I had a really hard time getting into this but it was still a good book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

James Lee Burke’s The Hadacol Boogie marks the twenty-fifth installment of the Dave Robicheaux series, and the quality of this novel proves that Burke has not lost a step.

The novel opens with a moving recounting of the lives and deaths of Dave Robicheaux’s parents and the impact their story has had on him—and will continue to have. This brief but powerful introduction beautifully interweaves with the narrative, adding a warm, resonant texture that lingers throughout the entire tale.

The Hadacol Boogie takes place around the turn of the century in Robicheaux’s Iberia Parish. After a group of boys sets off fireworks near his home, Robicheaux confronts them. To avoid trouble, the boys quickly tell him they saw a demon-like figure leaving something in his yard. Initially dismissive of their claims, Robicheaux investigates and discovers a garbage bag containing the body of a young woman.

From there, Robicheaux is drawn into an investigation that introduces a host of memorable characters—each one seemingly more dangerous than the last, and several not at all what they appear to be. Robicheaux once again finds himself facing organized crime figures, local thugs (some of whom wear badges), and a murderous fellow Vietnam veteran who may be periodically psychotic. Then there is Boone Hendrix, a mysterious wayfaring handyman who, like many of Burke’s enigmatic characters, seems to know more than he lets on, speaking in riddles and provoking Robicheaux’s curiosity. As the novel progresses, the evolving relationship between Hendrix and Robicheaux becomes one of the book’s most fascinating threads—full of confusion, anger, sympathy, and even violence.

As always, Burke’s writing is masterfully lyrical and richly descriptive, allowing readers to vividly construct the world he creates. While some of the major plot elements across the Robicheaux series may echo each other, the true beauty of Burke’s work lies in his language and the deepening complexity of his characters with each new installment.

Another of Burke’s hallmarks is his ability to let characters communicate in subtle, often non-verbal ways, leaving moments open to interpretation. These quiet exchanges challenge the reader to decide what was meant and what was merely implied, trusting in an audience capable of grappling with nuance, ambiguity, and even the surreal.

As someone who has been reading James Lee Burke for more than thirty years, I can confidently say that The Hadacol Boogie maintains the high standard of storytelling that has defined the series from the very beginning.

The Hadacol Boogie is highly recommended and is set for publication in February 2026.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.Com.

Detective fiction meets literary fiction- or as a sceptical mate of mine once said when I brow beat him into reading some James Lee Burke
‘I thought all crime thrillers were pulp filth, but this guy is as good as Steinbeck’

Hadacol was a medicine that debuted in Louisiana in the 1940’s purported to increase appetite and promote growth primarily but also with handy sidelines in curing diabetes, paralysis and rheumatism. Mostly it was 12% alcohol.
Burke uses Hadacol as symbol of the appeal dangers in looking to the past with an affection not counterbalanced by darker realities. Escapism of this kind masks personal moral decay for many of the less morally tethered characters in this novel. Creeping societal decay too, which moves to overwhelm. The vehicle for these musings, which in itself is every bit as intoxicating as Hadacol is a superbly written and plotted work of crime fiction. The characters are complet and evolving- the prose stunning, the story relatable. It is awesome.

In typical James Lee Burke style we have a lot of descriptive writing, giving us an in-depth look at Louisiana, so that we are there with them. With it being so descriptive I did find it took a while to get into the main depth of the story so, for me, took me a little while to get into the swing of it, but this is the downfall of being a mood reader.

If you want a nitty gritty detective tale this is for you.

I've been a reader of James Lee Burke's novels for decades and am especially drawn to the Dave Robicheaux thrillers. Yet, in this latest novel, The Hadacol Boogie, I found many of the scenes to be repetitive with only characters changing roles. Evil men arrive to the area and Dave and Clete go out of their way to harass and threaten them, with murders happening following their interventions. Burke is not shy about alluding to Dave's life as a western with manly showdowns to protect his town and womenfolk. This book seems to be extra heavy on magical realism than previous novels and readers may be confused if secondary characters and even settings are real or part of Dave's troubled memories of his past struggles with alcoholism and Vietnam PTSD. Shoehorning daughter Alafair as part of the novel seemed a bit awkward and her contribution comes across as one-dimensional. Clete’s role rarely changes in the series and both Dave and Clete come off as superhuman recovering quickly from fistfights and not being wounded in firefights. Still, the book will appeal to readers, especially newbies to the series.

