The Tin Roof Blowdown: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

"I wasn't sure New Orleans would survive.":
(4.5 stars) James Lee Burke, whose Dave Robicheaux series epitomizes some of the cultural characteristics of New Orleans and its outlying parishes, reaches his peak in this novel set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Robicheaux is a detective with the New Iberia Parish, outside of New Orleans, and he and his acquaintances, many of them well known to fans of Burke's novels, have been dramatically impacted by Katrina--those that are still alive, that is. Artfully combining real stories and details of the Hurricane Katrina disaster with fictional, but seemingly accurate, details of several plot lines evolving from the anarchy of Katrina's wake, Burke creates a chilling and compelling novel which crosses boundaries and throws together people from all levels of New Orleans society--well-to-do suburbanites whose wealth may not all be from legitimate sources, hardworking people who have secrets, "rednecks" who feel entitled to their sometimes ill-gotten gains, and those who live on the fringes of society and feel lucky to be able to know where their next meal is coming from. In this novel, several predators steal a small boat from a parish priest trying to hack through the roof of a church to save his parishioners, who are in the attic trying to escape the rising floodwaters. The priest, suffering from cancer and addicted to pain-killing drugs, is a long-time friend of Robicheaux and his alcoholic friend Clete Purcell, but the priest has vanished after his boat has been stolen. The boat, however, has been used later in a home invasion and robbery which has resulted in the shooting deaths of two of the perpetrators. The house, which belonged to a member of organized crime, was robbed of a stash of "blood diamonds," some cocaine, and a large amount of counterfeit money. Several neighbors, who may have witnessed the shootings, have seen "nothing." One of them is the father of a girl who was raped earlier by some of the perpetrators. Eventually, the criminals threaten Alafair, Robicheaux's adopted daughter, and Molly, Robicheaux's wife. As the mystery and the relationships among the various characters become more complex, the violence and the body count increase. Some of the characters, including one of the "perps," elicit significant sympathy, even as justice--and payback--play out satisfactorily. Burke, as always, creates vibrant, carefully rendered descriptions, often devastatingly bleak, of the environment in which his characters must operate. In the process, he makes the personal aspects of Katrina's aftermath come alive. Well organized and well integrated with the real Katrina disaster, this novel may be Burke's most memorable creation. n Mary Whipple Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead A Morning for Flamingos Heaven's Prisoners Crusader's Cross: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)

Soaked in atmosphere and full of detailed description:
Set in and around New Orleans during and following destructive hurricane Katrina, the Tin Roof Blowdown is a complex piece of crime fiction. Graphic descriptions of the terror and destruction wrought by Katrina, and frequent reminders of the ineptitude of the authorities in handling the tragedy, form the backdrop as the drama unfolds. Drama involving the disappearance of a young priest, the murder of a young black rapist and an innocent black teenager with the father of the rapist's victim being accused, and somehow the involvement of organised crime. With the NOPD overwhelmed, Detective Dave Robicheaux is called in to investigate. As he works in the company of his old friend and ex-cop Clete Purcel, Robicheaux finds his own family comes under attack form a deranged . Soaked in atmosphere and full of detailed description, and not fearing to make political comment, this is a thoroughly involving story. Part narrated by Robicheaux, and part related in the third person, a devise which while providing the full picture of events also provides a personal view on matters, we get a clear picture of the intricacies of the plot; and such is the skill of the writer that we not only see inside Robicheaux's mind, but we can actually hear his voice when he speaks.

Katrina wasn't fiction:
No one, no one has bothered to capture the catastrophe of Katrina in a fictional setting like Burke. His prose, as always, is beyond and above the mystery genre'. He constantly makes me stop and smile at his descriptions of both place and people. If only I could. There should be no cheap thrills in reading about the hurricane that nearly destroyed this great city, but Burke nearly pulls it off. Ron Lealos of Don't Mean Nuthin'

The TinRoof Blowdown:
Great story line and characters - James Lee Burke just gets better and better. His research is excellent and I should know as I live in SW LA.

Don't Waste My Time:
Amazon readers rate Burke very highly. In all honesty, I don't know why. What do they see of interest in New Orleans, anyway? Tin Roof was my only experience with Burke's books - and it will be my last. Between the dark subject matter and the crude narrative, I won't waste my money or my time!