When a beautiful teenage girl is killed, the victim of a particularly savage rape, New Iberia, Louisiana police detective Dave Robicheaux senses from the very start of the investigation that the most likely suspect -- Tee Bobby Hulin -- is not the actual killer. Though a drug addict and general ne'er-do-well, Hulin doesn't fit the profile for this brutal crime. But when another body turns up -- a drugged-out prostitute who is the daughter of a local mafia bigwig -- all clues point to Tee Bobby Hulin. The dead girl's father sets out to find -- and punish -- the killer. Before Robicheaux can bring the killer or killers to justice, he battles a painkiller addiction, a habit brought on by a humiliating beating he suffers at the hands of a diabolical character known only as Legion. Once the overseer on a local sugarcane plantation, Legion scrapes by through doing odd jobs. In temperament, he's still the malevolent bully, seemingly possessed with supernatural skills of survival. When Robicheaux's longtime buddy Clete Purcel drops by New Iberia for a visit, he is quickly drawn into the struggle between evil forces, including Jimmy Dean Styles, a black man intent on maintaining his empire of corruption, Joe Zeroski, a trailer park mafioso with palatial aspirations -- and Legion Guidry in whom Robicheaux faces an enemy unlike any he has ever known. And soon, what began as a duel of wits turns into a dance of death. Gothic, dense, brutal, touching, and always compelling, Jolie Blon's Bounce is classic storytelling from a writer who has been dubbed "the Faulkner of crime fiction."
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"Burke writes so well that even rereading his novels is a pleasure. Dave Robicheaux is a troubled but honorable man who also happens to be a Police Detective in New Iberia, LA. He is violent, has VietNam War flashbacks in his sleep, and is a 'recovering' addict. In this novel a woman is brutally murdered. She is a Prostitute and addict and Dave is determined to find the murderer and get him/her off the streets. He is beaten by an antagonist known as Legion, who is simply frightening to everyone and as a result is back on 'pill' use. The story is complex and yet surprisingly lyrical (but no surprise to Burke fans). It is worth reading at least once, if not more." — Joyce (4 out of 5 stars)
"Burke writes so well that even rereading his novels is a pleasure. Dave Robicheaux is a troubled but honorable man who also happens to be a Police Detective in New Iberia, LA. He is violent, has VietNam War flashbacks in his sleep, and is a 'recovering' addict. In this novel a woman is brutally murdered. She is a Prostitute and addict and Dave is determined to find the murderer and get him/her off the streets. He is beaten by an antagonist known as Legion, who is simply frightening to everyone and as a result is back on 'pill' use. The story is complex and yet surprisingly lyrical (but no surprise to Burke fans). It is worth reading at least once, if not more."
“To read a Burke novel is to enter a timeless, parallel universe of violent emotions and lush, brooding landscapes, where class and racial distinctions and family histories mold society. This is the stunningly talented Burke’s twenty-first book and his best until the next one.”
“Critics are running out of superlatives to describe the writing of James Lee Burke. He has been compared to a bewildering range of authors…However no comparisons are needed. James Lee Burke is an American original.”
“Burke’s greatest writing talent is in his ability to weave words into places, feelings, and characters.”
“They just don’t get any better than this one.”
