Reviews
"As a crime novel, Creole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast-in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."- ShelfAwareness.com, "The plot is fast-moving and thriller-tough, the bodies mount quickly, and the writing is lyrical and evocative . . . as laced with complications as the canals crosscutting Robicheaux's beloved, threatened wetlands."- New Orleans Times-Picayune, eoeReading James Lee Burke is a religious experience. e Creole Belle may be one of Burke's best; it is certainly one of his most complex. . . . Intense doesn't begin to describe a Burke story . . . Biblical . . . now that about does it.ee" San Antonio Express, "Fortunately for us, we can luxuriate in the 500-plus pages of Burke's sinuous tale before we can decipher this complex puzzle." - Dayton Daily News, "Burke, 75, creates lyrical mysteries with what can only be described as deceptive ease. Whether it's Robicheaux, stand-alone novels, or separate series starring Texas cousins Billy Bob and Hackberry Holland, the themes remain constant. Every novel Burke writes delves into moral ambiguity, the menaces of greed and violence, the degradation of people and land, the juxtaposition of natural beauty and man-made horror and, finally, the sublime joy of human love and loyalty." - The Christian Science Monitor, eoeAs a crime novel, Creole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feaste"in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixine(tm)s.ee" ShelfAwareness.com, "As a crime novel, Cr eole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. . . . [Burke] uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast--in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."-- ShelfAwareness.com, "This tale plays out much like The Glass Rainbow- intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax-but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken-and all the more interesting for it." - Booklist (starred review), "Burke, 75, creates lyrical mysteries with what can only be described as deceptive ease. Whether it's Robicheaux, stand-alone novels, or separate series starringTexas cousins Billy Bob and Hackberry Holland, the themes remain constant. Every novel Burke writes delves into moral ambiguity, the menaces of greed and violence, the degradation of people and land, the juxtaposition of natural beauty and man-made horror and, finally, the sublime joy of human love and loyalty." -- The Christian Science Monitor, "As a crime novel, Creole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast.Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast-in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."- ShelfAwareness.com, "The plot is fast-moving and thriller-tough, the bodies mount quickly, and the writing is lyrical and evocative . . . as laced with complications as the canals crosscutting Robicheaux's beloved, threatened wetlands."-- New Orleans Times-Picayune, "This tale plays out much like The Glass Rainbow-- intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax--but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken--and all the more interesting for it." -- Booklist (starred review), "One of the masters, James Lee Burke, has a new Dave Robicheaux novel just out, Creole Belle . Elmore Leonard famously advises all writers to never write about 'boring stuff' like the weather, but Burke's catalog is a direct contradiction to that advice. He writes about Louisiana and the Gulf with such sensual detail about sights, smells, and yes--the weather--that you can skip paying Delta for that flight to the Big Easy." -- Detroit News, eoeWhen something terrible happens in Louisiana, the only consolation might be that James Lee Burke is inspired to write another Dave Robicheaux novel about it.ee" Houston Chronicle, "Burke, 75, creates lyrical mysteries with what can only be described as deceptive ease. Whether it's Robicheaux, stand-alone novels, or separate series starringTexascousins Billy Bob and Hackberry Holland, the themes remain constant. Every novel Burke writes delves into moral ambiguity, the menaces of greed and violence, the degradation of people and land, the juxtaposition of natural beauty and man-made horror and, finally, the sublime joy of human love and loyalty." - The Christian Science Monitor, "Great news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriff's Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleansstyle. . . . A darkly magnificent treat for Dave's legion of admirers." - Kirkus Reviews, "Burke is the reigning champ of nostalgia noir. . . . To be sure, the destruction of a pristine natural environment is a thematic staple of the regional crime novel, but nobody can touch Burke in the lyrical expression of howling grief. . . . [ Creole Belle is] a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on."-- The New York Times Book Review, eoeBurke never goes wrong with his exquisite gift for taking us into the heart of Louisiana, its wetlands, small towns, the glory of old New Orleans and, as always, its checkered history. Combined with some of the finest characters ever to grace a page, that makes any Robicheaux novel a joy to read.e, "When something terrible happens in Louisiana, the only consolation might be that James Lee Burke is inspired to write another Dave Robicheaux novel about it."-- Houston Chronicle, "[ Creole Belle ] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burke's novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his character's familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists."- Asbury Park Press, eoe[ Creole Belle ] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burkee(tm)s novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his charactere(tm)s familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists.ee" Asbury Park Press, eoeBurke weaves a rich example of his trademark bayou noir. Filled with cruelty and valor, greed and sacrifice, and surprises of the worst and best kind, Creole Belle is a dark but irresistible cruise.ee" Tampa Bay Times, If all novelists were as thoughtful and nuanced as James Lee Burke, we could finally put to rest those groundless prejudices against genre fiction . . . the [Dave Robicheaux] books are works of dark art. At their unflinching best, they examine the cost of violence, even when it's performed in the name of justice, and the haunted worlds inhabited by those resigned to limping through life with a blood-soaked conscience., "Reading James Lee Burke is a religious experience. ... Creole Belle may be one of Burke's best; it is certainly one of his most complex. . . . Intense doesn't begin to describe a Burke story . . . Biblical . . . now that about does it."