Try The Dave Robicheaux Series This Summer

James Lee Burke was born in Houston, Texas, in 1936 and grew up on the Texas-Louisiana gulf coast.  Burke's work has been awarded an Edgar twice for Best Crime Novel of the Year. He has also been a recipient of a Breadloaf and Guggenheim Fellowship and an NEA grant. His novel The Lost Get-Back Boogie was rejected 111 times over a period of nine years, and upon publication by Louisiana State University press was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

His best known reoccurring character is Iberia Parish detective, Dave Robicheaux.  It’s a miracle Robicheaux is still a cop.  He doesn’t follow the rules, takes the law into his own hands, and always becomes personally involved in his cases.  Robicheaux sees the depravity in the world but he also sees beauty and grace.

Burke’s novels have been read by millions all over the world and he is often on the top of the New York Times’ bestseller list.  The most recent Robicheaux title, The Glass Rainbow had great reviews.  Library Journal stated, “It takes an incredible writer to keep fresh an 18th novel featuring a character that refuses to change, but Burke does so with what may be one of the best in his Robicheaux series.”  This title along with many of Burke’s others are available in the library’s adult fiction section.

Two of the Robicheaux novels are also movies.  Heaven’s Prisoners with Alex Baldwin as Dave Robicheaux and In The Electric Mist with Tommy Lee Jones playing Dave can both be found on DVD.