Customer Reviews

Burning Angel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dave Robicheaux, ex-New Orleans homicide detective and now a detective for the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, responds to a call from Sonny Boy Marsallus and ends up putting his life on the line. Sonny Boy is an ex-tough from Iberville, Dave's old stomping grounds, a man who worked the streets with steely grim resolve but somehow kept a generous heart as well. When his business saving fallen angels from the Giacano Family grew too successful, Sonny Boy traded in the streets of Iberville for the jungles of South America and ended up working for years as a mercenary and for the DEA. During a brief meeting, Sonny Boy asks Dave to keep a journal safe for him. He doesn't explain what's in the journal, but does take time to say dangerous people are looking for it. Three days later, the woman Sonny Boy gave a copy of the book to ends up murdered, and Sonny Boy has disappeared. Before long, Dave unearths connections that link Sonny Boy to dangerous ex-CIA types and to the local Mafia figure, John Polycarp Giacano. At the same time, Bertie Fortenot, the black woman who helped raise Dave, asks him to look into a real estate matter for her. Moleen Bertrand, one of the old money families in Iberia Parish, has threatened legal action to get the black families off the land his family, according to Bertie, gave to the black families scores of years ago. Dave probes both cases, finding them inextricably linked and having to reach back into a case nearly twenty years old to tie everything together.

James Lee Burke is an amazing author with a growing body of terrific work. On some levels, his novels work as beach reads and on other levels they are morality plays and presentations of philosophical discussions. His work also includes healthy doses of social commentary, perception, and observation. Burke is, like his series hero, a man who has been banged around by life and has survived only by adhering to strong convictions and faith. He's written several Dave Robicheaux novels, and has another series about Texas attorney, Billy Bob Holland. In addition to his two bestseller series, Burke has written several award-winning standalone novels such as: THE CONVICT, HALF OF PARADISE, THE LOST GET-BACK BOOGIE, and TWO FOR TEXAS.

BURNING ANGEL is a good book of crime and suspense, but where the novel really shines is in the prose. James Lee Burke is a poet, a skilled craftsman who knows how to use words. He paints with emotion, and he textures his world in guilt and nobility, self-doubt and a resilience of morality. No one writes with a stronger lyrical resonance than James Lee Burke. And no one paints scenes or people with the same uncanny skill. When a reader follows Dave Robicheaux into a scene from the novel, that reader can feel wherever that place is. Burke also has the knowledge and love for those places, too, because he wraps up bits of history (both personal and geographical and political) behind those places and areas. The interpersonal relationships between Robicheaux and his family, friends, co-workers, and boss also round out the picture of a solid man rather than a mere cardboard character. By doing this, he also rounds out and lifts the characters around Robicheaux. The author is also skilled in the use of drama, tension, suspense, and mystery-especially when tying current mysteries to ones that come rattling out of the closets from the past. In one last tip of the hat to his Southern roots, Burke's title and thrust of the story alludes to one of the most Southern of tales, the Gothic-that bit of the supernatural world that is seen just from the corner of the eye that must be believed in or taken on faith rather than made tangible.

The only weakness BURNING ANGEL shows is in trying to tie everything together at the end. Events become blurred and a little disorganized, and a few big leaps of logic are made to give the villains proper motivations.

James Lee Burke is an amazing author who offers up scintillating prose, deep characters, and a rich tapestry of physical environment and history. Fans of Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, Dennis Lehane, and Elmore Leonard will be happy with this book.

I love almost everything about James Lee Burke including his prose, his characters and especially, the locations he writes about. But Burning Angel is the second book in a row where I had a problem with the plot.

As usual, Dave Robicheaux (deputy with the New Iberia Sheriff's Department) has way too much going on. First, Robicheaux runs into a "friend" who grew up in New Iberia and ended up being a Canal Street fixer in New Orleans. Sonny Boy Marsallus has dabbled in almost everything including being a Latin American mercenary and an independent working for the DEA. Marsallus thinks his life is in danger and asks Robicheaux to hold a notebook with damaging information. A plantation owner is trying to gain possession of land that his grandfather deeded to the families of former slaves. Why he wants the land is a big mystery, but the mob also seems to be involved. It is also rumored that Jean Lafitte buried treasure there. Lots of bad guys hover on the edges and there always seems to be a hit out on Robicheaux.

