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Dave Robicheaux #25
The Hadacol Boogie: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke’s iconic detective, returns to investigate the death of an unidentified woman—pulling him into a vortex of corruption and violence in the Louisiana bayou.
When a cloaked, disfigured man leaves a dead woman in a garbage bag on Dave Robicheaux’s property, he knows something bigger—and even darker—is at play. And his daughter Alafair knew someone with the same a rose on each breast.
Dave’s longtime friend and former partner, the volatile but fiercely loyal Clete Purcel, searches for clues in the seedy underworld of the local saloon, but he’s being targeted by a violent man with potential Mob connections. Dave’s new partner, a homicide detective who faces sexist and racist harassment from their colleagues, hides a past that may link her to the murder. And the local handyman leaves cryptic notes and warns of the ghosts who roam the shores of the bayou.
With his brilliant prose and quintessential cast of characters, James Lee Burke weaves a portrait of a gritty, violent Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century. Visceral, atmospheric, and wholly original, The Hadacol Boogie reminds us of Dave Robicheaux’s fierce determination to confront evil both past and present.
When a cloaked, disfigured man leaves a dead woman in a garbage bag on Dave Robicheaux’s property, he knows something bigger—and even darker—is at play. And his daughter Alafair knew someone with the same a rose on each breast.
Dave’s longtime friend and former partner, the volatile but fiercely loyal Clete Purcel, searches for clues in the seedy underworld of the local saloon, but he’s being targeted by a violent man with potential Mob connections. Dave’s new partner, a homicide detective who faces sexist and racist harassment from their colleagues, hides a past that may link her to the murder. And the local handyman leaves cryptic notes and warns of the ghosts who roam the shores of the bayou.
With his brilliant prose and quintessential cast of characters, James Lee Burke weaves a portrait of a gritty, violent Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century. Visceral, atmospheric, and wholly original, The Hadacol Boogie reminds us of Dave Robicheaux’s fierce determination to confront evil both past and present.
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First published February 10, 2026
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About the author
James Lee Burke
124 books4,196 followersJames Lee Burke is an American author best known for his mysteries, particularly the Dave Robicheaux series. He has twice received the Edgar Award for Best Novel, for
Black Cherry Blues
in 1990 and
Cimarron Rose
in 1998.
Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked at a wide variety of jobs over the years, including working in the oil industry, as a reporter, and as a social worker. He was Writer in Residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, succeeding his good friend and posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner John Kennedy Toole, and preceding Ernest Gaines in the position. Shortly before his move to Montana, he taught for several years in the Creative Writing program at Wichita State University in the 1980s.
Burke and his wife, Pearl, split their time between Lolo, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana. Their daughter, Alafair Burke, is also a mystery novelist.
The book that has influenced his life the most is the 1929 family tragedy "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.
Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked at a wide variety of jobs over the years, including working in the oil industry, as a reporter, and as a social worker. He was Writer in Residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, succeeding his good friend and posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner John Kennedy Toole, and preceding Ernest Gaines in the position. Shortly before his move to Montana, he taught for several years in the Creative Writing program at Wichita State University in the 1980s.
Burke and his wife, Pearl, split their time between Lolo, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana. Their daughter, Alafair Burke, is also a mystery novelist.
The book that has influenced his life the most is the 1929 family tragedy "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
November 9, 2025
Dave Robicheaux and his close buddy Clete Purcell are my favourite literary characters. Bar none. This is JLB’s twenty-fifth book featuring the pair and whatever you think of their adventures, I believe everyone who has read these stories will concur that there’s never a dull moment. This latest episode takes us back in time to the dying embers of the 20th Century. Dave is a cop in New Iberia, Louisiana, and Clete runs a private investigation business, his office close to Dave’s ‘shotgun’ house on the banks of Bayou Teche. The pair are honoured Vietnam veterans and had at one point been partners in the New Orleans Police Department (The Bobbsey Twins from Homicide).
Late one night, a strange man is spotted dragging a bag onto Dave’s property. Everything about this act is sinister, from the appearance of the man (odd marks on his face, sticks in his hair) to the contents of the package itself: the nude body of a woman with piano wire wrapped around her neck. The unidentified man has sloped away in the darkness of the night and is nowhere to be found. Dave and his new partner, an attractive female rookie, are charged with investigating the case.
As always with this writer, the descriptions of people and places are vivid. Much of the action is to unfold in and around the Atchafalaya Basin, the biggest swamp in the USA. The impression is given that the whole of this area, in Southwest Louisiana, is populated by a collection of lawless, crank ridden renegades who live free from rules and authority. One such man is Jerry Carlucci, who runs a bar and hot pillow joint south of Morgan City. Dave has known Jerry since they were young boxers, training partners, and rivals, both hoping to win a prestigious amateur championship.
At first, the investigation progresses slowly with few clues as to the identity of the deceased girl or any real leads on why she was killed or at whose hands. Gradually, more characters are introduced: a strange wondering handyman (who might actually be a spirit), a grim killer for hire who has recently had a run-in with Clete, and an organised crime boss from New Jersey, complete with his crew. The interactions Dave and Clete have with these people are described as only JLB can. Some lines hit you like a slap, whilst at other times they induce a wry smile or sometimes even a belly laugh. These encounters are usually tense affairs, the words raw, the air filled with a menacing undercurrent.
In the background, there are constant references to the State’s history, be that the Civil War, executions of dubious probity, or misdeeds carried out by violent men, racists and bigots of every stripe. But, in tandem, there’s also Dave’s clear longing for what he believes to have been the good times when he was growing up in his beloved Louisiana. It was a place he believed offered refuge for the likes of him. Now, he continues to visit establishments that have been active in New Iberia for generations and listens to old recordings by the likes of the yodelling blues singer Jimmie Rogers and Cajun music fiddler Harry Choates. How he wishes he could turn back time.
The denouement, when it comes, is a protracted and violent affair – almost apocalyptic in its scale and intensity. Amid the cacophony it’s possible that some events are partially imagined. But you know that good will finally overcome evil. Such is the way with these stories. I was left with a feeling that I’d spent the last hour in a washing machine tumbler, my mind struggling to make sense of what I’d just read. But I was also in awe of what I’d describe as another truly outstanding episode in this series. Is it the best book yet? That’s a tough call, but I believe it really does demonstrate that octogenarian Burke continues to write at the absolute peak of his powers.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing a cop of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Late one night, a strange man is spotted dragging a bag onto Dave’s property. Everything about this act is sinister, from the appearance of the man (odd marks on his face, sticks in his hair) to the contents of the package itself: the nude body of a woman with piano wire wrapped around her neck. The unidentified man has sloped away in the darkness of the night and is nowhere to be found. Dave and his new partner, an attractive female rookie, are charged with investigating the case.
As always with this writer, the descriptions of people and places are vivid. Much of the action is to unfold in and around the Atchafalaya Basin, the biggest swamp in the USA. The impression is given that the whole of this area, in Southwest Louisiana, is populated by a collection of lawless, crank ridden renegades who live free from rules and authority. One such man is Jerry Carlucci, who runs a bar and hot pillow joint south of Morgan City. Dave has known Jerry since they were young boxers, training partners, and rivals, both hoping to win a prestigious amateur championship.
At first, the investigation progresses slowly with few clues as to the identity of the deceased girl or any real leads on why she was killed or at whose hands. Gradually, more characters are introduced: a strange wondering handyman (who might actually be a spirit), a grim killer for hire who has recently had a run-in with Clete, and an organised crime boss from New Jersey, complete with his crew. The interactions Dave and Clete have with these people are described as only JLB can. Some lines hit you like a slap, whilst at other times they induce a wry smile or sometimes even a belly laugh. These encounters are usually tense affairs, the words raw, the air filled with a menacing undercurrent.
In the background, there are constant references to the State’s history, be that the Civil War, executions of dubious probity, or misdeeds carried out by violent men, racists and bigots of every stripe. But, in tandem, there’s also Dave’s clear longing for what he believes to have been the good times when he was growing up in his beloved Louisiana. It was a place he believed offered refuge for the likes of him. Now, he continues to visit establishments that have been active in New Iberia for generations and listens to old recordings by the likes of the yodelling blues singer Jimmie Rogers and Cajun music fiddler Harry Choates. How he wishes he could turn back time.
The denouement, when it comes, is a protracted and violent affair – almost apocalyptic in its scale and intensity. Amid the cacophony it’s possible that some events are partially imagined. But you know that good will finally overcome evil. Such is the way with these stories. I was left with a feeling that I’d spent the last hour in a washing machine tumbler, my mind struggling to make sense of what I’d just read. But I was also in awe of what I’d describe as another truly outstanding episode in this series. Is it the best book yet? That’s a tough call, but I believe it really does demonstrate that octogenarian Burke continues to write at the absolute peak of his powers.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing a cop of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 22, 2026
The body of a dead woman is dumped on Detective Dave Robicheaux’s property. Naturally, he is assigned to the investigation along with his new partner Valerie Benoit, a young African American woman. And of course he also enlists the aid of former cop Clete Purcel. There are mobsters, hit men and ghosts.
As usual, the writing was beautiful and vibrant. The author never insults the intelligence of the reader. His references to literature and history assume that the reader is informed, or wants to be. I like some of the author’s other books more than I like the Robicheaux series, but these are still good books. My favorite character in this book was Boon Hendrix, a mysterious handyman who seemed out of time and place. He knew more and saw more than others. I had a problem with Valerie. Nothing really made sense about her character. Why join a bastion of racism and misogyny and then spend most of the book weeping about your treatment. At other points in the book she goes full out authoritarian and attacks people. (Actually, Valerie, Dave and Clete take turns losing control and beating people up.) Dave keeps telling her she’s a good cop, based on absolutely zero evidence of that. I listened to the audiobook which was expertly narrated by Will Patton. 4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
As usual, the writing was beautiful and vibrant. The author never insults the intelligence of the reader. His references to literature and history assume that the reader is informed, or wants to be. I like some of the author’s other books more than I like the Robicheaux series, but these are still good books. My favorite character in this book was Boon Hendrix, a mysterious handyman who seemed out of time and place. He knew more and saw more than others. I had a problem with Valerie. Nothing really made sense about her character. Why join a bastion of racism and misogyny and then spend most of the book weeping about your treatment. At other points in the book she goes full out authoritarian and attacks people. (Actually, Valerie, Dave and Clete take turns losing control and beating people up.) Dave keeps telling her she’s a good cop, based on absolutely zero evidence of that. I listened to the audiobook which was expertly narrated by Will Patton. 4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
February 4, 2026
THE HADACOL BOOGIE is #25 in author James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series and the first instalment that I have disliked. I tried to get into the story. I read the long novel until the end, but I could not relate to its central plot nor the multiple deviations from this storyline. Possibly this is because, at heart, it is a war genre novel, masquerading as a mystery/thriller—definitely not my cup of tea. If you like war genre novels, you probably will like this one much better than I did.
Although I have only reviewed two of the Dave Robicheaux novels here on Goodreads, I have read several more. For example, when the gangster Ludlow mentions that Clete Purcel put sand in the engines of Sally Duck's plane, I remembered the novel where this occurred; it was one of the first Robicheaux books I read. Consequently, when I chose this one from NetGalley, I thought that I knew what I was getting into—a meandering plot centred around a morality tale, with beautiful descriptive phrases scattered throughout the narrative.
The beautiful descriptive phrases still abound throughout the story, although they are more philosophical now, and not so visually alluring. In fact, I would almost classify this as a philosophical diatribe on war crimes, and on man's inhumanity to mankind.
The story does begin with a mystery: a strange man is seen dragging a bag onto Dave's property. In the bag is the nude body of a black woman with blue eyes and roses tattooed on her breasts—a prostitute. Dave and his new partner, Valerie Benoit, also a black woman, are assigned the case. In addition, Clete Purcel, Dave's long-time partner, stops by to help Dave solve this murder.
