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Miss Fortune Mystery #27
Baskets and Beignets
Worth dyeing for.
Ten years ago, Ryan Comeaux was convicted of killing his girlfriend and was sentenced to life in prison. Now a witness has come forward who claims she was with Ryan the entire night and it’s not possible that he was the killer. But the local police assume she’s mistaken and aren’t interested in reopening what they view as an open-and-shut case.
The witness, Kelsey Spalding, has her own reasons for wanting Ryan’s conviction overturned and hires Swamp Team 3 to prove him innocent. Fortune has solved cold cases before, but never one with so little evidence and so many suspects with not only strong motive but opportunity. Can she solve a decade-old murder, or will the real killer strike again to cover his tracks?
Ten years ago, Ryan Comeaux was convicted of killing his girlfriend and was sentenced to life in prison. Now a witness has come forward who claims she was with Ryan the entire night and it’s not possible that he was the killer. But the local police assume she’s mistaken and aren’t interested in reopening what they view as an open-and-shut case.
The witness, Kelsey Spalding, has her own reasons for wanting Ryan’s conviction overturned and hires Swamp Team 3 to prove him innocent. Fortune has solved cold cases before, but never one with so little evidence and so many suspects with not only strong motive but opportunity. Can she solve a decade-old murder, or will the real killer strike again to cover his tracks?
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2024
1278 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Jana Deleon
102 books4,208 followersNew 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
June 21, 2024
Oh. Em. Gee. To borrow a phrase from another book. This is a fantastic story, and it just gets better as you keep reading. Lots of wonderful Gertie situations, but the mystery is a really narley one with lots of nasty suspects and a young boy with a life-threatening illness. At the same time Carter is having a tough time dealing with what happened to him on a secret mission in Iran and he and Fortune are facing a big push back from the government over how Carter was rescued. It just doesn't get any better.
June 11, 2024
4.5/5 stars
Baskets and Beignets takes place over Easter. It is the 27th book in the Miss Fortune cozy mystery series.
I love this series so much. The previous book ended in such an interesting place. So I could not wait to see what would happen to Fortune and Carter re: their legal troubles.
As well Fortune's new case in this book was very interesting. I really could not wait to see how everything would play out.
Overall this was another great installment of this series. And wow the last page was epic!
Baskets and Beignets takes place over Easter. It is the 27th book in the Miss Fortune cozy mystery series.
I love this series so much. The previous book ended in such an interesting place. So I could not wait to see what would happen to Fortune and Carter re: their legal troubles.
As well Fortune's new case in this book was very interesting. I really could not wait to see how everything would play out.
Overall this was another great installment of this series. And wow the last page was epic!
May 26, 2024
As great as ever.
The standard never drops with these books, there's not a due in the bunch. Fortune, IsaBelle and Gertie are busy helping out with the churches Easter celebrations, Che some hilarity. Fortune is approached by a lady who received Fortunes number from a woman the Swamp Team Three had previously helped. The.lady in question has a serious and life threatening dilemma. Her son has a deadly kidney disease, he has already received one.kidney transplant which failed and his chances of another are slim to none, neither of his.parents are a viable match and he has no siblings. Turns out there is.a.tiny glimmer of hope, miniscule really. The boy's father is not his natural father, his mother never realised but a one night stand she had resulted in pregnancy and it was only the comparability tests which showed his dad was not actually his dad. Easy, find the one night stand inform him he has a son and convince him to donate a kidney. ........ Is anything ever that easy for the Swamp Team Three, the natural father has been in Angola prison for the last ten years convicted of a murder he swears he didn't do, and he had an alibi that he could.not.proove. The night his girlfriend was killed he was having a one.night stand in a hotel. Yes, that one.night stand. The girls.have got.their.work.cut.out with this one.........................
