James Lee Burke
In 1987, after having only one book published in fifteen years, James Lee Burke, at the suggestion of a friend, turned to writing crime fiction. In The Neon Rain, Burke introduced the world to Cajun recovering alcoholic police detective Dave Robicheaux and launched his career as a bestselling author. The first Robicheaux novel I read was the 1989 Edgar Award–winning Black Cherry Blues:
“. . . I had found the edge. The place where you unstrap all your fastenings to the earth, to what you are what you have been, where you flame out on the edge of the spheres, and the sun and moon become eclipsed and the world below is as dead and remote and without interest as if it were glazed with ice.”
— James Lee Burke, Black Cherry Blues
After reading writing like that, I quickly went back and read The Neon Rain and Heaven’s Prisoner. In the last twenty years I’ve read all but one of the books (Note to self: READ Burning Angel).
The books are gritty and steeped in the underbelly of New Orleans and New Iberia, Louisiana. Through Burke’s words, I’ve traveled back roads, crossed levees, and floated down bayous—watching Dave chase his demons, deal with personal loss, and confront mobsters, corrupt officials, and all manner of human darkness.
Along the way, Clete Purcell has been at Dave’s side (sometimes taking things a tad too far), while Bootsie, Alafair, Tripod the raccoon, and Batiste at the bait shop have been sources of comfort. Memorable moments range from conversations with General John B. Hood (In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead) to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina (The Tin Roof Blowdown).
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux, Hackberry Holland
Occupation: Detective
Location: New Iberia & New Orleans, LA
Links for Further Exploration
Website • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon • Wikipedia
Dave Robicheaux Novels
Hackberry Holland Novels
| Title | Series/No. | Year Published | Date Read | Notes |
| Clete | (Dave Robicheaux, #24) | 2024 | 2024/07/31 | |
| A Private Cathedral) | (Dave Robicheaux, #23 | 2020 | 2020/11/29 | |
| The New Iberia Blues ) | (Dave Robicheaux, #22 | 2019 | 2019/03/06 | |
| Robicheaux | (Dave Robichau, #21) | 2018 | 2018/03/28 | |
| Light of the World | (Dave Robicheaux, #20) | 2013 | 2014/04/10 | |
| Creole Belle | (Dave Robicheaux, #19) | 2012 | 2013/04/28 | |
| The Glass Rainbow | (Dave Robicheaux, #18) | 2010 | 2010/08/16 | |
| Swan Peak | (Dave Robicheaux, #17) | 2008 | 2008/08/16 | |
| The Tin Roof Blowdown | Dave Robicheaux, #16) | 2007 | 2007/11/01 | |
| Pegasus Descending | (Dave Robicheaux, #15) | 2006 | 2006/11/05 | |
| Crusader’s Cross | (Dave Robicheaux, #14) | 2006 | 2005/09/19 | |
| Last Car to Elysian Fields | (Dave Robicheaux, #13) | 2004 | 2004/02/25 | |
| Jolie Blon’s Bounce | (Dave Robicheaux, #12) | 2003 | 2003/09/15 | |
| Purple Cane Road | (Dave Robicheaux, #11) | 2001 | 2000/11/01 | |
| Sunset Limited | (Dave Robicheaux, #10) | 2002 | 1998/09/13 | |
| Cadillac Jukebox | (Dave Robicheaux, #9) | 1997 | 1997/08/22 | |
| Burning Angel | (Dave Robicheaux, #8) | 1996 | 2018/08/23 | |
| Dixie City Jam | (Dave Robicheaux, #7) | 1995 | 1994/08/28 | |
| In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead | (Dave Robicheaux, #6) | 1997 | 1993/05/15 | |
| A Stained White Radiance | (Dave Robicheaux, #5) | 1992 | 1992/05/25 | |
| A Morning for Flamingos | (Dave Robicheaux, #4) | 2005 | 1991/08/19 | |
| Black Cherry Blues | (Dave Robicheaux, #3) | 1990 | 1990/12/26 | |
| Heaven’s Prisoners | (Dave Robicheaux, #2) | 2002 | 1992/05/03 | |
| The Neon Rain | (Dave Robicheaux, #1) | 2005 | 1990/12/08 |
| Book | Year | Date Read | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain Gods (#2) | 2009 | ||
| Feast Day of Fools (#3) | 2011 | ||
| Every Cloak Rolled in Blood (Holland Family Saga, #4) |
| Title | Year | Date Read | Notes |
| Flags on the Bayou | 2023 | 2023/10/17 |
