Play Audiobook Sample
Heartwood (Abridged) Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.03) - 1,073 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Few writers in America today combine James Lee Burke's lush prose, cracking story lines, and tremendous sense of history and landscape. In Cimarron Rose, longtime fans of the Dave Robicheaux series found that the struggles of Texas defense attorney Billy Bob Holland show Burke at his best in exploring classic American themes -- the sometimes subtle, often violent strains between the haves and the have-nots; the collision of past and present; the inequities in the criminal justice system.
Heartwood is a kind of tree that grows in layers. And as Billy Bob's grandfather once told him, you do well in life by keeping the roots in a clear stream and not letting anyone taint the water for you. But in Holland's dusty little hometown of Deaf Smith, in the hill country north of Austin, local kingpin Earl Deitrich has made a fortune running roughshod and tainting anyone who stands in his way. Billy Bob has problems with Deitrich and his shamelessly callous demeanor, but can't shake the legacy of his passion for Deitrich's "heartbreak-beautiful" wife, Peggy Jean.
When Holland takes on the defense of Wilbur Pickett -- a man accused of stealing an heirloom and three hundred thousand dollars in bonds from Deitrich's office -- he finds himself up against not Earl's power and influence, but also a past Billy Bob can't will away. A wonderfully realized novel, rich in Texas atmosphere and lore, and a dazzling portrait of the deadly consequences of self-delusion, Heartwood could only have been written by James Lee Burke, a writer in expert command of his craft.
Download and start listening now!
"I have never read this author before but I want to read more now. This book is about a tangled mess of crime, corruption, gangbangers and twisted human minds in South Central Texas. It is crime fiction but it has a little more depth than the typical mystery. I certainly recommend this book."
— Adam (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Burke is a master at setting mood, laying in atmosphere, all with quirky, raunchy dialogue that's a delight.”
— Elmore Leonard -
“[A] rewarding novel.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Burke [is] one of the best writers of our time. His plots build tension to such a pitch that it tempts one to rush through his books. But his writing demands that his works be savored.”
— Denver Post -
“The Faulkner of the American crime novel.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Heartwood Listener Reviews
-
" The story generates a sense of irrelevance. The characters are not that strong or connected. The central character always seems to be reacting instead of being proactive and there is plenty of empty space in his life. A feeling of ineptitude seems to pervade the story and there is no purpose to anyone's life. Reading this story was more work than joyful diversion. There were a couple of interesting moments toward the end involving San Antonio's Riverwalk and The Alamo. The characters were simply not given enough to do. "
— Mike, 2/16/2014 -
" Couldn't finish this. Too damn boring. "
— Charlie, 2/9/2014 -
" Found it hard to stay "involved" while reading it. "
— Debra, 2/8/2014 -
" Not a very good book "
— Denise, 2/8/2014 -
" Another excellent novel author from James Lee Burke, I have yet to find an author who writes so well in describing the thoughts and emotions of his characters. This story flows along quickly with great depth and energy. Excellent. "
— Joe, 1/23/2014 -
" I enjoy James Lee Burke - his style is different than other authors I read regularly. Being a native born Texan, this one definitely felt right in the dialogue and storyline. The communication (or sometimes lack thereof) between the central characters (primarily male) was believable. "
— Lee, 1/22/2014 -
" James Lee Burke is the greatest. "
— Thomas, 1/20/2014 -
" While this book and others in the series are not bad books (How could they be with James Lee Burke writing them?), they did not 'click' with me the way his Dave Robicheaux series does. I think I'll pass on further books featuring Billy Bob Holland. "
— Dave, 1/8/2014 -
" Heartwood by James Lee Burke (2000) "
— Julie, 10/31/2013 -
" By the end of this book I started to like Billy Bob a bit more. On to the next one and it takes place in Montana which might help. "
— Linda, 10/28/2013 -
" Burke does it again with another yarn spun in Texas. If there is another author on the planet who turns catchy phrases with such ease, please share em' with me... "
— Leon, 10/23/2013
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
Al Gore, former vice president of the United States, is co-founder and chairman of Generation Investment Management. He is also a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and a member of Apple Inc.’s board of directors. Gore spends the majority of his time as chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit devoted to solving the climate crisis. Gore was elected to the United States House of Representatives four times and the Senate twice. He served eight years as vice president. He authored the bestsellers Earth in the Balance, An Inconvenient Truth, The Assault on Reason, and Our Choice. He was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.