Creole Belle - (Dave Robicheaux) by James Lee Burke (Paperback)

About the Book

Picking up where "The Glass Rainbow" ended, "Creole Belle" finds David Robicheaux recuperating in New Orleans--near the site an oil well blowout on the Gulf. Robicheaux is visited by a mysterious visitor and is surprised by what's inside a floating block of ice.

Book Synopsis

Dave Robicheaux investigates the disappearance of a young Creole woman, while an oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico threatens to destroy the cherished beauty of the Louisiana bayous in this gripping thriller.

Set against the events of the Gulf Coast oil spill, rife with "the menaces of greed and violence and man-made horror" (The Christian Science Monitor), Creole Belle finds Dave Robicheaux languishing in a New Orleans recovery unit since surviving a bayou shoot-out. The detective's body is healing; it's his morphine-addled mind that conjures spectral visions of Tee Jolie Melton, a young woman who in reality has gone missing. An iPod with an old blues song left by his bedside turns Robicheaux into a man obsessed... And as oil companies assign blame after an epic disaster threatens the Gulf's very existence, Robicheaux unearths connections between tragedies both global and personal--and faces down forces that can corrupt and destroy the best of men.

"A work of dark and radiant brilliance" (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Creole Belle is "a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on" (The New York Times Book Review).

Review Quotes

"[Creole Belle] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burke's novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his character's familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists."--Asbury Park Press

"All the characters . . . are superbly drawn, and the plot is heart-pounding . . . sure to be embraced by author James Lee Burke's fans."--The Washington Post

"Another stunner from a modern master."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"As a crime novel, Creole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast--in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."--ShelfAwareness.com

"Burke is the reigning champ of nostalgia noir. . . . To be sure, the destruction of a pristine natural environment is a thematic staple of the regional crime novel, but nobody can touch Burke in the lyrical expression of howling grief. . . . [Creole Belle is] a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on."--The New York Times Book Review

"Burke weaves a rich example of his trademark bayou noir. Filled with cruelty and valor, greed and sacrifice, and surprises of the worst and best kind, Creole Belle is a dark but irresistible cruise."--Tampa Bay Times

"Burke, 75, creates lyrical mysteries with what can only be described as deceptive ease. Whether it's Robicheaux, stand-alone novels, or separate series starring Texas cousins Billy Bob and Hackberry Holland, the themes remain constant. Every novel Burke writes delves into moral ambiguity, the menaces of greed and violence, the degradation of people and land, the juxtaposition of natural beauty and man-made horror and, finally, the sublime joy of human love and loyalty."--The Christian Science Monitor

"Burke's fascinatingly conflicted Cajun anti-hero Dave Robicheaux returns."--Dallas Morning News

"Fortunately for us, we can luxuriate in the 500-plus pages of Burke's sinuous tale before we can decipher this complex puzzle."--Dayton Daily News

"Great news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriff's Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleans-style. . . . A darkly magnificent treat for Dave's legion of admirers."--Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping."--People Magazine

"I think [James Lee] Burke is the best fiction writer in the country."--Bill O'Reilly

"Like its 18 predecessors in Burke's series, Creole Belle is a work of dark and radiant brilliance."--Richmond Times-Dispatch

"One of the masters, James Lee Burke, has a new Dave Robicheaux novel just out, Creole Belle. Elmore Leonard famously advises all writers to never write about 'boring stuff' like the weather, but Burke's catalog is a direct contradiction to that advice. He writes about Louisiana and the Gulf with such sensual detail about sights, smells, and yes--the weather--that you can skip paying Delta for that flight to the Big Easy."--Detroit News


"Reading James Lee Burke is a religious experience. ...Creole Belle may be one of Burke's best; it is certainly one of his most complex. . . . Intense doesn't begin to describe a Burke story . . . Biblical . . . now that about does it."--San Antonio Express

"The plot is fast-moving and thriller-tough, the bodies mount quickly, and the writing is lyrical and evocative . . . as laced with complications as the canals crosscutting Robicheaux's beloved, threatened wetlands."--New Orleans Times-Picayune

"This tale plays out much like The Glass Rainbow--intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax--but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken--and all the more interesting for it."--Booklist (starred review)

"When something terrible happens in Louisiana, the only consolation might be that James Lee Burke is inspired to write another Dave Robicheaux novel about it."--Houston Chronicle

[Creole Belle] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burke s novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his character s familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists. Asbury Park Press"

All the characters . . . are superbly drawn, and the plot is heart-pounding . . . sure to be embraced by author James Lee Burke's fans. The Washington Post"

Another stunner from a modern master. Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

As a crime novel, Creole Belle delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin s. ShelfAwareness.com"

Burke is the reigning champ of nostalgia noir. . . . To be sure, the destruction of a pristine natural environment is a thematic staple of the regional crime novel, but nobody can touch Burke in the lyrical expression of howling grief. . . . [Creole Belle is] a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on. The New York Times Book Review"

