Cadillac Jukebox

A Dave Robicheaux Novel, Book 9

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

When former Klansman and piney-woods outcast Aaron Crown is finally imprisoned for a decades-old murder, it is to Detective Dave Robicheaux that he proclaims his innocence loudest. Crown seems to be a lightning rod for every kind of trouble that the state of Louisiana can unearth. A documentary film writer seeking to prove Crown's innocence is found murdered; a button man for the New Orleans mob accuses Robicheaux of taking a pay-off to ignore Crown.

But it is when Buford LaRose - scion of an old Southern family and author of a book on the Crown case - is elected governor that Dave Robicheaux's involvement with Aaron Crown deepens to a level he can barely fathom. And it is Buford's social-climbing wife, Karyn, with whom Robicheaux had an affair years before, who proves to be his most poisonous adversary.

Filled with thrilling adventure, lightning-paced action, and street smart realism, Cadillac Jukebox is a brilliant addition to Burke's standout Dave Robicheaux series.

©2012 James Lee Burke (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

James Lee Burke uses his descriptive and eloquent prose to color a beautiful picture! Another classic!

3 stara for benefit of the doubt

Sometimes, Mark Hammer narrates books quite respectably. This isn't one of those times. He sounds like he's stoned, and turning up the speed helps little. He doesn't finish words. The characters sound a like, and nobody gets excited. Enunciation is even worse on Black or very uneducated characters, and the former frequently sound like they're whining. No way to tell one character from another or male from female. This is work to listen to, a chore to follow. I gave 3 stars for overall and story because James Lee Burke wrote it, but I only have a very general of what it's about.

A tougher listen...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I love this series but I'm struggling to get through this one. Just not happy with the narration. Think if Patton had narrated this one it'd be a great as the rest.

How could the performance have been better?

I'm not feeling the characters on this one...

Narration

I like all Dave Robicheux books by James lee burk I had a hard time getting used to hearing its narration by mark hammer but only because I am partial to Will Pattern, I finally gave Hammer a chance and listening to a different narrator became easier. I still Pattern but I can now listen to more books by Hammer.

Hi jingo, to borrow a phrase...

Good story as usual, this one involving a newly elected governor of Louisiana no less. Dave is his usual stand up self and as usual it almost gets him whacked. But it's Dave and Cleet and Bootsy so ya gotta love it

Boring

Easily the most boring Robicheaux novel yet for me. I didn't care about anything that happened or any of the characters featured beyond Clete Purcell. I was happy that Dave's self-righteousness was slightly toned down as compared to previous novels. Maybe his character is actually learning some lessons.

Pronunciation

Burke works so hard to paint the picture ... this is much of the delight, so narrator should know Lafayette = LAF-ee-ette (not lah-FI-ette)

Dave Finds Politics is Indeed a Dirty Business

Growing up in as insular a region as he did, Dave Robicheaux knew both Buford and Karyn LaRose at least from their college days. Buford has managed to use his inherited wealth and his book on the Crown case to promote himself in his run to become Governor of the state of Louisiana, but Karyn seems intent on reawakening a relationship with Dave he'd much rather let lie thirty years in the past.

Did Aaron Crown kill an NAACP worker twenty years ago, and if so, what was his motive? That is the question nagging Dave. But now a mob hitman appears to have a particular vendetta against Dave and all close to him, and it's a question as to who will and who won't survive the LaRose campaign.

As is common in this series, those who inherited their wealth are far from worthy of their fortunes, and the females are at least as deadly as any mob button man.

ONE OF THE BEST

I really like the interaction between Dave and Crete. Burke has an uncanny ability for descriptions. You can almost smell the flowers and that of gumbo.

Burke

Another dark tour de force from Mister Burke! Fans will love this deeper dive into Iberia Parrish.