This is an extraordinarily heartbreaking story. In the intro, we learn that the author used his own grief in this story and it’s absolutely heartrending – especially reading this as a parent.

Long time readers of the author may be surprised at the paranormal elements to the story, but they’re well done and present a truly fascinating backdrop to our plot.

The white supremacist angle of the book is unfortunately timely. However, I want to be honest: as a reader/reviewer of color, I’m dead sick of being asked to have the grace to understand racists. I don’t care about their pasts and I don’t find them complex – in real life or in literature. This aspect of the book was challenging for me because I don’t care to understand them or focus on the not-so-bad aspects of their personalities. For example, the fact that Hitler had a dog, doesn’t negate everything else he is.

But the book is good. I loved our main character and would love to know him in real life. Our crimes were fascinating and the history that played into everything even more so. And the grief and mourning throughout the book was palpable.

I do think this one will stay with me.

*ARC via Publisher

I’m a James Lee Burke fan. I haven’t read everything he’s ever written but what I have read I’ve enjoyed immensely. So, I was pre-disposed to like “Every Cloak Rolled in Blood.” And I was not disappointed. Surprised a lot, sometimes jarringly so. But never disappointed. The writing is just too good.

85-year-old author and Montana rancher Aaron Broussard is grief-stricken over the recent death of his adult daughter Fannie Mae. And yet, she has not left him. She is everywhere, appearing suddenly to help guide him through a series of challenges and confrontations arising from the modern-day ills of drug trafficking, racism, religious zealotry, and inhumanity. Will this extremely spry octogenarian be able to withstand these trials, many brought on by his own desire to do good, without compromising his own personal code? At his age, and after so many years of being alone, writing and ranching at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains, might he have a second chance at love with Ruby Spotted Horse, an officer of the Montana Highway Patrol?

It's a novel that examines the nature of good and evil, spiritualism and the metaphysical (which some might think of as the supernatural), loss and loneliness, and the reconciliation—or at least acknowledgment—of past injustices. Although it does not mention any present-day politician, it is also a political book that takes some of the darker forces in our society—both current and of long ago—to task. Mr. Burke, clearly, is not a fan of “the far right.”

He is, however, a believer in the spiritual and God and the possibility of life after death; and he asks readers to take some pretty big leaps in suspending disbelief. Indeed, there were times I found myself stopping to ask: did I just read what I thought I read? But the writing is so good and first-person narrator Broussard is so forthright and charming, that I, for one, was willing to go with it.

The novel is also deeply personal. Like his main character, Mr. Burke is also in his mid-80s and also recently lost an adult daughter. His letter to readers at the very beginning describes her and her loss and is both beautiful and heart-wrenching.

All in all, I was sorry to come to the end of “Every Cloak Rolled in Blood,” which I count as the sign of a very good book. So good, that I may read it again. I certainly will recommend it to friends.

My thanks to NetGalley, Mr. Burke, and the publisher for allowing me to access the electronic ARC. The above is my independent opinion.

288 pages

5 plus stars

This book may very well be James Lee Burke’s best novel yet! I have read all of his novels and while I like Dave Robicheaux and his good friend Clete Purcell very much, Aaron Holland Broussard has a place in my heart.

Eighty-five-year old Aaron Holland Broussard, a boy from the South, now lives in a small town in Montana. He considers tribal police officer Ruby Spotted Horse as his only real ally.. She lost a beloved niece while Broussard recently lost his daughter.

Aaron's daughter Fannie Mae was a very special person. She loved animals, was kind and gentle and was very close to her father. Her death was not an accident, but the police officer who took the case would not entertain any ideas other than his own biased ones. Aaron Broussard is very upset about the loss of his daughter and does not want to let her go. He sees her. He speaks to her. She is in trouble.

Ruby has a secret in her basement. She reluctantly tells Aaron about it, but he is not ready yet to believe. But then, he sees and talks to Fannie Mae, doesn’t he?

When very odd things begin to occur at his little ranch, he starts to believe. Some of the locals believe as well.

Fannie Mae attempts to guide him through the various scrapes he gets into and the visions he begins to see. They are very real. His other friend, a local policeman, does not believe and puts Aaron off. Aaron only understands why much later.

I love Mr. Burke’s writing style. He interjects a heavy dose of philosophy in his writing. It’s prose like that that gets me thinking, and I appreciate that. One of my undergraduate degrees is in philosophy and I miss those exciting discussions very much.

Aaron is introspective and intuitive. He grasps things on several levels. He is also a Southern gentleman as he was raised. He is honest and true to himself. Some things cannot be compromised.

