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Looking for Lafitte
Marine archaeologist Marlie Keeler has come to Galveston Island, Texas, with just three months to locate the wreckage of a schooner scuttled by the dashing pirate Jean Lafitte. She soon discovers that a sinister developer has designs on the same wreck and means to make any discoveries the centerpiece of a tawdry theme park. Things get more complicated when she's thrown together with stubborn local artist Jack Gamble, whose good looks, talent, and surprising connection to the pirate Lafitte attract her even as his bohemian lifestyle sorts ill with her take-charge orderliness. There's suspense as Marlie and her team try to beat the developer to the wreck, and fireworks and mutual attraction as Jack and Marlie clash. Will she find the ship? Will she thwart the developers? Will she and Jack overcome their differences?
Elizabeth and Erik Hildinger are the authors of the cozy mystery Plan 9 for Murder, the first in a series from Cozy Cat Press. Erik is the author of many books from several publishers, including Quirinius, Fortuna at the Rudder, and Warriors of the Steppe. Elizabeth has a forthcoming novella, Remembered, and a collection of short stories, Mother and Child. For more information, see www.erikhildinger.com
Elizabeth and Erik Hildinger are the authors of the cozy mystery Plan 9 for Murder, the first in a series from Cozy Cat Press. Erik is the author of many books from several publishers, including Quirinius, Fortuna at the Rudder, and Warriors of the Steppe. Elizabeth has a forthcoming novella, Remembered, and a collection of short stories, Mother and Child. For more information, see www.erikhildinger.com
423 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2024
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2024
Review posted on my blog The Writer's Library.
When I am looking for a story, I search for something that grabs me and makes me want to know more. This usually involves a premise that grabs my attention. When I heard about Looking for Lafitte, I found myself curious about the premise the story presented and decided to give it a try.
Before I go into it further, let’s talk about the plot of the narrative.
Summary
The story opens with a woman named Marlie Keeler traveling to Texas to look for a missing historical shipwreck to help build a museum exhibit. Once she begins the search, however, she finds that there are others looking to find and use artifacts from the same wreck for a theme park attraction.
Meanwhile, Marlie meets and finds herself intrigued by her landlord Jack, with whom her relationship grows over time as she gets more involved with his career as an artist. However, as she continues to get to know him, she discovers that her expedition to find the ship is more complicated than she originally thought, as the people she is up against in her search for the ship will do anything to claim it first.
Thoughts
This narrative has a rather interesting setup. Marlie’s mission running parallel to Jack’s ambitions as an artist made for a type of conflict I didn’t expect. It brought them together more often than I think it would have otherwise and showed both the differences and similarities in their personalities seamlessly. This allowed both their goals to be established, too, and how they cope with the situations that unfold because of their rapport.
That said, I feel like the narrative leans heavily into one specific side of the conflict, so much so that I do not think their arcs intersect in a completely satisfying way. Marlie’s relationship with Jack provides a conflict, but it wasn’t the one I expected. While seeing how they interact and the results of those interactions were interesting and made me want to see both characters grow, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen when it came to Marlie’s search for the wreck.
Now that I’ve gotten those thoughts out, let’s talk about the characters themselves!
Characters
Jack Gamble
Jack’s character was probably the most interesting to me, because I took a long time to figure out why he is the way he is. That said, I like the full characterization the story gives him, even with his flaws. I love that he is so dedicated to his craft and genuinely enjoys what he does. I also find it interesting how this love of art contributes to the conflict that occurs with his character. Seeing how he treats others when talking about art and what that behavior leads to made me feel genuinely nervous when it came to certain situations Jack was involved in.
Speaking of that behavior, his dynamic with Marlie sticks out, too. I found his treatment of her perplexing and I understand why Marlie reacts the way she does to him. The way he shows his attraction to her is different and he is rather enigmatic when he is being affectionate. While there are ordinary things they do together as their relationship grows, there were other ways he showed his affection that were entirely new to me.
Well, with Jack’s character covered, let’s discuss Marlie next.
Marlie Keeler
Marlie presents an interesting conundrum for me. While I did enjoy seeing her journey and character development, I found myself somewhat put off by how cold she is at first. A major aspect of her character arc is her gaining control of her own anger and expressing it appropriately, but even when she is trying to hold on, she comes across as so serious and I often worried about how she would react to the situations that arose.
However, once we do see a softer side to her, I found that I liked it. Seeing her try to address her own reactions is awesome! She shows a maturity – and insecurity – that made it easy to feel for her despite her cold exterior. And even then, seeing how she continues to grow in that respect was great, too. Turning a flaw into a strength in a situation where it’s needed showed me her development in a way I didn’t expect.
Now that I’ve discussed the characters, let’s move on to the structure!
Structure
The structure of this story surprised me in some ways. Given the opening where we see both Jack and Marlie’s points of view, I expected the narrative to switch between the two of them throughout the story. This didn’t happen, however. We don’t get Jack’s viewpoint again in detail. This aids in showing his mysterious behavior without entirely disclosing his thoughts, which worked to paint him as enigmatic.
However, on the other side, Marlie’s search felt like it was left in the background for some time, to the point where I didn’t fully remember what exactly she was up against by the time the narrative circled back to it. So much time is spent on Jack’s artistic ventures that I often found myself wondering when that other side of the narrative would be fully revisited. While there are little events that show the progression of Marlie’s ventures, it didn’t feel like they were given the full weight needed until much later in the story and only then did I clearly see what she was up against.
With that said, I think those are my main points concerning the structure. Let’s move on to the writing.
Writing
The prose in this story presents a bit of an issue for me because the pacing drags in places. This started to occur midway through the story because Marlie’s expedition is put on hold for a bit.
That said, I do like that the prose hints at the personality of the character being followed. For example, when opening the story to Marlie’s point of view, the writing subtly hints at her feelings in the moment and her personality by showing her thoughts clearly and the questions running through her head in straightforward terms.
Besides tone, mood is also established well. At certain points in the story, the tension rises thanks to the mood being presented in a scene. The writing in these cases had a snap to it kept me interested in what was happening. This was especially prevalent in scenes involving Jack’s art presentations. The mood felt tense, and I found myself worried about what would come next in these scenarios given Jack’s situation and how other characters reacted to it.
Now that I’ve covered all this, I have some final thoughts.
Conclusion
In the end, I found this an interesting read. I think Marlie’s mission was fun to follow and her relationship with Jack was intriguing. While I would have liked the expedition with the ship to have more direct focus, I still enjoyed the story and seeing Marlie and Jack’s journey together and what came from it.
For this reason, I will be giving this story three stars.
When I am looking for a story, I search for something that grabs me and makes me want to know more. This usually involves a premise that grabs my attention. When I heard about Looking for Lafitte, I found myself curious about the premise the story presented and decided to give it a try.
Before I go into it further, let’s talk about the plot of the narrative.
Summary
The story opens with a woman named Marlie Keeler traveling to Texas to look for a missing historical shipwreck to help build a museum exhibit. Once she begins the search, however, she finds that there are others looking to find and use artifacts from the same wreck for a theme park attraction.
Meanwhile, Marlie meets and finds herself intrigued by her landlord Jack, with whom her relationship grows over time as she gets more involved with his career as an artist. However, as she continues to get to know him, she discovers that her expedition to find the ship is more complicated than she originally thought, as the people she is up against in her search for the ship will do anything to claim it first.
Thoughts
This narrative has a rather interesting setup. Marlie’s mission running parallel to Jack’s ambitions as an artist made for a type of conflict I didn’t expect. It brought them together more often than I think it would have otherwise and showed both the differences and similarities in their personalities seamlessly. This allowed both their goals to be established, too, and how they cope with the situations that unfold because of their rapport.
That said, I feel like the narrative leans heavily into one specific side of the conflict, so much so that I do not think their arcs intersect in a completely satisfying way. Marlie’s relationship with Jack provides a conflict, but it wasn’t the one I expected. While seeing how they interact and the results of those interactions were interesting and made me want to see both characters grow, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen when it came to Marlie’s search for the wreck.
Now that I’ve gotten those thoughts out, let’s talk about the characters themselves!
Characters
Jack Gamble
Jack’s character was probably the most interesting to me, because I took a long time to figure out why he is the way he is. That said, I like the full characterization the story gives him, even with his flaws. I love that he is so dedicated to his craft and genuinely enjoys what he does. I also find it interesting how this love of art contributes to the conflict that occurs with his character. Seeing how he treats others when talking about art and what that behavior leads to made me feel genuinely nervous when it came to certain situations Jack was involved in.
