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Herbert and Melancon #2
Roots of Misfortune
This gripping, page-turning thriller from the author of The Krewe, delves deeply into the mysterious, tragic, and dark world of occult New Orleans and its sordid history.
The dead girl is holding roots, one grasped tightly in each palm, when the NOPD finds her mangled body out on Interstate 10.
David Melancon has gone independent. The corruption on the force was just too much for an old detective who doesn’t play ball. But there is something eerily familiar about the details of this young girl’s demise as he reads them in the Picayune. Something deeply personal. Something he can’t drink his way past this time.
But he’s got his young and naïve partner, Felix Herbert, to think about. The boy hasn’t even let the ink dry on his newly-minted PI’s license. He just isn’t ready for this kind of case.
Yet, when another girl goes missing the same week, a knock at the door ensures the two unlikely partners won’t have a choice. They soon find themselves entangled in an ever-thickening web of cruelty, violence, and revenge.
As they search for the missing girl, they’ll confront Voodoo priestesses, Mardi Gras Indians, and a secret at the root of things so terrible that, once uncovered, will change David Melancon’s life forever.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2019
646 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 1, 2019
This book is an amazing read. Totally lived up to the promise of the first book. With a new thrill all its own. Fun in places and a little disturbing in others, heart-wrenching along the way but ultimately uplifting. I loved Felix and David so much in THE KREWE I was thrilled to learn of a second book in the Herbert and Melancon series. The characters, the premise, the writing... with the backdrop of New Orleans... it's all there and it's all awesome. And now I'm sad that there is no more of this book left to read - because I'd read more if there was more. Don't worry, there's no cliffhanger here - just a desire to remain in the world of these characters, solving crime and fighting the good fight against the bad guys... and against their inner demons.
December 2, 2019
New Orleans page turner
While I didn't like this quite as much as the first one and found the writing a little overdone in a few places, I still liked the characters and the New Orleans flavor. It was a quick, enjoyable read. I will look for the next one.
One thing I will note is that the two main characters' journeys with addiction didn't ring true to me. (Felix in book 1 and Melancon in this one) They seemed too "all or nothing" with both characters facing a moment of truth and then going cold turkey. Physical withdrawal symptoms are referenced but don't seem all that intense. There are no relapses, no need for support groups, etc. I have watched people go through the process and it's not that easy.
While I didn't like this quite as much as the first one and found the writing a little overdone in a few places, I still liked the characters and the New Orleans flavor. It was a quick, enjoyable read. I will look for the next one.
One thing I will note is that the two main characters' journeys with addiction didn't ring true to me. (Felix in book 1 and Melancon in this one) They seemed too "all or nothing" with both characters facing a moment of truth and then going cold turkey. Physical withdrawal symptoms are referenced but don't seem all that intense. There are no relapses, no need for support groups, etc. I have watched people go through the process and it's not that easy.
June 5, 2019
Very entertaining
This is one of the best self-published books I've read in a long time. It is well constructed, has complex characters doing complex things. Satisfying ending. Few misused words. Read it!
This is one of the best self-published books I've read in a long time. It is well constructed, has complex characters doing complex things. Satisfying ending. Few misused words. Read it!
June 8, 2019
The return of old ex-cop David Melancon and enthusiastic Felix Herbert in New Orleans, with girls going missing and voodoo hovering. It doesn't quite triumph over the genre but is a smooth read well worth doing.
August 18, 2019
Winning combination: fun characters, tightly written and lots of mystery. Oh, and...New Orleans! It's wonderful! Loved the characters and the story (albeit a sad, almost hopeless situation is what involves our detectives in the first place.) I'd easily read more by this author. Quite enjoyable!
August 27, 2019
Good read
Interesting characters and events. Good dialog, lots of writers can't get the dialogue at all. Will be reading anything this guy writes and I hope he gets the next book ready soon
Interesting characters and events. Good dialog, lots of writers can't get the dialogue at all. Will be reading anything this guy writes and I hope he gets the next book ready soon
May 31, 2019
Roots
Enjoyed this read . Interesting and likeable characters. New Orleans at its spookiest. Will read next book coming out soon
Enjoyed this read . Interesting and likeable characters. New Orleans at its spookiest. Will read next book coming out soon
June 22, 2019
Such a beautiful story of love, loss and a fresh start on life. History lessons on New Orleans WOW. This is a must read series. Get on board and enjoy the ride.
