Book Review: Last Car to Elysian Fields

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Last Car to Elysian Fields     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
James Lee Burke
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Dave Robicheaux # 13

Dave Robichaux has experienced two losses since we last followed him through New Iberia Parish. His wife Bootsie has died from complications of lupus, and an electrical fire has destroyed Dave's house. Dave had lived there for most of his life - the house was built by Dave's father. In addition, Dave has sold his bait and charter boat business to his long time assitant Batist, and he no longer has the daily routine of familiar habit and supportive friendship to sustain him. All these losses weigh heavily on Dave, and he feels a strong pull to return to his drinking habit.

>From a casual inquiry about the value of an old guitar which may have belonged to a blues musician who lived in the area, Dave gets drawn into increasing circles of extortion, dishonesty, cruelty, murder for hire, laxity in liquor law enforcement, and the worst that the lower circles of society have to offer.

Burke retains the lush descriptive prose which categorizes so much of his fiction, but in this entry the intracies of the plot remain on center stage, and this reader was strongly drawn into the circle of events. Burke briefly tips his hat to his daughter Alafair and her ambitions to produce a good novel. (Fans of suspense fiction will know that she has succeeded.)

Burke is one of the best writers working today in any genre, and in this entry he lays to rest fears that he may be coasting on his previous laurels. "Last Car" can take it's place with "Heaven's Prisoners" and "Black Cherry Blues."

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM