Heartwood

A Billy Bob Holland Novel, Book 2

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Few writers in America today combine James Lee Burke's lush prose, cracking story lines, and tremendous sense of history and landscape. In Cimarron Rose, longtime fans of the Dave Robicheaux series found that the struggles of Texas defense attorney Billy Bob Holland show Burke at his best in exploring classic American themes - the sometimes subtle, often violent strains between the haves and the have-nots; the collision of past and present; the inequities in the criminal justice system.

Heartwood is a kind of tree that grows in layers. And as Billy Bob's grandfather once told him, you do well in life by keeping the roots in a clear stream and not letting anyone taint the water for you. But in Holland's dusty little hometown of Deaf Smith, in the hill country north of Austin, local kingpin Earl Deitrich has made a fortune running roughshod and tainting anyone who stands in his way. Billy Bob has problems with Deitrich and his shamelessly callous demeanor, but can't shake the legacy of his passion for Deitrich's "heartbreak-beautiful" wife, Peggy Jean.

When Holland takes on the defense of Wilbur Pickett - a man accused of stealing an heirloom and three hundred thousand dollars in bonds from Deitrich's office - he finds himself up against not Earl's power and influence, but also a past Billy Bob can't will away.

A wonderfully realized novel, rich in Texas atmosphere and lore, and a dazzling portrait of the deadly consequences of self-delusion, Heartwood could only have been written by James Lee Burke, a writer in expert command of his craft.

©2011 James Lee Burke (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Narration slowed down story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I wouldn't rec the audio version because the narration felt a bit sluggish to me. Seemed to bog the storyline down, if that makes sense, but I would rec the book to read! It wasn't Sklar's voice per se--actually his voice is quite lovely--but the pace seemed off. Too slow and flat.Didn't ramp up w/ the story.

What did you like best about this story?

Love the JLB's compositions. He can paint a scene so that you are THERE. One of my faves in this story was a description of Beau running.

Good story, TERRIBLE narraration

Whoever chose Mr. Sklar for this part should be fired. That's who I blame. His fake Southern drawl and accent is beyond ridiculous and his mispronunciation of several things/places in Texas makes it worse. I won't even start with his drawn-out, mock-surprise "Oh yeahs??" . First time in a long time that I've had to fight myself to finish listening to a book simply due to the narrator. My fault, I should have played a sample, but still. Horrendous.

Returned this book

Love James Lee Burke. I've listened to about a dozen of his books and hundreds of audiobooks. The narration on this book is my least favorite ever. Every voice sounds the same and he has an inflection that is annoying making it impossible to follow the story.

Not his best

One of my favorite authors. This was very disappointing, partially due to narrator use of hill Billy dialect and partially due to the story and paragraphs of metaphors. Billy Bob is not a character that will bring me back.

Billy Bob Holland #2

Billy Bob Holland has a knack for getting involved with the wrong women. This one. like his son's mother, is married. Albeit, she was his first. She is now married to the rich, shady Earl Dietrich.

The story is multi-layered. It begins with a theft at the Dietrich home. This theft sets off the avalanche of problems and murders throughout the book.

story was great! narration, not so much......

What made the experience of listening to Heartwood the most enjoyable?

The reader was difficult to listen to, this was an instance of listening anyway because it was book 2 of a series I enjoy.

What did you like best about this story?

The story itself was great, with plot twists I didn't see coming.

Would you be willing to try another one of Alan Sklar’s performances?

I don't think so.

Always Great

I love James Lee Burke's books, the narrator of this one was not as good as his other narrators. I am from Louisiana and listening to someone try to speak with a southern accent is aggravating. Will Paton does it the best. This book like the rest start off with a bang and keeps you entertained from start to finish. Love James Lee Burke

One of my favorite James Lee Burke books.

This is one of my favorites from James Lee Burke and I’ve read most of his books. Burke creates incredible imagery. The narrator Alan Sklar has a fantastic voice and this audible book was really hard to stop listening to.

Narrator very poor

Quickly tired of hearing deaf pronounced “deef and slough as “sluff”. Editor should’ve caught this.

Alan Sklar go home

Please find a narrator that can properly pronounce places in Texas. This guy butchered so many names I was really sick of listening to him. If you are going to write about Texas you damn well better find someone that can read it correctly. I was insulted in a way at this lack of professionalism.