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| Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: James Lee Burke
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $11.99
You Save: $13.96 (54%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (42 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1633
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st Simon & Schuster Hardcover Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.5
ISBN: 1416548521
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781416548522
ASIN: 1416548521
Publication Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Trouble follows Dave Robicheaux. 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 their distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina. But the serenity is soon shattered when two college students are found brutally murdered in the hills behind where the Robicheauxs and Purcell are staying. They quickly find themselves involved in a twisted and dangerous mystery involving a wealthy, vicious oil tycoon, his deformed brother and beautiful wife, a sexually deviant minister, an escaped con and former country music star, and a vigilante Texas gunbull out for blood. At the center of the storm is Clete, who cannot shake the feeling that he is being haunted by the ghosts from his past -- namely Sally Dio, the mob boss he'd sabotaged and killed years before. In this expertly drawn, gripping story, Burke deftly weaves intricate, engaging plotlines and original, compelling characters with his uniquely graceful prose. He transcends genre yet again in the latest thrilling addition to his New York Times bestselling series.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 In his top third, not top 10% August 27, 2008
This book is better than his recent efforts in terms of the descriptive writing and eloquent language. He's written better 10 years ago, however. There are some passages in Swan Peak that stop you with their wonderful writing, but not as many as I recall from the books including and around Confederate Mist.
One negative to the book from my perspective is that he has 2 characters who begin the novel in same sex situations and then each character magically discovers sex with a different gender partner and sticks with that. It's a bit unrealistic, particularly in the case of the lesbian FBI agent.
Good to see Burke in good form after I was so disappointed with the new Elizabeth George novel that I read right before Swan Peak. George and Burke are normally my favorite 2 authors.
Paul
One Thing Leads to Another: Karma Creates Connections August 26, 2008
Consider Swan Peak a taut Dave Robicheaux thriller about bringing down the bad guys transferred from Katrina-depleted Louisiana to sparking Montana. Since Louisiana is usually the major character in this series' books, that shift cuts down the local color by one star.
Are there sleazy people in Montana? They seem to be everywhere that Dave and Clete Purcell look.
Dave and Molly have left Louisiana to recover from Katrina, and Clete has joined them. Naturally, it doesn't take much for Clete to begin stirring things up. In this case, a choice of campground begins an escalating conflict that no one seems to be able to or wants to avoid.
Pretty soon bodies are piling up around Dave and Clete, but it's not clear what the motives are. Both with and without encouragement, Dave begins investigating. That search draws them both into the business of the local, reclusive rich who want to drill for oil and gas and make lots of money through evangelism. It's an odd group of people, and the closer you look . . . the odder it gets.
In a related story line, a convict looks to do his time and get out . . . but a gun bull has other ideas.
The book's main weakness is that James Lee Burke often tells rather than shows what's going on. At times, you'll feel like you are in a lecture hall rather than reading an engrossing book.
As usual, the story has more slime in it than ten usual murder mysteries. But overcoming the slime is part of the appeal of this series so I'm sure you know what to expect.
 new venue August 26, 2008
Disappointed at first, that we were not going to be in Louisiana, it did not take long to get fully immersed in the new venue and as usual a compelling tale.
Can't say enough good things about Will Patton's incredible reading of this novel.
Return to Big Sky August 19, 2008
Dave & Clete & Molly are on vacation from New Orleans, back in Big Sky Country Montana when old ghosts of several kinds rear up and murder most foul entangles them with some very very bad customers.
Ah, it's summertime and another James Lee Burke Dave Robicheaux novel. Burke's style has smoothed out to such a pleasurable read that, for my money, he can write a Robicheaux a year forever and it'll suit me fine. He gives a lot of time in this one to Clete Purcell who is a favorite character of mine. Bad bad villains, Burke's poetic touch with scene and setting, unexpected and explosive violence from Dave and Clete, and always good and surprising characters and situations. Burke's earlier work was denser, but like all series writers, time and comfort create a simpler and cleaner style, and while I liked the earlier work for what it gave, I equally admire the smooth delivery of the later stuff. The stars are for fans.
Another fine yarn...complex good guys, bad guys of all stripes! August 18, 2008
I am a serious fan of James Lee Burke and his protagonists. While not my favorite, I loved reading this book and had difficulty putting it down even when I had finished!
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