I am often repelled by the violence and sadism in Burke's books, but there is something about his prose, his love for his setting, that keeps me coming back. Swan Peak was set in my favorite part of the country, the border between Montana and Idaho. My husband and I drove over the Lolo Pass and Burke's descriptions of the landscape brought that trail to life for me. Clete Purcel was the star of this novel and I wished we had heard more from Molly. The fugitive guitar playing country singer Jimmy Dale was my favorite character. ( )

Detective Dave Robicheaux normally hanging around New Orleans and surrounding arrears like New Iberia, is spending the summer in Montana with his wife Molly, and archetypal best friend Clete Purcell. As usual a Dave and Clete have no trouble finding more trouble than fish. Four murders and then Clete is almost torched, raise the question who has the nerve and connections to get away with such a spree. As in many of Burke’s novels, we suspect the wealthy and connected, but just can’t always figure out who. In addition to some mafia and oilman suspects, there is a phony libidinous evangelical preacher, and a gunball who has a sadistic side tracking one of his prey. and 2 singers who seemed to lose their way.

Purcell and Robicheaux have to do all the work as usual for the FBI and local authorities, while stifling as best they can their instincts for mayhem, and the nightmares and flashbacks from their Vietnam days. One of the characters, the gunball is haunted by a waterboarding incident he was part of in the middle east.

Burke has written another remarkable novel. He is more of a novelist/author than a mystery writer, and fans of his will find once again compelling characters, prose and metaphors that will impress, and a tone and flavor that makes his work perennially delicious. While the nostalgia theme is getting a little tiresome, one never finds a novel by Burke tedious and he always delivers. I look forward each year to a new novel by him. One day I will be able to wait for the paperback, but with this novel he once again has my waiting for his next release this summer.

Rating really 4 and 1/2 stars.

This review first appeared at http://authorfriendly.wordpress.com ( )

Dave Robicheaux's further adventures with good and evil. Burke's writing hit some poetic highs in this one, but it had the usual dose of brutality as well, and just a bit too much of the author indulging his inner philosopher/preacher--I found myself shaking the book and muttering "Get on with the story, Jim, please". Burke also changed POV from first person Robicheaux to omniscient author and back multiple times. Although he has done that before, particularly using third person narrative from Clete Purcel's perspective, this time it was more pervasive and distracting, I thought. After Tin Roof Blowdown, I was relieved to find that Burke does apparently still believe in redemption and that some people are better than they know themselves to be. But I keep hoping for Dave to find some peace, and for Clete to finally self-destruct. Because that's where their lives ought to be trending, and it might be time for them to get there.

Excellent story from a master. Brutal but excellent! ( )

tedious at best - didn't really like any of the characters and the ending I thought was lame ( )