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The Snake Woman of Ipanema by Lucille Bellucci iUniverse
book review by Judee L. Spargur
"The No mask fooled them all. They never saw the lacquered ceremonial face hiding her real one. They saw her Midnight Silk stockings and satin pumps, a black silk sheath, and her hair coiled at the neck with a jewel."
So starts this story of underworld figures; African and Brazilian spirits who haunt the believers where ever they run! Maggie and Jon Dalton are living in Brazil for his work as a civil engineer. Jon's employer, Cleaver and Fischer are a well-run company that has offices all around the world. Jon Dalton wanted this plum assignment because of the high living, extraordinary pay and wonderful perks. Maggie, a shy, intelligent, sensitive soul from a wealthy Michigan family, with totally different values than the fast paced jet setters she is thrown into, loses her very self when she tries to fight the spirits that haunt her. Jon's straying from their marital bed with the sultry Brazilian beauty, TZ, has terrifying consequences for them all. His infidelity sends Maggie on her terrifying journey into the pits of hell; trying to find a curse to put on her husband. She travels down under Rio de Janeiro's good life and bumps into the cult of spiritism. It was brought over 450 years ago by captive slaves of West Africa. Tonia, Maggies loyal maid, also goes running into the darkness of Brazil and its spirits, to find her mistress when she goes missing after stumbling upon evidence of her husband's cheating. Tonia must at least, save her mistress' soul.
This new author guides us through a most intense trip in a land of dark secrets, voodoo, evil so great that even witch doctors were afraid to venture very far from their home territory. Mrs. Bellucci uses colorful language to delscribe the characters and places in Brazil. The art of imagery is bountiful through this story. The tale is well told and we dare not turn out the light!