There were too many things going on in Burning Angel, and I had a hard time keeping them all straight. I'm ok with the the local crimes, the mob plots, and even the Viet Nam angle. But Burke gets very murky when delving into the world of clandestine operations in Latin America. Usually Burke wraps things up at the end, but there were an awful lot of loose ends hanging here. Even the epilogue wasn't much help.

Despite the plot, there is still enough in Burning Angel to keep me reading. Burke regales us not just with the beauty of Louisiana, but also her ugliness (her racism, exploitation of the environment, the mob influence, poverty, the crime, etc.). Robicheaux's new partner, Helen Soileau, is also a good fit. She's unlike any woman he has teamed up with in the past. She's not always very politically correct and sometimes shows less restraint than Robicheaux. Clete Purcell and Helen loathe each other, but a grudging respect develops when they pull together to assist Robicheaux. It's rather comical.

Even though the plot of Burning Angel was not as polished as previous books, Burke is still a better writer than most mystery writers today. I'm still determined to read them all and I have five more to go.

BURNING ANGEL by James Lee Burke is another Dave Robicheaux adventure among the mobsters and assassins of New Iberia, Louisiana. In the midst of turmoil caused by racial and class prejudice, Sonny Boy Marsallus, a smalltime hood, asks for Dave's help because several local mobsters are after him. Sonny Boy--a sometime soft-hearted good-guy--convinced many prostitutes under the mob's tutelage that leaving town would be in their best interests. Also, fear of eminent reprisals prompt Sonny Boy to give Dave a mysterious little black journal to hold for him. In addition, Dave attempts to help Bertie Fontenot, a poor black sharecropper, whose lands bequeathed to her by the wealthy owner, Moleen Berrand's grandfather, are being invaded by an enigmatic disposal company. Moleen's situation is less than favorable, too, because of money problems, a failing marriage and a renewed interracial relationship with Bertie's niece, Ruthie Jean. The plot is so complicated the reader can get lost as easily as moving blindly through a Louisiana, crocodile-infested bayou. However, the lush prose makes the trip a real treat.

James Lee Burke has been called "the Faulkner of crime fiction." The phrasing, descriptions, and word usage are so beautiful that the reader wants the cadences to go on and on. Burke was successful early in his writing career. But after his third book was published in the l960s, it was fifteen years before another book made it into print. One book, THE LOST-GET BACK BOOGIE, was rejected one hundred times. It was finally nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Burke's prose is breathtaking. His poetic descriptions put the reader right in the scene where all five senses are pulsating and alive. When Dave has a continuous nightmare about his alcoholism, he thinks "the rush is just like the whiskey that cauterizes memory and transforms electrified tigers into figures trapped harmlessly inside oil and canvas."

The plot, however, is all over the place like the lush growth along the banks of Louisiana's bayous. Some subplot ends are left untied. We never find out, for instance, why the Blue Sky Electric Company wants Berti's land and is willing to destroy a hundred-year old cemetery to get it. However, the story is rich with villains like Johnny Carp and Sweet Pea Chaisson and gutsy characters Helen Soileau, Dave's side-kick, Clete and Alafair, Dave's daughter. Appearances of the burning angel add a fantasy element that is believable and scary.

BURNING ANGEL will appeal to readers who want an intelligent story exquisitely told. Some of Burke's other novels are BLACK CHERRY BLUES, DIXIE CITY JAM, and CIMARRON ROSE.

If you are reading these reviews and have not had the pleasure of reading anything by Mr. Burke, then you need to get your hands on one of these Dave books. Start with Neon Rain and work your way thru the whole series.

