Mortal Sins

Daman Rourke #1

by Penn Williamson

New Orleans, Louisiana. 1927. Creole aristocrat Charles St. Claire is murdered, his throat slashed with a cane knife. Police discover his wife, Hollywood sex goddess Remy Lelourie, next to the body, drenched in blood. Chief investigator Daman Rourke, who loved and lost Remy years before, wants to believe she is innocent, even though he has seen her kill before. As the evidence against Remy mounts, three more murders rock the city, and Rourke is torn between old loyalties and his pursuit of the truth. As he follows the trail of death and betrayal through the back alleys and roaring jazz haunts of the French Quarter, he finds himself led ever deeper into the guarded secrets and sins of none other than New Orleans' oldest and most respected family.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Historical Mystery, Romance, Historical

270 pages, ebook

First published March 2, 2000

About the author

Pseudonym of Penelope Williamson

Reviews

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1920’s deep in the Louisiana bayou Mortal Sins presents so clear a portrait of the time period it’s almost as if you were there feeling the oppressive heat and smelling all of the scents the bayou has to offer. Unfortunately, one of those scents is death.

Police Officer Damon “Day” Rourke is called to the murder scene of a prominent lawyer who has been mutilated and brutally butchered and the story, for the most part, is told from Rourke’s perspective. Rourke is connected to the case in many and numerous ways and only becomes more entangled as the story unfolds. The major suspect in the murder case is the victim’s glamorous movie star wife, Remy. She’s also the one woman who broke Rourke’s young heart. Rourke thought he’d buried thoughts of Remy deep within him. He even married a woman who is now conveniently (or tragically, depending on your level of cynicism) dead and is raising his young daughter alone. Alas, when he sees Remy again all of the hurt, pain and all consuming love comes crashing back and he’s determined to prove her innocence regardless of the consequences. Things become even more complicated when Rourke learns that the “system” wants to pin the murder on his childhood friend Lucille, a beautiful black woman who was the victim’s reluctant mistress.

Mortal Sins is a book rich in description. Everything from the murders, the racial tensions of the time, to the hot sweltering landscape is painted with exquisite detail. And though the book is extremely descriptive (which is important to me), it fails for me on an emotional level because most, if not all, of the characters are so intensely damaged they verge on unlike-ability (especially drop-dead gorgeous, seriously disturbed Remy). In the end I truly didn’t care what happened to any of them with the exception of the sympathetic Lucille. Rourke may be an outstanding cop but he’s a pretty neglectful father and his unflinching support of creepy Remy verges on obsession and makes him come across as a little creepy too. The characters are interesting, I’ll give them that, but it was difficult to work up any sympathy for the lot of ‘em because they’re all so damaged, disturbed or just plain selfish.

I give this story three stars because the writing is rich and because I enjoyed the attention to detail and atmosphere. I also found the mystery and all of the dirty little secrets intriguing and I didn’t find it difficult to turn the pages. But these things aren’t enough to make me wait with breathless anticipating for the upcoming sequel.

[cglrayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
,,Wir werden alle verfolgt, dachte Daman Rourke, von den Dämonen der schlechten Entscheidungen, die vor vielen Jahren getroffen wurden, von uns selbst und den Menschen, die vor uns da waren. Das Herz eines anderen Menschen können wir niemals wirklich kennen. Es ist in uns allen vorhanden - alles Gute und alles Schlechte auf der Welt. Wir unterscheiden uns nur durch unsere Entscheidungen und am Ende müssen wir diese Entscheidungen allein treffen."

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Gave it nearly 80 pages before giving up. I agree with other reviewers who say you can almost feel the heat of New Orleans but in the end, I just didn't care enough about any of the characters to wonder what happened to them.

[Mallorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a pretty good book it had a lot of descriptions of new orleans and i enjoyed the ending the end of the book had the most action.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I LOVED this. I'm not sure why it took me so long to pick up Penelope Williamson's detective novels. This was lush and beautiful and gripping. More sex scenes than you would normally see in a detective novel (at least, the kind I've read), in keeping with Williamson's background as a romance novelist, but this was un-put-down-able. I read the second book in one gulp on a plane ride home from vacation as well, even with the lure of new movies on in-flight entertainment.

This is a mystery/detective novel set in 1927 New Orleans. A lot of racial tension (a LOT!), a lot of crime, gore, murder, beautiful characters, sad and realistic stories. It's a must-read if you like the genre.

[Lisa Fangman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have sat on rating or reviewing this book for a few days. It started off odd, confusing, and sometimes painfully slow. I normally read a book over a matter of days and this was months. I kept putting it down. Yet there was something there pulling me back so I persevered. It was a great story told in an awful way in my opinion. The editor should be fired. I am fine with flashbacks when at some point beginning or end I KNOW it is a flashback. This book was ALL over the place with so many story lines past and present I had to keep thinking now who was what and did what where and was who to whom? Too much work for a good mystery told wrong. Doubt I will read anything else of hers.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Orleans gothic. A young girl sees a phantasm in the swamps, but no one believes her, not even her father the cop (who is ridden by his own ghosts). Five men die violently and three women’s lives are sacrifices to the specter of race. Some murderers are punished, but not all crimes are solved—and some murderers go free, and perhaps for the best.

