The Witch of Bourbon Street: A Novel

Suzanne Palmieri

Jun 2015 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin

About this ebook

Situated deep in the Louisiana bayou is the formerly opulent Sorrow Estate. Once home to a magical family—the Sorrows—it now sits in ruins, ever since a series of murders in 1902 shocked the entire community. Now the ghosts of girls in white dresses shift in and out of view, stuck in time as they live out the past on repeat.

When Frances Green Sorrow is born carrying the "signs" of the so-called chosen one, it is believed she will bring her family back from the brink of obscurity, finally resurrecting the glory of what it once was and setting the Sorrows ghosts free.

But Frances is no savior.

Fleeing from heartbreak, she seeks solace in the seductive chaos of New Orleans, only to end up married too young in an attempt to live an ordinary life. When her marriage falls apart shortly after having a son, she returns home again—alone—just out of reach from the prying eyes of her family. But when her son disappears, she is forced to rejoin the world she left behind, exposing her darkest secret in order to find him and discovering the truth of what really happened that fateful year in the process.

Set amidst the colorful charm of The French Quarter and remote bayous of Tivoli Parish, Louisiana, Suzanne Palmieri's The Witch of Bourbon Street is a story of family, redemption, and forgiveness. Because sometimes, the most important person you have to forgive.... is yourself.

Ratings and reviews

I just finished The Witch of Bourbon Street by Suzanne Palmieri. The book starts off in 1901 with all but one member of the Sorrow family dead. People believe Sister Vesta Grace killed off the family while others think it was the voodoo witch, Rosella. The truth has not come out in all these years. Back in 2014, Frances Green Sorrow has hidden herself away on her family estate in a small shack. She has left behind her husband (they are now divorced), her son, Jack, her friends, and family. Frances does not leave the area. She quit running the bar at 13 Bourbon Street and doing tarot readings for clients. The Sorrow family is magical, but Frances has not used her gifts in many years. Why did she hide herself away? Is she ready to come out of hiding and rejoin her family? Sippie Wallace is the adopted daughter of Simone (committed suicide when she was six) and Eight Track (a drunk and drifter). Sippie is sixteen years old and on her own. The Crow has come to give her a message. The Crow has taught her things all her life. Now it is time to find her biological family. Danny Amore is Frances’ ex-husband (he is a shrimper with the boat The Gypsy Witch). He has custody of their son, Jack Amore Sorrow. Jack wants to spend more time with his mother at the Sorrow estate. He has gifts and wants to embrace them. Jack has a plan to get his parents back together. He has made a plan to run away and wait for his parents to come together to find him (he goes to a shack across the canal from his mother). Jack is confident his plan will work (he is twelve). He has only told one person about his plan and that is Millie. Millie grew up with Frances. She came to the family when she was six years old and Frances was four years old. Millie has been acting strange lately. She is lashing out at everyone. The Witch of Bourbon Street is told from different points of view throughout the book. Frances, Sippie, Millie, Danny, and Jack (it changes with each chapter). Some of the dialogue is written as though they are talking with New Orleans accent (which is hard to understand and figure out depending upon who is talking). The Witch of Bourbon Street is a strange and depressing book. It was hard to get into with the way it kept jumping from one person to the next. It does contain a copious amount of foul language (which is really not needed). The book got a little better towards the end when all the story lines starting coming together. I give The Witch of Bourbon Street 2.5 out of 5 stars. I thought this would be a wonderful and magical book, but I was incorrect. There is very little magic in the book (there are some ghosts though). I received a complimentary copy of The Witch of Bourbon Street in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

SUZANNE PALMIERI is the author of The Witch of Little Italy and The Witch of Belladonna Bay. She also writes as Suzanne Hayes and lives with her husband and three daughters in North Branford, Connecticut.