NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Amazing mystery novel with well researched glimpses into the past. Some of the characters you will love and others you will hate. There are so many unanswered questions and the book resolves within the last 10% of it's pages.

I didn't care for this book. The beginning felt choppy to me. The premise of the book sounded good and the book probably was but I couldn't get beyond the beginning. We are all different and I'm sure it is just me. I won't be posting to another site because in all fairness I didn't read the entire book. Thank you for letting me review this and I'm sorry I wasn't able to read.

As I was reading, never judge a book by it's cover came to my mind! It was the cover, and title of this book that led me to request an advance copy from NetGallery for an honest review.

Hands down, one of the best books I've read in awhile! It was an adventure from start to finish, keeping up the suspense of who done it til the final pages.

Tink inherits an estate from family she never knew. The book starts with the back story, generations before Tink which sets the scene for the coming adventure of murder, intrigue and history that was kept secret for so long! I was slightly disappointed that one secret was not revealed but in the end, it didn't really matter.

I love Louisiana and I love a good mystery. Put these two together and there was NO question as to whether I wanted to read this book. But would it live up to my expectations from the cover page detail? ABSOLUTELY!

Tink never met her grand parents and yet they left her their old home in Louisiana. While her Father presses her to just sell it and move on, she’s pulled in and wants to see it, so she and her friend head off to Louisiana. Too bad they soon become murder suspects and need to clear their names without become two more bodies that are discovered in the bayous.

Full of twist, turns, creepiness at times and a great blend of past and present. You cannot go wrong reading this book…you’ll be hooked and just as surprised as I was with the ending. An awesome read!

523 pages

4 stars

The quick romp through history at the beginning of the book had me a little confused, but it cleared up later.

Atlanta Attorney Catherine “Tink” Mabrey is shocked when she inherits a mansion in Kane, LA. Her mother’s parents, whom she never met or spoken to, have bestowed upon her their home in Kane. She wants to see it, but her overprotective father just wants her to sell it. The determined Tink goes down to Kane with her friend and co-worker Candace.

Candace is a little mouthy and irritating, and I was surprised she was such a close friend to Tink.

In Kane, brothers, Ben and Don are surprised to find dead, mutilated bodies tangled in their capture line for alligators. A man and a woman. Ben is shocked to find that the woman is the one that Deputy Cassius has a crush on. Two government inspectors from the big city come to assist Sheriff Isaac in his investigation. They are dead ended after finally deciding that Ben and Don have nothing to do with the murders.

Following some mishaps, Tink and Candace finally arrive in Kane and are astounded at the size and grandeur of the rundown plantation. They meet Ms. Paloma who had assisted Tink’s grandparents as best she could. At least as much as two detestable people may be assisted. She was present when Tink was born to her mother, Olivia. Ms. Paloma is a kind and caring woman who loves Tink on sight. Tink looks just like her mother.

Strange things begin to happen. Tink is horrified to discover a mannequin with its hands removed in her kitchen. Ben runs to the rescue, Paloma follows and the police are called. Now, Tink becomes a suspect for the police.

Very slowly, Tink, Ben, Paloma and her cousin begin to put the pieces together. Attorney Blaine Biggs gets another clue - a big one that puts his life in danger. Don, Ben and Paloma’s cousin discover a hidden tunnel from his place to the mansion. Tink is in big trouble. Her father rushed to her side.

The identity of the killers turned out to be a huge surprise to me.

This book is well written and plotted. The transitions were a little shaky in places. For the most part, the book flowed smoothly. Ms. Carter ramped up the tension in the story at just the right time. It was a great book and I look forward to reading more of her work. I liked Tink, although she was a little quick to become hysterical. Oh, please! I liked Ben. He seemed to be level headed and a very nice person. I really liked Paloma. She was a great character.

I want to thank NetGalley and Raven South Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Dark Secrets of the Bayou is a dark and secret filled thriller including historical Civil War Times, voodoo and obscene wealth.

Catherine "Tink" Mabrey inherits a rolling family estate from grandparents that she never met. Against the advice of her father she moves forward to check out the property on the bayou. Alongside this story, we are pulled back into the 1800's to learn more about the family Tink never heard about. The historical "before" piece of the book was filled with horrifying stories and chapters ending in cliffhangers.

I loved how the author intertwined the stories and kept the suspense throughout the novel. The characters were very believable and engaging. Piece by piece you begin to see the whole picture and the mystery becomes clear.
A great thriller for all who enjoy thriller, particularly recommended for Civil War buffs, historical mystery lovers and of course those of us that love all things Louisiana !

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