Customer Reviews

The Glass Rainbow: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

"The Glass Rainbow" -- the latest installment in James Lee Burke's series of crime novels featuring the New Iberia, Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux -- finds the author fully in command of his well-practiced skills in crafting plot, characters and setting. Fans of Dave need to know only this: Your expectations will be well met.

The theme for this go-round is the perennial one of good and evil. Dave's world-view remains tragic, his compassion undiminished for the innocent victims of violence. Once again Tripod, the family's three-legged pet raccoon, climbs trees and enjoys an occasional treat of ice cream. Dave -- also known as big mon, noble mon, bwana, troop, Pops, and Streak -- acquires yet another nickname: RoboCop. One of the book's colorful supporting characters, a wise-cracking 12-year-old named Buford, exchanges snappy insults with Clete Purcel, Dave's longtime friend. There are aberrant people on the loose ("an evil presence has come into our midst, a phenomenon not without precedent"). As always, the Louisiana Gulf Coast, lyrically serenaded, is an ever-present protagonist. Nature is more than eager to convert to antagonist during the stormy, climactic shoot-out. In the end we are a witness as evil consumes itself.

Happily for the reader, the irreducible core of "The Glass Rainbow" -- its true and joyful and sentimental propellant -- is the Dave and Clete Show. Over the years the repertoire of this pair of lawmen has grown broad and deep. Here, from the first chapter to the finale, the two of them are a team. Dave and Clete call to mind Mutt and Jeff, Felix and Oscar, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Their bag of repartee now includes bittersweet reflections on growing old. In Clete's case, the problem remains his adamant refusal at times to grow up. You have to laugh when Clete's irrepressible descriptions of his recent sexual exploits causes the prim Dave to squirm. Then you have to suppress a tear when Clete says to Dave, in the middle of a tense situation, "If you die on me, I'm going to get really mad."

Burke is working at peak performance in this book. Though it has its fair share of meanderings, the trajectory of the plot appeared to me to be more streamlined than usual (or maybe Burke's skills have ratcheted up, however improbably, another notch?). The action is centered on the present day, with minimal flashbacks. While there is still a complex layering of multiple subplots, baroque excesses are less evident than in previous books. The cast of characters is easy to follow. All of this may explain why I found "The Glass Rainbow" to be one of the quickest-to-read books in the series.

Could some readers find flaws in "The Glass Rainbow"? Yes. Major components of the who-done-it-and-how are left unexplored. Some might say the character named Kermit Abelard, a wealthy scion of Louisiana aristocracy who's dating Dave's daughter Alafair, is insufficiently developed. Readers used to the satisfying story arc Burke usually traces -- a path from atonement to redemption to restoration -- may be disappointed when the novel closes down abruptly without the benefit of the usual epilogue granting us balm after the storm. And, if I may be indulged a quirky observation of my own: after closing the book it occurred to me that not once had I heard the cry of a nutria, and I sorely miss that. (The patron animal for this book seems to be a blue heron.)

If you are new to the Robicheaux phenomenon you may be asking whether it makes sense to start in with "The Glass Rainbow" (the 18th installment in the series). My view is that reading the novels chronologically is ideal -- but not very realistic, since the size of the backlist is daunting. Plus, I suspect most of us fans did not follow a strict chronological route anyway, on the way to falling under the spell of New Iberia. When I consider the consistent quality of Burke's writing, the seemingly endless variations he spins on the same profound themes, and the immutability of his supreme creations, Dave and Clete, I think the newcomer can jump in at any point. Keep in mind that as the narrative of "The Glass Rainbow" unfolds, Burke anticipates the needs of new readers and at key points supplies you with appropriate background information on Dave, Clete and Alafair.

My advice is: Just start. Noble Mon is too good to miss.

The latest in the series of Burke's novels which features the fascinating Dave Robicheaux is a compelling read. All of of the Dave Robichiaux books feature the relationship of the central character with his loyal, though self destructive friend, Clete Purcel. This part of the narrative thread is more pronounced even than usual in this book. Clete's unstable temper results in trouble after he beats a drug dealer and pimp who subsequently is discovered dead. As always Burke handles multiples threads without a bit of difficulty. Serial killings and danger threaten Robicheax's daughter, the exotically named Alafair, whose literary ambitions lead her into dangerous relationships.

Burke's themes always embrace the vulnerabilty of his characters. Even the ultra tough and dangerous Clete Purcel is described as having "his most dangerous adversary living in his own breast". Ranged against innocence and vulnerability are the denizens of Louisiana' underworld whose evil sharply contrasts with the other characters who Burke depicts so well.

In my opinion, James Lee Burke is one of the best current writers, and not just in the thriller genre. The Louisiana backgound is always beautifully articulated. In no way is this unnecessary padding, a charge that can be levelled at some other successful, prolific writers. If your reading interests embrace top quality writing, even if you are not an aficionado of thrillers, I recommend that you try this novel. If you like thrillers, this is one you should not miss.

Enjoy the read!

