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French Quarter Mystery #1-3
The French Quarter Mysteries Box Set: Books 1 - 3
The French Quarter Mysteries features Samantha Richardson settling into New Orleans. Her neighborhood is full of music, food, and history as well as interesting people. Join Sammy as she explores the Big Easy by solving the mysteries of the past and present in this cozy mystery series.
BOOK ONE - THE KEY TO MURDER
Samantha thought following a mysterious diary around the French Quarter would be a harmless way to learn about her new hometown until it became about murder.
As the newest resident of Thibodeaux Mansion, West Coast transplant Samantha is looking forward to starting her thirties in a new place. Drawn to New Orleans for its music, food and history, she's excited to start her future in this unique city. But Samantha is also hopeful she'll find her past since she was adopted from Louisiana after being orphaned in a hurricane as a toddler.
An anonymous diary, unusual key, and a distinctive doll are left in her furnished apartment and her mostly friendly neighbors all deny leaving the gifts. Samantha, now Sammy to her new friends, can't believe any of them could be a liar. When the diary leads her to a dead body, Sammy needs to find out what these clues mean and what the murderer is trying to tell her.
Although her best friends Sissy and Andrew are happy to help her with this mystery, her other friends aren't sure the murder and diary are about Sammy. Not wanting to lose her newfound friendships and possible love interest, Sammy decides she must uncover the answers on her own.
Sammy moved to New Orleans looking for a new future, but is it her past that found her first?
BOOK TWO - THE GATES TO THE AFTERLIFE
Sammy knows the “Gates of Guinee” Voodoo ceremony should lead to the afterlife, not murder. She has seven days to stop a killer from finishing this now deadly ritual.
With a budding romance, potential career change, and newfound family, Sammy feels at home in the French Quarter. She's drawn into the history of the city’s famous Voodoo queen as she helps her friend, Andrew, with the publication of his new book. Learning about the mysterious ritual Marie Laveau performed to reach the afterlife has Sammy’s attention as well as Andrew’s readers.
The book is sure to be a bestseller until it leads to murder.
With one of her best friends accused of the crime, Sammy needs to discover who is framing them. Is someone following in the footsteps of Marie Laveau? Or are they using the Gates to Guinee ritual to cover up a murder?
There are seven gates to reach the afterlife. Can Sammy stop the murderer before they kill again?
BOOK THREE - A DEADLY CHECK-IN
Samantha’s unexpected family reunion should have been full of joy, not ghosts and murder. To prove her innocence, Sammy must investigate a haunted hotel. Can she solve the mysteries of the past and present, to save her future?
A surprise visit from Sammy’s relatives causes more trouble than she imagined. When she discovers her cousin dead at Hotel Jeanne, she becomes the prime suspect. Not only does the family reunion bring up terrible memories, Sammy’s romantic relationship is put to the test.
But she’s not the only one who needs help. The hotel’s new owner is overwhelmed with his antagonistic employees and disruptive ghosts. By organizing the inn’s long-neglected library, Sammy plans not only to clear her name, but learn who, or what, is haunting the hotel.
With the support of her New Orleans family, Sammy must track down the killer and discover the real reason behind the spiritual disturbances at Hotel Jeanne. Can she find the murderer before they try to turn her into a ghost?
BOOK ONE - THE KEY TO MURDER
Samantha thought following a mysterious diary around the French Quarter would be a harmless way to learn about her new hometown until it became about murder.
As the newest resident of Thibodeaux Mansion, West Coast transplant Samantha is looking forward to starting her thirties in a new place. Drawn to New Orleans for its music, food and history, she's excited to start her future in this unique city. But Samantha is also hopeful she'll find her past since she was adopted from Louisiana after being orphaned in a hurricane as a toddler.
An anonymous diary, unusual key, and a distinctive doll are left in her furnished apartment and her mostly friendly neighbors all deny leaving the gifts. Samantha, now Sammy to her new friends, can't believe any of them could be a liar. When the diary leads her to a dead body, Sammy needs to find out what these clues mean and what the murderer is trying to tell her.
