things exist in this world, which offers the pop that you would not get from a traditional fantasy setting.

As a big fan of the Garret P.I. novels by Glen Cook, I was hoping to find a similar blend of the fantasy and hard-boiled detective genres. This book was darker, more violent, and less fun. Although most of the sex and violence takes place, "off screen," it still struck me as a bit too grotesque for my tastes. (Several characters are tortured and mutilated throughout the story.) The story flowed reasonably well (with a few exceptions) and a few areas struck me as having worked a bit too hard to blend the genres. This caused a few portions to seem a bit contrived but none of them was too severe. On the whole, I would have to say the genre for this book would best be described as CSI meets Fantasy. It's not bad if you don't mind the violence but I personally prefer a more intellectual type of mystery.