If you are an audiobook fan, there is no better way to spend a few hours a day relaxing with one of these books on tape. Will Patton is my favorite reader, but Mark Hammer does a great job, too. I promise you, once you hear the first 2 lines, you will be hopelessly drawn in for life. The audiobooks start with Heaven's Prisoners (book #2 in the series)and Dave starting out with a new life on the bayou.

I have recommended James Lee Burke to all my friends and family and no one has been disappointed.

Book reviewers probably overuse "atmospheric" in their critiques, but to describe James Lee Burke's writing as atmospheric is akin to observing that Daniel Steele's literary talents are "shallow". In fact, if Burke has a flaw, it is that the settings are so dense and powerful that the plot can be, if not lost, at crushed by the atmospheric pressure. Burke writes of southern Louisiana with a mix of pride and frustration, of steamy bayous and rusted car bodies, of antebellum mansions presiding over tin shacks. Lots of pain, precious little joy. Burke's south is a mystical place, where from the swampy mists the ghost of a Confederate soldier is as likely to break as is the sun. He pens his lyrical prose with a fatalism and pathos that only a diehard, but sincere, liberal can master.

From this atmosphere, the story of "Burning Angel" slowly unwinds. Dave Robicheaux, the perpetually haunted and self-suffering cop of backwater Iberia, LA, agrees to help the local po' black folk get to the bottom of a land dispute with the wealthy gentry. (I like Robicheaux's character - he is written with an uncommon depth, sensitivity, passion but also in-your-face toughness - but can anyone remember Robicheaux laughing - ever?) Enter Sonny Boy Marsallus, a seemingly 'common' thug, were it not for his uncommon sense of honor and loyalty. Marsallus has a mysterious past, linked through the Central American jungles to the past of Robicheaux ex-NOPD partner and friend, the inimitable Clete Purcell. The plot is not straightforward, which is OK, as it allows Burke plenty of time to weave in another set of unforgettable supporting characters, heavily weighted towards New Orleans mobsters and cutthroat militant mercenaries. Throw in the lure of Jean Lafitte buried treasure and just a hint of the supernatural, and you'll be hooked on another melancholy and thoroughly entertaining brand of crime fiction that has become a Burke trademark. Kick back and succumb to Burke's humid tale of brutality without redemption. Fiction doesn't get much more noir, nor entertaining, than this.

James Lee Burke is one of America's finest mystery writers. Not only does he put together a good story populated by interesting (and sometimes upsetting) characters, he captures the true flavor of a unique region. I moved to Acadiana after having read the first few books in this series. I kept having a weird sense of deja vu as I travelled around Lafayette, New Iberia, and New Orleans. It finally dawned on me that I had read about some of these locations in Burke's books. Burke paints with words, giving a reader a sense of the taste, the smell, the sounds, the *feel* of south Louisiana. This is how the place is (although most folks experience a whole lot less violence in their lives).

I strongly suggest that you read this series in chronological order. A little warning. While Burke never spares us a view of the more violent and vicious side of humanity, some of the books are particularly dark. I wonder if the darkest of the books were written at less happy points in his life. Burke will make you care about characters in the series, then do terrible things to them. These books are outstanding. Be prepared for a wild ride.

BURNING ANGEL is one of James Lee Burke's novels featuring Dave Robicheaux as a detective with the Iberia Parish sheriff's office. Robicheaux's interaction with Sonny Boy Marsallus is at the heart of the story. Sonny Boy is a shady character with a checkered past but as the story develops, he appears to be a guardian angel to Robicheaux and his family. As unsavory a character as Sonny Boy is, he seems like a choir boy when compared to the other characters Robicheaux faces. Even their names (Sweet Pea Chaisson, Emile Pogue, Johnny Polycarp Giacano) invoke images that are reinforced by Burke's descriptions and by the threats they pose to Robicheaux. Secrets emerge and lives change as Robicheaux investigates powerful people and their effect on those who have little or no power.

James Lee Burke is a best-selling author whose awards include a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize, two Edgar Awards, and the CWA/Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction. THE NEON RAIN was the first of the Robicheaux series, and Burke's series featuring Texas Ranger-turned-lawyer Billy Bob Holland began with TWO FOR TEXAS.

