Dave Robicheaux is one of the literary world’s iconic heroes. In this new addition to his Louisiana series, James Lee Burke digs deeply into the corrupted underbelly of the Big Easy’s illegal layers, and with stunning writing does the same with his characters.

Dave is not going to let the body of a young woman dumped in his own back yard go until he learns who she is and why she was killed. This may be the premise of the story but how the author explores the demons that run through Dave Robicheaux soul is the real message here. I have never read words so descriptive or revealing as these written by Mr. Burke. Even his expressive and illuminating passages about Louisiana herself left me wanting to visit.

The ending…..well, you will have to read the book. Please add this one to your to read list for next year!

We're still going strong in the Dave Robicheaux series, this had that concept that I was expecting and enjoyed from the previous books in this series. It continued the storyline in a way that was what I was hoping for and glad it worked in this universe. James Lee Burke has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to get back in this setting.

I always love and absorb every word, that JLB writes, and while I give the latest 5 stars out of my love for everything he creates, I found this plot convoluted and unwieldy. Having said that, no one writes like JLB, and that’s the real,joy….his prose is poetry, like no other.

This book pulled me in right away and kept me hooked until the end. The writing was engaging, the pacing felt just right, and the characters were easy to connect with. Whether you’re reading for the plot, the emotion, or just to escape for a bit, this one delivers. A solid, enjoyable read from start to finish.