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Miss Fortune Mystery #1-3
Miss Fortune Series: Boxset No. 1
With over eight thousand reviews and an average rating of 4.7, the New York Times bestselling Miss Fortune series is a fan favorite. This set includes the first three books in
LOUISIANA LONGSHOT
It was a hell of a long shot…
CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever—in Sinful, Louisiana. With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world’s largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element. Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she’s determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play. Unfortunately, she hasn’t even unpacked a suitcase before her newly inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard.
LETHAL BAYOU BEAUTY
No one in Sinful liked Pansy Arceneaux, but who hated her enough to kill her?
When aspiring actress Pansy Arceneaux returns to Sinful, Louisiana to head up the beauty pageant portion of the Summer Festival, CIA assassin Fortune Redding knows she’s in for trouble. Her undercover identity as a former beauty queen makes Fortune the perfect choice to chair the event with Pansy, but Pansy’s abrasive personality makes it impossible to get through a single rehearsal without a fight.
When Pansy turns up dead, Fortune is the prime suspect.
SWAMP SNIPER
In the two weeks CIA assassin Fortune Redding has been hiding in Sinful, Louisiana, she’s been harassed, poisoned, and shot at…and that was the easy part. But now, she’s about to face her biggest challenge since setting foot in the tiny bayou town.
When mayoral candidate Ted Williams is murdered, everyone is surprised. Ted was a blowhole and a Yankee, but those usually weren’t good reasons to kill someone. When Fortune’s good friend Ida Belle becomes the lead suspect in the crime, Fortune knows she’s got to solve a murder and save one of the only friends she’s ever had. But as the investigation begins, more and more secrets surface, and Fortune realizes that sometimes nothing is as it seems.
LOUISIANA LONGSHOT
It was a hell of a long shot…
CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever—in Sinful, Louisiana. With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world’s largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element. Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she’s determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play. Unfortunately, she hasn’t even unpacked a suitcase before her newly inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard.
LETHAL BAYOU BEAUTY
No one in Sinful liked Pansy Arceneaux, but who hated her enough to kill her?
When aspiring actress Pansy Arceneaux returns to Sinful, Louisiana to head up the beauty pageant portion of the Summer Festival, CIA assassin Fortune Redding knows she’s in for trouble. Her undercover identity as a former beauty queen makes Fortune the perfect choice to chair the event with Pansy, but Pansy’s abrasive personality makes it impossible to get through a single rehearsal without a fight.
When Pansy turns up dead, Fortune is the prime suspect.
SWAMP SNIPER
In the two weeks CIA assassin Fortune Redding has been hiding in Sinful, Louisiana, she’s been harassed, poisoned, and shot at…and that was the easy part. But now, she’s about to face her biggest challenge since setting foot in the tiny bayou town.
When mayoral candidate Ted Williams is murdered, everyone is surprised. Ted was a blowhole and a Yankee, but those usually weren’t good reasons to kill someone. When Fortune’s good friend Ida Belle becomes the lead suspect in the crime, Fortune knows she’s got to solve a murder and save one of the only friends she’s ever had. But as the investigation begins, more and more secrets surface, and Fortune realizes that sometimes nothing is as it seems.
