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 Fast paced race to the finish line caps a good story w/ memorable characters November 25, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Just finished Water Witch and as has been the case with LeBlancs other books, it was a no holds barred, fast paced race to the finish. I found the book to cook up a complex stew of a good story line and background setting frought with all that is creepy about the bayou in general and swamps in particular...i.e. poisonous snakes (both swimming in the water and dropping out of trees), fetid water, pitch black...and just being plain lost out there. Let's not forget bloated floating bodies, charred corpses, kidnapped children, and a madman on the loose. These are components that are very creppy to a city boy like myself. Personally, I have always struggled with authors that weigh you down with so many facts that one feels as though they are walking through glue. If indeed, you really want to know how to build a watch before asking what time it is...then LeBlanc is not for you. If however you enjoy a read that shuns the predictable while painting MAJOR pictures in your minds eye...then Water Witch (and her other titles) will find a very comfortable fit on your bookshelf.
One cannot discuss LeBlanc without mentioning her obvious pentchant for character development. Be it a funeral worker who steals from the dead juxtaposed with a vengeful Gypsy King ("Grave Intent"), a horrid Pig Woman ("Bottom Feeder"...5 Strokes to Midnight), or the fanatacal Preacher in Water Witch, LeBlanc calls everyones personality traits and quirks into play to create one foible filled unforgettable character after another. When tragedy inevitably befalls them, you discover, to your surprise, just how emotionally invested you have become in these characters.
As they say...timing is everything, and in "Water Witch" (as in her other tomes) the final 3 or 4 chapters is a full out pedal to the metal sojourn that has all the speed and grace of the Indy 500 coupled with the brutality and unexpected collisions of a demolition derby. One will be shocked but not surprised by the ending if you have paid good attention throughout the book. If you are looking for the obvious, one won't find it here as major characters are often kept in the shadows until (like a good Cajun gumbo) they are served up at just the right moment.
I enjoy LeBlancs overall scene setting, character development, pacing, and have come to expect endings that I wouldn't expect.
Thank You RPH
Genuine, authentic scares November 1, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
We are transported to a weird place where a man named Olm has called forth truly frightening spirits accidentaly. This story stuck to me and got me jumpy during the day. There is nowhere safe. There are also amazing people populating this story, especially a pair of unnaturally insightful ladies. inspired and enriching.
 Decent Enough To Read All The Way Through October 22, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
More like 3 1/2 stars. This was also my first intro to LeBlanc. I had intended on Grave Intent to be, but received this as a selection from Leisure's Book Club and figured, why not?
Deborah LeBlanc knows how to keep you turning the pages. It is a fast-paced story, and it's not complex in the sense that you're going to be spending a lot of time on it. It is a fast read.
The character of the bad guy in this one could have had a bit more explanation into what he was trying to accomplish. The characters of the two little kids who were abducted weren't bad, and I liked the character of Dunny. Poochie's speech was a bit annoying at times, but you keep going to see what's going to happen.
The ending could have been better, more developed. But I still say this was a lot better than some of the other releases Leisure has been coming out with lately. It made me like LeBlanc enough to read most of the rest of her writings.
Horrordude.
Overall, an entertaining supernatural thriller October 22, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
'Water Witch" is my introduction to author Deborah Leblanc's work and based upon my enjoyment of it, I intend to check her other titles out. The story centers around Dunny Pollock, a writer who lives alone out in the Texas dustbowl and who also happens to be 'blessed' with a gift - she has an extra finger on her left hand which is able to sense stuff like the location of water, oil and even dead animals. Dunny has long since sickened of being used by manipulative people for their own ends and has ceased tapping into her gift for some time.
She is thus surprised when her sister Angelle, a married teacher residing in Bayou Crow, Louisiana gives her a desperate call pleading with her to visit and help solve the mystery of the disappearance of two local kids. It is only when Dunny gets to Bayou Crow does she realise there's more going on than just two kids disappearing, and there are evil manifestations afoot.
The story is fast-paced, though I did find the frequent use of local dialect, especially by Poochie, Angelle's grandma-in-law to be quite distracting. There were a couple of plot holes that left some questions unanswered at the end. The writing is not too sophisticated but for this particular story it actually worked quite well. As for character development, my main grouse is that apart from Dunny, whom I thought was a well-drawn character, the villain's character wasn't sufficiently fleshed out. His motivations for doing the things he does is alluded to but not in depth and I thought that detracted from the credibility of the story. More background info on the villain's past would have helped. I did like the character of Poochie, the eccentric grandma who is feisty and a 'sensitive' herself. In fact, Dunny and Poochie were the two memorable characters for me.
All in all, readers who enjoy supernatural thrillers that are high on atmosphere and a quick read might enjoy this.
Okay story undone by bad ending October 13, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
When you think of horror and Louisiana, the big name that comes to mind has to be Anne Rice. Now that she's retired more-or-less from the genre, there is room for another person to become the Queen of Louisiana Horror. Deborah LeBlanc has the right background and with her latest book, Water Witch, she continues to try and claim the title.
The title character is Dunny Pollock, a woman with a special gift: she was born with an extra finger that gives her the ability to find certain things: water, oil and living things. It's a power with consequences, primarily being treated as a freak. As an adult, she has kept this ability a secret, but her sister Angelle needs Dunny's help to find two missing children.
The two children have been kidnapped by Olm who is one-third (?) Pawnee and is intent on using ancient Indian lore to invoke spirits and gain great power. Unfortunately, his attempts so far have only resulted in the coming of malicious ghosts who prey on him and the local townspeople, but he feels that if he sacrifices the children, he can set things right. Dunny's powers will be useful, but they might not be enough to stop Olm.
Overall, LeBlanc's writing is decent though not exceptional. She does a good job at bringing Louisiana to life (though compared to the masterful James Lee Burke (who works in a different genre), she's clearly in second place). The big failing in the book, however, is the conclusion. To avoid spoiling anything, it should be enough to say that just when things look like they are going one way, characters appear out of nowhere to reverse the situation. It's actually amazing that LeBlanc - an accomplished author with several other books under her belt - would stoop to such a deus ex machina.
Because of the bad ending, this low-four star book loses a star. There are other flaws in the story as well, but they are minor in comparison. I guess it's a good book until the end, but good conclusions are critical, and this one falls so short, I can't recommend it. Look elsewhere for your horror.
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