The standard never drops with these books, there's not a due in the bunch. Fortune, IsaBelle and Gertie are busy helping out with the churches Easter celebrations, Che some hilarity. Fortune is approached by a lady who received Fortunes number from a woman the Swamp Team Three had previously helped. The.lady in question has a serious and life threatening dilemma. Her son has a deadly kidney disease, he has already received one.kidney transplant which failed and his chances of another are slim to none, neither of his.parents are a viable match and he has no siblings. Turns out there is.a.tiny glimmer of hope, miniscule really. The boy's father is not his natural father, his mother never realised but a one night stand she had resulted in pregnancy and it was only the comparability tests which showed his dad was not actually his dad. Easy, find the one night stand inform him he has a son and convince him to donate a kidney. ........ Is anything ever that easy for the Swamp Team Three, the natural father has been in Angola prison for the last ten years convicted of a murder he swears he didn't do, and he had an alibi that he could.not.proove. The night his girlfriend was killed he was having a one.night stand in a hotel. Yes, that one.night stand. The girls.have got.their.work.cut.out with this one.........................
May 23, 2024
This book started by making me laugh, and it kind of never let up. I have loved everything “Swamp Team 3” I’ve been able to get my hands on, and this was no exception. Between Fortune’s latest case and the fallout from Carter’s rescue, this book kept me guessing. Funnily enough, I happened to guess the correct culprit, but that was entirely good luck more than any kind of skill I like to think I have. And while this book gives us closure on a couple of things Fortune was chasing down, it also opened up some possibilities that make me very desperate to discover what the next book is going to bring us.
August 7, 2024
Another wild ride!
September 22, 2024
I always have a good time when I'm down south in Louisiana in Sinful visiting Miss Fortune and the Swamp team three. Jana Deleon has created some fantastic charaters in this series and I will always read anything that relates to this great universe. In Baskets and Beignets Fortune has some extra easter dealings to handle, not only the traditional celebrations but also the upcoming indictment and a strange case with a ten year old murder and a possibly innocent man. If you haven't tried this series I recommend it.
August 19, 2025
Another great read by this author. Love these books. The characters are great
May 26, 2024
7 stars. The author has outdone herself with this one. The swamp team are hired to look into a 10 year old murder by a woman who claims to have had a one night stand by the person convicted of the murder. And she has a son to prove it if she could get access to the prisoner for a dna test. And as her son has kidney disease and is in need of a transplant there is a time constraint. Fortune, Ida and Gertie start investigating and find the murdered woman worked for the husband of the man the client is married too. An extremely convoluted mystery. Also they are still under investigation from the little rescue in the Middle East and the general in charge of that mission goes so far as to send a hit team on Fortune. I cannot wait until the next one.
May 21, 2024
Wow...just wow
This book was action packed from beginning to end. We got Gertie situations, Sinful situations, Fortune greatness, a lot of mysteries and shenanigans. This series keeps getting better and I am really looking forward to the next. I just love how Fortune's mind works. I love Alexander/The Grim Reaper. And I really loved that Carter was more affectionate with Fortune in this one. Nothing inappropriate, still within what we have.come to expect from this series/author. Highly recommend this book.
This book was action packed from beginning to end. We got Gertie situations, Sinful situations, Fortune greatness, a lot of mysteries and shenanigans. This series keeps getting better and I am really looking forward to the next. I just love how Fortune's mind works. I love Alexander/The Grim Reaper. And I really loved that Carter was more affectionate with Fortune in this one. Nothing inappropriate, still within what we have.come to expect from this series/author. Highly recommend this book.
July 24, 2024
Instead of reading this over the course of two or three days, it took about two months. To a great extent, it's because I hate the storyline of an innocent person being convicted from a crime. In this case, a man has already served 10 years for a murder he didn't commit. It's hard for me to get into that, whether it's a TV show, movie or book. So I postponed.
Stuck at home with Covid, I relented and read the book. The story was convoluted; the trope had been done a million times: Sick child need's his biological father's kidney but the bio dad is in prison so permission is needed from the Warden and/or Bureau of Prisons.
