No Mardi Gras for the Dead

Andy Broussard/Kit Franklyn Mystery #3

by D.J. Donaldson

The author of the critically acclaimed mysteries Cajun Nights and Blood on the Bayou once again returns to the irresistible world of New Orleans, with its rich ambiance of desire and dark drama, to tell a story of hidden secrets and murder. Dr. Kit Franklyn is sexy, smart, and a top criminal psychologist. She's also an amateur horticulturist, but when she decides to put a new rose trellis in her garden, she doesn't count on her dog Lucky discovering a human jawbone. Kit immediately calls her partner and friend, Chief Medical Examiner Andy Broussard, and his forensic skills are put to the test as he and his team slowly exhume the twenty-five-year-old skeleton of a young woman who clearly did not die a natural death. But exactly when was she murdered, and why? And, most important, who killed her? The trail leads Broussard and Kit back in time to a mysterious evening among friends at medical school over two decades before and a ruthless killer who continues to strike again and again in a pattern that begins to show a chilling logic.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

229 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

D.J. Donaldson also writes under the names Don Donaldson and Don J. Donaldson, as well as David Best.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the obvious title fool you, this is a wonderful treat for someone to get to read scenery and characters that are very Louisianian. Great Pulp with an "X-Files" bent.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

[Jack Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series

There's definitely a lot of fun and interesting things happening in this series, and this book is no exception. My only complaint is that Donaldson uses Kit to get into sticky situations that ramp up the drama. While generally ok, there are many cases where such a highly intelligent lady does some mighty dumb things. I'm hoping this doesn't become an often-used device.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The atmosphere of New Orleans and the surrounding area are intriguing with many hidden delights of culture seeping into the stories by Donaldson. I have enjoyed others in the series a great deal more than this one. There was too much emphasis on the personal relationship of Franklyn which detracted from the mystery and the scientific interest for me.

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL next book in a series I'm now addicted to - old skool pre-Katrina New Orleans, very exciting and full of twists.

[Anthony Ambruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice mystery

Another Donaldson book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really love his work. I love his characters. I love New Orleans.

[Sunny Gwaltney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exoticaly Interesting

This was enjoyable on several levels: as a mystery, in its character development, for its setting and for the variety of esoteric information on display.

[Allenda Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would make a very good movie with updates to the protagonist.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Criminal psychologist Kit Franklyn has the misfortune to find a human skeleton in her backyard while digging to plant a rose garden. Kit works for Andy Broussard, New Orleans Chief Medical Officer, & between them they dig up the dirt on the 25-year-old corpse: murder by strangulation. Two more violent deaths follow in quick succession, death by shark & death by de-escalation. Murder has a long memory.

Kit Franklyn & Andy Broussard are likeable, the book was reasonably entertaining with its gruesome murders & there's enjoyable interaction between various law enforcement characters. I could have done without Kit's I'm-too-stupid-to-live moments, Miss Independent could have been Miss Dearly Departed quite easily - remember that kids! Still, it was a nice, easy read, & just what I wanted today.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brian Troxell continues to swing a home run as a narrator, but these Franklyn/Broussard novels are offering severely diminished returns. This had all the potential to be a thrilling “not so” cold case, and instead just came off as sexist and dull…despite having a shark attack, a boar attack, AND an alligator attack!!

That’s enough of this series for me, thanks.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light beach read mystery. I enjoyed it but just not enough to recommend it.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entry in the Broussard/Franklyn series as Franklyn discovers a body buried in her yard. Good pacing, nice characters, exciting conclusion. Recommended to Broussard/Franklyn fans.

[Ellen Kehs · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Merle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining story. It's made a little less so by Dr. Franklyn's irritating habit of going off and being "strong and independent" while jeopardizing herself and whatever case Andy and Gatlin are working on.

I guess that this is a hallmark of certain types of fiction written in the late 1980's and early 90's (when these books were originally written), where women had to prove themselves. Actually, she's kind of silly so I hope she will outgrow this phase!

Andy and Gatlin ride to the rescue again, when Kit gets in over her head. The story is well written and Donaldson definitely has a way with words and comparisons.

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

NO MARDI GRAS FOR THE DEAD - Okay
Donaldson, D.J. - standalone

When a twenty-year-old corpse is discovered in her backyard, criminal psychologist Kit Franklyn attempts to learn how it could be linked to two subsequent violent murders and uncovers a secret in New Orlean's French Quarter.

It was okay but too light and very inconsistent.

[Candace Sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the last one, but this series is pretty fun, so I'm sticking with it for a while!

[Lee Hoekje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Good, Lightweight

A somewhat formulaic book with all the usual things, body found in new house, boy friend trouble, lady detective, etc. Readable.

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series