A synopsis of James Lee Burke's latest book - Tinroof Blowdown (New Orleans)

[BOSSHOG]

The reader is plunged into the bleak and desperate world of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina - a lawless wasteland awash with looters and predators of every stripe. Against this backdrop, Robicheaux must hunt down two serial rapists, a morphine addicted Priest and a vigilante who may be more dangerous then the criminals looting the city.

The book is available now.

[dweller]

1. i just finished

White Doves at Morning.

will keep an eye out for the new one.

dp

[Buck Turgidson]

2. I've read all of the Robicheaux till now.

Don't exactly know why the stories are so compelling. Dark, desperate, brutal characters. Never a happy ending.

[BOSSHOG]

3. It certainly is like watching and incredibly violent and bloody train wreck

but I do enjoy the characters and Burkes books are more like one long poem then a fiction book. I've been hooked for years and wonder whatever will happen to Robicheaux. A movie is being made about In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead.

[asjr]

4. Thanks for posting this. I have

looked forward to his latest. My son is now an admirer of Burke.

[BOSSHOG]

5. Robicheaux has got to be in his 60's

I hope he lives another 25 years or so. He could become a crime fighter in a nursing home on a Bayou. Love the Robicheaux series. Talk about a character with issues. I hope Burke is working on his next book.

[Buck Turgidson]

6. Alafair is writing crime novels, too.

The Samantha Kincaid Mysteries based on her experience as a DA in Oregon.



Fun reads, but I grew up in Portland. Many of the scenes are familiar so I am slightly biased.

[BOSSHOG]

7. I also am

familiar with many of James Lee Burke's book locales. It is fun to try to figure out where Dave and cletus are raising hell in the Big Easy. I have read Alafair's books and she is setting out on her own. She does not have Daddy's flair for the poetic icing he puts on his beautiful prose surrounding the ugliness of humanity. I wish her well and I hope her Daddy keeps writing forever.

[Buck Turgidson]

9. Remember Bubba's fancy plantation house in "Heaven's Prisoners"?

As I'm sure you know, it was set at Nottoway (White Castle) which is now run as an inn. Prior to seeing the movie, my little family spent the night in the house literally unsupervised. So we played the piano and danced in the fancy white ballroom. You know -- acted silly. Including climbing out on the veranda over the front porch. It was memorable because Terri Hatcher did a revealing nude scene from there.

I'll wager that you recognized some of the New Orleans shots.

[bikebloke]

8. First with it on hold at the library

I suspect they'll have it soon. Then so will I.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. If you ever get a chance to hear Burke read his own works, do so!

He's really good at it, and now that I know what some of the characters are supposed to sound like, it informs my own reading of the books.

Robicheaux doesn't have much luck with wives though, does he?

[BOSSHOG]

11. I don't believe I've ever read

a character so intensely described, so incredibly broken and human and psychic; and yet as soft as butter in the sun. I hope he lives on to fight crime in a nursing home somewhere in the quarter, sneaking out at night to meet Clete for a beer and a beignet.

[Hamlette]

12. I just finished Tinroof Blowdown. It was excellent

not only a great mystery but a touching description of the aftermath of Katrina

[BOSSHOG]

13. I haven't started it yet

I have to work myself up for a Burke book, kinda like warming up before the big game. I know I won't be disappointed. Just finished One flew Over the Cuckoos Nest after the third try. Its a little deeper then the movie.

[raccoon]

14. self delete

[bikebloke]

15. Finished it last week.

Excellent as always. He doens't hold his punches as far the * misadministration.

While reading, I realised who should be cast as Clete in the next film - Ray Winstone. Hopefully he can do a southern accent.

[MaineDem]

16. I just got the audiobook

I'm anxious to start it.

[fadedrose]

17. Never read Burke....yet

I looked him up . . . .

From this website, which books should I start with to get a real flavor of the guy's writing? I see he's got a new one out with "Jesus" in the title. I don't want to read the newest yet, or the oldest . .. somewhere a good starting point to get into one of his series books....

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/B_Authors/Burke_James-Lee.html#Robicheaux

Thanks,
martha

[raccoon]

18. Thanks for the heads up. nt

[Paladin]

19. I Met Burke Once In Houston

He was signing one of his books at Murder By The Book, a terrific little shop on Bissonnet Street that deals in nothing but crime novels. I got there after work, and there must have been over 200 people in line ahead of me; Burke is HUGE in Houston.

I had a nice, if short conversation with him as he signed a copy of his book for me. Nice guy.

For the record, my favorite Robicheaux book is "In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead." Awesome, haunting story....

[Suich]

20. I just finished it!

I have a used copy in very good condition that I'd be happy to pass on to someone.

I usually wait until I can get a book in paperback, EXCEPT for James Lee Burke...I get all psyched out just thinking about reading it!