I love a book set in New Orleans and anything about voodoo is always a bonus.  This is essentially a detective horror story with a potentially supernatural twist.  I really enjoyed the voodoo detail and lore.  The main character, Detective Lawrence Ribaud (more commonly known as 'Cork'), is a pretty stereotypical detective novel cop with a liking for liquor and the ladies. His job is to find out why people have been disappearing every month on the night of the full moon, leaving behind only a blood soaked bed and a human heart.  Not a fun job so maybe Cork can be forgiven his vices.    A good story, perhaps a little corny at times, but the atmosphere and heat of the New Orleans setting together with the voodoo lore makes it worth a reader's time.

When I read the first chapter of Voodoo Heart, I was completely hooked. This book proceeded to go on a wild and deeply chilling ride. I couldn't read quick enough. This is an excellent book to read for Halloween; it's terrifying, macabre, atmospheric and quite dark. I would recommend reading this with the lights on and during daytime!

Detective Lawrence Ribaud (friends call him Cork) wakes up to an empty bed; his wife is gone, leaving a huge pool of blood and her heart behind. He isn't the only one this happens to. Calls are coming in from all over New Orleans; spouses waking up to empty beds with only blood and a heart left behind. Strangely enough, the "disappearances" only occur once a month. Ribaud works frantically to find the connection, what he unearths will be beyond what his skeptic mind can believe. Ribaud moves around deep within the darker underbelly of NOLA and finds himself secretly watching rituals, sacrifices and more than once he finds a connection to secret voodoo rituals. His search takes him on a darker turn when he begins seeking the Black Queen. He must find the connection and fast, or his life may be next.

Voodoo Heart really is a dark roller-coaster of a horror story. If you want a fast-paced and terrifying read, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for this ARC.

A New Orleans homicide detective who wife disappeared inexplicably some months ago is baffled by the multiple unexplained disappearances every Full Moon. Attributing the crimes to some practitioner of voodoo, he hunts in every corner of the city and countryside while those he befriends fall, and fatal danger becomes imminent upfront, and personal.

Magic! Sex! Murder! The combination of these elements within this book made it a wild ride. Detective Lawrence Ribaud aka Cork woke up one night to discover his wife gone and nothing left on her side of the bed but a pool of blood and a heart. But she's not the only one. On one night every month, people wake up to find their significant other gone with nothing left but sheets full of blood and a heart. Cork does not believe in voodoo but nothing else fits and soon he finds himself entangled in the side of New Orleans nobody likes talking about, the one filled with secret rituals, snakes and sacrifices.
This book started off running and I could not put it down until I was finished. Cork is frantically trying to find the murderer before he/she strikes again. However, no matter how he tries, the murderer keeps one step ahead of him.
As the story progressed, I was able to see the shift within him as he changed from skeptic to believer. After all, there was no other explanation for what was going on.
I must mention that I love stories based in New Orleans. I've never been there but I seriously hope that it is just like it is described in all the books I've read about it or I would be very disappointed when I visit.
I would definitely be keeping an eye out for this author in the future. I was very impressed by this offering.

This book is meant for adults just for the sex scenes alone. There's also a lot of black magic and intense scenes which may be scary for some (I'm a horror veteran so I was not bothered. Lol)

Well, wow. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into when I started this book but well…wow.

The story centers around Detective Lawrence “Cork” Ribaud as he tries to solve the freakiest case of missing persons I’ve ever heard of: once a month, a few people in New Orleans wake up to find their spouses missing, their side of the bed soaked in blood, with nothing left of them but their heart.

Detective Ribaud has his doubts about the actual power behind Voodoo, but he’s pretty sure these disappearances have all the markings of some sort of curse or dark ritual. And he will get himself into some incredibly dangerous and disturbing situations to figure out what is going on.

I love stories set in New Orleans, I have ever since I read that first vampire book back in the 90’s, and this book gave me all those good New Orleans vibes.

