What do You think about Dixie City Jam (1995)?
James Lee Burke thinks that humanity is inherently bad, and that Judas Iscariot is us. I disagree with him, but I loved this book. It is one wild, hyper-literate, frenzied yet introspective, violent romp. Where else you gonna get that, mon?Yes, Clete Purcel, absent from Robicheaux #6, is back, and in fine form. Purcel refers to himself and our protagonist as "The Bobbsey Twins" (an archaic reference for those of you younger than 45), and it seems to me that it fits. When Purcel misbehaves, Robicheaux pulls him back from the edge (sometimes). Purcel has done the same for him on occasion...though less often. And once in awhile, they both get into use-your-best judgment moments that nevertheless fall short, fortunately, of mutually-agreed-upon vigilantism.Nearly our entire cast of characters gets into trouble in one way or another, either as victim, criminal, or as one who's been mistaken for the other. Alafair walks away damaged only by what she has seen and heard (not that this is minimal, but in one of Burke's stories, it's about as good as it gets). Everyone else is up for grabs.A continuing thread that may bother some with its perpetual presence, but that suits me down to the ground, is the racist and unjust way in which cops and prisons affect all of us, particularly people of color and poor people (with obvious overlap in some cases). Lucinda Bergeron and her son are great new additions. In every story, someone always seems to provide a counterpoint to correct Dave's mistaken viewpoints or limited range of experiences. Batist, Bergeron and her son do that at various times.Stir in Hippo's double-edged but real friendship and some neo-Nazis, and you can be sure you won't be bored for even one minute.I bought a used copy because I could, but this is worth the price of a new copy if push comes to shove.Just be aware that once you hit the last 20% of the book, finding a stopping place so you can go to sleep is entirely out of the question. You'll need some wind-down time once it's finished, too!
—Donna Davis
It's too bad, really. I find Burke's writing engaging and his storytelling complex and satisfying. The style of writing in the Robicheaux books seems to fit the character perfectly - the matter-of-factness, the description, the somewhat taciturn presentation. I like Dave's strong, but damaged personality. I like other characters and Burke brings most of them to life. I can almost see and smell and taste New Orleans in these books, even though I have never been there. But the vulgarity is just too much. I understand that he is portraying a certain culture and life-style. However, I believe that a great writer can portray the same feeling, the grittiness, without stooping to the excessive profanity - so MANY f-bombs - the excessive vulgar and course euphemisms and the sexual content. Those are cheap and easy crutches.Batist is a main character in the beginning, has a couple of little pop-ups, but mostly disappears. The incident sets up the rest of the story, I guess, but having him so prominent and then nonexistent was jarring. I expected Batist to appear throughout the story because of that beginning and was very conscious of his absence.The villains are pretty creepy and compelling. Having your home and family violated is its own kind of terrifying. But after all the set up it was wrapped up a little too easily.I read book 6 in 2007. Maybe the content is why I put them aside for so long. I won't be continuing because of the graphic content and profanity. These are not the images and language that I want floating around in my head.Burke is a very good writer. I wish he would stretch just a little more to be great and not use the garbage he relies on to set the scene and tone.
—Nancy
James Lee Burke is an especially fluid and descriptive writer. Dixie City Jam is loaded with wonderful phrasing and exquisite descriptions. Being a mystery thriller, it is also full of action and lively characters that intrigues the reader. Burke doesn't seem to know how to write a one-dimensional character. Even the most minor ones are many layered and full of surprises. On top of this, add a close and personal knowledge of the Louisiana delta and New Orleans. The only other writer I can think of that brings this type of cultural intimacy to the literary thriller is Tony Hillerman in his Navajo mysteries.Dixie City Jam is the seventh book in the series that feature police officer David Robicheaux. The nominal plot features a Nazi submarine sunk off of the Louisiana coast and a group of seedy people who want Robicheaux's help in recovering it. But this is a bit of a "MacGuffin", as Hitchcock would say. The true interest is in the complex relationship of persons as far afield as crooked detectives to Irish gangsters to psychotic Nazis. The novel is a melting pot of ethnic angst and corrupt dreams. I was thoroughly entranced with this novel and will no doubt devour the entire series. Four and a half stars.
—Marvin