Speaking of that behavior, his dynamic with Marlie sticks out, too. I found his treatment of her perplexing and I understand why Marlie reacts the way she does to him. The way he shows his attraction to her is different and he is rather enigmatic when he is being affectionate. While there are ordinary things they do together as their relationship grows, there were other ways he showed his affection that were entirely new to me.
Well, with Jack’s character covered, let’s discuss Marlie next.
Marlie Keeler
Marlie presents an interesting conundrum for me. While I did enjoy seeing her journey and character development, I found myself somewhat put off by how cold she is at first. A major aspect of her character arc is her gaining control of her own anger and expressing it appropriately, but even when she is trying to hold on, she comes across as so serious and I often worried about how she would react to the situations that arose.
However, once we do see a softer side to her, I found that I liked it. Seeing her try to address her own reactions is awesome! She shows a maturity – and insecurity – that made it easy to feel for her despite her cold exterior. And even then, seeing how she continues to grow in that respect was great, too. Turning a flaw into a strength in a situation where it’s needed showed me her development in a way I didn’t expect.
Now that I’ve discussed the characters, let’s move on to the structure!
Structure
The structure of this story surprised me in some ways. Given the opening where we see both Jack and Marlie’s points of view, I expected the narrative to switch between the two of them throughout the story. This didn’t happen, however. We don’t get Jack’s viewpoint again in detail. This aids in showing his mysterious behavior without entirely disclosing his thoughts, which worked to paint him as enigmatic.
However, on the other side, Marlie’s search felt like it was left in the background for some time, to the point where I didn’t fully remember what exactly she was up against by the time the narrative circled back to it. So much time is spent on Jack’s artistic ventures that I often found myself wondering when that other side of the narrative would be fully revisited. While there are little events that show the progression of Marlie’s ventures, it didn’t feel like they were given the full weight needed until much later in the story and only then did I clearly see what she was up against.
With that said, I think those are my main points concerning the structure. Let’s move on to the writing.
Writing
The prose in this story presents a bit of an issue for me because the pacing drags in places. This started to occur midway through the story because Marlie’s expedition is put on hold for a bit.
That said, I do like that the prose hints at the personality of the character being followed. For example, when opening the story to Marlie’s point of view, the writing subtly hints at her feelings in the moment and her personality by showing her thoughts clearly and the questions running through her head in straightforward terms.
Besides tone, mood is also established well. At certain points in the story, the tension rises thanks to the mood being presented in a scene. The writing in these cases had a snap to it kept me interested in what was happening. This was especially prevalent in scenes involving Jack’s art presentations. The mood felt tense, and I found myself worried about what would come next in these scenarios given Jack’s situation and how other characters reacted to it.
Now that I’ve covered all this, I have some final thoughts.
Conclusion
In the end, I found this an interesting read. I think Marlie’s mission was fun to follow and her relationship with Jack was intriguing. While I would have liked the expedition with the ship to have more direct focus, I still enjoyed the story and seeing Marlie and Jack’s journey together and what came from it.
For this reason, I will be giving this story three stars.
January 13, 2025
Looking for Lafitte by Elizabeth and Erik Hildinger
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading Looking for Lafitte, but as I grew into it, I was captivated by the authors’ descriptive prowess. I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of historical touch, adventure, and suspense, which kept me hooked from start to finish. Marlie Keeler’s journey as a marine archaeologist searching for Jean Lafitte’s legendary shipwreck was both fascinating and informative. The authors did a fantastic job capturing the intense heat and beauty of Galveston.
Marlie is a strong-willed and a relatable protagonist, and I appreciated how the authors allowed readers to explore her thoughts. This added a layer of vulnerability, making her feel even more human. Mrs. Dixon, her chatty landlady, brought humor to the story, while Kip and Tara’s dedication balanced the tension of the plot.
The romance between Jack and Marlie didn’t seem likely at first, but as the story unfolded, it added depth and emotion. Their dynamic was filled with tension, and watching it evolve kept me intrigued. The Dillard brothers also brought an interesting dynamic to the narrative. While their naivety was a little off-putting at first, their expertise played a pivotal role when it was needed.
If you love historical fiction with a dash of mystery, romance and memorable characters, I’d highly recommend this book. It’s perfect for fans of adventure and stories that blend the past with the present. This is a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve finished it.
