I’ve always been a fan of cozy mysteries – there’s something so satisfying about curling up with a lighthearted whodunit filled with quirky characters, clever plot twists, and a charming small-town setting. When a friend recommended Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon, the first book in her Miss Fortune Mystery series, I was intrigued. A CIA assassin turned amateur sleuth hiding out in a wacky Louisiana bayou town? Sign me up!
I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first about how DeLeon would make this fish-out-of-water premise work. But from the very first pages, as CIA agent Fortune Redding arrives in Sinful, Louisiana posing as a former beauty queen and librarian, I was hooked. Fortune is a fantastic protagonist – smart, sassy, and totally out of her element in this quirky town full of colorful Cajun characters. Watching her navigate the culture shock while trying to lay low and avoid the arms dealer who wants her dead had me laughing out loud.
One of the biggest strengths of this book is the vividly drawn setting and eccentric cast of secondary characters. DeLeon clearly knows southern Louisiana well and she brings the small bayou town of Sinful to life in all its oddball glory, from the gator-filled swamps to the gossipy townsfolk. I especially loved Fortune’s partners in crime-solving, Ida Belle and Gertie, two seemingly sweet old ladies who are actually ex-CIA agents themselves! These spunky septuagenarian spies, dubbed “the Geritol Mafia”, nearly steal the show with their meddling, matchmaking attempts and hidden weapons caches. The way the three women bond as Fortune learns to let her guard down and open herself up to friendship is really heartwarming.
But it’s not just the wacky humor and hijinks that make this book so entertaining. There’s also a smartly plotted mystery at the center, kicked off when Fortune’s dog digs up a human bone in her backyard shortly after she arrives in town. With the sexy local deputy Carter LeBlanc starting to suspect that she’s hiding something, Fortune has to team up with Ida Belle and Gertie to solve the murder before her secret identity is exposed. DeLeon kept me guessing with plenty of twists, turns, and potential suspects. I smugly thought I had it all figured out, only to be surprised by the reveal of the actual culprit.
In between the laughs and the clue-hunting, DeLeon also weaves in some more serious themes about the importance of friendship, found family, and learning to trust others. Fortune starts out determined to keep her distance, believing that relying on people is a weakness in her line of work. But as she gets drawn into life in Sinful and grows closer to Ida Belle, Gertie, and Deputy LeBlanc, she realizes how lonely her existence as a rootless assassin has been. There’s a really moving scene where Fortune reflects on how long it’s been since she had a real home or people who cared about her. It’s a credit to DeLeon’s writing that she’s able to balance the book’s comedic tone with these more poignant emotional beats.
I also appreciated how DeLeon develops the romantic subplot between Fortune and Deputy LeBlanc. Their chemistry crackles from their first meeting, but the author doesn’t rush the relationship, instead letting it evolve slowly and naturally over the course of the story as they match wits and trade barbs. It’s clear they both have some baggage to work through, which made them feel like a realistic, relatable potential couple I could root for. I’m definitely eager to see how things progress for them over the course of the series.
From a craft perspective, DeLeon’s writing is top-notch. Her prose is breezy and effortless, pulling you into the story and not letting go. She has a great ear for snappy, humorous dialogue and every character has a distinct personality and voice that leaps off the page. I was especially impressed by how skillfully she uses a single first-person perspective to tell the story. We’re completely in Fortune’s head, privy to all of her fish-out-of-water reactions and wry observations about the craziness of Sinful. It gives the book an intimate, confessional feel that made me feel deeply invested in Fortune’s journey.
The pacing is also excellent, with DeLeon doling out clues and revelations at just the right intervals to keep the pages flying by. There’s a perfect balance of mystery-solving, character development, action set-pieces, and quieter emotional moments. I tore through the book in a single sitting, which is always a good sign. When I reached the satisfying conclusion, my only complaint was that it was over too soon. Thank goodness there are 20 more books and counting in the series for me to dive into next!
Thinking back on the book, I’m struck by how much fun I had reading it. Louisiana Longshot is a perfect blend of humor, heart, and suspense – the kind of cozy mystery that leaves you feeling warm and content when you reach the end, like you’ve spent a few hours with dear friends in a place that feels like home. It got me thinking about the restorative power of comfort reads, especially in stressful times. There’s something to be said for a book that can lift your spirits and make you laugh, even as it takes you on a twisty thrill ride of a mystery. This is the kind of story I’ll happily revisit again in the future when I need a reliable pick-me-up.
I’m so glad I took a chance on a new-to-me author and series. Jana DeLeon has gained a new fan, and I’ll definitely be recommending Louisiana Longshot to my fellow cozy mystery lovers. If you enjoy authors like Janet Evanovich, Donna Andrews, or Diane Kelly and are looking for a funny, heartfelt mystery with a sassy heroine and an immersive southern setting, you need to pick this one up! It’s the kind of book that’s a perfect vacation read – or a mini-vacation in itself when you need an escape from the everyday grind.
In short, I loved Louisiana Longshot and can’t wait to see what other adventures are in store for Fortune and her friends in Sinful. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll!