Cadillac Jukebox (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)

The last paragraph of Cadillac Jukebox shows James Lee Burke writing at his best. It's a brilliant descriptive scene that winds the novel up with the poetic prose he is famous for. Would that the whole novel had been so good. Usually when I pickup a Burke novel, I expect to read about good and evil locked in a brutal battle. No author goes face to face with evil like James Lee Burke. There was plenty of evil in Cadillac Jukebox, but the gripping tension I have become accustomed to is not there. I actually put the book down with 100 pages to go and read something else. I have never done that with a Burke novel before. Since this book came out long ago, I am happy to say that he picked up the pace in later novels. Evil cannot relax.

Buford Larose is elected governor on his progressive platform and the strength of a best-selling book he wrote about Aaron Crown who murdered a civil rights leader years ago. Now Crown has escaped from prison and intends to settle the score. But does anyone really know what the score is? Is Crown as guilty as he seems and is Buford’s liberal stance merely a façade – there seem to be some hooded sheets in Buford’s closet. Episode number nine in the Robicheaux sagas is action packed and full of twists and turns that will surprise you. The characters are unforgettable.

"Cadillac Jukebox" (1996) was the ninth novel published by American author James Lee Burke in his massive New York Times bestselling Dave Robicheaux series. Like the earlier books of the series, and most of the series' works to follow, the book, a Southern noir, police procedural/mystery, is set in and around New Orleans, Louisiana, more or less home country for Burke, who was born in Houston, Texas, in 1936, and grew up on the Texas-Louisiana gulf coast.

Aaron Crown has spent decades in Louisiana's notorious Angola prison, sentenced for the murder of the state's most famous black civil rights leader. Nobody's too bent out of shape about that: Crown's family were emigrants from the northern part of the state, shiftless timber people, possibly members of the Ku Klux Klan. Then Crown starts protesting his innocence to Robicheaux, now a detective with the New Iberia Sheriff's office, and Robicheaux starts worrying that the filthy, smelly, uneducated redneck has perhaps been scapegoated for the greater society's sins. But as Robicheaux takes an interest in Crown, strange things start happening. Buford LaRose, scion of a wealthy old Southern family, an academic running -- successfully - for governor, and author of the book that sent Crown to prison, begins taking an interest in Robicheaux; he offers him the job of head of the state police. Buford's beautiful, hot-to-trot wife Karyn, a former flame of Robicheaux's, also is suddenly paying a lot of attention to the detective. Documentary filmmakers trying to prove Crown's innocence are murdered. And New Orleans wiseguys start coming out of the woodwork. Of course, Clete Purcel is around to help, his former partner on the New Orleans Police Department, an overweight, heavy-drinking, brawling, heavily-scarred survivor of the city's tough Irish Channel neighborhood. So is a female cop, Helen Soileau, whom, like Purcell, we will continue to see a lot of in later books in the series.

Dave Robicheaux is of Cajun ancestry, and is still reliving the nightmare of his service in Vietnam. He has a drinking problem, and a tendency to violence. In addition to working for the sheriff, he still owns and operates a boat rental and bait business, while living in the house in which he was actually born. He is assisted in the operation of his business by a black man, Batist, whom we've met before, and will see again. Robicheaux is, by this point, on his third wife, Bootsie. His quietly, illegally adopted daughter, an ethnic Hispanic, whom he's named Alafair, apparently the better to confuse his readers, as Burke's real life daughter, Alafair Burke, is also writing mysteries these days, has morphed into a fairly ordinary American teenager, and she's got her pet, the three-legged raccoon Tripod, whom we've met before and will meet again.