I've read and enjoyed every one of Mr. Burke's books and I have to say this is his best Dave Robicheux tale yet. He writes of my beautiful, unique state like no one I've ever read, with the prose and heart of a poet. I couldn't help but cry a few times as he and Clete were fishing on Bayou Teche near the Gulf of Mexico and think, "Is this way of life now gone forever due to the horrific oil spill/destruction in the Gulf?" It made me treasure even more his magnificent, moving descriptions of my luscious, fecund state with a bittersweet poignancy. I can't praise his writing enough. He's one of my top five favorite writers on earth, no matter what the genre. The man is a master of his craft! The plot was tight and had me riveted right to the wild, heart-pounding ending. If you're a Dave Robicheaux fan, then you won't be disappointed. Mr. Burke only gets better with each new book.

Burke writes beautifully, but at this point he seems to be more or less phoning it in. All of the standard elements of a Dave Robicheaux novel are here. Protracted philosophizing about alcoholics and alcoholism? Check. Clete getting played by a bad woman, and going totally out of control? Check. Civil War phantoms? Check. Long descriptions of the beauty of the Louisiana countryside, contrasted with the corruption of its inhabitants? Check. A rich evil family flaunting the law and oppressing the poor? Check. I mean really, how many rich, evil families can there be in his little corner of Louisiana? So far we've met twenty or more in Burke's book, and the supply doesn't seem to be dwindling. Do your suppose they all belong to a big country club where only the criminally rich can become members?

****SPOILER ALERT****

You know that a mystery writer has run out of ideas when he has the bad guys go after the detective and his family. I don't just mean taking a pot shot when the detective comes too close. I mean focusing all of their efforts on killing the hero, his relatives and friends to the exclusion of everything else. In this book, the rich bastards are supposed to be involved in an evil plot that will make them BILLIONS of dollars, but we learn almost nothing about this plot. Instead, they become so focused on their (unsuccessful) efforts to do in Dave and everybody he loves by hiring a team of crack mercenaries that they seem to forget about the BILLIONS of dollars completely. I mean, puh-lease!

****END OF SPOILER ALERT****

So why three stars? It may be formula and it may be absurd, but Burke does it so well that it's possible to overlook its many laughably bad aspects and enjoy the heck out of it anyway.

There are a very few novelists who would fit into a very small genre I'd call "crime literature", as opposed to "thrillers" or "procedurals". Poe; Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment"; a small handful of others. James Lee Burke definitely falls into this category, and is probably the pre-eminent member alive today.

In his novels the crime is the unifying element tying together a larger story that encompasses physical setting; personal relationships among fully developed and realized characters, both central and peripheral; his observations on larger themes of life, as well as Southern culture; the nature of good versus evil; human strength and weakness; and the inherent value of loyalty, among many others. He does this without being pedantic or boring in any way; as a matter of fact, quite the contrary. His novels are completely engrossing and entertaining. That's quite a feat.

"The Glass Rainbow" is a perfect example of Burke at the height of his abilities, one of the best and most accomplished novels of the Robicheaux series.

The story opens with Dave Robicheaux investigating the deaths of a couple of young women who seem to be victims of a depraved predator. The victims are societal throwaways, and nobody seems very interested in solving the crimes. Dave's daughter Alafair is home, taking a break from college, and has become romantically involved with the scion of a wealthy but debased local family, a man who has befriended and taken in the ex-con author of a best-selling book based on his experiences as a prison inmate. Meanwhile Dave's buddy Clete Purcell is back in business as a PI, hired by a local investment broker to shadow the broker's wife and find out if she's cheating on him, and if so, with whom.

As all of these elements converge, and the bigger picture emerges, the story heats up until it becomes as explosive as the lightning in a Louisiana thunderstorm.

This is Burke and Robicheaux at their very best. Don't miss it.

This popular book has garnered many positive reviews and was on several 2010 "top book" reports. I was on a waiting list before I could check it out at my public library.

Was the wait worth it? Yes and no.

Dave Robicheaux is an ongoing series character [more than 16 books] I hadn't read other Roicheaux books and was relieved not to feel left out with his personality. In this story, Robicheax follows a possible lead about the murder of a young woman. This sends him to other leads and on various interviews and confrontations with some well-presented characters. Characterization is one of Burke's strong suits. Other murders take place and Robicheaux's instincts send him along dangerous paths.

My description is without detail to avoid spoilers. The convolutions within this novel, including involvement of family members and friends, are so many even author Burke didn't get them all sorted. As a mystery, this didn't work for me. The protagonist didn't investigate as much as he did instigate. I like police procedural stories, and this didn't have much; in fact there were lots of rules broken. I wasn't satisfied with the ending and some writing style elements detracted. Burke uses first person for the Robicheaux sections, but also presents other characters in third person. Although the writing and use of language was all top drawer with vivid descriptions and character depictions, I found the third person segments to be superfluous, often detracting from the story. The information from those segments was rehashed in the Robicheaux scenes, and the tension of the supposed-to-be-gripping finale of the book was diluted by a third person presentation.

Development of the protagonist's foibles and concerns were quite good, and when I began to think of The Glass Rainbow as a novel, not a mystery, I liked it much better. In all, I felt it was a 2-star mystery and a 3-star novel. I know I'll remember the characters and emotion of the story.

