Fortune Teller

Miss Fortune Mystery #25

by Jana Deleon

With Carter off on a military mission, there’s a new sheriff in town, and Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie have been tasked with not interfering. But then a young girl is pulled out of the swamp, unconscious and with no memory of how she got there. And when no one comes to claim her, Fortune knows they have to help.For decades, a mysterious group known only as the Brethren has been rumored to live deep in the swamp, their contact with civilization rare. Some suggest the girl might have been one of them, but if so, why was she alone in the swamp in the middle of the night? Swamp Team 3 is on the case, but long-buried secrets like to stay that way, and finding the Brethren proves to be a difficult and dangerous task. The deeper they dig, the more pieces of the puzzle they expose, but can they put the pieces together in time to save the girl?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Humor, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Cozy

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2023

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon was raised in southwest Louisiana among the bayous and gators. Her hometown is Carlyss, but you probably won't find it on a map. Her family owned a camp located on a bayou just off the Gulf of Mexico that you could only get there by boat. The most important feature was the rope hammock hanging in the shade on a huge deck that stretched out over the water where Jana spent many hours reading books.

Jana and her brother spent thousands of hours combing the bayous in a flat-bottom aluminum boat, studying the natural habitat of many birds, nutria and alligators. She would like you to know that no animals were injured during these "studies," but they kept makers of peroxide in business.

Jana has never stumbled across a mystery or a ghost like her heroines, but she's still hopeful.

She now resides in Dallas, Texas, with the most spoiled Sheltie in the world.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always amazed at the endless and varied situations that Jana Deleon can think up. Her imagination has no bounds, is limitless and makes even a dreary June Gloom day bright. The prank fest during Nora's party. The llamas. Gertie's purse. Page after page of hilarious situations. But this story wasn't just fun at the expense of the temporary sheriff, who everyone hated, it also had a great mystery to solve.

When duty calls you answer. That is the creed that Fortune and Carter live by, so when the Marines need Carter for a top-secret operation, he has no choice but to go. But that doesn't mean that he has left his town without top notch protection. Retired Sheriff Andy Blanchet has agreed to take on this temporary job and protect Sinful and its' citizens. He also gets Swamp Team 3 as his backup. A young girl is pulled from the swamp and when Andy sees her, he trips and is injured. While he is in the hospital Vince Hermes shows up with authorization from the ADA and the governor and takes over. This is one truly nasty, abrasive dude and nobody can stand him. He is so focused on Fortune and her interest in the girl that he isn't doing anything to investigate what happened to her.

Being told to stop doing something and outright animosity has never been a good deterrent to Fortune before and certainly won't be this time. The girl has no memory of what happened or where she came from, but Fortune, Ida Belle and Gertie are resourceful and soon are looking for the secret camp of a group called the Brethren who have little contact with others and live deep in the swamp. What they find is not what they expected and now they know why no one came forward to claim the girl. Not all the mysteries are tied up at the end of this one so . . .

To be continued . . .

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh no, you can't end the story there...............

How.this.series.stays consistently brilliant I will.never know 25 books and.not a drop in quality. Fortune Ida Belle and Gertie are enjoying.some.quiet time, the detective agency has no current clients so with Mardi Gras in a few days its time for some fun. For Fortune though the fun is a bit.forced, Carter has been recalled to active duty as an advisor but Fortune knows he may be called.on to take a more active role in whatever the mission is. A retired sheriff and old.friend of Carter's agrees to fill in for him while he's gone but those plans last all of one day before disaster strikes. A girl is found.almost.drowned in the bayou and Raymond (the temporary sheriff) trips and knocks himself out while trying to deal with the situation. Before the Sinful ladies can even blink a new sheriff takes over and Raymond is out. The new.guy Sheriff Hermes (also known as Herpes) is as rotten as they come, he is out to get Fortune ...........preferably in jail..........and is also after Carter's job permanently. Well the Swamp Team Three have no intention of sitting by and doing.nothing while Hermes takes over so they covertly start to.investigate the where the drowned girl my have come.from, as there have been no missing child reports and no distraught parents looking for their daughter. This is.something Sheriff Hermes should be doing but he is.more interested in following Fortune around.trying to catch her up to some wrongdoing. He's going to have to go some if he expects to get one over on Fortune and her friends though.......

[Gabby Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noooo!

I love all of Jana's books. I love all he laughs they give me. This is my favorite out of all of them. My only issue is the cliffhanger. I knew it was coming. I still wasn't ready for it. And now I'm sitting here wishing I hadnt read this book until the next one was out. Granted, I have read cliffhangers way worse than this, but I think the simple fact that most of this series doesn't have cliffhangers is what made it so bad. I love Fortune, and even with the cliffhanger I am here for all the shenanigans her and swamp team 3 get into.

