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Feast Day of Fools: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,552 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Winner of the 2012 Audie Award for Mystery
The critically acclaimed thirtieth entry from New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke, featuring Texas Sheriff Hackberry Holland in an epic tale that is equal parts thriller, Western, and literary masterpiece.
James Lee Burke returns to the Texas border town of his bestseller Rain Gods, where a serial killer presumed dead is very much alive…and where sheriff Hackberry Holland, now a widower, fights for survival—his own, and of the citizens he’s sworn to protect.
When alcoholic ex-boxer Danny Boy Lorca witnesses a man tortured to death in the desert, Hackberry’s investigation leads him to Anton Ling, a mysterious Chinese woman known for sheltering illegals. Ling denies any knowledge of the attack, but something in her aristocratic beauty seduces Hack into overlooking that she is as dangerous as the men she harbors. And when soulless Preacher Jack Collins reemerges, the cold-blooded killer may prove invaluable to Hackberry. This time, he and the Preacher have a common enemy.
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"James Lee Burke is an American treasure. Nobody writes like him. This story has more plot lines coming together than you can believe with a fascinating cast of characters. Hackberry Holland is one of the most unique protagonists we will ever encounter. Crack it open and you are in for a wild ride."
— Don (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“James Lee Burke presses onward with his singular mission to rewrite the American western in Feast Day of Fools…Burke is constructing a whole mew mythology in this series, with characters haunted by history and driven by ghosts…Hackberry Holland’s assertion that ‘a martial and savage spirit had ruled these hills’ since the time of the conquistadors is a good man’s way of saying that the violence we do sinks into the ground we walk on and becomes part of our collective heritage.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Burke’s evocative prose remains a thing of reliably fierce wonder.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“James Lee Burke—muscular and elegiac, brutal and compassionate—is a Stetson-wearing, spur-jangling giant among novelists.”
— Esquire -
“When the literary lights of the 21st century go marching in, James Lee Burke will be leading the parade. For five decades, Burke has created memorable novels that weave exquisite language, unforgettable characters, and social commentary into written tapestries that mirror the contemporary scene. His work transcends genre classification…Feast Day of Fools is a richly complex novel with several themes and subplots…extraordinary characterizations, dialogue, sense of place, and an almost mystical, allegorical summation.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“Riveting…Burke is creating an allegorical, almost Biblical setting here: The lost wander hopelessly in the desert, seeking revenge or redemption or some terrible mix of both. The moral center in all of this is Hackberry Holland, who feels old ‘in the way people feel old when they have more knowledge of the world than they need.’ He’s Burke’s most fascinating character, a man whose sense of justice has been shaken but not destroyed. Equally compelling is Pam Tibbs, the most no-nonsense woman in fictional law enforcement (‘Men often thought she was trying to be cute. They were mistaken’). The push-and-pull between the two is just one more of Burke’s thrilling examples of the mysteries of the human heart.”
— Miami Herald
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
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Selected for the October 2011 Indie Next List
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month, September 2011
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An Amazon Top 100 Book in 2011
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A 2012 Audie Award Finalist for Mystery
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A Kirkus Reviews “New and Notable Title”, September 2011
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A 2011 Hammett Prize Finalist
Feast Day of Fools Listener Reviews
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Winfried Hartmann, 11/15/2016
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" Great read. A book that you do not want to put down "
— Sue, 2/3/2014 -
" Burke writes interesting characters. I was initially sucked in, but then it got long. This would have been a much better book if you shaved off 150 pages. "
— Elizabeth, 2/3/2014 -
" Lots of Badies, and even a bady turned goody. More intense than before. "
— Malia, 2/1/2014 -
" Quite a cast of characters in this one, but what pushes this audiobook over the top is the stellar narration by Will Patton. "
— Nicole, 1/22/2014 -
" There is much to like in the last, thus far, installment of the Hackberry Holland series. Suffice to say if you have not read this series by James Lee Burke - Start. Great read. "
— Simon, 1/19/2014 -
" One of the most literary crime writers I have ever encountered. I would definitely read another of his books. He has a gift for language. "
— Terrie, 1/18/2014 -
" WOW... I am new to Mr. Burke's writing, but I can honestly say I will be singing his praise! This is an amazing book. "
— Emily, 1/11/2014 -
" Will Patton did his usual excellent job of narrating this book on CD. I don't think I will ever get tired for James Lee Burke novels. Here again he did a superb job (IMHO) of bringing to life the landscape and the people. "
— Mindy, 1/10/2014 -
" I wish I could write as well as James Lee Burke. I like the cast of characters that come into Hackberry Holland's life. I see the landscape as Burke describes them. What can I say, it's a James Lee Burke book. "
— Jeffrey, 12/27/2013 -
" James Lee Burke writes sentences to savor...what an amazing author! "
— Aunt, 12/6/2013 -
" I enjoy Burke's writing as he is able to convey complexity of characters well. There are lots of rabbit trails that all converge; at times the narrative line falls away as he digresses into the individuals for extended periods. Felt like No Country for Anyone after listening for a couple hours. "
— Cal, 12/4/2013 -
" hard. as. fuck american crime novel. awesome. "
— Alan, 11/28/2013 -
" Another great Hackberry Holland story read incredibly by Will Patton. Burke and Patton are the best writer/reader team out there. "
— Milo, 11/8/2013 -
" Incredibly violent--the land is harsh, the people are psychopaths or worse. Lots of action. I listened to the audio version. Reader was great. "
— Janice, 7/8/2013 -
" I have yet to read anything by James Lee Burke that I didn't absolutely love. This is one of my favorites. Burke's style is similar to Faulkner's, only more rich. "
— Chris, 7/2/2013 -
" Enjoyed this third in the Sheriff Hackberry Holland series - not as absorbing as the 'Nawlins series but Burke's use of language is always a treat. "
— Andy, 11/19/2012 -
" A GREAT read... word power and scene setting.. gritty at times.. unusual characters but believable.. I DO like this author "
— William, 8/5/2012 -
" I couldn't wait for this book to end. It just went on and on and onn and on. I found it depressing and with no redeeming qualities. "
— Donna, 7/5/2012 -
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frances, 7/1/2012
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" Always love the descriptive prose by Burke. "
— Ken, 6/19/2012 -
" Intense story, really holds interest. Scary if true, too many deaths. "
— Agnes, 5/31/2012 -
" One of the worst novels I've ever read. The plot is absurd and the writing is awful. "
— Clifford, 3/28/2012 -
" I can't imagine that anyone wouldn't like this book and the prequel to it (Rain Gods). Burke is the master of storytelling! His characters are always really interesting and their interaction with each other is incredible. Highly highly recommended. "
— Pickleman, 1/22/2012 -
" I am a sucker for Mr. Burke. I love the language and the epic sense and even the super realism which sometimes can challenge one. But thoroughly loved it. "
— Todd, 11/6/2011 -
" What is not to like? This is another great book by one of my favorite authors. "
— Lynette, 11/4/2011 -
" Loved this book~~actually read it through twice in a row because there is so much to it. What can one say about the beautiful, uncomprable prose of James Lee Burke except the advice: don't miss it! "
— Wilma, 11/2/2011 -
" Has there ever been a James Lee Burke book I didn't like? This one is full of very evil people. But, even with all of that evil, he manages to convey the plot action and scenes with such poetry. "
— Vickie, 11/2/2011 -
" I love reading James Lee Burke. This one a few too many violent crims for my liking but I love reading JLB's writing. I simply find joy with his descriptions of life and landscapes. I listened to this book read by Will Patton and that makes it special as well. "
— Edward, 10/29/2011 -
" James Lee Burke reintroduces Preacher Jack Collins, a monster of a hitman-serial killer. Hack Holland wants to hunt down Collins, but ends up using him to kills another killer. If you can't get a Lt. Dave Robicheaux book from Burke, then a Hack Holland mystery is an acceptable substitute. "
— Tom, 10/27/2011 -
" Loved this book--violent, but filled with great writing and philosophy. It reminded me of the movie--No Country For Old Men--I would highly recommend this one "
— Barbara, 10/26/2011 -
" This novel contains many great characters both good and evil. Everything is not set in the personalities evoked, but mixed and many faceted. The story is well told and draws one forward from beginning to end.<br/><br/>I enjoyed this book very much and give it a high recommendation. "
— JoAnn, 10/25/2011 -
" James Lee Burke just keeps the books coming and this one is as good as usual. "
— Burt, 10/22/2011
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.