Part police procedural, part supernatural thriller, part whoa-did-that-really-just-happen, this book starts out freaky and just gets freakier. It’s dark and dangerous and exciting, full of magic and sex and some seriously tense moments that had me racing through the pages to see what would happen. I really enjoyed the thrill of this story and will be checking out what else Mr Everson has to offer.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Taking place in New Orleans, Detective Lawrence Ribaud has been dispatched to an unusual violent crime scene. Upon further investigation the detective begins to slowly uncover what seems to be a connection to an underground voodoo ridden society.
Published by Flame Tree Press, author John Everson has awaken the voodoo mythos with his most recent novel Voodoo Heart. Easing the reader into a sense of calm security with his appealing characters and pleasant locations such as Bourbon Street and The French Quarter within The Big Easy, make for an alluring setting. His work of fiction quickly turns into a menacing chase towards evil. Missing bodies, dark rituals and black magic governed under a supernatural environment quickly become the forefront of this intense novel. Unfolding into a twisted morbid plot of manifested dark arts, the power held over it’s victims and sacrificial rituals substantiates a fine line between fiction and nonfictional true crime that make the story believable and all too real. Because of the subject matter and Everson's talented writing skill one can't help but have the uneasy feeling of exploring the unknown and treading on sacred hollowed ground. It's certainly an uncomfortable thrilling ride, what horror and being scared is all about.
The constant evolving twists and turns will no doubt leave the reader with a desire to seek out their own local mambo priestess for any spells or potions that could aid their ailment and ward off any evil spirits and curses that might linger upon finishing this book. You too will find yourself dredging the swamps for a release of any ritualistic hold this novel will have on you. A strong ceremonious recommendation from The Horror Bookworm.

Voodoo is an underrated topic in supernatural horror/thriller fiction. Don't get me wrong, I still love me a sexy vampire, but vamps and shifters are a dime a dozen in fiction, these days. Voodoo still feels really fresh. I'm not sure if this book was intended as horror, per se, but it wasn't what I would consider scary. It was gruesome and creepy, though, and that's sufficient for me. I so rarely get scared by any book that I don't subtract points for being less than terrifying I did have a few gripes with Voodoo Heart, though. The main character is a cop, but he spends almost no time at the station or doing actual police work. A real life detective with his habits would have been fired or killed before they started their 2nd case. Also, if I had read this book without any knowledge of the author, I would still have known it was a man. Multiple instances of "intimacy"with various women, and the poetic waxing about that woman's body gave it away. But overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the book and how much I enjoyed it.
3.5 stars

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley.

I'm torn on my feelings about this one. On one hand the characters are interesting and the plot is way more unique than I expected. There is plenty of action, suspense, and tension. The descriptions are excellent. I was sucked in and had to know how it ended.
On the other hand there are points where you have to go even beyond suspending disbelief. The main character is supposed to be a detective. If so it's no wonder the cases have been piling up unsolved. Cork is also a man whore. He can't seem to help himself. After all he has such a "strong connection" with so many women. Never mind that his choices in partners are abysmal and detrimental to his cases.
So even though I am torn, I have to say it's a great read. It sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. Even when I felt like the main character was a moron too stupid to live I had to keep flipping pages to see if he survived. And I really wanted answers to the cases. Which kinda blew me away with the reveal.

After reading the title of this book I knew I had to read it. The case of the bloody beds. Imagine going to bed with your partner then waking up and finding a pool of blood and in the centre of the pool is a human heart. That was it I was hooked and devoured this book in one sitting. The hero of this story is Detective Lawrence Ribaud he woke up one morning to find a bloody pool with a human heart at it's centre where his wife should be. Set in New Orleans, amongst Voodoo Queens, curses, rituals and so much more. Atmospheric, chilling and so gripping. A real thrill ride, I have found a new author and I can't wait to read more of his work. A very happy reader and a perfect read for this season.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A horror novel set in New Orleans involving voodoo? Yes please! I had been wanting a read like this for a while and rather enjoyed it.
The lead character comes across as a bit shallow at times, but he is who he is, and it all ties in with the story. Plenty of mystery to go along with the horror, and a refreshingly modern treatment of witches and witchcraft, all while maintaining an air of menace.

