Publication Date February 10, 2026

Several years ago, when I received a copy of James Lee Burke’s book The New Iberia Blues, I noted that James Lee Burke’s series featuring Detective Dave Robicheaux was then at more than twenty titles, and since Burke has long been one of my husband’s all-time favorite authors and Robicheaux one of his favorite characters, I was happy to let him have first crack at the copy of The Hadacol Boogie, Burke’s latest entry in the Robicheaux series that  I received from Grove Atlantic and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Confession time: this review is based on my husband’s opinions (he likes Burke much more than I do, so this seems like a good thing!)

Fans of Burke and Robicheaux will not be surprised that the story begins with someone leaving a dead woman in a garbage bag on Robicheaux’s property…somehow that just seems to fit! The only appropriate way for this story to unfold is for Dave to investigate, and he joins up with a new detective in the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department who has been  grappling with (no surprise to any woman LEO) sexist and racist harassment from their colleagues. 

There are some familiar characters (Dave, Clete Purcell, Valerie, and Dave’s daughter Alafair), and not surprisingly, there is a complex plot and a whole bunch of interesting characters. A fun read, recommended for fans of Burke or anyone who might enjoy this series. Four stars.