In this 4th book in the 'Dave Robicheaux' series, Detective Robicheaux goes undercover to take down a New Orleans drug lord. Dave's personal life evolves through the series, as he ages, marries (and remarries), raises his daughter, etc. So some readers would probably prefer to read the series in order. Still, the novels can be read as standalones because the mystery in each book is self-contained.
*****
At the beginning of the book, Detective Dave Robicheaux - who works for the Sheriff's Office in New Iberia, Louisiana - is transporting two convicted killers to death row. The jailbirds are Jimmie Lee Boggs - a sociopathic multiple murderer,
and Tee Beau Latolais - a hapless young man who claims he's innocent.
The transport goes wrong, Boggs gets hold of a gun, and the convicts get away after Dave is shot and his partner is killed.
Dave, who's recently widowed and raising his adopted daughter Alafair, recuperates for several months before going back to work. However, the shooting preys on Dave's mind, and he vows to recapture Boggs. So when the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) asks Dave to go undercover in New Orleans, to help take down a drug lord, the fact that Jimmie Lee Boggs has been spotted in 'The Big Easy' is an added inducement to take the job.
Posing as a disaffected former cop who plans to get rich by selling drugs, Dave makes the acquaintance of Tony Cardo - a New Orleans gangster who runs a drug syndicate.
Tony is a mobbed up crook, but Dave has some empathy for the man because - like Dave - Tony is a Vietnam vet with deep psychic scars from the war. Moreover, Tony is a solicitous father to his disabled little boy.
Still, it's Dave job to get Tony arrested, and he means to do just that. It so happens that Dave's best friend, ex-cop Clete Purcell, now runs a night club/bar in New Orleans.
Clete wants to help with the sting operation, so Dave convinces the DEA to put Clete on the payroll, so he can help take Tony down. Clete is a big, tough guy who eats too much, drinks too much, and gets involved with too many wrong women - but he has a heart of gold where Dave and his family are concerned.
Once Dave's ensconced in New Orleans, he gets re-acquainted with his former sweetheart Bootsie, whom he abruptly deserted several decades ago.
Since then, Dave went to war and became a fall down drunk. Dave's now a recovering alcoholic, and finds himself falling in love with Bootsie all over again. The Dave-Bootsie romance is complicated by the fact that Bootsie doesn't know Dave is working undercover. In addition, Tony Cardo's extra-marital girlfriend, Kim Dollinger - who has a lot of problems - repeatedly comes to Dave for help.....and possible hanky panky.
As Dave works with the DEA to get Tony arrested, he has to associate with rough gangbangers. This places Dave in very dangerous situations.....and threatens to make Alafair an orphan. Dave also comes up against Jimmie Lee Boggs - who's as murderous as ever.
On the upside, Dave gets to have delicious beignets and coffee at New Orleans Café Du Monde (a treat I've enjoyed myself on occasion. 😊)
The story has a rich assemblage of characters, including Dave's colleagues and acquaintances (including Tee Beau Latolais's grandmother); Tony Cardo's bodyguards and underlings; a collection of thugs and murderers; and more. As always, the author does a superb job of capturing the ambiance of southern Louisiana with its mixed population of Acadians, whites, blacks, and others; the swamps and bayous; the spicy Cajun food, the jazz music; recreational fishing, etc. The reader almost feels like a visitor.
Unlike most of James Lee Burke's 'Dave Robicheaux' stories, this is more of a thriller than a mystery. It's not my favorite book in the series, but I enjoyed it, and recommend it to mystery fans.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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