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Bitterroot Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,379 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Following his acclaimed bestseller Purple Cane Road, James Lee Burke returns with a triumphant tour de force.
Set in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, home to celebrities seeking to escape the pressures of public life, as well as to xenophobes dedicated to establishing a bulkhead of patriotic paranoia, Burke’s novel features Billy Bob Holland, former Texas Ranger and now a Texas-based lawyer, who has come to Big Sky Country for some fishing and ends up helping out an old friend in trouble.
And big trouble it is, not just for his friend but for Billy Bob himself—in the form of Wyatt Dixon, a recent prison parolee sworn to kill Billy Bob as revenge for both his imprisonment and his sister’s death, both of which he blames on the former Texas lawman. As the mysteries multiply and the body count mounts, you are drawn deeper into the tortured mind of Billy Bob Holland, a complex hero tormented by the mistakes of his past and driven to make things—all things—right. But beneath the guise of justice for the weak and downtrodden lies a tendency for violence that at times becomes more terrifying than the danger he is trying to eradicate.
As USA TODAY noted in discussing the parallels between Billy Bob Holland and Burke’s other popular series hero, David Robicheaux, “Robicheaux and Holland are two of a kind, white-hat heroes whose essential goodness doesn’t keep them from fighting back. The two series describe different landscapes, but one theme remains constant: the inner conflict when upright men are provoked into violence in defense of hearth, home, women, and children. There are plenty of parallels. Billy Bob is an ex-Texas Ranger; Dave is an ex-New Orleans cop. Dave battles alcoholism and the ghosts of Vietnam; Billy Bob actually sees ghosts, including the Ranger he accidentally gunned down...But most of all, both protagonists hold a vision of a pure and simple life.”
In Bitterroot, with its rugged and vivid setting, its intricate plot, and a set of remarkable, unforgettable characters, and crafted with the lyrical prose and the elegiac tone that have inspired many critics to compare him to William Faulkner, James Lee Burke has written a thriller destined to surpass the success of his previous novels.
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"He's my favorite author. Read a Burke book and your in a dark theater by yourself surrounded and engulfed by his images. I've read them all but can only do so once every 3-4 months because in the end they are their message about the human condition is not hopeful."
— Mike (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Hot-button issues sure to thrill his fans…Those who relish Burke’s patented mix of supercharged violence and overheated passions are in for a treat.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“There is some marvelous writing here. Burke’s patented lyricism has never been more beautiful—or seemed more fresh—than in his descriptions of the Montana landscape, and he does a wonderful job of contrasting that harmonious and peaceful setting with the jarring dissonance of failed human relations.”
— Booklist -
“Burke is continuing to enlarge his pool of intense, lyrical crime novels.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“Violence touches all of the characters in Burke’s third novel…Burke has a wonderful sense of place; his settings always seep into and flavor the story.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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A USA Today bestseller
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A New York Times bestseller
Bitterroot Listener Reviews
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" didn't finish this. I waded through the stereotypical old tough military/lawman characterization getting into bar room confrontations with bikers. But there is nothing I hate more than the women getting victimized just because they know these guys. HATE that plot line! The only thing worse is when the tough guy's girlfriend is too stupid to stay out of the middle of it and gets captured and then he has to go after her, blah blah blah. "
— Madrona310, 2/20/2014 -
" I really liked it!! It is not the typical Western that I avoid. It centers on family and it's struggles, yet centered in the wonderful west and it's homey culture. I really enjoyed it's content and emotional message. "
— Suzanne, 2/12/2014 -
" There's so much going on in this book I'm still processing. But he's a good story-spinner, that James Lee Burke. Plus, I'm pretty sure he's a friend of my uncle's, and I found this book in a laundry room. Free books: I'm happy. "
— Jaime, 2/8/2014 -