If Cormac McCarthy wrote a murder mystery set on Louisiana landscapes painted by Salvatore Dali, it might approach The Hadacol Boogie.

A man in a black coat with ‘sticks in his hair’ drags a large bag through a field in the rain. The bag contains the body of a woman with a guitar string wrapped around her neck and flower tattoos on her breasts. So begins an intensely violent, symbolic, and introspective investigation that tests the sanity of Dave Robicheaux and threatens the safety of his friends and family.

Burke tells a story through his famous protagonist's perspective, and it's a damn good one, but he also speaks to the reader. When Robicheaux says, “I’ve had many loses in my life, as I’m sure you have. And I’m also sure you faced them with courage and the ability to bear a terrible burden without transferring your pain to others," the fourth wall faintly cracks with respect for the person turning the page. This author writes with purpose and his characters carry a soulful longing with them through the story. Violence is intense and fighting is an expression of being. Burke reflects on our place in the universe, and then with a few well placed words, remind us why a character is important to a scene.

This is intelligent, detective fiction, bordering on literary-adventure. The Hadacol Boogie is set in the early 2000’s, and looks to the new century with all the concern hindsight allows. An evil man returning to Kremlin, indifference to a melting Arctic, rising oceans, war in the Middle East, our story is on set on a small stage in Louisiana, but considers the larger arena of a rapidly changing world. And two cowboy cops that can’t keep up with it. Unique storytelling from an author in his 80's still tilling soil for new ground. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Crime for a review copy.

Thank you net galley for this arc. i have read a book by this author before.so i decide to check this one out. this one is one that is a slow burn about a black women body being left on his property. he wont going to let it go until he find out who she is and why she was killed. he must dig in to the under belly of the big easy. this was one i recommend adding to your tbr.

When a cloaked, disfigured man leaves a dead woman in a garbage bag on Dave Robicheaux’s property, he knows his world and family are about to change. With Valerie Benoit, a detective new to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department who is grappling with sexist and racist harassment from their colleagues, and the volatile but fiercely loyal Clete Purcel, Dave embarks on an investigation that brings him into the most dangerous moments of his career and threatens the lives of Valerie and his daughter Alafair. This may be one of favorite writers ever. No one can make you actually feel the hot weather, hear the sounds and smell the south the way this writer can. This book is another is a long series of gripping stories involving Dave Robicheaux and his friends and family. I could not put this down once I started. If you read one book this year make it this one.

This review will be published on february 8th 2026. Here written in German with a machine translated version:

Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burkes legendärer Detektiv, kehrt mit »The Hadacol Boogie«, dem 25. Roman dieser Reihe, zurück, um den Tod einer unbekannten Frau zu untersuchen, und gerät dabei in einen Strudel aus Korruption und Gewalt im Sumpfgebiet von Louisiana. Ich habe mich gefreut, ein Leseexemplar vom Management des Autors und dessen Verlag zur Verfügung gestellt zu bekommen. Vielen Dank!

Die tote Frau wurde direkt auf dem Anwesen von Dave gefunden. Hätten Kinder keine Feuerwerksrakete auf das Gelände geschossen, wäre die Leiche gar nicht so schnell aufgefallen. Ein vermummter, entstellter Mann hatte diese tote Frau in einem Müllsack auf Dave Robicheaux‘ Grundstück zurückgelassen. Dave ist sich ziemlich sicher, dass sich seine Welt und die seiner Familie bald verändern wird.

Gemeinsam mit Valerie Benoit, einer jungen Ermittlerin beim Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department, die mit den Herausforderungen von Sexismus und Rassismus am Arbeitsplatz konfrontiert ist, und dem unberechenbaren, jedoch äußerst treuen Clete Purcel, begibt sich Dave auf eine Untersuchung, die ihn an die gefährlichsten Orte seiner Karriere führt und das Leben von Valerie und Daves Tochter Alafair in Gefahr bringt.

Bei seinen Ermittlungen stößt er auf einen örtlichen Handwerker namens Boone Hendrix, der rätselhafte Nachrichten hinterlässt und vor den spukenden Geistern am Bayou warnt. Dieser Mann ist allein wegen seines Verhaltens angsteinflößend. Er lässt sich nicht davon abbringen, bei Dave das Dach zu reparieren, wie der ihm auch nicht einreden kann, ihn doch bitte mit „Dave“ anzusprechen statt mit „Mr. Robicheaux“. Das macht Dave mehrmals, bis er schließlich genervt aufgibt. Aber die Warnungen, die Hendrix ausspricht, so visionär sie auch sein mögen, scheinen wahr zu werden.