January 5, 2021
Crescent city crime feast
Mr. Pevey asked for a review, so here we go. Krewe and Roots are brutal. They are mind numbing in the constant barrage of action, information and psychological attack. Pevey is graphic, taut, fraught with wild ideas that actually work, not just because the setting is New Orleans. NO allows for a kind of mesmerizing evil backdrop that disappears as soon as you try to look straight into it, and Pevey has put that to excellent use. These novels aren't gentle, they are not kind, but there is a compelling sense of reality that is extraordinarily well written and works. I would suggest the caveat you read them at risk, because they are gory, grim and painful. Oh yeah, they are also very very good and two such disparate hero characters, riven and driven with frailty dance gloriously together. I don't know which one I like better, but I know I want to read more.
Mr. Pevey asked for a review, so here we go. Krewe and Roots are brutal. They are mind numbing in the constant barrage of action, information and psychological attack. Pevey is graphic, taut, fraught with wild ideas that actually work, not just because the setting is New Orleans. NO allows for a kind of mesmerizing evil backdrop that disappears as soon as you try to look straight into it, and Pevey has put that to excellent use. These novels aren't gentle, they are not kind, but there is a compelling sense of reality that is extraordinarily well written and works. I would suggest the caveat you read them at risk, because they are gory, grim and painful. Oh yeah, they are also very very good and two such disparate hero characters, riven and driven with frailty dance gloriously together. I don't know which one I like better, but I know I want to read more.
January 28, 2023
This book was probably not my cup of tea and it took me a while to read yet here I am contemplating reading more. Why?
The writing is very good. Mainly the characters are what are drawing me in. I love the pairing of Tina and Felix and would like to see more of them. Melancon and felix also make a good partnership.
My issues - ignorance on my part. I'm not familiar with new Orleans and some of the lingo didn't make a lot of sense to me. Even my kindle dictionary often had no results. Secondly, as interesting as the voodoo and the culture etc was I just have no knowledge of it which I feel would have helped
However, a different mystery in new Orleans without Indian chiefs and witch doctors etc might be more on my level.
Anything I didn't enjoy was down to my personal lack of knowledge and I do think the author is great.
The writing is very good. Mainly the characters are what are drawing me in. I love the pairing of Tina and Felix and would like to see more of them. Melancon and felix also make a good partnership.
My issues - ignorance on my part. I'm not familiar with new Orleans and some of the lingo didn't make a lot of sense to me. Even my kindle dictionary often had no results. Secondly, as interesting as the voodoo and the culture etc was I just have no knowledge of it which I feel would have helped
However, a different mystery in new Orleans without Indian chiefs and witch doctors etc might be more on my level.
Anything I didn't enjoy was down to my personal lack of knowledge and I do think the author is great.
February 15, 2020
Another artful and moving murder-mystery
Disappearance of a young woman, Mardi Gras, bayou, alligators. Heartbroken, grieving parents. The Mutt and Jeff private investigators seek a missing daughter, facing peril at every turn. Mysteries are solved and questions answered.
Mr. Peavey manages to imbue his writing with a far too seldom seen sense of gentility, allowing the reader to infer the horror rather than graphically and gratuitously SEE every detail in the mind’s eye.
Too few artists today care enough about their craft and the attractions of subtlety, nuance and understatement. Mr. Peavey is one of the rare few. May he live well and write for a long, long time.
Disappearance of a young woman, Mardi Gras, bayou, alligators. Heartbroken, grieving parents. The Mutt and Jeff private investigators seek a missing daughter, facing peril at every turn. Mysteries are solved and questions answered.
Mr. Peavey manages to imbue his writing with a far too seldom seen sense of gentility, allowing the reader to infer the horror rather than graphically and gratuitously SEE every detail in the mind’s eye.
Too few artists today care enough about their craft and the attractions of subtlety, nuance and understatement. Mr. Peavey is one of the rare few. May he live well and write for a long, long time.
February 23, 2020
As with the first book, the mystery or crime is not the main allure of these books.The writing is just so beautiful. There is a flow to the words and not a single metaphor that is not different from the ordinary. I really like the characters but what is usually filler in other books grabs one with its beauty. It is hard to put the book down and even though the ending is more or less expected, there are thrills and anticipation of the outcome of different scenes. My favorite though is Scrappy and how the author treats and explains him throughout the book. Can't wait to read book number 3 but will wait a bit so I can just absorb the two I have read and perhaps reread the portions I loved most in both books.