569 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2015
166 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Jana Deleon
102 books4,228 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 46 reviews
August 29, 2025
#1 Louisiana Longshot 5* (282)
Dates read: 6/22-23/17; 4/5-7/18; 11/3/19; 2/8-12/20; 9/16-17/23; 1/14-18/25; 8/3-5/25
#2 Lethal Bayou Beauty 5* (276)
Dates read: 6/24-25/17; 7/21-22/18; 11/22-23/21; 8/6-7/23; 9/17-19/23; 2/3-6/25; 8/19-21/25
#3 Swamp Sniper 5* (300)
Dates read: 7/23-24/17; 7/22-23/18; 11/19-20/19; 11/23-24/21; 8/8-10/23; 9/19-20/23; 2/19-23/25; 8/21-24/25
*
Dates read: 6/22-23/17; 4/5-7/18; 11/3/19; 2/8-12/20; 9/16-17/23; 1/14-18/25; 8/3-5/25
#2 Lethal Bayou Beauty 5* (276)
Dates read: 6/24-25/17; 7/21-22/18; 11/22-23/21; 8/6-7/23; 9/17-19/23; 2/3-6/25; 8/19-21/25
#3 Swamp Sniper 5* (300)
Dates read: 7/23-24/17; 7/22-23/18; 11/19-20/19; 11/23-24/21; 8/8-10/23; 9/19-20/23; 2/19-23/25; 8/21-24/25
*
February 2, 2018
Awesome
I just love the mysteries but even more I love the characters! The heroine is a tough female CIA assassin sent to a very small Louisiana town to hide from middle eastern terrorists. She makes friends for the first time in her life, with two senior single ladies who were counter intelligence in VietNam. These two ladies are tough, smart, and a hoot! One has bad eyesite and refused to fix the problem. Of-course that creates hilarious problems. I love them.
I just love the mysteries but even more I love the characters! The heroine is a tough female CIA assassin sent to a very small Louisiana town to hide from middle eastern terrorists. She makes friends for the first time in her life, with two senior single ladies who were counter intelligence in VietNam. These two ladies are tough, smart, and a hoot! One has bad eyesite and refused to fix the problem. Of-course that creates hilarious problems. I love them.
May 28, 2020
Laugh out loud funny! Love these characters! I’m now held hostage and have to continue through the rest of the books in this series. Can’t wait to see what happens next with Fortune, Ida Belle and Gertie! Will Fortune and Carter ever date? Will Carter discover Fortune’s real identity or will she tell him herself? On to the next book I go.....
November 5, 2025
CIA operative in sleepy southern town
Sounds like it should be boring, but this is hilarious. Every disaster has a good reason and more excuses than you need, but I managed to get sucked in to the story and believed almost every one. Lovely, funny and light-hearted and I'm going to have to buy the next one in the series.
Sounds like it should be boring, but this is hilarious. Every disaster has a good reason and more excuses than you need, but I managed to get sucked in to the story and believed almost every one. Lovely, funny and light-hearted and I'm going to have to buy the next one in the series.
December 7, 2018
Really enjoying
This series is perfect for those who enjoy a great leading character, a fast pace, lots of hilarity, and just good old fashioned loyal friends. I dread reaching the end of this series. I adore Fortune, Ida Belle, Gertie, Marie, Ally, and Carter.
This series is perfect for those who enjoy a great leading character, a fast pace, lots of hilarity, and just good old fashioned loyal friends. I dread reaching the end of this series. I adore Fortune, Ida Belle, Gertie, Marie, Ally, and Carter.
March 17, 2021
Who knew a CIA assassin could be such fun!
I’ve now read 3 “Miss Fortune” mysteries and I love them! The characters are so different from other cozy mysteries - and the books are so well crafted! Only criticism: I want a complete box set. The whole shebang!
I’ve now read 3 “Miss Fortune” mysteries and I love them! The characters are so different from other cozy mysteries - and the books are so well crafted! Only criticism: I want a complete box set. The whole shebang!
December 3, 2025
Over to quick
This boxes had me laughing my socks off. You could picture the mishaps so easily. Well written and extremely funny, deffo worthwhile reading. Just hope there are more of these to come.
This boxes had me laughing my socks off. You could picture the mishaps so easily. Well written and extremely funny, deffo worthwhile reading. Just hope there are more of these to come.
May 26, 2018
Good summer read
Nice light reading, some comedy, some drama. Like-able characters. I’m reading the next book in the series, so I guess I’m hooked!
Nice light reading, some comedy, some drama. Like-able characters. I’m reading the next book in the series, so I guess I’m hooked!
May 14, 2019
Love love love. Recommend this series to everyone!!
August 3, 2019
3 books in a week. Fun, fast, funny, great characters and plausible plots. I will read them all!
