The premise of this book sounded interesting and I always love a romance/police procedural but unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. The inclusion of voodoo to explain away odd occurrences etc took away a lot of the suspense, and I found myself losing interest after the alligator attack scene. However, I did enjoy the writing and would read this author again.

I enjoyed this book. It has a lot of intrigue, & twists & turns. Just beware that this has a gay protagonist but it’s tastefully done, not in your face. #DevilsBreath #NetGalley

The author involves romance, policework, Voodoo and a serial killer. There are trigger points with murder and Voodoo. I found the plot good and the characters well written. I recommend this book for thriller romance readers.

This was a well written mystery Thriller with a bit of romance and take place in a small Town that's filled with bigotry and racism. Quite the page turner and very twisty..

Thank You to the publisher Bella Books for this ARC copy via NetGalley.

Devil's Breath by Anna Paxton is an electrifying read that masterfully blends crime thriller with supernatural suspense. Set in the eerie depths of the bayou, the story kicks off with a chilling premise: a serial killer is turning the landscape into a graveyard, all while voodoo witchcraft looms ominously. Paxton skillfully weaves a gripping police/crime procedural that keeps you on the edge of your seat. We get it all in this story, romance, belief system, and the fight against darkness. The pacing is relentless, and the characters (love them) are compelling, making it hard to put down. If this is just the beginning, I can't wait to see where Paxton takes us next. This heart-pounding thriller is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mix of mystery and the supernatural! Oh and did I mention it's sapphic. I need more!!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this and I’m really hoping Anna Paxton writes many more adventures in the Voodoo Bayou series. The various aspects pull together really well and the respect shown to the local beliefs by the cops in the story add an element of credibility. If you’re policing a bayou where people believe in voodoo and ‘supernatural’ elements, you need to be careful where you tread.

Claire Duvall is quite happily getting through her days when bodies start turning up when there’s a long dry spell. She needs help and Jess Morgan comes in from a neighbouring force. They work well together while fighting the misogyny and homophobia of some of the locals and indeed some colleagues. But there’s also some really helpful and supportive people. Claire and Jess grow closer as they start to work out what’s going on.

The drug being described is terrifying and the ending is at a race car pace and leaves you breathless. I would have said the book was an easy 4* until Miss Paxton created the ending and sorted out all the threads. Strong writing and I’m already looking forward to Book #2

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

When I first read the burb re this book they did mention Voodoo was part of the story but I decided to read it anyways and girl, oh girl I am very glad I did. When a small skull was found deep in the bayou. When Deputy Claire Duvall went to the site where the discovery was made she had the feeling something big was coming to light.
Claire was born and raised in the small community and even though she’d been picked on all her life mainly because she presented herself as lesbian. Small towns, small minds. She eventually trained to be a law officer and decided to stay where she was. Someday she might find the strength to leave but after her mom died she just didn’t have the drive to move on. Now she was working for the small police department and apparently there was a murderer killing people. The reason wasn’t clear but they had a case to solve.
Needing help, the department brought in another officer, Jess Morgan. Even with so much new info coming in they both felt that little thrill when they met. Jess, along with Claire, had a killer to catch. They only had a small crew so the days were long.
With more than a few twists and turns this has turned out to be a great read. It wasn’t scary and didn’t give me the creeps, just a really strong plot with great characters, both main and supporting cast. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC NetGalley/ Bella Books

Thanks to Bella books and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my review.

Devil's breath follows Deputy Claire Duvall as she struggles to deal with bigoted small town folk in rural Louisiana, while suddenly having to deal with a series of murders unlike anything that's been seen around. When her boss falls ill outside help in the form of Jess Morgan, an officer from a different city, and the two find themselves dealing with the sweltering bayou heat and the desire simmering between them both.

I really enjoyed this story, the who-dunnit mystery as well as romance that I feel was balanced well with the main plot line, without either really being over shadowed by the other. I enjoy mysteries that constantly have me rethinking who the culprit is, and there are a few red herrings in here, but the reveal left me a bit gobsmacked. Paxton did really well in bringing the bayou to life in the pages and bringing us into this world of small town community. The introduction of the Voodoo religion was also nice as it wasn't depectied as this evil thing, but instead something to be cherished like any other religion. We get introduced to some of the loa, the Voodoo gods, and learn about them a bit.

Tense and twisty, voodoo and hoodoo, sacrifice and insanity, all intertwined in a small town filled with racism and bigotry, but also with those rising above. The line of mysticism and reality is often blurred, what more is out there? Some triggers so watch for that.

I really enjoyed this. Voodoo x Lesbians x Murder what's not to like? I enjoyed the storyline and the way the investigation kept developing, I had a few guesses of who the main suspect was and I was pleasantly surprised, also by the revelation at the end of the book. I like the ending we got but I also love the fact it still showed hardship and not just your standard ending where everything goes perfect. This is a workplace romance where we follow Deputy Sheriff Claire Duvalll who has issues with colleagues and some of the town due to her sexuality explore a case thats shocking the town. Whilst working the case she begins to work with her temporary boss Jessica Morgan who needs somewhere to stay and also wants to get this case solved. The two must work together and live together and see how working together leads them to something more in their personal lives.

Very atmospheric, gothic supernatural story with slight touches of romance. Rushed ending, but overall really enjoyed this mystery with a dark twist. Look forward to possible sequels.

Thank you to Bella Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I enjoyed this debut novel that appears to be the first in a new series. Claire Duvall is a deputy sheriff in a small Parish in Louisiana. With water receding in the bayou a skull is found of a child who went missing years before. An undersheriff, Jess Morgan, is on loan to run the department while the elected sheriff is out for medical reasons. The case gets more complex when more bodies are found.

I liked Claire and Jess as they work together. A whole lot is hitting the department but they are professional and follow procedures. There is Voodoo for good and evil mixed into the storyline which I thought enhanced the story. This is listed as the first in a series and I hope the duo returns with another police mystery soon. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for the book and I am leaving a voluntary review.

This is a story about Claire Duvall who is a deputy sheriff in western Louisiana. Jessica Morgan is transferred into her district when the sheriff becomes ill. Claire and Jessica have instant attraction when they first meet. They begin an investigation in the nearby bayou when a child’s skull is found. They ask a local voodoo priest to help them solve the crime.

I enjoyed this mystery romance story. I liked the characters and the setting in the Louisiana bayou. And the creepy voodoo scenes added to the intensity of solving the mystery. I have been to Louisiana and been in the bayou on a tour and the writing was very realistic to me.

It was a good first effort for a debut author. Yes the romance was a bit too easy but believable in this story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

well who wouldnt like a book about voodoo. magic and the bayou

theres an evil lurking in the bayou and his day is coming....

claire a deputy is called to a scene in the bayou.... a skull had been found but unearthing the rest of the body is going to take a team effort and with crocs around them at all times its a logistic nightmare for all concerned....

once the skeletal remains are safely uncovered its not long before more bodies are found and realising they have a serial killer around them and with a flagging workforce a call for more officers is put out

but its not just the bodies that are found... an attempt on the the chief life puts everyone on high alert....

can their small town really be a haven for a serial kiiller and a port for drugs to be coming in.... high drama indeed

wow what a read...with the bayou and voodoo who wouldnt like this book...
cant wait for the next book from this author...

I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to read a book that was set in a place I’ve never read before you could really picture how the bayou looked and felt. It was also a nice change of pace to have female main characters that were also the deputies. I hope there will be another book in this series and I will be keeping an eye out for it.

Tis book peaked my interest because the setting is different from most books. I like the Louisiana small town idea, the homophobia there, not so much. These religious zealots kinda ruin things for me.
The first 20% or so was difficult for me to get into, there was a lot of religious tal (Christianity and voodoo). While we get a lot of books with some form of Christianity, voodoo was a new experience, I’m uncertain if it was a pleasant one.
I started liking the book more when the religious bits were turned down and the crime amped up, and the entry of our second main character.

The book has some issues with timings in my opinion, it stuck too long on one thing, while other things felt pretty rushed. It seems like a bit of first time published author bumps. Throughout the story I was kind of convinced about knowing who the bad guy was, I was wrong. I like that I was wrong! <- words you won’t hear me say often.

I’ll be on the lookout for the second book in the voodoo bayou series.
3.5 stars

Really good story. There's a lot going on in this book. There's voodoo, a serial killer, witchcraft and found families , and mystery, this book had it all. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and trying to figure out what was happening was very intriguing too me. I actually enjoy Books that have several different experiences going on at once it keeps me on my reading toes. I would definitely recommend this book and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Covers quite a multitude of genres in one story. A serial killer, voodoo (good and bad), Sapphic romance, found family. Well worth reading. Unfortunately not an actual 'whodunnit' as the killer is revealed before the end (although about half way through it was becoming obvious). But quite an exciting ending although possibly not really ended? Not left on a cliffhanger but perhaps some unresolved areas.