In the Moon of Red Ponies

Billy Bob Holland #4

by James Lee Burke

Haunting suspense and captivating villains, the hallmark of James Lee Burke’s bestselling novels of evil and redemption, are brilliantly evoked in his new Billy Bob Holland opus, the follow-up to the popular and critically acclaimed Bitterroot. “James Lee Burke tells a story in a style all his own, in language that's alive, electric. He's a master at setting mood, laying in atmosphere, all with quirky dialogue that's a delight.” —Elmore LeonardIn James Lee Burke’s last novel featuring Billy Bob Holland, Bitterroot, the former Texas Ranger left his home state to help a friend threatened by the most dangerous sociopath Billy Bob had ever faced. After vanquishing a truly iniquitous collection of violent individuals, Billy moved his family to west Montana and hung out a shingle for his law practice. But in In the Moon of Red Ponies, he discovers that jail cells have revolving doors and that the government he had sworn to serve may have become his enemy. His first client in Missoula is Johnny American Horse, a young activist for land preservation and the rights of Native Americans. Johnny is charged with the murder of two mysterious men—who seem to have recently tried to kill Johnny themselves, or at least scare him off his political causes. As Billy Bob investigates, he discovers a web of intrigue surrounding the case and its Johnny's girlfriend, Amber Finley, as reckless as she is defiant—and the daughter of one of Montana's US senators; Darrel McComb, a Missoula police detective who is obsessed with Amber; and Seth Masterson, an enigmatic government agent whose presence in town makes Billy Bob wonder why Washington has become so concerned with an obscure murder case on the fringes of the Bitterroot Mountains. As complications mount and the dead bodies multiply, Billy Bob is drawn closer to the truth behind Johnny American Horse’s arrest—and discovers a greater danger to himself and to his whole family. How Billy Bob strikes back at evil and protects his kin is the masterful triumph of In the Moon of Red Ponies. Beautifully written, with an intriguing plot and characters whose conflicts seem as real as life itself, this novel shows James Lee Burke again in the top form that has made him a critical favorite and a national bestseller.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Westerns, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2004

About the author

James 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.

Reviews

[D.C. Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favourite Billy Bob Holland tale. Written with a lyrical beauty that left me breathless. This is a stunning book for all sorts of reasons--gripping, well written and a joy. Thoroughly recommended. If you have not dipped your toe into Billy Bob's world and think that New Orleans and Robicheaux is all the JLB is about--you are very mistaken.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the Billy Bob Holland series much more than Mr. Burke's Dave Robiwhatever novels, though they share some of the same style and the characters are somewhat similar. The setting (Montana) is quite different. The one element that crosses over is the blustering and threatening of one another.

Burke creates a stimulating story, peoples it with odd characters, and then propels it at a hundred miles per hour toward a spectacular conclusion. Billy Bob is a former Texas Ranger turned lawyer just trying to avoid getting caught between his clients, the law, and his client's enemies. There is enough action to keep the reader turning the page.

The novel employs a number of odd characters. Wyatt Dixon is an ex-con rodeo cowboy who once buried Billy Bob's wife alive with a water hose to breathe through. When he is released from custody on a technicality he shows back up claiming to have found Jesus in prison and trying to make amends for his acts against Billy Bob and his wife. He claims to be on a mixture of meds that are keeping him from committing such vile and foul acts. Billy Bob is skeptical, but Dixon talks in almost nonsense, and keeps coming in and out of the story, managing to create a pivotal and engaging part of it.

Rev. Sneed has been preaching redemption to convicts, druggies, etc. and practices something along with the lines of pentecostal Christianity mixed with Native American mysticism. However, whatever he is preaching, it seems to work on many those to whom he ministers.

Darel McComb is a police officer who doesn't know when to quit. He goes to far with one of Holland's clients and starts him on a spiral of destruction that will ultimately demand him to chose a side.

Holland himself is haunted by the ghost of his farmer partner, and at times has imaginary conversations with him. Almost every conversation includes an apology to the partner-- the partner he himself shot by accident a long time ago.

All of the odd elements and confrontations in this story, coupled with some quality moments of action are well orchestrated by Burke into a fine piece of literary pleasure.

[Anthony Whitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the descriptive genius of James Lee Burke. His written words have the ability to capture the beauty of the landscape and mood while highlighting the troubling powers of the demons living within the characters. Poetic and captivating, Burke is an author worth checking out.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised that I really enjoyed this not the usual read for me! characters have elements of good and bad to them. very western feel

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burke tells a story of the country around Missoula Montana and includes relations with American Indians and corporations that set their own gains above ecological benefit.

Johnny American Horse is a war hero. He's an American Indian attempting to stop oil companies from drilling on Indian Land. He senses that the oil companies have put a hit on him and lies in wait while two men attempt the killing. Johnny disposes of the two men, one dies, one hospitalized. When the second man is killed in the hospital, Johnny is arrested for his murder.

Billy Bob Thornton is hired as his attorney. Billy Bob is a former Texas Ranger and puts his ranch up for collateral for Johnny's bail.
At this time Wyatt Dixon is released from prison. Dixon had almost killed Thornton's wife, Temple in the past and now claims he is reborn and wants to make ammends.

The story goes from Billy Bob, Johnny American Horse and Wyatt and their attempt to have a normal life but when there is a break in a research lab and confindential info is stolen the corporate officials do whatever dirty tricks to these characters.

The novel is well told, as usual for Burke. We see the average man attempting to rise above corruption and do good. There are some questions left unanswered at the end of the novel but I think that Burke is telling the reader that this is life and all things aren't answered in a convienent manner and sometimes evil is not punished.

Recommended.

[Yigal Zur · Rating 4 out of 5]

even more than 4*. very good thriller."it is about courage, sekf sacrifice and humility". really nice.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Burke novel, this one featuring Billy Bob Holland and assorted characters. Burke's characters make his books extra special and this one is peopled with plenty of them. Highly recommended.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just can’t get enough of James Lee Burke! He writes breathtaking sentences that beg to be read over and over.

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In the Moon of Red Ponies” by James Lee Burke, published by Simon and Schuster.

Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – 2004

The next couple of reviews will be books that are classified as “Oldies but Goodies”. I have gone back and picked up several James Lee Burke books that I haven’t read. Unfortunately I did not read them in sequence which would be a good idea if you are interested in his books.

This is the first one I read in the Billy Bob Holland series.
Billy Bob is a former Texas Ranger who has turned lawyer.
He has forgone the violence of law enforcement and has vowed never to use a firearm against another human being. That is easy for one to say but far more difficult in real life.

Billy Bob has moved his family to a remote area of Montana but is called to Missoula to help Johnny American Horse, an American Indian, who is charged with murder. Johnny has been an advocate of Indian Rights and Preservation of the Planet. It is quite possible that his advocacy has him framed for murder.

Billy Bob finds himself facing a mucho policeman and a State Senator in attempting to free Johnny. This is also complicated by the fact that the policeman is obsessed with the Senator’s daughter.

What can one say about the writing of James Lee Burke other than it might well be best a reader will get when it comes to mystery/thrillers.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, despite the narration technique mixing first/third person which was a little bit hard to follow at first, I have to say I really liked this book a lot. It certainly didn't have a typical happy ending like a lot of books, or that much of a neatly wrapped up way to conclude the story. I think that was what I enjoyed most. I really enjoyed narrator Tom Stechshulte as well--awesome job with dialects/accents to really bring the characters alive. I definitely want to find some other James Lee Burke novels on CD to listen to since this was my first. I would also like to see what I think about his other character, Dave Robicheaux. Hopefully the library will have more Burke books on CD because I definitely want to hear/read more. And I just loved the characterization of Wyatt Dixon and those sayings. I was really surprised and enjoyed Darrel McComb--certainly I wasn't expecting the ending and what he did.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness, another great author to know. No wonder his books fly off the library shelf. It has that combination of violence and tenderness that I feel is just phenomenal writing. It also has an element of mysticism that works for the character Johnny American Horse. This is a fast paced mystery that is being solved by Billy Bob Holland. There are many characters. I listened to the audio read by Tom Stechschulte--he does a wonderful job of tailoring his voice to the characters. You could tell who was speaking immediately. One of my favorite characters was Wyatt Dixon, a psychopath who has found God. The dialogue is sometimes laugh out loud funny. The dialogue is quick and witty plus you learn all sorts of vernaculars. There are more in this series that I will have to discover!

