The Lafitte Affair (A Bruneau Abellard Novel)
by Norman Woolworth
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Pub Date 20 Aug 2024 | Archive Date 31 Jan 2025
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Description
When burglars break into Hope Mausoleum and violate Crypt 1083-A, where the remains of the former Girod Street Cemetery are housed, New Orleans property crimes detective Thibodeaux “Bo” Duplessis is confronted with three confounding questions: Who are the burglars? Why did they break into the crypt? What, if anything, did they take?
In need of expertise he does not possess, Bo turns to his childhood friend Bruneau Abellard, a cranky, overweight antiques dealer with exacting epicurean standards and a font of historical knowledge. Affecting annoyance, though privately intrigued, Bruneau agrees to assist with Bo’s case. Together, the friends uncover a secret love affair between a famous antebellum actress, whose remains are contained in the crypt, and the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. As their investigation deepens, they find themselves confronting two separate yet entwined mysteries, 200 years apart. To solve the present-day crime, they come to realize, they must first unravel a conundrum from the distant, murky past.
Set against the singular backdrop of contemporary New Orleans, with glimpses of the city during its “Belle Epoque” of the 1820’s, The Lafitte Affair is populated with characters as eccentric as the city itself: a grand dame of the Garden District; a competitive female puzzler; a slippery con man; a giant hermit with a shrouded past; a pugnacious French bulldog; and a phantom thief who seems always two steps ahead of his pursuers. Looming over them all is the ghostly presence of the pirate Lafitte, a larger-than-life figure of seemingly endless contradictions.
A Note From the Publisher
This is a historical mystery.
Advance Praise
“Norman Woolworth is a writer with an impeccable eye for detail, and his cleverly plotted novel is infused with the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of New Orleans. His descriptions of food and beverages alone will leave you eager to book the next flight to the Crescent City.” — Proal Heartwell, author of In Beauty It Is Finished and The Boardinghouse
“The Lafitte Affair, exquisitely written and full of delightful plot twists, is peopled with Southern eccentrics drawn with insight, humor, and compassion. Those who love great Southern mystery writers like Greg Isles and John Berendt will appreciate Woolworth’s weaving of real-life history with a modern New Orleans flare. Don’t miss the first book in this series, featuring gourmand antiques dealer Bruneau Abellard as the quirky, loveable sleuth.”— Claire Holman Thompson, author of The Ring and The Blue Water
“Bruneau Abellard doesn’t necessarily need a mystery on his hands, but his friends think otherwise. With colonial pirate treasure, grave-robbing, decoding secret letters, and ties to Napoleon, the New Orleans gourmet finds himself tangled in an investigation of international proportions. Wonderfully intriguing; a little gritty and a lot of fun, Woolworth’s debut offers good food, great wine and an exceptional whodunit.” — Chris Keefer, author of No Comfort for the Undertaker and Tragedy’s Twin, the Carrie Lisbon Mysteries
Marketing Plan
- National PR
- Regional PR: Louisiana and Virginia
- Advertising Campaign: Facebook/Instagram and BookBub
- Book Club Campaign
- