James Lee Burke

If we do things in chronological order, this is where we first meet David Robicheaux and all his demons. In this one he's a detective lieutenant with the New Orleans Police Department, with one ex-wife in his past, 14 years on the force, a tentative grip on his alcoholism, some Vietnam flashbacks, lots of issues with authority, and a partner he should just shoot. He's also well-educated and a practicing Catholic. Having read the rest of the series to date, I know I like the man in spite of his flaws, and that Burke has a lot of depth despite the prevalence of violence in his books. If I had read this one first, though, I just don't know if it would have led me on to the others.
Review written in 2009… (mais)

Harbor Lights by James Lee Burke

Dark and disturbing look at times, places, and people I had trouble relating to or liking. At times I wondered if the author saw himself in some of the characters he put into the stories and if so, what that said about him.

HARBOR LIGHTS: This story has a man’s son encounter things he would have been better off never seeing or thinking about. Infidelity, mental illness, abuse of authority, war, and secrets left a bad taste in my mouth at the end of the story.

GOING ACROSS JORDAN: Migrant workers, pushing unions for the workers, two men doing what they think is right, another man abusing status and power to rape a woman, a beating and death, MacCarthyism, and more. Not sure if two came out happy in the end or not.

BIG MIDNIGHT SPECIAL: Prison is not a place I would want to be and especially not in the South when this story was written. Choices were limited and freedom for Arlen rather difficult to achieve in a healthy manner.

DEPORTEES: Three generations with issues to deal with. Alcohol abuse, rape, deportation of illegal immigrants, another corrupt cop, and a murder again didn’t leave a speck of light for any at the end of the story

THE ASSAULT: A widowed professor with a daughter who is beaten outside a bar does some sleuthing that gets more than one person in trouble. Another story with bigotry, murder, and consequences that no doubt follow those that survive

THE WILD SIDE OF LIFE: Elmore, a seismographer, is a Vietnam veteran who realizes some he works with are corrupt and evil, he tries to save a woman in an abusive relationship, and seems incapable of dealing with his demons and settling down.

A DISTANT WAR: Strange story of a father and son having car trouble and ending up in what seemed to be a time-warp-alternative-dimension. Creepy and disturbing with historical elements, racist people, and a feeling of disconnection. Not sure what happens to the main characters.

STRANGE CARGO: Ghostly story with Broussard talking to his daughter’s ghost, another corrupt cop, murder of an innocent man, mixed messages, and the feeling at the end that nobody in the story was happy and there was no hope for anyone.

Did I enjoy this book? No
Was it well written? Yes
Would I recommend it to others? Only if they like dark unsettling stories without hope

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the ARC - This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars… (mais)

James Lee Burke is a professional, and it shows.
This very well-written narrative is an Edgar nominee this year for good reason.
There are multiple narratives threaded together fairly seamlessly. There are two young black women who are slaves, a white plantation family member, a young man, a crazed confederate soldier, a white yankee abolitionist lady and a sherrif type character….all trying to survive in the south during the later days of the civil war.
Pretty much every character is flawed, some very much so indeed, and yet Burke manages to create a humanity in them that makes them appealing.
I do think the voices were a little more similar than ideal….all seem to rhapsodize in Burke’s own learned poetic voice when they describe a scene,but that’s just nit-picking.
Extremely grateful for the ending… (mais)