In the fall of 1989, friends gave me a copy of Black Cherry Blues as I was leaving a party. I thought no decisions are good decisions when you are in less than full control of your facilities so I accepted their gift. I eventually read the book and was beguiled; thinking, this is a writer to follow.
In the years since, I have given away my professional library and most of my leisure library, some were books of supreme quality, all toll beyond a number I care about. Still on the shelf was Black Cherry Blues. When I happened upon it, I would think, I need to check on him.
Finally on a slow Sunday morning, I hit on him on the internet. He has a new one, Feast Day Of Fools, so I ordered. The old pleasure came back full strength. He is a ball-buster. If you don’t know him, you are the loser.
Don’t say you like mysteries if you don’t know James Lee Burke. Charles Marlin
