“A Voodoo ritual?” Emmett stared dumbly at her.

A young man from Maine fights for social equality in New Orleans after the Civil War while pursuing a murderer of prostitutes, becoming enmeshed in voodoo, and falling in love.

“Education is the tool that makes us all equal, whether we are Black, white, Indian, woman, or man,” Manon said.

Much like Louisiana’s famous gumbo, Love in A Time of Hate, is a spicy dish of varied ingredients. The main theme is the struggle for social equality between the whites, Blacks, and Creoles, but flavor is added with the subplots of politics, voodoo, murder, love, and hate.

And then came the Rebel scream, a sound Emmett had not heard since near the end of the Great War.

New Orleans becomes a literal battleground as carpetbaggers, scalawags, Creoles, and recently freed slaves fight against the entrenched southern plantation notion of white superiority.

Completely Captivating!

So very different to this author’s other works, but an absolutely superb read!

Emmet fought in the war and now, with the abolition of slavery, he fights for equal rights for all. However, in New Orleans not everyone agrees and there is quite a battle going on for supremacy; this is the story of that fight and so very much more . . .

I have read quite a number of novels about slavery but this is the first I’ve come across set in this particular time period and it is an absolutely fascinating read. Personally, I’ve always found it rather abhorrent that some humans treat others differently merely because of their race, creed, colour or religion but hatred is deep in this community. I imagine that there was a fair bit of research involved and it was all worthwhile as this is a riveting tale incorporating crime, voodoo, and romance. Completely captivating from beginning to end, I was enthralled with the characters and the tightly woven events made for exciting reading! A first class novel about a period in history not often covered and one I definitely recommend and am happy to give all five sparkling stars.

My thanks to the author for my copy of his novel; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Tags: historical fiction

• Format: ebook, paperback, hardcover
• Size: 310 pages
• Publisher: Encircle Publications
• Publication Date: 25 August 2021
• Book Links:
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57863144
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-in-a-time-of-hate-matthew-langdon-cost/1139410871
• https://www.waterstones.com/book/love-in-a-time-of-hate/matthew-langdon-cost/9781645992349
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Time-Hate-Matthew-Langdon-ebook/dp/B093DPBJHZ

Author Details

Over the years, Cost has owned a video store, a mystery bookstore, and a gym. He has also taught history and coached just about every sport imaginable.

During those years, since age eight actually, the true passion has been writing. I Am Cuba: Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution (Encircle Publications, March, 2020) was his first traditionally published novel.
Cost now lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Harper. There are four grown children: Brittany, Pearson, Miranda, and Ryan. A chocolate Lab and a basset hound round out the mix. He now spends his days at the computer, writing.

• Website: https://www.mattcost.net/
• Twitter: @MattCost8
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.cost.3