Every Cloak Rolled in Blood by James Lee Burke

I first became aware of James Lee Burke when I was looking for a new novel in a bookstore at Heathrow Airport. I was looking in the mystery and crime section when a women asked me if I had read James Lee Burke. She recommended one of his books which might have been The Electric Mist, and I was hooked. Such beautiful prose considering it’s in the mystery/thriller genre. His protagonist, Dave Robicheaux was a most compelling character. I read several more of his books, but it’s been a while since I’ve picked up another. 

 

Burke is now 85 years old and still writing. Apparently, Every Cloak Rolled in Blood which he just published in 2022 is his most autobiographical novel. He was apparently a solider in Vietnam and left that arena with some guilt about what occurred there. Also, he lost one of his daughters recently and this book would seem to be in part about his mourning process, about which he writes with great style and painful emotion. However, he then ventured off into the supernatural which I don’t enjoy. It was hard to follow his thoughts through that process, and having read about the 55% of the novel, I abandoned it. I just wasn’t interested in the characters or the plot. I’m disappointed in the book, and it doesn’t get my recommendation. On the other hand, if you’re fan of the supernatural genre, then this one is for you.