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The Tin Roof Blowdown (Dave Robicheaux #16)
HURRICANE KATRINA HAS REDUCED the Big Easy to the level of a medieval society. Now, with looters descending and violence erupting in the streets, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Detective Dave Robicheaux combs the apocalyptic landscape for a quartet of criminals who hijacked a rescue boat from a drug-addicted ex-priest at the height of the storm, and then scooped up a gangste...more
Mass Market Paperback, 528 pages
Published
July 17th 2007
by Pocket Books
(first published January 1st 2007)
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James Lee Burke's sorrow and anger are almost palpable in this novel set during Katrina. I read a lot of it with tears in my eyes, because, more than any news story I've yet read, his novel brought back the loss of New Orleans and the overwhelming indifference exhibited by our government to the poor of New Orleans, while telling a gripping tale involving vigilantism, diamond smuggling, and murder.
Once again, James Lee Burke captures his returning characters with honesty and depth. H...more
Once again, James Lee Burke captures his returning characters with honesty and depth. H...more
Jeffrey
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Burke fans
Recommended to Jeffrey by:
Ben Suckewer
Shelves:
read-in-2008,
mystery
Burkes mystery takes place at the same time as Katrina and he does describe horrible events that went on there in the context of his book so we see people fighting over scarce resources and bodies floating in the waters and rescuers saving people etc and I have no real beef with his limited description of the catastrophe as it is part of the setting of the book, but its his mystery that I find faulty. I really think the book is overlong and the plot convoluted, unconvincing and generally full of...more
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I have never been disappointed by a James Lee Burke novel, and this, most recent in the Dave Robicheaux series, is no exception. Robiicheaux is a wonderfully complex character, genuinely and consistently conflicted between his visceral urges and more socially acceptable behaviors.
Robicheaux, a Sheriff of New Iberia, Louisiana, has a strong and deep sense of justice, and repeatedly champions the downtrodden, abused and abandoned, while meting out his own version of just desserts to t...more
Robicheaux, a Sheriff of New Iberia, Louisiana, has a strong and deep sense of justice, and repeatedly champions the downtrodden, abused and abandoned, while meting out his own version of just desserts to t...more
Booklist review (I can't say it better) "I wanted to wake to the great, gold-green, sun-spangled promise of the South Louisiana in which I had grown up. I didn't want to be part of the history taking place in our state." That sentence wouldn't be out of place in any of Burke's Dave Robicheaux novels, all of which have been distinguished by their elegiac tone, but it's only fitting that it should appear in his latest, a heartfelt post-Katrina ode to a lost New Orleans and a lost world. ...more
This is the second Burke novel I've read, and I'm starting to really appreciate his style: passionately moral and teeth-grindingly realistic. Larger than life.
For some reason, this is the time of year that I like to read murder mysteries. This was an extremely satifying and intelligent shoot-'em-up mystery story. There was a strong good v. evil conflict and a big tangled mess of characters in a variety of colors and flavors. Loved it. The mess of characters doesn't get perfectly...more
For some reason, this is the time of year that I like to read murder mysteries. This was an extremely satifying and intelligent shoot-'em-up mystery story. There was a strong good v. evil conflict and a big tangled mess of characters in a variety of colors and flavors. Loved it. The mess of characters doesn't get perfectly...more
These books, which I listen to on tape, are like sedatives. Dave Robicheaux is a dark conflicted hero. He is the male version of "the hooker with a heart of gold" stereotype.
James Lee Burk has always painted very vivid and poignant pictures of New Orleans and the area surrounding it. This is his first novel post hurricane, and you can just feel his heart seizing as he writes a fictional account of Katrina and the aftermath.
I know this book type isn't for everyon...more
James Lee Burk has always painted very vivid and poignant pictures of New Orleans and the area surrounding it. This is his first novel post hurricane, and you can just feel his heart seizing as he writes a fictional account of Katrina and the aftermath.
