La Quinta Cove

Swan Peak——–by James Lee Burke

Louisiana lawman Dave Robicheaux and his wife Molly and their friend Clete Purcell travel to a friend’s Montana ranch to spend some time fishing and relaxing, away from the hectic pace of post-Katrina New Orleans. Rather than spending peaceful time enjoying the beautiful scenery and resting, they find themselves involved in the mystery of the murder of two college students in the area. Another murder, that of a couple found at an Interstate rest stop nearby, promotes speculation that a serial killer is preying on the area.

Dave and Clete offer their assistance to the local sheriff in investigating the deaths. As they begin to delve into the lives of the deceased, they find connections to an evangelical preacher and to an extremely rich family, who live like feudal lords on a huge estate in the Swan River Valley, protected by unsavory men who could have connections to the mob. The wife of one of the family members was a professional singer prior to their marriage and had been engaged to a man who was sent to prison in Louisiana for the death of a man who was beating a woman. While in prison, Jimmy Dale was sodomized by a guard and attempted to kill the guard with a shank before escaping, only to turn up in Montana seeking his former fiancée. The guard travels to Montana seeking revenge, believing Jimmy Dale would turn up there looking for Jamie Sue.

The plot has many twists and turns, involving the FBI as well as local law enforcement and the descriptions of the locale are both accurate and often breathtaking. Insights into the behavior and motivation of humanity are thought provoking. This is an excellent story.