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The Cage-maker
Bringing the New Orleans of the late 1800s and early 1900s vividly to life, Nicole Seitz’s latest novel unfolds as a series of letters, journal entries, and newspaper articles discovered in the secret compartment of an enormous and exquisitely detailed birdcage that Trish, a twenty-first-century blogger, has inherited from a heretofore unknown relative. As she peruses the documents, Trish finds herself irresistibly drawn into the history of her family―a tale that is, as one letter puts it, “part love story and part horror and madness.”
In 1906 Dr. René Le Monnier is ready to retire after a lengthy career as the New Orleans coroner and physician for the insane asylum. Still mourning his wife’s death, the Civil War veteran wants nothing more than finally to write his account of the Battle of Shiloh. But when a sixteen-year-old girl, Carmelite Kurucar, enlists his aid in saving her brother from a death sentence, the good doctor has to reckon with old ghosts and dusty, long-forgotten files―in particular the case of a patient to whom he may not have given sufficient treatment and consideration.
Le Monnier’s efforts to help Carmelite lead him to Bertrand Saloy, one of the richest men in all New Orleans; to the Le Monnier mansion, which still haunts him; and down a dark family lineage “cursed” by a succession of wealth. Amid the mysteries and suspenseful intrigue, a French birdcage maker’s obsessive love for Madame Saloy emerges at the heart of the story. Based in part on real people and events and featuring illustrations by the author, this engrossing epistolary novel offers fresh twists on the Southern Gothic genre. It reveals much about criminal justice, about early-twentieth-century notions of care for the mentally ill, and, most important, about the many ways in which the weight of history hangs over the present from one generation to the next.
In 1906 Dr. René Le Monnier is ready to retire after a lengthy career as the New Orleans coroner and physician for the insane asylum. Still mourning his wife’s death, the Civil War veteran wants nothing more than finally to write his account of the Battle of Shiloh. But when a sixteen-year-old girl, Carmelite Kurucar, enlists his aid in saving her brother from a death sentence, the good doctor has to reckon with old ghosts and dusty, long-forgotten files―in particular the case of a patient to whom he may not have given sufficient treatment and consideration.
Le Monnier’s efforts to help Carmelite lead him to Bertrand Saloy, one of the richest men in all New Orleans; to the Le Monnier mansion, which still haunts him; and down a dark family lineage “cursed” by a succession of wealth. Amid the mysteries and suspenseful intrigue, a French birdcage maker’s obsessive love for Madame Saloy emerges at the heart of the story. Based in part on real people and events and featuring illustrations by the author, this engrossing epistolary novel offers fresh twists on the Southern Gothic genre. It reveals much about criminal justice, about early-twentieth-century notions of care for the mentally ill, and, most important, about the many ways in which the weight of history hangs over the present from one generation to the next.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2017
14 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Seitz
13 books124 followersNicole Seitz is a South Carolina Lowcountry native, the author of seven critically acclaimed novels, and editor of a non-fiction anthology. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, she also has a bachelor's degree in illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Nicole is a speaker on writing, art, and faith; she's a painter and has illustrated the covers for her novels. She also taught art for many years at a local private school in the Charleston, South Carolina area, where she lives with her husband and two children. Nicole's latest release, The Cage-maker, is a Southern Gothic historical mystery based on discoveries she made while researching her own family history in New Orleans.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 23, 2017
After five years of waiting for a new book from Nicole Seitz - the wait will be over on August 15. It's never fun to wait for a new book by one of your favorite authors but when you start reading it and it's fantastic -- well it's time to do a happy dance! I want to thank Story River books for a copy of the arc to read and review. Story River Books keeps continuing to put out fantastic books - I don't usually pay much attention to who publishes books but I am always on the lookout for books from Story River.
The Cage Maker is the story that stretches from the late 1800 to present day. It tells the story of an artist who made bird cages - not just any bird cages but intricately created works of art. It is also the story of Dr. René Le Monnier, a physician who fought in the Civil War and the man who is central to the entire story. He knows the present day Kurucar family and he knew the artist who made cages and he knew Madame Solay. Dr. LeMonnier is the person who starts looking into the belief of a family curse and tries to dispel it. There is an interesting mystery that ties all of these people together and it's told through letters, the doctor's journal entries and newspaper articles.
This is Southern Gothic at its best. To sum it all up, I am going to add part of the information from the publisher because it says it all much better than I can:
It reveals much about criminal justice, about early-twentieth-century notions of care for the mentally ill, and, most important, about the many ways in which the weight of history hangs over the present from one generation to the next.