My other complaint is that they still haven't wrapped up the thing that happened to Carter when he was overseas. I hate a backstory that drags on through more than two books. At the very end, when we were led to believe that the Dirty General will be convicted and Carter will be vindicated, Kitts get assassinated. YAY! That should have been the end of it. But no! The Reader is warned that this storyline will continue into the next book. Why???
WTH does that have to do with Sinful? Nothing! If I wanted to read about white men who abuse their power, I wouldn't read a novel, I'd pick up the newspaper. This series of books is supposed to be funny and entertaining. There is nothing funny or entertaining about Bent Generals abusing their power; or about white men in uniform who do so. Let this go.
Stuck at home with Covid, I relented and read the book. The story was convoluted; the trope had been done a million times: Sick child need's his biological father's kidney but the bio dad is in prison so permission is needed from the Warden and/or Bureau of Prisons.
My other complaint is that they still haven't wrapped up the thing that happened to Carter when he was overseas. I hate a backstory that drags on through more than two books. At the very end, when we were led to believe that the Dirty General will be convicted and Carter will be vindicated, Kitts get assassinated. YAY! That should have been the end of it. But no! The Reader is warned that this storyline will continue into the next book. Why???
WTH does that have to do with Sinful? Nothing! If I wanted to read about white men who abuse their power, I wouldn't read a novel, I'd pick up the newspaper. This series of books is supposed to be funny and entertaining. There is nothing funny or entertaining about Bent Generals abusing their power; or about white men in uniform who do so. Let this go.
July 7, 2024
I really liked the case. It was a solid, interesting one. Okay, I knew more or less in the middle of it who had done it and that the great and faultless and smart Fortune took half a book longer is ridiculous.
If you detect sarcasm there, you’re right on the money. Because the rest of the book has the same weaknesses than the rest: not enough Carter and on top of that him still in a funk because of what happened in Iraq. Way too much Gertie gertying - and that despite it being thankfully dialed back a bit. Honestly, I wish one of those Gertie-disasters would simply kill her already so we’ll be rid of it - I know it won’t happen, still, one can hope. Ronald also brings comic relief and that with so much more class and way funnier. To turn him from enemy to friend was a brilliant idea. And finally, this thing with everyone being in awe of fortune who is soooo deadly, soooo smart, soooo good, soooo wonderful, soooo incapable of making mistakes while in reality, she‘d be a laughing stock most of the time. It irks me. Okay, she can be good, but we don’t need every ten pages or so a reminder by one or the other gushing how wonderful and amazing she is.
If you detect sarcasm there, you’re right on the money. Because the rest of the book has the same weaknesses than the rest: not enough Carter and on top of that him still in a funk because of what happened in Iraq. Way too much Gertie gertying - and that despite it being thankfully dialed back a bit. Honestly, I wish one of those Gertie-disasters would simply kill her already so we’ll be rid of it - I know it won’t happen, still, one can hope. Ronald also brings comic relief and that with so much more class and way funnier. To turn him from enemy to friend was a brilliant idea. And finally, this thing with everyone being in awe of fortune who is soooo deadly, soooo smart, soooo good, soooo wonderful, soooo incapable of making mistakes while in reality, she‘d be a laughing stock most of the time. It irks me. Okay, she can be good, but we don’t need every ten pages or so a reminder by one or the other gushing how wonderful and amazing she is.
June 4, 2024
2024 bk 64. Oh my, DeLeon has done it again. She continues to amaze me with the possibilities of slapstick humor in the midst of human tragedy - and with fully designed main and supplemental characters. There are times I'd love to see inside her mind and other times I'm glad that we have not been gifted with the ability to see into other people's minds. In this novel, Fortune and gang take on a very cold case that involves folks from Mudbug, Magnolia, New Orleans, and Sinful - all while dealing with a certain * of a general from DC who does not like Carter, Fortune or any of their group. Love seeing the Grim Reaper in action and the possibility of a romantic connection. Enjoyed the read - may step back and read all the books in the series again in prep for what is next. Oh - and I both stayed up too late last night and couldn't sleep because I was working on solving the case for Fortune.
May 28, 2024
Fantastic read!
Just as great as the other 26 books. It all began with my first and FREE book, Louisiana Long shot. I have never laughed do much and enjoyed a book as that one. I began buying subsequent books in the series and they didn't disappoint. I almost didn't buy this one-time due to the outrageous price, but in the end I capitulated. Really excellent. Each book builds on the previous. The characters are expanding as to the themes. A very worthwhile book. I'm sure I'll be tempted into buying the next adventure of Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie.
Builds on the previous
Just as great as the other 26 books. It all began with my first and FREE book, Louisiana Long shot. I have never laughed do much and enjoyed a book as that one. I began buying subsequent books in the series and they didn't disappoint. I almost didn't buy this one-time due to the outrageous price, but in the end I capitulated. Really excellent. Each book builds on the previous. The characters are expanding as to the themes. A very worthwhile book. I'm sure I'll be tempted into buying the next adventure of Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie.
Builds on the previous
May 31, 2024
Humorous intrigue
I love this series. This story is packed with intrigue, funny shenanigans from our usual gun toting loveable characters and lots of action. Although I did miss Godzilla in this fast paced mystery, these stories just get better and better. I am always left laughing until I am in tears with the Sinful craziness and look forward in anticipation with her next Swamp Team mystery. Great read and one of my favorite series.
I love this series. This story is packed with intrigue, funny shenanigans from our usual gun toting loveable characters and lots of action. Although I did miss Godzilla in this fast paced mystery, these stories just get better and better. I am always left laughing until I am in tears with the Sinful craziness and look forward in anticipation with her next Swamp Team mystery. Great read and one of my favorite series.
February 18, 2025
Ms. DeLeon is a good writer of mysteries to solve and humor throughout the book.
Miss Fortune has a great background for being a PI who isn't afraid to mix it up with bad guys or girls.
Her two sidekicks are wonderful.
Pick up any of her books and you won't be disappointed.
That's my opinion.
Miss Fortune has a great background for being a PI who isn't afraid to mix it up with bad guys or girls.
Her two sidekicks are wonderful.
Pick up any of her books and you won't be disappointed.
That's my opinion.
May 30, 2024
Jana does it again
I don't have enough superlatives to describe this book. Each time I read a Miss Fortune mystery I am again amazed at the tight weave of the story, the bits of humor and fun and the love stories all intertwined together. Baskets And Beignets is one of the very best. I applaud Jana on her plotting, character development and thorough world building. I never find a faux pas where the wrong character is referenced. Very well written.
I don't have enough superlatives to describe this book. Each time I read a Miss Fortune mystery I am again amazed at the tight weave of the story, the bits of humor and fun and the love stories all intertwined together. Baskets And Beignets is one of the very best. I applaud Jana on her plotting, character development and thorough world building. I never find a faux pas where the wrong character is referenced. Very well written.
March 12, 2025
Read: 3/12/2025 - eBook
Genre: Mystery
Saw that coming. And Fortune got to be the bad-ass we expected, and I'm all for it. More of that, please. Poor Carter. Maybe he should have dated a baker.
Genre: Mystery
Saw that coming. And Fortune got to be the bad-ass we expected, and I'm all for it. More of that, please. Poor Carter. Maybe he should have dated a baker.
October 27, 2025
Another great book in this series!!!
May 29, 2024
Great convoluted story
I have loved every one of her stories. I love that she allows some of her faithful readers to enrich her series. If you want action, adventure, twists & turns, and, yes, a bit of romance, I highly recommend reading the entire series starting at the beginning, otherwise you'll easily get lost! Can't wait for the next one!
