When former Klansman and piney-woods outcast Aaron Crown is finally imprisoned for a decades-old murder, it is to Detective Dave Robicheaux that he proclaims his innocence loudest. Crown seems to be a lightning rod for every kind of trouble that the state of Louisiana can unearth. A documentary film writer seeking to prove Crown's innocence is found murdered; a button man for the New Orleans mob accuses Robicheaux of taking a pay-off to ignore Crown.
But it is when Buford LaRose -- scion of an old Southern family and author of a book on the Crown case -- is elected governor that Dave Robicheaux's involvement with Aaron Crown deepens to a level he can barely fathom. And it is Buford's social-climbing wife, Karyn, with whom Robicheaux had an affair years before, who proves to be his most poisonous adversary.
Filled with thrilling adventure, lightning-paced action, and street smart realism, Cadillac Jukebox is a brilliant addition to Burke's standout Dave Robicheaux series.
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"I love this man's writing, so I am grateful that he is as prolific as he is and that he is still alive and working so I have many more of his works to read. This one is one of the best I've read so far, with a roster of low-life and high-life scum bags who double-cross and off each other until the very end, though not everyone who deserves it gets an ugly fate in this one (not sure about the converse). Hard to put down, very satisfying, and all the regulars are here: Streak, Bootsie, Helen, Clete, Alafair, Batiste, along with the afore-mentioned rogues and regal gallery: Dock and Persephone Greeen, Aaron Crown, Mookie Zerrang, Buford and Karyn LaRose, Clay Mason. The plot line involves a murdered civil rights leader and a redneck swamp rat who takes the fall for it, the governor of Louisiana, drug-running in Mexico, and all manner of bayou and Gulf Coast mafia-type bottom feeders, all told in Burke's fantastic style. Highly recommended!"
— Glen (5 out of 5 stars)
“A ripeness of villains, the familiar good guys and some who travel the territory in between comprise the cast of the rich ninth Dave Robicheaux adventure.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Will this case offer yet another opportunity to lose control, to jeopardize loved ones in an effort to take a stand against onrushing modernity? The answer is yes and no, but in that refreshing ambiguity—hopeful yet melancholic—lies a remarkable rebirth for a series that, unlike so many others, has managed to absorb commercial success without sacrificing quality.
— Booklist (starred review)“Only Walter Mosley rivals Burke’s ability to burrow so deeply into his detective’s world that he creates a compelling sense of personal mythology.”
— Kirkus Reviews" It pains me to give this audio two stars, but is was the abridged version of the book and it left a lot out as I was totally unsure of the plot and then it ended and left me wondering what went on?? Think I will have to review the book now. "
— Betty, 2/10/2014" 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, 2/3/2014" Another great story by Mr. Burke. I think if I was Dave Robicheaux, I'd get as far away from New Iberia as humanly possible! "
— Justin, 1/30/2014" Well, well. My first James Lee Burke and it was quite a fun trip. Very raw, very evocative of New Orleans and a real page turner. If you like police procedurals and authors like Joseph Wambaugh, this is for you. "
— Liz, 1/29/2014" I did not enjoy this as much as my first Burke read, Pegasus. Perhaps if I knew more cop/gangster slang (or if a glossary were included), but I was mystified by whole chunks of dialogue. And the stream of perfect wives is beginning to grate... "
— Valerie, 1/27/2014" Too many characters and not a good flow of how they are connected. Not sure I'll read any more of his books "
— Mary, 1/19/2014" another great James Lee Burke..... couldn't put it down "
— Sue, 1/18/2014" James Lee Burke is the best mystery writer...ever. His books are literate and atmospheric and his characters are flawed and very atypical for this genre. "
— Alan, 1/17/2014" Good read if your into the series-- "
— Johnny, 1/16/2014" Having not read the other books in this series, I was disappointed to find that this book does not stand alone. The relationships were difficult to understand, as if there were too many gaps in what you were supposed to know from the other books. I found the dialect choppy and off putting. "
— Erin, 1/14/2014" Enjoyable but I didn't find it as good as some of his others. "
— Kay, 1/12/2014" I gave it 3 stars because I loves me some James Lee Burke, but I didn't particularly like this story - at least not as well as the previously 8 Dave Robicheaux books. "
— Linda, 1/4/2014" As detective fiction goes, Burke's novels have been some of the best I've read. He has more literary lyricism than most other detective novelists, which helps add to the usuals to the plot devices. "
— Bob, 12/29/2013" Another good one in the series. I am now a fan. "
— Jim, 12/12/2013" Love Dave Robicheaux. What else can I say. "
— Gwyn, 12/9/2013" M first James Lee Burke novel...just might be my last. Found it difficult to sort out so many characters and the killing scenes were very gory....Just not my type of book for relaxing. "
— Mary, 11/17/2013" Another good installment of this excellent series, typical Burke & well recommended. "
— Joe, 10/25/2013" Continuing to enjoy my self-appointed task of reading all of James Lee Burke's work - in chronological order - and continuing to enjoy his vivid description of the locale of his stories. "
— Garth, 10/14/2013" This was an okay book, but not quite as funny as the last one. He always deals with terrible problems. This one had the LaRose's in it and how Karyn was after Dave again. It was like another one with Dave and the LaRoses. "
— Connie, 10/12/2013" 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, 9/3/2013" Burke's prose has a hallucinatory texture. The characters, including the Bobbsie Twins from homicide, are larger than life. "
— Lysergius, 9/1/2013" Nancy 4 stars; Ron 5 stars Library Book "
— Ron, 7/7/2013" Enjoy this series and listened to most while travelig to Mexico "
— Boni, 6/25/2013" i have not read one James Lee Burke book that i lost interest in.they're all so awesome. "
— Thomas, 6/20/2013" James Lee Burke is the king of descriptive prose. He is writing about the same characters as he has for 25 years and I can't wait to read another one of his books. "
— Burt, 5/29/2013" For the third time, Burke has mention Harry Choates playing (cajun fiddle) and singing, "La Jolie Blon" (also Jole Blon) so we went online and found a recording. Great! "
— Beth, 3/30/2013" Excellent reader. I enjoyed listening to this very much. "
— Fran, 3/17/2013" Just like his regional uptake and spirituality in chaos "
— Carol, 12/1/2012James 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.
Mark Hammer has had long and distinguished career in the theater. After earning an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, he completed an MFA degree at Catholic University. For twenty-three years after that, he served on the drama faculty at that university and as co-chairman of its MFA acting program. For the last sixteen of those years, he was also a member of the resident acting company at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage. There, he had significant roles in both classic and contemporary dramas. He was twice nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for his performances in Cloud Nine and The Wild Duck. He has also appeared in several Broadway plays. Hammer was proud to be chosen to narrate the opening film of the permanent exhibit for the National Holocaust Museum.