Plötzlich hat Dave nicht nur einen skrupellosen Auftragskiller aus New Orleans, sondern auch finstere Gangster aus dem Norden an seiner Ferse! Und ein alter Freund und Vietnamkriegsveteran wie Dave, der durchaus Beziehungen zur italinienes Mafia haben mag, stellt sich den Ermittlungen in die Quere.

In der fesselnden Prosa von James Lee Burke taucht man in die raue Welt des Louisiana um die Jahrhundertwende ein. Mit einer Bande interessanter Charaktere entführt uns „The Hadacol Boogie“ in eine Welt voller Gewalt und Abenteuer. Dave Robicheaux zeigt uns, wie wild entschlossen er ist, dem Bösen gegenüberzutreten – sei es in der Vergangenheit oder Gegenwart.

James Lee Burke hat diese Romanreihe nie chronologisch geschrieben. Deshalb müssen sich Leser nicht wundern, wenn in einem sehr neuen Roman wie »The Hadacol Boogie« vielleicht Figuren auftauchen, die zuvor in einem anderen Roman schon getötet oder an einen anderen Ort versetzt wurden. Dafür werden die Figuren in jedem Roman so ausführlich vorgestellt, dass man sie in diesem Roman so kennenlernt, wie es für die Dramarturgie notwendig ist. So blickt man auch in diesem Roman tief in die Biografien und Gefühle der Figuren, ohne irgendeinen anderen Roman dieser Reihe kennen zu müssen. Dennoch ist es auch immer wieder schön, die bekannten Eigenschaften nochmals bestätigt zu bekommen, schließlich habe ich sicher die Hälfte dieser Romanreihe gelesen.

Aber nicht nur das Figurenensemble wird umfangreich beschrieben. Gleich im ersten Kapitel erfahren wir etwas über die Geschichte Louisianas, über die Sklavenherrschaft und die Ausbeutung der Menschen, ebenso werden die Leser mit einer Hinrichtung auf dem elektrischen Stuhl konfrontiert.

In ihren Detektivabenteuern drehen Dave und Clete manchmal Schallplatten mit Folk, Country, Blues oder Jazz auf. Sie ist ein wesentlicher Baustein der Dramarturgie. Diese Musik weckt ihre kreativen Säfte und bringt sie durchaus manchmal auf die Spur der Gauner!

James Lee Burke lässt auch in »The Hadacol Boogie« seine Leser erneut tief in die Gedanken- und Gefühlswelt seiner Protagonisten eintauchen. Neben vielen turbulenten und aktionsreichen Szenen gibt es viele besinnliche Momente, in denen Dave z.B. die Geister aus der Vergangenheit zu bekämpfen versucht. Diese Geister stammen nicht selten aus Vietnam, wo er als Soldat den Tod von unschuldigen Frauen und Kindern miterleben musste. Die Dämonen aus dieser Zeit bäumen sich immer wieder in ihm auf und er versucht sich dageben zu wehren. Mit seinem persönlichen Sieg über seine Alkoholsucht, die in »The Hadacol Boogie« nun schon einge Jahre zurück liegt, hat er bereits einen Teil dieser Dämonen verbannt.

Die Menschen stehen auch in »The Hadacol Boogie« im Vordergrund. Wir erleben wieder den aufbrausenden Clete, der zwar immer nur gegen das Böse kämpfen will, aber mit so mancher Methode doch etwas daneben liegt und zu schnell draufhaut. Wir erleben auch die Chefin Helen Soileau, die trotz aller Zweifel an ihren Leuten und Freunden über deren Methoden und Verhalten ein ums andere Mal deren Rücken stärkt. Und schließlich erleben wir Dave, wie er beiläufig Gefühle für seine neue Kollegin entwickelt, obwohl er eigentlich ihr Vater hätte sein können. Schließlich war sie mit seiner Tochter in derselben Schauspielgruppe.

