Light of the World

All of the Robicheaux books are amongst the best in the genre and this is no exception. This one takes place in Montana where Dave and Clete are taking things easy until, of course, the real world intrudes in the form of an old nemesis out to seek revenge on Dave’s daughter Alifair, now an adult writer who did a hit piece on the miscreant. In something of a departure in this long-running series, Clete, Alifair and Clete’s recently discovered daughter Gretchen play significant roles in the story but not to worry; nothing is lost. Mr. Burke is one of those rare writers whose characters are intelligent, thinking, caring people who frequently digress into ruminations about life, love and especially the impact of the rich and privileged to the detriment of regular working folks. They also aren’t fond of cops who go through the motions. To anyone new to the series I’d highly recommend reading them in order, knowing that it will take awhile to get to this one. The good news is that you will have many a night when you won’t need to worry about what to do after dinner.

James Lee Burke is a national treasure. His writing is a fearsome amalgam of simple story telling that features deeply human characters of an awesome array, from the good-but-flawed to the darkly perverse and evil. Light of the World features Dave Robicheaux, his wife, Molly, his daughter, Alafair, and his life-long friend, Clete Purcel. The setting is the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. It is a tale familiar to Burke’s fans, with roots in the past entangling the characters in a modern saga of revenge and heroism.
JLB is not for the weak of stomach or heart. Violence is a near constant companion throughout the story, leaving the reader as exhausted as the protagonists when reaching the epilogue.
I read JOB’s novels a bit more out of love of his creative power and his skills with words and imagery, than for love of his stories. Few writing today can draw you viscerally and sensually into a story as Mr. Burke can.
No matter how dark his stories become, somehow he always manages to let the Light of the World radiate through.

The stage is set by Alafair Burke and Gretchen Horowitz, the recent emergence of Clete Purcel’s daughter in the series. Alafair has interviewed Asa Surrett, a psychotic serial killer behind bars and has written a series of despairing articles about his life. Gretchen has flown up from Hollywood to join Clete, Dave and Molly for a summer in northwest Montana.

As the story begins Alafair is jogging on an old logging road when someone shoots an arrow at her. Who could it be? The only person in site is Wyatt Dixon, a psychotic rodeo clown whose brain was fried in prison. About the same time Gretchen witnesses a local sheriff beating a man in the forest and is later kidnapped and brutalized and sexually humiliated by the sheriff when she confronts him. These events set the framework for a wonderful complex story including a wealthy man and his family and a series of unexplained terrible murders starting with the adopted Indian girl of the wealthy man.

This is a terrific story fraught with horrible violence incurred by both the good and bad guys and not for the feint of heart, possibly the most violent novel the author has written and I read them all. As always JLB is a master at describing the atmosphere of the locale and heightens the beauty of Montana as he spins his story. He is simply unparalleled and makes me want to jump in the car and head to Montana from Colorado. The book is also filled with Dave’s philosophical musings on evil and the origins of those who commit such deeds causing one to ponder is ideas. As a reader i often find myself halting as i read this book to really think about the words i am reading. Finally, when I came to the end of the story I felt chills running through me as it is that emotional and moving. If you have never read this series start at the beginning and work your way through a wonderful journey you will not soon forget. James Lee Burke is that damn good!

I adore James Lee Burke. I love the masterpiece world he created, the characters Dave and Clete. The first novel l read, Black Cherry Blues, was a particular delight because Burke got the police world absolutely correct, and I had spent 40 years in the profession. His delicious prose slathered on such evil tales made my heart go pitter pat. I wanted Burke and his creation to live forever.
Sadly, in this book, I witnessed Burke lose his way. There are extended meanders off the reservation. There are too many people, even tho Clete’s daughter Gretchen is made a more complete and satisfactory character. But fully 40% of the narrative could have been left on the cutting room floor. The final firefight was as clear as mud, but it was forgivable because Wyatt Dixon, who got more richly drawn with each chapter, might well have been the flag at Ft McHenry in another life.
James Lee Burke writes as if he has no choice. I read him because I have no choice. But this was the first book I found my mind wandering away from. Another of life’s certainties bites the dust.
Thanks for everything, Mr B.

The books by James Lee Burke featuring Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux have always been well developed engaging atmospheric crime thrillers. This book is number twenty in the series.
This time the action moves to the mountains of Montana.
Dave, his family and his sidekick, Clete Purcell, have gone to the Rockies to reflect and recuperate. It just so happens that an escaped serial killer is also lurking in the valley. After a series of increasingly sinister incidents the action reaches a climax in a violent cataclysm with only the innocent left standing.
Unfortunately, as a keen Burke fan, I found the plot implausible and the characterisation weak. Of all the places to go for their vacation, our heroes just happen to be relaxing in close proximity to a serial killer on the run. The key characters in driving the story forward are mostly emotionally stunted; preoccupied with inflicting physical and emotional pain on others. The book dwells on vivid descriptions of cruelty. These are uncomfortable to read and unnecessary to the plot, given readers already know the perpetrators are cruel and sadistic.
Local law enforcement is incompetent or else corrupt and criminal. In this dark country justice is only achieved through the barrel of a high powered gun.
In summary, this is a bleak disappointing read. I hope that in his next Robicheaux book Burke will return to the high standard of the earlier books.

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