November 16, 2019
Laugh-out-loud Mystery
That’s right, it’s a great mystery, but when Ida Belle is suspected of murder and Gertie and Fortune start investigating the laughs just keep coming.
That’s right, it’s a great mystery, but when Ida Belle is suspected of murder and Gertie and Fortune start investigating the laughs just keep coming.
December 31, 2019
Great series that will keep you laughing.
January 9, 2020
Good times, great reads!!
The adventures in this series makes me laugh out loud!! I have fallen in love with the characters, can't wait to see what they get into next
The adventures in this series makes me laugh out loud!! I have fallen in love with the characters, can't wait to see what they get into next
May 3, 2020
Hanging on to every word!
Great new series, read the first three books in a day. Great job on the author giving out the first book free cause now I’m hooked!
Great new series, read the first three books in a day. Great job on the author giving out the first book free cause now I’m hooked!
October 30, 2020
Transplant Stephanie Plum from New Jersey to Louisiana and you have Fortune Redding.
July 7, 2021
Love this series! Just finished book 19. Funny, likable characters.
April 4, 2023
A great story that made me laugh a lot.
May 2, 2023
Highly recommend!! Fast read, side splitting, and old lady goals!!🤣 Never a dull moment in Sinful.
November 9, 2025
Enjoyable cosy mysteries
March 22, 2017
Fun read
This book was a fun read. I loved the characters! I actually laughed out loud a few times waking my husband. Lol
This book was a fun read. I loved the characters! I actually laughed out loud a few times waking my husband. Lol
May 28, 2016
The plot synopsis had me hooked: a CIA assassin with a blown cover forced to hide out in a sleepy Louisiana small town stumbling into a murder mystery. And ... getting into all sorts of hilarious shenanigans with a pair of seniors who aren't quite what they seem, when she's been ordered to keep a low profile.
In the masterful hands of an author who knows how to combine engaging characters, convoluted plots with lots of surprising twists and uproariously funny writing, this whodunit series is bound to keep readers entertained. I went along with Fortune, Ida Belle, Gertis and Deputy Carter LeBlanc on their madcap adventures in Sinful, Louisiana and boy, what an enjoyable and thrilling ride that was. Which led to me chasing down the rest of the series.
Of course, I also have a vested interest in the budding relationship between Fortune and Carter, which is kept just simmering under all the crimes and mysteries that surfaced one after another. Yup, there's never a dull day in Sinful. And I'm on to the next in the series to see what awaits the pair of crime fighters.
In the masterful hands of an author who knows how to combine engaging characters, convoluted plots with lots of surprising twists and uproariously funny writing, this whodunit series is bound to keep readers entertained. I went along with Fortune, Ida Belle, Gertis and Deputy Carter LeBlanc on their madcap adventures in Sinful, Louisiana and boy, what an enjoyable and thrilling ride that was. Which led to me chasing down the rest of the series.
Of course, I also have a vested interest in the budding relationship between Fortune and Carter, which is kept just simmering under all the crimes and mysteries that surfaced one after another. Yup, there's never a dull day in Sinful. And I'm on to the next in the series to see what awaits the pair of crime fighters.
March 8, 2016
Fortune Redding is a CIA secret operator whose cover has been broken after her last mission and there is a bounty on her head. Her boss sends her to a little town called Sinful Louisiana to get off the grid. She is masquerading as librarian, the relative of another CIA boss who is traveling in Europe. She is supposedly in town to close up the house of a deceased relative. Redding has been the field for so long that she is really not up on normal civilian life and life in Sinful is anything but normal with its small town cliques and southern manners. She has a run in with the local Deputy as soon as she gets to town and soon meets up with a group of "elderly" women whose club has a requirement that they be single or at least 5 years widowed. But enough, there are several murders in the 3 books and much sneaking around as the ladies take it on themselves to investigate. This reminds me of the antics of Stephanie Plum in Evanovich's books, light with a load of offbeat characters.
