I have read a number of reviews of this book which to be frank puzzled me. Complaints about the lack of pace and dialogue featuring large in some reviews. I thought this was a joy to read, the events following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are vividly portrayed and this storm ravaged city of New Orleans - the Big Sleazy - is the unquestionable star of this show. The tale was a good one and I felt the chracters were pretty well formed and the dialogue plausible, the main protagonists did not have a wise cracking word of wisdom for every occasion and I feel that this is Burke's strength, the prose is descriptive and the dialogue plausible. The protagonists are not overly macho or trying too hard to be empathised with. I have read everything available from Ellroy, Pelecanos and my home boy Ian Rankin. And I would say that Burke - and I do not know if this is typical - does drive the story along with narrative more than dialogue. Which is clearly not to everyones taste. The novel despite being from a long established series does stand on its own and I'll probably go back to the beginning and read through the whole catalogue as is my wont. The references to Robichaux's back story are predominantly Vietnam based and this is pretty straight forward to negotiate. It does not have the twisted plot contrivances and short chapters of say Dan Brown or Michael Crichton to drive the pace and I think it is all the better for it. The pacing is more patient and I would have thought that given the setting things did not move too fast through polluted water, so it is appropriate. An excellent rewarding read for the patient detective thriller lover that is going to cost me money.