September 9, 2020
Mesmerizing
The author's prose was almost poetic. His writing was compelling. Humans have great capacity for good and for evil; this story covered a good deal of that. Sometimes it was hard to figure out what the author meant, but the prose was so deep that I had to stick with it -- staying up later than was good for me. A satisfying read. A few small errors: "peak" should have been "peek," a few commas missing, and a spot where "parent's" should have been "parents' ". All in all, a story well worth taking the time for.i
The author's prose was almost poetic. His writing was compelling. Humans have great capacity for good and for evil; this story covered a good deal of that. Sometimes it was hard to figure out what the author meant, but the prose was so deep that I had to stick with it -- staying up later than was good for me. A satisfying read. A few small errors: "peak" should have been "peek," a few commas missing, and a spot where "parent's" should have been "parents' ". All in all, a story well worth taking the time for.i
March 5, 2020
The book was entertaining and moved at a fairly brisk pace.
The characters seemed to lack basic common sense and logical thinking.
Too many loose ends. What happed to Isadora?
Stripper hooker with a heart of gold now going to collage to become a vet although no GED.
Attempted murder in front of hundred people during a voodoo parade in middle of street, no police presence.
Where do the main characters live , sleep come from.
Do they both sleep in the small office.
The characters seemed to lack basic common sense and logical thinking.
Too many loose ends. What happed to Isadora?
Stripper hooker with a heart of gold now going to collage to become a vet although no GED.
Attempted murder in front of hundred people during a voodoo parade in middle of street, no police presence.
Where do the main characters live , sleep come from.
Do they both sleep in the small office.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2020
8*STARS REALLY
I LIKED THIS BUT MELANCON’S ADDICTION REALLY BOTHERED ME, HE IS A MAIN CHARACTER AND I FIND IT HARD TO LIKE HIM. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE STAYS SHITFACED ALL THE TIME. I DON’T LIKE HIS DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, HIS SPIRAL DOWN A RABBIT HOLE WAS TOO MUCH. THIS HAD ALL THE STUFF I LIKED A SOUTHERN FLARE, SCARY OCCULT, TWO UNLIKLY HERO’S AND A MYSTERY, IT WAS VERY GOOD. THIS WAS THE SECOND BOOK I’VE READ IN THIS STANDALONE SERIES.;D
I LIKED THIS BUT MELANCON’S ADDICTION REALLY BOTHERED ME, HE IS A MAIN CHARACTER AND I FIND IT HARD TO LIKE HIM. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE STAYS SHITFACED ALL THE TIME. I DON’T LIKE HIS DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, HIS SPIRAL DOWN A RABBIT HOLE WAS TOO MUCH. THIS HAD ALL THE STUFF I LIKED A SOUTHERN FLARE, SCARY OCCULT, TWO UNLIKLY HERO’S AND A MYSTERY, IT WAS VERY GOOD. THIS WAS THE SECOND BOOK I’VE READ IN THIS STANDALONE SERIES.;D
September 5, 2020
Great read
Twist and turns. Spirits, liquid and ethereal. Indians, slaves, history dark and haunting. Religion?, belief systems questioned, abandoned, found. Just a short list of the events the characters of the well crafted mystery. Even as the mystery is solved the excitement continues. A must read, especially if you have ever walked the silent, or busy loud streets of the French Quarters of New Orleans.
Twist and turns. Spirits, liquid and ethereal. Indians, slaves, history dark and haunting. Religion?, belief systems questioned, abandoned, found. Just a short list of the events the characters of the well crafted mystery. Even as the mystery is solved the excitement continues. A must read, especially if you have ever walked the silent, or busy loud streets of the French Quarters of New Orleans.
December 1, 2019
Gripping story line with amazing characters
This book was one that I had trouble putting down. The humanity of the characters drew me in as the plot thickened. As a writer of mysteries I hope I have written books as enthralling and magnetic as this one. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
This book was one that I had trouble putting down. The humanity of the characters drew me in as the plot thickened. As a writer of mysteries I hope I have written books as enthralling and magnetic as this one. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
February 7, 2020
Suspenseful and creepy
Enjoyed reading this. The story has a lot of suspense, a little mystery and just a hint of the occult. Voodoo handled tastefully, with lovely developed characters. Some things happen a little too conveniently but it doesn't take away from the experience. Would recommend.
Enjoyed reading this. The story has a lot of suspense, a little mystery and just a hint of the occult. Voodoo handled tastefully, with lovely developed characters. Some things happen a little too conveniently but it doesn't take away from the experience. Would recommend.
February 17, 2020
A bit on the wild side, but outstandingly so!
This read will spin you thru some bizarre and freakish events as one can expect with the New Orleans backdrop. You will be given a taste of voodoo that is both wicked as well as frighteningly disturbing. My first read of Pevey's work... I'll look for another!
This read will spin you thru some bizarre and freakish events as one can expect with the New Orleans backdrop. You will be given a taste of voodoo that is both wicked as well as frighteningly disturbing. My first read of Pevey's work... I'll look for another!
March 6, 2020
Roots of Misfortune
I just finished this interesting read. There is an intriguing plot and really cool characters. I enjoyed it and highly recommend this mystery. It kept me intrigued till the end. That is saying something as I start many books but don’t finish them as I lose interest.
I just finished this interesting read. There is an intriguing plot and really cool characters. I enjoyed it and highly recommend this mystery. It kept me intrigued till the end. That is saying something as I start many books but don’t finish them as I lose interest.
April 12, 2020
One of the best books I’ve read in the last few months, this New Orleans sub-culture book engages and twists its way through tangled roots, family heartaches, and societal low-lifes. A true New Orleans style story - subtle but compelling. Well-written with strong, developed characters and action that supports the plot.
April 18, 2020
Interesting plot but....
Maybe because I didn't know about and read the first book, I felt the initial characters were not very developed. For this one I felt there was a lot of tangents and side tracks which if plot is clear would be ok. However there was just something missing to help connect the dots.
Maybe because I didn't know about and read the first book, I felt the initial characters were not very developed. For this one I felt there was a lot of tangents and side tracks which if plot is clear would be ok. However there was just something missing to help connect the dots.
June 29, 2020
Enraptured
I grew up in St. Tammany Parish Slidell, La along the Pearl River and I loved reading this book. The author did a great job making it seem real like I was right there in the scenes with the characters. I will keep reading more books from this author! Bravo I've finished all three books in this series in two days can't wait for more!
I grew up in St. Tammany Parish Slidell, La along the Pearl River and I loved reading this book. The author did a great job making it seem real like I was right there in the scenes with the characters. I will keep reading more books from this author! Bravo I've finished all three books in this series in two days can't wait for more!
October 17, 2021
As mystery writers go, Seth Pevey must be close to the top of the list. His writing is smooth and as flawless as an old Blues tune.
The characters are soon like old friends who you love in spite of the flaws. This story pulls you in like quicksand in a swamp. If you love serial killers, Voodoo, motivated detectives and damsels in distress then this read is for you.
The characters are soon like old friends who you love in spite of the flaws. This story pulls you in like quicksand in a swamp. If you love serial killers, Voodoo, motivated detectives and damsels in distress then this read is for you.
March 3, 2022
Mystery Horror Honor Sorrow Depths both harsh and fulfilling.
This is a true page turner. The characters have depth and the reader is pulled into feelings of worry, hope, and the quest for Justice, while we wonder whether there is any chance that justice will be enough to mend the world, when it has so much pain.
This is a true page turner. The characters have depth and the reader is pulled into feelings of worry, hope, and the quest for Justice, while we wonder whether there is any chance that justice will be enough to mend the world, when it has so much pain.
May 19, 2022
Introspective & Exciting
Having read book 1, the characters are completely developed in this one. Each character's concepts of religion, death, after life, sense of loss is brought out for the reader. Brought out emotional responses from me. Lots of action as well. Highly recommended!
Having read book 1, the characters are completely developed in this one. Each character's concepts of religion, death, after life, sense of loss is brought out for the reader. Brought out emotional responses from me. Lots of action as well. Highly recommended!
May 12, 2019
This one as good as the first! Love them both!
Really brings me back to the fabulous city that I miss so much. The first book showed one side of the New Orleans story & this another, even teaching me a few things about the Indians . Definitely buy this book. It is a keeper.
Really brings me back to the fabulous city that I miss so much. The first book showed one side of the New Orleans story & this another, even teaching me a few things about the Indians . Definitely buy this book. It is a keeper.
September 7, 2019
Fascinating insights of New Orleans and voodoo beliefs
Always enjoy a good NOLA book and this one fits the bill. Well written and fast paced. Gives some insight as to how a belief system can go awry.
Always enjoy a good NOLA book and this one fits the bill. Well written and fast paced. Gives some insight as to how a belief system can go awry.
February 6, 2020
A Fortune for Misfortune
A wonderful, thrilling read with twists aplenty. The only part I absolutely hated was about a tiny critter that stole everyone's heart. I'd have loved an alternate ending.
All in all, I'm a fan!
A wonderful, thrilling read with twists aplenty. The only part I absolutely hated was about a tiny critter that stole everyone's heart. I'd have loved an alternate ending.
All in all, I'm a fan!
February 6, 2020
This book really grabbed me. Set in New Orleans, it’s a story of two men searching for answers who are hired to find a missing woman, and discover something truly evil. Great plot and character development. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews