Creole Belle

A Dave Robicheaux Novel, Book 19

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Dave Robicheaux is back, in a gorgeously written, visceral thriller by James Lee Burke, “the heavy weight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed” (Michael Connelly).

Creole Belle begins where the last book in the Dave Robicheaux series, The Glass Rainbow, ended. Dave is in a recovery unit in New Orleans, where a Creole girl named Tee Jolie Melton visits him and leaves him an iPod with the country blues song "Creole Belle" on it. Then she disappears. Dave becomes obsessed with the song and the memory of Tee Jolie and goes in search of her sister, who later turns up inside a block of ice floating in the Gulf. Meanwhile, there has been an oil well blowout on the Gulf, threatening the cherished environs of the bayous.

Creole Belle is James Lee Burke at his very best, with beloved series hero Dave Robicheaux leading the charge against the destruction of both the land and the people he has sworn to protect.

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

Critic reviews

"This tale plays out much like The Glass Rainbow—intimations of mortality; melancholic musing on the pillaging of once-Edenic South Louisiana; cathartic, guns-blazing climax—but, as always, Burke brings something new to the table.... Dave and Clete may still be unbowed, but they are certainly broken—and all the more interesting for it." ( Booklist)

"Another stunner from a modern master." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Great news for readers who feared that Burke had left Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Robicheaux dying at the end of The Glass Rainbow (2010); Dave and his old friend Clete Purcel are back for an even more heaven-storming round of homicide, New Orleans–style.... A darkly magnificent treat for Dave's legion of admirers." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Very interesting and entertaining

Great, entertaining book, a little confusion the first few chapters trying to get the characters in order. The narration was very good made the book even better.

Excellent story. Just wish it wasn't abridged.

Too much of the book is missing and that left me disappointed.. Now I have to read the book too.

Louisiana tale

If you could sum up Creole Belle in three words, what would they be?

far out

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I thought the ending with all the army entrenched against Dave and Clete became a little far fetched. Probably could have achieved the same with fewer people involved

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Clete Percel

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The evolution of Clete's daughter

Any additional comments?

Love the narrator and the way he reads all the Dave Robicheau books . Also, love the character created by J L Burke

Best yet

this was my fifth book in the David robicheaux novel series. it was the best yet it really helped to already know the characters

Among Burke’s Very Best

By limiting the number of characters and subplots the author tells a tale with great clarity and power. The sensuous descriptions of sights and smells support intensify the narrative without overwhelming it. Just as a great chef blends a few flavors each discernible and adds exactly the right amount of seasoning, Mr Burke has produced a wonderfully balanced dish.

Nicely balanced mystery

Narration is perfect.

Story is interesting, engaging, unpredictable.

Highly recommended, among the best of this series.

Not the best Dave Rubicheaux book

I have enjoyed quite a few of the books in this series, and come to expect more from Lee Burke. The story here is weak, the repeating motive of Alifair and co. under threat of death once too many, the bloody end-battle over done.