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The Tin Roof Blowdown | 
 enlarge | Author: James Lee Burke
Publisher: Phoenix
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £3.56
You Save: £4.43 (55%)
New (25) Used (4) from £3.55
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 1346
Media: Paperback
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0753823160
EAN: 9780753823163
ASIN: 0753823160
Publication Date: June 26, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW - ***Delivery usually * 2 - 3 * working days - From Aphrohead of SOUTHPORT, Lancs, uk *** . Priority Airmail used Worldwide on International orders. Thanks from all at Aphrohead.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Disappointed not to enjoy this book August 16, 2008
Janie U (England)
I was really looking forward to reading this book as it is very interesting to set a book around an event which is so recent that it can be remembered by anyone likely to read.
Having no direct links with New Orleans, so only a media view of the disaster, the novel gave me a version of the real events which was cleverly written as an integral part of the story and never felt like a factual account.
I've never read any of the books previously in this series and felt that was a big disadvantage as there was a lot of previous knowledge assumed. The main character appears to be much loved by his readers but I could not work out any sympathies for him.
I ended up not finishing the book, as half way through I had not been hooked in and decided that I was wasting my time. It did have a lot of promise and comes highly recommended so I will start now with the first book in the series and see if that works better.
Blown Away August 1, 2008
A reader (London)
Not normally a reader of crime fiction, I came to this novel after glimpsing numerous laudatory reviews of James Lee Burke's work - and I was not disappointed.
"The Tin Roof Blowdown" follows the author's serial anti-hero, Dave Robicheaux, through a criminal investigation taking place against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans. It's a marvellously evocative device that creates tension in the plot, and many moments of vivid description from the author.
This is a very well written book that should provide stimulation for literary readers as well as for those who just want to get their teeth into a good mystery. The final paragraph is one of the most lyrical I've read in recent years, whether in literary or commercial fiction.
 Soaked in atmosphere January 28, 2008
Benjamin (UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Set in and around New Orleans during and following destructive hurricane Katrina, the Tin Roof Blowdown is a complex piece of crime fiction. Graphic descriptions of the terror and destruction wrought by Katrina, and frequent reminders of the ineptitude of the authorities in handling the tragedy, form the backdrop as the drama unfolds. Drama involving the disappearance of a young priest, the murder of a young black rapist and an innocent black teenager with the father of the rapist's victim being accused, and somehow the involvement of organised crime.
With the NOPD overwhelmed, Detective Dave Robicheaux is called in to investigate. As he works in the company of his old friend and ex-cop Clete Purcel, Robicheaux finds his own family comes under attack form a deranged .
Soaked in atmosphere and full of detailed description, and not fearing to make political comment, this is a thoroughly involving story. Part narrated by Robicheaux, and part related in the third person, a devise which while providing the full picture of events also provides a personal view on matters, we get a clear picture of the intricacies of the plot; and such is the skill of the writer that we not only see inside Robicheaux's mind, but we can actually hear his voice when he speaks.
 Not totally convinced by this one. November 15, 2007
E. Heckingbottom (U.K.)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I am an avid reader of crime novels, and have read a wide range of authors in this genre - however, this is only the 2nd James Lee Burke that I have read; and I'm not sure that I will be trying another. perhaps I haven't caught this author at his best, and perhaps I am doing him an injustice, but personally I found the book difficult.
This book has a range of strengths and weaknesses. Parts of it were gripping, but other parts were very confusing and needed reading more than once to fully understand.
To me, one of the biggest weaknesses was the shallowness of many of the characters. Without a clear prior knowledge of the characters from the series, this book was difficult to follow. It is certainly not a stand-alone book.
That having been said, the author has a definite gift for description, and his descriptions of New Orleans in the early days after the two hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina and Rita) are absolutely amazing (although a map to show where the areas were would have been helpful!) The word pictures are second to none, and you can almost believe that you have seen it. It certainly reminds you of the TV pictures that we all saw back then, and the sense of lawlessness that pervaded the area is very evident. Particularly emotive were the descriptions of the flooding in the ninth Ward and its aftermath. The scene in Bertrand's Aunt's house (p. 320) is extremely evocative. You can see (and smell) it.
Here is a short quote to help you see what I mean.
"The yard was stacked with virtually everything the house had once contained: cloth-covered chairs and a sofa, a refrigerator, mattresses, bedsprings, a television set, clothes, food, a chest of drawers with flower decals pasted all over it, stripped wallpaper and carpeting, all of it caked with a greenish-black sludge that had dried like plastic. The windows of the house were tacked over with plywood, a screen in place on the entrance."
On the whole, I am glad that I persevered and finished the book - but am still not sure if I would try another by this author.
Katrina the real star November 12, 2007
Crazy Bald Heid (Surrey, England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have read a number of reviews of this book which to be frank puzzled me. Complaints about the lack of pace and dialogue featuring large in some reviews.
I thought this was a joy to read, the events following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are vividly portrayed and this storm ravaged city of New Orleans - the Big Sleazy - is the unquestionable star of this show.
The tale was a good one and I felt the chracters were pretty well formed and the dialogue plausible, the main protagonists did not have a wise cracking word of wisdom for every occasion and I feel that this is Burke's strength, the prose is descriptive and the dialogue plausible. The protagonists are not overly macho or trying too hard to be empathised with.
I have read everything available from Ellroy, Pelecanos and my home boy Ian Rankin. And I would say that Burke - and I do not know if this is typical - does drive the story along with narrative more than dialogue. Which is clearly not to everyones taste.
The novel despite being from a long established series does stand on its own and I'll probably go back to the beginning and read through the whole catalogue as is my wont. The references to Robichaux's back story are predominantly Vietnam based and this is pretty straight forward to negotiate.
It does not have the twisted plot contrivances and short chapters of say Dan Brown or Michael Crichton to drive the pace and I think it is all the better for it. The pacing is more patient and I would have thought that given the setting things did not move too fast through polluted water, so it is appropriate.
An excellent rewarding read for the patient detective thriller lover that is going to cost me money.
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