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The Marie Laveau Mystery #3
Hurricane
In the stunning conclusion to award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes’s mystery trilogy begun in Voodoo Dreams and Moon, Dr. Marie Lavant, descendent of Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, must confront a murderous evil in New Orleans.Dr. Marie Levant aka Leveau, great-great granddaughter of Marie Laveau, has achieved fame and notoriety for saving New Orleans from the wrath of a vampire. Now she’s taking a break from the city, heading up the highway to DeLaire. She doesn’t know this backwater town, but an elderly woman called Nana has been expecting Marie to arrive and save her and others in this God-forsaken place from sickness and death.Yet all of Marie’s powers can’t bring life back to the corpses she finds in a house by the road. Nor can she force those who know how they died to say so or to confess. Were the crimes committed by shape-shifters, vampires, and ghosts—or by living men and women? And even as Marie searches for answers, a hurricane threatens to break the levees of Louisiana and cause unimaginable destruction.Jewell Parker Rhodes blends magic and man-made evil and weaves New Orleans’s past and present into a spine-tingling mystery that is masterfully crafted and deeply haunting.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2011
10 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Jewell Parker Rhodes
32 books1,555 followersJewell Parker Rhodes has always loved reading and writing stories. Born and raised in Manchester, a largely African-American neighborhood on the North Side of Pittsburgh, she was a voracious reader as a child. She began college as a dance major, but when she discovered there were novels by African Americans, she knew she wanted to be an author. She wrote six novels for adults, two writing guides, and a memoir, but writing for children remained her dream.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 21, 2011
I’m a fan of fiction about powerful women, especially if the women have a mystical aspect to their power, so it’s no surprise that I love Jewell Parker Rhodes’s books about the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. For those who know about my own book-in-progress, the story of a strong priestess connected with ancient divinities will sound familiar, although Jewell’s Voodooienne and my Trojan-era heroine are separated by three millennia.
The tale of Marie Laveau begins in 19th century New Orleans in Rhodes’s first book, Voodoo Dreams. The next two spell-binding mysteries, Season and Moon, move into the 21st century with Marie’s namesake descendant and spiritual heir, an ER doctor who combines her medical and spiritual talents.
Hurricane, her most recent book (released April 12th) opens with a newly vulnerable Marie in 2005. She’s lost many of the people she has relied on, and when she’s drawn deep into the Mississippi Delta to confront a foul and destructive force, she is more alone than ever. Does the danger she faces in a town where everyone seems curiously ill arise from some ancient African spirit or a greedy oil company or corrupt politics? As Katrina threatens, the ghosts of a murdered family fill her with a burning desire to bring them justice. As usual, Marie inspires sexual attraction and intense loyalty in the men around her—or violence and a desire to destroy this powerful woman who draws her strength from the memory of racial injustice, the rites of Voodoo, and the inspiration of the smart women who came before her. For more reviews about strong women throughout history or to learn about my own novel, Hand Full of Fire, go to www.judithstarkston.com
If you like your “can’t put it down” mystery reading infused with an inspiring take on what womanhood can be in all its aspects, then this is the book for you.
The tale of Marie Laveau begins in 19th century New Orleans in Rhodes’s first book, Voodoo Dreams. The next two spell-binding mysteries, Season and Moon, move into the 21st century with Marie’s namesake descendant and spiritual heir, an ER doctor who combines her medical and spiritual talents.
Hurricane, her most recent book (released April 12th) opens with a newly vulnerable Marie in 2005. She’s lost many of the people she has relied on, and when she’s drawn deep into the Mississippi Delta to confront a foul and destructive force, she is more alone than ever. Does the danger she faces in a town where everyone seems curiously ill arise from some ancient African spirit or a greedy oil company or corrupt politics? As Katrina threatens, the ghosts of a murdered family fill her with a burning desire to bring them justice. As usual, Marie inspires sexual attraction and intense loyalty in the men around her—or violence and a desire to destroy this powerful woman who draws her strength from the memory of racial injustice, the rites of Voodoo, and the inspiration of the smart women who came before her. For more reviews about strong women throughout history or to learn about my own novel, Hand Full of Fire, go to www.judithstarkston.com
If you like your “can’t put it down” mystery reading infused with an inspiring take on what womanhood can be in all its aspects, then this is the book for you.
May 22, 2011
I enjoyed this book. It drew me in and held my attention. It was very exciting with many twists and turns. I could see how some of the book would turn out since it had Hurricane Katrina as a storyline. There was a lot about the story that surprised me though.