But then the story weaves into the horrors of the Vietnam War, horrors that both Dave and Clete experienced. Immediately I felt something was off, as Dave is described as being "in his 60s", and if he had served in Vietnam, he would have been in his 70s, or even possibly his 80s. In addition to his musings about Vietnam, Dave ponders many historical evils, including slavery. The narrative stops being a mystery/thriller and becomes a philosophical tome. At this point, about 25% through the book, I took a rest and read another novel. But I did return, only to become more confused. The cast of characters grows, and several of them suffer horrible deaths. Both Dave and Clete get into fistfights that are reminiscent more of teenage boys fantasy brawls than of the way mature men settle disputes.
Dave's daughter, Alafair returns to Dave's house and plays a major part in the narrative. She was in a drama class with both the murdered woman and with Dave's new partner, Valerie. (James Lee Burke has an actual daughter named Alafair, a writer like the fictional Alafair in the Robicheaux series, a fact that has always interfered with my ability to completely immerse myself in the fictional stories whenever she appears.)
The story meanders even more until it ends up with a scene taken straight from a Vietnam War story—a Huey helicopter with an Oriental gunner. And after all the fighting was over, I was still not sure who killed the black woman with blue eyes, or why.
There are times that author Burke speaks directly to the reader. I never remember him doing this in his earlier novels. And among his many musings, he says: "I never saw the future. There was no such thing. The present was the past, and the past was the present." This may be how Burke's mind works—neurodivergently. He also writes: "the stories I am now telling you are the only ones I can relate to you because they are the only ones I have ever had." I think Burke is now living in the past, and consequently is only capable of writing about things he once experienced.
James Lee Burke was once a great writer. Do yourself a favour and read some of his outstanding earlier novels. To me, THE HADOCOL BOOGIE is a book written by a great writer who is not only past his prime, but one who no longer can create even a mediocre narrative.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for earlier books in the series:
Clete (Dave Roboicheaux, #24)
The Tin Roof Blowdown (Dave Roboicheaux, #16)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
Although I have only reviewed two of the Dave Robicheaux novels here on Goodreads, I have read several more. For example, when the gangster Ludlow mentions that Clete Purcel put sand in the engines of Sally Duck's plane, I remembered the novel where this occurred; it was one of the first Robicheaux books I read. Consequently, when I chose this one from NetGalley, I thought that I knew what I was getting into—a meandering plot centred around a morality tale, with beautiful descriptive phrases scattered throughout the narrative.
The beautiful descriptive phrases still abound throughout the story, although they are more philosophical now, and not so visually alluring. In fact, I would almost classify this as a philosophical diatribe on war crimes, and on man's inhumanity to mankind.
The story does begin with a mystery: a strange man is seen dragging a bag onto Dave's property. In the bag is the nude body of a black woman with blue eyes and roses tattooed on her breasts—a prostitute. Dave and his new partner, Valerie Benoit, also a black woman, are assigned the case. In addition, Clete Purcel, Dave's long-time partner, stops by to help Dave solve this murder.
But then the story weaves into the horrors of the Vietnam War, horrors that both Dave and Clete experienced. Immediately I felt something was off, as Dave is described as being "in his 60s", and if he had served in Vietnam, he would have been in his 70s, or even possibly his 80s. In addition to his musings about Vietnam, Dave ponders many historical evils, including slavery. The narrative stops being a mystery/thriller and becomes a philosophical tome. At this point, about 25% through the book, I took a rest and read another novel. But I did return, only to become more confused. The cast of characters grows, and several of them suffer horrible deaths. Both Dave and Clete get into fistfights that are reminiscent more of teenage boys fantasy brawls than of the way mature men settle disputes.
Dave's daughter, Alafair returns to Dave's house and plays a major part in the narrative. She was in a drama class with both the murdered woman and with Dave's new partner, Valerie. (James Lee Burke has an actual daughter named Alafair, a writer like the fictional Alafair in the Robicheaux series, a fact that has always interfered with my ability to completely immerse myself in the fictional stories whenever she appears.)
The story meanders even more until it ends up with a scene taken straight from a Vietnam War story—a Huey helicopter with an Oriental gunner. And after all the fighting was over, I was still not sure who killed the black woman with blue eyes, or why.
There are times that author Burke speaks directly to the reader. I never remember him doing this in his earlier novels. And among his many musings, he says: "I never saw the future. There was no such thing. The present was the past, and the past was the present." This may be how Burke's mind works—neurodivergently. He also writes: "the stories I am now telling you are the only ones I can relate to you because they are the only ones I have ever had." I think Burke is now living in the past, and consequently is only capable of writing about things he once experienced.
James Lee Burke was once a great writer. Do yourself a favour and read some of his outstanding earlier novels. To me, THE HADOCOL BOOGIE is a book written by a great writer who is not only past his prime, but one who no longer can create even a mediocre narrative.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for earlier books in the series:
Clete (Dave Roboicheaux, #24)
The Tin Roof Blowdown (Dave Roboicheaux, #16)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
February 13, 2026
In this latest episode in the story of Dave Robicheaux, we return to 1999, the end of the millennium, as Dave is working at the Sheriffs Office in New Iberia while his best bud Clete Purcel has a private investigator’s office in town. The Hadacol Boogie is written in classic Burke prose and encompasses themes his readers have experienced frequently in various forms over the years. Dave thinks constantly about the natural world, his place in it. In his wonderfully descriptive prose, Burke writes of Dave’s beliefs, emotions, thoughts on scriptures and the natural world as well as their corruption; the corruption of so much of our modern world by the then fading mafiosi , the drug and prostitution purveyors and Eisenhower’s long warned-about military-industrial complex. Then throw in the climate issues.
This complex story begins with the dropping of the body of a young woman on Dave’s back lawn. Much of the action seeks to answer the who and why of this sad death.
to be continued….
Thanks to Atlantic Crime and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. The review is mine.
This complex story begins with the dropping of the body of a young woman on Dave’s back lawn. Much of the action seeks to answer the who and why of this sad death.
to be continued….
Thanks to Atlantic Crime and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. The review is mine.
February 11, 2026
Present the past, past the present
James Lee Burke's latest addition to his enduring Dave Robicheaux series, "The Hadacol Boogie," is a gripping and atmospheric return to the Louisiana bayou, a setting as intricately menacing as the criminals it hides. The novel masterfully blends gritty crime fiction with literary depth, showcasing Burke's signature lyrical prose and profound exploration of moral and societal corruption.
The story opens with a chilling discovery: a cloaked, disfigured man leaves the body of a young woman in a garbage bag on Detective Robicheaux’s property. This crisis draws Robicheaux into a systemic evil that quickly connects to his past. His investigation links the murder to old acquaintance Jerry Carlucci, a childhood friend turned criminal who is now working with New Jersey mobsters. Their operation centers on building a casino on land rumored to hold Confederate gold. Aided by his new partner, Valerie Benoit, and his volatile long-time friend, Clete Purcel, Robicheaux relentlessly pursues the truth. However, the escalating danger becomes deeply personal when the investigation directly links the murdered woman to his adopted daughter, Alafair, putting her safety in immediate peril and escalating the violence to a crisis point.
“The Hadacol Boogie” features the return of the familiar, complex partnership between Dave Robicheaux and the fiercely loyal, yet often explosive, Clete Purcel. The novel's exploration of systemic racism and injustice is deepened by the introduction of Valerie Benoit, a young, Black detective who faces harassment from her colleagues. Also notable is the mysterious Boone Hendrix, a handyman who appears to have one foot in the spiritual world, adding a touch of the surreal and haunting atmosphere that defines the bayou setting.
Dave Robicheaux, the enduring protagonist of a twenty-five-book series, is fundamentally defined by his internal conflicts. Although he is a law enforcement officer dedicated to justice and a strong personal code, he is also deeply flawed. Robicheaux grapples constantly with alcoholism and the lasting trauma of his Vietnam service, which manifests in persistent nightmares and spectral visions of victims of slavery, racism, and war connected to the land. Despite his commitment to the law, he possesses a dangerous capacity for sudden, uncontrollable violence when confronting profound evil, leading to blackouts of which he retains no memory. Ultimately, both Robicheaux and his partner, Clete, share an unwavering willingness to do whatever is necessary to defeat evil.
A favorite writer of mine, Elmore Leonard, had his famous 10 Rules for Good Writing, which included: ”#9 Don't go into great detail describing places and things.” In contrast to this, Burke's rich descriptions are integral to establishing the mood and setting of his crime novels. These passages are frequently blended into the fast-paced narrative, creating a sudden, almost breathtaking shift that is likened to a post-impressionist Van Gogh painting.
A prime example of his evocative prose is: "The thunderheads in the south were purple and swollen with rain and lightning, then the day began to cool and renew your spirits, the links of bays wrinkling like old skin in the wind, the mullet flying through the air, and the funnel of a waterspout twisting like spun glass, the sun bloodred on the horizon."
Burke's use of language transforms the Louisiana environment—specifically the bayou and the Atchafalaya Basin—into a significant, brooding character haunted by history and specters. The narratives explore complex themes, including the legacy of historical violence, the burden of the past, and the struggle for true justice against entrenched corruption.
"The Hadacol Boogie" transcends the crime-novel genre, offering a haunting and morally urgent meditation on how the specters of history and personal trauma shape the American pursuit of justice. Maintaining the high standard that has defined the series for decades, it is a compelling choice for both long-time devotees and new readers.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic, NetGalley, and Edelweiss Plus for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
“I felt that my life was catching up with me, as though I had ignored the past and needed somehow to change it. But I didn’t feel this just about myself. I believed it of everything around me.” - Dave
*Hadacol was a “vitamin supplement” very popular in many southern dry counties, owing to its 12 percent alcohol content and recommended dosage of 4 tablespoons a day. Allegedly, some pharmacies administered this medicine in shot glasses– as a convenience to patients.
James Lee Burke's latest addition to his enduring Dave Robicheaux series, "The Hadacol Boogie," is a gripping and atmospheric return to the Louisiana bayou, a setting as intricately menacing as the criminals it hides. The novel masterfully blends gritty crime fiction with literary depth, showcasing Burke's signature lyrical prose and profound exploration of moral and societal corruption.
The story opens with a chilling discovery: a cloaked, disfigured man leaves the body of a young woman in a garbage bag on Detective Robicheaux’s property. This crisis draws Robicheaux into a systemic evil that quickly connects to his past. His investigation links the murder to old acquaintance Jerry Carlucci, a childhood friend turned criminal who is now working with New Jersey mobsters. Their operation centers on building a casino on land rumored to hold Confederate gold. Aided by his new partner, Valerie Benoit, and his volatile long-time friend, Clete Purcel, Robicheaux relentlessly pursues the truth. However, the escalating danger becomes deeply personal when the investigation directly links the murdered woman to his adopted daughter, Alafair, putting her safety in immediate peril and escalating the violence to a crisis point.
“The Hadacol Boogie” features the return of the familiar, complex partnership between Dave Robicheaux and the fiercely loyal, yet often explosive, Clete Purcel. The novel's exploration of systemic racism and injustice is deepened by the introduction of Valerie Benoit, a young, Black detective who faces harassment from her colleagues. Also notable is the mysterious Boone Hendrix, a handyman who appears to have one foot in the spiritual world, adding a touch of the surreal and haunting atmosphere that defines the bayou setting.
