This is one of Burke's best efforts, in my opinion. Robicheaux is on a fairly even keel, his family life is stable, his personal demons harnessed and put to good use, his crusade against evil aided and encouraged by the ghost of General John Bell Hood (it works, it really does), and Clete Purcel nowhere in sight. By turns poetic and brutal, as always. Burke can almost make me nostalgic for Louisiana mosquitoes.
(First read shortly after publication, and re-read in 2009, prompted by having watched the movie with Tommy Lee Jones twice in one weekend.) ( )

This was the first Robicheaux novel I read, and my favorite. I've since read most of them twice. The great title of this one foreshadows the fantastic writing and story that follows. Robicheaux is one of the best protagonists in modern literature. Burke is one of the best writers. ( )

A movie is being make in New Iberia and with it a number of unsavory characters come to town. Detective Dave Robicheau see the actors dressed as Confederate soldiers and then has dreams where he talks with Confederate General John Bell Hood. I usually find Robicheau to be a likable character but he seems like a real ass at times in this book. ( )

This one never quite clicked with me. The Robicheaux series has always been firmly rooted in reality, so for him to start talking to ghosts? Simply didn't work for me.

Strip the ghost portions away—and the awful, cliched part they played at the end—and this is a fine Robicheaux story.

Hoping for better things moving forward. ( )

When Hollywood invades New Iberia Parish to film a Civil War epic, restless specters waiting in the shadows for Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux are reawakened - ghosts of a history best left undisturbed. Hunting a serial killer preying on the lawless young, Robicheaux comes face-to-face with the elusive guardians o his darkest torments - who hold the key to his ultimate salvation. . . or a final, fatal downfall. ( )