book data
404 ratings,
3.91
average rating, 145 reviews
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published
July 8th 2008
by Simon & Schuster
binding
Hardcover, 352 pages
characters
isbn
1416548521
(isbn13: 9781416548522)
description
Much beloved Louisiana lawman Dave Robicheaux is back again, this time in the brand new setting of the rugged Montana mountains.
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 608)
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avg 3.91
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Has a copy to sell/swap
At the Peak of His Powers
Sometimes you uncover treasures in the most unlikely places.
Nearly fifteen years ago, in the dusty back corner of a convenience store, I happened upon a VHS cassette of Heaven’s Prisoners.
Renting the bulky black tape and returning home to watch it on a small television beside my bed, careful not to wake my sleeping family—which included a newborn who wasn’t much for night sleeping anyway—changed my life.
The movie, starring Alec ...more
Sometimes you uncover treasures in the most unlikely places.
Nearly fifteen years ago, in the dusty back corner of a convenience store, I happened upon a VHS cassette of Heaven’s Prisoners.
Renting the bulky black tape and returning home to watch it on a small television beside my bed, careful not to wake my sleeping family—which included a newborn who wasn’t much for night sleeping anyway—changed my life.
The movie, starring Alec ...more
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Read in December, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
I have been a JLB fan since Black Cherry Blues in the 80s. I haven't been keeping up in the last few years, but picked this up. It was like running into an old friend after quite a few years. Burke has aged like fine wine, and this love poem to the west is a perfect example of why people can't get enough of Burke's writing. Style: poetic, smooth, like riding a horse with a sweet rocking-chair gait through country both known and new. Content: a rip-snorting story, complete with more than enough r...more
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Read in November, 2008
The latest Dave Robicheaux mystery. If you enjoy novels about middle-aged, reformed alcoholic, Catholic guilt-plagued, Cajun detectives who live with more ghosts than you can count and who periodically relive their Viet Nam nightmares - and whose PI (i.e. private investigator AND politically incorrect) best friend is even more troubled - and trouble - then this is for you.
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Read in March, 2009
It would be rude to suggest that Burke wanted to write off a trip to Montana on his taxes so based this story there - but there doesn't seem to be any other explanation - unless this is the Robicheaux swan song.
The characters were out of place, the story rambled and I skipped entire chapters without missing a thing. The premise is actually a good one and I liked many of the characters but book didn't hold together. There were too many side trips into each character's psyche. Burke...more
The characters were out of place, the story rambled and I skipped entire chapters without missing a thing. The premise is actually a good one and I liked many of the characters but book didn't hold together. There were too many side trips into each character's psyche. Burke...more
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02/05/09
Bookmarks Magazine
added it
Although Dave Robicheaux has (temporarily) left his beloved New Orleans, fans will not be disappointed in this fast-moving, taut, and riveting thriller. Critics noted James Lee Burke's somewhat lighter tone and brighter mood since his last novel, The Tin Roof Blowdown (2006), a furious reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, though the Miami Herald felt that Swan Peak didn't measure up to the former novel's ferocity and immediacy. Burke's lyrical language and eye for detail are well suit
...more
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Read in September, 2008
Swan Peak, by James Lee Burke. A-minus. Narrated by Will Patton, produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
This is Burke’s first look at Dave Robicheau and friends since Katrina. Dave Robicheau, his wife, and his buddy, Clete Purcell, have retreated to stay at an old friend's ranch in rural pristine Montana, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying their
distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina. But the serenity is s...more
This is Burke’s first look at Dave Robicheau and friends since Katrina. Dave Robicheau, his wife, and his buddy, Clete Purcell, have retreated to stay at an old friend's ranch in rural pristine Montana, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying their
distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina. But the serenity is s...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Bluedaizy by:
favorite authorrecommends it for: Everyone
James Lee Burke is a KING! Most authors tend to get a bit tired after six or seven novels, but not Burke. He knocked this one out of the ball park! I read it waaaaay too fast and now I'm afraid I'm going to have to wait another year for the next one. heavy, heavy, getting depressed, sigh....
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Read in July, 2008
Can't wait for another Robicheaux, I swear that every time I read one I can smell the bayou. Burke is a master.
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4 comments
Another installment in the Dave Robicheaux series. The one difference in this one is that it not only doesn't take place in New Orleans but not even in Louisiana. Dave and Clete are on vacation somewhere in rural Montana. Of course there are some murders and Dave and Clete can't help but get involved in trying to solve the mystery. This book gives some more insight into Clete's background and how his past has shaped the man he is today. Another good read from James Lee Burke. I've found his...more
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I can't believe I got through a whole series!
This one was a bit slow to start, as most of them were, but soon became very interesting. I am disappointed that Alafair was nowhere in the novel, as she is my favorite female character in the series. She is the only female character that can hold a candle to the amazing male characters 100%.
I wonder if Nix redeemed himself or not.
& I would just like to mention that Robicheaux's world is one that is dominated by b...more
This one was a bit slow to start, as most of them were, but soon became very interesting. I am disappointed that Alafair was nowhere in the novel, as she is my favorite female character in the series. She is the only female character that can hold a candle to the amazing male characters 100%.
I wonder if Nix redeemed himself or not.
& I would just like to mention that Robicheaux's world is one that is dominated by b...more
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Read in April, 2009
recommended to Fran by:
saw it on a remainder shelfrecommends it for: really hard-core James Lee Burke fans
This was perhaps my least favorite Dave Robicheaux book. What are the odds that Dave would leave Louisiana to get a little vacation in Montana and he would stumble on some of the baddies he remembers from a plane crash in his past? I couldn't get past that silly plot device, so I had a hard time enjoying this novel. I did like the two characters that seemed similar to characters in one of Burke's short story collections though. Of course, a bad James Lee Burke book is still better than dozens...more
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Louisiana police detective Dave Robicheaux and his friend, private investigator Clete Purcell need a break from post-Katrina southern Louisiana, so the decamp to a friend's cabin in the Montana wilderness to fish and rest. That rest is short lived however, when Purcell accidentally wades into a trout stream owned by a wealthy family, and stirs up a hornets nest of trouble. When two students from the local college are murdered behind their friends property, Robicheaux and Prucell are pulled even ...more
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Read in September, 2008
Read by Will Patton.
As I've said before, I'm sure, I really like Will Patton reading James Lee Burke's novels. This was an outstanding example,
Publisher's Summary
James Lee Burke's new novel, Swan Peak, finds Detective Robicheaux far from his New Iberia roots, attempting to relax in the untouched wilderness of rural Montana. He, his wife, and his buddy, Clete Purcell, have retreated to stay at an old friend's ranch, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying th...more
As I've said before, I'm sure, I really like Will Patton reading James Lee Burke's novels. This was an outstanding example,
Publisher's Summary
James Lee Burke's new novel, Swan Peak, finds Detective Robicheaux far from his New Iberia roots, attempting to relax in the untouched wilderness of rural Montana. He, his wife, and his buddy, Clete Purcell, have retreated to stay at an old friend's ranch, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying th...more
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Read in August, 2008
Burke, James Lee. SWAN PEAK. ****1/2. Robicheaux and his buddy Clete Purcell can’t seem to go on a simple fishing trip to Montana without managing to meet up with a gang of sociopaths and psychotic killers on the way. As usual, Burke manages to have both of his main characters stand up for peace, justice, and the American way – though in a manner that promises mayhem on almost every page. Two murdered teenagers are found behind a hill that abuts the ranch of the friend they are staying ...more
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A dark novel peopled with characters of torment, each carrying some kind of horrific past event or time as a defining point to their persona. A novel of folks that drink too much, philosophize grandly, are sometimes violent, and—not surprisingly—at times seem to feel sorry for themselves. Or stop just short of feeling sorry for themselves, with the very fallible good guys managing to overcome both great external and internal odds to successfully deal with the very very fallible bad guys, who...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Jennifer by:
CLC Library (by having it sit so nicely on the shelf)recommends it for: anyone who likes moody violent mysteries
James Lee Burke's style is moody, gritty, and yet strangely optimistic when you least expect it to be. In this latest mystery featuring Dave Roubicheaux, Louisiana is not the setting. Dave, his wife, Molly, and his best friend, Clete Purcell, are vacationing in Montana--spending time near an old friend of Dave's who owns a working ranch.
It doesn't take long before Clete Purcell gets into trouble--he has an encounter with some members of a powerful local family when he accidently t...more
It doesn't take long before Clete Purcell gets into trouble--he has an encounter with some members of a powerful local family when he accidently t...more
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Read in April, 2009
This is my first James Lee Burke and I didn't know what to expect.
I liked it, my interest was kept throughout the book, there really weren't any slow parts.
Much of the book was vulgar and I found several sections offensive. I didn't like reading about people being abused and taken advantage of in the prison system nor did I enjoy hearing about it within the religious sector. Of course I know these things happen in life and it's tragic, but the descriptions and emotions ...more
I liked it, my interest was kept throughout the book, there really weren't any slow parts.
Much of the book was vulgar and I found several sections offensive. I didn't like reading about people being abused and taken advantage of in the prison system nor did I enjoy hearing about it within the religious sector. Of course I know these things happen in life and it's tragic, but the descriptions and emotions ...more
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Read in December, 2008
If you like hard-nosed detective stories, this series is for you. I can't help but be slightly in love with Dave Robicheaux, even though he is middle-aged recovering alcoholic with violent tendencies. James Lee Burke makes you want to move to the "Big Easy," and be a part of the mayheim. Using words that often sends me running to the dictionary, his prose is like a soft breeze that blows off the Baju. I simply love his books, especially when their being read by Will Patton. It's...more
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Read in May, 2009
This is my first Dave Robichoux novel. Burke is a tough guy mystery thriller writer. He reminds me of Jim Thompson (okay, he was noir) and other hardboiled pulp writers. Burke shows the evil that can dwell inside ordinary people; the seedy life. I would run away from any of his characters, if I ever met them. Pretty decent crime writer. The book was well narrated by Will Patton. This book is set in Montana, instead of Louisiana, the usual location.
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Read in December, 2008
Just finished this while in Seattle for the holidays. Good read with plenty of horrific situations and characters, some who benefit from harsh times, some who have to do the "dirty boogie" and go to the wall. Any Robicheaux novel that has Clete Purcell in it has prime written all over it and Montana comes pretty close to Louisiana when Burke is telling the tale. This is a good one...but you knew that.
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