Dave Robicheaux, the enduring protagonist of a twenty-five-book series, is fundamentally defined by his internal conflicts. Although he is a law enforcement officer dedicated to justice and a strong personal code, he is also deeply flawed. Robicheaux grapples constantly with alcoholism and the lasting trauma of his Vietnam service, which manifests in persistent nightmares and spectral visions of victims of slavery, racism, and war connected to the land. Despite his commitment to the law, he possesses a dangerous capacity for sudden, uncontrollable violence when confronting profound evil, leading to blackouts of which he retains no memory. Ultimately, both Robicheaux and his partner, Clete, share an unwavering willingness to do whatever is necessary to defeat evil.
A favorite writer of mine, Elmore Leonard, had his famous 10 Rules for Good Writing, which included: ”#9 Don't go into great detail describing places and things.” In contrast to this, Burke's rich descriptions are integral to establishing the mood and setting of his crime novels. These passages are frequently blended into the fast-paced narrative, creating a sudden, almost breathtaking shift that is likened to a post-impressionist Van Gogh painting.
A prime example of his evocative prose is: "The thunderheads in the south were purple and swollen with rain and lightning, then the day began to cool and renew your spirits, the links of bays wrinkling like old skin in the wind, the mullet flying through the air, and the funnel of a waterspout twisting like spun glass, the sun bloodred on the horizon."
Burke's use of language transforms the Louisiana environment—specifically the bayou and the Atchafalaya Basin—into a significant, brooding character haunted by history and specters. The narratives explore complex themes, including the legacy of historical violence, the burden of the past, and the struggle for true justice against entrenched corruption.
"The Hadacol Boogie" transcends the crime-novel genre, offering a haunting and morally urgent meditation on how the specters of history and personal trauma shape the American pursuit of justice. Maintaining the high standard that has defined the series for decades, it is a compelling choice for both long-time devotees and new readers.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic, NetGalley, and Edelweiss Plus for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
“I felt that my life was catching up with me, as though I had ignored the past and needed somehow to change it. But I didn’t feel this just about myself. I believed it of everything around me.” - Dave
*Hadacol was a “vitamin supplement” very popular in many southern dry counties, owing to its 12 percent alcohol content and recommended dosage of 4 tablespoons a day. Allegedly, some pharmacies administered this medicine in shot glasses– as a convenience to patients.
February 12, 2026
If Cormac McCarthy wrote a murder mystery set on Louisiana landscapes painted by Salvador Dali, it might approach The Hadacol Boogie.
A man in a black coat with ‘sticks in his hair’ drags a large bag through a field in the rain. The bag contains the body of a woman with a guitar string wrapped around her neck and flower tattoos on her breasts. So begins an intensely violent, symbolic, and introspective investigation that tests the sanity of Dave Robicheaux and threatens the safety of his friends and family.
Burke tells a story through his famous protagonist's perspective, and it's a damn good one, but he also speaks to the reader. When Robicheaux says, “I’ve had many loses in my life, as I’m sure you have. And I’m also sure you faced them with courage and the ability to bear a terrible burden without transferring your pain to others," the fourth wall faintly cracks with respect for the person turning the page. This author writes with purpose and his characters carry a soulful longing with them through the story. Violence is intense and fighting is an expression of being. Burke reflects upon our place in the universe, and then with a few well placed words, remind us why a character is important to a scene.
This is intelligent detective fiction, bordering on literary-adventure. The Hadacol Boogie is set in the early 2000’s, and looks to the new century with all the concern hindsight allows. An evil man returning to The Kremlin, indifference to a melting Arctic, rising oceans, war in the Middle East, our story is on set on a small stage in Louisiana, but considers the larger arena of a rapidly changing world. And two cowboy cops that can’t keep up with it. Unique storytelling from an author in his 80's still tilling soil for new ground. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Crime for a review copy.
A man in a black coat with ‘sticks in his hair’ drags a large bag through a field in the rain. The bag contains the body of a woman with a guitar string wrapped around her neck and flower tattoos on her breasts. So begins an intensely violent, symbolic, and introspective investigation that tests the sanity of Dave Robicheaux and threatens the safety of his friends and family.
Burke tells a story through his famous protagonist's perspective, and it's a damn good one, but he also speaks to the reader. When Robicheaux says, “I’ve had many loses in my life, as I’m sure you have. And I’m also sure you faced them with courage and the ability to bear a terrible burden without transferring your pain to others," the fourth wall faintly cracks with respect for the person turning the page. This author writes with purpose and his characters carry a soulful longing with them through the story. Violence is intense and fighting is an expression of being. Burke reflects upon our place in the universe, and then with a few well placed words, remind us why a character is important to a scene.
This is intelligent detective fiction, bordering on literary-adventure. The Hadacol Boogie is set in the early 2000’s, and looks to the new century with all the concern hindsight allows. An evil man returning to The Kremlin, indifference to a melting Arctic, rising oceans, war in the Middle East, our story is on set on a small stage in Louisiana, but considers the larger arena of a rapidly changing world. And two cowboy cops that can’t keep up with it. Unique storytelling from an author in his 80's still tilling soil for new ground. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Crime for a review copy.
October 17, 2025
Detective fiction meets literary fiction — or as a sceptical mate of mine once said when I browbeat him into reading some James Lee Burke:
“I thought all crime thrillers were pulp filth, but this guy is as good as Steinbeck.”
Hadacol was an alcoholic beverage marketed as medicine in Louisiana during the 1940s. It purported to increase appetite and promote growth, with handy sidelines in curing diabetes, paralysis, and rheumatism. In truth, it was mostly 12% alcohol — a legal option for those ‘jonesing’ for a drink in dry counties.
Burke uses Hadacol as a symbol of the danger inherent in reimagining flawed personal and societal pasts through nostalgia bereft of critical insight. This kind of escapism seeps through many of the less morally tethered characters in the novel, collectively expressed as a creeping societal decay that threatens to overwhelm all in its path.
As a vehicle for these authorial musings, Hadacol Boogie is every bit as intoxicating as its namesake. It is superbly written and intricately plotted. The characters are complete, complex, and nuanced; the prose is stunning; the story, profoundly relatable.
It is awesome
“I thought all crime thrillers were pulp filth, but this guy is as good as Steinbeck.”
Hadacol was an alcoholic beverage marketed as medicine in Louisiana during the 1940s. It purported to increase appetite and promote growth, with handy sidelines in curing diabetes, paralysis, and rheumatism. In truth, it was mostly 12% alcohol — a legal option for those ‘jonesing’ for a drink in dry counties.
Burke uses Hadacol as a symbol of the danger inherent in reimagining flawed personal and societal pasts through nostalgia bereft of critical insight. This kind of escapism seeps through many of the less morally tethered characters in the novel, collectively expressed as a creeping societal decay that threatens to overwhelm all in its path.
As a vehicle for these authorial musings, Hadacol Boogie is every bit as intoxicating as its namesake. It is superbly written and intricately plotted. The characters are complete, complex, and nuanced; the prose is stunning; the story, profoundly relatable.
It is awesome
February 18, 2026
Dave and Clete are back, bigtime! Another action-packed entry in the series, a la a 1980s Richard Donner flick but with a touch of the supernatural (which I absolutely love).
This one starts when the remains of a young black female are left in Detective Dave Robicheaux's back yard. Since Dave's new partner is a young female officer with a short fuse, Dave pulls in his BFF Clete Purcell to work the "offline" angles of the case. Predictably, mobbed-up heavies enter the conversation, including Dave's childhood friend Jerry Carducci and Jersey boss Sidney Ludlow, both of whom are teaming up to build a new gambling mecca in Iberia Parish.
The grand finale stretches almost the last 25% of the novel, blurring the lines between a present-day abduction and Dave and Clete's memories of Vietnam - including a UH-1 gunship, flamethrowers and hand grenades. Crazy!
As ever, JLB's novel contains beauty and ugliness in extremes. Burke's best gift is for contrast, displaying things and amplifying both because of the proximity. He never hesitates to wax philosophical, either. Amazingly good! I desperately wish all readers would check out James Lee Burke. He is truly a treasure. The Hadacol Boogie gets all the stars.
This one starts when the remains of a young black female are left in Detective Dave Robicheaux's back yard. Since Dave's new partner is a young female officer with a short fuse, Dave pulls in his BFF Clete Purcell to work the "offline" angles of the case. Predictably, mobbed-up heavies enter the conversation, including Dave's childhood friend Jerry Carducci and Jersey boss Sidney Ludlow, both of whom are teaming up to build a new gambling mecca in Iberia Parish.
The grand finale stretches almost the last 25% of the novel, blurring the lines between a present-day abduction and Dave and Clete's memories of Vietnam - including a UH-1 gunship, flamethrowers and hand grenades. Crazy!
As ever, JLB's novel contains beauty and ugliness in extremes. Burke's best gift is for contrast, displaying things and amplifying both because of the proximity. He never hesitates to wax philosophical, either. Amazingly good! I desperately wish all readers would check out James Lee Burke. He is truly a treasure. The Hadacol Boogie gets all the stars.
February 20, 2026
don’t waste your money
A long time fan of the Robicheaux series this overblown incomprehensible addition suggests the author needs to write no more
Overwrought , with nothing knew to add to Dave and Clete’s story it regurgitates the repetitive dialogue that was once fresh and is now tired and frankly ridiculous. Why Mr Burke wasted his time and talent on this hogwash only he knows - he can hardly need the money - but enough enough - more than enough.
A long time fan of the Robicheaux series this overblown incomprehensible addition suggests the author needs to write no more
Overwrought , with nothing knew to add to Dave and Clete’s story it regurgitates the repetitive dialogue that was once fresh and is now tired and frankly ridiculous. Why Mr Burke wasted his time and talent on this hogwash only he knows - he can hardly need the money - but enough enough - more than enough.
August 5, 2025
Dave Robicheaux is one of the literary world’s iconic heroes. In this new addition to his Louisiana series, James Lee Burke digs deeply into the corrupted underbelly of the Big Easy’s illegal layers, and with stunning writing does the same with his characters.
Dave is not going to let the body of a young woman dumped in his own back yard go until he learns who she is and why she was killed. This may be the premise of the story but how the author explores the demons that run through Dave Robicheaux soul is the real message here. I have never read words so descriptive or revealing as these written by Mr. Burke. Even his expressive and illuminating passages about Louisiana herself left me wanting to visit.
The ending…..well, you will have to read the book. Please add this one to your to read list for next year!
Dave is not going to let the body of a young woman dumped in his own back yard go until he learns who she is and why she was killed. This may be the premise of the story but how the author explores the demons that run through Dave Robicheaux soul is the real message here. I have never read words so descriptive or revealing as these written by Mr. Burke. Even his expressive and illuminating passages about Louisiana herself left me wanting to visit.
The ending…..well, you will have to read the book. Please add this one to your to read list for next year!
November 8, 2025
From the start of this novel, you can hear the slow paced, languid speech of the bayou. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the pace of the language, I struggled with the pace of everything else. This was an interesting story, with many threads, and while it felt like it read quickly, when you looked down you were only 1/4 way through. It also kept me off balance, not with the mystery, but as if I walked into the middle of a conversation and missed the key word or subject. Almost every conversation between characters left me wondering what was just said.
This is a very talented writer, but this book was too esoteric for me. That said, I wanted to know who did it and where the characters landed, so I couldn’t put it down; I continued to plug along, my head spinning and off kilter until the end.
This is a very talented writer, but this book was too esoteric for me. That said, I wanted to know who did it and where the characters landed, so I couldn’t put it down; I continued to plug along, my head spinning and off kilter until the end.
February 19, 2026
Burke has gone over the edge
He has progressed steadily with each book…pushing his own ghosts and nightmares in the image and thoughts of Dave. He now needs to walk off with these dark clouds of negativity and faux philosophy and give up the pen. Perhaps in a new rendition he can write children’s stories.
He has progressed steadily with each book…pushing his own ghosts and nightmares in the image and thoughts of Dave. He now needs to walk off with these dark clouds of negativity and faux philosophy and give up the pen. Perhaps in a new rendition he can write children’s stories.
