Like a mystery, learning the characters is sometimes challenging and my
readers seem to want a synopsis of the characters. The first book - The Visitor 1862 - introduces you to the characters - some minor but the five characters that continue through the entire story are Mirisa Eppes, Dominic Lanfear, Garnett Alexander, James Alcorn and Alexander Meeks. It is their relationship that is the basis of the story.
The Visitor is a series that takes you through the life of Mirisa Eppes from
the age of sixteen until the end of her life. The beginning of the story takes
place at the beginning of the Civil War when her father sends her to his birth
home of Natchez, Mississippi, as the family is torn apart by the events of the
war.
The story is about a curse placed on the Lanfear family after the slaughter
of the Natchez Indian Chief in the 1700s and the spirits that haunt the Lanfear
Plantation who are seeking a way to lift the curse by returning the ancestors
spirits to the sitting Chief completing the circle. The small neck piece woven from
the hair of each chief as he passes on is sacred to the people of the tribe. It
is stolen by the Lanfear ancestor during the slaughter of their most powerful
chief bringing sorrow on the tribe and a curse on the family of the man who
killed him. The Lanfear family and the Eppes family cross paths as the neck
piece unknowingly falls into the hands of Dr. Richard Eppes but it is not until
Mirisa Eppes sets foot in Dominic Lanfear's home that hope rises to return the
necklace and lift the curse.
Eppes Family:
Dr. Richard Eppes is a country physician and a Virginia plantation owner. He
was born in Natchez and raised by his grandmother, a descendant of the Choctaw
nation. After completing medical training, he marries a woman from a rich
Philadelphia family who borders on frequent and uncontrollable bouts of mental
illness. They settle in Virginia and have seven sons before the birth of their
youngest and only daughter, Mirisa.
Thomas Eppes is the eldest son born with the luxuries afforded by a well to
do family; he marries and moves to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to raise horses. A
graduate of Virginia Military Institute he gives his allegiance to the
President.
Charlie Eppes is the second son who has a passion for animals and takes up
animal husbandry living by his brother and raising a large family. He as well
pledges his allegiance to the President.
The three youngest sons, Jed, Jes and Gus, are triplets born a few years
before Mirisa. They are still living at home when the war starts and take up
arms with their father for the South.
Mirisa Eppes is a young, naive gentle girl who is raised surrounded by
brothers and without the love of a mother. Her greatest hope and dream is to
find love and raise a family.
Lanfear Family:
Conrad Lanfear was born in the 1700s and lived on the family plantation
until he was sixteen when he takes up with a maiden, Algonquin, from the
Natchez tribe living along the Mississippi River. He is a hired gun who rides
with Algonquin's brother, Sequasi. After the unfortunate death of his parents
and all but one brother, he seeks a way to lift the curse and restore the
ancestors of the Natchez. He has been waiting for Mirisa to step across the
threshold of the Lanfear Plantation for many years.
Jake Lanfear is Conrad's youngest brother and after the death of their
entire family he continues running the plantation. He marries Sara and they
raise a family including Conrad's first son but she haunts the house seeking
peace that has always been so elusive. Her constant companion, Simone', is a
large cat who travels between worlds.
Dominic Lanfear is a descendant of the Lanfear family and has inherited the
Natchez plantation and continues to grow and trade indigo, tobacco and cotton.
The family has been beset with tragedy after tragedy since the raid by his
ancestors on the local natives. His mother died at his birth, leaving him to be
raised by a grieving and angry father who ruled with beatings and heavy
drinking. When he was old enough, he left home and enrolled at VMI and began a
military career that kept him away from home until the war began. His father
died while he was gone leaving all his holdings to his youngest son. Like his
ancestor Conrad, Dominic's life is one of a mercenary with a cold hearted
belief that killing is a necessary part of life.
Suzanna Lanfear is the niece of Dominic and raised with everything money can
offer.
Garnett Alexander is a lawyer who attended VMI then served with Dominic in
the army. He was raised in Vicksburg, Mississippi and practices up and down the
Mississippi River. Despite having a normal upbringing, he is beset with demons
that struggle with his constant attempts to find peace in his life.
James Alcorn is a banker and investor who served with Dominic and Garnett in
the army. He was born in New York but raised in Natchez and spent most of his
childhood as a close friend to Dominic. Intelligent and compassionate, his
ability to kill is more instinctual then desirable.
Alexander Meeks is an independently wealthy entrepreneur who graduated in
the same class of VMI with Garnett and James and served in the army with
Dominic, Garnett and James. He was born in New York City but took up with the
other three at VMI forming a lifelong friendship.
HOUSE EMPLOYEES:
Mrs. Chauvin is the housekeeper at the Lanfear Plantation. Her life as a root
woman and guide to the other world and her working at the plantation was not by
accident.
Jasmine is a personal maid who like Mrs. Chauvin is at the Plantation for
the sole purpose of protecting Mirisa as she is taken into the other world by
Conrad.
Minnie is the head cook who was raised in the bayou by her grandmother and
works with the many concoctions and herbs to heal and to travel into another
world.
Simone' the large house cat is the protector of the spirits who haunt the
plantation.
