Wages of Sin

Daman Rourke #2

by Penelope Williamson

Even for 1927 New Orleans, a city that has seen the utmost in sanctity and sin, the story is shocking. Beloved priest Patrick Walsh has been murdered. The scene of the crime: an abandoned warehouse. The method of killing: torture. Even more shattering are the secrets he had hoped to take to his grave.

Daman Rourke, the homicide cop who fights hard and hurts easy, wants a righteous justice for this one. But he has to walk a fine line of danger in a town already seething over the pending execution of a black man and the disappearance of teenage girls devoted to Remy Lelourie, silent-film queen and Rourke's lover. Seeking the blood-red thread that connects these events, Rourke rediscovers an unforgettable truth: some things stay mysteries, especially when they live in the human heart.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Historical

498 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Penelope Williamson is an internationally renowned author of historical romance and suspense. Penelope Williamson was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and spent the first eleven years of her life as an US Air Force brat. She has a B.A. in history, an M.A. in broadcast journalism, and was in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years, where she reached the rank of Captain. She has more than 1.8 million books in print, including The Outsider, Heart of the West A Wild Yearning, Once in a Blue Moon, and Keeper of the Dream. Penny is a past winner of the Romantic Times' Best Historical Romance of the Year award and the Romance Writers of America's RITA awards. Penelope Williamson lives with her husband in Mill Valley, California.


pseudonyms: Elizabeth Lambert, Penn Williamson

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story, with extremely interesting, well-written characters, a complex inter-connected and thrill-a-minute plot and a very clever, atmospheric feel to the story. An additional selling feature for me, is that the book is set in late 1920's New Orleans - a location and an era that I'm particularly enamoured by.

The story is really creative and well-concieved. A well-known and much beloved local priest is found dead in an abandoned macaroni factory in a bad part of New Orleans. Not only has the priest been tortured, but he was crucified as well.

New Orleans detective Damon Roarke gets the case, but he very quickly realizes there is some very bizarre stuff going on that involved this murdered priest, starting with the shocking revelation the medical examiner delivers after the autopsy [no spoilers, you'll have to read the book].

Also complicating things is the fact that Roarke is involved with infamous Hollywood star Remy Lalourie, and Remy seems to be someone's obsession judging by the creepy notes she keeps receiving from an "admirer" - one written in human blood! Roarke isn't certain whether the stalker is the murderer, or if that is a separate situation altogether.

The murders keep coming, and every piece of information Roarke and his partner uncover seems to muddy the waters, as opposed to helping clear things up and lead to catching the killer.

The way the story is written is really engrossing and addicting. Every bit of clue we get seems to turn back on itself and make you shake your head as you try to figure out who's who, and what's really going on. The story moves really fast, with plenty of drama and exciting, scary plot twists coming hard and fast.

My only complaint [and the reason the book only got four stars rather than five] is that the ending leaves the reader with a bit of a cliff-hanger, and althought it's been more than five years, the author hasn't written a "next" book to let you know what ultimately happens with the cliff-hanger. That always bugs me - I want a proper ending, especially when I've loved the rest of the book.

But, if you like smart, complex murder mysteries, New Orleans as a setting, or the 1920's as an era, you may enjoy this book. I certainly did!

[Azri Razak · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Because sometimes, even with all your good intentions, life is neither fair nor gentle."

1927, New Orleans. The story unfolded when the beloved priest, Father Patrick Walsh, of Our Lady of Holy Rosary was found dead and crucified in an abandoned macaroni factory.
Daman Rourke the homicide cop assigned to this case was also hell-bent to find the link between the disappearances of the teenage girls that were devoted to the silen-film queen and his lover, Remy Lelourie.

In the end some truths are meant to stay hidden, especially the ones that were matters of the heart. A scandalous story about fame, the rich and the poor, the truths and the lies, all mixed together.

Thrilling and engaging book. This is the kind of book that'll keep you reaching to wrong assumptions and conclusions.