February 24, 2026
I’ve been reading this author since the early 90’s and am never disappointed. This book is a mystery/crime novel written like literary fiction. One of the few books lately that holds up to its length with fully flushed out characters and a plot woven through with the thoughts and insights of the main one, Dave Robicheaux. Past, present and future, action plot, family, friendship, humanity with all its warts, the consequences to the human spirit of war, a heartfelt story, and the Louisiana bayou with all its humid dripping atmosphere as part of the cast. Look up Hadacol , and read the author’s acknowledgment for some additional history.
February 19, 2026
butter in the pan , but no pancakes
Great lyrical description of Louisiana, its bayous, levees, swamps, dead slaves, live white fascists, ghosts, history, flowers, birds, etc,etc,etc, but what about a plot at least a little believable and coherent ? My head is buzzing with psycho mumbo jumbo and metaphysic presences.
Great lyrical description of Louisiana, its bayous, levees, swamps, dead slaves, live white fascists, ghosts, history, flowers, birds, etc,etc,etc, but what about a plot at least a little believable and coherent ? My head is buzzing with psycho mumbo jumbo and metaphysic presences.
February 17, 2026
This book was way too long... I was really looking forward to a new Dave Robicheaux book.. I finally stopped at Chapter 49.. I just could not finish.. tired of all the tangents and philosophizing... and losing the storyline.. I had enjoyed some of the earliest Dacve Robicheaux novels... but sadly not this one
November 9, 2025
The gift that keeps on giving. Another story with Dave and Clete. I'm always a little afraid for Clete!
February 20, 2026
The Hadacol Boogie by James Lee Burke is an absolute masterpiece that had me hooked from the very first page. Burke’s signature gritty details, moody atmosphere, and razor-sharp dialogue are all on full display here, making this one of the strongest entries in the series yet.
The adventures of Dave and Clete are as gripping and unpredictable as ever, weaving together action, tension, and heart in a way that only Burke can pull off. What truly sets this novel apart, however, is the rich and evocative sense of place. Having grown up very close to this region myself, I can say with confidence that Burke captures the mood, landscape, and spirit of the area with stunning accuracy — it felt like coming home on every page.
If you’re a longtime fan of the series, this one will not disappoint. And if you’re new to Burke’s world, consider this your invitation to dive in. Highly recommended.
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The adventures of Dave and Clete are as gripping and unpredictable as ever, weaving together action, tension, and heart in a way that only Burke can pull off. What truly sets this novel apart, however, is the rich and evocative sense of place. Having grown up very close to this region myself, I can say with confidence that Burke captures the mood, landscape, and spirit of the area with stunning accuracy — it felt like coming home on every page.
If you’re a longtime fan of the series, this one will not disappoint. And if you’re new to Burke’s world, consider this your invitation to dive in. Highly recommended.
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 26, 2026
The 26th in the Dave Robicheaux series. It didn’t resonate with me. Sorry I wasted the time reading it.
January 18, 2026
The Hadacol Boogie is the second book I’ve read by this author, and at this point I think it’s safe to say their writing style just isn’t for me. The analogies and metaphors often felt silly rather than effective, and the prose leaned so heavily into flowery language that it pulled me out of the story. Some of the dialogue felt unnatural and random, and the characters’ reactions were often overly dramatic. The narrative also revisited the same points repeatedly, making the book feel longer than necessary. I’m not personally a fan of fourth-wall breaks or direct questions to the reader, and the main character’s wandering trains of thought didn’t add much for me.
That said, this is clearly a well-loved series, and while it wasn’t my taste, I can absolutely see how it would work for other readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That said, this is clearly a well-loved series, and while it wasn’t my taste, I can absolutely see how it would work for other readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2025
Dave Robicheaux and his partner Clete Purcel has been a favorite duo for me many years now. I got hooked on James Lee Burke more than twenty years ago and has since read all hiw work. In my opinion is he the greatest storyteller alive. He is a master of dark stories and his characters are seldom very high up in social standing. I am amazed at the language he uses and the way he describes details like no one else. Please don't be intimidated, the books are great fun and ther's action, humor and lots of thrills. If you like mysteries then you should try the Robicheaux series but if you like westerns style there is the Holland family stories. The Hadacol Boogie is the latest set in New Iberia Parish and it's not always easy knowing whom to trust there. This book is available in the beginning of February 2026 and I thank Grove / Atlantic , Netgalley and Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy.
February 10, 2026
Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burkes legendärer Detektiv, kehrt mit »The Hadacol Boogie«, dem 25. Roman dieser Reihe, zurück, um den Tod einer unbekannten Frau zu untersuchen, und gerät dabei in einen Strudel aus Korruption und Gewalt im Sumpfgebiet von Louisiana. Ich habe mich gefreut, ein Leseexemplar vom Management des Autors und dessen Verlag zur Verfügung gestellt zu bekommen. Vielen Dank!
Die tote Frau wurde direkt auf dem Anwesen von Dave gefunden. Hätten Kinder keine Feuerwerksrakete auf das Gelände geschossen, wäre die Leiche gar nicht so schnell aufgefallen. Ein vermummter, entstellter Mann hatte diese tote Frau in einem Müllsack auf Dave Robicheaux‘ Grundstück zurückgelassen. Dave ist sich ziemlich sicher, dass sich seine Welt und die seiner Familie bald verändern wird.
Gemeinsam mit Valerie Benoit, einer jungen Ermittlerin beim Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department, die mit den Herausforderungen von Sexismus und Rassismus am Arbeitsplatz konfrontiert ist, und dem unberechenbaren, jedoch äußerst treuen Clete Purcel, begibt sich Dave auf eine Untersuchung, die ihn an die gefährlichsten Orte seiner Karriere führt und das Leben von Valerie und Daves Tochter Alafair in Gefahr bringt.
Bei seinen Ermittlungen stößt er auf einen örtlichen Handwerker namens Boone Hendrix, der rätselhafte Nachrichten hinterlässt und vor den spukenden Geistern am Bayou warnt. Dieser Mann ist allein wegen seines Verhaltens angsteinflößend. Er lässt sich nicht davon abbringen, bei Dave das Dach zu reparieren, wie der ihm auch nicht einreden kann, ihn doch bitte mit „Dave“ anzusprechen statt mit „Mr. Robicheaux“. Das macht Dave mehrmals, bis er schließlich genervt aufgibt. Aber die Warnungen, die Hendrix ausspricht, so visionär sie auch sein mögen, scheinen wahr zu werden.
Plötzlich hat Dave nicht nur einen skrupellosen Auftragskiller aus New Orleans, sondern auch finstere Gangster aus dem Norden an seiner Ferse! Und ein alter Freund und Vietnamkriegsveteran wie Dave, der durchaus Beziehungen zur italinienes Mafia haben mag, stellt sich den Ermittlungen in die Quere.
In der fesselnden Prosa von James Lee Burke taucht man in die raue Welt des Louisiana um die Jahrhundertwende ein. Mit einer Bande interessanter Charaktere entführt uns „The Hadacol Boogie“ in eine Welt voller Gewalt und Abenteuer. Dave Robicheaux zeigt uns, wie wild entschlossen er ist, dem Bösen gegenüberzutreten – sei es in der Vergangenheit oder Gegenwart.
James Lee Burke hat diese Romanreihe nie chronologisch geschrieben. Deshalb müssen sich Leser nicht wundern, wenn in einem sehr neuen Roman wie »The Hadacol Boogie« vielleicht Figuren auftauchen, die zuvor in einem anderen Roman schon getötet oder an einen anderen Ort versetzt wurden. Dafür werden die Figuren in jedem Roman so ausführlich vorgestellt, dass man sie in diesem Roman so kennenlernt, wie es für die Dramarturgie notwendig ist. So blickt man auch in diesem Roman tief in die Biografien und Gefühle der Figuren, ohne irgendeinen anderen Roman dieser Reihe kennen zu müssen. Dennoch ist es auch immer wieder schön, die bekannten Eigenschaften nochmals bestätigt zu bekommen, schließlich habe ich sicher die Hälfte dieser Romanreihe gelesen.
Aber nicht nur das Figurenensemble wird umfangreich beschrieben. Gleich im ersten Kapitel erfahren wir etwas über die Geschichte Louisianas, über die Sklavenherrschaft und die Ausbeutung der Menschen, ebenso werden die Leser mit einer Hinrichtung auf dem elektrischen Stuhl konfrontiert.
In ihren Detektivabenteuern drehen Dave und Clete manchmal Schallplatten mit Folk, Country, Blues oder Jazz auf. Sie ist ein wesentlicher Baustein der Dramarturgie. Diese Musik weckt ihre kreativen Säfte und bringt sie durchaus manchmal auf die Spur der Gauner!
James Lee Burke lässt auch in »The Hadacol Boogie« seine Leser erneut tief in die Gedanken- und Gefühlswelt seiner Protagonisten eintauchen. Neben vielen turbulenten und aktionsreichen Szenen gibt es viele besinnliche Momente, in denen Dave z.B. die Geister aus der Vergangenheit zu bekämpfen versucht. Diese Geister stammen nicht selten aus Vietnam, wo er als Soldat den Tod von unschuldigen Frauen und Kindern miterleben musste. Die Dämonen aus dieser Zeit bäumen sich immer wieder in ihm auf und er versucht sich dageben zu wehren. Mit seinem persönlichen Sieg über seine Alkoholsucht, die in »The Hadacol Boogie« nun schon einge Jahre zurück liegt, hat er bereits einen Teil dieser Dämonen verbannt.
Die Menschen stehen auch in »The Hadacol Boogie« im Vordergrund. Wir erleben wieder den aufbrausenden Clete, der zwar immer nur gegen das Böse kämpfen will, aber mit so mancher Methode doch etwas daneben liegt und zu schnell draufhaut. Wir erleben auch die Chefin Helen Soileau, die trotz aller Zweifel an ihren Leuten und Freunden über deren Methoden und Verhalten ein ums andere Mal deren Rücken stärkt. Und schließlich erleben wir Dave, wie er beiläufig Gefühle für seine neue Kollegin entwickelt, obwohl er eigentlich ihr Vater hätte sein können. Schließlich war sie mit seiner Tochter in derselben Schauspielgruppe.
Dies alles mitzuerleben, ist fantastisch. Ich liebe die Romane mit Dave Robicheaux und seinen Freunden und mir bleibt gar nichts anderes übrig, als auch »The Hadacol Boogie« zu empfehlen. Ich hoffe, dass auch dieser Roman demnächst auf Deutsch bei Pendragon erscheinen wird.
#TheHadacolBoogie #NetGalley
© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2026
Die tote Frau wurde direkt auf dem Anwesen von Dave gefunden. Hätten Kinder keine Feuerwerksrakete auf das Gelände geschossen, wäre die Leiche gar nicht so schnell aufgefallen. Ein vermummter, entstellter Mann hatte diese tote Frau in einem Müllsack auf Dave Robicheaux‘ Grundstück zurückgelassen. Dave ist sich ziemlich sicher, dass sich seine Welt und die seiner Familie bald verändern wird.
Gemeinsam mit Valerie Benoit, einer jungen Ermittlerin beim Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department, die mit den Herausforderungen von Sexismus und Rassismus am Arbeitsplatz konfrontiert ist, und dem unberechenbaren, jedoch äußerst treuen Clete Purcel, begibt sich Dave auf eine Untersuchung, die ihn an die gefährlichsten Orte seiner Karriere führt und das Leben von Valerie und Daves Tochter Alafair in Gefahr bringt.
Bei seinen Ermittlungen stößt er auf einen örtlichen Handwerker namens Boone Hendrix, der rätselhafte Nachrichten hinterlässt und vor den spukenden Geistern am Bayou warnt. Dieser Mann ist allein wegen seines Verhaltens angsteinflößend. Er lässt sich nicht davon abbringen, bei Dave das Dach zu reparieren, wie der ihm auch nicht einreden kann, ihn doch bitte mit „Dave“ anzusprechen statt mit „Mr. Robicheaux“. Das macht Dave mehrmals, bis er schließlich genervt aufgibt. Aber die Warnungen, die Hendrix ausspricht, so visionär sie auch sein mögen, scheinen wahr zu werden.
Plötzlich hat Dave nicht nur einen skrupellosen Auftragskiller aus New Orleans, sondern auch finstere Gangster aus dem Norden an seiner Ferse! Und ein alter Freund und Vietnamkriegsveteran wie Dave, der durchaus Beziehungen zur italinienes Mafia haben mag, stellt sich den Ermittlungen in die Quere.
In der fesselnden Prosa von James Lee Burke taucht man in die raue Welt des Louisiana um die Jahrhundertwende ein. Mit einer Bande interessanter Charaktere entführt uns „The Hadacol Boogie“ in eine Welt voller Gewalt und Abenteuer. Dave Robicheaux zeigt uns, wie wild entschlossen er ist, dem Bösen gegenüberzutreten – sei es in der Vergangenheit oder Gegenwart.
James Lee Burke hat diese Romanreihe nie chronologisch geschrieben. Deshalb müssen sich Leser nicht wundern, wenn in einem sehr neuen Roman wie »The Hadacol Boogie« vielleicht Figuren auftauchen, die zuvor in einem anderen Roman schon getötet oder an einen anderen Ort versetzt wurden. Dafür werden die Figuren in jedem Roman so ausführlich vorgestellt, dass man sie in diesem Roman so kennenlernt, wie es für die Dramarturgie notwendig ist. So blickt man auch in diesem Roman tief in die Biografien und Gefühle der Figuren, ohne irgendeinen anderen Roman dieser Reihe kennen zu müssen. Dennoch ist es auch immer wieder schön, die bekannten Eigenschaften nochmals bestätigt zu bekommen, schließlich habe ich sicher die Hälfte dieser Romanreihe gelesen.
Aber nicht nur das Figurenensemble wird umfangreich beschrieben. Gleich im ersten Kapitel erfahren wir etwas über die Geschichte Louisianas, über die Sklavenherrschaft und die Ausbeutung der Menschen, ebenso werden die Leser mit einer Hinrichtung auf dem elektrischen Stuhl konfrontiert.
In ihren Detektivabenteuern drehen Dave und Clete manchmal Schallplatten mit Folk, Country, Blues oder Jazz auf. Sie ist ein wesentlicher Baustein der Dramarturgie. Diese Musik weckt ihre kreativen Säfte und bringt sie durchaus manchmal auf die Spur der Gauner!
James Lee Burke lässt auch in »The Hadacol Boogie« seine Leser erneut tief in die Gedanken- und Gefühlswelt seiner Protagonisten eintauchen. Neben vielen turbulenten und aktionsreichen Szenen gibt es viele besinnliche Momente, in denen Dave z.B. die Geister aus der Vergangenheit zu bekämpfen versucht. Diese Geister stammen nicht selten aus Vietnam, wo er als Soldat den Tod von unschuldigen Frauen und Kindern miterleben musste. Die Dämonen aus dieser Zeit bäumen sich immer wieder in ihm auf und er versucht sich dageben zu wehren. Mit seinem persönlichen Sieg über seine Alkoholsucht, die in »The Hadacol Boogie« nun schon einge Jahre zurück liegt, hat er bereits einen Teil dieser Dämonen verbannt.
Die Menschen stehen auch in »The Hadacol Boogie« im Vordergrund. Wir erleben wieder den aufbrausenden Clete, der zwar immer nur gegen das Böse kämpfen will, aber mit so mancher Methode doch etwas daneben liegt und zu schnell draufhaut. Wir erleben auch die Chefin Helen Soileau, die trotz aller Zweifel an ihren Leuten und Freunden über deren Methoden und Verhalten ein ums andere Mal deren Rücken stärkt. Und schließlich erleben wir Dave, wie er beiläufig Gefühle für seine neue Kollegin entwickelt, obwohl er eigentlich ihr Vater hätte sein können. Schließlich war sie mit seiner Tochter in derselben Schauspielgruppe.
Dies alles mitzuerleben, ist fantastisch. Ich liebe die Romane mit Dave Robicheaux und seinen Freunden und mir bleibt gar nichts anderes übrig, als auch »The Hadacol Boogie« zu empfehlen. Ich hoffe, dass auch dieser Roman demnächst auf Deutsch bei Pendragon erscheinen wird.
#TheHadacolBoogie #NetGalley
© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
HADACOL BOOGIE by James Lee Burke
Publication: 2/10/2026 by Atlantic Crime
Grade: A
New Iberia Detective Dave Robicheaux makes his 25th appearance in this beloved, gritty, crime novel saga. Long ago I learned that I would not only be entertained by his literary gems, but be educated along the way with relevant historical events from the South that even today shapes our moral dilemmas. Also, I continue to reap the benefit of his “pearls of wisdom” involving the modern condition. No other writer than Burke can put such electricity into his prose, or paint such an ethereal image while describing ongoing events. Prepare to get swept along the journey into his Cajun culture, and be sucked into the cadence of his lyrical words brimming with local cultural significance. At the same time, devolve into a treatise concerning evil, cruelty and redemption.
Dave awakens to the sound of fireworks in his yard, adjacent to the bayou. A group of kids were having a great time, not meaning to cause trouble. While questioning them, they mentioned seeing a tall, raggedly man, with twigs in his long black hair, and knots in his skin. They observe him dragging a large plastic garbage bag onto his property near the cattails. Upon opening this bag, Dave is appalled , inside is a young nude woman, of olive-colored skin and large rose tattoos on each breast. It is obvious she was tortured, drugged and murdered. Her pale blue eyes look upward into oblivion. Robicheaux not only calls his boss, Sheriff Helen Soileau, but his best friend, Clete Purcell, disgraced former cop, and multiply honored Vietnam Vet. Clete beats the sheriff, the ambulance and the coroner to his house. To digress, Clete Purcell served with Dave in the Vietam War … which they refer to as “Shitsville.” Many fear the wrath of this man of principle. He is a threat to the Mob, slumlords, jack rollers, drug dealers, racist cops, pimps, con men, alike. Robicheaux, Clete and the Iberia Sheriff’s department embark on a convoluted investigation involving a collection of eclectic characters right out of Dante’s Inferno. There is Sidney Ludlow, a mobster out of Atlantic City, seeking to open a casino on land in Iberia Parish, that he will obtain no matter how high the body count. Somehow working with him, is Jerry Carlucci, owner of a brothel and cafe at the bottom of the levee. Jerry was compadres with Dave and Clete during “Shitsville,” Dave to this day suffers from “snakes” in his brain. He cannot get this image out of his mind. Jerry as a door gunner manning a M60 at the door of a Huey, as it races over a rice paddy, and indiscriminately strafing man, woman and child, alike. And there was, Elton Foot, a toadstool working for the Mob, and doing its bidding recklessly. Enter, Boone Henrix, the enigmatic handyman, who speaks in riddles, whose side he’s on you’re not sure …. there is something very ethereal about him, maybe even supernatural. During all this mayhem, Dave’s adopted daughter, Alafair returns home for an extended visit and to work on her novel. He will soon learn that the murdered young woman was known to both Alafair and his new partner, Valerie Benoit,
Burke masterfully weaves together this complex, multi-faceted plot with the aid of his marvelous prose and rich characterizations. When Alafair is kidnapped the personal stakes escalate insurmountably. The last quarter of the book becomes a cinematic struggle of good versus the evil, that is embedded in our society. Redemption is the hanging fruit that may somehow be achieved. His richly atmospheric description of Louisiana melds together this high stakes mystery with his poetic exploration of the essence of evil. James Lee Burke, with his continuing literary crime novels, remains one of America’s greatest novelist. Hopefully, he will continue to add to the canon of Detective Dave Robicheaux. Published at Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine.
Publication: 2/10/2026 by Atlantic Crime
Grade: A
New Iberia Detective Dave Robicheaux makes his 25th appearance in this beloved, gritty, crime novel saga. Long ago I learned that I would not only be entertained by his literary gems, but be educated along the way with relevant historical events from the South that even today shapes our moral dilemmas. Also, I continue to reap the benefit of his “pearls of wisdom” involving the modern condition. No other writer than Burke can put such electricity into his prose, or paint such an ethereal image while describing ongoing events. Prepare to get swept along the journey into his Cajun culture, and be sucked into the cadence of his lyrical words brimming with local cultural significance. At the same time, devolve into a treatise concerning evil, cruelty and redemption.
Dave awakens to the sound of fireworks in his yard, adjacent to the bayou. A group of kids were having a great time, not meaning to cause trouble. While questioning them, they mentioned seeing a tall, raggedly man, with twigs in his long black hair, and knots in his skin. They observe him dragging a large plastic garbage bag onto his property near the cattails. Upon opening this bag, Dave is appalled , inside is a young nude woman, of olive-colored skin and large rose tattoos on each breast. It is obvious she was tortured, drugged and murdered. Her pale blue eyes look upward into oblivion. Robicheaux not only calls his boss, Sheriff Helen Soileau, but his best friend, Clete Purcell, disgraced former cop, and multiply honored Vietnam Vet. Clete beats the sheriff, the ambulance and the coroner to his house. To digress, Clete Purcell served with Dave in the Vietam War … which they refer to as “Shitsville.” Many fear the wrath of this man of principle. He is a threat to the Mob, slumlords, jack rollers, drug dealers, racist cops, pimps, con men, alike. Robicheaux, Clete and the Iberia Sheriff’s department embark on a convoluted investigation involving a collection of eclectic characters right out of Dante’s Inferno. There is Sidney Ludlow, a mobster out of Atlantic City, seeking to open a casino on land in Iberia Parish, that he will obtain no matter how high the body count. Somehow working with him, is Jerry Carlucci, owner of a brothel and cafe at the bottom of the levee. Jerry was compadres with Dave and Clete during “Shitsville,” Dave to this day suffers from “snakes” in his brain. He cannot get this image out of his mind. Jerry as a door gunner manning a M60 at the door of a Huey, as it races over a rice paddy, and indiscriminately strafing man, woman and child, alike. And there was, Elton Foot, a toadstool working for the Mob, and doing its bidding recklessly. Enter, Boone Henrix, the enigmatic handyman, who speaks in riddles, whose side he’s on you’re not sure …. there is something very ethereal about him, maybe even supernatural. During all this mayhem, Dave’s adopted daughter, Alafair returns home for an extended visit and to work on her novel. He will soon learn that the murdered young woman was known to both Alafair and his new partner, Valerie Benoit,
Burke masterfully weaves together this complex, multi-faceted plot with the aid of his marvelous prose and rich characterizations. When Alafair is kidnapped the personal stakes escalate insurmountably. The last quarter of the book becomes a cinematic struggle of good versus the evil, that is embedded in our society. Redemption is the hanging fruit that may somehow be achieved. His richly atmospheric description of Louisiana melds together this high stakes mystery with his poetic exploration of the essence of evil. James Lee Burke, with his continuing literary crime novels, remains one of America’s greatest novelist. Hopefully, he will continue to add to the canon of Detective Dave Robicheaux. Published at Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine.
February 14, 2026
Author James Lee Burke is an American institution, having released over forty novels and short stories. However, he shines brightest when he writes with his recurring character Louisiana Detective Dave Robicheaux. The latest novel with ‘Robo’ is THE HADACOL BOOGIE, and it is a deep dive into not only the dark side of the territory but also Dave’s own personal history.
This is a lengthy novel with much to consume and process. To begin with, we are reminded at the top of the novel that the events are bound to the turn of the century, which explains why some of the dates might seem odd. We get a history of the area over the previous hundred years or so with a special focus on the issues surrounding race relations during this time.
That provides the impetus for the events that open the story in which a series of young children who Dave was admonishing for popping off fireworks near his house indicate that they saw a ‘monster’ carrying a garbage bag on his property. They described this man as having long, stringy black hair with things sticking out of it and some sort of facial deformity that produced pronounced bumps. The garbage bag, once opened by Dave, contained the deceased body of a young black girl. The defining features were her light-colored eyes and rose tattoos on each of her bare breasts.
Dave immediately calls in his squad to claim the body and fills in his superiours as well as his long-time partner, Clete, on the morbid find. Dave does not believe that this was any sort of coincidence and takes matters into his own hands by starting with a checklist of those individuals in the county that have an active beef with him, and it is an extensive list. Even though he is an abiding member of AA, he starts by entering the dive bar operated by one Jerry Carlucci, who has had a history of badmouthing Dave’s family history in addition to the numerous crimes he is involved with. The conversation does not go well and ends with Carlucci spewing various family insults Dave’s way as well as throwing pool balls at a neighborhood man attempting to enter the bar named Boone Hendrix. Needless to say, Dave lays down quite the beating upon Carlucci.
Boone Hendrix is an interesting little character who is a local handyman that is currently working on Dave’s roof. He also knows and sees a lot and cryptically shares some vital details with Dave in the form of different messages. Things take an interesting turn when Dave’s daughter Alafair arrives back in town. When he brings her up to speed with what is currently going on she shares that she went to school with a girl named Clemmy Benoit who was black and had rose tattoos upon each of her breasts. This ironic situation is further extenuated when Dave approaches his new colleague at work, Detective Valerie Benoit, who has also been dealing with some serious sexual and racial harassment at the precinct.
Valerie initially denies any knowledge of Remmy Benoit, even though she was from the same town she lived in. Of course, Dave will not let this go and the connections and revelation here will eventually follow as the story rolls forward. When Dave additionally follows up on the cryptic messages from Boone Hendrix, he begins to head down a deadly trail involving bayou ghosts, a murderous ‘button man’ from New Orleans, and gangsters from the north.
The story reads like one set in a fantasy land, not just because it is taking place at the turn of the twentieth century but that the violent, stark landscape of the Louisiana bayou is place unlike any other area on earth. Dave Robicheaux is well aware of this and does not need to be told that further pursuit in this case may place him and everyone he loves in great danger. THE HADACOL BOOGIE is another example of Louisiana noir told by an author who is firmly ensconced in the language of this land.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
This is a lengthy novel with much to consume and process. To begin with, we are reminded at the top of the novel that the events are bound to the turn of the century, which explains why some of the dates might seem odd. We get a history of the area over the previous hundred years or so with a special focus on the issues surrounding race relations during this time.
That provides the impetus for the events that open the story in which a series of young children who Dave was admonishing for popping off fireworks near his house indicate that they saw a ‘monster’ carrying a garbage bag on his property. They described this man as having long, stringy black hair with things sticking out of it and some sort of facial deformity that produced pronounced bumps. The garbage bag, once opened by Dave, contained the deceased body of a young black girl. The defining features were her light-colored eyes and rose tattoos on each of her bare breasts.
Dave immediately calls in his squad to claim the body and fills in his superiours as well as his long-time partner, Clete, on the morbid find. Dave does not believe that this was any sort of coincidence and takes matters into his own hands by starting with a checklist of those individuals in the county that have an active beef with him, and it is an extensive list. Even though he is an abiding member of AA, he starts by entering the dive bar operated by one Jerry Carlucci, who has had a history of badmouthing Dave’s family history in addition to the numerous crimes he is involved with. The conversation does not go well and ends with Carlucci spewing various family insults Dave’s way as well as throwing pool balls at a neighborhood man attempting to enter the bar named Boone Hendrix. Needless to say, Dave lays down quite the beating upon Carlucci.
Boone Hendrix is an interesting little character who is a local handyman that is currently working on Dave’s roof. He also knows and sees a lot and cryptically shares some vital details with Dave in the form of different messages. Things take an interesting turn when Dave’s daughter Alafair arrives back in town. When he brings her up to speed with what is currently going on she shares that she went to school with a girl named Clemmy Benoit who was black and had rose tattoos upon each of her breasts. This ironic situation is further extenuated when Dave approaches his new colleague at work, Detective Valerie Benoit, who has also been dealing with some serious sexual and racial harassment at the precinct.
Valerie initially denies any knowledge of Remmy Benoit, even though she was from the same town she lived in. Of course, Dave will not let this go and the connections and revelation here will eventually follow as the story rolls forward. When Dave additionally follows up on the cryptic messages from Boone Hendrix, he begins to head down a deadly trail involving bayou ghosts, a murderous ‘button man’ from New Orleans, and gangsters from the north.
The story reads like one set in a fantasy land, not just because it is taking place at the turn of the twentieth century but that the violent, stark landscape of the Louisiana bayou is place unlike any other area on earth. Dave Robicheaux is well aware of this and does not need to be told that further pursuit in this case may place him and everyone he loves in great danger. THE HADACOL BOOGIE is another example of Louisiana noir told by an author who is firmly ensconced in the language of this land.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
February 15, 2026
James Lee Burke is an American institution, and he shines the brightest when he writes about Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux. The latest entry in the series is THE HADACOL BOOGIE, and it is a deep dive into not only the dark side of the territory but also Dave’s personal history.
This is a lengthy novel with much to consume and process. To begin with, we are reminded at the top that the events are bound to the turn of the century, which explains why some of the dates might seem odd. We get a history of the area over the previous hundred years or so with a special focus on the issues surrounding race relations during this time.
That provides the impetus for what happens at the beginning of the story. A group of children who Dave admonishes for popping off fireworks near his house indicate that they saw a monster carrying a garbage bag onto his property. They describe the man as having long, stringy black hair with things sticking out of it and some sort of facial deformity that produced pronounced bumps. The garbage bag contains the corpse of a Black girl, whose defining features are her light-colored eyes and rose tattoos on her breasts.
Dave immediately calls in his squad to claim the body and notifies his superiors, as well as his longtime partner, Clete Purcel, about the morbid find. He does not believe that this is any sort of coincidence and takes matters into his own hands by starting with a checklist of those individuals in the county who have an active beef with him --- and it is extensive.
Even though he is an abiding member of AA, Dave starts by entering the dive bar operated by Jerry Carlucci, who has badmouthed his family history. The conversation does not go well and ends with Carlucci spewing various insults Dave’s way and throwing pool balls at Boone Hendrix, a neighborhood man attempting to enter the bar. It goes without saying that Dave lays down quite the beating on Carlucci.
Boone is an interesting minor character, a local handyman who is currently working on Dave’s roof. He also knows and sees a lot and shares some vital details with Dave in the form of different messages.
Things take an interesting turn when Dave’s daughter, Alafair, arrives back in town. When he brings her up to speed on what is happening, she shares that she went to school with a Black girl named Clemmy Benoit, who had rose tattoos on her breasts. Dave then approaches his new partner, Detective Valerie Benoit, who has been dealing with some serious sexual and racial harassment at the precinct. Valerie initially denies any knowledge of Clemmy.
Of course, Dave will not let this go, and the connections and revelations eventually follow as the story rolls forward. When he shifts his focus back on Boone’s cryptic messages, he begins to head down a deadly trail involving bayou ghosts, a murderous button man from New Orleans, and gangsters from the north.
The story reads like one set in a fantasy land, not just because it takes place at the turn of the 20th century but because the violent, stark landscape of the Louisiana bayou is an area unlike any other on earth. Dave Robicheaux is well aware of this and does not need to be told that further pursuit of this case may place him and everyone he loves in great danger. THE HADACOL BOOGIE is another example of Louisiana noir told by an author who is firmly ensconced in the language of this land.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This is a lengthy novel with much to consume and process. To begin with, we are reminded at the top that the events are bound to the turn of the century, which explains why some of the dates might seem odd. We get a history of the area over the previous hundred years or so with a special focus on the issues surrounding race relations during this time.
That provides the impetus for what happens at the beginning of the story. A group of children who Dave admonishes for popping off fireworks near his house indicate that they saw a monster carrying a garbage bag onto his property. They describe the man as having long, stringy black hair with things sticking out of it and some sort of facial deformity that produced pronounced bumps. The garbage bag contains the corpse of a Black girl, whose defining features are her light-colored eyes and rose tattoos on her breasts.
Dave immediately calls in his squad to claim the body and notifies his superiors, as well as his longtime partner, Clete Purcel, about the morbid find. He does not believe that this is any sort of coincidence and takes matters into his own hands by starting with a checklist of those individuals in the county who have an active beef with him --- and it is extensive.
Even though he is an abiding member of AA, Dave starts by entering the dive bar operated by Jerry Carlucci, who has badmouthed his family history. The conversation does not go well and ends with Carlucci spewing various insults Dave’s way and throwing pool balls at Boone Hendrix, a neighborhood man attempting to enter the bar. It goes without saying that Dave lays down quite the beating on Carlucci.
Boone is an interesting minor character, a local handyman who is currently working on Dave’s roof. He also knows and sees a lot and shares some vital details with Dave in the form of different messages.
Things take an interesting turn when Dave’s daughter, Alafair, arrives back in town. When he brings her up to speed on what is happening, she shares that she went to school with a Black girl named Clemmy Benoit, who had rose tattoos on her breasts. Dave then approaches his new partner, Detective Valerie Benoit, who has been dealing with some serious sexual and racial harassment at the precinct. Valerie initially denies any knowledge of Clemmy.
Of course, Dave will not let this go, and the connections and revelations eventually follow as the story rolls forward. When he shifts his focus back on Boone’s cryptic messages, he begins to head down a deadly trail involving bayou ghosts, a murderous button man from New Orleans, and gangsters from the north.
The story reads like one set in a fantasy land, not just because it takes place at the turn of the 20th century but because the violent, stark landscape of the Louisiana bayou is an area unlike any other on earth. Dave Robicheaux is well aware of this and does not need to be told that further pursuit of this case may place him and everyone he loves in great danger. THE HADACOL BOOGIE is another example of Louisiana noir told by an author who is firmly ensconced in the language of this land.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Burke’s Dave Robicheaux series is a world apart from other crime fiction in its intensity, its impact, and its spiritual prose. Set in rural Louisiana in a land that has history baked into if for better than worse, the series is about a police detective fighting evil yet beset by his own demons and his own tattered history. “Evil is evil, and giving it another life, other than to prove it’s real, serves no purpose,” Robicheaux narrates for the reader.
Robicheaux is spiritually partnered with his buddy, Clete Purcell, a detective no longer on the force, but working privately and through bounty hunters, a heavyweight force that knows no bounds. Clete was in many ways unpredictable an that made him a threat to mobsters, slumlords, pimps, and the like. Clete was a walking tragedy and often Robicheaux felt he was just along for the ride.
Robicheaux also has a new partner on he force with her own demons, Valerie Benoit, hated by others in the department because of the possibility that she got promoted due to some kind of affirmative action. She was harrassed and threatened and felt Robicheaux, for better or worse, was the only one who would stand up for her.
And his adopted daughter Alafair plays a major role in this story during her brief visit. Alafair, unfortunately, becomes linked with the murdered woman found in the black garbage bag and, though she represents a kind of innocence outside of Robicheaux’s twisted world, is a victim of this backwoods world.
Another man, handyman, Boone Hendrix, keeps showing up and seems to have one foot in the spiritual world and the other in the present physical world.