Although her best friends Sissy and Andrew are happy to help her with this mystery, her other friends aren't sure the murder and diary are about Sammy. Not wanting to lose her newfound friendships and possible love interest, Sammy decides she must uncover the answers on her own.
Sammy moved to New Orleans looking for a new future, but is it her past that found her first?
BOOK TWO - THE GATES TO THE AFTERLIFE
Sammy knows the “Gates of Guinee” Voodoo ceremony should lead to the afterlife, not murder. She has seven days to stop a killer from finishing this now deadly ritual.
With a budding romance, potential career change, and newfound family, Sammy feels at home in the French Quarter. She's drawn into the history of the city’s famous Voodoo queen as she helps her friend, Andrew, with the publication of his new book. Learning about the mysterious ritual Marie Laveau performed to reach the afterlife has Sammy’s attention as well as Andrew’s readers.
The book is sure to be a bestseller until it leads to murder.
With one of her best friends accused of the crime, Sammy needs to discover who is framing them. Is someone following in the footsteps of Marie Laveau? Or are they using the Gates to Guinee ritual to cover up a murder?
There are seven gates to reach the afterlife. Can Sammy stop the murderer before they kill again?
BOOK THREE - A DEADLY CHECK-IN
Samantha’s unexpected family reunion should have been full of joy, not ghosts and murder. To prove her innocence, Sammy must investigate a haunted hotel. Can she solve the mysteries of the past and present, to save her future?
A surprise visit from Sammy’s relatives causes more trouble than she imagined. When she discovers her cousin dead at Hotel Jeanne, she becomes the prime suspect. Not only does the family reunion bring up terrible memories, Sammy’s romantic relationship is put to the test.
But she’s not the only one who needs help. The hotel’s new owner is overwhelmed with his antagonistic employees and disruptive ghosts. By organizing the inn’s long-neglected library, Sammy plans not only to clear her name, but learn who, or what, is haunting the hotel.
With the support of her New Orleans family, Sammy must track down the killer and discover the real reason behind the spiritual disturbances at Hotel Jeanne. Can she find the murderer before they try to turn her into a ghost?
886 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2022
537 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
About the author
Jen Pitts
15 books388 followersJen Pitts is a lifelong mystery reader who turned her obsession into writing cozy mysteries of her own. When she isn’t plotting fictional murder and mayhem, she’s chugging coffee, traveling, reading, and enjoying life with her children, husband, and two cats in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 3, 2024
Entretenido, divertido, interesante
Samantha se muda a New Orleans para comenzar una nueva vida. Ahí conoce y se hace amiga de todos sus vecinos del edificio, y junto a ellos forma una nueva familia.
Pero cuando comienzan a aparecer personas asesinadas y se relacionan con ella o alguno de sus amigos, ella empieza a investigar por su cuenta para poder liberar de culpa a sus amigos.
Este box set incluye las tres primeras historias de está serie, y nos da una buena introducción de quien es la prota y de lo que es capaz. En el primer libro, vemos como se aclara su pasado, en el segundo vemos como mejora su técnica de investigación, y en el tercero, vemos como logra unir su familia de sangre con su familia adoptada. Son libros entretenidos, muy bien desarrollados y que te llevan de la mano para descubrir el misterio. Y aunque el culpable se puede ver desde la mitad del libro, la forma como el autor nos lleva al descubrimiento, fue lo que me mantuvo leyendo. Es posible que continúe con la serie más adelante.
Samantha se muda a New Orleans para comenzar una nueva vida. Ahí conoce y se hace amiga de todos sus vecinos del edificio, y junto a ellos forma una nueva familia.
Pero cuando comienzan a aparecer personas asesinadas y se relacionan con ella o alguno de sus amigos, ella empieza a investigar por su cuenta para poder liberar de culpa a sus amigos.
Este box set incluye las tres primeras historias de está serie, y nos da una buena introducción de quien es la prota y de lo que es capaz. En el primer libro, vemos como se aclara su pasado, en el segundo vemos como mejora su técnica de investigación, y en el tercero, vemos como logra unir su familia de sangre con su familia adoptada. Son libros entretenidos, muy bien desarrollados y que te llevan de la mano para descubrir el misterio. Y aunque el culpable se puede ver desde la mitad del libro, la forma como el autor nos lleva al descubrimiento, fue lo que me mantuvo leyendo. Es posible que continúe con la serie más adelante.
Read
July 6, 2023I love New Orleans; this novel brings you the essence-beignets, cafe du lait, gumbo and wine! What else do you need? Nancy Drew on vacation all grown up. Samantha is the adult-Nancy Drew-too curious for her own good-several bodies later! "Sammy" was not raised by her family, they died in a deadly hurricane and Sammy was thought to have died also. She moves from San Francisco to New Orleans to find her relatives and a new life. Lots and lots of calories involved and new friends.
April 7, 2025
Fantastic series Having visited New Orleans I can understand the allure of the beautiful city. These stories bring to life the wonders of living in this historical and haunted city.
June 17, 2025
Great read
Was a really interesting subject... Did not know who had done it until the so kept you interested. Will read again
Was a really interesting subject... Did not know who had done it until the so kept you interested. Will read again
July 4, 2023
Nancy Drew has nothing on Sammy
Fun mysteries with a great cast of characters. Really enjoyed the back
stories / histories in each book. Author did a good job setting up a murder cast & it was enjoyable trying to solve the murders. Little romances and family strengths add to the deliteful mix.
Fun mysteries with a great cast of characters. Really enjoyed the back
stories / histories in each book. Author did a good job setting up a murder cast & it was enjoyable trying to solve the murders. Little romances and family strengths add to the deliteful mix.
July 9, 2023
So much information.
There was so much information about New Orleans in these three stories, along with very good mysteries. In some cases, it was easy to figure out who the antagonist was going to be from the characters. However, it was still fun to read. I would read more in the series.
There was so much information about New Orleans in these three stories, along with very good mysteries. In some cases, it was easy to figure out who the antagonist was going to be from the characters. However, it was still fun to read. I would read more in the series.
October 5, 2023
When A Family Isn’t a Family but Others Are!
Samantha moves to the French Quarter to start over & try to find the family she lost as a child. She finds a puzzle, a mysterious key, and some excellent friends as she stumbles along several murders that she can’t help but investigate on the side as the murderer stalks her and some newfound friends.
Samantha moves to the French Quarter to start over & try to find the family she lost as a child. She finds a puzzle, a mysterious key, and some excellent friends as she stumbles along several murders that she can’t help but investigate on the side as the murderer stalks her and some newfound friends.
July 29, 2023
Mystery abounds
These three books were so engaging in the New Orleans style of intrigue and mystery not only within the history of the city but also the mystery of the me to be solved.
These three books were so engaging in the New Orleans style of intrigue and mystery not only within the history of the city but also the mystery of the me to be solved.
August 3, 2023
Three good mystery stories.
I liked all three books, they are stand alone books. Samantha feels the pull of New Orleans, as it had been her parents hometown. She moves into a mansion that is apart!ants and the other tenets become her family. A good clean read and I recommend.
I liked all three books, they are stand alone books. Samantha feels the pull of New Orleans, as it had been her parents hometown. She moves into a mansion that is apart!ants and the other tenets become her family. A good clean read and I recommend.
January 9, 2024
pasts, present and possibilities collide and clash building a new life in a place that is sort of home, yet forgotten, is not easy
lethal and touching friendships, chosen and biological family, twists and turns
lethal and touching friendships, chosen and biological family, twists and turns
September 26, 2023
great series
I loved the characters and even the murders. Good read. Learning more about New Orleans was a bonus. A really good read.
I loved the characters and even the murders. Good read. Learning more about New Orleans was a bonus. A really good read.
October 11, 2023
Great read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it has everything you could want in a book, great storyline, fantastic characters, mystery, spirits and murder
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it has everything you could want in a book, great storyline, fantastic characters, mystery, spirits and murder
March 10, 2025
beignets and Mardi gras
I visited New Orleans shortly after a hurricane. I didn’t get to visit the real New Orleans. These books make me want to go back and visit the sites. Of course without the murder. Family isn’t by birth but who you meet in your life. Great read. Looking forward to next adventure.
