James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke was born in Houston, Texas, in 1936 and grew up on the Texas-Louisiana gulf coast. He attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute and later received a B. A. Degree in English and an M. A. from the University of Missouri in 1958 and 1960 respectively. Over the years he worked as a landman for Sinclair Oil Company, pipeliner, land surveyor, newspaper reporter, college English professor, social worker on Skid Row in Los Angeles, clerk for the Louisiana Employment Service, and instructor in the U. S. Job Corps.

He and his wife Pearl met in graduate school and have been married 48 years, they have four children: Jim Jr., an assistant U.S. Attorney; Andree, a school psychologist; Pamala, a T. V. ad producer; and Alafair, a law professor and novelist who has 4 novels out with Henry Holt publishing.

Burke's work has been awarded an Edgar twice for Best Crime Novel of the Year. He has also been a recipient of a Breadloaf and Guggenheim Fellowship and an NEA grant. Two of his novels, Heaven's Prisoners and Two For Texas, have been made into motion pictures. His short stories have been published in The Atlantic Monthly, New Stories from the South, Best American Short Stories, Antioch Review, Southern Review, and The Kenyon Review. His novel The Lost Get-Back Boogie was rejected 111 times over a period of nine years, and upon publication by Louisiana State University press was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Today he and his wife live in Missoula, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana.

What genre does James Lee Burke write?

He writes primarily crime fiction and literary crime novels, often featuring detective protagonists and set in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. He also publishes short stories.

What is James Lee Burke's best-known series and where should I start?

His best-known series is the Dave Robicheaux novels. A good place to start is The Neon Rain, which is listed as Dave Robicheaux Novel 1.

Are Burke's books part of series or are there standalone works?

Many of his books belong to series — notably the Dave Robicheaux, Billy Bob Holland, and Hackberry Holland series — but he also has standalone novels and short story collections such as Harbor Lights and Other Stories.

Has James Lee Burke received major awards or had his work adapted?

Yes. He has won the Edgar Award twice for Best Crime Novel, received Breadloaf and Guggenheim fellowships and an NEA grant. Two novels, Heaven's Prisoners and Two for Texas, were adapted as motion pictures, and The Lost Get-Back Boogie was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Which other books are good entry points besides the Robicheaux series?

For the Billy Bob Holland series, Cimarron Rose is identified as Book 1. For short fiction, Harbor Lights and Other Stories is a concise introduction to his shorter work.