Burke is still writing with energy, passion and power. He's still giving us the odd grotesque character, a sure hallmark of Southern fiction. However, there's little discussion of Robicheaux's father and mother by now, no World War II German sub in the Gulf, and the detective's half-brother Jimmie, who associated with gangsters, is mentioned only briefly, in one sentence, as having been ordered shot by a New Orleans gangster. But people who've known the detective long time still call him by the nickname "Streak," for a supposed skunk white streak in his black hair - that Jimmie also had-- that's meant to reflect childhood malnutrion. Some of Burke's characters are now beginning to resemble each other in the many Robicheaux books: the New Orleans gangster Robicheaux has known since childhood. The handsome, arrogant, ruthless rich man of good family who doesn't care whom he hurts in acquiring his great wealth. The beautiful hot-to-trot wife of the rich man, with whom Robicheaux has a romantic history. The dangerous Southerner. The hit man from Brooklyn. Burke tells us that, as both the New Orleans and Brooklyn accents grow out of the Irish accent, the accents of these two cities resemble each other. And the outcomes some of these characters meet are also beginning to resemble each other. Obviously, at this point, eight books into the successful Robicheaux series, Burke is beginning to allow his work to reflect his inner needs, as best-selling writers often do.

More than anything else, seems to me, in Burke's work, we'll enjoy some of the most beautiful, knowledgeable writing ever committed to paper about the flora, fauna, geography, and human occupants of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, now so much in the news. Burke attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute; later received B. A. and M. A. degrees from the University of Missouri in 1958 and 1960 respectively. Over the years he worked as a landman for Sinclair Oil Company, a pipeliner, land surveyor, newspaper reporter, college English professor, social worker on Skid Row in Los Angeles, clerk for the Louisiana Employment Service, and instructor in the U. S. Job Corps. His work has twice been awarded an Edgar for Best Crime Novel of the Year. At least eight of his novels, including the more recent Jolie Blon's Bounce, and Purple Cane Road (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)have been New York Times bestsellers. "Cadillac Jukebox" has its moments, but many readers may find it deja vu all over again.

The Cadillac Jukebox is grand parade of metaphors with which the author is a master. This skill is perhaps a little overdone, but it contributes to the atmosphere of southern Louisiana and the natives who call it home. The plot is understated but well woven into the fabric of the time and place. The name references to the numerous nefarious characters of the story are often confusing. I found it necessary to “find/back-check” who they were and where and how they entered the story.

Although Burke appears to have fallen into a formulaic trap with the Robicheaux series, this entry redeems itself with its intense plotting and the carefully wrought prose his readers have come to take for granted. While the plot involves one of New Iberia's "old" families, a woman with whom Dave once had a brief fling, and New Orleans' mobsters, all familiar ingredients of past books in this series, his addition of a 28 year old murder of a civil rights leader by a crusty old misfit added zing to an otherwise tired story.
The ending seemed to forewarn of more than an end to this novel, however, perhaps an end to the series itself. Soon James Lee Burke will introduce a new character with a setting in East Texas. Alas for those of us who have come to love the Cajun detective with all of his strengths and failings. Although Burke is such an accomplished writer that his readers will no doubt learn to love the new hero as well, I will miss the people and landscape of Louisiana

I have read just about everything James Lee Burke has written, but my favorite character by far is Dave Robicheaux. This was actually the first of the Burke books I "read" (this one I actually listened to in audio as it was a gift to me -- and that alone was wonderful as the narrator had a fabulous Louisiana accent that brought the words alive). JLB's style is poetic, and the scenes he sets for you bring you right there to the Bayou with his words. He is a master at setting the scene and making you see the characters and hear their voice. His ability to spin a crime story with twists and turns, while getting you into Dave's head, his history and his love of his family are unsurpassed. Best advice regarding the Dave series: try to read them in the order written -- it helps to get a sense of time in Dave's personal life -- there are changes that occur and I was blind sided by a couple of them because I read out of order.

Dave Robicheaux is one of those rare characters in today's American detective fiction -- the honest cop with a heart of gold and the toughness to rout the bad guys. In a sense, he is a throwback to the sheriff in the old Westerns. The difference is that Robicheaux's setting is Louisiana, and its peculiar combination rural charm and especially corrupt politics.
You can read this series because you like the Robicheaux character. That would be enough.
Or you can read this series for its wonderful treatment of Louisiana and its people. That would be enough.
As someone who has visited this beautiful state and its interesting people many times, I love reading Burke's descriptions so I am especially drawn to the latter reason.
Luckily, you can read it for both reasons, and that is way more than enough to keep you happily entertained.
One caution: The violence can be pretty stomach churning. If that upsets you, this book is not going to please you.
This story is one of those interesting and rewarding ironies that makes reading fun. The story revolves around Dave's efforts to clear Lester Crown of the murder of a prominent black civil rights attorney 28 years earlier. Crown is hardly someone you'd invite home for Sunday dinner, and this helps to establish Dave's character. Who else would put his family and himself in danger for such a creepy guy?
Lots of people start putting roadblocks and inducements in Dave's way, but that only makes him more determined.
The ending will stay with you for a long time.
The characters ring true throughout, and make you glad you're rooting for Dave! He's our last, best hope. In fact, he's irresistible as a heroic figure. Enjoy!