The story in earnest begins with Robicheaux chastising a bunch of young kids setting off fireworks, kids who meant no harm. But the kids tell him that somebody was up to no good on his lawn. The ugly guy was a tall man in a black raincoat and had sticks in his hair and knots in his skin. He was dragging a big plastic garbage bag which Robicheaux then found and opened it only to in a young, thin, nude, dead woman with roses tattooed on her breasts inside the bag. He felt as though someone had dropped a steel storm sewer lid on his chest and felt like a voyuer.
As the story opens, Robicheaux reminisces about Louisiana, remarking that his family was a part of the South that did not descend from Gone With the Wind. Louisiana has always been the home of pirates, brothels, gambling halls, corrupt politicians, and slavery, he muses. He visits a “hundred-dollar hit man, Johnny Massina,” on death row, about to be electrocuted. He muses how people like Johnny and his mother were but pawns of the same system.
Throughout the story, Robicheaux harkens back to the past of Louisiana and to his past in Vietnam and elsewhere, haunted continuously and without let up. Meanwhile, there are forces gathering consisting of mobsters wanting to turn the area into a gambling mecca and bar owners who dealt in poison to the children. Robicheaux and Clete tangled with them all and never felt clean.
Reading through this novel (as well as the others in the series), you cannot help but get the sense that it is a bigger story than the one the small characters face off in and that ultimately it is a story of how difficult it is to fight against evil in this world and come out unscathed.
Robicheaux is spiritually partnered with his buddy, Clete Purcell, a detective no longer on the force, but working privately and through bounty hunters, a heavyweight force that knows no bounds. Clete was in many ways unpredictable an that made him a threat to mobsters, slumlords, pimps, and the like. Clete was a walking tragedy and often Robicheaux felt he was just along for the ride.
Robicheaux also has a new partner on he force with her own demons, Valerie Benoit, hated by others in the department because of the possibility that she got promoted due to some kind of affirmative action. She was harrassed and threatened and felt Robicheaux, for better or worse, was the only one who would stand up for her.
And his adopted daughter Alafair plays a major role in this story during her brief visit. Alafair, unfortunately, becomes linked with the murdered woman found in the black garbage bag and, though she represents a kind of innocence outside of Robicheaux’s twisted world, is a victim of this backwoods world.
Another man, handyman, Boone Hendrix, keeps showing up and seems to have one foot in the spiritual world and the other in the present physical world.
The story in earnest begins with Robicheaux chastising a bunch of young kids setting off fireworks, kids who meant no harm. But the kids tell him that somebody was up to no good on his lawn. The ugly guy was a tall man in a black raincoat and had sticks in his hair and knots in his skin. He was dragging a big plastic garbage bag which Robicheaux then found and opened it only to in a young, thin, nude, dead woman with roses tattooed on her breasts inside the bag. He felt as though someone had dropped a steel storm sewer lid on his chest and felt like a voyuer.
As the story opens, Robicheaux reminisces about Louisiana, remarking that his family was a part of the South that did not descend from Gone With the Wind. Louisiana has always been the home of pirates, brothels, gambling halls, corrupt politicians, and slavery, he muses. He visits a “hundred-dollar hit man, Johnny Massina,” on death row, about to be electrocuted. He muses how people like Johnny and his mother were but pawns of the same system.
Throughout the story, Robicheaux harkens back to the past of Louisiana and to his past in Vietnam and elsewhere, haunted continuously and without let up. Meanwhile, there are forces gathering consisting of mobsters wanting to turn the area into a gambling mecca and bar owners who dealt in poison to the children. Robicheaux and Clete tangled with them all and never felt clean.
Reading through this novel (as well as the others in the series), you cannot help but get the sense that it is a bigger story than the one the small characters face off in and that ultimately it is a story of how difficult it is to fight against evil in this world and come out unscathed.
February 14, 2026
History and the mystical have always been a constant presence in this series. Such is the case here where both are major characters in The Hadacol Boogie: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke. The setting itself, at the very end of the late 90s with a new year fast approaching, is its own character as well.
Though one could, if so inclined, argue that all of this started way earlier. In Eden, perhaps. Or back during the Civil War. Or any other location in time that you would like to choose. Maybe we, as the reader, just think it starts in the late 90s at the dawn of the new year.
While some have some have shot off fireworks and had a good time, Dave Robicheaux is thinking about the long history of Louisiana, good and bad, as well as the things he has seen and done. He’s in his kitchen and trying to stay sober so he settles for some chocolate milk when he sees some kids in a small boat out on the Bayou Teche fire off a bottle rocket. Instead of going skyward, the flaming bottle rocket ends up going inside a tent he has set up on the end of his yard to protect an armadillo and her babies from the wet weather.
In the aftermath of putting the fire out, the kids tell an annoyed Dave Robicheaux that they fired the thing into his yard to light it up as they did not have a flashlight. They saw a large man who scared them. They saw him dragging a big plastic garbage bag through his yard. They lost sight of him and the bag. The kids are seemingly good kids that he has seen around and they certainly are very clearly scared.
Robicheaux soon finds the bag. He gets it open and discovers the nude body of a woman inside. She has a wire wrapped around her throat that may or may not be a guitar string. She is very clearly dead. Now he has to report in to his boss and others, see to it that the kids get to their respective parents safely, and do a lot of other stuff.
After calling it in to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department where he works and other folks that need to know, he also calls his former homicide detective partner, Clete Purcell. Soon, seemingly, half the local population has shown up to his house and yard, as does Purcell. Identifying the dead woman is his first course of business. Then comes figuring out who did it and why dump her body in his yard?
Before long, things get strange in the neighborhood. History and the mystical constantly power this latest read in the series. As often happens, though not usually nearly to this level, The Hadacol Boogie: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke is part mystery and part out of reality adventure. While both aspects are very common in this series, here they are so constant and so large in their presence, that they threaten to overshadow the actual murder case and the complications surrounding that.
Despite that aspect of the read, the book keeps the reader turning pages and hooked in the story. In the end, that is all that matters.
My digital ARC came by way of the publisher, Atlantic Crime (Grove Atlantic, through NetGalley, and with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Though one could, if so inclined, argue that all of this started way earlier. In Eden, perhaps. Or back during the Civil War. Or any other location in time that you would like to choose. Maybe we, as the reader, just think it starts in the late 90s at the dawn of the new year.
While some have some have shot off fireworks and had a good time, Dave Robicheaux is thinking about the long history of Louisiana, good and bad, as well as the things he has seen and done. He’s in his kitchen and trying to stay sober so he settles for some chocolate milk when he sees some kids in a small boat out on the Bayou Teche fire off a bottle rocket. Instead of going skyward, the flaming bottle rocket ends up going inside a tent he has set up on the end of his yard to protect an armadillo and her babies from the wet weather.
In the aftermath of putting the fire out, the kids tell an annoyed Dave Robicheaux that they fired the thing into his yard to light it up as they did not have a flashlight. They saw a large man who scared them. They saw him dragging a big plastic garbage bag through his yard. They lost sight of him and the bag. The kids are seemingly good kids that he has seen around and they certainly are very clearly scared.
Robicheaux soon finds the bag. He gets it open and discovers the nude body of a woman inside. She has a wire wrapped around her throat that may or may not be a guitar string. She is very clearly dead. Now he has to report in to his boss and others, see to it that the kids get to their respective parents safely, and do a lot of other stuff.
After calling it in to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department where he works and other folks that need to know, he also calls his former homicide detective partner, Clete Purcell. Soon, seemingly, half the local population has shown up to his house and yard, as does Purcell. Identifying the dead woman is his first course of business. Then comes figuring out who did it and why dump her body in his yard?
Before long, things get strange in the neighborhood. History and the mystical constantly power this latest read in the series. As often happens, though not usually nearly to this level, The Hadacol Boogie: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke is part mystery and part out of reality adventure. While both aspects are very common in this series, here they are so constant and so large in their presence, that they threaten to overshadow the actual murder case and the complications surrounding that.
Despite that aspect of the read, the book keeps the reader turning pages and hooked in the story. In the end, that is all that matters.
My digital ARC came by way of the publisher, Atlantic Crime (Grove Atlantic, through NetGalley, and with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
February 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
I have read James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books for over 20 years, since I happened upon In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead in the late 1990s shortly after its publication. Dave is an interesting character, long on morals (at least HIS definition), and compassion for those who he believes deserve it, but he is hard on himself. He did unspeakable things in Vietnam and is haunted still with images and regrets, as is his best friend Clete Purcel. They have been friends for a long time, since serving in the New Orleans Police Department after each returned from the Vietnam war, and they have together experienced a lot of what the underbelly of the world has to offer. But they have both become better men, sometimes in spite of what they have seen and done. Clete is now a private detective with offices in New Orleans and New Iberia and is usually involved in any case Dave encounters.
Dave has now come back to Iberia Parish and is serving as a detective with the parish Sheriff's department alongside his boss and good friend Sheriff Helen Soileau. There is also a new detective, Valerie Benoit, that Dave has hardly met and is just getting to know, who ends up working as his partner when a naked girl is dumped in Dave's back yard one rainy 4th of July in the early 2000s.
It turns out that many people had connections with this girl, including this new detective and Dave's daughter Alafair. They had worked together as teenagers in a workshop for artists. Clemmy Benoit had been an actress wannabe in the class and she and Alafair had been friendly. Valerie Benoit had also been in that class and was from the same area and probably kin to the dead girl, but she has chosen not to disclose that connection and Dave wonders why. There is also a handyman, Boone Hendrix, a strange character who always seems to be around and is some sort of trouble with a known gangster as well as some other gangsters from up North, and who seems to know something about the girl's death.
Dave was born and raised in Iberia and knows most everyone around. He has been married four times and has buried three wives there. So he is very connected. When one of his childhood friends, Jerry Carlucci, seems to be involved with the girl's murder, Dave goes to visit him, remembering the boy with whom he played baseball and wrestled, back in the day. But Jerry went to Vietnam, too, and came back a completely different man. A man who, now, is the primary source of drugs and other substances for the entire area. And whose bar is the center of much of the crime Dave has to deal with.
All these characters, as well as a Mob boss who may or may not be in business with Jerry Carlucci, make a mess of a case. As a matter of fact, this is the most violent and bloody book of this series. The climactic scene involves automatic rifles, hand grenades and even a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter!! NO ONE comes out unscathed, but the "good" guys do prevail.
I have read James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books for over 20 years, since I happened upon In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead in the late 1990s shortly after its publication. Dave is an interesting character, long on morals (at least HIS definition), and compassion for those who he believes deserve it, but he is hard on himself. He did unspeakable things in Vietnam and is haunted still with images and regrets, as is his best friend Clete Purcel. They have been friends for a long time, since serving in the New Orleans Police Department after each returned from the Vietnam war, and they have together experienced a lot of what the underbelly of the world has to offer. But they have both become better men, sometimes in spite of what they have seen and done. Clete is now a private detective with offices in New Orleans and New Iberia and is usually involved in any case Dave encounters.
Dave has now come back to Iberia Parish and is serving as a detective with the parish Sheriff's department alongside his boss and good friend Sheriff Helen Soileau. There is also a new detective, Valerie Benoit, that Dave has hardly met and is just getting to know, who ends up working as his partner when a naked girl is dumped in Dave's back yard one rainy 4th of July in the early 2000s.
It turns out that many people had connections with this girl, including this new detective and Dave's daughter Alafair. They had worked together as teenagers in a workshop for artists. Clemmy Benoit had been an actress wannabe in the class and she and Alafair had been friendly. Valerie Benoit had also been in that class and was from the same area and probably kin to the dead girl, but she has chosen not to disclose that connection and Dave wonders why. There is also a handyman, Boone Hendrix, a strange character who always seems to be around and is some sort of trouble with a known gangster as well as some other gangsters from up North, and who seems to know something about the girl's death.
Dave was born and raised in Iberia and knows most everyone around. He has been married four times and has buried three wives there. So he is very connected. When one of his childhood friends, Jerry Carlucci, seems to be involved with the girl's murder, Dave goes to visit him, remembering the boy with whom he played baseball and wrestled, back in the day. But Jerry went to Vietnam, too, and came back a completely different man. A man who, now, is the primary source of drugs and other substances for the entire area. And whose bar is the center of much of the crime Dave has to deal with.
All these characters, as well as a Mob boss who may or may not be in business with Jerry Carlucci, make a mess of a case. As a matter of fact, this is the most violent and bloody book of this series. The climactic scene involves automatic rifles, hand grenades and even a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter!! NO ONE comes out unscathed, but the "good" guys do prevail.
September 14, 2025
James Lee Burke’s The Hadacol Boogie marks the twenty-fifth installment of the Dave Robicheaux series, and the quality of this novel proves that Burke has not lost a step.
The novel opens with a moving recounting of the lives and deaths of Dave Robicheaux’s parents and the impact their story has had on him—and will continue to have. This brief but powerful introduction beautifully interweaves with the narrative, adding a warm, resonant texture that lingers throughout the entire tale.
The Hadacol Boogie takes place around the turn of the century in Robicheaux’s Iberia Parish. After a group of boys sets off fireworks near his home, Robicheaux confronts them. To avoid trouble, the boys quickly tell him they saw a demon-like figure leaving something in his yard. Initially dismissive of their claims, Robicheaux investigates and discovers a garbage bag containing the body of a young woman.
From there, Robicheaux is drawn into an investigation that introduces a host of memorable characters—each one seemingly more dangerous than the last, and several not at all what they appear to be. Robicheaux once again finds himself facing organized crime figures, local thugs (some of whom wear badges), and a murderous fellow Vietnam veteran who may be periodically psychotic. Then there is Boone Hendrix, a mysterious wayfaring handyman who, like many of Burke’s enigmatic characters, seems to know more than he lets on, speaking in riddles and provoking Robicheaux’s curiosity. As the novel progresses, the evolving relationship between Hendrix and Robicheaux becomes one of the book’s most fascinating threads—full of confusion, anger, sympathy, and even violence.
As always, Burke’s writing is masterfully lyrical and richly descriptive, allowing readers to vividly construct the world he creates. While some of the major plot elements across the Robicheaux series may echo each other, the true beauty of Burke’s work lies in his language and the deepening complexity of his characters with each new installment.
Another of Burke’s hallmarks is his ability to let characters communicate in subtle, often non-verbal ways, leaving moments open to interpretation. These quiet exchanges challenge the reader to decide what was meant and what was merely implied, trusting in an audience capable of grappling with nuance, ambiguity, and even the surreal.
As someone who has been reading James Lee Burke for more than thirty years, I can confidently say that The Hadacol Boogie maintains the high standard of storytelling that has defined the series from the very beginning.
The Hadacol Boogie is highly recommended and is set for publication in February 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.Com.
The novel opens with a moving recounting of the lives and deaths of Dave Robicheaux’s parents and the impact their story has had on him—and will continue to have. This brief but powerful introduction beautifully interweaves with the narrative, adding a warm, resonant texture that lingers throughout the entire tale.
The Hadacol Boogie takes place around the turn of the century in Robicheaux’s Iberia Parish. After a group of boys sets off fireworks near his home, Robicheaux confronts them. To avoid trouble, the boys quickly tell him they saw a demon-like figure leaving something in his yard. Initially dismissive of their claims, Robicheaux investigates and discovers a garbage bag containing the body of a young woman.
From there, Robicheaux is drawn into an investigation that introduces a host of memorable characters—each one seemingly more dangerous than the last, and several not at all what they appear to be. Robicheaux once again finds himself facing organized crime figures, local thugs (some of whom wear badges), and a murderous fellow Vietnam veteran who may be periodically psychotic. Then there is Boone Hendrix, a mysterious wayfaring handyman who, like many of Burke’s enigmatic characters, seems to know more than he lets on, speaking in riddles and provoking Robicheaux’s curiosity. As the novel progresses, the evolving relationship between Hendrix and Robicheaux becomes one of the book’s most fascinating threads—full of confusion, anger, sympathy, and even violence.
As always, Burke’s writing is masterfully lyrical and richly descriptive, allowing readers to vividly construct the world he creates. While some of the major plot elements across the Robicheaux series may echo each other, the true beauty of Burke’s work lies in his language and the deepening complexity of his characters with each new installment.
Another of Burke’s hallmarks is his ability to let characters communicate in subtle, often non-verbal ways, leaving moments open to interpretation. These quiet exchanges challenge the reader to decide what was meant and what was merely implied, trusting in an audience capable of grappling with nuance, ambiguity, and even the surreal.
As someone who has been reading James Lee Burke for more than thirty years, I can confidently say that The Hadacol Boogie maintains the high standard of storytelling that has defined the series from the very beginning.
The Hadacol Boogie is highly recommended and is set for publication in February 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.Com.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Evil requires support and consent and organization. It doesn't create itself."
And with wretched outcomes, the devil is in the details. Always has been where pain and loss are involved. It's then that James Lee Burke stirs the pot with the explosive results of being at the receiving end of the wicked decisions made by others. Some of those decisions might even be the willfulness of ourselves pulling the blanket of deception tightly around our own shoulders. And in the aftermath, there is much sorrow.
The Hadacol Boogie is heavy lifting if you've not read a James Lee Burke novel before. I'd advise you to pick up Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie (2025) before sinking your teeth into this one. The writing in that one is spectacular with a strong female lead character. It is one of Burke's finest. The Hadacol Boogie is filled with dark corners and violence that seeps onto your shoes. Burke displays an angry side in The Hadacol Boogie. Hatred and viciousness rise to the top....some of it warranted and some of it just needing a release valve over time.
Dave Robicheaux is a detective for the Iberia Parish Police Department in New Iberia, Louisiana. He lives along the Bayou Teche with his daughter, Alafair. He's awakened by some kids in a small boat shooting off fireworks. Indeed, they got his attention. The kids reported an unsightly man with unruly hair dragging a black plastic bag onto Dave's property. Upon investigation, Dave finds the body of a dead young woman with a guitar string wrapped around her neck. Alafair will have connections to this young woman and that will put her in severe danger. And so it begins.
Enter Clete Purcell, a former police officer in New Orleans, who has been Dave's sidekick for eons. Clete has his own private detective service now. Clete will lead us down his own trail of mishaps in this one with personal demons who pursue him. And then there's Valerie Benoit, Dave's newly assigned partner. Valerie doesn't possess a filter for both her responses and for her actions. The air will be filled with the sharp-ended points of hatred and intolerance and bigotry. Fasten your seatbelts.
JLB writes with a meandering tone in this one. It's Robicheaux's voice that leads this parade. Dave has a legion of boogeymen that live inside his brain and they'll all be seated at the table begging for dessert. JLB draws in the likes of black-hearted individuals who have a check-off list on their agendas. We'll even have vibes of the dead and the undead traisping across these pages. Add to this a wayward childhood friend and some gangsters from New Jersey. That's a lot to pack into this Poor Boy sandwich. A weighty storyline with plenty of toppings.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Grove Atlantic and to the highly talented James Lee Burke for the opportunity.
And with wretched outcomes, the devil is in the details. Always has been where pain and loss are involved. It's then that James Lee Burke stirs the pot with the explosive results of being at the receiving end of the wicked decisions made by others. Some of those decisions might even be the willfulness of ourselves pulling the blanket of deception tightly around our own shoulders. And in the aftermath, there is much sorrow.
The Hadacol Boogie is heavy lifting if you've not read a James Lee Burke novel before. I'd advise you to pick up Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie (2025) before sinking your teeth into this one. The writing in that one is spectacular with a strong female lead character. It is one of Burke's finest. The Hadacol Boogie is filled with dark corners and violence that seeps onto your shoes. Burke displays an angry side in The Hadacol Boogie. Hatred and viciousness rise to the top....some of it warranted and some of it just needing a release valve over time.
Dave Robicheaux is a detective for the Iberia Parish Police Department in New Iberia, Louisiana. He lives along the Bayou Teche with his daughter, Alafair. He's awakened by some kids in a small boat shooting off fireworks. Indeed, they got his attention. The kids reported an unsightly man with unruly hair dragging a black plastic bag onto Dave's property. Upon investigation, Dave finds the body of a dead young woman with a guitar string wrapped around her neck. Alafair will have connections to this young woman and that will put her in severe danger. And so it begins.
Enter Clete Purcell, a former police officer in New Orleans, who has been Dave's sidekick for eons. Clete has his own private detective service now. Clete will lead us down his own trail of mishaps in this one with personal demons who pursue him. And then there's Valerie Benoit, Dave's newly assigned partner. Valerie doesn't possess a filter for both her responses and for her actions. The air will be filled with the sharp-ended points of hatred and intolerance and bigotry. Fasten your seatbelts.
JLB writes with a meandering tone in this one. It's Robicheaux's voice that leads this parade. Dave has a legion of boogeymen that live inside his brain and they'll all be seated at the table begging for dessert. JLB draws in the likes of black-hearted individuals who have a check-off list on their agendas. We'll even have vibes of the dead and the undead traisping across these pages. Add to this a wayward childhood friend and some gangsters from New Jersey. That's a lot to pack into this Poor Boy sandwich. A weighty storyline with plenty of toppings.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Grove Atlantic and to the highly talented James Lee Burke for the opportunity.
February 25, 2026
I will save you a trip to Wikipedia (which I think you can trust on this): Hadacol was a patent medicine (12% alcohol) briefly popular in the 1950s. "Hadacol Boogie" was a popular song recorded by many artists, most notably Jerry Lee Lewis.
This is the 25th entry in James Lee Burke's series centering around Louisiana's finest, but also most psychologically tortured, cop, Dave Robicheaux. I am apparently up for reading them as long as Mr. Burke keeps writing them (he's 89 years old, as I type).
One difficulty faced by writers of long-running single-character series: how to deal with their characters aging. Mr. Burke solves it here by setting the novel "very close to the turn of the century"; which makes Dave old, but not 89,
Things kick off when Dave gets a garbage bag dumped on his front lawn by a scary-looking figure with sticks in its hair. The bag contains the nude corpse of Clemmy Benoit, a girl with a pair of rose tattoos on each breast and a guitar string wrapped around her neck.
The usual course of events occurs: an array of possible suspects are presented: a handyman/ice cream cart vendor who seems disconnected from reality, but nevertheless is obsessed with Dave; a pimp from Dave's Vietnam past; a mobster who wants to build a garish casino in Dave's town; a guy who tortures people for hire; bigoted cops; and (eventually) an Asian guy who knows how to fly a Huey helicopter, because, well, someone has to do it. And more.
But there are also the continuing characters on Dave's side: his daughter Alafair; his longtime partner Clete; his long-suffering boss, Helen Soileau. And a new one, detective Valerie Benoit; she's hiding something, but her heart's in the right place.
Dave's investigative method involves talking to all these people, which nearly always involves a lot of psychodrama, insults, threats, and occasional extreme violence. (Dave sometimes gets set off by remarks about his parentage.) And there's Dave's non-stop monologuing, reflecting on his past, and Louisiana's. And a hefty dose of left-wing politics He rambles about "neocolonialism" four times. Which is four times too many for me. He mutters darkly that JFK's assassination "may have had strong ties to New Orleans. We'll never know. The Warren investigation was not meant to clarify; it was meant to distract." Boy, anything to avoid pinning it where it belongs, on a Fidel fanboy.
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