Dies alles mitzuerleben, ist fantastisch. Ich liebe die Romane mit Dave Robicheaux und seinen Freunden und mir bleibt gar nichts anderes übrig, als auch »The Hadacol Boogie« zu empfehlen. Ich hoffe, dass auch dieser Roman demnächst auf Deutsch bei Pendragon erscheinen wird.

machine-translated version:
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Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke's legendary detective, returns in “The Hadacol Boogie,” the 25th novel in this series, to investigate the death of an unknown woman, and in doing so finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of corruption and violence in the swamplands of Louisiana. I was delighted to receive a review copy from the author's management and his publisher. Thank you very much!

The dead woman was found right on Dave's property. A hooded, disfigured man had left this dead woman in a garbage bag on Dave Robicheaux's property. Dave is pretty sure that his world and that of his family will soon change.

Together with Valerie Benoit, a young investigator with the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department who faces the challenges of sexism and racism in the workplace, and the unpredictable but extremely loyal Clete Purcel, Dave embarks on an investigation that takes him to the most dangerous places of his career and puts the lives of Valerie and Dave's daughter Alafair in danger.

During his investigation, he encounters a local craftsman named Boone Hendrix, who leaves mysterious messages and warns of the haunting spirits of the bayou. This man is frightening simply because of his behavior. He refuses to be dissuaded from repairing Dave's roof, just as Dave cannot persuade him to address him as “Dave” instead of “Mr. Robicheaux.” Dave tries several times before finally giving up in exasperation. But Hendrix's warnings, visionary as they may be, seem to be coming true.

Suddenly, Dave not only has a ruthless hitman from New Orleans on his tail, but also sinister gangsters from the north! And an old friend and Vietnam War veteran like Dave, who may well have connections to the Italian mafia, gets in the way of the investigation.

James Lee Burke's captivating prose immerses readers in the harsh world of Louisiana at the turn of the century. With a cast of interesting characters, “The Hadacol Boogie” takes us into a world full of violence and adventure. Dave Robicheaux shows us how determined he is to confront evil—whether in the past or the present.

James Lee Burke never wrote this series of novels chronologically. Therefore, readers should not be surprised if characters appear in a very new novel who were previously killed or moved to another location in another novel. In return, the characters are introduced in such detail in each novel that you get to know them in this novel as necessary for the dramaturgy. Thus, in this novel, one also gains deep insight into the biographies and feelings of the characters without having to be familiar with any other novel in the series. Nevertheless, it is always nice to have the familiar characteristics confirmed again, especially since I have read at least half of this series of novels.

In their detective adventures, Dave and Clete sometimes play records of folk, country, blues, or jazz. It is an essential component of the dramaturgy. This music awakens their creative juices and sometimes even puts them on the trail of the crooks!

James Lee Burke once again immerses his readers deeply in the thoughts and feelings of his protagonists. In addition to many turbulent and action-packed scenes, there are many contemplative moments in which Dave tries to fight the ghosts of the past, for example. These ghosts often originate from Vietnam, where he witnessed the deaths of innocent women and children as a soldier. The demons from this time keep rearing their heads, and he tries to fight them off. With his personal victory over his alcohol addiction, which in this novel is now several years in the past, he has already banished some of these demons.

People are also at the forefront of this novel. We once again encounter the quick-tempered Clete, who always wants to fight evil, but whose methods are sometimes misguided and who is too quick to resort to violence. We also encounter Chief Helen Soileau, who, despite all her doubts about her people and friends and their methods and behavior, repeatedly supports them. And finally, we see Dave casually developing feelings for his new colleague, even though he could have been her father. After all, she was in the same drama group as his daughter.

It's fantastic to witness all of this. I love the novels featuring Dave Robicheaux and his friends, and I can't help but recommend “The Hadacol Boogie.” I hope that this novel will also be published in German by Pendragon soon.

When the dead body of a young Black girl is delivered to the property of Detective Dave Robicheaux, Robicheaux makes it his business to get to the bottom of it, though clues are not forthcoming. Yet his adopted daughter knew her, as does a new employee, Valerie Benoit, at his office.

This Cajun sleuth, immersed in the heat and humidity of Louisiana, is apparently not a newcomer within the genre, but it was a first for me. He comes with his sidekick Clete Purcel. Both fought in Vietnam. Both suffer from PTSD, the former being an ex alcoholic, the other still infull swing. Their methods of inquiry tend to be pretty robust, both verbally and physically, no doubt aware that here, the usual (gangster) suspects don't kill officers. Robicheaux does not appear to wish to make himself likeable in any confrontation.

It's a slowburn, allowing full immersion into the culture and what lies beneath its history, which won't please those who. Like faster action. The writer has a literary turn of phrase, with reflections on the nature of good and evil, and who may be beyond redemption, and who isn't. This is a totally uncotrevted proof, so it's possible some of the verbosity could be reduced in places, without distracting too much from the style.

One issue I did encounter is that there is a thoroughly 2020's awareness of what narcissism, neurodiverssoty and psychopaths are all about, yet the events described here all take place at the end of the century. The understanding of autism for example may not have been as sophisticated then as it now.

There are some pretty eccentric characters around, but there is also plenty of time to follow the development of the feisty, sometimes prickly, Officer Benoît. Unfortunately cops can be just as prejudiced towards other cops as anyone.

However, this novel will be a gift to those who like their noir oozing with atmosphere and mood.

Burke's prose is superb as he tells the story of Dave Robicheaux investigating the death of a young woman whose body was left in a bag on his land. Robicheaux is drawn into the worst of the world of Louisiana --prostitution, violence, death, and gambling. All those things that contributed to the reputation of the area. Supporting characters include his daughter, a new officer named Valerie, and a friend from childhood who has taken the wrong road. The author's lays open Robicheaux's heart and mind in this novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

This latest Dave Robichaux; novel by James Lee Burke is filled with beautiful writing and familiar themes. Burke’s fans will not be disappointed, and he provides enough back story so that new readers can fall in love with his writing. Wonderful and recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is classic Burke: lush, swampy prose and heavy moral weight. It’s gritty, thoughtful crime fiction that’s more about atmosphere and human rot than a twisty rollercoaster plot. Slow at times, but gorgeous writing keeps you hooked. If you’re in the mood for bourbon-dark storytelling, it delivers. If you want something fast and flashy—skip.

Once again James Lee Burke features the battle between good and evil. Assuming, of course, that Dave Robicheaux and Clete are the god guys. I've never seen Dave so violent. This book is much better than Burke's last one, but you do feel a bit badgered by all of the violence.
Thanks Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Dave Robicheaux series is probably my favorite series of all time. I discovered James Lee Burke in the late 1980s and find his writing lyrical, haunting, and deeply engaging. The Hadacol Boogie is no exception. If you're a reader of the series, it's a must-read. If you've stumbled upon The Hadacol Boogie on NetGalley, etc., and haven't read the series, please, please, although it will consume a huge chunk of time, start at the beginning with The Neon Rain. As I was reading and as Dave and Clete are aging, I can't help but think about the end of this series. How much time do we have left with these characters? It hurts my reader's heart to think about...

As a longtime fan of James Lee Burke and his Dave Robicheaux series, The Hadacol Boogie was another satisfying read. Burke’s signature lyricism and moral depth shine through every story, painting vivid portraits of flawed characters and haunted landscapes. You don't just read a James Lee Burke book, you feel it. Southern Louisianna is as big a character in the book as the people. All the familiar characters are there and go through another Burke signature morality play where you don't know what is real and what isn't.

No one can seriously question the premise that James Lee Burke is one of the greatest contemporary American novelists. That said, it's equally true that he's gone a bit wobbly with some of his recent books.

I'm happy to say that THE HADACOL BOOGIE is a triumphant return to form for the James Lee Burke that we all love. Dave Robicheaux is back in all his maddening, self-righteous, morally conflicted glory, and this time he's actually involved in a coherent narrative that grabs you in ways that seem both real and frightening..

Welcome back, Dave. We really missed you.

What more can be said about JLB and his Dave Robicheaux series that hasn't already been said? Masterfully written, with language both poetic and brutal. Every page seems carved out rock, leaving something indelible and altering. There's doses of philosophy, wit, heartbreak and pain. Simply no one writes on a sentence level superior to JLB. There's a crime story here as well, with a plot that wanders and forces you to stroll along with it. When Robicheaux finds a dead Black girl dropped in his yard, he is determined to find her justice. But what justice can truly be found in a situation such as this? The journey is bloody and violent, full of colorful characters, supernatural occurrences, and action scenes wrought as vividly as any top level thriller movie. JLB is a treasure.

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!