A novel that is just what the doctor ordered

James Lee Burke is one of the masters of crime fiction.

Having recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and wanting a good story to listen to, I chose "In the Moon of Red Ponies." This is a Billy Bob Holland story narrated by Tom Stechschulte in ten discs.

Holland is a former Texas Ranger who begins life in a new manner in Missoula, Montana. His first client in his Montana law practice is a politically active American Indian, Johnny American Horse. Johnny is accused of killing the two men who entered his home in an attempt to kill him.

A secondary plot involves a dramatically disgruntled character named Wyatt Dixon. Dixon was a man who was sent to prison by Holland but was released early on a technicality. He climes to have been reborn in prison and refers to Holland as Brother Holland. He is one of the most memorable characters in the story.

Stechschulte's dramatic reading of the story is extremely well done. He is an experienced actor with experience on Broadway and on TV. His expressive voice adds a dimension of tension to the story as he assumes the voice of the character in the story.

The novel is well done and highly recommended.