I was glad to finish this book, and it may be a while before I pick up another by this author. Race-based violence is too much with us already in 2019.

[Megan Toomey McBride · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential, but it just doesn’t live up to it. There are way too many subplots and trips down memory lane. The story is not helped at all by the author’s desire to tie every crime that has ever happened in New Orleans to the current murder. And she is incapable of going more than about 4 paragraphs without mentioning speakeasies and bootleg liquor. We get it; the story is set during Prohibition. Stop already!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a "cleaning off my many book shelves" find from many years back - a wonderful book taking place in New Orleans in the 1920's- very beautifully written - the guy can pain a picture for sure - old Hollywood, mafia - Al Capone time and New Orleans with romance and murder mixed in - a great find!

[JBresson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[A.J. Griffiths-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the era of this novel, so much going on & plenty of unexpected twists. Sometimes there was too much predictable romance but the story had backbone & was delivered well.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in the red outback, lying on my bed during still desert nights and I felt as if I was in the heavy humidity of New Orleans. I felt as I was by the Bayou, the smell of food wafting in from an open window, the sound of jazz in the distance. Penelope Williamson is very good at creating the atmosphere of the landscape that she is writing about and she demonstrates this skill really well in this book. It is a murder mystery and a beautiful character piece on memory, loss and love. Weary widowed cop, Daman Rourke, is called to the home of wealthy Charles St Claire who has been murdered. The prime suspect is Charles' wife, the film star, Remy Lelourie who was also Daman's lover during their mis-spent youth. There are twists and turns as you would expect in any murder mystery but the journey is achingly poignant and beautifully told. I wish Ms Williamson was still publishing novels because after I finished this book, I never really forgot the yearning that I felt for a place I have never been.

[Ladyslott · Rating 1 out of 5]

The star for this book is really for New Orleans. If the author wrote more about the city then the people who lived there, the book would have garnered more stars. Boring, self absorbed people do not an interesting book make. Damon Rourke, the lead character while having some redeeming qualities, also appears to be just a little nuts. While very busy seeming to care about everyone in his town, he seems to have very little emotion left for his young daughter. Remie Lelourie, his former lover, and leading suspect in her husband's death, is quite insane. Yet we are supposed to find these very unappealing characters, romantic star crossed lovers. I have read some reviews here that indicate Penn Williamson is a pseudonym for a romance writer. Well it shows in the plotting and prose of this book.After reading about these characters, whom I had no desire to meet, greet or even pass by on the street, my whole reaction was who cares.

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mortal Sins by Penn Williamson was a dissappointing book....I knew I was reading the book but I felt like I was hearing the voices and seeing the scenes in a movie theater. It probably sounds crazy. There was to much prolong dramatizing in slang words and character reactions. The setting was in the early 1900's between White and Negro people. It finally started emerging into a understable story about half way through. It was hard to keep track of who was related to whom but with more information throughout the book I got the puzzle put together with some confusion. However, 3/4 way through the book it was getting interesting with all the twist and turns and who done what to who. I thought I knew answers to certain questions as I was reading but Alas!....I was wrong and taken in another direction.....That's why I could'nt put it down at the end but I still rated it low.....

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This improved past the half-way mark and became quite the complicated mystery that didn't unravel completely until the very last pages. The depiction of New Orleans was impressive and clearly conveyed the atmosphere - both physical and social - of that city. I did take issue with some of the cliched writing, such as: "[the detective] turned up his collar against the rain that fell out of a misty indigo sky."

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story and cultural references that gave me a chance to imagine what life must'v been like in "N'awlins" during prohibtion. Great descriptions of the time, the place and the secrets kept over generations.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times while reading this book that I had to recheck who the author was, because I thought I was reading Burke's Dave Robicheau series.
Is there something in New Orleans water?

The plot has more twists and turns than a mountain road in Central Am.

[Jonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 2000, read in 2020. The Book takes place in 1927 New Orleans and the storyline, without giving anything away, is steeped in the chasm between blacks and whites. The issue of race is central to the book. It's a powerful story with lots of plot twists. I highly recommend it.

[Clayfem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, talk about twist and turns! The human frailty and the depths of pain our choices create for others is finely explored in this fascinating whodunit.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sent this one overseas to the troops and then went out and bought two more copies. Speakeasies and the 20s in NOLA. Hot and sensuous, liquid writing. Damn I need a cigarette.

[Tarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gives such a rich, vivid picture of New Orleans in the 1920's. The historical recollections are a wonderful addition to the story and builds each character in your mind.

[Brainorgan]

Mortal Sins by Penelope Williamson (2003)

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, so much texture. Makes you feel like you're right there in 1920s New Orleans.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. It was written in such a way that I felt like I was there in New Orleans. Brilliant!

[Susan Mangigian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I lent it to a friend and she didn't like it at all, but her taste runs to Nora Roberts, so I should have known better.

[Jan de Wit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master story teller. What can I ad? just read it.

[KG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, lots of twists and turns.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I enjoyed it but it could get convoluted if you putting toothpicks in your eyes to read reading....

[Ugochukwu Ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning. You can feel the life and breath of New Orleans seeping into you. Better than Anne Rice in The Queen of the Damned

[Ann Tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layered, fascinating historical murder mystery set in New Orleans - families, race, crime, networks - all fascinating.