Sunday, June 23, 2013

Review: Light of the World by James Lee Burke







  • Hardcover: 560 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (July 23 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1476710767
  • ISBN-13: 978-1476710761




Book Description

“America’s best novelist” (The Denver Post) and “the reigning champ of nostalgia noir” (The New York Times Book Review) introduces his most evil character yet in the twentieth thriller in the bestselling Dave Robicheaux series.A New York Times bestselling author many times over, James Lee Burke is a two-time Edgar Award-winner whose every book is cause for excitement, especially those in the wildly popular Dave Robicheaux series.

In Light of the World, sadist and serial killer Asa Surrette narrowly escaped the death penalty for the string of heinous murders he committed while capital punishment was outlawed in Kansas. But following a series of damning articles written by Dave Robicheaux’s daughter Alafair about possible other crimes committed by Surette, the killer escapes from a prison transport van and heads to Montana—where an unsuspecting Dave happens to have gone to take in the sweet summer air, accompanied by Alafair, his wife Molly, faithful partner Clete, and Clete’s newfound daughter, Gretchen Horowitz, whom listeners met in Burke’s most recent bestseller Creole Belle.

“James Lee Burke remains the heavy weight champ,” says New York Times bestseller Michael Connelly, “a great American novelist whose work…is unsurpassed.” The master proves it once again with this harrowing novel that examines the nature of evil and pits Dave Robicheaux against the most diabolical villain he has ever faced.



About the Author

 James Lee Burke, a rare winner of two Edgar Awards, and named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, is the author of thirty-one previous novels and two collections of short stories, including such New York Times bestsellers as The Glass RainbowSwan Peak, The Tin Roof Blowdown, Last Car to Elysian Fields, and Rain Gods. He lives in Missoula, Montana.


My Review

I am honored once again to be able to review a new James Lee Burke novel before its publication date. In Light of the World, Dave Robicheaux, his wife Molly and daughter Alafair along with Clete Purcell and his daughter Gretchen are visiting an old friend Albert in Montana. They are all recovering from the events in Creole Belle which is where we met Gretchen for the first time. 

Evil is lurking around every corner.  Wyatt Dixon from the Billy Bob Holland novels returns.  New villain Asa Surrette who has a bone to pick with Alafair. And the Younger family...as evil as they come. Dave and Clete's great friendship continues as they continue to fight their personal demons while bonding with their adult daughters.

Author Burke once again reminds us how close by evil is at all times.  And of the struggles we all live with every day. And does throw in some environmental warnings just to keep us on our toes. Burke has a new found love of the Canadian Rockies that he shares once again but reminds everyone that Canadians continue to exploit their resources oblivious to the beauty around them.

An excellent addition to the Dave Robicheaux series.  Filled with rich, familiar characters, twists, and action packed, fans of this series will be thrilled to be riding along with the Bobsey Twins from Homicide as the adventure continues. Only a few more weeks until it is released on July 23rd.

 

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