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading Looking for Lafitte, but as I grew into it, I was captivated by the authors’ descriptive prowess. I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of historical touch, adventure, and suspense, which kept me hooked from start to finish. Marlie Keeler’s journey as a marine archaeologist searching for Jean Lafitte’s legendary shipwreck was both fascinating and informative. The authors did a fantastic job capturing the intense heat and beauty of Galveston.
Marlie is a strong-willed and a relatable protagonist, and I appreciated how the authors allowed readers to explore her thoughts. This added a layer of vulnerability, making her feel even more human. Mrs. Dixon, her chatty landlady, brought humor to the story, while Kip and Tara’s dedication balanced the tension of the plot.
The romance between Jack and Marlie didn’t seem likely at first, but as the story unfolded, it added depth and emotion. Their dynamic was filled with tension, and watching it evolve kept me intrigued. The Dillard brothers also brought an interesting dynamic to the narrative. While their naivety was a little off-putting at first, their expertise played a pivotal role when it was needed.
If you love historical fiction with a dash of mystery, romance and memorable characters, I’d highly recommend this book. It’s perfect for fans of adventure and stories that blend the past with the present. This is a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve finished it.
July 21, 2025
What a delightful surprise this book turned out to be! Looking for Lafitte is a perfect blend of maritime mystery, romantic tension, and rich historical undertones, all set against the atmospheric backdrop of Galveston Island. From the first few pages, I was completely hooked by the premise: a driven marine archaeologist racing against time (and a greedy developer) to uncover the wreckage of a ship tied to none other than the infamous Jean Lafitte.
Marlie Keeler is a compelling protagonist, smart, focused, and a little tightly wound, which makes her dynamic with the free-spirited Jack Gamble even more entertaining to watch. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and I loved how their opposing worldviews create genuine friction and growth rather than the usual romantic clichés.
The plot moves at a steady pace, with just the right balance between the archaeological dig and the threats from the theme park developer (who feels just realistic enough to be chilling). The historical thread connecting Lafitte to the modern-day storyline adds depth without overwhelming the narrative.
I especially appreciated how the authors captured the essence of Galveston the heat, the salt air, the grit, and the charm of the island itself. It’s a setting that becomes almost a character in its own right. And the ending? Satisfying on all fronts.
If you enjoy smart romantic adventures with a dash of danger and a splash of history, Looking for Lafitte will float your boat.
Marlie Keeler is a compelling protagonist, smart, focused, and a little tightly wound, which makes her dynamic with the free-spirited Jack Gamble even more entertaining to watch. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and I loved how their opposing worldviews create genuine friction and growth rather than the usual romantic clichés.
The plot moves at a steady pace, with just the right balance between the archaeological dig and the threats from the theme park developer (who feels just realistic enough to be chilling). The historical thread connecting Lafitte to the modern-day storyline adds depth without overwhelming the narrative.
I especially appreciated how the authors captured the essence of Galveston the heat, the salt air, the grit, and the charm of the island itself. It’s a setting that becomes almost a character in its own right. And the ending? Satisfying on all fronts.
If you enjoy smart romantic adventures with a dash of danger and a splash of history, Looking for Lafitte will float your boat.
December 22, 2024
Looking for Lafitte by Elizabeth and Erik Hildinger is a charming mix of historical intrigue, suspense, and romance. Set in Galveston, Texas, the story follows Marlie Keeler, a marine archaeologist racing against time to locate a schooner tied to the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte. However, her efforts are complicated by a scheming developer aiming to exploit the wreck and Jack Gamble, a stubborn yet intriguing artist with a connection to Lafitte's legacy.
The novel excels in blending a compelling treasure hunt with character-driven drama. Marlie’s determination and Jack’s free-spirited nature create dynamic tension and romantic sparks. Meanwhile, the suspense builds as Marlie and her team face off against a ruthless adversary determined to claim the discovery for personal gain.
Rich in local color and historical details, Looking for Lafitte offers an engaging narrative filled with mystery and charm. The authors craft a vivid backdrop of Galveston’s coastal beauty, skillfully interweaving romance, action, and historical lore. With its mix of lighthearted moments and high stakes, this cozy mystery keeps readers entertained from start to finish. Fans of maritime adventures and romantic mysteries will find this a delightful read.
The novel excels in blending a compelling treasure hunt with character-driven drama. Marlie’s determination and Jack’s free-spirited nature create dynamic tension and romantic sparks. Meanwhile, the suspense builds as Marlie and her team face off against a ruthless adversary determined to claim the discovery for personal gain.
