Dog Days of Voodoo is the first book in the Malveaux Curse Mystery series by G.A. Chase. Absolutely nothing stands between a woman and her beloved dog, not even the malevolent force of a voodoo curse. Kendell Summer, lead guitarist for Polly Urethane and the Strippers, has always been interested in the unexplained. So when she sets off on a paranormal research romp with Myles, a former classmate, to explore his skills in psychometry, she’s ready for a little adventure. But she gets more than she bargained for when her Lhasa apso, Cheesecake, is dognapped. Kendell will do whatever it takes to get her dog back. While rescuing the pup, Kendell and Myles learn that the touristy glitz of New Orleans’ voodoo shops hides a dark history few understand—a truth that some in the city plan to use for their own gain. Soon they uncover more than they ever wanted to know about New Orleans’ unsavory past and a curse that threatens to change everything. Only Kendell can prevent the evil they’ve uncovered from doing more damage, but she’ll need Myles’s support and psychometric abilities—and the vigilance of the ever-watchful Cheesecake.
Dog Days of Voodoo is not a cozy mystery, it is not too heavy but it is certainly more in depth than a traditional cozy. I feel like readers get a good understanding of the main players, and the city. However, I do feel like we could have gotten a bit more about Kendell, she seems just a little too understanding and perspective, almost perfect, for the situations she finds herself in. Myles was a little more fleshed out in my mind, I feel like i came to understand him a little bit more. I found the mystery surrounding the curse, and the family ancestry was well developed, and believable with the type of power some families still wield in certain areas. I found the danger and adventure that Myles and Kendell dealt with the be well done and entertaining. I do think it started off a little slow, but once things got going it stayed fairly well paced. I liked the fact that while friendship developed between the main characters, they hinted at the possibility of more but romance never became the main focus of the story, but remained a background thread that occasionally came through inner thoughts but never overwhelmed te rest of the story.
Dog Days of Voodoo is a good start to a new series. There was a slow start, and the series promise some series political and family dynasty drama alongside the mystical mysteries. I think there are many people that are looking for mysteries with this combination of magic and danger, but without the cozy feel.
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