The Supernatural Everglades
Travel tips from Reg Rawlins
The Everglades are beautiful, sure. But for Reg Rawlins, they are also wet, wild, and full of things that would much rather she stayed out of their business. While Black Sands is home base for most of Reg’s psychic investigations, the Everglades are their own special kind of supernatural nightmare—one that covers a million and a half acres. This paranormal mystery and adventure will keep you guessing!
The Legend vs. The Reality: Meet Etienne
You might have heard of the Skunk Man, a smelly Bigfoot legend that locals love to talk about at the Skunk Man Saloon. But if you actually meet Etienne, you’ll find the nickname is a total lie. Etienne—who first appears in Skunk Man Swamp—is part of the “Forest People”. He’s actually incredibly fastidious, loves his tidy cabin, and is a strict vegetarian who wouldn’t dream of eating a human. He even eventually finds love with Ilka, a Yeti from Russia, in Without Foresight.
The Real Threat: Tybalt and the Goblins
The real danger in the swamp doesn’t have fur; it has a stench of rotting flesh. Tybalt, who posed as a helpful tour guide, was actually a swamp goblin. Unlike Etienne, Tybalt was malevolent, with a hidden lair filled with rows of human skulls from those the swamp has swallowed over the years.
Basic Survival Rules for the Glades
- Do not assume quiet means safe. The Everglades are a “maze” where planes, boats, and people vanish without a trace. If it’s too quiet, something might be cloaking itself.
- Do not follow your nose. If you smell musk and rain, you might just be near Etienne. If you smell rot and decay, you’re in goblin territory—run.
- Have a plan, not just confidence. Reg learned the hard way that a simple psychic “seek” can fail when you’re being hunted by ancient magic.
- Bring someone who can think clearly. Whether it’s a protective Florida panther (who has a soft spot for Reg) or Bruce, the shapeshifting skinwalker who moonlights as a postman, you need an ally who knows the terrain better than you do.
The Fallout: Magical Investigations
The events in the swamp didn’t just stay there. The death of a protected creature like a swamp goblin brought the Department of Endangered Species right to Reg’s door in Magic Ain’t a Game. Investigator Julian Sabat—a bully from Reg’s childhood—made it his mission to track the “perpetrators” of the goblin’s demise, proving that even when you escape the swamp, the paperwork will still hunt you down.
If you want the full story of Reg’s first terrifying trip into the marsh, grab Skunk Man Swamp. For a deeper look at the Forest People and their domestic life, check out the short story Cat Tales in the Swamp.
Black Sands may be Reg’s home, but the supernatural world is a whole lot wider—and wetter—than it looks from the boardwalk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Reg Rawlins book takes place in the Everglades?
Skunk Man Swamp follows Reg Rawlins into the Everglades, where local legends, dangerous magic, and supernatural creatures are not nearly as fictional as they sound.
Who is Etienne in the Reg Rawlins series?
Etienne is part of the Forest People, the legendary Skunk Man. Despite the frightening nickname, he is tidy, gentle, vegetarian, and much more civilized than the stories suggest.
Is the Skunk Man dangerous in Reg Rawlins?
Etienne, the so-called Skunk Man, is not the real danger. The more serious threat comes from Tybalt, a swamp goblin who hides behind local legend and uses the Everglades for far darker purposes.
What kind of supernatural creatures are in the Everglades?
In Reg Rawlins’s Everglades adventures, readers encounter Forest People, swamp goblins, shapeshifters, protective animals, and ancient magic that does not always play by human rules.
Do I need to read Skunk Man Swamp before Magic Ain’t a Game?
It is a good idea. Skunk Man Swamp introduces the Everglades events that later create trouble for Reg in Magic Ain’t a Game, especially when the Department of Endangered Species begins investigating what happened in the swamp.
What should I read after Skunk Man Swamp?
After Skunk Man Swamp, readers who want more of Etienne and the Forest People can read Cat Tales in the Swamp. For more supernatural consequences from the Everglades case, continue with Magic Ain’t a Game.