It had a lot of the voodoo religion to it which I found interesting. I also found the idea of nature cleaning itself with the hurricane to be interesting. I felt that nature needed to clean itself after the pollution that was shown to exist in this book. Pollution does hurt people and the land that is polluted.
I found the mystery part of the book to be very interesting. How she finds out who is trying to kill her is interesting as well. I really enjoyed the book and felt that it was worth reading again.
It had a lot of the voodoo religion to it which I found interesting. I also found the idea of nature cleaning itself with the hurricane to be interesting. I felt that nature needed to clean itself after the pollution that was shown to exist in this book. Pollution does hurt people and the land that is polluted.
I found the mystery part of the book to be very interesting. How she finds out who is trying to kill her is interesting as well. I really enjoyed the book and felt that it was worth reading again.
June 1, 2011
Let me start off by saying that I won this wonderful signed copy from the Goodreads Giveaway. I had no idea there were two books out before Hurricane when I had won this book and I was not familiar with the author, Jewell Parker Rhodes, prior to reading this book. But I'm glad I won a signed copy because the book was beyond amazing (I finished it in one day).
I've never read a book like this - ever. I wasn't sure what to expect since I wasn't familiar with the series and I felt I wouldn't connect with the main character, Marie, because of it. But the more I read, the more I felt it didn't matter whether or not I read Season or Moon because Rhodes wrote in a way that made sure those who did not read book 1 and 2 would still understand the characters, even the ones that did not show up in this book because of certain events that happened in the previous installment.
So, all in all, I enjoyed this book very much. Very descriptive of the locations - making me wish I was there to see the beauty of New Orleans and Louisiana in person. I would definitely recommend this book, but I would also recommend whoever planning to read it that has not read the first two books should read the first two before reading this one since it is the final book in the trilogy.
I've never read a book like this - ever. I wasn't sure what to expect since I wasn't familiar with the series and I felt I wouldn't connect with the main character, Marie, because of it. But the more I read, the more I felt it didn't matter whether or not I read Season or Moon because Rhodes wrote in a way that made sure those who did not read book 1 and 2 would still understand the characters, even the ones that did not show up in this book because of certain events that happened in the previous installment.
So, all in all, I enjoyed this book very much. Very descriptive of the locations - making me wish I was there to see the beauty of New Orleans and Louisiana in person. I would definitely recommend this book, but I would also recommend whoever planning to read it that has not read the first two books should read the first two before reading this one since it is the final book in the trilogy.
March 25, 2013
I've been captivated once again by Rhodes' story of Dr. Marie Laveau! Well written, fascinating, and with great pace. I continued to enjoy how relatable the main character is...she gets scared, she gets weary, and she gets horny. She's a regular woman with extraordinary gifts.
The depiction of Nana's bayou town is so good because you feel unsettled. It reminds me of the weird little town in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, where everybody seemed to be in on the town secret, in a dark, diabolical kind of way.
As always, love the descriptions of New Orleans and the wonderful bits of culture.
The depiction of Nana's bayou town is so good because you feel unsettled. It reminds me of the weird little town in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, where everybody seemed to be in on the town secret, in a dark, diabolical kind of way.
As always, love the descriptions of New Orleans and the wonderful bits of culture.
July 13, 2019
A satisfying conclusion to a fascinating trilogy. I grew to love the characters and along with them Louisiana. If you have any interest in voodoo as a religion in modern America I feel this novel can provide a good insight.
May 31, 2020
Fun read.
November 11, 2015
Marie Levant has now fully adopted her true namesake, Marie Laveau. She is the reigning Voodoo Queen of New Orleans - when she's not tending to the sick and poor as an emergency room doctor in Charity Hospital. Something calls her to the gulf town of DeLaire, where she bears witness to a horrifying murder and also meets the local voodoo mambo of that town, who has foretold her coming. Unfortunately, the mambo's grandson, the sheriff of that town, has no plans to investigate the deaths she saw, and she begins to suspect he may have played a role in them. The town turns against her when she won't play the same voodoo game their mambo has been playing for years, and a deadly killer pursues her even into the city when she goes home, and two new spirits begin appearing to her that are somehow connected with DeLaire. Meanwhile a tropical storm named Katrina is possibly headed toward the gulf, and the spirits are trying to give her a message about water that she can't quite decode. Everything is happening fast, and Marie may run out of time before she makes sense of it all.
I didn't feel this book was nearly as good as the previous two. It was disjointed and rushed. I loved the story - and the characters - underneath, but the storytelling wasn't nearly as tight. I wonder if that's in part because the author feel so strongly about the subjects of Katrina and the environmental disaster/losses occurring for decades on the Louisiana Gulf coast - like she was too close to the material and story to give a smoother story. That's pure speculation, though. As always, Marie's character shines through as the best part of the story, but this is definitely my least favorite of the trilogy.
