River magic flows through ‘Twisted Ladder’

  After her brother’s suicide, Madeleine LeBlanc becomes tangled in the roots of her family’s disturbing past.
  Madeleine, who was born and raised on the Louisiana bayou, discovers references among her brother’s things to a living great-grandmother she never knew existed. She goes to see this woman, Miss Chloe, whose life has been steeped in river magic. Chloe surprises Madeleine by telling her she has always kept an eye on her and her brother, even though the rest of the family went to great lengths to keep her away. Later, Madeleine asks her father why the family kept their distance.
  Miss Chloe’s an odd one. Old school river folk, you know? She has a funny way of showing you things. You wind up following her somewhere dark and weird. Don’t get me wrong. She’s smart, and she knows things. Next thing you know she’s led you into the attic of a burning house, and she’s guarding the escape ladder.
  Despite her father’s warning, Madeleine seeks information about her family from Chloe. The old woman claims Madeleine’s father has been hounded by a river devil, as was her brother. Madeleine knows of her father’s troubles as a diagnosed schizophrenic, and his disease led her to a career in psychology. Madeleine’s beliefs are firmly rooted in the academic, but the closer she gets to Chloe, the more she begins to believe in the supernatural. And when a violent childhood friend resurfaces, his unusual abilities begin to make Madeleine doubt her own sanity.
  In “A Twisted Ladder,” Rhodi Hawk blends voodoo, mysticism and bayou magic to create an intriguing tale of a haunted family.
  Hawk switches back and forth in time from 2009 to 1912 as she fleshes out Chloe’s background and the family’s tragedies. Some readers might find the shifting time confusing, but the exploration of Chloe’s story is well worth the effort.
  The spirit of the South is an ever present specter living in the pages of “A Twisted Ladder,” with Hawk painting lush landscapes and incorporating authentic dialogue for her readers.
  But throughout the novel, it’s the bayou magic that will keep readers turning pages — as well as having them praying they’ll never have to face their own river devil.