" I've read six of Burke's books now, and they are great fun to read, always with a happy and satisfying ending where the bad guys get what they deserve. He is a darn good writer, but the more of him I read, the more I noticed his little idiosyncracies and problems. As in--nearly all the characters sound the same, even the males and females. He also tends to repeat his descriptions. A better editor would help with this, I expect. Still, if you want an absorbing and fast read which is better written than most of the mystery/crime/thriller stuff out there, particularly with more interesting characters, it is hard to beat James Lee Burke. "
— Karen, 2/1/2014 -
" Ambiguous review. Very well written, and I love the way the prose takes you into Montana and evokes the setting so well. But the violence is ubiquitous and the characters are all so desperate to appear manly that it got tiresome. Or maybe that's the West. "
— W, 1/31/2014 -
" First book I've read by this author. Exciting in a disturbing kind of way. Might try reading a few more of his books. "
— Janis, 1/27/2014 -
" I love the Billy Bob books and would love to read more. "
— Lori, 1/10/2014 -
" Not a bad book. The appeal for me was more about the feel of the story rather than the story itself. The main character is sorrowful but still striving. "
— Klanette, 1/8/2014 -
" Back to Burke. Billy Bob Holland Territory.Dave Robicheaux without the neuroses and the drinking problem "
— Dave, 12/31/2013 -
" I actually like the Billy Bob Holland series better than Dave Robiceaux. Great book. "
— John, 12/25/2013 -
" I always recommended to read this book and James Lee Burke wove a great tale. "
— Fan, 12/15/2013 -
" Bobby Lee Holland goes to Montana to visit his friend, Doc Voss, and gets tangled up with a psychopath, mobsters and a white supremacist group. Great story and read. "
— Pat, 12/4/2013 -
" A brilliant read. James Lee Burke at his finest. Burke knows how to dig into the human psyche and develops his characters with wonderful metaphors. I have not read a bad James Lee Burke book. "
— James, 11/29/2013 -
" Burke's prose is still terrific. I can feel the the breeze on my face and smell the bear in the cage, but it leaves a little bit to desired as far as a mystery goes and I thought some of the minor characters were left a little undeveloped. "
— Jo, 11/23/2013 -
" I believe this was my first exposure to this new series and I absolutely loved it. It's similar to the Robicheaux series in terms of the solidity and sternness of the protagonist, but it's a new set of characters exploring new locales. Loved it. "
— Mikel, 11/22/2013 -
" This book is trash...I'm not going to finish it...he speaks in so many synonyms (off beat/trash talk) that you can't even figure out what he's saying. "
— Marilyn, 11/15/2013 -
" Different than the Robicheaux series. I am not a huge fan of Montana, but after reading Burke take a few different characters there, I definitely want to vacation near Swan Peak. "
— Dana, 11/6/2013 -
" This is another venue for Mr. Burke's talent. Texas Ranger Billy Bob Holland is the newest protagonist. "
— Carole, 10/8/2013 -
" Bitterroot by James Lee Burke (2002) "
— Julie, 7/17/2013 -
" James Lee Burke is one of best writers of our times. He is one of the few writers whose books I will purchase in hard cover because I can't wait for the paperback version to come out. "
— Cammie, 6/12/2013 -
" Added a new Character almost as good as Dave R. "
— Carol, 6/3/2013 -
" Definately my favorite James Lee book. I am excited to read more about Billy Bob and his son. "
— Bev, 5/22/2013 -
" It was just okay for me man! "
— Tim, 5/14/2013 -
" Another excellent JLB read, full intricate and flawed characters. This time with a Montana setting, which is described in vivid and interesting detail. Brilliant read - 4.5 stars. "
— Joe, 5/12/2013 -
" Though never great, always entertaining. "
— Rod, 4/17/2013 -
" Yet again, Burke has created a true page-turner. Holland is a solid hero. More bad guys than you can shake a stick at. I'd read his grocery list. Loved it. "
— Rob, 9/28/2012 -
" The most literary writer of the mystery genre--Faulknerian! "
— Frank, 8/3/2012 -
" He pushes crime fiction away from the genre and toward literature. This is one of his that takes place in Montana. "
— Tom, 7/26/2012 -
" Thank you Mr. Burke for such fun and so many great stories. "
— Dennis, 7/19/2012
About James Lee Burke
James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling author of forty novels and two short-story collections. He has won the Edgar Award, the CWA Gold Dagger, and the Grand Prix de Littérature Policièr. He was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. His novel The Lost-Get Back Boogie was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and two of his books, Heaven’s Prisoners and Two for Texas, have been made into motion pictures.
About Tom Stechschulte
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.