
The Quarter Storm
A Novel (Mambo Reina, Book 1)
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Narrated by:
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Robin Miles
About this listen
A practitioner of Vodou must test the boundaries of her powers to solve a ritual murder in New Orleans and protect everything she holds sacred.
Haitian-American Vodou priestess Mambo Reina Dumond runs a healing practice from her New Orleans home. Gifted with water magic since she was a child, Reina is devoted to the benevolent traditions of her ancestors.
After a ritual slaying in the French Quarter, police arrest a fellow vodouisant. Detective Roman Frost, Reina’s ex-boyfriend - a fierce nonbeliever - is eager to tie the crime, and half a dozen others, to the Vodou practitioners of New Orleans. Reina resolves to find the real killer and defend the Vodou practice and customs, but the motives behind the murder are deeper and darker than she imagines.
As Reina delves into the city’s shadows, she untangles more than just the truth behind a devious crime. It’s a conspiracy. As a killer wields dangerous magic to thwart Reina’s investigation, she must tap into the strength of her own power and faith to solve a mystery that threatens to destroy her entire way of life.
©2022 by Veronica Henry. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Please hire a Minnesotan narrator.
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Critic reviews
“Narrator Robin Miles transports listeners to the hidden corners of New Orleans in this tale of murder and magic.… Miles voices Reina with a distinct blend of Creole and Haitian accents, emphasizing both her strength and her wistfulness about the people missing from her life. The variously accented characters who populate this detailed portrayal of New Orleans create a feeling of lived-in authenticity, especially Sophie, whose sublime Yat accent deserves a special nod.”—AudioFile Magazine
“…this hits the sweet spot of eschewing overdone tropes while retaining the familiar elements that draw fans to the genre. Readers will hope to see more of Mambo Reina.”—Publishers Weekly
“The Quarter Storm conjures up an intriguing mystery that draws readers away from New Orleans’s famous tourist spots for a story filled with twists, turns, and unexpected discoveries that will leave them eager for more. Because there’s no better sleuth to handle a murder in New Orleans than a Vodou priestess.”—Nicole Glover, author of The Conductors
The story's very vivid, but it's not very strong when it comes to the mystery. That's a meandering journey that takes forever to get anywhere...unless that's on purpose? Slow as molasses is how it's done in The Big Easy?
The Quarter Storm is not so much a murder mystery as an adventure with a murder in it. Featuring its main character, Reina Dumond, the story’s about her life as a Mambo, her dedication to her religion and her care for her community. The unfair arrest of an obviously framed murder suspect spurs her on to challenge the status quo of things. To prove the Mambo arrested is not the murderer, because no one else will, and to get people to stop being complacent and stand up to the social injustices of the system. The message of 'do the right thing, because united we stand, divided we fall' applies to all the situations throughout the story. It ends satisfactorily with the potential for more interesting adventures featuring the lively cast of characters in the future.
Robin Miles narration is enjoyable to listen to, but her range is limited. There's not a lot of distinction between the various Southern dialects described in the story. Haitian, Creole, Cajun, Alabama and Texas, to name a few, all blend, instead of the character's sounding different. And one woman, that's supposedly a transplant from Houston, sounds like she's from Long Island. Made me suspicious of anything she claimed about her life (born and raised in Houston, etc), but none of the other characters made note of her accent, so my skepticism was unfounded...unless people from Houston do sound like they're from New York? But! Regardless of its inconsistencies The Quarter Storm was an enjoyable listen.
Worth the credit.
A light adventure
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Cannot WAIT for Book 2!
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Looking forward to Book 2
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Events happened, Mambo Reina did things, and the story turned out in the end. I have no clue how she made connections, what experiences she had to make those connections, and what even compelled her to go about solving the murder to begin with. I think maybe it's her pride for the sake of liberating the Vodou traditions from bad press????
I don't know.... it was just super lacking in what I thought it was going to be. This has a cozy mystery feel for me, so don't come looking for deep drawing characters.
Looking at this as a cozy mystery now, it was fun. Vodou was a huge part of the story every step of the way. I appreciated that and there was some educational bits.
For what it was, I did enjoy it. I'm sure there will be more books, so maybe there will be more character depth. If not, it's a fun mystery to pull from the shelf on a lazy Saturday. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
As for the performance.... At first I didn't like it, but as the atmosphere of the story developed, it kinda just grew on you and the voices just kinda "fit" if you let it. Don't be critical and just let it flow. I generally like Robin Miles, so no real complaints.
Lack of Depth = Cozy Mystery Feeling
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Interesting, but maybe book two will be better
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This could have been a much longer book!
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When I borrowed this book through Kindle unlimited I also had option to listen to the audiobook. I love that. The narrator did the book perfect justice. She made me miss New Orleans so much. The book really came alive. This book would make a great movie.
One of the best books I've read in a long time
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The book is a fast-paced and engaging read that blends fantasy, mystery and culture. The author creates a vivid and authentic portrayal of New Orleans and its diverse inhabitants, as well as the rich and complex traditions of Vodou. The characters are well-developed and relatable, especially Mambo Reina, who is a strong, smart and compassionate heroine. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end.
The Quarter Storm is a novel that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy, paranormal mystery and African American fiction. It is a captivating and original story that explores themes of faith, identity and justice in a magical setting. It is also the first instalment of a promising series that promises more adventures for Mambo Reina and her allies.
4.1 brkn stars
@stuartbrknjohns Twitter/TikTok/Goodreads
#abrknpoet reviewed The Quarter Storm
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Enjoyed
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Made me want another
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