Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke

Wayfaring Stranger is James Lee Burke’s 33^rd novel, all of which have been written between 1965 and 2014, and we at MRB have reviewed most of them. This one is not from the Dave Robicheaux series, nor one of his other series. It’s a freestanding novel, and at 77 years old, Burke says it is the most autobiographical novel that he has written. He also writes that it is his best book ever, which is one hell of a claim considering the quality of his work. I’ve loved so many of his other works, but maybe he’s right about that.

The books begins in 1934 when Weldon Holland, as a child, has an encounter with Bonnie and Clyde. The story follows Weldon through grisly battles in World War II and into the death camps as the Germans were fleeing, and it was there that he discovered the woman who would become his wife. Burke follows these two heroic characters through their lives back in Texas where Weldon and his Army buddy get into the pipeline business. This is a crime novel, but not the sort that Burke has usually written. He writes of anti-Semitic Texas oil barons and the characters that surround them. It’s a love story and a family story. It is historical fiction. Burke’s writing style, character development, subplots, and dialogue is as good as anyone. This is the masterwork of a master storyteller. My advice, buy this one.


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