“...the South is a state of mind rather than a place.” Aaron Holland Broussard in James Lee Burke’s Every Cloak Rolled in Blood

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Burke says in both the cover letter that came with the ARC and the Acknowledgments at the end of the book that he believes this is his finest novel. It pains me to say this, but I think he is wrong. about that

In my experience, novelists are seldom very good judges of their own work, and Burke's confident assertion simply confirms that perception for me yet one more time. Make no mistake, this is a very fine novel, but Burke's best? Not nearly.

In my view, Burke's extraordinary gifts shine their brightest within the confines and limitations of a conventional narrative. When Burke takes flight with the kind of mystical, otherworldly tale you find here -- as he has several times in the past -- the strength and power of his prose is sadly diminished. More's the pity, because there is nothing else like it in contemporary literature.

Once again, Burke amazes me. This is the story of Aaron Holland Broussard, an 85 year old writer who is living on a ranch in Montana. It is a spiritual and metaphysical novel as are most of his previous ones. The battle between good and evil is continuous and graphically described. Broussard’s daughter Fannie Mae recently passed away and he is learning to cope with her passing by carrying on conversations with her spirit whenever possible. He has also befriended Ruby, a 35 year old Native American woman, who is a State Trooper. She lives in a house where the basement opens up to the good and evil spirits from wars that took place years earlier and included many of her fellow Native Americans who had been brutalized and slain by soldiers and settlers. The spirits of these individuals also came into play. Mr. Burke has referred to this as his best and most autobiographical novel. I don’t know if I could say it is the best (I have a couple of more favorites) but it is right up there. Thanks to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for and ARC for an honest review.

At 85, James Lee Burke continues to be the master of the American novel, His ability to describe a scene, to create characters, and hit the nail on the head amazes me. Every Cloak Rolled in Blood is a great novel, but you have to accept it on his terms. He chooses the supernatural world to convey much of his message about life and the battle between good and evil. I don't subscribe to those beliefs that require folks from the spirit world. But I get what the author is doing here. It was sad to read of the death of his daughter, and much of that sadness seems to be reflected in this novel.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

James Lee Burke is a master of the complex and richly rewarding read: in EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD he delivers just that. A poignant exploration of loss and grief, a startling injection of the supernatural, and a provocatively peopled cast of characters fuel a novel which is hard to forget.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read.

I can not seem to come up with a coherent review of this book. James Lee Burke is a master at his craft. This book was filled with characters that as usual, are not totally good nor totally bad, but mostly lost. The supernatural weaves its way through the story in a very prominent way and it all seems to fit. I have read all of Mr. Burkes books and I have reveled in each one of them. Literary and beautifully descriptive and they make sense to me in ways I cannot explain.
This book is going to require some settling in my mind before I can say anything else. I may need to read it again.

I want to thank Simon and Schuster for inviting to this early read via NetGalley.

It one of the best I've read by Jame Lee Burke recently. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves Mr. Burke's writing.

I can always count on James Lee Burke and his beautiful prose to carry me through an improbable story that while contending with the spirits and the land of the dead, also says a lot about the nature of the living. It's always a pleasure to read Burke's words and the loss of his daughter is infused in every word; he understands that humans are the sum of their parts and the love for Pamala/Fannie Mae is undeniable. He doesn't gloss over the ugly details but makes sure you land on the right ones, the good ones, the truest ones when he paints the picture.

I have no idea how to describe what I just read . When I read the description for James Lee Burke's newest Aaron Holland Broussard book, Every Cloak Rolled in Blood, I was hesitant to even start it. Ghosts/supernatural topics would be near the bottom of genres I'd want to read but I enjoyed the previous book, Another Kind of Eden so much I decided to give it a go.

Set 60ish years after Another Kind of Eden, 85 year old Broussard is reeling from the death of his daughter, Fannie Mae. Broussard is an accomplished author but has had run-ins with Neo-Nazis, meth dealers/users, a Klansman, a biker gang and the evil spirits of soldiers from 200 years ago. His only ally is a state cop named Ruby Spotted Horse, who has her own secrets and dealings with the supernatural. Broussard is so overcome with grief he sees and talks to the ghost of his daughter throughout the book, always worried she will disappear and his link to her will be severed. A final supernatural showdown between good and evil will have Broussard fighting for his life.

Burke, grieving the recent loss of his daughter, has written a beautiful story that radiates love and heartbreak from each page. Each word is carefully placed, creating a style that is poetic and elegant that makes the reader feel like they are standing next to the characters. Do not let the supernatural element deter you from reading Every Cloak Rolled in Blood. It is that good.