Having travelled the roads and eaten in the eating places mentioned in this book, I can attest to its complete authenticity. James Lee Burke has captured the heart and spirit of this area of New Iberia and New Orleans, perfectly...I was being driven, as a tourist, through these areas, these same streets, yesterday and am able to get the feeling of the locations as the author intended.

Detective Dave Robicheaux is assigned to act as bodyguard to the Governor elect Buford LaRose, and his attractive and sexy wife Karyn, with whom Dave had a brief fling before his marriage.

Aaron Crown is a virtual Neanderthal of a man who has escaped from prison with a heart full of hatred for anyone in authority and a determination to hunt down and kill certain people who he feels are responsible for his imprisonment. The book is interspaced with all kinds of very dubious characters and crooked politicians, which initially slowed my reading down to a crawl in an effort to absorb just who these people were, but all became clear very soon after. Robicheaux fans will love this tale and perhaps Mr.Burke will gain some new fans with this fast moving story.

Burke's writing continues to be an American treasure. In this wonderful Dave Robicheaux tale Burke again demonstrates his command of our english language as well as his uncanny command of Louisiana colloquialisms. Nobody creates better characterizations and character pictures than James Lee Burke. I lived in New Orleans for many years, so each time I pick up a new Robicheaux story I am instantly transported back to Nola and Louisiana environs. And this latest taleis extraordiary. Thank you Mr. Burke

I am madly, deeply in lust/love with Dave Robicheaux AND James Lee Burke. I've lived in the enchanting state of Louisiana my entire life and Burke makes me fall in love with it all over again each time I read one of his novels set here. He's a word magician and that's putting it mildly. For instance:
"Each morning after the sun rose out of the swamp and burned the fog away, the sky would harden to such a deep heart-wrenching blue that you felt you could reach up and fill your hand with it like bolls of stained cotton. The air was dry and cool, too, and the dust along the dirt road by the bayou seemed to rise into golden columns of smoke and light through the canopy of oaks overhead. ."
Hell, that's almost poetry! And he ain't just all purty words either! The plots are intriguing and compelling. I've read all of his books and feel totally lost when I've finished the latest Dave Robicheaux adventure. Keep 'em coming Mr. Burke!

Yes, James Lee Burke is a terrific wordsmith who can bring the Cajun backwoods and bayous alive for readers, but this particular work is quite simply, a sprawling, literary hodge-podge. The story is loosely woven to the point of being chaotic--Dave Robicheaux skitters here, there, and everywhere, including TWO almost gratuitous mini-jaunts to Mexico. The characters are "colorful," but in some cases, such as that of Aaron Crown, the eccentricity deteriorates into cartoon-like caricature. There are various smalltime gangsters who are hard to keep straight, there is a politician's wife who turns up periodically to strip off her clothes, taunt Robicheaux sexually, and then disappear in a cloud of vituperative hissing. And there are more than a few digressions and sidebars to the story that don't ever seem quite justified--it's all a bit much, methinks, and overall it makes for a story that never really hangs together adequately.
Still, Burke is a good enough writer that it's a hard book to put down once started. I think he has done better in others of his mysteries, however.

Anyone who reads Burke knows about his narrative style, and almost every fan has heard the "Chandler meets Faulkner" talk. It is all true. His style is addictive and hypnotic, producing prose that elevates the mystery/thriller genre, or rather submerges it into the murky depths of the bayou. It's all about the prose...which is why Cadillac Jukebox and the other novels in the series would not make great movies (also why Heaven's Prisoners didn't do Robicheaux or Burke justice). You can't translate this narrative to screen successfully. The plot of Cadillac Jukebox is not structured for Hollywood, and frankly, at times made little sense. But, who cares when the writing is this good. I beg you, Tommy Lee Jones, or whoever optioned this script, please don't make this a movie. You will tarnish this wonderful creation.