I didn't feel this book was nearly as good as the previous two. It was disjointed and rushed. I loved the story - and the characters - underneath, but the storytelling wasn't nearly as tight. I wonder if that's in part because the author feel so strongly about the subjects of Katrina and the environmental disaster/losses occurring for decades on the Louisiana Gulf coast - like she was too close to the material and story to give a smoother story. That's pure speculation, though. As always, Marie's character shines through as the best part of the story, but this is definitely my least favorite of the trilogy.
April 13, 2014
Rhodes returns to the subject of Hurricane Katrina...here with Marie Laveau, the 21st century voodooienne. She's grown so much as a character, into her gifts...which are also a curse. There is more loss here. I wonder how much she and I can take.
In this book Marie is impelled to visit the little bayou town of DeLaire. Deep in oil country, run for years by the plantation family, with faithful retainers staying on the land.
But this is a town with secrets. Nana, a voodoo healer, worships gods Marie has never heard of...Nana seems to have a hold over the residents of DeLaire -- or do they have a hold on her?
The mystery deepens, and Marie's frustrations with Nana and her grandsons compounds itself as she attempts to solved the violent murders of a young family -- whose baby calls to Marie when she thinks of her own Marie Claire.
More loss for Marie, as she inadvertently steps into a much bigger conspiracy than she dreamed of.
And all the while, Katrina is bearing down on the bayou, on New Orleans. On the land men have tried to wrestle into submission...men with their enormous hubris, believing the old gods can be subdued.
I think for me this is the most satisfying of the three books, the one deeply rooted in metaphor and history and the truth of what we are doing to this beauiful land.
Rhodes says the series is finished...but many questions are left unanswered...I hope to see Marie again. And again.
In this book Marie is impelled to visit the little bayou town of DeLaire. Deep in oil country, run for years by the plantation family, with faithful retainers staying on the land.
But this is a town with secrets. Nana, a voodoo healer, worships gods Marie has never heard of...Nana seems to have a hold over the residents of DeLaire -- or do they have a hold on her?
The mystery deepens, and Marie's frustrations with Nana and her grandsons compounds itself as she attempts to solved the violent murders of a young family -- whose baby calls to Marie when she thinks of her own Marie Claire.
More loss for Marie, as she inadvertently steps into a much bigger conspiracy than she dreamed of.
And all the while, Katrina is bearing down on the bayou, on New Orleans. On the land men have tried to wrestle into submission...men with their enormous hubris, believing the old gods can be subdued.
I think for me this is the most satisfying of the three books, the one deeply rooted in metaphor and history and the truth of what we are doing to this beauiful land.
Rhodes says the series is finished...but many questions are left unanswered...I hope to see Marie again. And again.
Read
June 5, 2011I received a signed copy of Hurricane: A Novel in a first reads giveaway.
To be honest, I didn't realize that it was the third book of a series before I received it and saw the back cover, so I read this book without any prior knowledge as to the world Rhodes built. I don't know what I missed out on, but I felt like I could read this without knowing anything. And I'm glad that I had the chance to read to novel because Rhodes is an amazing author. Rhodes is very descriptive in her writing and mood-setting without bogging the reader down in excessive detail. I felt as though I was watching the flood sweeping through Orleans in the opening chapter. I saw the devastation, felt sorrow at the loss of life. The emotions of the characters really come off the page.
Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. The plot engages the readers, raises questions, and creates suspense. As Katrina threatens to flood the city, Marie must bring justice for the ghosts of a murdered family. Rhodes also integrates native African culture and religion, racial tensions, and the significance of nature in our lives into the story. I recommend this book for those who enjoy a good mystery with paranormal elements in it!
To be honest, I didn't realize that it was the third book of a series before I received it and saw the back cover, so I read this book without any prior knowledge as to the world Rhodes built. I don't know what I missed out on, but I felt like I could read this without knowing anything. And I'm glad that I had the chance to read to novel because Rhodes is an amazing author. Rhodes is very descriptive in her writing and mood-setting without bogging the reader down in excessive detail. I felt as though I was watching the flood sweeping through Orleans in the opening chapter. I saw the devastation, felt sorrow at the loss of life. The emotions of the characters really come off the page.
Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. The plot engages the readers, raises questions, and creates suspense. As Katrina threatens to flood the city, Marie must bring justice for the ghosts of a murdered family. Rhodes also integrates native African culture and religion, racial tensions, and the significance of nature in our lives into the story. I recommend this book for those who enjoy a good mystery with paranormal elements in it!
June 23, 2011
If you like intrigue, mystery and a little voodoo this is one book you will not put down!
If you have ever been in the South you know that Voodoo is taken very seriously in some parts and it is believed that there are those who make things happen and are never questioned.
This is a book filled with emotion that includes environmental devastation of Louisiana’s essential delta wetlands, the hurricane known as Katrina, and the flooding of New Orleans some of these to be projected as a way of cleansing a foul and destructive force.
This is one book that is mystical, and haunting also very spirit filled and tends to keep you on the edge of your seat.
If you have ever been in the South you know that Voodoo is taken very seriously in some parts and it is believed that there are those who make things happen and are never questioned.
This is a book filled with emotion that includes environmental devastation of Louisiana’s essential delta wetlands, the hurricane known as Katrina, and the flooding of New Orleans some of these to be projected as a way of cleansing a foul and destructive force.
This is one book that is mystical, and haunting also very spirit filled and tends to keep you on the edge of your seat.
October 9, 2011
Hurricane is the 3rd Installment of a series of books decicated to famous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Dr. Marie Laveau is the great great granddaughter of the voodoodienne.Dr. Lauveau has finally embraced the heritage that has been both a curde and a blessing to the women descendants of Maman Laveau. I it was a good read but was lacking as suspense as the previous book. I thank the aurthor for keeping the culture and history of New Orleans and the Afircans that have made it the cultural city that it is.
Read
August 8, 2015In this book I was exposed to some very sad information that I can't unlearn now about the tragedy of environmental degradation in the Mississippi Delta that didn't begin with the Deepwater Horizon disaster. This is a novel about real life horror and monsters that do exist. Similar environmental atrocities can and do happen anywhere.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
May 12, 2011
I won a copy from firstreads giveaways and I really enjoyed it. For some reason I thought it would have vampires but that was a previous book in the series. The settings and scenes were quite creepy sometimes! I was into the book enough to get chills and that creepy feeling that makes me glad to be in my locked house far away from the swamp! I haven't experienced that since reading Ann Rice books. :)
September 20, 2012
Rich with history and legend, "Hurricane" by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a pretty good read. Weaving mystery with the history of Louisiana and calling upon the loa, this book is a win. The third and final installment in a series, some readers may be confused if they have not read the first two books. Join the descendent of Marie Laveau as she speaks with spirits, heals patients, dodges Death, hunts a killer, and experiences Hurricane Katrina in the bayou.
January 13, 2015
My least favorite of the trilogy. I feel that more loose ends should have been tied up. I felt that the DeLaire story lacked a solid foundation to draw the reader in. I didn't care for many of the characters. I didn't even like Marie very much in this one. Gabriel the drummer could have been a key person in this book, from beginning to end. I liked his significance. This book was just...lacking. Not a good representation of the series.
June 27, 2013
I read the first book, but missed the second because my local library doesn't have it. This is the third and final in the series. For someone who visited and loves New Orleans, it is a book that is enjoyable to read, keeps the reader's attention, and is interesting filled with both fact and fiction. It is not literature, but a fun, vacation-type read.
June 30, 2011
I lived in the Delta for while, many years ago. This book brought back some intense memories of some of the strong, seductive women I met there.
This is a good " can't put it down" book.
I received this novel through a First Reads giveaway. Thank you.
This is a good " can't put it down" book.
I received this novel through a First Reads giveaway. Thank you.
May 20, 2011
Solid 4 and great conclusion to Leaveau trilogy. Jewell does a good job tying current environmental issues faces Mother Earth - specificall La. Story of voodoo, fantasty, suspense, Catholicism, and love of La. Rec reading the entire trilogy - Dreams, Season, & Hurricane - thanks Jewell P Rhodes!
July 14, 2013
Really really enjoyed this series. I love the mythology of the African gods and goddesses Rhodes researched and explained in the book, aside from the Voodoo religion and gods and goddesses and the background on the real Marie LeVeaux. Now, I just need to read Voodoo Dreams... :0).
Want to read
April 14, 2011Marie Leveau, vampires, New Orleans...enough said. I look forward to exploring this series!
July 26, 2011
it was ok. the first one was better.
June 8, 2011
Won this book in a giveaway. I LOVED it. I can't wait to read the other books. Jewell Parker Rhodes is a truly gifted writer.
July 17, 2012
Interesting fictional take on Hurricane Katrina and environmental racism in Louisiana.
December 20, 2013
This. Was a wonderfully moving story . I loved the ambience and woven voodoo history.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews