Wild Man's Curse by Susannah Sandlin
Narrator: Elizabeth Godley
Series: Wilds of the Bayou #1
Published by Brilliance Audio
Published on: April 5, 2016
Genres: Paranormal Mystery
Length: 9 hours & 45 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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The bones said death was comin’, and the bones never lied.
While on an early morning patrol in the swamps of Whiskey Bayou, Louisiana wildlife agent Gentry Broussard spots a man leaving the home of elderly Eva Savoie—a man who bears a startling resemblance to his brother, whom Gentry thought he had killed during a drug raid three years earlier. Shaken, the agent enters Eva’s cabin and makes a bloody discovery: the old woman has been brutally murdered.
With no jurisdiction over the case, he’s forced to leave the investigation to the local sheriff, until Eva’s beautiful heir, Celestine, receives a series of gruesome threats. As Gentry’s involvement deepens and more victims turn up, can he untangle the secrets behind Eva’s murder and protect Celestine from the same fate? Or will an old family curse finally have its way?
From award-winning author Susannah Sandlin comes the first book in the Wilds of the Bayou series.
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Louisiana, especially New Orleans, is the setting of so many good paranormal stories. This book goes beyond New Orleans and sets the story among the Cajun and Creole people of the bayou instead. Savannah Sandlin, also known as Suzanne Johnson, has written a romantic suspense tale that has just enough paranormal elements to qualify this as a paranormal mystery-but not necessarily a paranormal romance. It definitely qualifies as a romance though-if that makes sense.
Celestine, also known as Ceelie, becomes heir to her aunt’s small cabin located on the bayou. She’s a singer in Nashville and down on her luck, so she goes back home to Terrebonne Parrish to bury her aunt and live in the cabin until she can figure out what to do with her life. Her aunt had been brutally murdered in the cabin and her body had been found by state wildlife agent Gentry Broussard during a routine safety check on the old lady, also known as a voodoo practitioner. To make things even more interesting, Gentry had spotted the murderer leaving the woman’s cabin, and he was the spitting image of his brother, the one he killed in the line of duty years before. When Ceelie and Gentry meet, it’s not long before both realize that they are interested in each other romantically. But first they have to deal with a sadistic murderer that keeps coming back to Ceelie’s cabin to try and intimidate(scare) her to leave.
Ceelie was an interesting character. She was taught the old ways by her aunt when she was younger and even back then, her aunt knew that the “sight” was strong in Ceelie. She learned to throw the chicken bones and although some of the rituals are hazy in her mind now, she still can interpret the bones. And these bones were not lying when they said that both her and Gentry were in extreme danger. She’s a talented singer/songwriter and is beautiful as well. Gentry is an alpha male type, one with a heart, and one that owns a French bulldog that he rescued. He becomes first very protective of Ceelie and then enamored by her the further into the mystery they go. The feeling is mutual on Ceelie’s part as well. Gentry’s partner, Jena, is also integral to the story and becomes a friend to Ceelie.
The story has a bit more police procedure going on with Gentry and Jena than romance with Ceelie. And that’s how it should be in a realistic murder mystery. There is plenty of time spent with Ceelie as well though, as she is, of course, the heroine. When the story starts to get a bit steamy, most of it happens behind closed doors, but I still found it a sweet romance between the two. The book is full of quite a bit of action, but with a fair balance of downtime away from the action as well. Interestingly, there is also a family curse that Ceelie has inherited as well.
This was my second listen of a book by this narrator, Elizabeth Godley. Both books take place in Louisiana and she does try the accents. In the prior book, her men’s voices weren’t a favorite for me. This time she didn’t try to do as much with the men’s voices so it was a better experience for me. Narration 3.5 stars
This is part of a series, but from what I can tell from the sequel’s synopsis, this one can standalone. Recommended to adult readers, 16 plus. Good story!
Wilds of the Bayou |
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I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
I love this author but for some reason haven’t read this one yet. I really need to fix that! Great review for this Lorna!
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
Thank you! I hope you enjoy if you decide to read it.
Lorna recently posted…Audiobook Review: Wild Man’s Curse by Susannah Sandlin (@Mollykatie112, @SusannahSandlin)
I bought this in paperback and it’s still sitting on my shelf! :/ It sounds so good though so I don’t know what’s keeping me from getting to it. Oh, it might be those huge piles of books I’d have to maneuver around to get to the shelf! Haha You’ve put this one back on my radar though, Lorna. I like the sound of it and your description of paranormal vs romance vs murder mystery made me smile. I can see how it’s all those combined. I’m happy you enjoyed the story as well as your second time listening to Godley. Great review!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…#COYER Winter Switch Challenge Sign Up Post
I enjoyed it, but I think I would have rather I had read it. And it was a good mystery and romance so I hope you get a chance to read it! Thanks!
Lorna recently posted…Bookfessional: Holiday Gift Guide 2017
Sounds interesting. Great review! Thank’s
Angel’s Guilty Pleasures recently posted…It’s Release Day! Cajun Crazy (Cajun #11) by Sandra Hill ~ Giveaway/Excerpt
Thank you!
it definitively can be read as stand alone but book 2 is fantastic as well this series sure deserved more publicity as it’s really well written i loved it!!
I really enjoyed it as well. The second one doesn’t have any paranormal elements does it?
Love it when books can be standalones but are a part of a series. Right there makes me want to read it. I don’t think I’ve read any books by the author under this pen name. I have read Suzanne Johnson and I do like her writing. Yep, need to check this one out.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway: Ever the Brave by Erin Summerill
Hope you get a chance to try it. I think you might really like it
I am so glad you loved this. I first read her Sentinels of New Orleans series, and then discovered she also writes as Sandlin. I devoured her Penton Legacy series. You would like them. Now I work with her and love it 🙂
Kimberly recently posted…Close Contact by Lori Foster
How fun that you work with her now! Yep, this was a good one
Oh good! I got this one recently and was hoping it was good. I still need to squeeze it in. 🙂
I love how you describe the balance of the paranormal and mystery with a little romance. I’ve been in the mood for that lately more than straight romance.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Review: Dangerously Divine by Deborah Blake
Then you definitely need to try and squeeze it in if that’s what you are in the mood for! Worth the read for sure.
I’ve seen this book around, but I haven’t tried it. This looks good. I haven’t tried this narrator.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong (@mlsimmons, @KelleyArmstrong, @tplummer76, @MacmillanAudio)
I think you would probably like this one Melanie
I read this one. It was not a bad book, but I was disappointed with the romance thread.
Nadene recently posted…REVIEW: WILD MAN’S CURSE by SUSANNAH SANDLIN @SusannahSandlin #MontlakeRomance
Yes, if you were wanting to read a PNR this wouldn’t be the best. The romance is secondary to the mystery for sure.