HAVING BEEN TO AND THROUGH LOUISIANA NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST 20 YEARS AND HAVING FALLEN IN LOVE WITH EVERYTHING YTHE STATE HAS TO OFFICER, I WAS ENTHRALLED WITH EVERY WORD IN THIS BOOK, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF THE ROBICHEAUX SERIES THAT I READ. I COULD ACTUALLY FEEL AND HEAR THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE SWAMPS, AND JAMES BURKE'S ABILITY TO DESCRIBE IS PHENOMONAL. HIS ABILITY ALSO TO WEAVE EXTREMELY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHARACTERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE INTO A PLOT WHICH EVENTUALLY DETAILS THEIR INTERRACTION IS INCREDIBLE TO ME. HAVING BEEN A DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR NEARLY 13 YEARS, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH MANY OF THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY DAVE, ALTHOUGH I MUST ADMIT THEY "DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY" IN LOUISIANA!! AFTER READING THIS BOOK, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS OUT- STANDING, I'VE GONE ON TO READ ALL OF THE DAVE ROBICHEAUX NOVELS, INCLUDING BLACK CHERRY BLUES, WHICH I ALSO FOUND TO BE INCREDIBLE. THE DEADPAN HUMOR OF DAVE'S, ALONG WITH THE TWO WORLD IN WHICH HE LIVES (ONE BEING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND THE OTHER BEING THE OWNER OF A BAIT SHOP) MAKE HIM SO MUCH MORE REAL TO LIFE THAN ANY "DETECTIVE" IN ANY NOVEL I'VE READ SO FAR. EACH OF HIS NOVELS GIVES THE READER AN INSIGHT INTO HIS PAST LIFE (WITH REFERENCES TO HIS ALCOHOLISM, HIS WIFE'S MURDER, HOW HIS DAUGHTER CAME INTO HIS LIFE, ETC.) WITHOUT DWELLING ON THEM OR REHASHING FORMER PLOTS. AND HIS ABILITY TO WALK INTO ANY "DIVE" IN NEW ORLEANS AND DEAL WITH MOB CHARACTERS ON THEIR LEVEL IS FASCINATING, AFTER WHAT ALL OF AMERICA HAS HEARD ABOUT THE MOB. THIS WAS ONE OF JAMES BURKE'S BEST BOOKS, AND I EAGERLY ANTICIPATE DISCOVERING THE EXISTENCE OF A NEW ROBICHEAUX NOVEL.

The sensual strength of the prose here is tense and powerful.
His last book, Burning Angel, felt loose and undisciplined,
relative to this book and to Black Cherry Blues, which is, in
my opinion, his best. Burke's detective, Dave Robicheaux,
questions, wonders, risks, leaps, gets involved here - life
happens *to* him. This is one of Burke's gifts, allowing the
chaos to touch his characters, instead of concentrating on
showing how his characters touch the chaos. This is a good
read.

James Lee Burke, once again, brings his characters vividly alive. Dave is once again fighting the bad guys plus his own problems and, once again, Clete Purcell is there to back him up and pull him up by the emotional bootstraps when needed. You just cannot beat Burke's writing when it comes to the imagery of everything that is happening in his novels. Wonderful!!

Good book but too much description. Too much time spent on describing something rather than building a story. Have read several of the authors books but would like more time spent on the story line.

Mr. Burke continues to maintain the highest literary standards of any past/current writer of this genre. The great story is just--almost a bonus. I am always tempted to say that it his talents are wasted on the genre---but that would be so, so, wrong.

James Lee Burke in Cadillac Jukebox does an excellent job of describing the corruption in Louisiana politics that has been around for years. This book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering where it was going next. This was my second Burke book and I will be reading many more. Recommended to all. Keep them coming Mr Burke.

Interesting book, but there was SO much jargon -- cop talk, drug slang, and cajun words, that some of the time I didn't even know what they were talking about. The book should provide the reader with a glossary of terms.