Devil's Breath

Voodoo Bayou #1

by Anna Paxton

Voodoo Witchcraft is afoot in the bayou. When a Voodoo Priest warns of impending havoc in the small Louisiana Parish, deputy Claire Duvall pays attention, Mr. Henri is always right.

Soon, a skull is found and the mayhem beings. Together with fellow officer Jessica Morgan, Claire investigates only to find more bodies.

A serial killer is using the bayou as a graveyard.

How can they stop this madman they can’t find? They must find the answer as their very lives depend on it.

While Claire and Jess hunt for the killer, Mr. Henri fights in the spirit world. But both the killer and the witch are strong.

Will they stop them? Their lives depend on it.

Paperback

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Librarian note: Anna^^Paxton

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Claire Duvall who is a deputy sheriff in western Louisiana. Jessica Morgan is transferred into her district when the sheriff becomes ill. Claire and Jessica have instant attraction when they first meet. They begin an investigation in the nearby bayou when a child’s skull is found. They ask a local voodoo priest to help them solve the crime.

I enjoyed this mystery romance story. I liked the characters and the setting in the Louisiana bayou. And the creepy voodoo scenes added to the intensity of solving the mystery. I have been to Louisiana and been in the bayou on a tour and the writing was very realistic to me.

It was a good first effort for a debut author. Yes the romance was a bit too easy but believable in this story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

well who wouldnt like a book about voodoo. magic and the bayou

theres an evil lurking in the bayou and his day is coming....

claire a deputy is called to a scene in the bayou.... a skull had been found but unearthing the rest of the body is going to take a team effort and with crocs around them at all times its a logistic nightmare for all concerned....

once the skeletal remains are safely uncovered its not long before more bodies are found and realising they have a serial killer around them and with a flagging workforce a call for more officers is put out

but its not just the bodies that are found... an attempt on the the chief life puts everyone on high alert....

can their small town really be a haven for a serial kiiller and a port for drugs to be coming in.... high drama indeed

wow what a read...with the bayou and voodoo who wouldnt like this book...
cant wait for the next book from this author...

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and thought it was something different from anything I have read before. It initially caught my attention due to where the book was set and it did not disappoint you could really picture the bayou.

[Heloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Voodoo x Lesbians x Murder what's not to like? I enjoyed the storyline and the way the investigation kept developing, I had a few guesses of who the main suspect was and I was pleasantly surprised, also by the revelation at the end of the book. I like the ending we got but I also love the fact it still showed hardship and not just your standard ending where everything goes perfect. Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a copy of this arc.

[AGC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

[J H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read books by a few sapphic authors that take place around the Louisiana bayous, and this one was pretty good. There were mysteries, serial murders, some forensic anthropology, romance, voodoo, and more. It was told in multiple POVs, but one thing I've always liked in books is when we get to be "inside" the killer's head. (When it's well-written.) A few things were left open for a sequel, and I'll definitely read it.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read the burb re this book they did mention Voodoo was part of the story but I decided to read it anyways and girl, oh girl I am very glad I did. When a small skull was found deep in the bayou. When Deputy Claire Duvall went to the site where the discovery was made she had the feeling something big was coming to light.
Claire was born and raised in the small community and even though she’d been picked on all her life mainly because she presented herself as lesbian. Small towns, small minds. She eventually trained to be a law officer and decided to stay where she was. Someday she might find the strength to leave but after her mom died she just didn’t have the drive to move on. Now she was working for the small police department and apparently there was a murderer killing people. The reason wasn’t clear but they had a case to solve.
Needing help, the department brought in another officer, Jess Morgan. Even with so much new info coming in they both felt that little thrill when they met. Jess, along with Claire, had a killer to catch. They only had a small crew so the days were long.
With more than a few twists and turns this has turned out to be a great read. It wasn’t scary and didn’t give me the creeps, just a really strong plot with great characters, both main and supporting cast. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC NetGalley/ Bella Books

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this and I’m really hoping Anna Paxton writes many more adventures in the Voodoo Bayou series. The various aspects pull together really well and the respect shown to the local beliefs by the cops in the story add an element of credibility. If you’re policing a bayou where people believe in voodoo and ‘supernatural’ elements, you need to be careful where you tread.

Claire Duvall is quite happily getting through her days when bodies start turning up when there’s a long dry spell. She needs help and Jess Morgan comes in from a neighbouring force. They work well together while fighting the misogyny and homophobia of some of the locals and indeed some colleagues. But there’s also some really helpful and supportive people. Claire and Jess grow closer as they start to work out what’s going on.

The drug being described is terrifying and the ending is at a race car pace and leaves you breathless. I would have said the book was an easy 4* until Miss Paxton created the ending and sorted out all the threads. Strong writing and I’m already looking forward to Book #2

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book peaked my interest because the setting is different from most books. I like the Louisiana small town idea, the homophobia there, not so much. These religious zealots kinda ruin things for me.
The first 20% or so was difficult for me to get into, there was a lot of religious tal (Christianity and voodoo). While we get a lot of books with some form of Christianity, voodoo was a new experience, I’m uncertain if it was a pleasant one.
I started liking the book more when the religious bits were turned down and the crime amped up, and the entry of our second main character.

The book has some issues with timings in my opinion, it stuck too long on one thing, while other things felt pretty rushed. It seems like a bit of first time published author bumps. Throughout the story I was kind of convinced about knowing who the bad guy was, I was wrong. I like that I was wrong! <- words you won’t hear me say often.

I’ll be on the lookout for the second book in the voodoo bayou series.
3.5 stars

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this debut novel that appears to be the first in a new series. Claire Duvall is a deputy sheriff in a small Parish in Louisiana. With water receding in the bayou a skull is found of a child who went missing years before. An undersheriff, Jess Morgan, is on loan to run the department while the elected sheriff is out for medical reasons. The case gets more complex when more bodies are found.

I liked Claire and Jess as they work together. A whole lot is hitting the department but they are professional and follow procedures. There is Voodoo for good and evil mixed into the storyline which I thought enhanced the story. This is listed as the first in a series and I hope the duo returns with another police mystery soon. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for the book and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Jazzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from a small town in Louisiana I absolutely loved this story. So many things were relatable, down to knowing the way the humidity feels in the summer on the bayou. It's a great story with great characters, and plot twists you don't quite see coming. The ending felt a tad bit rushed, but other than that, swamps, a serial killer, voodoo, Southern Gothic vibes, and Loa's. It doesn't get much better than that.

[Candace Aresfury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. While not the most mysterious who done it book I’ve ever read, I liked the characters and the pacing of the book. I don’t feel like it lagged or got bogged down..if anything it progressed a little too fast in places. The love story was cute and I really liked Claire. 🌶️/5 on the spice scale. It definitely wasn’t the focus of the book which was a nice change up, the murder mystery was front and center.

[SSA]

DNF at 20%. I’m not a fan of the writing style and the mystery hasn’t intrigued me to keep going. “I’m Jessica Morgan but call me Jess.” For example, this was said twice in a short span of time. She could have easily introduced herself as Jess, I’m sure most people know what Jess is short for. The writing and dialogue felt overwrought and unnatural. And I think I already know who the killer is unless it’s a misdirect but I’m not interested enough to finish it.

[Michael Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author involves romance, policework, Voodoo and a serial killer. There are trigger points with murder and Voodoo. I found the plot good and the characters well written. I recommend this book for thriller romance readers.