I know this book type isn't for everyon...more
Oh lordy yes! Detective Dave Robicheaux and Hurricane Katrina...what better combination of natural forces could be better calculated to lay waste the Big Easy?
James Lee Burke continues his stellar writing in yet another Robicheaux novel. If you've ever read any of Burke's writings, I'm preaching to the choir. If you haven't, you pitiful wretch, rectify the situation immediately and get thee to a bookery! This man writes with more power and pain than anyone I know of. He is simply our...more
James Lee Burke continues his stellar writing in yet another Robicheaux novel. If you've ever read any of Burke's writings, I'm preaching to the choir. If you haven't, you pitiful wretch, rectify the situation immediately and get thee to a bookery! This man writes with more power and pain than anyone I know of. He is simply our...more
I'm not at all sure I really got what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans until I read this book. Sometimes fiction, at least Burke's fiction, is far more evocative than all the news reports, specials and other stuff in the media.
That said, this is the story of how series hero, Dave Robicheaux, is dragged into the chaos following the disaster and is swallowed up in the aftermath of investigating a number of killings. The plot is typical of the series in that it bounces from a firs...more
That said, this is the story of how series hero, Dave Robicheaux, is dragged into the chaos following the disaster and is swallowed up in the aftermath of investigating a number of killings. The plot is typical of the series in that it bounces from a firs...more
Burke centers this complex story around the tragedy of hurricane Katrina. When I bought the book, I was a bit reluctant, wondering how in the world he could take such haunting images as were created by the aftermath of that killer storm, and diminish them enough to allow us to focus on the foibles of his characters. Well, James Lee Burke is the quintessential wordsmith. Not only does he use his words well, he uses them with emotion that tells us he has lived in dark places. Either that, or he...more
I don't know if Burke was in Louisiana right after (even during) Katrina, but his descriptions ring true; he goes beyond the media hype (and stereotype) that the nation saw, deals with the abandonment of the poor, the unimaginably horrid situation, and more. I'm not finished with the novel, so can't speak to the story itself. No matter. This is by far my favorite of Burke's novels. Mind you, much of it is not easy to read or fun, but it is powerful.
On a different note, Burke has a wa...more
On a different note, Burke has a wa...more
It feels redundant to say that this was a brutal and angry book, because most of Burke's Dave Robicheaux novels are -- but this one was particularly brutal and angry, because it's Robicheaux's (and Burke's beloved) New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and all the anger, fear and frustration that it's clear Burke is harboring for the government's reaction in the wake of Katrina seeps through easily and obviously.
But it's really good anger, it's really good brutality -- I woul...more
But it's really good anger, it's really good brutality -- I woul...more
James Lee Burke has a real love for Southern Louisiana and it is apparent in his novels. With this in mind I had wondered how he would respond to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This book takes rural detective/ex- New Orleans cop, Dave Robicheaux into the center of the aftermath to help with recovery efforts. Burke/Robicheaux provides the reader with a very real and disturbing picture of how the hurrican affected the people and the City he loves. Along with this insight is the development ...more
James Lee Burke's sixteenth novel in the Dave Robicheaux series opens as Hurricane Katrina churns its way through the Gulf, homing in on its target of New Orleans. In The Tin Roof Blowdown, New Iberia police detective Dave Robicheaux finds himself in the heart of the Hurricane Katrina disaster when his department is temporarily assigned to rescue and response duty in the Big Easy. Burke once again assembles a large cast of characters whose lives inevitably collide, causing chaos and death.