I was very excited to receive this book. The subject matter seemed interesting, so I settled in to read it. The title of the book fits the storyline. The book is about people disappearing and only their heart is left behind. And there is voodoo involved. Overall, although the book dragged in some areas, it was a good read. The build up to the ending was very good. I enjoyed this book as a whole. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

Absolutely riveting tale that combines a detective novel with elements of the supernatural brilliantly. While it seemed to be a bit of a departure for John Everson, as soon as I put his other work out of my mind and approached this without that baggage, I was immediately drawn in and stayed in until I'd finished.
Yes, there are dozens of treatments out there that involve voodoo, rituals, murders, etc. but make no mistake about it--this isn't "Angel Heart" or "Serpent and the Rainbow." This is original, captivating, and well worth a read.

John Everson’s newest novel feels like a 1970’s Giallo wormed its way into the grime and booze-soaked charisma of New Orleans. Its troubled protagonist, Detective Ribaud (also known as “Cork), investigates a string of late-night disappearances in which the victims leave behind a blood-soaked bed and intact heart. Although his wife was the first to vanish, the case becomes more and more personal as he gets closer to the heart of the mystery.

I love horror and thrillers set in the South, and New Orleans is a city steeped in things that make for a great atmosphere: poverty, liquor, French romanticism, a cruel history, and of course, voodoo (alternately spelled Vodou). Vodou and a similar Southern practice, hoodoo, have always fascinated me for a reason that I rarely talk about: my family’s history and escape from an extreme Pentecostal/evangelical faith, which made the lives of my mother and her sisters a living hell. My mother and her sisters once went away to a parishioner's farm for a weekend, where a chicken was butchered and served for dinner. The chicken feet were found stashed under my aunt’s bed later, bound with string to some other items, and my mother and her sisters were gravely punished for what was judged as a grisly prank. I heard this story several times until, as an adult, I found out via research that the feet were likely to be a talisman of protection in the hoodoo faith, and that one of the workers at the farm likely knew what my grandfather was up to, and risked quite a bit to try to help my mom and aunts.

So, what does this have to do with horror? Too often, Vodou and associated practices are portrayed as devious, near-Satanic practices in film and other media. The 1987 film Angel Heart is a great example, in which the rituals are used only to harm, and to depict Lisa Bonet’s character as exotic, dangerous, and untrustworthy. Voodoo Heart handles this much more sensitively—the novel shows the light and dark side of practices found in New Orleans and distinguishes more serious practice from the shtick of tourist shops. There is also much more of the history of Vodou practice and popularity than you would find in the average novel that includes it as a plot point.

The imagery in the book is as striking as you could expect from its cover, and it’s balanced by the emotional impact of the disappearances as well. Everson’s Detective Rimbaud isn’t the stone-cold detective that you see in bestsellers; his doubts, guilt, and horror are like a fruit expertly muddled into the liquor that is the blood-soaked, swampy, disturbing images of its plot. I never really found Rimbaud likable—the one sour point in the novel, for me, was his propensity to sleep with women in precarious or abusive situations, ignoring how much danger it could bring them. Still, the book is so well-written and beautifully atmospheric enough that I solidly recommend it – especially if you enjoy media like True Detective, HBO’s Sharp Objects, or Jim Thompson’s work.

Thanks to Netgalley and Flametree Press for allowing me to read Voodoo Heart in exchange for an honest review.
This was really interesting. I've always wanted to visit New Orleans. The book makes great use of its setting. It was vivid and atmospheric. And I feel like I learned a bit about voodoo (or at least voodoo through the author's filter). His world-building was solid, and the voodoo element felt natural and believable.
So, the plot. It was sleazy and over-the-top and (apart from the mortifying sex scenes) I enjoyed it. It was a fun, fast story with an ending that should have been obvious, but I honestly didn't see it coming.
Some of the writing felt awkward and stilted, and the pop culture references didn't seem to fit (like Adventure Time, twice, AC/DC and Billie Eilish) Here's a quote:
"Turns out, Rowan was a huge fan of Firefly and Farscape, two of my favorite classic science fiction TV series. Don’t ask me how we got on the Fs. After debating the necessity of wholesomeness in the character of Kaylee from Firefly (played by the ultimate ‘girl next door’ Jewel Staite) we agreed that this was a connection we needed to continue. Rowan texted me so that I’d have her number." That is a pretty representative sample of the writing style, and a pop culture reference that kind of threw me off.
The characters were interesting but many felt underdeveloped or even unnecessary (his fellow police officers, for instance. I actually forgot the protagonist was a cop! It was almost incidental- it hardly came up. All of his investigating was done on his own, off the clock).
That said, though, it was an entertaining read. As I mentioned,the world-building was great, and I would totally read a sequel.

Another terrific story from John Everson.

Voodoo Heart follows Detective Lawrence Ribaud as he tries to discover what's behind all the missing bodies in New Orleans. Every full moon bring more vanishings, leaving only beds of blood and a human heart.
Looking for help anywhere he can find it, Ribaud goes deep into the world of voodoo witnessing sacrifices, sexual rituals, and more on his way to uncovering the truth.

This one felt a bit different for me from Everson, but I loved it anyway. The traditional Everson flares show up in just the right places and the mystery was done well.

I give Voodoo Heart 4 stars!
Definitely recommend this one. If you're a fan of the author, New Orleans, or swampy voodoo stories check it out!

John Everson can sure bring out some entertaining writing, can't he? I took my time with Voodoo Heart because that is how much I wanted to savor and enjoy it. Everson creates some complicated characters, but not so complicated that you want to throw the book (or Paperwhite) across the room. You feel for Cork, for his friends, his detective colleagues, and Everson definitely brings out the humanity in his characters, even if you can't for the life of you understand why someone is choosing to make THAT decision. I liked Cork although he has some questionable and unlikable tendencies and I liked Renee although she was making some life-threatening choices for herself, but honestly you wouldn't have such a good story without them.

The details in Voodoo Heart were enough to make me itch and not want to ever visit a swamp of any kind. I'll keep to the French Quarter, thank you, much safer even with a curse going around. There were parts of this story that was hard for me to handle and I'm a horror fan. I got a few Se7en vibes while reading Voodoo Heart and I did have some deep suspicions about one character in particular (I won't spoil that for you), and when I finished this book, I definitely had some images in my head that I'm not sure that I wanted.
This isn't a perfect book, there were some plot holes that I still have questions about (two detectives go missing while in the middle of investigating with our main boy, Cork, but no one asks about them later? Huh?), the references to the voodoo religion seem written as for a horror movie later down the line and Cork's quick move from nonbeliever to warding his house to deflect bad spirits is a bit questionable. However, that does not make this a bad story, I learned a few things, got a good horror mystery with some very interesting characters and a not so predictable ending. My thanks to John Everson.

This book is an interesting mix....a blend of hard hitting detective novel and occult horror Voodoo style. Set in New Orleans, the story has a lot of rawness about it -- sex, blood, human sacrifice, pure evil....

Although I enjoyed the story, I just couldn't get away from the thought that I'd read so many stories like this before. There are 10000000 New Orleans Voodoo blood and guts everywhere books out there. And this is really just another one on the stack. I didn't particularly get into the characters, the action or the horror edge.

This is a well-written story....and I did enjoy reading it for the most part. In the end, I think it's just a matter of the story not being for me. I've read too many jaded-detective-gets-embroiled-in-evil stories before,and just didn't get lost in this story like I wanted to. But that is just my opinion. It didn't work for me....doesn't mean others won't absolutely love it.

It's a miss for me this time. I do look forward to more by this author though. The next book might be something I really love!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book by John Everson. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Another good read from John Everson! I couldn't put this down once I started. I can't wait for another book from the author.

John Everson’s new book is another treasure to read that fits within the universe of his other works but is slightly different from his horror output. This does not make the book any less pleasurable but it does show the diversity in the amazing style of Everson’s work.

The characters are very well constructed and interesting from the small cameo to the main characters. Lawrence Ribald, the main character, tells the story in the first person and he finds himself in the middle of an investigation that has horrifying aspects that starts our hero down a rabbit hole that may not bring him back to reality. He has his faults and they work very well within the confines of the story and make him extremely human which is an asset to this detective thriller novel.

The subsidiary characters are very well defined and helps the readers enter the voodoo world in New Orleans. Some of them become victims and there is an emotional strength when this happens that it makes you yearn for Ribald to solve the crimes. All characters play a part in the overall mystery and they do help push the plot forward.

The plot is well constructed which makes this a real page turner with very little room for the reader to catch a breath. The setting and pacing are above par and drives the reader to its ultimate conclusion. There are some very interesting voodoo rituals and I am not versed in voodoo rituals but these are quite the head turning.

This is an exciting read and as a horror novel probably will not be for the hard-core but as a mystery thriller novel it does exceed. Everson’s novel always turns the normal tropes on their heads to give the reader a very unique experience with the confines of each genre that he tackles. This is an exceptional novel and one that I thorough enjoyed and highly recommend.

::SPOILERS::
I am very torn on how to rate this book!! There are some excellent qualities, and I definitely got what I came for when choosing this title. However, there were a few things that bothered me to the point of almost ruining this for me.

First, a quick read of the description was enough to get me excited. A detective in New Orleans dealing with killings related to voodoo? YES, please. And this doesn't disappoint. Our main character is like one of the old time noir private eyes, taking on the city by himself (more on that in a bit). We have priestesses, sacrifices, midnight rituals, and everything else you would expect in a voodoo tale.

I also enjoyed the story here. The curse and the methods used in the killings are unique and descriptive. There are plenty of surprising events that will keep you entertained! It is a fun, quick read.

On to the bad qualities.

The killings all happen on the night of the full moon. We focus on it so much that the author titles his chapters with phases of the moon. However, come full moon night, our lead detective on the case is NOT even working. He's off in bars and hooking up with people and wandering through the woods. At one point he even says something like "Oh, is that tonight? I forgot there was a full moon." Dude, your whole case is based on this. I think you would know, or at least show up at work that night. .

Our main character kicks off the story by telling us he lost his wife in one of the first voodoo killings, which kicks off the investigation. True, she was cheating on him, but he seems to not show an ounce of sadness or remorse over his wife. Even though he wants to solve the case, she seems to have little to do with his motivation. And he certainly doesn't let his new widow status get in the way of his very successful love life.

Which brings us to his choice in women. I'm not a prude, and maybe we don't all ask for a history from our perspective partners, but this guy takes unsafe sex to the next level. He witnesses a woman having sex with a demon in a coven's group ritual. The next time he sees her, they have sex. Then he witnesses another woman having sex with a snake during a group ritual. The next time he sees her, they have sex. I think these rituals would give some men pause? He acts like it is nothing at all. Don't all women do this? Or is this just his type? We won't even get into the incident with the voodoo priestess. Let's just not.

Poor relationship skills aside, for a detective, this man has NO regard for police procedure. I know authors are not always versed in that kind of thing, but if your main is a detective, you should at least try. He shows up at crime scenes, touches everything, takes things with him, loses evidence, goes to most interviews and follows leads completely alone, and more. My breaking point was (SPOILERS here) when he found a mutilated body on an alter, AND multiple bodies in the trees at the same site, AND two policemen he is with go missing. His response? He goes home and goes to bed, then goes to work in the morning. Like it was nothing!! We never talk about any of that again. WHAT??? I'm mad just typing this. When I think of only this one element, I want to give the book a one-star.

Ok, that last one really gets me. BUT, I still can't give it less than a three, because god help me, this still has all the fun elements I wanted it to have: voodoo, curses, rituals, killings, New Orleans, voodoo, and voodoo. I mean, how can that be less than a three, right??