cover image CORINA'S WAY

CORINA'S WAY

Rod Davis, . . NewSouth, $24.95 (288pp) ISBN 978-1-58838-129-3

First-time novelist Davis captures the essence of New Orleans with a blend of voodoo, gangsters and, of course, plenty of jazz and gospel music. Corina Youngblood is a self-styled black priestess whose freewheeling but stern spiritual readings have earned her a formidable reputation in the community. But Youngblood faces stiff competition from the Delgado brothers, Cuban immigrants who want to commercialize voodoo-related products by opening a chain of stores called SuperBotanicas. To help them along, the Delgados turn to a corrupt local politician named Joe Dell Prince, who provides the environmental permit they need as he pumps up his own visibility for a run at the governor's office. But if the Delgados have Prince, Corina has Gus Houston in her corner, a chaplain at Miss Angelique's Academy for Young Ladies who lied his way into the job (his "last meaningful employment had been night manager at a Tennessee theme park") because he was smitten with the headmaster. In an effort to get the privileged, petulant teenagers out of his hair, Houston starts referring them to Corina, who's soon raking it in. She also inspires Gus to organize the girls into a gospel choir, setting the stage for a climax filled with mayhem at the New Orleans Jazzfest. Davis nails the complicated racial and religious stew that makes up bayou culture, and his witty, fast style perfectly complements the clever premise. (July)