[TeaByTheShelves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damals wie heute nervt es mich tierisch, dass ich an diesem Buch 2 Monate verschwendet habe nur um abermals festzustellen, dass Krimis einfach nicht mein Genre sind. Rassismus und Sexismus sind ein Produkt seiner Zeit, und ich war auch kein Fan von den zu vielen Charakteren und dem schrägen Zeitverlauf. Muss ich nicht nochmal haben.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish there were more in the series. Williamson clearly planned more, but I guess that may never happen. Like the first book, this one was thrilling, impossible to put down, and just an over-all interesting look into the racial and gender realities of late 1920s New Orleans.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the step back in time to 1927, New Orleans. Several mysteries are going on in this story.
Rourke is the detective trying to solve them all. Very good and the author does a great job catching the mood of the time.

[JBresson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Susan Clark-cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my exposure of this author's writing. I thought it was gripping, and kept me reading into the night. I am adding her to list of my preferred authors and look forward to going backwards to her earlier works.
The characters progressed as you go into the book and although I felt it was a slow start it really speeded up, as did my reading, as it progressed and the characters came alive for me. I was hoping there was a follow up or another book using these same characters but couldn't really find one. Maybe it's to be in the future and if so I will be looking forward to reading it ardently.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is set in 1927 New Orleans. There are 2 different murder mysteries and of course you think they must have some bond in common, but what can it be? I enjoyed this book a lot. There were times when I couldn't put it down and times when it was easy to. Luckily for me, most of the time it was hard to put down. Penelope Williamson writes well. I just enjoyed the way she expressed the story.

[Wolf]

I am confused. Has anyone read this book? Because i have to know WHO ROMEO IS!!!!!
I'm pretty sure he isn't Paulie (looks like Daman), Daman Rourke (Remy just said bye to him), Ottis (he's taken care of), Fio (he got shot at), or any girls, obviously... But who? Freddie? The director? Max?
please help me I'm so confused!!!!

[Sandee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on CD on the way back and forth to work. It's a little over-the-top noir, but it was entertaining. I wonder why the author didn't write a sequel. She leaves this one hanging, and it's a bit frustrating. My husband actually got me to listen to this one because he was anxious to see if I could figure out the final mystery. I could not.

[Angela]

Wish I could get ahold of the book before this one as this was a sequel and it ended on a cliffhanger so I am searching to see if there is another, v. good book, it is a male writer using a woman's name and he usually writes romances. This is a great mystery/cop thriller.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had forgotten I'd bought this and just discovered it again 2 days ago. I have always enjoyed Penelope Williamson's books, and can truthfully say this one kept me guessing right to the end. If there's a sequel, I'd like to know about it.

[Laura Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Orleans, 1927. A murdered priest and a string of missing girls. Daman Rouke is a homicide detective who takes his job to heart. His girlfriend is silent screen star Remy Lelourie who is being stalked. Will this guy get any rest?

[Eva]

I've had this for years-it's in hardback on my night stand.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

intriguing who-done-it with some good plot twists

[Brainorgan]

Wages of Sin by Penelope Williamson (2004)

[Spitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

takes place in 1928 New Orleans. After reading this, I think of myself "strutting" instead of walking and call everyone "chile."

[Mary G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very, very good. WOW!

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Penelope Williamson was a good and interesting read. I enjoyed it and would read another book by the same author.

J. Robert Ebank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruesome and psychologically draining, but well-written and evocative of a time and place.

[Keri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has a very Creole "noir" feel to it. Review to come....

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really liked it. 1920's New Orleans. Has a more interesting plot line than the usual "One for the Money" et al.

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my genre. This author is one of my favorite writers of historical fiction, as in "Heart of the West", " The Outsider", but couldn't get more than a few pages into this one.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like her books, good writer. This was a little different, cause it was about a New Orleans Dect in the 20's.

[Seema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complicated..so many twists and turns..well written

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

never saw the end of this one coming. Liked the previous two books by this author much better.