I have loved every one of her stories. I love that she allows some of her faithful readers to enrich her series. If you want action, adventure, twists & turns, and, yes, a bit of romance, I highly recommend reading the entire series starting at the beginning, otherwise you'll easily get lost! Can't wait for the next one!
April 7, 2025
Love the whole series!!
May 22, 2024
Finally, Jana DeLeon and Fortune are back. I did not like Swamp Spies. It was boring. This book made up for it. The book was action packed all the way through. It read more like Fortune. I actually figured out who the bad guy was about two thirds of the way through the book but I did not know how he played into everything.
This book tied up everything nicely without having the cliffhanger that was in Swamp Spies. It was hard to put the book down, but I had to go to bed.
A question I have is who assassinated Kitts? I assume that will never be answered. Another question; in all of the previous books, Kitts was referred to as Colonel Kitts. In this book, when Fortune is asked by a cop who is Kitts, she answers "A four-star general in the Marine Corps." Was that supposed to be a joke?
I am looking forward to what happens with Emmaline and Alexander. As for Carter, we know he will overcome everything.
Thanks for leaving off the cliffhanger.
This book tied up everything nicely without having the cliffhanger that was in Swamp Spies. It was hard to put the book down, but I had to go to bed.
A question I have is who assassinated Kitts? I assume that will never be answered. Another question; in all of the previous books, Kitts was referred to as Colonel Kitts. In this book, when Fortune is asked by a cop who is Kitts, she answers "A four-star general in the Marine Corps." Was that supposed to be a joke?
I am looking forward to what happens with Emmaline and Alexander. As for Carter, we know he will overcome everything.
Thanks for leaving off the cliffhanger.
May 26, 2024
It's 5 am!
Holy cow (or should I say chicken) it's 5am and I've read all night! I just can't put down one of Miss Fortune Mysteries. They are addictive. My husband gets mad at me because I'm giggling about Gertie and wake him up. But then he wants to know what Gertie did now. I love Fortune and her posse. I would like a few books about Marge, Ida Belle, and Gertie and their missions in Vietnam
Holy cow (or should I say chicken) it's 5am and I've read all night! I just can't put down one of Miss Fortune Mysteries. They are addictive. My husband gets mad at me because I'm giggling about Gertie and wake him up. But then he wants to know what Gertie did now. I love Fortune and her posse. I would like a few books about Marge, Ida Belle, and Gertie and their missions in Vietnam
May 22, 2024
Another great book in this series!
Easter mishaps, Gertie mishaps, Celia craziness! The main story is about Fortune trying to find evidence that will clear a man convicted of murdering his girlfriend 10 years earlier. A woman he'd had a one night stand with has just found out about his conviction. They hadn't given last names and she'd used her middle name. Now her young son needs a kidney transplant and discovers her husband isn't the father. She hires Fortune to find evidence to clear him. The murder took place in a small town. The victim was the daughter of a very wealthy man who controlled the town and the police, so there was no real investigation done. Good whodunit! Lots of laughs as usual. Read this series from the beginning, you won't be sorry!
Easter mishaps, Gertie mishaps, Celia craziness! The main story is about Fortune trying to find evidence that will clear a man convicted of murdering his girlfriend 10 years earlier. A woman he'd had a one night stand with has just found out about his conviction. They hadn't given last names and she'd used her middle name. Now her young son needs a kidney transplant and discovers her husband isn't the father. She hires Fortune to find evidence to clear him. The murder took place in a small town. The victim was the daughter of a very wealthy man who controlled the town and the police, so there was no real investigation done. Good whodunit! Lots of laughs as usual. Read this series from the beginning, you won't be sorry!
June 3, 2024
Another Stellar Book by Jana Deleon
Fortune and Carter are back in Sinful and still dealing with the fallout from the Iran mission.