February 5, 2016
Hours of laughing
This box set was billed as the next best thing to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. This was the hook that pulled me in; as I read, I was more and more hooked. The antics of Fortune Redding, CIA assassin, were like an episode of "I Love Lucy".
Fortune goes undercover as the niece of a recently deceased woman who has come to a small town in Louisiana, named Sinful, to settle the estate. She must remain low profile because an arms dealer has put a price on her head. Yet the things she gets into because of befriending two local senior citizens just get funnier and funnier.
A page turner that will keep you laughing.
This box set was billed as the next best thing to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. This was the hook that pulled me in; as I read, I was more and more hooked. The antics of Fortune Redding, CIA assassin, were like an episode of "I Love Lucy".
Fortune goes undercover as the niece of a recently deceased woman who has come to a small town in Louisiana, named Sinful, to settle the estate. She must remain low profile because an arms dealer has put a price on her head. Yet the things she gets into because of befriending two local senior citizens just get funnier and funnier.
A page turner that will keep you laughing.
February 10, 2016
Laugh out loud fun!
I was embarrassed to find myself with this cheesy mystery cracking up laughing and hating to put it down. The main character should have been smarter - the senior citizens were cool and totally charming. The hot detective wasn't the usual idiot. I really liked these people. My only problem is the three books took place over three weeks. No small town has this much nuttiness! I think the author forgot she said the town had 400 people. Still in all loved the story and foolishness and the mysteries weren't bad!
I was embarrassed to find myself with this cheesy mystery cracking up laughing and hating to put it down. The main character should have been smarter - the senior citizens were cool and totally charming. The hot detective wasn't the usual idiot. I really liked these people. My only problem is the three books took place over three weeks. No small town has this much nuttiness! I think the author forgot she said the town had 400 people. Still in all loved the story and foolishness and the mysteries weren't bad!
March 11, 2016
A Lot of Fun
I thoroughly enjoyed this series of small town mysteries. Fortune is a believable character who is using a small town to hide while her agency tracks out the drug lord who wants her dead. While she's there she makes friends of former Army personnel who manage to drag her in to the local murder masteries which are cropping up at an alarming rate.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series of small town mysteries. Fortune is a believable character who is using a small town to hide while her agency tracks out the drug lord who wants her dead. While she's there she makes friends of former Army personnel who manage to drag her in to the local murder masteries which are cropping up at an alarming rate.
September 8, 2019
This book just made me L-A-U-G-H out loud in public with the obvious antics of a princess kissing the frog but Backwards scenario of a tomboy turned beautiful woman... that is very independent and still likable. I couldn’t put it down.........I’ve decided, I like the lightning quick reflexes, the 2 best friends, the boyfriend and the country store owner of Fortune Redding.
December 18, 2015
I loved all the books in this bundle! Crazy, zany fun cozy mystery series! Those ladies of Sinful are laugh out loud fun and won't back down in the face of danger! Fantastic writing! And, banana pudding! What's not to love?
February 1, 2016
Reminds me of my firefighter sister.
I really enjoyed these books, the mysteries were great but the humor was even more enjoyable. Great set of heroines. The Southern/Louisiana characters seemed typical to the area.
I really enjoyed these books, the mysteries were great but the humor was even more enjoyable. Great set of heroines. The Southern/Louisiana characters seemed typical to the area.
July 5, 2018
Laughed until I cried
Over and over I laughed until I cried, and it is really hard to read with tears streaming accompanied by, literally, belly laughs. Move over Mel Gibson and Denny Glover, Miss Fortune and cohorts are taking over.
Over and over I laughed until I cried, and it is really hard to read with tears streaming accompanied by, literally, belly laughs. Move over Mel Gibson and Denny Glover, Miss Fortune and cohorts are taking over.
March 8, 2016
Loved it!
It's a read-all-the-way-through kind of book. Will have you chuckling and slapping your forehead with the shenanigans that go on in here. Three books, all well-written and well connected.
It's a read-all-the-way-through kind of book. Will have you chuckling and slapping your forehead with the shenanigans that go on in here. Three books, all well-written and well connected.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews