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Crusader's Cross (Abridged): A Dave Robicheaux Novel Audiobook
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(3.99) - 2,725 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Critically acclaimed and bestselling crime writer James Lee Burke returns to Louisiana where his ever-popular hero, Dave Robicheaux, sleuths his way through a hotbed of sin and uncertainty.
For Dave Robicheaux, life in Louisiana is filled with haunting memories of the past. In Crusader's Cross, a deathbed confession from an old schoolmate resurrects a story of injustice, the murder of a young woman, and a time in Robicheaux's life he has tried to forget.
Her name may or may not have been Ida Durbin. It was back in the innocent days of the 1950s when Robicheaux and his brother, Jimmie, met her on a Galveston beach. She was pretty and Jimmie fell for her hard -- not knowing she was a prostitute on infamous Post Office Street, with ties to the mob. Then Ida was abducted and never seen again.
Now, decades later, Robicheaux is asking questions about Ida Durbin, and a couple of redneck deputy sheriffs make it clear that asking questions is a dangerous game. With a series of horrifying murders and the sudden appearance of Valentine Chalons and his sister, Robicheaux is soon involved with the murderous energies of the New Orleans underworld.
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"I have listened to every book of James' that I could find. They are okay to read, but the two actors -- Mark Hammer for the earlier books (I believe he may have passed away) and Will Patton (white coach in Remember the Titans!) have the BEST voices for these books. There are a lot of them, but all worth listening too though there is a fair amount of violence (you can skip through) and bad language."
— Robin (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Mesmerizing.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“Harder to put down than flypaper.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“ Burke masterfully combines landscape and memory in a violent, complex story peopled by sharply defined characters who inhabit a lush, sensual, almost mythological world. ”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Burke at his most eloquent.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Crusader's Cross Listener Reviews
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" First David Robicheaux mystery for me. I like the style and the protagonist, a flawed human being. Also like the setting, cajun Louisiana, and the characters. Nothing suspenseful about it, but a good read all the same. "
— Joseph, 2/17/2014 -
" I don't know if it was the book or the performance that just was not compelling. "
— Diane, 2/16/2014 -
" A great read if you like well-paced, well written mysteries. "
— Gale, 2/7/2014 -
" James Lee Burke is always intense and ingrossing reading. Its a bit dark, so I can't read them in succession, but with breaks in between I do enjoy these books. This one was probably not his best, but it was good. "
— Kathy, 2/2/2014 -
" Enjoy this series and listened to most while travelig to Mexico "
— Boni, 1/18/2014 -
" Good read, I would recommend it. "
— Christie, 1/16/2014 -
" Once again brilliant Robiceaux novel, each novel by Burke is briliantly and beautifully written. Much more than crime fiction. "
— Joe, 1/7/2014 -
" It is fun reading a book that encompases the places I drive to everyday. Good Read for a detective novel. "
— Liz, 1/5/2014 -
" Great book, one of my favorite of the later Robicheaux novels. I forgot I'd read it, but read 100 pages on the plane anyway, it's that good. So I bought Tin Roof Blowdown instead, I know I haven't read that one. "
— Thomas, 11/28/2013 -
" Robicheaux in some of his darkest hours. I love the way Burke writes but I'm wondering if Robicheaux is getting a little old for some of his exploits. "
— Jo, 11/20/2013 -
" Another really consistent book. No new territory, but if you like Burke, you will like this. "
— Jim, 11/17/2013 -
" One of my favorites by Burke. Sometimes I don't even care what he's writing about. The way he strings words together transcends his stories; although this one is a dandy! "
— Kent, 10/24/2013 -
" Don't know of another mystery writer who combines such beautiful phrases between violent acts and creepy villains. Will Patton is the perfect narrator for this series. "
— Bayneeta, 10/7/2013 -