Burke s fascinatingly conflicted Cajun anti-hero Dave Robicheaux returns. Dallas Morning News"

Burke weaves a rich example of his trademark bayou noir. Filled with cruelty and valor, greed and sacrifice, and surprises of the worst and best kind, Creole Belle is a dark but irresistible cruise. Tampa Bay Times"

Burke, 75, creates lyrical mysteries with what can only be described as deceptive ease. Whether it s Robicheaux, stand-alone novels, or separate series starring Texas cousins Billy Bob and Hackberry Holland, the themes remain constant. Every novel Burke writes delves into moral ambiguity, the menaces of greed and violence, the degradation of people and land, the juxtaposition of natural beauty and man-made horror and, finally, the sublime joy of human love and loyalty. The Christian Science Monitor"

Fortunately for us, we can luxuriate in the 500-plus pages of Burke s sinuous tale before we can decipher this complex puzzle. Dayton Daily News"

Great news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriff s Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleans style. . . . A darkly magnificent treat for Dave s legion of admirers. Kirkus Reviews"

Gripping. People Magazine"

I think [James Lee] Burke is the best fiction writer in the country. Bill O Reilly"

Like its 18 predecessors in Burke s series, Creole Belle is a work of dark and radiant brilliance. Richmond Times-Dispatch"

One of the masters, James Lee Burke, has a new Dave Robicheaux novel just out, Creole Belle. Elmore Leonard famously advises all writers to never write about boring stuff like the weather, but Burke s catalog is a direct contradiction to that advice. He writes about Louisiana and the Gulf with such sensual detail about sights, smells, and yes the weather that you can skip paying Delta for that flight to the Big Easy. Detroit News
"

Reading James Lee Burke is a religious experience. Creole Belle may be one of Burke's best; it is certainly one of his most complex. . . . Intense doesn't begin to describe a Burke story . . . Biblical . . . now that about does it. San Antonio Express"

The plot is fast-moving and thriller-tough, the bodies mount quickly, and the writing is lyrical and evocative . . . as laced with complications as the canals crosscutting Robicheaux's beloved, threatened wetlands. New Orleans Times-Picayune"

This tale plays out much like The Glass Rainbow intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken and all the more interesting for it. Booklist (starred review)"

When something terrible happens in Louisiana, the only consolation might be that James Lee Burke is inspired to write another Dave Robicheaux novel about it. Houston Chronicle"

["Creole Belle"] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burke s novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his character s familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists. "Asbury Park Press""

Another stunner from a modern master. "Publishers Weekly" (starred review)"

As a crime novel, "Creole Belle "delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin s. ShelfAwareness.com"

Gripping. "People" Magazine"

Like its 18 predecessors in Burke s series, "Creole Belle" is a work of dark and radiant brilliance. "Richmond Times-Dispatch""""

This tale plays out much like "The Glass Rainbow "intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken and all the more interesting for it. "Booklist" (starred review)"

"As a crime novel, "Creole Belle "delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. Burke muses along at a steady pace, never hurrying, never stalling. He uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast--in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."--ShelfAwareness.com

Gripping. "People" Magazine

"Burke never goes wrong with his exquisite gift for taking us into the heart of Louisiana, its wetlands, small towns, the glory of old New Orleans and, as always, its checkered history. Combined with some of the finest characters ever to grace a page, that makes any Robicheaux novel a joy to read."

"If all novelists were as thoughtful and nuanced as James Lee Burke, we could finally put to rest those groundless prejudices against genre fiction . . . the [Dave Robicheaux] books are works of dark art. At their unflinching best, they examine the cost of violence, even when it's performed in the name of justice, and the haunted worlds inhabited by those resigned to limping through life with a blood-soaked conscience."

"["Creole Belle"] is a wild ride of a novel, but the true joys of Burke's novels are the exquisitely fine writing and his character's familiarity with great thinkers and theologians. . . . It is fair to say that Burke truly stands with Chandler and Hammett in the pantheon of great American crime fiction novelists."--"Asbury Park Press"

"Gripping."--"People" Magazine

"Like its 18 predecessors in Burke's series, "Creole Belle" is a work of dark and radiant brilliance."--"Richmond Times-Dispatch"""

"As a crime novel, Cr"eole Belle" delivers everything fans of the genre crave, and more: a masterful tale of good, evil, organized crime and the corporate-led destruction of the once-idyllic land of the Gulf Coast. . . . [Burke] uses the modern crime novel the way a master chef uses local, organic foods to create a gastronomic feast--in this case, a classical tragedy with all the fixin's."--ShelfAwareness.com

"Gripping"--"People" Magazine

"Another stunner from a modern master."--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)

"This tale plays out much like "The Glass Rainbow--"intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax--but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table . . . Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken--and all the more interesting for it."--"Booklist" (starred review)

About the Author

James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling author, two-time winner of the Edgar Award, and the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in Fiction. He has authored forty novels and two short story collections. He lives in Missoula, Montana.