Feast Day of Fools

A Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Celebrated crime master and two-time Edgar Award winner James Lee Burke returns with a gorgeously crafted, brutally resonant chronicle of violence along the Texas-Mexico border.

Sheriff Hackberry Holland patrols a small Southwest Texas border town, meting out punishment and delivering justice in his small square of this magnificent but lawless land. When an alcoholic ex-boxer named Danny Boy Lorca begs to be locked up after witnessing a man tortured to death by a group of bandits, Hack and his deputy, Pam Tibbs, slowly extract the Indian man’s gruesome tale. It becomes clear that the desert contains a multitude of criminals, including serial murderer Preacher Jack Collins (whom The New York Times called “one of Burke’s most inspired villains”).

Holland’s investigation leads him to Anton Ling, a mysterious Chinese woman whose steely demeanor and aristocratic beauty compel Hackberry to return to her home again and again as the investigation unfolds.

James Lee Burke is at his engrossing and atmospheric best in this, his 13th novel, as Hackberry plumbs the depths of man’s inhumanity to man - from killers-for-hire, to the U.S. government, to the misguided souls in search of a better life across the border.

©2011 James Lee Burke (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“[O]utstanding.... The richness of Burke's characters, always one of his strengths, reaches new heights.... The intricately plotted narrative takes numerous unexpected turns, and Burke handles his trademark themes of social justice and corruption with his usual subtlety.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“As Burke steers the elaborately structured narrative toward its violent conclusion, we are afforded looks inside the tortured psyches of his various combatants, finding there the most unlikely of connections between the players. This is one of Burke’s biggest novels, in terms of narrative design, thematic richness, and character interplay, and he rises to the occasion superbly, a stand-up guy at the keyboard, as always... Though he is best known for his Dave Robicheaux series, the broader canvas of this Hackberry Holland adventure makes a fittingly grand stage on which to play out such a landmark event in American publishing.” (Bill Ott, Booklist)

“The dialogue scenes, along with the action sequences, the South Texas landscape and the indelibly conflicted characters make you want to give Burke a medal.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Oooph...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Maybe - very violent.

What did you like best about this story?

Burke's descriptive prose.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Everything but there were MANY characters and some sounded like others.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The violence was very hard to stomach.

Any additional comments?

I’ve been a fan of James Lee Burke for over 20 years. I’ve read every one of his books once and a lot of them 2-3 times. I can’t pick a favorite because there are too many really good ones. Feast Day of Fools is the first one I almost didn’t finish. I know, I know…all the critics named it his very best work and raved on about his writing brilliance. But this book is UN-RE-LENT-LESS graphic violence, from being buried alive to crucifixion and then burning, to hands and feet chopped off, and on and on. When the crucifixion happened, I shut my iPod off and walked away, sick to my stomach. I had no intention of finishing it but of course I did because it was Burke. Hackberry is no longer a sympathetic character and Pam is just annoying. I can’t give away the ending but at the end all I felt was that the book was gratuitous violence without achieving anything. Bodies drop like flies. I hope Burke doesn’t do this to the next Dave book. It IS beautifully written but it takes a strong stomach to get through it.

A tome well worth the listen

This is perhaps James Burke's finest work to date. The listener cannot get visually closer to Burke's descriptions. His lyrical gift flows like a river and his dialogue is as real and clever as they come. The story takes a while to unravel, but the pace is terrific and worth the wait. There are so many well developed characters here that skillfully mixes the bad that men do with the good that we are given people whose individual spectrums run the gamut. It is about the paradoxes within alll of us and the range of colors humans manifest.

That sums it up-color-color in character, color in storyline, color in dialogue and narrative. More different bad guys with different agendas than you can imagine all played out against the western skies. They're after the same guy for very different reasons. Artfully complex but skillfully presented to easily follow.

Perfect pairing

As many have already written for this book and others, Burke's prose and Patton's reading make a perfect pairing. There is no reader at Audible I like more than Will Patton, in spite of his Russian accent that is even worse than Star Trek's Chekov. I listen to Burke's books multiple times, sometimes oblivious to the plot and just simmering in the imagery and sound.

There is a generous supply of bad guys in this book. At first it seems like too many bad guys, but Burke manages to make them all interesting.

I love Hackberry Holland!

Will Patton does a great job with all these voices. It's a little incredible that Sheriff Holland can do the things he does at his advanced age, but Patton brings this flawed man to life and makes you care about him and his deputy, love-struck Pam Tibbs. He also gives an interesting voice to arch-enemy Preacher Jack Collins, and convincingly puts the 3 on the same team, albeit briefly. The pace is slow at times, but the story engaging, and the characters worth knowing.

Escapism with spiritualism

Would you listen to Feast Day of Fools again? Why?

I would listen again to nearly anything read, for me, by Will Patton.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Will Patton gives individual voice to each character in the story, with just the right nuance and emphasis.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Mr. Burke is a master at varying the pace and rhythm of his narrative, so that you rock along enjoying the ambience and then are shocked and compelled when action and sometimes violence occurs.

Any additional comments?

The voice of the reader is a deal-breaker for any audiobook. Will Patton is the best there I've ever found.

And fools they were

Would you listen to Feast Day of Fools again? Why?

Yes! Burke's descriptive writing, plot and of course, Patton voice.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. I was caught up waiting to see what each character was going to do next, how the plot would unfold and if Hack would ever give in to Pam.

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

Hackberry Holland. Will Patton is able to convey Hacks tortured memories of the POW camp, his longing for his deceased wife and his stubborness in letting himself love again.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think almost everyone will be able to relate to the characters in this book on some level. There are a few laughs and a few places where one might want to cry. I wanted to tell Hack he was fortunate to have two women in his life who really loved him. But, he finally realizes this in the end.

Any additional comments?

YES! I hope Burke has a fourth book coming in this series. He left the main characters injured in Mexico. Also, Burke and Patton are a great combination.

Gruesome, exciting and well written

A complicated, gritty story read by a master of voice and dialects. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended to all but the very squeamish. Thanks

Disappointed

James Lee Burke is one of my favorite authors. I couldn't get into this book like his others.

Outstanding

James Lee Burke is one of the great writers of all time and this is one of his best stories. Will Patton, well lets just say he could make a dictionary a cliffhanger. I love everything he reads.

Fast Paced Mystery

Another Great Fast Paced Detail Filled read. As ever pulled me in & kept me glued until completed. W.Patton is always a hit - he could easily make a phone book interesting.