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a plot standpoint, this is a typical Burke story, except it's all set in Montana with no Louisiana connection, and there's no Dave Robicheaux or Cleve Purcel, rather Billy Bob and Temple Holland, an attorney and his PI wife. I hope nobody not from this area reads one of these novels and thinks Missoula and surrounding environs are ever this exciting or bloody, but as entertainment it's pretty good stuff, though even I, a Burke fan, am getting a little weary of the predictable formula of the misfit psycho who ends up not being nearly as evil as the untouchable wealthy aristocrat. If you like killing and strange plot twists, and you want to read about northwest Montana, then this is for you.

[Amanda Spake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've come to like this Billy Bob Holland series more than the Dave Robicheaux books. The last Dave Robicheaux book I really loved and remember is the "Tin Roof Blowdown," about the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. He had alot of fresh material to work with then. But though Robicheaux ismuch loved, and a wonderful character, I'm tried of Dave. He seems too much the same.

Perhaps it's time for Burke to let Robicheaux go the way Mankell has allowed Wallander to slip away info retirement and old age. I realized this is absolute mystery-lovers heresy--but one opinion none the less.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with another poster who commented on the Billy Bob series. I like the Billy Bob series better than the Dave Robicheaux series. I like Dave but for some reason I enjoy the Billy Bob series more. This was a great story filled with so many personal struggles and insights. I am off to send JLB an email about another Billy Bob story.

[Cammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Lee Burke is one of best writers of our times. He is one of the few writers whose books I will purchase in hard cover because I can't wait for the paperback version to come out.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

[Paul Voller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from James Lee Burke. I read the Dave Robicheaux books and those involving Billy Bob Holland. Two great characters who experience more in their life time than any of us expect to experience, although most of their experiences are frightening and heart rendering. I sometime wonder if Billy Bob wishes for a life that only involves fly fishing or whether he relishes the chaos that follows him around.

[Hpnyknits · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was a bit miffed that the author reused a bad guy from the last book, but as the book continues, I understood the point. No one is all good or all bad.
It got a bit confusing at some point, but it all sorted itself out.

[David Whitinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

4++ for this one. As for me, James Lee Burke, is one terrific author. Looking forward to the next one!

[Lindsay Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th Billy Bob Holland book, but my first. Billy Bob is a lawyer in Missoula. He takes the case of Johnny American Horse, a Native American Gulf War vet, who is accused of robbing an agri-business lab of evidence that they're up to no good. Then a couple of hit men are killed and Johnny's accused of that as well. He marries the rebellious daughter of a Montana Senator and they take off on the run. Local cop Darrel McComb investigates, along with the head of the security firm protecting the agri-business, but is mysteriously thwarted by the ADA. Meanwhile, a previous nemesis of Billy Bob's has been paroled and shows up in town. He's found religion and wants to get right with the Holland family. It turns out there is an corrupt, evil, billionaire behind all of this.
The book was written in 2004, so the evil person was probably supposed to make us think of Dick Cheney and his cronies. Fifteen years later, Ryan Zinke fits right into that role. There is the usual violence and good v evil told in Burke's beautiful poetic and descriptive language. Also, the usual supporting cast of misfits, crazies, and visionaries. The main characters in Burke's books rarely get involved with anyone very normal.
This book is similar in style to the Robicheaux books that are set in New Orleans, but the style also works well in a modern Western setting. Apparently, Billy Bob started out as a Teas Ranger. I'm looking forward to reading the earlier three books to see how he got to this one. Maybe there will even be another one eventually.
Favorite quote: "I daily avoided the inescapable conclusion that collective stupidity has often been the norm in the long and sorry history of human progress, and that perhaps the soundest argument for the existence of God is the fact that the human race has survived in spite of itself."
There is another place where the cop McComb types "Please consider the following statement as my summation of my time on earth - Hey, I never had to sell shoes at Thom McAn." This seemingly random statement sparked some fond memories and a lively conversation with my sister and her friends who are TM alumns.

[Dollie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Burke is a fine storyteller, but there was just too much going on in this story. It got to the point where I just wanted it to be over. Billy Bob is a former Texas Ranger who shot his former partner and killed him. He then moved to Montana and became a lawyer. The story begins with a break in at a biological lab, or something like that, owned by this rich Mabus guy who has government connections. An Indian, Johnny American Horse, married to a senator’s daughter, Amber, is involved. Billy Bob is their lawyer. He’s married to Temple, a private investigator. Two Federal agents get killed and Johnny is blamed. He goes into hiding and makes a jaunt around the mountains. A cop, Darryl, who is in love with Amber beats Johnny up, but later redeems himself, when he is tortured, but never gives up their location. There is also an ex-convict, Wyatt Dixon, who is involved and has history with Billy Bob and Temple because he buried Temple alive (in a former novel). There were just too many people involved to try to keep them straight. I thought it was kind of a lame story and didn’t feel sympathetic with any of the characters. I won’t be seeking out any of Burke’s other novels.