- San Antonio Express, "Reading James Lee Burke is a religious experience. … Creole Belle may be one of Burke's best; it is certainly one of his most complex. . . . Intense doesn't begin to describe a Burke story . . . Biblical . . . now that about does it."- San Antonio Express, "[ Creole Belle ] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burke's novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his character's familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists."-- Asbury Park Press, "One of the masters, James Lee Burke, has a new Dave Robicheaux novel just out, Creole Belle . Elmore Leonard famously advises all writers to never write about 'boring stuff' like the weather, but Burke's catalog is a direct contradiction to that advice. He writes about Louisiana and the Gulf with such sensual detail about sights, smells, and yes-the weather-that you can skip paying Delta for that flight to the Big Easy." - Detroit News, eoeGreat news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriffe(tm)s Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleanse"style. . . . A darkly magnificent treat for Davee(tm)s legion of admirers.e e" Kirkus Reviews, "Reading James Lee Burke is a religious experience. ... Creole Belle may be one of Burke's best; it is certainly one of his most complex. . . . Intense doesn't begin to describe a Burke story . . . Biblical . . . now that about does it."-- San Antonio Express, "Burke weaves a rich example of his trademark bayou noir. Filled with cruelty and valor, greed and sacrifice, and surprises of the worst and best kind, Creole Belle is a dark but irresistible cruise."-- Tampa Bay Times, eoeBurke, 75, creates lyrical mysteries with what can only be described as deceptive ease. Whether ite(tm)s Robicheaux, stand-alone novels, or separate series starring Texas cousins Billy Bob and Hackberry Holland, the themes remain constant. Every novel Burke writes delves into moral ambiguity, the menaces of greed and violence, the degradation of people and land, the juxtaposition of natural beauty and man-made horror and, finally, the sublime joy of human love and loyalty.e e" The Christian Science Monitor, "Burke weaves a rich example of his trademark bayou noir. Filled with cruelty and valor, greed and sacrifice, and surprises of the worst and best kind, Creole Belle is a dark but irresistible cruise."- Tampa Bay Times, "When something terrible happens in Louisiana, the only consolation might be that James Lee Burke is inspired to write another Dave Robicheaux novel about it."- Houston Chronicle, "All the characters . . . are superbly drawn, and the plot is heart-pounding . . . sure to be embraced by author James Lee Burke's fans."-- The Washington Post, "As a crime novel, Creole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast--in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."-- ShelfAwareness.com, eoeThe plot is fast-moving and thriller-tough, the bodies mount quickly, and the writing is lyrical and evocative . . . as laced with complications as the canals crosscutting Robicheaux's beloved, threatened wetlands.ee" New Orleans Times-Picayune, eoeBurke is the reigning champ of nostalgia noir. . . . To be sure, the destruction of a pristine natural environment is a thematic staple of the regional crime novel, but nobody can touch Burke in the lyrical expression of howling grief. . . . [ Creole Belle is] a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on.ee" The New York Times Book Review, eoeFortunately for us, we can luxuriate in the 500-plus pages of Burkee(tm)s sinuous tale before we can decipher this complex puzzle.e e" Dayton Daily News, eoeBurkee(tm)s fascinatingly conflicted Cajun anti-hero Dave Robicheaux returns.e e" Dallas Morning News, eoeAll the characters . . . are superbly drawn, and the plot is heart-pounding . . . sure to be embraced by author James Lee Burke's fans.ee" The Washington Post, Burke has a knack for giving the reader atmosphere through descriptions of architecture, the sights and sounds of overheated New Orleans and southern Louisiana's quirky folks., "Great news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriff's Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleans-style. . . . A darkly magnificent treat for Dave's legion of admirers." - Kirkus Reviews, "All the characters . . . are superbly drawn, and the plot is heart-pounding . . . sure to be embraced by author James Lee Burke's fans."- The Washington Post, "Like its 18 predecessors in Burke's series, Creole Belle is a work of dark and radiant brilliance." - Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Burke is the reigning champ of nostalgia noir. . . . To be sure, the destruction of a pristine natural environment is a thematic staple of the regional crime novel, but nobody can touch Burke in the lyrical expression of howling grief. . . . [ Creole Belle is] a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on."- The New York Times Book Review, eoeLike its 18 predecessors in Burkee(tm)s series, Creole Belle is a work of dark and radiant brilliance.e e" Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Fortunately for us, we can luxuriate in the 500-plus pages of Burke's sinuous tale before we can decipher this complex puzzle." -- Dayton Daily News, eoeOne of the masters, James Lee Burke, has a new Dave Robicheaux novel just out, Creole Belle . Elmore Leonard famously advises all writers to never write about e~boring stuffe(tm) like the weather, but Burkee(tm)s catalog is a direct contradiction to that advice. He writes about Louisiana and the Gulf with such sensual detail about sights, smells, and yese"the weathere"that you can skip paying Delta for that flight to the Big Easy.e e" Detroit News, "Like its 18 predecessors in Burke's series, Creole Belle is a work of dark and radiant brilliance." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch, Burke never goes wrong with his exquisite gift for taking us into the heart of Louisiana, its wetlands, small towns, the glory of old New Orleans and, as always, its checkered history. Combined with some of the finest characters ever to grace a page, that makes any Robicheaux novel a joy to read., eoeThis tale plays out much like The Glass Rainbowe" intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climaxe"but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly brokene"and all the more interesting for it.e e" Booklist (starred review), "Great news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriff's Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleans-style. . . . A darkly magnificent treat for Dave's legion of admirers." -- Kirkus Reviews
