The readers can download Jolie Blon's Bounce Audiobook for free via Audible Free Trial.
Summary
When a beautiful teenage girl is killed, the victim of a particularly savage rape, New Iberia, Louisiana police detective Dave Robicheaux senses from the very start of the investigation that the most likely suspect -- Tee Bobby Hulin -- is not the actual killer. Though a drug addict and general ne'er-do-well, Hulin doesn't fit the profile for this brutal crime. But when another body turns up -- a drugged-out prostitute who is the daughter of a local mafia bigwig -- all clues point to Tee Bobby Hulin. The dead girl's father sets out to find -- and punish -- the killer.
I absolutely love Dave Robicheaux as a detective, but it's a real bummer that he isn't present in this particular book. The role of Dave Robicheaux is typically portrayed by the talented Will Patton, who really brings the character to life. However, in this audiobook, the individual attempting to portray Dave Robicheaux sounds like an elderly drunk with a muddled speech pattern, awkwardly faking a southern accent. The narrator's performance is so awful that it's almost a crime to subject such an incredible writer to this subpar treatment. I couldn't even bring myself to finish listening to it.
I had a hard time getting through this book for two main reasons. Firstly, the narrator. While he nailed the Louisiana accent, it took him quite a while to differentiate between the voices of the characters. Especially in the beginning, I found myself having to rewind multiple times just to figure out who was speaking, particularly during conversations involving Dave and Clete. It did improve towards the end, but overall, the narration was mediocre at best.
Secondly, there was a lack of action. Right from the start, we are introduced to two brutal murders and the characters who are supposed to solve them. However, for about two-thirds of the book, we are subjected to a never-ending circus of immature and violent behavior from both the suspects and the so-called "good guys," without any evidence that anyone is actively trying to find the killer. It's not until the final hour of the book that we even get a clue as to why the crimes were committed.
In the end, I'm glad I stuck with it because the ending did manage to tie everything together. However, there were far too many distractions and misleading elements that prevented this from being a top-notch suspense story. If the number of characters had been reduced by half and more effort had been put into developing the remaining ones, then we would have had a story worth investing in.
This was my first time delving into James Lee Burke's work, so I had no basis for comparison when it came to the narrators of his books. Nevertheless, I found the reader of this audiobook quite enjoyable about 98% of the time. Occasionally, the Southern accent was a bit too excessive, making it challenging or even impossible to make out the words being spoken. Despite being new to the characters, Burke skillfully provides enough background details to help me understand their personalities. His writing style truly engrosses you in the beauty of the Bayou, the trees, and the swamps, without making the story feel sluggish. Whenever Burke goes off on tangents, there's always a connection to a character's past, motivations, or in building the atmospheric backdrop.
Although this book wouldn't fit neatly into the forensic thriller genre, there is a surprising lack of investigation taking place. However, there are enough clues pieced together to solve one murder definitively. The resolution of the second murder is somewhat less satisfying, as we "know" who the culprit is, but the evidence falls short.
Legion, the villain with distinct vertical lines on his face, meets his end quite abruptly and effortlessly, bordering on a contrived mystical conclusion. I also found the character of Sal, the medic, to have an intriguing role that adds an unexpected twist. While Sal has been present throughout much of the book, it feels like he appears out of nowhere when his character is necessary and then retreats back into mystery.
Despite these minor concerns, I thoroughly enjoyed Jolie Blon's Bounce and I'm eager to explore more of Burke's books featuring Dave Robicheaux to further acquaint myself with these characters. If I decide to try another audiobook, I wouldn't mind a narrator who is easier to understand and provides greater distinction between the voices of different characters.
I've checked out a few of James Lee Burke's novels on audio, and I must say they've been pretty damn good. A big reason for that is the kick-ass narration. But let me tell you, when it comes to 'Jolie Blon's Bounce,' I couldn't make it past the first five minutes. Trust me, don't waste your hard-earned credits like I did, my friend.
I'm really digging the storyline, but the narrator's speech is throwing me off. It's a struggle to catch everything he's saying, and I find myself constantly rewinding and replaying parts. Mark Hammer's voice is so monotone, and his speech is just plain difficult to comprehend.
I've recently become a huge fan of James Lee Burke, especially through his audiobooks. Having lived and experienced the settings of Louisiana, east Texas, and Montana, I find his ability to make these places even more captivating in real life truly impressive. Unfortunately, I was greatly let down by this book for one simple reason: the narrator. His lack of enthusiasm and occasional slurring of speech did a disservice to the beautiful prose. Honestly, it was too irritating for me to even complete the book. It would be fantastic if they could release a new version of this audiobook with Will Patton as the narrator.
The characters in this book are deeply captivating and intricate, except for Legion Guidry who seems very much human. Legion is a character that terrified me like none other I've encountered in fiction. I believe that Mark Hammer's narration certainly contributed to the impact of his character.
Having said that, personally, I think I would have enjoyed reading this book in print. There are multiple complex characters to keep track of, and the narrator gives many of them a similar voice, making it difficult to distinguish between them. The slow and almost melodic pace of the narration often put me in a daze where I would miss entire sections frequently. I'm still a bit confused about where some of the main characters fit into Dave Robicheau's world.
However, if you are someone who appreciates a complex and twisted yet brutally honest story that manages to pack a lot of content into just around 14 hours of listening time, then this is the book for you. I will definitely remember Legion and Dave for a very long time.
I've gone through four books written by Burke, and Mark Hammer was the narrator for all of them. They were all amazing, but Jolie Blon's Bounce took the cake. The antagonist in this story was pure wickedness, and there were a handful of other characters that were superbly developed as well. Burke certainly saved the best for last, as the ending gave me chills. Initially, I struggled a bit with the narration, but once I adapted to Mark Hammer's style, I must say he's become my favorite! His voice is a perfect fit for this series. I highly suggest listening to the first 30 minutes twice to get comfortable with his distinct style and inflection.
I absolutely adore the novels by James Lee Burke featuring Dave Robicheaux. Particularly, the ones that were read by Will Patten, who did an exceptional job. However, I must say that the new narrator, Mark Hammer, is truly awful! I couldn't even make it through the first 10 minutes before giving up. As a result, I've decided to purchase all the paperbacks that he narrates and simply read them on my own.
Once again, James Patterson has crafted an enthralling tale filled with fully fleshed-out characters. The narration by Mark Hammer truly breathes life into the story, effortlessly shifting between various Louisiana dialects. Personally, I find listening to Mark's rendition of these stories far more enjoyable than reading them myself. It truly enhances the overall experience and is highly recommended.
I am a huge James Lee Burke fan-the writing is so mesmerizing you don't want to miss a word. The descriptions of people, places, smells and tastes-so compelling. The character studies, whether it's a bit player or Dave's best friend, Clete (a personal favorite) are poignant and heartbreaking and you can feel their pain. Dave Robicheaux is a glutton for punishment, but so noble-great "listen"-and Will Patton (narrator) is superb.
I thought this was another great book by James Lee Burke and , because I so enjoyed the person reading it, I know that I would not have enjoyed it as much if I had read it. Yet again, through Burke's writings, the reader gets an insight into the history of the south, as well as the interactions of people in the south today.
Burke has done better. The bad guy is over the top and so repulsive and real, by the time he humiliates Dave, you just don't want to keep reading. You wish Dave well, but you'll catch him next time.
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