Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
Book Review: How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Summary: 5 Stars
Author Burke is back with more two-fisted adventures of Dave Robicheaux and Cletus Purcel, the "Bobsey Twins of Homicide" in a nerve jangler set in Montana, where they've gone for flyfishing and a little R&R, very little, it so happens. There are homicides, kidnappings, jailbreaks, seedy honky-tonks aplenty, as well as unwieldy and unwanted FBI assistance(well, mostly unwanted, right?)quests for vengeance, really loathsome badguys and a cleverly applied clue as to how to pronounce the name of the prime protagonist. No, not "Dave", his surname, mystery solved and debates over! James Lee Burke is the master of the lyrically written murder mystery, so much more literate than the rest, his prose is eloquent and moving, it comes as no surprise that he should be a fan of Jimmie Dale Gilmore! Also, Bob Wills (Ah Haaaa!)... Burke can really torque-up the tension, unbearably even, thankfuly he can rein-in the situations that get so perilous but without "saves" that feel cheap. This book was a barnburner and another welcome addition to his wonderful body of work!Book Review: A Mastery of Darkness and Evil
Summary: 5 Stars
At a time when some series authors have given in to their publisher's demands to turn out manuscripts at what, for writers, is breakneck speed and have damaged their product as a result, James Lee Burke has either refused the call or is able to turn out remarkable stories faster and with more finesse than his colleagues.
Swan Peak puts Dave Robicheaux, Clete Purcell and those they care about in more personal danger than in Burke's previous books. And it is not all from without. Clete is slowly burning up inside and Dave faces a great fear that his world is collapsing around him.
The "Bobbsey Twins from Homicide" along with Dave's wife, Molly, are vacationing on a friend's ranch in Montana when first Clete, and then Dave are drawn into the lives of a powerful local family and, by extension, the murder of two couples by a villain more frightening than Burke has previously created.
Burke draws wonderfully human, flawed but beautiful, characters and intertwines them with each other in a way that bonds them to us, the readers, like people we've known all our lives. But with that must come the anger, fear and malevolence that drive the novel. The ending is one of the most remarkable I've read in suspense fiction, as well as one of the darkest, and one of the most redemptive.
James Lee Burke is the poet-laureate of the thriller business. The selection of Will Patton as the reader of the audio version is as perfect as can be. This is a brilliant novel, the best I've read this year. While other authors in the genre are giving up heart in favor of speed, Burke's work just gets more compelling.
Book Review: Swan Peak CD (unabridged)
Summary: 5 Stars
It's long - 15 hours - but a riveting story. Some might find the VERY strong language offensive, and the story has some pretty violent action, but it's vivid. The story line is engrossing and will definitely hold your attention. Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell just cannot stay out of trouble, even when vacationing and fishing in Montana. This, like the previous Burke CDs, is read by Will Patton. These stories just wouldn't be right without Patton's voice and accent. My wife and I listen to Burke stories on trips and the time passes very quickly. Book Review: A little overblown - not the best James Lee Burke, but still worth reading
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a fan of James Lee Burke and the Dave Robicheaux novels (I especially like the character of Clete Purcell). Unlike a lot of other popular series, the Robbicheax novels haven't faltered much over time, in fact, some of the strongest entries in the series have been the most recent. That is, until now. It isn't that Swan Peak is a bad novel; it's just that, in a strange way, it feels as if Burke has taken some of the qualities that make his novels stand out and overdone them.
His novels have always been dark and complex and his characters tortured and flawed. I've always liked that about his novels, but where previous novels have been elevated by these dark musings, Swan Peak gets bogged down by it. In moderation, the haunted ramblings of a tortured soul, adds depth and atmosphere to a novel. But overdone, the novel loses momentum and becomes derivative.
I also found that this novel, like so many of the Robicheaux novels, has Dave going toe to toe against a wealthy, powerful family that is rotten to the core. The murders in the novel feel oddly disconnected from the rest of the storyline and the resolution to these murders is strangely unsatisfying.
But still, a weaker Burke novel is better than most. I always enjoy Burke's prose although it is admittedly overwrought at times. Burke weaves various plot lines together effectively and while the novel is ripe with gothic melodrama, it's compellingly rich and complex. The dialogue is as sharp as ever. Few authors convey street language like Burke does (perhaps only Elmore Leonard is better). And then there's Clete, one of the most entertaining fictional characters ever put to paper.
All things considered, this is not James Lee Burke's best, but it's still a solid read. 3 ? stars.
Book Review: Swan Peak Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Burke does it again. His less than perfect heros, Clete & "Big Mon" fall into a situation that requires a couple of White Knights and ends up with results that fill the bill. Great action and even romance enhance a some complex activities with terrifically plotted twists and turns and culminating with terrible effects, I love the action and way characters resolve problems in the fast moving adventures of Dave Robicheaux and company. Can't wait for the next enstallment
JMB