The author is a consummate storyteller and is a master at description. He conveys the strengths and weaknesses of the characters, both the positive people in Robicheaux's life and those who are less desirable. Burke's love of Louisiana is evident, and the geographic location is an integral part of the compelling story he tells.

Although the writing is excellent, there are weaknesses in the story line. Some events are not connected, and the reader is left with unanswered questions. Burke tells a complex story so these are minor criticisms.

When asked what he would do if he had to give up writing, Burke answered "I would never give up writing!" That's good news for readers! BURNING ANGEL is a must read for Burke's fans as well as for those who want to get to know the people and places in Iberia Parish, if only through the pages of an outstanding novel.

I read every other James Lee Burke novel I could get my hands on after reading this one. Frankly, I still think this is his best. The man is, above all, a poet. One of my very favorite writers today, along with Walt Moseley. However, I was disappointed in Cimmaron Rose. It had something sentimental about it that didn't ring true to me. There was a "coy" quality the other books just miss.

By the way - Cleat Purcell is one of the best characters in all detective literature. I thought Joe Don Baker's depiction of him on the screen was about right.

If Mr. Burke ever reads his reviews, I hope he won't be discouraged by this reader's less than enthusiastic take on Cimmaron Rose. In my opinion, you are one of the most exciting writers on the planet, Mr. Burke, and as a writer myself I have taken a lot of inspiration from your work, and I thank you.

I've now read nine of his books. I first read Purple Cane Road. It led me to read his stories in order. I'm so glad I did. The quality of Mr. Burke's story line, narrative, and insight flow through his books. I've read hundreds of mystery, crime, thriller books. Burke's about the best! Burning Angel was a delight. I was there with Dave and Bootsie, and Clete. Makes me fear he'll stop writing; makes me want more. I want to pass him on, recommend James Lee Burke to those who have yet to discover his stories as well as his insightful references to healing, help through the friends of Bill W.

Set in the bayou country of Louisiana, 'Burning Angel' by James Lee Burke blends gritty crime fiction with an understated supernatural element that is both suspenseful and entertaining. Homicide detective Dave 'Streak' Robineaux investigates a double murder that involves Sonny Marsallus, a local gambler, money-launderer, and soldier of fortune. Robineaux isn't the only one interested in Marsallus; a shadowy cadre of assassins wants Sonny dead. During his investigation, Robineaux gets sidetracked into a land dispute between the poor, black Fontenots and an upper-class attorney, Molleen Bertrand.

Burke displays a dazzling command of language and descriptive power, and his vision of the South is elegantly drawn, where ghosts of the past seem close at hand. The main characters, particularly Robineaux, Marsallus, and Bertrand are finely honed, as are the pimps, thugs, and crime lords of New Iberia.

The book only falters in the depiction of the Fontenots. Burke is keenly sensitive to the plight of this family, cast as helpless victims to malevolent external forces (in this case an amoral white overclass). Although we empathize with the Fontenots, characters stripped of free will (and thus unable to influence events) are never interesting.

Nevertheless, 'Burning Angel' is wonderfully paced and well written, and Burke's soaring prose elevates it to dizzying heights. Lost loves and family secrets haunt these characters, and as Robineaux visits the Bertrand plantation one last time, Burke closes with an epilogue that is a tour-de-force of sheer craft:

"And like some pagan of old, weighing down spirits in the ground with tablets of stone, I cut a bucket full of chrysanthemums and drove out to the Bertrand plantation...all our stories begin here--mine, Molleen's, the Fontenot family's, even Sonny's."

The story of the South begins and ends on the plantation. On this ground Burke seeks the interconnectedness of things; life begins in a lover's tryst, and ends in a graveyard, as Lee's phantom army marches through the trees. It is a remarkable gesture, a sweeping vision of life and death that lifts this book beyond its genre into something else, something that rings true in the human heart, something that we call art.