Rich in local color and historical details, Looking for Lafitte offers an engaging narrative filled with mystery and charm. The authors craft a vivid backdrop of Galveston’s coastal beauty, skillfully interweaving romance, action, and historical lore. With its mix of lighthearted moments and high stakes, this cozy mystery keeps readers entertained from start to finish. Fans of maritime adventures and romantic mysteries will find this a delightful read.
January 30, 2025
Looking for Lafitte, a thriller book caught my eye and locked it with its touch on history. The beginning is a slow, careful introduction to this world but soon inflates the plot's story and lore. A story must have the ability to marinade the reader's mind with what it is trying to tell, and this book is no exception to this. From the moment Marlie begins her quest in search of the shipwreck, your mind is naturally curious and eager to find it with her.
The trouble begins when Marlie finds out that she is not the only one out for the historical wreck, and the thrill of the race to uncover history's secrets becomes an absolute roller-coaster of a ride to experience and read.
the romance sub-plot between Marlie and Jack seems planned, yet very naturally written and overall as real as a love interest can get regarding the circumstances of the book's plot.
An overall magnificent read and a high recommended read to all.
The trouble begins when Marlie finds out that she is not the only one out for the historical wreck, and the thrill of the race to uncover history's secrets becomes an absolute roller-coaster of a ride to experience and read.
the romance sub-plot between Marlie and Jack seems planned, yet very naturally written and overall as real as a love interest can get regarding the circumstances of the book's plot.
An overall magnificent read and a high recommended read to all.
November 7, 2024
It’s a very compelling story, with a plot full of suspense and interesting dynamics between the characters. The tension between Marlie and Jack. It is interesting how their interaction highlights both differences and similarities in their personalities.
It seems to me that the interaction between Marlie and Jack has been one of the most fascinating parts of history. Their chemistry and differences in their approaches to life can really enrich the narrative. the context of the shipwreck and the struggle add an element of tension that holds attention high.
It seems to me that the interaction between Marlie and Jack has been one of the most fascinating parts of history. Their chemistry and differences in their approaches to life can really enrich the narrative. the context of the shipwreck and the struggle add an element of tension that holds attention high.
January 21, 2025
It was a good read. I had fun imagining the adventure and the romance. Marlie and Jack can get on my nerves sometimes, but it was fun to see the world from their perspectives. The standpoints of a scientist and an artist. Small town Galveston was also charming. I love the Dillards, they're so loyal and actually true to themselves. I wish the alluded ruthlessness of the developers was shown a bit, not too much, maybe just enough to drive home the danger. If you love slow burn, give Looking for Lafitte a read!
December 13, 2024
I found this book a hard ad fascinating read in the began. I eventually started to come around as the story progressed. While reading this book I fell in love with the interaction between Marilie and Jack. The search for Lafitte's shipwreck and the battle with the developer add to the fast pacer of the novel and keep it going for me. I so recommend this a good read. I look forward to reading more by this author.
December 15, 2024
This book has an interesting premise, which is Marlie going on an adventure to find a missing shipwreck. I found the start a bit boring but I ended up being invested in the story as I continued reading. Marlie and Jack are fully fleshed characters and have an interesting dynamic that made it fun and exciting to read about. Although, I would have liked to have more focus on the mission. This book is good so I recommend it.
March 31, 2025
I was very engaged with reading ‘Looking for Lafitte’ that I even googled up just to know more of this man and explore the historical contexts that shaped his life as a pirate, an espionage and even a colonist founding a colony, naming it as Campeche. The author kept me on my toes as I read through their written words of Marie Keeler’s quest in marine archaeology.
An engaging and evoking read.
An engaging and evoking read.
December 28, 2024
I found it hard to read at the beginning because it wasn't really intriguing or interesting. But I eventually loved it, especially the interactions between Marlie and Jack.
I also enjoyed the character development,however I felt like the pace was really too slow for me.
But overall, it's a great read.
I also enjoyed the character development,however I felt like the pace was really too slow for me.
But overall, it's a great read.
December 7, 2024
This was a good read. I found the beginning not so intriguing and a bit difficult to get into but the plot was a good and compelling one to follow. I loved the tension between Marlie and Jack, it kept things interesting and I loved their connection. Generally I feel the book was a slow burn
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews