Another Kind of Eden

James Lee Burke is a prolific author, having written 41 books since 1965. We’ve reviewed 12 of them, mostly in the Robicheaux series. He also has written 12 more in The Holland Novels, as well as some other fiction novels. The quality of his writing has always been wonderful, and he clearly is more literate and thoughtful that most authors in this genre. This being the 13^th novel that I’ve read by Burke, you know I love him. It was many years ago when I was looking for a new author and was browsing through the mystery/thriller section at Heathrow Airport, that a woman suggested I give Burke a try – a wonderful recommendation.

 

Another Kind of Eden is the first one I’ve read in The Holland Novels, and it is his most recent novel. The protagonist is Aaron Holland Broussard, and the next important character is Joanne McDuffy. Broussard has been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder, specifically, multiple personality disorder. He’s in his mid 20’s, knows he had dissociative episodes and worries that he could do great harm to others and know nothing about it. He’s a vagabond, but obviously bright and talented. McDuffy is a beautiful woman, probably in the range of 17-19, and by the time she meets Broussard in a small western town, she has already had lots of relationships, sometimes with some highly questionable characters. Broussard falls in love with her. She’s trying to make her way as an artist, but she’s encountered an art teacher, Henri Devos, who is a sociopath. Broussard does not understand what she sees in him, but they are clearly competing with each other to win her over.

 

Burke introduces a number of characters to fill out the story. Broussard has found work on a ranch, and his ranch hands become part of the story, as does the ranch owner, Jude Lowry and his wife. It’s Lowry’s ranch competitors who are key antagonists, like Mr. Vickers and his son, Darrel, both of whom are evil and violent people. I enjoyed this novel until near the end when Burke seemed to introduce elements of mysticism. It was hard to tell because of the issue of Broussard’s multiple personality, his confusion of dreams and reality, and what may have been periods of flagrant psychosis. There was ample mayhem among the characters. This was not an uplifting story in any sense and did not end with any sort of clarity. It’s the first time I recall reading one of Burke’s novel and not having felt I could recommend it to my friends.