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A review by janinepipe
Voodoo Heart by John Everson
5.0
There were a couple of things which made Voodoo Heart appeal to me, synopsis aside.
I saw the words New Orleans and even more importantly for myself, it came highly recommended by one of my own favourite (and fellow Flame Tree) writers, Glenn Rolfe.
I was already sold.
And then I saw this.
When Detective Lawrence Ribaud wakes alone in a bloody bed with his wife missing, he knows this is more than just a mysterious case of murder. His wife is the latest victim in a string of bizarre disappearances. All across New Orleans, on one night each month, people are vanishing, leaving behind nothing but a pool of blood on the bedsheets… and an abandoned heart. Ribaud doesn’t believe in voodoo, but he soon finds himself moving through the underbelly of a secret society of snakes, sacrifices and obscene rituals in search of the mysterious Black Queen … and the curse of her Voodoo Heart.
So, what did I think?
I bloody loved it.
This was actually the first Everson book I have read but I will be searching more work out from him for sure.
I had heard that his work can be a little risqué and let’s just say there are bits that are not for the faint-hearted, but I lapped it up.
I find anything to do with NOLA fascinating and although I have never been, Everson’s use of description had been right there in the French Quarter.
The characters were interesting and had depth and I felt fully invested. The MC isn’t all that likeable but I still had fun getting to know him. He was flawed but aren’t we all?
I also felt like there had been a lot of research in regards to the voodoo and lore side of the story. I am not an expert but either Everson did his homework or he is such a good story-teller I believed it regardless.
There was mystery and horror and shocking revelations, and it was fantastic.
5/5
I saw the words New Orleans and even more importantly for myself, it came highly recommended by one of my own favourite (and fellow Flame Tree) writers, Glenn Rolfe.
I was already sold.
And then I saw this.
When Detective Lawrence Ribaud wakes alone in a bloody bed with his wife missing, he knows this is more than just a mysterious case of murder. His wife is the latest victim in a string of bizarre disappearances. All across New Orleans, on one night each month, people are vanishing, leaving behind nothing but a pool of blood on the bedsheets… and an abandoned heart. Ribaud doesn’t believe in voodoo, but he soon finds himself moving through the underbelly of a secret society of snakes, sacrifices and obscene rituals in search of the mysterious Black Queen … and the curse of her Voodoo Heart.
So, what did I think?
I bloody loved it.
This was actually the first Everson book I have read but I will be searching more work out from him for sure.
I had heard that his work can be a little risqué and let’s just say there are bits that are not for the faint-hearted, but I lapped it up.
I find anything to do with NOLA fascinating and although I have never been, Everson’s use of description had been right there in the French Quarter.
The characters were interesting and had depth and I felt fully invested. The MC isn’t all that likeable but I still had fun getting to know him. He was flawed but aren’t we all?
I also felt like there had been a lot of research in regards to the voodoo and lore side of the story. I am not an expert but either Everson did his homework or he is such a good story-teller I believed it regardless.
There was mystery and horror and shocking revelations, and it was fantastic.
5/5