While waiting on the DOD case to proceed, Fortune is approached by a woman with a tale of a sick child and the wrongful incarceration of the one person who could save her child's life. Fortune takes the case and finds herself, Ida Belle and Gertie, trying to solve a 10 year old murder mystery.
Filled with tension and laugh out loud hi-jinks, "Baskets and Beignets" is another stellar installment in Jana DeLeon's riveting stories of life in Miss Fortune's world.
Fortune and Carter are back in Sinful and still dealing with the fallout from the Iran mission.
While waiting on the DOD case to proceed, Fortune is approached by a woman with a tale of a sick child and the wrongful incarceration of the one person who could save her child's life. Fortune takes the case and finds herself, Ida Belle and Gertie, trying to solve a 10 year old murder mystery.
Filled with tension and laugh out loud hi-jinks, "Baskets and Beignets" is another stellar installment in Jana DeLeon's riveting stories of life in Miss Fortune's world.
May 25, 2024
Broken eggs, Broken lives
Couldn't put it down until I had to run get the charging cable. Gertie and Celia are doing their thing getting the park ready for a Easter egg hunt when all hell breaks loose. The entire story is constant action . Fortune and friends take on a hopeless 10 year old case to save a young life. The untangling is amazing.
Couldn't put it down until I had to run get the charging cable. Gertie and Celia are doing their thing getting the park ready for a Easter egg hunt when all hell breaks loose. The entire story is constant action . Fortune and friends take on a hopeless 10 year old case to save a young life. The untangling is amazing.
May 26, 2024
Baskets and Beignets
The book has the perfect mix of zany humor and antics with a good dose of mystery and intrigue. The zaniness of Gertie will keep you in stitches of laughter while the mystery will keep you guessing til the very end. Who done it? Wait and read it! Another great Fortune Redding book!
The book has the perfect mix of zany humor and antics with a good dose of mystery and intrigue. The zaniness of Gertie will keep you in stitches of laughter while the mystery will keep you guessing til the very end. Who done it? Wait and read it! Another great Fortune Redding book!
May 24, 2024
Outstanding!
Let me just say that if I'm reading a book from anyone else & receive an email informing me of a new release from Jana DeLeon about Swamp Team 3-I stop everything & purchase it. I absolutely love reading about Fortune, her friends, their adventures & of course Sinful. Always entertaining with twists and humor. I give a big thank you for sharing Sinful adventures to the rest of us.
Let me just say that if I'm reading a book from anyone else & receive an email informing me of a new release from Jana DeLeon about Swamp Team 3-I stop everything & purchase it. I absolutely love reading about Fortune, her friends, their adventures & of course Sinful. Always entertaining with twists and humor. I give a big thank you for sharing Sinful adventures to the rest of us.
May 25, 2024
So good!
I enjoyed this as much as previous! A couple of times I laughed till I cried. Just what I/ needed. I will say this is not a stand alone. Binge and start the series at the beginning. Thanks, Jana.
I enjoyed this as much as previous! A couple of times I laughed till I cried. Just what I/ needed. I will say this is not a stand alone. Binge and start the series at the beginning. Thanks, Jana.
May 26, 2024
Best author ever!!
As a retired book seller I read at least one book every other day. When I discover Jana DeLeon has a book I haven't read I drop everything to read her next adventure. My favorite tales are the Miss Fortune series. As far as I know see have every one.
As a retired book seller I read at least one book every other day. When I discover Jana DeLeon has a book I haven't read I drop everything to read her next adventure. My favorite tales are the Miss Fortune series. As far as I know see have every one.
May 26, 2024
Excellent book!
Great follow-up to previous books in the series. Fast paced with many scenes of laughter. Swamp Three team to the rescue again.
Everyone who loves Jana Deleon books will enjoy this read.
Great follow-up to previous books in the series. Fast paced with many scenes of laughter. Swamp Three team to the rescue again.
Everyone who loves Jana Deleon books will enjoy this read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews