Review by Booklist Review
The short version: there's a new Dave Robicheaux novel coming out! The long version: Burke's beloved Louisiana cop is irked, to put it mildly, when a mysterious individual dumps the body of a murdered woman on his property. Was it a personal message or simply a convenient spot to dump a body? Robicheaux's investigation takes him down a dark road and puts his own daughter, Alafair, at risk. If there's one thing we know with absolute certainty about Mr. Robicheaux, it's this: he will not back down from a fight, no matter how dirty it gets. (The title refers to a highly alcoholic "vitamin supplement" from the 1950s and a Bill Nettles song; that'll make more sense when you read the book.) Some series have their highs and lows, but not so the Robicheaux series, which launched with The Neon Rain (1987). For two dozen novels, it's been one slice of brilliance after another, and this one is, like the ones that came before it, a work of art.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Edgar winner Burke's excellent latest adventure for Dave Robicheaux (after Clete) sees the Louisiana detective tangling with the proprietor of a lawless bayou enclave. The action begins in 1999, with a cloaked figure leaving a garbage bag containing the corpse of a young woman on Robicheaux's property. As Robicheaux investigates, he worries that his poking around could endanger his adopted daughter, Alafair, who's just returned home from college in Portland, Ore. The inquiry leads Robicheaux to the notorious Jerry Carlucci, a childhood acquaintance and fellow Vietnam vet. Carlucci owns a saloon and brothel, and has recently joined forces with a New Jersey mobster to build a casino nearby. The land the men have chosen, however, is believed to contain buried artifacts, including a rumored cache of Confederate gold that has drawn the attention of treasure seekers. Returning series characters include Valerie Benoit, a young, Black plainclothes detective staunchly devoted to social justice, and Boone Hendrix, an eccentric handyman. As always, Burke is a master of atmosphere and memorable characterization. This is a sure bet for series fans and newcomers alike. Agent: Anne-Lise Spitzer, Philip Spitzer Literary. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In the 25th entry in Burke's stellar Louisiana-set detective series (following Clete), hard-boiled detective Dave is maintaining his sobriety after years of using alcohol to block out the terrible things he has seen. However, his horrific new case might force a confrontation with the bottle: the body of a murdered young woman has been deposited on his property. The victim appears to be connected to Dave's daughter, as well as associating with elements of the criminal underworld. One of these underworld figures is an old friend of Dave's, forcing him to confront the ghosts of his past as he investigates the case. Things begin to go off the rails when Dave consults with his friend Clete Purcell, whose lack of subtlety in questioning witnesses usually results in black eyes and property damage. New Iberia may not be ready for the approaching storm. VERDICT Burke continues to shine as a literary bard of the bayou with his depiction of a beleaguered but good man fighting the corrupting and sinister forces of organized crime. An absolute must-read.--Philip Zozzaro
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
New Iberia Detective Dave Robicheaux, who's been kept mostly on the sidelines for the past five years, makes a welcome return in a starring role in this turn-of-the-20th-century tussle. Dave arises from sleep to see a bunch of kids set off a bottle rocket into his backyard. The rocket lights a fire he promptly puts out, but the kids, who mean no harm, turn out to be witnesses who saw a tall stranger in a black raincoat drag a big plastic bag into his yard. The bag turns out to contain the remains of a young woman who's been stripped, drugged, and murdered. Who killed her, who dumped her in Dave's yard, and who is she? Dave and his new partner, Det. Valerie Benoit, hunker down to answer all three of these questions. The victim turns out to be Clemmy Benoit, an obvious relative about whom Val has little to say and a friend of Dave's adopted daughter, Alafair, a novelist who's come for an extended visit. The suspects include Lloyd D'Anjou, a redneck colleague who's bent on harassing Val; Jerry Carlucci, the skeevy owner of a saloon, a café, and a brothel; and Sidney Ludlow, a mobster seeking to open a casino on land he means to acquire one way or another. Since this is New Iberia, they're all guilty of something. So are Dave and his old pal Clete Purcel, a private detective who's fallen off the wagon; both of them periodically surrender to their righteous rage. When Alafair is kidnapped, the sense of danger is intensified for fans who remember that her father has already outlived three wives. The hero's goal--"I've got to find a way of seeing things the way they really are"--has rarely been more resonant. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
