This is a nonfiction book about Delphine Lalaurie, the creole belle and murderess responsible for tormenting the souls that linger in the Lalaurie mansion (a notorious haunted house in the New Orleans French Quarter) to this day! I chose to read this book because I was on vacation in New Orleans and wanted to read something local. The book told the ghost story, but it's focus was a historical debunking of the myths, telling the true story of the Lalaurie family and what actually happened in the mansion.
As a firm skeptic of all things paranormal I enjoyed this book and enjoyed it's search for historical accuracy. It captured my imagination and inspired the above illustration of Madame Lalaurie's ghost. The book is written more like a textbook than a novel, but a good textbook, with credible references. I particularly enjoyed the occasional aside where the author addresses the reader directly. I found this added personality to a book that was in danger of being too stiff. The attention to not only Delphine, but the family around her gave a well rounded portrayal of the woman and allowed the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about her guilt in the tragedies that took places at 1140 Rue d'Royal, New Orleans LA.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a short interesting read about a small corner of American history. Anyone who's interested in the historic facts behind paranormal myths will enjoy this book. This book is not for the paranormal fanatic. The authors go to great lengths to provide the facts that debunk many of the myths and legends surrounding the Lalaurie mansion spending little time on the modern ghost stories that have spun out of history.
Stars:
6 out of 7
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