" EASILY, one of my favorites in the last several years. The antagonist is named "Legion." He easily put chill bumps on my body. "
" I was going to write a review but the Barnes & Nobles' review pretty much sums up everything I wanted to say, so just read that review. "
" Really good book and excellent set of characters. I'm amazed that Burke can continue to create such novels. "
" This was my second time reading this book and I loved it even more. Burke may be one of the best writers in America and this may be one of his best books. Dark, gothic and fascinating with a cast of characters impossible to imagine and yet entirely believable. Brilliant book. "
" This was the first James Lee Burke book I read. The title I chose was dictated by the books available at the local bookstore which houses both new and used books. I am hooked. His books will be my new obsession for a while. "
" Every James Lee Burke novel displays his lyrical power. In each, the main characters are at once well fleshed out and mystical. Reverence for the natural world competes with the feeling that destruction is on the way and it's just a matter of time until all things beautiful pass from sight. This particular novel is all that to the nth power. I love the writing, the plot and Burke's larger than life characters. Legion Guidry makes me shiver and I'm not sure if it's at his corrupted and horrifying soul or if it's at the beauty of the language Burke uses to create him. This is a masterwork, I believe. "
" I liked the Catholic imagery. It's a four star genre book, no point in taking away a star because it's not great lit. "
" Too much gratuitous sex and not enough suspense. Over-the-top descriptive writing. "
" I will have to revisit Louisiana and check out the area that Burke writes about. I have really enjoyed these Robicheaux books, even if I have been skipping around. "
" I didn't enjoy this book as much as the last one in the series. Probably I should have read another author in between! "
" Love, love, love the Dave Robicheaux books! Burke is now on my short list of favorite authors. "
" This was good. I like this author and will read anything he has written. "
" This book has a good story line but I didn't care for Louisiana slang that invades the entire book. "
" Dave Robicheaux once more and very good. "
" Not bad. Entertaining, but not very tight in its presentation. A lot of characters to keep up with and a lot of backstory to keep track of. But, all in all a fairly quick read and entertaining. "
" Possibly his best. Completely drained after reading this. Burke has a way of taking you inside his characters. You experience both their demons and redemptions. "
" I'll definitely have to check out more of James Lee. Such poetic descriptions, such awesome characters, such intricate mysteries. This was a deeply satisfying read. "
" 3 1/2 Stars - Good book...well written. I enjoyed all of the very southern characters and colloquial language. "
" another good Burke read. The guy can spin a yarn. "
" Haunting, delving into human frailty, sexual excess, the supernatural, violence, madness, and the existence of pure evil incarnate. "
" The water around Bayou Teche still smells like spawning fish. But not as often in this episode. "
" This was the book that introduced me to James Lee Burke and Dave Robicheaux and I've been hooked ever since. It's still my favorite. "
" I love Burke's books no matter what. This one has the most evil bad guy yet. You will _never_ want to meet "Legion". Never. "
" One of my favorite authors. The violence is authentic to the characters. "
" Enjoy this series and listened to most while travelig to Mexico "
" Burke's characters and his description of the Louisiana region and culture are great. His writing makes you feel you are there. "
" This author was recommended to me by a friend. However, I don't think I'll read any more books by this author. There was too much sex and fighting and not enough detective thinking and suspense. Lots of descriptive writing, but it didn't add to the excitement in reading the book. "
" Complicated Robicheaux mystery concerning T. Bobby Huley, Perry LaSalle, Marvin Oates and Joe Sroksky (Cleat almost got killed and Alafair went off to college) "
" Very good read - you can feel the heat and see the conflict in this southern story. "
" The audio book begins with a version of the song Jolie Blon'. The date of reading/listening is approximate. "
" For James Lee Burke and the Dave Robicheaux novels, it gets no better than this. The eerie tone of the book is unrelenting, and the antagonist, Legion Guidry, is one that will stick with you forever. You'll never forget him... or the final scene. "
" An early Burke, with great atmospheric details. "
" Love this author. I always add new words to my vocabulary because of his work. Really like the settings in NO and Lousiana "
" Real good story line, got slow a few times, but still found it interesting. I will have to read another one of his books to see if I really like him or not. Worth the read! "
" Repetitious but a lot of fun, with interesting characters. Legion is one of those guys you love to hate!!! I couldn't wait to see how he got his! "
" Another good one in the series. Not quite as satisfying. "
" The second to last chapter was awesome. But then the last chapter just fell apart. Regardless, this was a great read. "
" James Lee Burke is a wonderful writer who obviously loves his Louisiana. The story almost takes 2nd place to his wonderful description of people and environment. "
" I learned a lot about Louisiana. Toward the end I had to finish it. I like the author's vocabulary and writing style. "
" Kind of a weird book for this author that I really like. His descriptions of southern LA are beautifully written. The people are veerrry strange. "
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 Policière 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.
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