Ms Margaret S Ward

Double Crossed Roads Ms Margaret S Ward

"Double Crossed Roads" is set in and around New Orleans and the surrounding bayou country. It is a sequel to "Crossed Roads" and continues the story of Ali and David Rushing who are dealing with Ali's multiple personality disorder, a malady discovered at the end of the first book and with growing awareness of the manifestations in this story. Ali and David fell in love during their college days at Tulane. Now 16 years later, the discovery of Ali's alternate identities (Claire and Remee) presents a challenge to their marriage. David, a physician, and Ali, a school counselor, are dedicated to understanding why this disorder manifested itself as it did and why it continues. The various personalities are complex and the impact of their realities taxes their marriage heavily. Family history from Ali's parents and visits to her hometown of Houma, LA, provide some insight which helps her come to terms with the concept of her life as three different women. The travel also allows the reader to experience some of the fascination of the Creole and Cajun cultures as well as a bit of insight into the present-day Voodoo practices and beliefs. All the characters essentially undertake the task of determining which aspects of their lives are reality, which are imagination and which are based on faith and interpretation. The story is a work of fiction but settings are authentic and picturesque; and readers who live in or have visited the area extensively will recognize some familiar places.