Last Car to Elysian Fields - A Dave Robicheaux Novel

I gave my dad the unabridged audio book version of "Last Car to Elysian Fields" for Christmas. He was excited, because James Lee Burke is one of his favorite authors. But he's given up trying to get through this book -- the Cajun accent the reader adopts is so thick it's too much of a struggle for him to understand. Dad had some trouble with the last Burke audio book, but this one (same reader) is worse.

Trying to read these in order (missed a few because of no Kindle version) and this is one of the best so far. I greatly appreciate Burke's prose. A number of crime fiction authors tell a good story, but can really seem dry reading after a Burke novel. This example has one of the more satisfying endings of the series, which is often the sticking point in my enjoyment of any novel.

Love the continuing story of this family and the extended family of friends. I was interested to read that his 'daughter, Alafaire' in the book was studying to be a writer. As I was reading the best new books list a few weeks ago, guess who was on it: Alafaire Burke. Coincidence?

I have read all the Dave Robicheaux novels and have enjoyed them very much. This one, however, was disappointing. Burke's ability to richly evoke sounds, smells, colors, moods, and his ear for speach especially dialect remain unsurpassed. But the story line in this book is so disjointed and difficult to follow and understand as to ruin the novel. It is tedious to read and many of the characters are almost cartoon like and quite unbelivable.What a pity.This is one Robicheaux that I will not pass on nor recomend with enthusiasm to others .