Dave Robicheaux doesn't really do detective work. He simply confronts a series of antagonists in typically violent (or threat of violence) encounters. He's tough tough tough, got it? Yeah, there's a plot and maybe a "mystery" that involves murdered innocents and arms smuggling, but mostly it's just about how tough Dave is, even when faced with a bunch of guys who might seem tougher. Oh, and there's a sensitive woman who takes up with him for no logical reason whatsoever. The writing is actually quite good, which makes the simgle-minded "who's tougher" mission the more frustrating. And for all that, I enjoyed it, because the tough guy hero prevailed over the bad guys.