[Aimee Nicole Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I again marvel at joe well this series holds my attention. This mystery was probably the best in the entire series. The book ended on a cliffhanger, but I’m not mad about it. I’m just anticipating the next book that much more.

[Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. The book was incredible

This series has always been excellent. It is hysterical, suspenseful and just fun to read. I found myself in the middle of the night laughing so loud that I thought I would wake everyone up. This book tore at the heartstrings and the cliff hanger it ended with almost had me in tears. I highly recommend this series but start the beginning and read the whole series. You will not regret it. Then because I am positive you will fall in love with Gertie, Ida Belle, Fortune & Sinful look for the Miss Fortune Universe. Those books are fun reads and funny but not as great as Ms. seldom Miss Fortune series.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fortune Teller by Jana Deleon is the 25th book in the Miss Fortune Mystery series. Fortune, Ida-Belle, Gertie and Ronald are enjoying a night out at the Swamp bar when a young girl is pulled out of the swamp with possible links to a mysterious cult like group known as the Brethren, rumoured to live in the area. Always a lot of fun and plenty of laughs along the way. I have enjoyed seeing more of Ronald who is always ready to help in his unique style. A bit sad that Carter is away. A very enjoyable and entertaining mystery with a few twists at the end.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

I can’t believe that I’ve finally caught up with the last published book in this series.

I absolutely adore this series. And I can’t wait to see what happens next.

In this book Fortune is involved in an amazing mystery. I really enjoyed one new character, Andy. And I absolutely despised another, Hermes. I am very invested in finding out what is happening with Carter. And cannot wait for the next book.

[Karina Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites!

How can Jana write so quickly and still make such great mysteries? The serious themes of drug trafficking and child endangerment are balanced with the truly hilarious. This one's one of my faves.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fun adventure with Fortune and her friends, complete with a big cliffhanger.

[Danielle Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Carter leaving and an unknown, unconscious little girl being pulled from the bayou, Swap Team 3 has its hands full.
Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie pull out all the stops to unravel how the girl ended up in the water and solve the mystery of who is trying to keep Swamp Team 3 from finding out.

Imo this book was more suspenseful than others in the series. Perhaps the subject matter hit a little close to home for me.

[Stormy McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Mystery, Huge Laughs

As always, Jana DeLeon delivers an epic Swamp Team 3 adventure with a twisty mystery and plenty of laugh out loud shenanigans. I look forward to the next adventure, and hope to see a tale from Carter's POV covering his adventure outside Sinful.

[Edie Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one

It was a decent read with the anticipated laughs, but
she loses a point for the trite and obvious ending.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fortune Teller” is one of the best installments in the Miss Fortune series. There are so many colorful new characters and the action continues to be one of the highlights of the read.

This time Carter LeBlanc is leaving for a Marine mission. He can’t tell Fortune or anyone else for that matter where he is going and what he will be doing. Prior to leaving he calls on a favor from a retired friend, Andy Blanchet to act as temporary sheriff while he is away. With Marci Gras in full swing Fortune, Gertie, Ida Belle and Ronald decide to go to the Swamp Bar to enjoy the festivities and have a few drinks. What they didn’t expect was one of the residents running into the bar screaming for help for a little girl he pulled out the water. When Blanchet comes out to assist he accidentally falls hitting his head in the boat and knocked unconscious.

When the doctors refuse to allow Blanchet to return to work, none other than one of Carter’s nemesis, Vince Hermes aka Sheriff Herpes comes in takes over and is out to take Carter’s job. To make matters worse he is closely affiliated with the DA who is not a fan of Fortune. Now that you have the background let me just say that this read sends fans on a wild ride trying to discover who the little girl is and why no one is looking for her and Fortune and the gang trying to find out about a cult like group called the Brethren who may be holding other women and children hostage. Oh and don’t forget they have to do this all while trying to stay off the radar of the sexist jerk Sheriff Hermes.

This story was so much fun, heart wrenching and full of many truly comical moments I gobbled it down in a matter of a few hours. I also have to say that the cliffhanger ending was just enough to make me want to pull my hair out! I can’t even explain just how much fans are going to love this story. Hopefully, the next installment will be out by the end of this year. You definitely want to put this book on your to read list.

[Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a favorite. A huge step down from the previous few books in the series. Plenty of funny scenes, but so many author slips it was as frustrating to read as it was fun. And typically, the ending presents some very complicated and difficult outcomes as one-dimensional faits accompli.

