Robak in Black

by Joe L. Hensley

Five years ago, Don Robak set aside his practice as an attorney to take up a new one - that of judge. But his wife Jo is suddenly stricken with a strange illness that leaves her robbed of much of her memory, strength, and in need of professional care and leaves Don alone, bereft, and convinced that Jo's illness was a planned attack and not an accident of fate. Though he lacks evidence, Robak has plenty of suspects of whom the major ones include the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312241097
• ISBN13: 9780312241094
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

NO LONGER ROBAK'S SLEEPY RIVERTOWN ?

Attorney Don Robak is now Judge Robak fighting for the life of his wife Jo, poisoned to near-death by an unknown enemy. I frankly prefer not to have author Joe Hensley suggest that ugly terrorism is pervading Robak's beautiful, peaceful Ohio River community -- which I also love. I don't want to think about the presence of clannish rebels and menacing drug manufacturers there. There is, thankfully, some Hoosier? humor & classic rural characters to add balance. Ugly or not, the many personalities are etched on my eyeballs; words have become indelible likenesses. With every page I want life restored to 'Jo'. I want a definitive squelch administered to the sexually overt 'Libby' and see her moneyed security shaken. I find I have developed an abhorrence for purchasing southern Indiana eggs! The placid waterfront will always draw me, and I'll enjoy the author's "tree tag" of squirrels, and the stately mansions on quiet streets. BUT couldn't Joe Hensley's next book be about the ironies of life in peaceful, backward Brown County where the "Sheriff's Log" doesn't raise goosebumps? Listen, you readers: this is a favorite author of mine you should not miss! After you buy this and chew on its contents awhile, write to the author and suggest that, for a change, he write a story about life in the truly slow lane. Admittedly, it is my squeamishness that prevents me from giving 5 stars.

welcome back

When I first saw the new Robak book by Joe Hensley, in my haste,I thought the title was going to be, "Robak is Back," and Iwas certainly happy to see it, and I thought that title wouldbe most appropriate.No one can better describe small-town politics, or the atmospherearound a county-seat courthouse than Hensley. He has lived andworked that life himself, and he has a rare gift for conveyingall the feelings and emotions of one immersed in that particularvenue. In his earlier works, which every mystery reader shouldread, he displays his knowledge more fully, and he developsthe background in greater detail, than in this latest Robakadventure.But, "Robak is Back," in this new mystery, and it is a pleasureto read of his latest "case," though he now sits on the CircuitCourt bench and shouldn't be doing much investigating. But hehas to be forgiven because he is investigating his own wife'ssudden and near-fatal illness, and he is determined to do allpossible to cure her and restore her health, and that determination requires solving the mystery. Along the way, hemanages to disturb several characters, who show too much hatredtoward Robak to be normal, and he thus has to look into theirinterests as well. Despite his official position, he is able topress his investigations, and with the help of some good friends,he solves several mysteries while pursuing his wife's enemy.Hensley's writing is comfortable and entertaining, and his creation of atmosphere is first-class.I hope Robak keeps coming back.

Fascinating suspense

After years serving as a defense attorney, fifty something Don Robak becomes a circuit judge in a Southern Indiana's County. Don, his wife Jo, and their son are a happy family when their joy is shattered. Jo becomes ill with a dangerous fever that the doctors have no idea what is causing it. When the fever finally breaks, Jo is left with brain damage that requires round the clock care taking. He brings Jo back home, but soon places her in a nursing home when someone fires a shot into his house. He sends his son off to live with a friend in another state while Don begins to track down the individual wanting either he or his wife dead, knowing that he has made a wealth of enemies over the years. Readers feel the love the judge feels for his spouse as this first person narrative turns him into a sympathetic hero though his control rivals that of Job. Between a flaky militia, a local cult, and a powerful family, the investigation leads he investigators down a Byzantine path. ROBAK IN BLACK is a first class amateur sleuth tale because of the Robak relationship before, during, and after the illness.harriet Klausner