Dead Connection

Alafair Burke
Henry Holt and Company , New York 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-78-7785-8
ISBN-10: 0-8050-7785-5

Readers of crime novels will be familiar with James Lee Burke's character Dave Robicheaux and Dave's daughter Alafair. Well, it turns out, in a self referential fiction-turned-reality twist that makes John Barth look cheap, Burke's own daughter, Alafair, judging by her picture, is the model of the fictional character in much more than name. Get one of her books and take a look. Dead Connection is the fourth novel by this former deputy district attorney turned criminal law professor. This one involves online dating services, hackers and Russian organized crime in New York. It's a page turner to be sure. I won't let out any spoilers except to say that the main character makes a call to someone in New Iberia Parish, Louisiana. That ought to get you Dave Robicheaux fans interested.