Burning Angel by James Lee Burke 

This is the eighth book in the Dave Robicheaux series from Mr. Burke. It’s the third or fourth I’ve read. As always, justice is served. No redemption or vengeance in this one. There is an interesting mix of the supernatural in this story. But then it’s set in Louisiana not far from New Orleans, so a little supernatural fits in.

Robicheaux is a deputy for the sheriff’s office. Then he’s not. Then he is again. The case involves some interesting happenings out at a plantation. Burke brings in a shady friend of Robicheaux’s, Sonny Boy Marsallus, who has a journal that a number of people want to get a hold of. These two things collide and make for a complex but fascinating set of circumstances.

As usual, Mr. Burke weaves in an eclectic set of characters. Mobsters, plantation owners, common folk, even some highly trained ex-military people. And there’s Clete. Always fun to read about Clete. And as always, Burke is a master of setting, mood, and ambiance. For me, his descriptions of the area are worth the read. And this one has a high level of suspense. There’s a giant sledgehammer waiting to fall. We don’t know when or how, though. Finally, Mr. Burke wanders into social political topics around race relations in the South.

The one challenge I had with this story was that Robicheaux makes a lot of what I consider bad decisions that put himself and his family in danger. He seems to show an inordinate amount of pride and impulsiveness that I don’t recall him exhibiting in other books I’ve read.

Not a clean read by any stretch. A plethora of profanity. Several on page sex scenes. Violence, though not gratuitous. I’ll rate this one number ten so far this year. Not the best Robicheaux I’ve read. But from a writing craft perspective, I’m glad I read it.

1. Love’s True Calling by Lori DeJong
2. Through Thorny Ways by Jennifer Q. Hunt
3. The Seven Day Resurrection by Chevron Ross
4. Justice by Jeff Hill
5. Already in the Kudzu by Hannah Hood Lucero
6. The Misadventures of Itchy Izzy by N.Y. Dunlap
7. Ranch Showdown by Tina Wheeler
8. The Shocking Truth by Steve Rush
9. Daughter of Darkness by Ed Gorman
10. Burning Angel by James Lee Burke
11. Irresistible Impulse by Robert K. Tanenbaum
12. The Longest Day by Terry Toler
13. Left to Die by Lisa Jackson

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