This book was kind of hard for me to read in some ways. Dave Robicheaux, the protagonist, a former policeman, is hard to like due to his self-destructive behavior. He does things that he knows are not a good idea but can't seem to help himself. Also, he sometimes walks into obvious traps unprepared for the possible, or even probable, results. But overall, he's a good man, honest, and doesn't usually want to hurt people even when they deserve it. And he never takes the easy way out.

The best things about this series are the people and the descriptions of the places. He brings it all to life, these things we mere mortals will probably never experience. People from the lower walks of life, who frequent bars anytime of the day, who have usually spent time in prison but are not really bad people, just people who have either made bad choices and/or had bad luck. In this story, Dave himself is pretty close to going to prison for murder, although he is innocent. But fortunately, the really bad guys are not very smart, so he manages to outwit them despite himself. ( )

I enjoyed and will continue with the series...liked the south Louisiana setting, he is great at setting the mood of the location. A lot of scenery descriptions, which were beautiful but too long. I love the relationship between Dave and Alafair, his young, adopted daughter. ( )

In the third book of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux stories many of the usual characters end up in Montana. Dave is accused of murder in Louisiana and while out on bail goes to Montana to find the people who can prove his innocence. Along with Robicheau and his adopted daughter Alafair his former police partner Clete shows up. Suspect oil leases, the mafia, the American Indian Movement and bars and AA meetings all take a turn. There is even some fly fishing. How does it end? Who survives and who doesn't? No spoilers here. ( )

I remember reading "Black Cherry Blues" before, but I hadn't read the preceding books and lacked context. Now the book was filled with the sorrow of how he met Annie and lost her to murder; it has the joy of becoming a father to Alafair. Author James Lee Burke's love of Montana comes through "Black Cherry Blues" and writes another series set here. I enjoy rereading through this series. ( )

Overall, the superior writing elevates some less-than-superior plot points for this novel.

Burke is a phenomenal writer, and can evoke a mood, or an atmosphere, or a locale with ease. His characters are complex, emotional beings. But, while the author (thankfully) didn't have Robicheaux fall off the wagon this time, he made some curious choices.

I won't really get into the plot stuff, because I'd prefer to stay away from spoilers. But I have to say, I got very sick of all the dream sequences with his dead wife.

Having said that, I'll still read a substandard novel by Burke over a lot of other authors' finest works. ( )