A while back, when I was looking for a new author,

I read that Stephen King's favorites were Michael Connelly and James Lee Burke. I've already read all of Connelly's books, so I checked out Burke, by asking Ted to download  a few of his titles for me, BUT, he just downloaded them all. Now, after reading nearly all of his books, (upper pic not complete) I'm getting near the end. As the Orange Clown likes to say, SAD....
Part of the alluure has to be our 'hero', Detective Dave Robicheaux, who works Na'lins, New Iberia and the bayou country around there. Burke's main gift is his ability to put you right in the scene, with sights, sounds, smells and feelings, with amazing descriptions, not only of locales and locals, but also his insights into the human psyche, both good and bad.
Our man Dave, is so relatable, cuz he's flawed, like all of us, but the Viet Nam vet, who was wounded and lost a lot of buddies, for a 'wothless f'in' war' also has a sense of duty and honor, plus a heart of gold. He's a fantastic father to his daughter Alafair, and loving husband to his (latest) wife Molly.
A recovering alcoholic, who sometimes falls HARD, he's still respected and somewhat feared by all stratas of the local society, from the genteel Southern mansion crowd to the low lifes that he grew up with in the mean streets of New Orleans and the surrounding swamp country.
He also has the best, most loyal friend, EVER. Clete Purcell, a former cop and mercenary is a real piece of work, but will never let you down, though he constantly fails himself. Doesn't hurt that he's YUUUGE and takes guff from nobody. Dave, a workout freak, to stay in shape and quell his demons, is also good lover, and the ladies sense it, to his wife's chagrine. His boss, switch-hitting. street tough Helen Soileau, respects him, (which EVERY employee would love) while keeping him on the straight and narrow, making sure he makes most of his AA meetings, when he's not getting beat up and shot, usuall cuz of his wise mouth.
There are times I read and re-read his paragraphs, just revelling in the word pictures he creates. I close my  eyes and I'm back on a boat in the swamp outside Houma, feeling the humidity, smelling the lush, heavy air, imagining the dragonflies, egrets, bayou sounds and wondering what's under the water making a disturbance on the surface.
With an ever changing cast of colorful characters, from low-life street addicts, working ladies, backwoods yokels, crack skanks, bail bondsmen, drug runners, oil company hustlers, crooked cops and old time mafioso to big money, sold out politicos, life is never dull in southern Louisiana, where I got to work, live and vacation, in many of the locales so masterfully described by Mr Burke. Did I mention Dave has a boat and loves to go fishing, AND sometimes travels to fly fish in the Montana Rockies get away from it all, but still runs into trouble with the local bad dudes?
I'm gonna miss Dave and the world James Lee Burke has created, as he describes the historical past and present intrigue and violence in a world not known by many.
Just noticed the book below, and gotta check it out....