[book_talk] book review--James Lee Burke
- From: "Bonnie L. Sherrell" <blslarner@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Blind Chit Chat" <Blind-Chit-Chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Books for the Blind" <Books4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Blind Book Lovers Cafe" <bblc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Book Talk" <book_talk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:15:47 -0800
_Crusader's Cross_ by James Lee Burke
narrated by Will Patton
Dave Robicheaux's younger half-brother Jimmie fell for Ida Durbin when they met
her in Galveston. It was the summer of 1958, and the two brothers had been
working for the money they'd need for college tuition in the fall. But Jimmie
was willing to scrap his college plans to rescue Ida from life as a prostitute,
to which she'd been driven by the loan sharks she'd borrowed money from for
medical treatment for her grandmother. When Ida disappeared from the bus
station where he was to meet her, it appeared that her pimp had betrayed her to
the mob.
Years later a former classmate of Dave's made a deathbed confession to him that
he had seen Ida in captivity, and he feared that his uncle had been party to her
murder. Jimmie was dismissive of the news, for he was certain he'd found at
least one record made in the sixties that featured her voice. Intrigued by the
news, Dave's friend Clete Purcell decided to go to Florida to confront Ida's old
pimp, only to be rescued by a woman who had to be Ida.
Meanwhile there is a series of abduction-murders that Dave must investigate.
The Baton Rouge Killer is abducting women from their porches, driveways, and
front yards, and their sexually abused bodies are being found dumped into
waterways miles from their homes. Are the Chalons involved? Valentine Chalons
has apparent ties to both Ida Durbin and to the Baton Rouge Killer, but just
what those ties are Dave cannot say. But when he goes on a bender that leaves
him with two days of his life lost in an alcoholic blackout, Dave finds himself
wondering if he might have had something to do with the murder of Valentine's
disturbed younger sister. He's gotten home with a music CD he's never seen
before, one that has a rendition of "God Didn't Make Honkey-Tonk Angels" that
appears to have been sung by Ida Durbin. What does it all mean? And just why
does he find the small piece of fine chain found on the body of one of the
undisputed victims of the Baton Rouge Killer somehow familiar? And just why has
he developed a fascination with Molly Boyle, a lay sister of a Roman Catholic
order? All of this could so easily cost him his freedom, his reputation, and
possibly his life, for Valentine Chalons is intent on ruining Dave however he
can.
A well written story full of twists and turns, and one that kept me listening to
my Audible copy of the book even after I'd arrived at my destination.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large
"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very
wise cannot see all ends." LOTR
"Don't go where I can't follow."
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