The Quarter Storm

A Novel (Mambo Reina, Book 1)

By: Veronica G. Henry

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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

A light adventure

Veronica G Henry does a great job detailing what life is like in New Orleans. Her writing captures the rhythm of the city, putting you right there on its streets. Corruption is the norm. In the NOPD, in politics, in the many influential powers exerting leverage in the city and also in the various religions that are observed by its residents. The story is an educational experience. You'll learn about the life of squatters, street kids, how money changes hands in underground activities, tourism, culinary delights and the dissolute that are everywhere, engaging in excesses of alcohol, drugs and sex throughout the city.

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.

Cannot WAIT for Book 2!

Took a chance on this book and was immediately hooked. The protagonist’s first person narrative feels so intimate, like a best friend who is involved in adventures that you think are dangerous yet you’re dyin’ to hear about said adventures at the soonest possible moment. There is mystery, danger, magic, deep friendships, food, troublesome romance, uneasy alliances, and even a knife fight.

Looking forward to Book 2

I love the heart of Mambo Dumomde! And her power, and her struggle! More please!

This could have been a much longer book!

Well written and extremely well narrated, this book could have been twice as long and not lost my interest. Sadly it ended too soon with a bit of handwaving to wrap up the plot. Still thinking about whether to order the next book or not.

Interesting, but maybe book two will be better

This book is for those who have some ideas about the life of voodoo practitioners and their client community in New Orleans and around that area. Even if you have a stereotypical, TV-fashioned idea, that's enough to get a slight handle on what is happening and the dialogue involved. But I didn't get excited about the story, i.e., the murder mystery. I was ok with the main character (Murder She Wrote meets Papa Legba) and the protective "magic" she casts to defend herself and get information; I will read book 2 to get to know her better. Sorry, Mambo Reina didn't grab hold of me in the first book. Though I loved the tough female character, who is sometimes her bodyguard and a friend, and I liked Reina's relationship with the police detective, I couldn't fall in love with her world or understand why the victim was killed.

Lack of Depth = Cozy Mystery Feeling

This is very much a plot based book, which was really disappointing. I was looking for some good inter conflict. By the end of the story, I didn't care a smidge about the Mambo Reina. She wasn't likable or unlikable. She wasn't annoying or inspiring. She didn't get any rise out if me.

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.

One of the best books I've read in a long time

I've only visited once to New Orleans. But I long to live there. It's so magical and amazing. I could feel the heart of the city in this book. It was a really good mystery that made me want to cheat and look back to see who did it. All throughout, Mambo Reina works her magic and sees clients. She also has a love hate relationship with a detective. I was hoping that would end with them together. I hope there's another book with her. She is a great protagonist.

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.

#abrknpoet reviewed The Quarter Storm

The Quarter Storm by Veronica G. Henry is the first book in the Mambo Reina series, a fantasy mystery thriller set in New Orleans. The protagonist, Mambo Reina Dumond, is a Haitian-American Vodou priestess who uses her water magic to heal and protect her community. When a ritual murder implicates one of her fellow vodouisants, she decides to investigate and clear his name. Along the way, she faces danger, deception and dark magic from a mysterious enemy who wants to destroy her way of life. She also has to deal with her ex-boyfriend, Detective Roman Frost, who is sceptical of Vodou and eager to pin the crimes on its practitioners.

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

Enjoyed

I really enjoyed the story as well as the performance. couldn't stop listening to it.

Made me want another

I didnt get into this story until about the 2nd chapter. Once i got that far it got better and better. The narrator was really good and all the characters well defined and likable. I would very much like another.