A Twisted Ladder (Twisted Ladder #1)

By Rhodi Hawk

Editions: ebook, hardcover, paperback

Published September 1st 2009 by Forge Books

Genre: Adult Thriller / Southern Gothic

Source: review copy

Psychologist Madeleine LeBlanc has spent her whole career trying to determine the cause of her father's schizophrenia. She always felt that she could unravel its origins and cure the man who left her and her brother, Marc, to practically raise themselves on the Louisiana Bayou. But when Marc takes his own life on a fishing boat in the middle of Bayou Black, Madeleine embarks on a journey into her family history---to a time when the antebellum era was crumbling, and the line between servant and master was starting to fade. And the more she pries the more she reveals her family’s dark past, rife with conjured demons and river magic gone awry. Madeleine’s only hope to save herself is to face the ghosts of the past, the dangers of the present, and the twisted ladder that links them all together.
~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: beautiful and consistent read, rich, dark and delicious

See the book trailer here.
World Building: Fabulously dark and luscious Louisiana Bayous setting with a world of river magic and twisted minds who can do some really cool tricks, I loved this world with a passion and it spoke to my love of dark, creepy-like beauty.
Characters: Well built, strong and charismatic, the bad guys included. I loved Daddy Blank, Madeleine was really cool, and others were very intriguing - Chloe, Zenon. Can't say I was a fan of Ethan, but that's a matter of personal taste. With such tough competition, it would have been near impossible for him to come off as charismatic. They all have a literary feel.
Plot: A beautiful mix of mystery, some paranormal, some romance, a definite thriller and a gothic beauty. I love genre-benders, so to speak, and the story in this book was rich and eventful without becoming too agitated or swallowing up the characters.
Writing: Third person narrative with two story lines. There's the current day story line that includes Madeleine, Daddy Blank, Ethan and co, and there's the '20-s story line that includes Chloe, Rene and their children. While I know some people have the parallel stories pet peeve, I don't, and I enjoyed the way the two stories intertwined and gave each other new perspectives.
Curb Appeal: Very strong, beautiful dark cover, intriguing blurb.

This is a book for adults, themes and circumstances fit for that age group. There are some hot on one scenes, not very graphic (in my opinion) but adult nonetheless and not closed-door style.
All in all, this was a beautiful and consistent read, rich, dark and delicious. I say give it a shot if you like your reads with a pinch of dark.