Unabashedly Bookish

[#1]

Rhodi Hawk’s debut novel, a fusion of psychological thriller and horror entitled A Twisted Ladder, is nothing short of a dark fantasy masterwork. Sublimely atmospheric, brilliantly plotted, simultaneously ghastly and lyrical, this is as much a work of literary fiction as it is genre fiction….

Comparable to Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches trilogy (The Witching Hour, Lasher and Taltos), Hawk’s first novel revolves around Madeleine LeBlanc, a New Orleans psychologist who, after her brother commits suicide, becomes entangled in a nightmarish mystery involving her ancestry – specifically her great grandmother Chloe, who, at 114, is amazingly still alive. Madeleine has spent her entire life trying to find the cause – and cure – for her father’s cognitive schizophrenia but when she begins exploring the bizarre actions leading up to her brother’s demise, she begins putting the pieces of her family’s strange and terrifying heritage together – a legacy that dates back to the early 20^th century when her great

grandmother Chloe was just a child. Working on a sugar plantation in 1912, young Chloe was an invaluable asset as she is skilled in the arts of Native American (Houma) medicine but as she grew older it became apparent that she had a powerful “river magic”  ndash; and that those who opposed her soon ended up dead…. When Madeleine finally meets her fiendish great grandmother, she slowly begins to understand what Chloe has been planning for more than a century – a conspiracy that, if successful, could alter the path of humankind forever.

There are so many remarkable aspects of this novel. Hawk’s meticulous depiction of New Orleans and its surrounding area – from pre-Prohibition to post Katrina – is simply breathtaking. The effort put into character development – even for peripheral players – is laudable. The subtlety in which Hawk utilizes the supernatural elements of the storyline is tantalizingly brilliant. But for me, it was the lyricism in her prose that was so impressive and made this novel an unforgettable read. Here are a few examples: “The sky was flooded with stars, the scent of elderberry greens enriched the humid night air, and the nocturnal beasts of the bayou sang lullabies.” And: “…the overcast skies had thickened, and the Spanish moss swayed on the trees like the hair of mermaids swimming through the tides.”

This is not a quick read. This is a novel to fall into, to lose yourself in for hours at a time. Hawk’s hypnotic narrative is thick – replete with imagery and allegory. Even the title has multiple meanings: a twisted ladder could be emblematic of Madeleine’s shadowy lineage but it could also be symbolic of the structure of DNA, the double helix.

The temperature is dropping, the days are getting shorter, and winter is quickly approaching. If you’re looking for a “curl up on the couch in front of the fireplace” read that will entertain – and quite possibly scare the bejesus out of you – I highly recommend Rhodi Hawk’s debut novel.

[#2]

Paul,

I would love to read this book if I can convince the library to get it,  I just love your reviews that just make the books more alive in my mind.

Toni

[#3]

Definitely need this on my list. Thanks for another great book review.

I like psychological thrillers and all the elements you describe make it right up my alley.

I am starting to add my TBR list to my Christmas list.

I am willing to add on new adopted relatives to buy me gifts of books for the holidays.

If anyone is interested let me know, I had no takers at work today.

[#4]

I keep hearing about this book. Plus, New Orleans keeps popping up in all my reading materials as of late. Just another sign that I'll definitely have to read it.