LAST CAR TO ELYSIAN FIELDS

The rough edges of James Lee Burke's story and Mark Hammer's voice make a fine pair. The Louisiana bayoux breed more trouble for Detective Dave Robicheaux. He digs up long forgotten crimes involving a blues musician and follows a twisting path to contemporary injustices, corruption, and deceit as mobsters and an IRA hit man make forays to New Iberia. Poor sound quality mars Hammer's fine inflective reading. Despite the muzzy sound, which ALMOST lends atmosphere, Hammer's rendition of the Louisiana misfits and miscreants is right on. The sound is distracting but not ruinous. And through it all, Burke's magical, descriptive prose flows freely--"like stars in a black rain barrel." R.F.W.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 04]