[Eric Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for any story set in a western state or province where mountains touch the sky and where the memory of great herds of bison remains. I should have dumped this book after dozens of passages full of quirky palaver, but I didn’t.

Billy Bob Holland moved his family to west Montana, and began a law practice. His first client is a native American activist named Johnny American Horse. The story is full of quirky, even weird characters, some the victims and some the perpetrators of a web of corporate greed. Billy Bob finds not only himself but his client in great danger.

Burkes’s descriptions of the sky, the seasons, the streams, the animals and the flora of Montana are sometimes overblown, but nevertheless resonate with my country longings. It's depiction of the shoddy and prejudiced treatment of the indigenous people, however, is spot on.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy Bob Holland, former Teas Ranger and now small town lawyer in Missoula, Montana has been going to bat for a Native America activist and now it is getting him in hot water with powerful and dangerous forces in and outside Montana. He and his wife also have to contend with the release of Wyant Dixon, who Billy Bob was instrumental in putting away. Billy Bob and his wife, who Wyant had buried alive before being jailed, are not happy that he is back in town. There is plenty going on in this book set in the beautiful Montana countryside as various factions interact, sometimes with deadly results.
ISBN - 0-7434-6664-0, Suspense, Pages - 402, Print Size - R, Rating - 4.25

[Twistedtexas · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10 - Like most of Burke's novels, there is a lot going on in this one. Lots of good folks, bad folks, folks somewhere between the two, smack-talk, sunsets, moral quandaries, regret, redemption, dust and blood. Sometimes it starts to seem like too much.

Then Burke spins a sentence into a paragraph that's so goddamned beautiful, you have to set the book aside and close your eyes for a moment, reconsider your priorities and your place in time and space.


“How do you caution a fawn about a cigarette a motorist has just flipped from his car window into a patch of yellow grass, or tell a sparrow that winged creatures eventually plummet to earth?”

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another "Hard to put down" read from James Lee Burke

This is another fine book from my favorite writer. It isn't the best in the Billy Bob Holland series, but it is a good one.

If I were going to offer a criticism it is that he didn't close the loop on Wyatt Dixon. Did Wyatt get the guys that tried to kill him? Where did he go? What happened to him? Was he still living in the house near the swing bridge? I would have liked more information on Wyatt in the Epilogue.

But don't let this criticism deter you reading this one. It’s a good read.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what the title means, but I am assuming it is a seasonal marker like the season of the green corn, or the Strawberry (full) Moon. This was the last re-read for me in the Billy Bob (William Robert) Holland series. The first time I read through Burke's work, I was appalled at how many wives disappear through violent deaths. There's always some psychopath in the midst and societal conflict against old timey morals are always present. He needs to stop killing off the wives so easily.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Lee Burke is another one of my favorite authors but this book was a trial to me. I know lots of people love his descriptive writing and it is beautiful but to me in this story, it was too much. I liked the characters and that was lots of information about American Indians which was very interesting. I will definitely read more of his books and this series for sure. Maybe I'm just in a reading slump, I've had this issue with several books lately. I'll keep reading!

[Vincent Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to find a better literary crime thriller. Some of Burke's novels can be variations of a previous novel, where you feel his having to meet an annual quota, while others, like this one, fire on all cylinders. Three narrative strands, thorough character development (though heavy on the male and macho), narrative thrust, and limpid prose that doesn't over-reach.

[BrianC75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quality book - paints a wonderful picture of the Montana landscape and fauna and then immerses you in the brutality and inhumanity that mankind is capable of. No saccharine endings here, just terse gritty characterisation and descriptions of real quality. Plot tears along with pace and is entirely convincing. Above all a truly enjoyable reading experience!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only ever read the David Robicheaux novels before, so I was taken by surprise to see that there is another series.
This book is set in Montana and the main character is a lawyer involved in trying to keep Johnny American Horse out of jail. Holland is inadvertently sucked into an eco-terrorism with his defendant on the run and his family in danger.