" Enjoyable read into a murder mystery novel. Enjoyed the characters and author has a good way to keep the suspense going throughout. Liked the character involvement of Robicheaux but wish the author would have gotten deeper into other characters pysche. "
— Mark, 8/14/2013 -
" This one was good. In this one, Dave Robicheaux actually has a "slip", and this surprised me. He also starts a new relationship. I don't want to say more in case I spoil it. "
— Ellie, 7/11/2013 -
" Great murder mystery. Well written with lots of plot twists that keep you guessing until the very end. "
— Pamela, 6/8/2013 -
" Not on of my favorite Robicheaux novels. "
— Cheryl, 2/7/2013 -
" I like the way Burke writes about Louisiana and I like his style, it's like Faulkner meets airport-serial-killer-author du jour "
— Christine, 8/17/2012 -
" This is one of Burke's very best, if not the best, in terms of plot. Others of his are better in terms of the vividness of his images, but the difference is not great. "
— Rex, 8/5/2012 -
" Will read any Dave Robicheaux mystery and enjoy it thoroughly. He just does the brooding atmosphere of the Bayou so well. "
— Mary, 6/24/2012 -
" Wow! Another great read by a VERY prolific author. "
— Joanne, 5/19/2012 -
" Love this series on audio. The accents are awesome. "
— Tracey, 11/10/2011 -
" I loved it....this is the first book of his I have read....I mean it for the last couple of days I was living in New Iberia with Dave! "
— Norma, 8/14/2011 -
" This wasn't my favorite of the series, except for the filling in of backstory on the two brothers. Woe to any female character Burke includes in his novels, generally. I skipped a volume, so now I have to go back and find out what happened to Bootsie. "
— Jim, 6/16/2011 -
" Just starting this book, but loving it. "
— Debbie, 4/29/2011 -
" As a fan concerned this maybe his apex, especially with the Robicheaux series. His best novel in my opinion "
— James, 3/27/2011 -
" The title put me off as I thought it was a religious reference. It was about the lead characters being passionate about finding the truth. Enjoyed not only the story but the people in it as well. "
— Susan, 3/20/2011 -
" I really liked this book. I like all of James Lee Burke's books. The characters and setting are richly described. Dave is a regular guy hero. "
— Laura, 1/28/2011 -
" Wow! Another great read by a VERY prolific author. "
— Joanne, 1/5/2011 -
" I really wanted to like this since I have friends who are Burke fanatics. I just never really could care very much about the characters. Stopped reading towards the end of the book, after the crime was unsurprisingly solved. No revelations... just sort of lost interest. "
— Andy, 1/2/2011 -
" I love Detective Dave Robicheaux. Listened to this book on a Playaway audiobook. Read by Will Patton who got it just right. "
— Siszurpicki, 10/23/2010 -
" Not the best in the series. "
— Mailmanr5, 10/2/2010 -
" Nice piece of discription and Character development. "
— Sschnitker, 9/7/2010 -
" This will be the last of his books I'll read. Not exciting. Not atmospheric. Not enlightening. Tedious...and badly written. :( "
— David, 9/6/2010 -
" Not on of my favorite Robicheaux novels. "
— Cheryl, 8/30/2010 -
" Murder mystery set in Louisiana with great description, atmosphere and characters. I enjoyed the actor's voice and accent. The author has written many books in this series, but I have not read any of the rest of the series. "
— Rebecca, 7/21/2010 -
" Once again brilliant Robiceaux novel, each novel by Burke is briliantly and beautifully written. Much more than crime fiction. "
— Joe, 7/5/2010 -
" I don't know if it was the book or the performance that just was not compelling. "
— Diane, 6/30/2010 -
" Robicheaux in some of his darkest hours. I love the way Burke writes but I'm wondering if Robicheaux is getting a little old for some of his exploits. "
— Jo, 5/26/2010
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 Will Patton
Will Patton is an award-winning actor and narrator. HIs narrations have earned the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration and also won dozens of AudioFile Earphones Awards. His numerous film credits include Remember the Titans, The Punisher, The Mothman Prophesies, Armageddon, and The Spitfire Grill. He starred in the TNT miniseries Into the West and on the CBS series The Agency and won Obie Awards in the theater for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See.