The usurping Sheriff is too over-the-top to be believable: The governor and DA are both elected officials, they would watch for overt antagonism. There are four people in one scene with the moron, they're responding to massive banging on the door, and not one pulls out a phone and videos the episode?

The lack of care in even photographing a scene and documenting a location for evidence is also not credible. Their phones have GPS and cameras, but no photo is taken of the shoe found or its location, no gloves or bags are used when taking it, no video of the dog searching. Would all three be so sloppy?

The editing is sloppy too. In Chapter 17, Fortune says the rat-faced deputy watching the house is "the deputy Blanchet brought in", but its Hermes' man; Blanchet is sitting with them, and did not bring in any deputies.

In Chapter 6: "At four months old, Rambo was already a solid 40 pounds" - maybe, if he has really bad worms or they're starving him! That's at least 20% under weight. This is easy to check online or with a breeder. "If Rambo couldn't figure out where the girl came from, no one else would." More bad writing - Rambo didn't find the shoe, they did. Rambo might be the best scent hound ever, but is the MC really asserting that eyes, ears, and thinking are worthless?

These slips all call too much attention to the writing, pulling readers out of the story. Or is the intention to turn the narrator unreliable? Or is the story going to simply stop if Rambo can't find a source?

Chapter 13 - a beautifully-dressed woman stalks, watches, ambushes the trio outside the cafe' and they're not 'suspicious'!? She doesn't come to the house, use the phone, walk into the cafe'. They don't follow her, check her out right away, and they're all three supposed to be retired 'spooks'. Right. The Evil Sheriff shows up everywhere they go, but none check for a gps tracker or a bug, because, they don't check social media...even though they have friends who excel in all of those things, so they wouldn't even have to do it themselves.

They ALL go to a stakeout, together? 4 people? Isn't that wasteful and overly risky? NO ONE knows where they are, they have NO backup? Of course they get away with it, author's convenience, but its bad strategy. The fact that they NEVER check out a single new contact (like Spinner, Otto, even Hermes) could be credible if this were set before the internet, but in the modern world? When they're stumped? 4 investigators never bother? Seriously, why didn't one of them at least follow the fake CFS person? CIA contacts - maybe ask if anyone is looking at organized crime out of the bayou?

Chapter 21 Cassidy wants to have a party, and she lists invitees, including Blair, Ronald, "you guys", Kenny (who found the body) and Lottie. Lottie (the landlady from decades before) is last mentioned in Chapter 12, then quoted like a main character at the end. Certainly a simple reminder wouldn't have been amiss, as they did repeatedly for Kenny, the rescuer.

Really, did the Reader need more detail about navigating the Bayou channels, or would hearing the conversations involved in locating and rescuing Maya have been more rewarding? And ALL the women and children are processed and moved to Cassidy and Harrison's, clothing and donations collected, food setup ... in "some time". AFTER that, they are dropped off at Fortune's - the same day? How did that work out? How come there's never a single journalist involved, but everything gets in the news?

It turns out Hermes was June's nephew, but June's sister "never existed". Yet there's no explanation how June then has a nephew? (sigh)

The "I can be bothered" over-packed ending weights the book more on the frustrating side. Narrative chunks instead of letting characters speak and the action happen end the tale with a crib-notes experience. (And that ending, complete bull. The government doesn't send someone to deliver bad news in person by standing in the yard and blurting in front of strangers, without an offer to sit down, without permission. Yikes!)
--------------
2nd read
Okay to start, then it gets sloppy. Why the author felt the need to inflict a jerk on the reader in the form of Deputy Hermes is one huge question. Another is why Fortune is so sloppy and incompetent at shutting him down? The first statement "Are you part of the package when someone is sheriff?" should have gotten a straight response. "Excuse me, one moment, I need to write that down and have the two witnesses sign as to the sexual harassment of a civilian by an officer in a hospital!"

The guy walks into it, use it! And why would the governor 'make a phone call' when there's already a 'roaming' deputy available? What the hey, MC is getting into a mud-slinging match with this moron, in a hospital? Hard to believe the MC was ever an agent from this scene. Uncomfortable, boring, clumsy setup. And again, "If you're interested in providing any services, you know where to find me." Gee author, thanks for letting all the readers in on how overt sexual harassment gets a pass. FILE A REPORT!! "Buddies with the ADA...distant cousin of the Governor"? That's literally blackmail material, just start the phone recording whenever he walks in. Sure, the author will make it all okay ... probably by having a man rescue MC.

Ahh, but the jerk is the central 'villain' for the story, so he has to stay throughout. They notice he keeps showing up where the Team is, but no one things to check their cell phones, cars, homes, boats for bugs or tracking devices? Aren't they all supposed to be ex-spies? And they don't think of this.

