“Clete,” the 24th installment in the Dave Robicheaux series, written by James Lee Burke, offers a gripping departure by shifting the narrative focus to Clete Purcell. This southern gothic noir delves deep into Clete’s psyche, revealing the profound impact of PTSD from his Vietnam War experiences. As Clete finds himself accident at the forefront of a mission to halt the spread of Leprechaun, which might be a highly contagious virus, his mental health struggles cast doubt on the reality of events, blending the lines between his turbulent mind and external chaos. Regardless of what events are real, Clete saves the day. Although, I wonder whether the events in the story take place only in Clete’s mind while he’s drying out after years of alcohol abuse. Or, maybe it’s all real.