I visited New Orleans shortly after a hurricane. I didn’t get to visit the real New Orleans. These books make me want to go back and visit the sites. Of course without the murder. Family isn’t by birth but who you meet in your life. Great read. Looking forward to next adventure.
October 7, 2023
As fun and intriguing as New Orleans itself!
This series is so good! The story is captivating and I loved that someone you briefly meet in book one has a surprising role in another (no spoilers here!) Not only does Jen Pitts have a good story, she takes the time to really bring her characters to life, all within a truly believable story line. The stories aren't all sunshine and rose's, but they're real and you feel all the feelings right along with them. I can't wait to continue the series and I'm excited to see where the story goes!
This series is so good! The story is captivating and I loved that someone you briefly meet in book one has a surprising role in another (no spoilers here!) Not only does Jen Pitts have a good story, she takes the time to really bring her characters to life, all within a truly believable story line. The stories aren't all sunshine and rose's, but they're real and you feel all the feelings right along with them. I can't wait to continue the series and I'm excited to see where the story goes!
March 6, 2024
The French Quarter Mysteries was a great series to read. I can't wait to read the fourth and see where Sammy takes us next. Was hard putting the books down. Easy reading, flows very well and kept my interest through out all three books. If you like New Orleans and mysteries its a book I'd reccomend.
February 5, 2025
New Orleans
Easy read, mystery and keeps your attention. I liked how the characters were all intertwined yet not so much that they lost their individuality
Easy read, mystery and keeps your attention. I liked how the characters were all intertwined yet not so much that they lost their individuality
November 18, 2022
Good read
An engaging read with a great setting and interesting characters. I enjoyed the bits of historical information about New Orleans. Looking forward to reading the next book.
An engaging read with a great setting and interesting characters. I enjoyed the bits of historical information about New Orleans. Looking forward to reading the next book.
June 6, 2024
Couldn't even make it through the first of these three books. Leaving entirely aside the fact that, having lived several years in the South, I know that whole "southern hospitality" thing to be little more than a publicist's gimmick, the whole plot was full of holes and inconsistencies. An adoptee, now 30, who hasn't the sense to sign up on a DNA site and take a test? I won't put in a spoiler regarding the unlikelihood of the adoptive parents' behavior once she reached adulthood, but...really? She finds a dead body while illegally clambering around a construction site and the police DON'T consider her their first and foremost suspect, but continue to treat her with excessive courtesy? Then there's the whole scenario of being a former administrative assistant--a notoriously underpaid career, as I should know after a lifetime at it--who makes a cross-country move to another state but does not immediately start a zealous search for a job? Uh, did the adoptive parents leave her with one heckuva inheritance after years of...no, spoiler again. Of course, it's also not just Samantha, but all her new buds, who drink like frat boys during rush week.
Just not appealing characters. Nope, as I say, couldn't even make it through the first book. Deleted it from my KIndle.
Just not appealing characters. Nope, as I say, couldn't even make it through the first book. Deleted it from my KIndle.
January 11, 2024
Interesante y entretenido
Es un buen libro de lectura ligera y fácil de seguir . No necesariamente tienes que leer la teología en orden para entenderlo. Magnífico para practicar mi lectura en inglés
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Es un buen libro de lectura ligera y fácil de seguir . No necesariamente tienes que leer la teología en orden para entenderlo. Magnífico para practicar mi lectura en inglés
?
September 22, 2023
Please see individual stories for review.
May 27, 2024
I love anything involving New Orleans so I really enjoyed these books. It felt pretty cozy to me and would definitely reread during spooky season
August 4, 2024
Great Characters
Wonderful series. Each book has a solid story line. The characters ate wonderful and pull you into the story. Love these books.
Wonderful series. Each book has a solid story line. The characters ate wonderful and pull you into the story. Love these books.
October 26, 2023
An excellent sense of place, a host of great characters, pleasantly engaging mysteries, though maybe a bit too easy. Didn't think I'd read more at first, but now at the end, I might.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews