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In the Moon of Red Ponies (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook
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(3.03) - 1,206 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Haunting suspense and captivating villains, the hallmark of James Lee Burke’s bestselling novels of evil and redemption, are brilliantly evoked in his new Billy Bob Holland opus, the follow-up to the popular and critically acclaimed Bitterroot.
“James Lee Burke tells a story in a style all his own, in language that's alive, electric. He's a master at setting mood, laying in atmosphere, all with quirky dialogue that's a delight.” —Elmore Leonard
In James Lee Burke’s last novel featuring Billy Bob Holland, Bitterroot, the former Texas Ranger left his home state to help a friend threatened by the most dangerous sociopath Billy Bob had ever faced. After vanquishing a truly iniquitous collection of violent individuals, Billy moved his family to west Montana and hung out a shingle for his law practice. But in In the Moon of Red Ponies, he discovers that jail cells have revolving doors and that the government he had sworn to serve may have become his enemy.
His first client in Missoula is Johnny American Horse, a young activist for land preservation and the rights of Native Americans. Johnny is charged with the murder of two mysterious men—who seem to have recently tried to kill Johnny themselves, or at least scare him off his political causes. As Billy Bob investigates, he discovers a web of intrigue surrounding the case and its players: Johnny's girlfriend, Amber Finley, as reckless as she is defiant—and the daughter of one of Montana's US senators; Darrel McComb, a Missoula police detective who is obsessed with Amber; and Seth Masterson, an enigmatic government agent whose presence in town makes Billy Bob wonder why Washington has become so concerned with an obscure murder case on the fringes of the Bitterroot Mountains.
As complications mount and the dead bodies multiply, Billy Bob is drawn closer to the truth behind Johnny American Horse’s arrest—and discovers a greater danger to himself and to his whole family. How Billy Bob strikes back at evil and protects his kin is the masterful triumph of In the Moon of Red Ponies.
Beautifully written, with an intriguing plot and characters whose conflicts seem as real as life itself, this novel shows James Lee Burke again in the top form that has made him a critical favorite and a national bestseller.
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"Overall, despite the narration technique mixing first/third person which was a little bit hard to follow at first, I have to say I really liked this book a lot. It certainly didn't have a typical happy ending like a lot of books, or that much of a neatly wrapped up way to conclude the story. I think that was what I enjoyed most. I really enjoyed narrator Tom Stechshulte as well--awesome job with dialects/accents to really bring the characters alive. I definitely want to find some other James Lee Burke novels on CD to listen to since this was my first. I would also like to see what I think about his other character, Dave Robicheaux. Hopefully the library will have more Burke books on CD because I definitely want to hear/read more. And I just loved the characterization of Wyatt Dixon and those sayings. I was really surprised and enjoyed Darrel McComb--certainly I wasn't expecting the ending and what he did."
— Keri (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Readers will savor Burke’s lyrical prose and finely shaded psychological tension as Billy Bob and his cohorts teeter between idealism and brutality.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Burke takes...drama...to a deliriously enjoyable extreme in his dialogue...Thrilling stuff.”
— Guardian (London) -
“[A] top-notch fourth novel in Burke’s series featuring ex–Texas Ranger attorney Billy Bob Holland...Gripping [and] spine-tingling.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Required reading.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Burke crafts action sequences so realistic you can practically smell the gunpowder and sweat...Ponies is the best yet in the series.”
— Bookmarks magazine
In the Moon of Red Ponies Listener Reviews
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frances, 12/10/2015
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" I like it! I've read several other James Lee Burke books and have found them all to be good. I especially like how he brings the culture and history, of the region his characters are based in, into his story line. "
— Floydc, 2/12/2014 -
" Billy Bob Holland novel. Excellent read. "
— Stephen, 2/3/2014 -
" This is the first of the lawyer B.B.Holland books I have tried and I enjoyed it. Typical good writing of the author and a good plot with interesting characters. I have read several of the Dave Robicheaux novels and been disappointed in two cases with an impossible ending, so I am always now leery starting another of his novels, but the ending here was sensible and interesting. I will certainly try another of this series. "
— Ross, 2/1/2014 -
" I loved the language and the sense of place. "
— Joey, 2/1/2014 -
" I had given up James Lee Burke's Billy Bob Holland series a while back due to its predictability and sameness, so it took me a while to get to this one, the fourth and final (so far) of the series featuring the Texas Ranger-turned-Montana lawyer. I'm glad I did get to it. This one is JLB at his best, keeping me guessing and on the edge of my seat til the final page. "
— Mike, 1/25/2014 -
" Burke is one of our great national treasures, and this novel was very good - if a bit formulaic. "
— Marty, 1/23/2014 -
" As always, a handful of "characters" - maybe that should be all caps, underlined - who entertain to the end. It will be a strange day when I when I run out of James Lee Burke. "
— Rex, 1/17/2014 -
" This book is best on CD. Read by Will Patten, it is evil, violent, exciting, and rewarding, in the end. Also has one evil SOB as one of the characters. This is a Billy Bob Thornton mystery--Montana locale. "
— Zack, 1/8/2014 -
" Another great effort by Burke. I am amazed that he is so skilled that every book year after year is so well written. "
— Burt, 1/7/2014 -
" I've always liked the Dave Robicheaux books, but now I'm adding the Billy Bob Holland books to my must-read list. I'll read anything this man writes. "
— Doneen, 12/8/2013 -
" Almost done. I love James Lee Burke's writing even when the story line gets dark (as this one does). "
— Debbie, 11/30/2013 -
" Like Burke's books set in the bayous, but this is a nice departure--different characters, different premises--still gripping and complex. "
— Marilyn, 11/29/2013 -
" Another great Billy Bob novel. This series looks to be the heir apparent to the Robicheaux novel series. "
— Mikel, 9/17/2013 -
" I'm re-reading some of James Lee Burke. I don't generally like it when authors with iconic characters switch gears and try to create new iconic characters, but I'm digging Billy Bob. "
— Maggard, 6/22/2013 -
" Former Teaxas ranger Billy Bob Holland is practicing law in Montana when Johnny Americanhorse is arrested. What follows is a mix of eco-terrorism, corporate greed, political intrigue, and murder. "
— Fredrick, 4/4/2013 -
" Enjoy this series and listened to most while travelig to Mexico "
— Boni, 3/18/2013 -
" Another excellent Burke novel, this one featuring Billy Bob Holland and assorted characters. Burke's characters make his books extra special and this one is peopled with plenty of them. Highly recommended. "
— Jeff, 2/18/2013 -
" Billy Bob is in Missoula, and Wyatt is back. "
— Pat, 12/15/2012 -
" The villain in this book really creeped me out, but I'm not sure he's beyond redemption. I enjoyed this book very much. "
— Dee, 9/13/2012 -
" Excellent read. My James Lee Burke fix. ;) "
— Malia, 8/7/2012 -
" Definitely not the same as the Dave Robicheaux series. "
— Chelle, 4/12/2012 -
" The classic struggle of good against evil, most of the characters are various shades of gray, some bad guys even have some redeeming qualities. I'd read a Billy Bob novel quite a while back and I don't remember Lucas being such a backwoods dolt. Not my favorite James LEe Burke but a good read. "
— Jo, 5/24/2011 -
" This gets four stars in large part because I love JLB. It is my favorite of the BBH series, but I did not care for the way he ends it. Not the ending but taking 400 pages and then glossing over the conclusion. Dave is still my guy. "
— Linda, 5/13/2011 -
" Billy Bob is in Missoula, and Wyatt is back. "
— Pat, 3/19/2011 -
" James Lee Burke is one of my favorite authors. His style is incredibly rich and beautiful and his characters always resonate. "
— Morgan, 1/25/2011 -
" See my review of Bitterwood by James Lee Burke. "
— Michael, 8/31/2010 -
" A follow up to "Bitteroot" with Billy Bob Holland having moved to Montana. One old ex-con antagonist from the earlier book makes this one worth reading. Good stuff, but not as tightly plotted as Bitteroot. None the less, Burke delivers. "
— Mike, 6/14/2010 -
" Billy Bob Holland novel. Excellent read. "
— Stephen, 3/27/2010 -
" Like Burke's books set in the bayous, but this is a nice departure--different characters, different premises--still gripping and complex. "
— Marilyn, 1/25/2010 -
" If we could add half stars, I'd give this 3 1/2. Burke is a smooth writer and his tale has more twists than a tornado--plus a bit of Native American mysticism, a bad/good guy who's a rodeo rider and some anti-Bush philosophizing at the end. <br/>I think you'd like this one, Emily. "
— Judy, 12/27/2009 -
" The villain in this book really creeped me out, but I'm not sure he's beyond redemption. I enjoyed this book very much. "
— Dee, 11/30/2009 -
" Almost done. I love James Lee Burke's writing even when the story line gets dark (as this one does). "
— Debbie, 11/20/2009 -
" This book is best on CD. Read by Will Patten, it is evil, violent, exciting, and rewarding, in the end. Also has one evil SOB as one of the characters. This is a Billy Bob Thornton mystery--Montana locale. "
— Zack, 8/16/2009 -
" The classic struggle of good against evil, most of the characters are various shades of gray, some bad guys even have some redeeming qualities. I'd read a Billy Bob novel quite a while back and I don't remember Lucas being such a backwoods dolt. Not my favorite James LEe Burke but a good read. "
— Jo, 8/15/2009 -
" I loved the language and the sense of place. "
— Joey, 7/1/2009
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 the Narrators
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.
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.