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French Quarter Mystery #7
Garden of Forbidden Secrets
While staying at an old French Quarter hotel in New Orleans, pro basketball player Taj Davis encounters a supernatural entity. The night bellhop finds Taj naked in the hallway carrying a bloody voodoo doll and with his chest tattooed with an eerie voodoo symbol. Taj’s curiosity leads him to the St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery where he meets a strange little man who advises him to enlist the help of voodoo mambo Mama Mulate and paranormal investigator Wyatt Thomas. Taj becomes entwined with a young woman who practices magic, has a tattoo identical to his, and maybe the reincarnation of a long dead Irish witch. Mama and Wyatt must deal with the woman’s magic, or fall victim to historical figures who are perpetrating mass murder in a French Quarter garden torture room.
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Published March 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 31, 2019
I started out really enjoying this book ... and about midway through things took a turn. There will be some minor spoilers in this review, but nothing that reveals the entirety of the plot.
Basketball star Taj Davis has just been traded to New Orleans. His first day in town, he meets Adela Kowalski ... who has a tattoo that looks just like his. Only neither one of them remembers when they got the tattoo.
They hire investigators Wyatt Thomas and Mama Mulate, at the recommendation of a man Taj meets in St Louis Cemetery No. 1, to find out how they're connected. That man calls himself Sam ... and turns out to be the loa Baron Samedi.
Now, this is New Orleans ... so there's voodoo, hoodoo, and all kinds of mystery. There's also a subplot about the mafia and rum-running, but it seems to be positioned solely to make way for another book.
Here's where things started to go south for me. Adela starts having "spells" any time she gets near the site of the LaLaurie Mansion (corner of Royal and Governor Nichols). Through a variety of circumstances it is revealed that she was present the day of the infamous fire. At the same time, there is reference in period to "it's not quite Mardi Gras" ... when the fire happened April 10, just past Easter Sunday that year. Lent was over. I've researched the fire and Madame LaLaurie extensively for a book of my own, so that bothered me.
Another moment that jarred me was reference to Delphine LaLaurie's "comic book appearance." Perhaps "cartoonish" would have been a better term, since the first comic book wasn't published until 1934. However, Madame LaLaurie was regarded as a great beauty during her day, even as an older woman. While modern-day standards of beauty might not apply, people in the 1830s had different ideas of what constituted feminine pulchritude.
At the end of the day, it was an okay horror novel ... but those two things just bugged me way too much.
Basketball star Taj Davis has just been traded to New Orleans. His first day in town, he meets Adela Kowalski ... who has a tattoo that looks just like his. Only neither one of them remembers when they got the tattoo.
They hire investigators Wyatt Thomas and Mama Mulate, at the recommendation of a man Taj meets in St Louis Cemetery No. 1, to find out how they're connected. That man calls himself Sam ... and turns out to be the loa Baron Samedi.
Now, this is New Orleans ... so there's voodoo, hoodoo, and all kinds of mystery. There's also a subplot about the mafia and rum-running, but it seems to be positioned solely to make way for another book.
Here's where things started to go south for me. Adela starts having "spells" any time she gets near the site of the LaLaurie Mansion (corner of Royal and Governor Nichols). Through a variety of circumstances it is revealed that she was present the day of the infamous fire. At the same time, there is reference in period to "it's not quite Mardi Gras" ... when the fire happened April 10, just past Easter Sunday that year. Lent was over. I've researched the fire and Madame LaLaurie extensively for a book of my own, so that bothered me.
Another moment that jarred me was reference to Delphine LaLaurie's "comic book appearance." Perhaps "cartoonish" would have been a better term, since the first comic book wasn't published until 1934. However, Madame LaLaurie was regarded as a great beauty during her day, even as an older woman. While modern-day standards of beauty might not apply, people in the 1830s had different ideas of what constituted feminine pulchritude.
At the end of the day, it was an okay horror novel ... but those two things just bugged me way too much.
April 9, 2021
I had a hard time getting and staying into this book...
I had a really hard time fully getting into and staying into this book. I could easily put it down and get sidetracked on other things, and that's very unusual when I've got a book in my hand...especially most of Eric's. The whole Eddie story was a little confusing and over the top to me, I didn't see much benefit yet. However I'm hoping it leads either to a book of it's own or even a new series. All of the characters were likable except Aleda/Aisling her personality kept changing and just made her really unlikable. Anyway none of this was a real deal break because I'm off to read the next. Later friends ✌
I had a really hard time fully getting into and staying into this book. I could easily put it down and get sidetracked on other things, and that's very unusual when I've got a book in my hand...especially most of Eric's. The whole Eddie story was a little confusing and over the top to me, I didn't see much benefit yet. However I'm hoping it leads either to a book of it's own or even a new series. All of the characters were likable except Aleda/Aisling her personality kept changing and just made her really unlikable. Anyway none of this was a real deal break because I'm off to read the next. Later friends ✌
January 10, 2020
I have read this entire series to date and am eagerly awaiting #8.
Each is a great mystery with just the right amount of supernatural.
I love all the characters, each has such a distinct personality, they are a treat!
The secondary characters are equally enjoyable and I like when they make return appearances.
I highly recommend this series.
Each is a great mystery with just the right amount of supernatural.
I love all the characters, each has such a distinct personality, they are a treat!
The secondary characters are equally enjoyable and I like when they make return appearances.
I highly recommend this series.
March 6, 2019
Loved it!!!
I have read the entire French Quarter series and this is my favorite so far; tied only with the Big Easy. For me it has just the right mix of Voodoo, mystery and detective work.
I have read the entire French Quarter series and this is my favorite so far; tied only with the Big Easy. For me it has just the right mix of Voodoo, mystery and detective work.
March 16, 2019
Love!!!
I am absolutely in love with Wyatt, Mama, and all the others characters! I have re-read all of the French Quarter Mysteries; they are so good. I was excited this one came out and eagerly wait for number 8.
I am absolutely in love with Wyatt, Mama, and all the others characters! I have re-read all of the French Quarter Mysteries; they are so good. I was excited this one came out and eagerly wait for number 8.
June 8, 2020
Does not disappoint
I really like Eric's style is mystery writing. I never can predict because he always twists the logical and obvious. Moving on the French Quarter Mysteries number 3.
I really like Eric's style is mystery writing. I never can predict because he always twists the logical and obvious. Moving on the French Quarter Mysteries number 3.
April 1, 2019
Great book. I started at no. 7, I am going to have to read this whole dang series now!
February 21, 2023
As always I enjoyed my time with Wyatt and Mama Mulate. They are very entertaining and keep me invested in the story. On to #8!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews