Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
by James Lee Burke

Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
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Book Summary Information

Author: James Lee Burke
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-08
ISBN: 1416548521
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Book Reviews of Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

Book Review: Emotionally charged, intellectually developed, and deeply perceptive
Summary: 4 Stars

In typical dark, James Lee Burke fashion, Swan Peak follows detectives Robicheaux and Purcel on their vacation to Montana with the hopes of fishing and relaxing. Unfortunately the cloud that seems to envelope their lives, falls in great force as two college students are killed close to their location. The ensuing events are filled with explosive violence, duplicitous actions, disgusting people, and a pervading hint of optimism that wends its from beneath the murky waters of evil. The story progress quickly with twists and turns in a literary rollercoaster through the swamps of human depravity, ultimately lifting the reader out of the depths and into a shining light of hope. While on one level it is a good guy vs. bad guy thriller with an expected conclusion, on another level, it reads as a mysterious examination of human psyche.

The sentences are spun with gold and the imagery portrayed is as precise as it is beautiful, "The countryside was grand, the cliffs sheer, the tops of the buttes covered with ponderosa pine, the slopes already blooming with wildflowers." Other sentences describe the people in terms of their inner motivations and purpose, "The aggressiveness of his overture to the audience was as naked as it was meretricious." Each word is carefully delivered and each thought expressed is packed with emotion, allowing the reader to see the sights, smell the smells, feel the power, experience the setting, and fear the moment. The writing is masterful by an author at the top of his game.

Unfortunately, the overriding plot was a little predictable and the events seemed ordained from the beginning. This made the book less engaging at times due to its expectations and central thesis. All authors, like composers, even great ones, latch onto a workable system that can become contrived. Swan Peak has elements of this problem in its overall plot and in its darkness of the portrayal of human reactions which seem similar to previous books by James Lee Burke. Yet this aside, it remains an outstanding contribution to the genre and worth reading by fiction lovers. What makes Swan Peak optimistic is watching the transformation and personal growth of one of the antagonists. The character with help from a girlfriend addresses his own past, flings it aside, and reaches his human potential. It is a joyous journey and one worth taking. I remain a fan of James Lee Burke and eagerly anticipate the next one.

Summary of Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

Trouble follows Dave Robicheaux.

James Lee Burke's new novel, Swan Peak, finds Detective Robicheaux far from his New Iberia roots, attempting to relax in the untouched wilderness of rural Montana. He, his wife, and his buddy Clete Purcell have retreated to stay at an old friend's ranch, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying their distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina.

But the serenity is soon shattered when two college students are found brutally murdered in the hills behind where the Robicheauxs and Purcell are staying. They quickly find themselves involved in a twisted and dangerous mystery involving a wealthy, vicious oil tycoon, his deformed brother and beautiful wife, a sexually deviant minister, an escaped con and former country music star, and a vigilante Texas gunbull out for blood. At the center of the storm is Clete, who cannot shake the feeling that he is being haunted by the ghosts from his past -- namely Sally Dio, the mob boss he'd sabotaged and killed years before.

In this expertly drawn, gripping story, Burke deftly weaves intricate, engaging plotlines and original, compelling characters with his uniquely graceful prose. He transcends genre yet again in the latest thrilling addition to his New York Times bestselling series.

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