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Jennifer
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who just watched "When the Levees Broke"
Burke is back in classic "Burke" form--moody, atmospheric, violent, angry, etc. This is the first Dave Robicheaux novel set post-Katrina. Though Burke has always explored the seamy underbelly of New Orleans (the "big Sleasy" as one character calls it), now the underbelly has spent too much time in the water and lies rotting on top of a pile of garbage. Numerous events collide the night of the hurricaine and in the weeks that follow, Dave, his family, and his best friend, Cl...more
Had a difficult time deciding if this should be three or four stars. Since it was James Lee Burke, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Ever since Hurricane Katrina, I knew that if any writer could help me understand what had happened to New Orleans it would be James Lee Burke. So, I’ve looked forward to his treatment for that reason – and I was not necessarily disappointed in that part of the story. Did find what appeared to be a story editing mistake and thought much of the prose...more
Ever since Hurricane Katrina, I knew that if any writer could help me understand what had happened to New Orleans it would be James Lee Burke. So, I’ve looked forward to his treatment for that reason – and I was not necessarily disappointed in that part of the story. Did find what appeared to be a story editing mistake and thought much of the prose...more
Diane
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who like crime and mystery
Shelves:
diane
I could hardly watch the news coverage of Katrina. It was too cruel and awful and I couldn't do anything to help. I wanted to participate in the pet rescue, but someone would have ended up rescuing me before it was over. Reading Jim Burke's book brings it all back and I have a love-hate relationahip with the reading experience. I dread going into that world again, but I'm also fascinated by it and can hardly put it down. Robicheax provides the voice for all those enraged by a government that is ...more
This continues the series of books dedicated to the experiences of Dave Robicheaux a New Orleans sheriff's department detective. All of these books are great. They are not just cop stories. They give great feeling and flavor of life in New Orleans. Burke is a student of the human condition and really brings empathy to good guys and bad guys alike. In fact, you come out of these books feeling that there is no such thing as a truly good or bad person. This book is about the days following Ka...more
I never read this author before, and I wonder if he writes as eloquently when he's not covering such a powerful issue as New Orleans after Katrina. I often found myself tearing up over the descriptions of the flooded city and yearning to make a visit. The mystery itself was not as compelling as his descriptions of New Orleans' cultural history and mores, the backstories of both the good guys and the bad guys, and a particularly moving section about the greatness of librarians. There are some gr...more
James Lee Burke is my favorite Louisiana AND crime novelist. Burke's writing is elegant and gritty at the same time; no easy feat. But the books are never totally grim; there's humor and irony throughout. This is his "Katrina" book and conveys the physical, emotional, and spiritual devastation of the people of the delta & New Orleans. His main character, Dave Robicheaux & pal Clete Purcell are flawed and complex men, but honorable in their own fashion. This is the 16th book in the...more
I am half way through this book and it is the 15th or so book which follows Detective Dave Robicheaux, a Louisiana detective. This book puts Dave in New Orleans right after hurricane Katrina. It is obvious that the author did a lot of research. It is a poignant commentary on the race wars that broke out after the storm. Even if you don't know the character, the book is awesome. (But I do suggest Neon Rain, which was the first book in the series, so you can at least get to know the character befo...more
Another great book in the Dave Robicheaux series. One thing I really enjoy about these books is the narration of Will Patton on the audio books. He really brings these books to life with his southern accent. A great read - but even better - a great listen for an audiobook!
Publisher's Summary
Dave Robicheaux returns in another Bayou adventure, this one more gruesome and gut-wrenching than any that have come before. Hurricane Katrina has ravaged New Orleans, leaving the streets and buildings flo...more
Publisher's Summary
Dave Robicheaux returns in another Bayou adventure, this one more gruesome and gut-wrenching than any that have come before. Hurricane Katrina has ravaged New Orleans, leaving the streets and buildings flo...more
The Tin Roof Blowdown, by James Lee Burke. A.
Downloaded from audible.com.
Another in the wonderful, though dark, world of Dave Robicheau. This book deals with the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the disillusionment of people who were left to fend for themselves, the anarchy and chaos in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane with some people vandalizing and robbing houses, and others acting as vigilantes. A melancholy by old-timers that the old New Orleans was gone and ...more
Downloaded from audible.com.
Another in the wonderful, though dark, world of Dave Robicheau. This book deals with the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the disillusionment of people who were left to fend for themselves, the anarchy and chaos in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane with some people vandalizing and robbing houses, and others acting as vigilantes. A melancholy by old-timers that the old New Orleans was gone and ...more
A category 5 hurricane carries an explosive force several times greater than that of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.” (27) “And you don’t try to fix a broken world and you don’t try to put Band-Aids on broken people, I told myself.” (83) “When someone asked Sidney’s advise about a problem of any kind, his admonition was always the same: “Don’t never let people know what you’re thinking.” (93) [Hurricane Audrey 1957] “Most inmates currently in the slam spend lifetimes figuring out way...more
For me, this book raised the very significant question of exactly how much I can "like" a book in which nearly every crime and act of desperate violence in New Orleans during Katrina is committed by African-Americans. It's the first novel I have read by the prolific and well-regarded Burke, but my unease grew throughout my reading. I read the book as part of my preparation for a fall learning community, Neglected Landscapes. In that course, Deborah Poe and I and our students will explo...more
Dave Robicheaux novels are amazing introspections into the soul and in the moment thrillers that probe the never-ending battle between good and evil. James Lee Burke is a poet doubling as novelist and writes so lyrically that the juxtaposition of malevalent intent versus a desire for order and righteousness is all the more stark.
History will likely prove The Tin Roof Blowdown the definitive novel of the National tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina. No American writer has a more prope...more
History will likely prove The Tin Roof Blowdown the definitive novel of the National tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina. No American writer has a more prope...more
This Dave Robicheaux novel was better than most. Burke writes with a crisp style and you can almost feel the humidity of New Orleans as you read. This time, Burke attempts to sermonize about some of the terrible events that occured during Hurricane Katrina. He almost seems to attempt to justify the shooting of looters- some of which was likely a proper use of force while most of it was likely open season on young blacks.
Burke actually manages to weave an actual mystery and even s...more
Burke actually manages to weave an actual mystery and even s...more
Let me start by saying that this book epitomizes the reason I try to avoid reading series books. The suspense is simply gone.
Look, the detective/hero, his wife, his daughter, and his best friend in this book all walk around with invisible shields. They need to appear in the next installment, so nothing anyone does is ever going to kill them.
</b>SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!</b>
Hence, when the evil mercenary with the seventh-deg...more
Look, the detective/hero, his wife, his daughter, and his best friend in this book all walk around with invisible shields. They need to appear in the next installment, so nothing anyone does is ever going to kill them.
</b>SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!</b>
Hence, when the evil mercenary with the seventh-deg...more
Bev Rockow
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of series thrillers such as Lee Child, Harlan Coben
Recommended to Bev by:
Customer
Shelves:
read-in-2010
While not usually my favorite genre, this was surprisingly an enjoyable read. I picked it up for two reasons: First, because a customer recommended the author, and second, because of the setting. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, and having done mission work there since Hurricane Katrina, I am fascinated by fiction and non-fiction set in the Big Easy post hurricane. I try to read a variety of books, and to stay fairly informed on all genres, especially the most popular among my custo...more
In a way, this novel set in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina could be considered an historical novel. The descriptions of the terrible destruction of "one of the most beautiful cities in the Western Hemisphere" (as the author put it) are graphic and disturbing. Reading the novel brought me back to the time when Americans watched horror after horror being revealed through the media: the dead bodies, the looting, the stench. Burke weaves the story around the chaos, corrup...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lights in the water | 2 | 9 | Oct 18, 2011 03:30pm | |
| A favorite author | 2 | 17 | Sep 12, 2008 03:13pm | |
| mystery lovers | 2 | 18 | Sep 04, 2008 09:01am |
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James Lee Burke is an American author best known for his mysteries, particularly the Dave Robicheaux series. He has twice received the Edgar Award for Best Novel, for Black Cherry Blues in 1990 and Cimarron Rose in 1998.
Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, re...more
More about James Lee Burke...
Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, re...more
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