Light of the World by James Lee Burke, New in Bookstores This Week

Today's new hardcover mystery title, scheduled to be published this week by Simon & Schuster, is Light of the World by James Lee Burke.

For a list of more new hardcover mysteries published this month, visit our New Mysteries page for July 2013. For new paperback mysteries, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where a selection of July 2013 mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers are shelved.

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Light of the World
James Lee Burke
Series: Dave Robicheaux (20th)

Louisiana Sherriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux and his longtime friend and partner Clete Purcel are vacationing in Montana's spectacular Big Sky country when a series of suspicious events leads them to believe their lives — and the lives of their families — are in danger.

In contrast to the tranquil beauty of Flathead Lake and the colorful summertime larch and fir unspooling across unblemished ranchland, a venomous presence lurks in the caves and hills, intent on destroying innocent lives. First, Alafair Robicheaux is nearly killed by an arrow while hiking alone on a trail. Then Clete's daughter, Gretchen Horowitz, whom readers met in Burke's previous bestseller Creole Belle, runs afoul of a local cop, with dire consequences. Next, Alafair thinks she sees a familiar face following her around town — but how could convicted sadist and serial killer Asa Surette be loose on the streets of Montana? Surrette committed a string of heinous murders while capital punishment was outlawed in his home state of Kansas.

Years ago, Alafair, a lawyer and novelist, interviewed Surette in prison, aiming to prove him guilty of other crimes and eligible for the death penalty. Recently, a prison transport van carrying Surette crashed and he is believed dead, but Alafair isn't so sure.