The funny scenes are great, but too few and far between. The wrap-ups are obnoxious, way too pat, just too too convenient, a real slap in the face to anyone who has had to actually recover from trauma or rely on others to act and care about their long-term trauma. (Wow, TWO towns step up with donations and time, a friend just HAPPENS to have an empty mansion, no one is permanently traumatized after a lifetime of slavery...)

Oh look, the CIA finds Maya in a couple of weeks, after 20 years gone in another country? Because, well, MC asked for it, and of course she's alive and unscathed. For no reason.

Here the HEA sours, and the 'hook' at the end really tanks the tale. Clumsy, heavy-handed. Why?

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Fortune Redding and her “Partners”

This latest installment of the Triple threat of Fortune, Ida Belle and Gertie was edge of my seat reading.
A cat who shoots, tires guarded by llamas, herpes and a spinner nobody saw coming.
I especially like how Ms DeLeon ties all the residents together to help unite them behind Fortune and aid in her investigations.
It always brings a new character to add to the collection of misfits in Sinful who become part of the family of Fortunes fans.
Can’t wait for the next book.

[bouldermimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read: 2/20/2025 - eBook
Genre: Mystery

This one was fun! Not as many Gertie antics, but the subject was darker than usual. Good introductions to characters Blanchet and Johnson!

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 bk 239. I laughed until tears rolled down my cheeks. One thing is certain - Jana DeLeon knows how to write a party scene, and a before party scene, and an after party scene. Mardi Gras is upon us, Carter is off on a secret mission, the town welcomes his substitute sheriff until Herpes, erm - see now I don't know the idiot's correct name, uses pull to replace him as the sub sheriff. Herpes manages to alienate everyone and I mean everyone - and somehow expects to be elected sheriff in Carter's place. In addition, he can't solve a crime and can't stop one happening behind his back. Another fully fun and enjoyable mystery.

[Phil Calkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let the good times continue to roll in Sinful and Mudburg! but how long do we have to wait?

This crazy crew, one former CIA operative and two former army gals from Afghanistan are super sharp and surprisingly effective at getting to the truth, no matter the twists and turns constantly tossed in their way. The unresolved issue in this story is that Fortune’s beau has just been reported as missing in action in an under-cover military action he had been recalled to duty to lead. Book 26 should be another barn burner and, as mentioned earlier, sure hope publication is earlier rather than later!
Until next time, Phil Calkins

[Heather Novak · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best to date!

Holy moly, what a ride this book was!! I was absolutely sucked it from the first page—laughing hysterically—and was screaming by the last.

Warning: that cliffhanger will get you!

Love what the author did with Ronald’s character, and it was nice to see Dixon and Scooter pop in. I thought after 25 books, I’d be tired of the series, but no way! We have a family book club going with this series, and can’t wait for more.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter is off with the USMC doing something and has enlisted the aid of retired sheriff from a neighbouring county. When a young girl is pulled from the bayou one night he faints away when he sees the girl. Turns out she is the spitting images of the daughter of his old girl friend that disappeared years ago. He searched for her but never found her. It was rumoured she had escaped from the Brethren, a cult like group thought the be living deep in the bayou. Whilst he is in the hospital a deputy from another county convinces the governor that the sheriff is incompetent and gets appointed to the position. But it seems he spends more time harassing the women in Sinful and following Fortune and crew around than actually investigating about who the girl is and how she got where she was. As the girl seems to have amnesia someone has to investigate so the trio , with assistance of the sherif take it on. An excellent adventure.

[Barbara Basel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best. Book. Yet!!!

Swamp Team 3 is busy from the beginning! Carter is preparing to leave for his Marine Assignment, and Fortune and Emmaline are preparing to wait for his return. Life never stands still in Sinful. New findings churn up nearly every one gets involved! Swamp team 3, Ronald, Harrison, Cassidy, police, FBI, Bomber Bruce and more get involved to save the day, the Moms, and girls…. You don’t want to miss it!

[Annette C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great adventure (with misadventures along the way)

Another great read in the series! Jana DeLeon masterfully weaves the mystery, fun, friendships, and misadventures into a compelling story. The beautiful conclusion of a community working together to restore the stolen lives is satisfying. The teaser for more of Swamp Team adventures leaves you wanting the next book very soon!

[Angie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful series !

Fortune and the gang are getting ready to celebrate Mardi Gras. Unfortunately, all hell literally breaks loose. So, autocorrect be damned, I will continue not churn out a review on one of the best Miss Fortune books in the series. Fortune and Carter say goodbye, will it be forever or just the few expected weeks. Carter's replacement with the Sheriff's Department is thrown out on his ass by a troll of a man using his political ties to take over, Gertie does it again, and Ida Belle is one he'll of a shot.....and Fortune.....well lets just say she is still at the top of her game.

[Mary Mulvaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bayou boogie going on

Fortune is always ready for a challenge and proves it again with the help of her trusty friends and cohorts. She saves a group of women and children from a life of serving as drug mules and rid the township of drug cartel living among them. Carter is sadly absent to serve a short stint with his old force recon unit. His retired buddy steps in to oversee the sheriff's office in his absence and reconnects with his long lost love from many years passed. Also well in Sinful till the men in uniform show up at Carter's mom house to inform her that he is MIA.....

[Valerie Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the book and my heart is still racing!!!!!

Where does one begin to review a book that has more facets than a flawlessly cut diamond????

Carter's time comes to leave for his special ops mission. His fill in replacement, Retired officer Blanchet, appears to be a perfect replacement until, his first full day in town, the girls take him to the Swamp Bar for some early Mardi Gras games and fun. While there, the body of a young 10 year old girl is found floating in the bayou and the fisherman who found her brought her by boat to the nearest place for help...The Swamp Bar! While on the boat Blanched recognizes the child, falls backward and gets knock out after hitting his head. CPR brings the girl around and both she and Blanchet are transported to the hospital

After spending the night in the hospital for additional tests, Blanchet is relieved from duty by an absolute conniving weasel named Hermes (lovingly referred to as Herpes by our girls :-D ) who had convinced his cousin, the Louisiana State Governor, that he should be Carter's fill in, in order to better his own chances to be voted in as the new sheriff in town. And that's only the first two chapters!!!!!!

There are plenty of laughs in this newest Miss Fortune series, but the subject matter of human trafficking, drug trafficking and such is difficult to stomach at times if you have any empathic feelings inside of you. The story, however is definitely worth the read and the mystery resolves as only Jana DeLeon can do. Now, the only page left unturned is how long until Carter comes back home!!! Stay Tuned!!!!!!

[Billie J. Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fortune and the Sinful Ladies do it again!

I love this entire series of course but the last couple made me wonder. They started funny and exciting as ever but the story fell off a bit as it went on and the endings were predictable, fun enough to keep me hooked but not up to Gertie level fun! This book however restored my faith in the future of the series and my families belief that I'm bananas when I'm laughing so hard I'm crying all by myself in my reading chair! I had my suspicions that that exact cliff hanger was coming and that that would be how the adventures of the swamp 3 would venture out into the world, which gives me butterflies worrying about the Fortune Carter love story (lol is their couple name Farter, sorry low hanging fruit I know but it just came to me) Anyway,I hope we don't have to wait long for the next installment, like maybe by the time the next 2 audio books come out and I finish them I can start reading again! I am in a Stephanie Plum and Fortune Redding holding pattern and I don't like waiting!!!!!

[Kebie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST Miss Fortune story yet!!!

With Carter away on a classified military mission, we get to meet several new people one of whom is a bully who wants Carter's job of Sheriff. Hell must have frozen over because Celia, along with everyone else who encounters Hermes, hates him and wants to lodge complaints against him.

We have fun with Ronald, again. Very little Ally or Walter in this story.

There are a couple of twists and surprises, including a cliffhanger.

[Kerrie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

Another great story! Start from the beginning of this series, do not deny yourself the fun you will have reading these books. Carter has gone on a top secret mission for the Marines. A young girl is found almost dead in the swamp, but no family claims her. Fortune helps to save her. The retired sheriff who took over for Carter is replaced by an arrogant idiot who has connections. He tries desperately to stop Fortune and her gang from investigating but they persevere. Gertie shenanigans as always! Read this series! You'll love it!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in series action mystery drama with side of humor

Oh this is the best one in the series , new characters . Gertie and pink glitter bomb. Mystery plot was wonderful lot of twist turns red herrings that Agatha Christie would been proud of. With lot of humor only the swamp team can deliver . Ronald Nora and Norma cat , oh biggest twist will Ida Bell and Cecil agree on common enemy it was very small part of the book but wow . if you love this series on Facebook join instagator group

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of Jana Deleon's Miss Fortune books is like a big bowl of hot, buttered popcorn - impossible to put down until the last kernal is gone. And this one is no exception. The mystery kicks off quickly and doesn't let up. At all. The characters are fun, quirky and interesting. Ronald is at his wackiest. Gertie has her moments but nothing too over-the-top which is just the way I like her. The mystery is convoluted, surprises abound and the action is all Fortune. Bottom line - it's a typical week in Sinful, LA.