Crusader's Cross

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Critically acclaimed and bestselling crime writer James Lee Burke returns to Louisiana where his ever-popular hero, Dave Robicheaux, sleuths his way through a hotbed of sin and uncertainty.

For Dave Robicheaux, life in Louisiana is filled with haunting memories of the past—images from Vietnam, the violent streets of New Orleans, and his own troubled youth. In Crusader’s Cross, a deathbed confession from an old schoolmate resurrects a story of injustice, the murder of a young woman, and a time in Robicheaux’s life he has tried to forget.

Her name may or may not have been Ida Durbin. It was back in the innocent days of the 1950s when Robicheaux and his brother, Jimmie, met her on a Galveston beach. She was pretty and Jimmie fell for her hard—not knowing she was a prostitute on infamous Post Office Street, with ties to the mob. Then Ida was abducted and never seen again.

Now, decades later, Robicheaux is asking questions about Ida Durbin, and a couple of redneck deputy sheriffs make it clear that asking questions is a dangerous game. With a series of horrifying murders and the sudden appearance of Valentine Chalons and his sister, Honoria, a disturbed and deeply alluring woman, Robicheaux is soon involved not only with the Chalons family but with the murderous energies of the New Orleans underworld. Also, he meets and finds himself drawn into a scandalous relationship with a remarkable Catholic nun.

Brilliant, brooding, and filled with the author’s signature lyricism, Jim Burke’s latest novel is a darkly suspenseful work of literature.©2005 James Lee Burke; (P)Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division.

Will Patton

As always great story and writing and i have listened to all his books with Will Patton reading them tried others but he is so amazing how he brings the characters and stories out
He is my favorite reader and I have 324 books in my library

Do not go by the rating

I do not know who the other person was that rated this book, but that person could not have listened. This is the a great Burke book, and I have read them all. It is my favorite formula in mysteries, a search for answers in the past , a clue a little at a time etc. Maybe it is that I am from the area that it is so believeable to be. Ok, so Burke is a little raw for some. Not for me. And Will Patton has always been one of my favorite readers.

Changing narrator drops my review

from 5 to 3 (maybe 2 & a half). I'm sorry, Will Patton is not a bad narrator, but he is NOT Robicheaux. Mark Hammer's reading sounds just like a friend of mine who grew up in Lousiana. I had a hard time getting involved in this one. Bad idea to change so late in the series.

I love James Lee Burke novels

I loved Crusaders Cross! I have listened to every novel by JLB and love the way he writes. His description of the countryside or a storm coming up, you feel you are there. He could write about sh-- and I would love it. I especially love Clete Purcel, he is wonderful no matter what. I don't care who reads to book to me.

Beware of abridgements

I listened to this wonderful book in what turns out to have been an abridgement. I guess Audible's policy is to say 'unabridged' when an item is that, but not to say 'abridged' when the item is that. The abridger did as good a job, probably, as could be done. But the tight plot and carefully character detailing was lost, at least rendering the ending puzzling.