Betrayal [Mass Market Paperback]

Gwen Hunter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1994

"My name is Nicolette Dazincourt DeLande, and I have committed murder. . . ". So begins this spellbinding novel, the passionate story of a young girl's marriage into a Louisiana family so monstrous that only an extraordinary woman could escape from it alive.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The eerie atmosphere of southern Louisiana provides the perfect setting for Gothic drama, and Hunter makes full use of snake-ridden bayous, isolated Southern mansions and seedy New Orleans streets to create a vivid, haunting backdrop for her gripping tale of the nightmarish passions that rule a prominent Louisiana family. Nicolette Dazincourt is a naive small-town girl when she marries the wealthy, sexy Montgomery DeLande, but she quickly learns that money and power have given her husband and his family license to engage in monstrous psychosexual terrorism. Hunter paints a chillingly realistic picture of an abusive relationship: alternately pampered and "punished," Nicolette grows desperate for her husband's approval and acquiesces to his every demand. When she discovers that the Delandes are abusing her young daughters, Nicolette tries to leave only to be thwarted by the family's ruthless determination to prevent any defection. The bulk of the novel recounts, in engrossing detail, Nicolette's flight from her husband and her eventual confrontation. Along the way, she discovers the value of female bonding, of more enlightened male companionship and of her own character. Hunter's pacing could be better in places, and the book contains some horrifically graphic descriptions of violence against women, but Nicolette is an engaging narrator and her story is a definite page-turner.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671891537
• ISBN-13: 978-0671891534
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,841,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern day gothic!, December 10, 2004

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Betrayal (Delande Saga) (Paperback)

This novel is based in New Orleans to Baton Rouge. As a young girl Nicolette Dazincort falls in love with Montgomery DeLande. Once of age, they marry and take a beautiful honeymoon. However, upon settling into married life Nicolette notices a change in her new husband. Montgomery develops a jealous side, bordering on the insane, when he takes her to meet his mother and brothers. As time passes, this odd behavior continues, usually whenever the brothers come to visit them. Even after they have children together Montgomery's jealousy continues and seems to be getting worse.

When Nicolette learns a devastating secret she realizes what she must do, even though it means she may never see her children or friends again.

***** This books reads like a modern day Gothic novel. I could not put the book down. I simply HAD to know what was going to happen next. The author developed the characters so well and vividly that I could feel Nicolette's pain. Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by D. Wilson.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bad Man Is Hard To Get Rid Of, June 27, 2004

By 

Louis N. Gruber "Author of Jay" (Lexington, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betrayal (Delande Saga) (Paperback)

Nicolette Dazincourt is a spunky, savvy girl, who knows her way around the backwoods of Louisiana, knows how to hunt and fish and take care of sick animals. She is thrilled when the handsome Montgomery DeLande shows an interest in her. She thinks she would give her soul to have him look at her. After their wedding and a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris she is taken to meet his family, and she begins to see another side of Montgomery--a dark and abusive side.

As the story unfolds, Nicolette finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage. But what will she do when she learns that Montgomery has been abusing their young daughters? And that his family, powerful and influential in the state, is immersed in a peculiar culture of sexual violence? And that no woman ever leaves a DeLande, at least not alive? You will have to read the book to find out what happens. If you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down.

Author Gwen Hunter writes brilliantly, drawing you quickly into the story. She creates wonderful female characters who will come alive for you--characters with grit and tenacity--women who fight for their lives against unbelievable odds. And men, both good and evil. And the atmosphere of South Louisiana. And the psychology of an abusive relationship from which the victim cannot break free. Sometimes the story is almost too graphic, too horrific. Sometimes the evil DeLandes are almost too evil, evil with no redeeming features. Still, the book works, and it is a spell-binding read. I recommend this one highly. (...)Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RIVETING ADVENTURE!, February 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Betrayal (Mass Market Paperback)

Oh my, oh my! An incredible adventure written by a master story teller. She is able to convey true evil, not just some "scary guys". I could not put this book down. I bought it used and am so grateful to Amazon for providing the means to acquire it. Hooray for Gwen Hunter!