My sincere thanks to James Lee Burke, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Every Cloak Rolled in Blood.

Every Cloak Rolled In Blood is a searing, soaring masterpiece from my favorite author. Jim Burke lost his daughter Pamela July 31, 2020 to natural causes. The loss propelled Burke to write Every Cloak, his most personal novel and by far, one of his top 5 best.
Set in Lolo, Montana, Burke's home, we visit Aaron Holland Broussard, a famous writer who has recently lost his daughter Fannie Mae.
The grieving and lost Aaron must deal with meth addicts, a former murdering Klansman, a biker gang, a crazy lady evangelist and a spit-shined villain straight out of hell.
Aaron's only ally is a young female state trooper who has a cellar full of spirits from the other side of the veil.
All the while, the spirit of Fannie Mae visits her dad with hope and courage to help him live another day.
The finale is a battle between the dead and the living with Aaron's soul on the line.
Spiritual, haunting, with strong John Connolly ghost vibes, Every Cloak Rolled In Blood is a must for Burke fans. It will leave you breathless with chills from the netherworld.
If I could give it 8 stars, I would.

To the edge of mortality and beyond.

I admit to being an ardent fan of James Lee Burke. The beautiful descriptive language he deploys travels effortlessly from the bayous of the Dave Robicheaux novels to the austere mountains of Montana in the Holland family books of which this is the most recent. Aarron Holland Broussard is a successful novelist living alone on a large ranch in Montana. At the age of 85 he keenly feels the diminution of his physical being. His greatest sorrow, however, is for the recent loss of his daughter Fannie May. She appears to him in times of need and offers spirited guidance. Her help is sorely needed as he finds himself enmeshed in violence from human and inhuman evil. The characters are, as usual, vibrant and complex. Another spellbinding tome from this wonderful author!

Fantastic read. Kept me up all night reading because I had to know how it would end. Can not wait for more by author!!

Our Library has certain books bought by authors who are very popular and James Lee Burke we always get his new books. I enjoy the way he writes, so laid back and great descriptions of surroundings. Dave Robicheaux has this amazing way of handling everything in his life. My favorite is that he goes back and forth with the dead. Yes, It is called a shimmeringly between the worlds. Awesome Read!!

What else can be said about grandmaster James Lee Burke? Each of his novels is an epic lesson in characterization, dialogue, plot and style. The passages are poetic, and heartfelt, and at times violent. Not a word is ever wasted. In this newest, narrated by novelist Aaron Holland, we’re thrust into a world both real and supernatural. After the death of his daughter, Fannie Mae, Holland is adrift in his grief. His decision to help two young boys who are adrift in a different way, leads him into battle for his life. This is highly recommended!

At this point, what other superlatives can readers give to James Lee Burke? He is a master storyteller, a literary stylist unparalleled, and I would read a grocery list if he wrote it. EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD bleeds Mr. Burke's own personal pain on each page (RIP to his beautiful daughter Pamala). It's the story of Aaron Holland, a wise old novelist, who is suffering from the grief of his daughter Fannie Mae's untimely death. His efforts to assuage the hurt lead him to taking on the cause of two young men clearly headed on the wrong path. In the process, he will encounter evil, both dead and alive, and possibly a new love. This has supernatural tinges of a bigger sort than Burke has previously written, though he has always touched that line. In the end, though, the plot doesn't matter. The genre doesn't matter. You WILL ABSOLUTELY savor each page, each beautifully crafted sentence in this short scorcher of a novel. Burke is quite simply, a master. Highly recommended.

Every Cloak Rolled in Blood by James Lee Burke
Rating: Stared Review

Summary: Successful writer Aaron Holland Broussard is tangled in emotion of the sudden lose of his daughter. He is haunted by her ghost. When he has his barn door painted with a swastika it sets in motion events that will expose the drug culture on Montana.

Comments: Lots of ghost and goblins. Equal part ghost story and crime novel. Do you talk to the dead?

Another brilliant novel from an American master. By turns poetic, mystical, and life-affirming Burke once again plumbs the depths of grief, evil, and the nature of forgiveness. A great humanitarian who writes like an angel.

The master has done it again as James Lee Burke pens what could be his best yet, and that’s saying a lot. Creating a mood that makes the reader truly empathize is hard to do, but the reader is immediately drawn to the protagonist through his thoughts, his actions, and the (re)actions of others. Dealing not only with his own hurt, he is forced to confront the meanness and outright evil of others.