Sometimes, meeting an old friend is a mixed bag. Still caught up in his nightmare about the brutal slaying of his beloved wife Annie and seeking some coffee to clear his head, ex- New Orleans cop Dave Robicheaux has mixed feelings about seeing his old college roommate, Dixie Lee Pugh, in the diner.

Returning home to his bait and fishing boat rental business he runs in New Iberia, Louisiana, Dave is happy to get back to his routine and especially to be with Alafair, his perky six year old adopted El Salvadoran daughter. Vowing to stay away from Dixie and all that he is involved with, Dave is guilted by a nun into going to see him in the hospital. But, like the pull of quicksand, the tentacles of the murky underworld he had left behind him reach out to draw him back into that dangerous world. When his beloved daughter's life is threatened, Dave attacks. He expects repercussions, but not being framed for murder! With his background as a drunken ex-cop, Dave knows he is faced with going down to Angola. Who would believe him? What can he do?

As he digs for dirt and tried to find a connection to oil money, Dave gets confronted with more murders and the anger of Mafia thugs. Can he find the evidence he needs in time? Who can he turn to? Will his trust in AA and a Higher Power help him in confronting the evil he faces?

Bestselling author James Lee Burke is the author of BLACK CHERRY BLUES and was awarded an Edgar for it. First published in 1989, it reads just as fresh and sultry in its 2012 release as it did when it was first released. Burke is the master at pulling readers right into his settings and never lets the suspense go. Right from the start, we feel the heat of the shimmering Louisiana bayou country and then off to Montana as Robicheaux attempts to find any evidence that might be helpful to clear his name and save him from the brink, but the clues are as elusive as his dreams.

This is the third book in his highly acclaimed Dave Robicheaux series and deals with issues from his previous books as well as bringing in new situations, such as oil and Mafia interests and the implications from missing activists from the Blackfeet reservation. Burke's fans are sure to love this thriller and linkage to other Robicheaux novels and it is equally strong for new readers as a stand-alone book. The characters are well drawn and believable in their actions and roles. The interaction between Dave and his ex- partner, Clete, and especially with Darlene American Horse, his girlfriend, are particularly dramatic and intriguing. BLACK CHERRY BLUES is a treat for any thriller/ mystery lover! Enjoy the sleuthing!