The Cage Maker is the story that stretches from the late 1800 to present day. It tells the story of an artist who made bird cages - not just any bird cages but intricately created works of art. It is also the story of Dr. René Le Monnier, a physician who fought in the Civil War and the man who is central to the entire story. He knows the present day Kurucar family and he knew the artist who made cages and he knew Madame Solay. Dr. LeMonnier is the person who starts looking into the belief of a family curse and tries to dispel it. There is an interesting mystery that ties all of these people together and it's told through letters, the doctor's journal entries and newspaper articles.
This is Southern Gothic at its best. To sum it all up, I am going to add part of the information from the publisher because it says it all much better than I can:
It reveals much about criminal justice, about early-twentieth-century notions of care for the mentally ill, and, most important, about the many ways in which the weight of history hangs over the present from one generation to the next.
December 3, 2017
12/3/17 update: Enthralling. I loved the epistolary format, the peeling layers of the mystery, the voices evoking questions of insanity, passion, and greed. An unforgettable story.
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5/24/17: Yay! Can't WAIT for this book--it sounds amazing!!
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5/24/17: Yay! Can't WAIT for this book--it sounds amazing!!
May 4, 2023
I had a hard time deciphering how all the characters were connected and who they were. Therefore I did not have the time to connect with them. I love the turn of the century, New Orleans setting but as the story is told in letters and diary entries the setting is not too rich. The writing was fine. The plot was really intriguing of a woman finding out her family history but it was just hard to follow and not properly executed. I don’t have any strong feelings towards this book.
2.5 out of 5.
2.5 out of 5.
Want to read
October 10, 2017An epistolary novel? Yes please.
November 15, 2017
I can't remember when I read a book like this last. It has been too long and now I wonder why. I have missed the literary style, the rich, historical era characters and the saga across generations. I have missed the attention to detail in an art form from gentler times. This book is like a feast of many courses. Each course is more wonderful than the last. When the dessert is presented, I disappointed that the feast is almost over. How satisfying to finish such a feast and feel that it was complete in all ways.
October 19, 2022
I am genuinely confused.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the way this ended, but I kind of felt like the first 90% of the book was all over the place. There were a few typos, but I was able to overlook them amid my confusion. I feel like there’s a bit of a stretch between the cage maker’s crush on Carmelite Saloy and the gist of the story, but maybe on a second read things will make more sense. As a genealogist myself, I love the closing words of Le Monnier’s letter, and I can relate somewhat.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the way this ended, but I kind of felt like the first 90% of the book was all over the place. There were a few typos, but I was able to overlook them amid my confusion. I feel like there’s a bit of a stretch between the cage maker’s crush on Carmelite Saloy and the gist of the story, but maybe on a second read things will make more sense. As a genealogist myself, I love the closing words of Le Monnier’s letter, and I can relate somewhat.
October 1, 2017
Great story line! It was written quite differently than most books but I enjoyed how it was all laid out and still flowed together flawlessly! Interesting that it’s based somewhat on historical Family events.
February 4, 2018
While I enjoyed creating a family tree and time line to keep track of what was going on, it also would have been nice to have had Pauline's bookline, pg 235, at the start to avoid much back and forth and figuring out who was who.
February 19, 2018
Captivating!
This story flowed even though it is told through letters. A rich family history of love, greed, want, deceit and much more. Wonderful characters that Nicole brings to life in this throughly enthrallIng Southern gothic novel. A must read!
This story flowed even though it is told through letters. A rich family history of love, greed, want, deceit and much more. Wonderful characters that Nicole brings to life in this throughly enthrallIng Southern gothic novel. A must read!
February 14, 2021
This was a slow, painful read. I thought I’d love it based on the summary but I really struggled to finish. There were also a lot of editorial errors that were distracting and made it more difficult to read (typos, misspelled words, extra/duplicate words)
January 26, 2018
Great story! Fascinating look into New Orleans history, and even better as it relates to my dear friend’s ancestors and events in her family.
May 23, 2018
This was a good book, and the story was very engaging. I got confused on all of the layers of flashbacks, but it wasn't difficult enough to ruin my enjoyment of the story.
September 17, 2020
Difficult to keep track of characters and hard to follow but good story
September 28, 2021
Captivating tale of families with a New Orleans flavor
July 26, 2018
New Orleans story about a talented craftsman that made bird Cage - makes. Mixed in is an rich family and drama and voodoo.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews