The Krewe: A Southern Noir Mystery Thriller

Herbert and Melancon, Book 1

By: Seth Pevey

Narrated by: Gary Bennett

Mardi Gras has secrets.

Like why would Felix's brother, a well-off and successful doctor, let the midnight train roll over him? Especially just as his new Carnival Krewe prepares for their inaugural parade?

Good question...

Felix has had an easy life, coasting by as the black sheep of a wealthy family. He spends his time under the green canopies of Uptown New Orleans, whiling away his days in leisure and mediocrity.

Life in the Big Easy is just that.

But not for long... As Felix must begin the search for the truth behind his big brother’s demise at the worst possible time...

The chaos of Mardi Gras season.

With the help of a garrulous old police detective, Felix follows one clue to another, getting deeper into a world where he doesn’t belong. And someone is watching.

What shadowy forces want to sweep this case under the rug?

How far is Felix willing to go to find answers?

Can he avenge the death of his brother and live up to the family name?

You’ll love this Southern Noir thrill ride, equal parts James Lee Burke and Gillian Flynn.

The seedy underbelly of New Orleans is filled with jazz and secrets. Read the rave reviews below and get this stand-alone series opener today. You're sure to get hooked on the ongoing adventures of Felix and Melancon!

©2018 Seth Pevey (P)2021 Seth Pevey

please more audiobooks of this writer!

I really enjoyed the story line and its setting in New Orleans. Reading was also well done! (although Will Patton stays favorite for this kind of southern noir storytelling) Why are his other books in this series not in audiobooks available? I would get them immediately!

Finally

Being a native of New Orleans, I am usually disappointed by books that take place in the area. This book was an exception. In addition, the narrator did not attempt a New Orleans accent; narrators who do this fail miserably. The story was a good crime drama. I hope to find more books in this series on Audible.

Tense

Felix Herbert...he is everything his brother Robert is not and that is not a good thing. This story is super tense and I'll be honest, the starkness of the beginning and how accurate the "suicide" and the drug addiction were described made me consider putting it down. Thank goodness I took the time to move past that.

The "Secret Society" angle truly made it a story that will hold anyone that is truly in for a good read/listen. The old south vibe that comes with it and the twists and turns you feel coming as the NOLA police involvement thickens.

Recommend for sure.

Great Locations. Great Mystery.

4.5 out of 5 stars

I went into this one pretty blind. The cover jumped out at me and I obviously love books that are narrated by Gary Bennett. So, I dove in without knowing much of what was going on. I was instantly intrigued – the opening sequence sucked me right in and held on for the rest of the book.

The intrigue along with the “secret society” vibes that this book had really allowed my imagination to run wild. Fortunately for my sane mind, the actual thing that was causing issues and being abused had a reasonable explanation. But that didn’t keep my mind from wandering and wondering what could be causing such weirdness.

Felix as the main character took a bit to get used to and to enjoy, but I think that Pevey wrote him that way. He was aloof, a drug addict, and just not a very likable person. But as the story progresses and he’s trying to figure out what happened to his brother I started to like him a lot. I can’t recall when it happened, but one moment I was like “why do we care about him” and the next I thought “I really want him to succeed, find his brothers killer (if there is one), and make a name for himself doing something he loves. Like I said, I don’t know when it happened, but it did and that’s the sign of a really good book.

Overall, I thought that the Mardi Gras vibes mixed with the locations (lots of swamps) really made this mystery book even more intense. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and really flew through it. I’ll be looking for more books in this series in the near future.

southern noir

Felix Herbert is the black-sheep of a well off family, an underachiever and stoner. But when Robert, his successful brother, commits suicide, Felix must step up and prove it was murder. To solve the case, he will have to convince Detective Melancon, a seasoned officer, that his brother didn’t off himself and that something else was at play. He’ll also need the help of Thomas De Valencia, the family butler from his connections to advice. The story had all the classic elements I love in a solid Noir crime thriller with southern flair.

Gary Bennett narrates and delivered a stellar performance. He gave each character a unique voice and mannerism that suited their personas. His pacing built up the suspense, helped to cast doubt and got my heart racing as the tension increased.