
Creole Belle
A Dave Robicheaux Novel, Book 19
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Narrated by:
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Will Patton
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By:
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James Lee Burke
About this listen
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 & SchusterListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
WI/NWI--5 WI means worth it! This book, as a wine taster would say, has a full body. It melts off the reader’s tongue like syrup and the images are so well portrayed that I recognized a song by its description. History rich, full of friends and foes. Great book all around.
Plot--5 The plot stems from deep New Orleans history and the characters themselves. It flows and tumbles and ends naturally.
Characterization --5 The deeply drawn, real, lovable, questionable people stumble through the story like we all do through life. If you know the series, you’ll be glad to spend time with these folks again, and meeting them for the 1st time is completely possible without the rest of the series.
Violence--5 Lots of violence, but it emerges naturally from the story, and fits.
Grossness --2 Not too bad. A dog dies, which is always bad, but its used to set scene and mood. The violence isn't described in a yucky kind of way.
Sex--0 No sex, but a lot of passion.
Supernatural Elements--4 Though not a main part of the story, the ghost paddle boat and the New Orleans dead shadow and affect the entire story. Treated as a fact of life. Really well done.
Crossing the Line--2 (Lower number is better.) To me, crossing the line is the brutal murdering animals (especially dogs), or children. Stephen King is the worst offender. A dog dies here rather horribly, but serves to set the tone and mood. But I could do without the picture I now carry in my head.
Setting--5 The setting flowed from the speakers and carried me back to New Orleans, deep in the south, and made me a native, not a tourist. For these precious hours, I lived among bayous and plantations, Zydeco and alligators. Wouldn’t have missed this vacation for the world.
Prose--5 Like one long poem. Beautifully written, words create a place I call home, because the characters call it home. True literature.
Deeper Message--5 The story is set in the greater set of the BP oil spill, and how it affects all life, and New Orleans.
Performance--5 James Lee Burke is Dave Robicheaux, and reads the other characters well, too. His accent and his tone of voice makes every word important. Wonderful, poignant performance.
Flowed like honey, Carrying me off to New Orleans
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another winner
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Dave Robicheau is as good as ever.
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If you could sum up Creole Belle in three words, what would they be?
Don't miss itWhat other book might you compare Creole Belle to and why?
Rain Gods The scene where the bad guys get it are both unique, but similar.Which scene was your favorite?
Where Clete creates a diversion.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Where Gretchen discovers her relationship to Clete.Any additional comments?
Can't wait for another Dave Robicheux.James rides again
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This is the first time I haven't rated Burke 5 stars and I think it's because the series may be getting a little long in the tooth, but I still look forward to the next one.
It's a little tough for me to tell just how good this novel is because Patton is truly amazing. He could read the dictionary and I would listen entranced for hours.
All in all, well worth your money.
Never fails to deliver
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Would you listen to Creole Belle again? Why?
yes and no.... I don't do books more than once. But....if I did this would be one.Who was your favorite character and why?
Dave Robicheaux....He represents the good in people, with the ability to kick butt and take names...What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
His ability and voice are perfect for Louisiana.....Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
When I felt the bobsy twins were gonna bite the bullet.Any additional comments?
James Lee Burke is one of my favorite authors. His word use is great. His stories always seem to champion the little guy...Shows awareness and compassion...Hope he feels that way about real life issues..nail biting
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As is true for his last few books, Burke is not spending as much time developing an intricate story with surprising twists and turns. Instead, his recent stories are an excuse to take us down to the swamp of human evil one more time. Along the way, we learn a lot about human failings, addiction, the effects of trauma (in Dave's case - both as a vet and a cop), and psychopathy. As a forensic psychologist who deals with these issues in my work, I can say that Burke knows his material very well.
As a reader, of course, each of us must ask ourselves how much evil we want to take into our fantasies lives. Reader/listener beware, Burke books result in a lot of vicarious trauma.
The heart of this book - and any book he narrates - is Patton. What an outstanding job! His bayou-inflected voice is perfect for this book. He makes the case, in fact, that a good narrator makes an average book above average.
Classic Burke
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What made the experience of listening to Creole Belle the most enjoyable?
An ever changing storyline and colorfull characters.What did you like best about this story?
The two main characters are used, abused, hard core and loyal.What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Everything! I love the way he rolls the words around, you really get a detailed look at each character and scene.Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Both, I will buy more Burke and Patton audios!Narrator delivers great read.
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But Will Patton -- well, Will Patton is phenomenal as a narrator. You can feel the pain and every other emotion of the narrator and the other characters. He just keeps getting better. I cannot believe I would ever say this, but I would buy an audiobook because of the narrator -- a book I would have Never otherwise considered purchasing or reading.
I am hopeful he will narrate more good books as time goes by. I wish he could have narrated "The Twelve." Scott Brick adopts his Butthead voice for too many of a novel's characters: Dammit Beavis, you're a Brick! Patton should narrate the final book of the trilogy.
Will Patton is an Incomparable Narrator; The Best
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Best of the Best
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