Heartwood

By James Lee Burke

A brilliantly layered novel of crime, character, and place from the two-time Edgar Award winner, Gold Dagger Award winner, and New York Times bestselling author of Sunset Limited.

Few writers in America today combine James Lee Burke's lush prose, crackling story lines, and tremendous sense of history and landscape.  In Cimmaron Rose, longtime fans of the Dave Robicheaux series found that the struggles of Texas defense attorney Billy Bob Holland show Burke at his best in exploring classic American themes--the sometimes subtle, often violent strains between the haves and the have-nots; the collision of past and present; the inequities in the criminal justice system.

Heartwood is a kind of tree that grows in layers. And as Billy Bob's grandfather once told him, you do well in life by keeping the roots in a clear stream and not letting anyone taint the water for you. But in Holland's dusty little hometown of Deaf Smith, in the hill country north of Austin, local kingpin Earl Deitrich has made a fortune running roughshod and tainting anyone who stands in his way. Billy Bob has problems with Deitrich and his shamelessly callous demeanor, but can't shake the legacy of his passion for Deitrich's "heartbreak-beautiful" wife, Peggy Jean.

When Holland takes on the defense of Wilbur Pickett--a man accused of stealing an heirloom and three hundred thousand dollars in bonds from Deitrich's office--he finds himself up against not only Earl's power and influence, but also a past Billy Bob can't will away.  A wonderfully realized novel, rich in Texas atmosphere and lore, and a dazzling portrait of the deadly consequences of self-delusion, Heartwood could only have been written by James Lee Burke, a writer in expert command of his craft.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9780307807472

James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling author, two-time winner of the Edgar Award, and the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in Fiction. He has authored forty novels and two short story collections. He lives in Missoula, Montana.

Reviews for Heartwood

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this book which I downloaded for free from my library. I'm not as fond of this series by Burke as I am of his Dave Robicheaux books but since it looks like he might be doing Dave in I might have to settle for Billy Bob. Billy Bob is an ex-Texas Ranger who has become a small town lawyer. A client is charged with stealing bearer bonds from the husband of an old flame of Billy Bob's. Billy Bob's son is living in an old farmhouse and renting a trailer to the stepson of the old flame. You see how the old flame keeps popping up? Can Billy Bob resist starting things up with her? Only time and the ghost of his former partner can tell.

[darrol_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If anything, Deaf Smith TX is more violent and corrupt than Dave Robicheaux' county in Louisiana. Ending a little convoluted (but maybe I just lost attention). Burke's writing is fun as always.

[elizabethpisani_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The man can write. It almost doesn't matter what he writes about, he can write.

[crazybatcow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There are a lot of "bad" characters in this book, and I'm not sure there are any, really, that we feel sympathy for, other than Billy Bob himself... but even he isn't particularly sympathetic. I suspect we're supposed to like him, but he doesn't really do anything to "get justice"... he just goes along with the flow and the crimes end up resolved at the end. Could he have saved some of the characters? We'll never know... because it feels like he didn't really try.This doesn't mean I didn't like the book - I did like it quite a bit, but... I found it hard to keep watching as the bad behaviours escalated and nobody was really brought to justice. I guess the ending did almost fix this, but I'm not convinced Billy Bob had as much to do with any justice-giving as did fate. I did pick up the next book in the series right away though, so clearly I liked it well enough...

[buffalogr · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Burke's writing is very colorful and very often descriptive of the scene to which he is describing in vivid and excruciating detail. The characters stand out, as does the plot. But, I just couldn't get into it -- despite reading/listening twice. I did finish, but I can't say that it sounded like anything. Most annoying: 30-60 seconds of slide guitar and dobro music in between each break in the story. Too many dreamy descriptions of shade, sun, trees, etc and time spent talking to Billy Bob's dead buds.

[gatorhater · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Billy Bob Holland's dusty little hometown of Deaf Smith, Texas, local kingpin Earl Deitrich has made a fortune running roughshod and tainting anyone who stands in his way. Billy Bob has problems with Deitrich and his shamelessly callous demeanor, but can't shake the legacy of his passion for Deitrich's "heartbreak-beautiful" wife Peggy Jean. When Holland takes on the defense of Wilbur Pickett-a man accused of stealing an heirloom and three hundred thousand dollars in bonds from Deitrich's office.

[njmom3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable story about a family and its ups and downs as all of Belva Plain's books are. The main characters fits the mold of the "good girl" - the woman who spends most of her life doing the right thing and thinking of others while not necessarily making the right choice for her - and all of the pressure, guilt, and sadness that goes along with it. By the end of the book, she finally gets to the point of making the right choice for her.

[moonshineandrosefire · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Iris Stern considers herself to be a thoroughly modern woman, although she still holds steadfast to her old-fashioned sensibilities. She has a successful career in academia and a happy marriage. But as the mother of four adult children, each with their own lives to live and burdens to bear, Iris often finds her sensibilities called into question when confronted with the choices her children have made.For Iris' daughter, Laura, the choice is a fresh start in New York City - and a last chance to save her troubled marriage. While Laura and Robbie cope with their impending separation and its effect on Iris' young granddaughter, Iris herself must come to terms with the discovery of a long-held family secret. However, it's an emotional parting of another kind that looms most prominently on Iris' horizon - as neither her beloved husband, nor the solidity of her own marriage, is immune to the ravages of time.Through the inevitable separations and reunions, the changes one cannot avoid and the love that sustains, Iris will weather whatever lies ahead with a faith that cannot be shaken. With an inner strength like that of a tree that abides through the generations, she will be as strong as heartwood.I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was completely drawn into the story and engrossed in it until the very end. I had also read Harvest - the fourth book in the Werner Family Saga - back in July of 2011. I've probably said this before, but in my opinion Belva Plain is a truly gifted storyteller. Heartwood: A Novel was her last published novel and I give it an A+! A definite keeper for me!

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have not read Belva Plain for decades, and I thoroughly enjoyed Heartwood, her final book. This is a story of a Jewish family centering on the women. Most of the story focuses on Laura and her quest to find herself. Iris, Laura's mother, must also learn many of life's lessons and know that love exists in many forms. The male characters in the book are undeveloped. Laura's husband seems like a weak, self-centered boy. His own mother admits Robbie's shortcomings. Theo, the patriarch, needed more detail. But in essence, the story highlights the many trials and joys that each family encounters.