What could possibly draw the attention of Dave Robicheaux and the New Iberia Police Department more than the death of seven young women?

Even more, Dave is concerned that one of the women killed doesn't fit the profile. Bernadette Latiolais was a high school student who was well thought of and had been offered a college scholarship.

When a body is dumped in the field of a cane farmer in New Iberia Parish, Dave Robicheaux and his boss, Helen Soileau, find something that connects with Bernadette and begin their investigation.

Dave hooks up with his old and loyal friend, Clete Purcel and they turn their attention to a former pimp named Herman Stagna. When Stagna and Clete get into a confrontation, Herman ends up severly beaten and hospitalized. He initiates the process of suing Clete. Later, when something happens to Herman, Clete becomes the central suspect.

As an interesting aside to the story, Dave Robicheaux's daughter, Alafair is attempting to get her first novel published. This reality mixed with the mystery gave me added enjoyment. I believe that it demonstrates how proud the author must be of his real life daughter, Alafair and her success as a novelist.

I also found the author's literary style of first person narrative, mixed in with Alafair's contributions to the story, to be well done.

The setting, as always with James Lee Burke, is described as if the reader was seeing a painting of the action drawn before them, "...a town square that opened onto lovely vistas of oak trees and flowers...planted along the bayou's edge." Very visual and pleasing.

The novel will keep the reader's attention as the story unfolds and once again, Dave Robicheaux shows that he is one of the finest characters in literature.

Well it's 3:00 a.m. and I just finished The Glass Rainbow which I started at 5:00 p.m. yesterday. Needless to say I couldn't put it down. Being in law enforcement in Cajun Country, I'm a huge fan of James Lee Burke and Dave Robicheaux. I would recommend reading the Dave Robicheaux series in order, but, you know what? Pick this one up and you'll be hooked and before you know it you'll be reading The Neon Rain and all the others anxiously waiting for the next one ... or what if??? James Lee captures the heart and soul of Acadiana culture ... and brings recognition to a real life tragedy unfolding in the area. He "gets it." He cares. Thanks, James. We are so proud of you.

I don't know if any of you are aware the story about the eight women murdered in Jeff Davis Parish is true. Over the last few years there have been eight women killed and dumped around Jennings, Louisiana. No arrests have been made and as far as the public knows no real suspects. For us in Louisiana this made the book that much more interesting. Mr. Burke is the best at describing the real Louisiana. I live in the Southwest corner of the state and have relatives that live close to where he writes about. I can smell the air and feel exactly what he describes.

From the first page of his shattering new novel, James Lee Burke's gorgeous prose enfolds the reader, who cannot help but be enthralled, to the extent that one finds oneself wishing that the book could just go on forever. Or at least that was my own feeling, so completely was I under the author's spell. And when the stunning conclusion does come, that sentiment was only reinforced.

It is nothing new to say that James Lee Burke's writing includes perfectly drawn portraits of even minor characters, as well as lush descriptions of the Louisiana of his and his protagonist's birth. In this case, he also brings to life the history of the area, in its plantation society, pre-Emancipation days, primarily through two of its characters. One is Kermit Abelard, the scion of the wealthy Abelard family, with its historical New Orleans prominence, who has been romancing Dave's adopted daughter, Alafair, as the novel opens. Dave objects to the liaison, mostly because of the large difference in age, as well as his suspicions about the family and its morality, or lack thereof; another aspect is the relationship between Kermit and Robert Weingart, an oft-convicted felon whose part in Kermit's life is of questionable motive and definition. Robert has become a celebrated author as well, and that in turn plays a part in the two men's influence on Alafair, herself an aspiring novelist.

The other old-Louisiana player is Layton Blanchet, a millionaire who hires Clete Purcell, Dave's life-long friend from their days with the New Orleans P.D., now working as a p.i., to find out who his wife, as he suspects, is sleeping with. Clete plays a major part in this book, where we find him going through suicidal and homicidal rages, as indeed Dave does as well.

The tale begins when Dave, a New Iberia sheriff's detective working on his own time after the rape and murder of seven women, all very young, black and poor, visits a penal work gang outside Natchez, Mississippi to interview a man whose young sister is among the victims, and who claims he knows the identity of the killer. When that man is himself murdered, and the body of another young girl is discovered, Dave and Clete decide that since the deaths of young black girls is likely to go uninvestigated if they don't do the investigating themselves, they chart a course which endangers their lives and those of Alafair and Dave's wife, Molly, among others. More killings follow, and motives are obscure at best. And we are told that no matter the jeopardy in which Dave and Clete are placed, as Clete is fond of saying, "the Bobbsey twins from Homicide are forever." Their friendship goes back more than three decades; both men still are haunted by flashbacks from Vietnam; they have both gone from New Orleans patrolmen to detectives, and their loyalty to each other is boundless. Neither is the reader immune to their goodness and charm, and we must profoundly hope that the Bobbsey twins from Homicide do indeed go on forever. Very highly recommended.