James Lee Burke, a true national treasure and one of today’s most iconic writers, continues his New York Times bestselling Dave Robicheaux series, but there’s a twist. This time around, Dave’s longtime partner and friend, Clete Purcel, serves as the story’s main character as the dynamic duo races to apprehend the smugglers behind the transportation of a dangerous new drug in hopes of shutting down their operation for good.
It might not have been personal, but for Clete Purcel, it sure feels that way. Clete, a decorated war veteran and New Orleans police officer turned private investigator, lost his grandniece to a tragic drug overdose. So when drug-dealing thugs ransack his car, it cuts deeper than expected and lights a fire in Clete, who vows to track down those responsible. As it turns out, the men responsible are connected to the Mexican cartels, and they’re all kinds of bad news. Meanwhile, Clara Bow, a woman with a mysterious past, wants to hire Clete to look into her estranged ex-husband and his shady dealings, not to mention a string of brutal killings at the hands of a tattooed man. Not long into his investigation, Clete begins to question Clara’s motives, as tracking the tattooed man becomes more like chasing a ghost than any typical, ordinary suspect. But when word reaches Clete and his longtime partner, Dave Robicheaux, that a dangerous new souped-up form of fentanyl is spilling onto the streets of New Orleans, that takes precedence as Clete puts most of his energy into looking for the source of the lethal drug . . . and only then does he realize that everything might just be connected.
A master storyteller with more than forty books under his belt, James Lee Burke knows what he’s doing. Always has. Every word is weighed. Every line is deliberate. And everything is delivered with his trademark gritty and unfiltered prose, a style that is as unique as the city the author writes about.
Dave Robicheaux is still the guy, even if Clete serves as the story’s first-person narrator. In a genius move, after already writing twenty-three books in his series, Burke puts Clete in the driver’s seat so Dave can ride shotgun, and by doing so, is able to further flesh out his beloved Robicheaux. Readers are treated to observing Dave through Clete’s eyes and voice, and frankly, it’s a move that works exceptionally well. The two characters have a deep and rich history together, much like Robert Crais’ Joe Pike and Elvis Cole, and while the story at hand is well constructed with a powerful, albeit controversial, topic at the heart of it all, the Dave-Clete partnership alone continues to be worth the price of admission. As for the story, it’s not for the faint of heart. This is one of Burke’s most violent books to date, as the author holds nothing back, painting vivid imagery with his words that’ll transport you right to N’awlins and give you a front-row seat to the brutal violence that ensues. Bottom line: They don’t make authors like James Lee Burke anymore, and the veteran bestseller—never afraid to tell it like it is—comes out swinging yet again.
Clete is a gut-punch of a book that explores similar topics and themes found in Burke’s other works, but this time through the eyes of fan-favorite character Clete Purcel, who once again finds himself outnumbered and outgunned, but never in over his head. Raw, real, and unfiltered, James Lee Burke’s latest is a throwback thriller to the glory, gritty heydeys of Dennis Lehane, John Sandford, and Robert Crais. Longtime fans will love this latest entry.
Book Details
Author: James Lee Burke
Series: Dave Robicheaux #24
Pages: 384 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0802163076
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and is building a growing community on Twitch. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” is now available. His second novel, LETHAL RANGE, is also in bookstores, and his third book, OUT FOR BLOOD, comes out on June 4th. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. To interact with other readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, join The Real Book Spy’s Discord server.