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| Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: James Lee Burke
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $6.49
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (67 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4365
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st Simon & Schuster Hardcover Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.5
ISBN: 1416548521
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781416548522
ASIN: 1416548521
Publication Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Plots and Subplots Abound October 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Swan Peak" is the latest in the Dave Robicheaux series and one of the least satisfying. Don't get me wrong...one of James Lee Burke's worst efforts is better than all but a handful of mystery writers out there. Burke has a way of drawing readers into the story and dropping them into the action surrounding Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcel.
In "Swan Peak" the Louisiana natives are transplanted to Montana for some rest and relaxation. Then some college kids are murdered in the woods near Dave's cabin. Clete manages to cuckold and attract the attention of a hideously disfigured man, Leslie Wellstone, who wields great power in this part of Montana. And Clete believes he is now on the radar of the FBI for the killing of gangster, Sally Dio, many years (and books) ago in Montana.
That's not even touching the most interesting part of the story which concerns a guard from a contract prison in Texas, his girlfriend that is changing his life, and his pursuit of a prison escapee who has fled to Montana so the escapee can contact his former lover who happens to be Leslie Wellstone's wife.
There is a lot going on in "Swan Peak." I would say there is too much going on to cover adequately in 400 pages. There are plots and subplots galore. Some sections seem rushed. Some sections seem totally unconnected to other parts of the book and yet, in the end, Burke ties them together.
In "Swan Peak" Burke also seems to spend even more time than usual explaining the morality and amorality of his characters. It really bogs down the narrative in places. "Swan Peak" is a good read, but not among Burke's best
 another classic from mr. burke September 26, 2008
i've said this before, so i'll state it again: james lee burke is one of america's finest novelists. i'm very happy he chose the crime novel gender to exhibit his skills.
imo, anyone who gives this excellent novel less than 5 stars probably thinks that james patterson, john sanford, and/or sue gafton are great writers. based on the large number of 5 star reviews, it appears that there aren't too many with this literary blindness.
 A Geritol Thriller September 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Purcell will soon follow Robicheaux into teetotaldum, but along a different avenue; instead of Dr. Pepper, he'll be quaffing Geritol by the quart. Don't get me wrong, I like Jame Lee Burke, who has the lyrical muse of a very good landscape painter. This time out, he's still got the lyric, but the plot is an overwrought melodrama, confused with the dissonance of colliding coincidences--enough to make my mouth gape. Charles Dickens would be proud. One other thing, remember the crisp one liners and disclaimers(ironic and iconic) that would come solely from Robicheaux's mouth; lately, some of these utterances uncharacteristically have found their way to other less gifted voices.
mystery vacation September 16, 2008
Another great book by JLB. Great with the change in location for the setting of the crimes. Clete's character really shows a different side. Thinking about reading the book again but a friend had to have it!
Burkes Montana adventure one of Robicheaux's best September 15, 2008
This story based in Western Montana explores the lives of Dave and Clete in some new ways. Burke's descriptions of the valleys and mountains around Missoula and the Bitterroot are wonderful. The mountains and western Montana environ have inspired Burke to even greater heights. Will Patton is his usual masterfull self. Only Will can do James Lee Burke justice in audio.
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