A review by jedore
The Sound of Building Coffins by Louis Maistros

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Starting over is a funny thing. You only get one true start, on the day you are born. But as we get older and know better about the lives we’ve lived, every once in awhile we try to make ourselves a new beginning. Problem is that you can’t erase where you come from, the accumulation of your experience being undeniably who you are. Ain’t no one can be rebirthed out of a past that has come to define them, no matter if these things come by chance or design. You can only pretend to start again; never to forget, try as you might.”

This book will take you on a captivating journey through the simultaneously colorful and dark streets of New Orleans in the early 1900s. Maistros perfectly captures the city's unique spirit and mysterious culture.

It’s definitely a dark and tragic tale filled with abortion, prostitution, demonic possession, devastating floods, and murder, yet somehow Maistros is able to convey a very subtle sense of hope….more for the city than for the individuals living in it.

While the character development is  strong, I did find myself struggling to emotionally connect with the characters. Something caused me to remain detached from them, but not so much that I lost interest.

What sets "The Sound of Building Coffins" apart is its masterful storytelling, voodoo vibe, and little unexpected twists that keep you literally and figuratively in a dark place until the very end. There’s no doubt the man deeply knows and loves New Orleans. 
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