Another Kind of Eden
(Author) James Lee BurkeNew York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke brings readers a captivating tale of justice, love, brutality, and mysticism set in the turbulent 1960s. The American West in the early 1960s appears to be a pastoral paradise: golden wheat fields, mist-filled canyons, frolicking animals. Aspiring novelist Aaron Holland Broussard has observed it from the open door of a boxcar, riding the rails for both inspiration and odd jobs. Jumping off in Denver, he finds work on a farm and meets Joanne McDuffy, an articulate and fierce college student and gifted painter. Their soul connection is immediate, but their romance is complicated by Joanne's involvement with a shady professor who is mixed up with a drug-addled cult. When a sinister businessman and his son who wield their influence through vicious cruelty set their sights on Aaron, drawing him into an investigation of grotesque murders, it is clear that this idyllic landscape harbors tremendous power-and evil. Followed by a mysterious shrouded figure who might not be human, Aaron will have to face down all these foes to save the life of the woman he loves and his own. A prequel to James Lee Burke's masterful Holland family trilogy, Another Kind of Eden is both riveting and one of Burke's most ambitious works to date. It dismantles the myths of both the twentieth-century American West and the peace-and-love decade, excavating the beauty and idealism of the era to show the menace and chaos that lay simmering just beneath the surface.
James Lee Burke
James Lee Burke is an acclaimed American author known for his crime fiction novels, particularly the Dave Robicheaux series set in the Louisiana bayou. His writing style is characterized by rich, lyrical prose, vivid descriptions of the Southern landscape, and complex, morally ambiguous characters. Burke has received numerous awards for his work, including two Edgar Awards for Best Novel.
One of Burke's most notable works is "The Neon Rain," the first novel in the Dave Robicheaux series, which introduced readers to the flawed but compelling protagonist and established Burke as a master of the crime fiction genre. His contributions to literature include exploring themes of justice, redemption, and the impact of violence on individuals and communities.
Burke's impact on the crime fiction genre is significant, as he has been praised for his ability to blend literary fiction with the conventions of the genre, creating a unique and compelling style that has influenced many other writers. His work has been praised for its social commentary, memorable characters, and evocative sense of place, making him a beloved and respected figure in the world of crime fiction.