Dave Robichaux Goes to Montana

Swan Peak

By James Lee Burke

Simon and Schuster, $25.95

Dave, his wife Mollie, and best buddy, Clete, leave Dave’s hometown of New Iberia and head to Montana (where Burke lives half of each year.) They plan to fish and relax and enjoy the wonderfully cool atmosphere of Big Sky country while they put Katrina behind them.

But, there’s no getting away from trouble for these two and most of it centers on Clete who is haunted by the ghost of mob boss, Sally Dio, who he killed years before. But the duo are soon immersed in conflict with a rich oil tycoon, his beautiful wife and his deformed brother, a sexually deviant minister, an escaped con and former country music star, and a vigilante Texas gunbull out for blood.

James Lee juggled several colorful characters and intricate plots and tossed ’em all into one pot and stirred. To his credit, and amazing talent, he nevertheless unravels them quite neatly at the conclusion of this, one of his best.

The Terra Cotta Army

By John Man

Da Capo, $26

One of the most astounding archaeological discoveries of all time, the Terra Cotta Army, over eight thousand life-size figures guarding the body of China’s founder and first ruler, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, is vividly described in this fascinating book.

The Emperor, paranoid and seeking immortality, died in 210 BC and was buried in an enormous chamber rumored to hold vast riches. The chamber remained undisturbed until 1974 when it was accidentally discovered by farmers digging water well. Truly amazing is that each individual figure is different, suggesting they represent actual members of his Army.

Interestingly, the largest traveling exhibit of the Terra Cotta Army ever to visit the U.S. will appear in four cities, the nearest being Houston, May 18-Sept. 25, 2009. If you plan to go, buy this book first.

Skin and Bone

By Kathryn Fox

Harper Paperback, $7.99

Homicide Detective Kate Farrer’s four-month stress-related leave of absence is cut short when she’s called in to investigate the charred corpse of a woman burned beyond recognition. An autopsy reveals the victim had recently given birth and though a bag of infant items are nearby, no baby is found.

Teamed with a new partner, Oliver Parke, Kate struggles to overcome her demons when they are also assigned to the case of a missing teenage girl and a paraplegic found burnt to death in his home. Is a serial killer at work?

Kate is determined to find out but is wary of Parke who she discovers riffling her desk in which she later discovers an envelope with two thousand dollars in cash. Is she being setup for a fall? Kathryn Fox is a medical practitioner with a special interest in forensic medicine who currently lives in Sydney, Australia. Look for more exciting cases coming soon.

Quiet, Please

By Scott Douglas

Da Capo, $26.95

Who would ever think a book about libraries and librarians could be interesting, irreverent, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny? After this memoir, you’ll forget the stereotypes and will certainly empathize and even, sym-pathize, with their modern day counterparts.

One stereotype Douglas debunks is that librarians are bookworms. He cites many librarians he’s known who never read anything but TV Guide. (Is that still published?)

One fascinating facet of the book is his astonishing use of explanatory and historical footnotes. Give a copy to your favorite librarian.

Ghost Hunter’s Guide to New Orleans

By Jeff Dwyer

Pelican Publishing, $14.95

As you anticipate Halloween, have fun tracking the more than two hundred ghostly haunts in the Crescent City and along the river road to Baton Rouge. Included, of course, are St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 where its’ most storied resident, Marie Laveau, resides, and the Richelieu Bar in Arnaud’s Restaurant where its’ founder, Arnold Casenave, frequently appears.

To aid you in your search for ghosts, Dwyer offers simple ways to find them. The many photographs include Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, considered the most haunted house in America, where you can spend the night… (or two if you dare.)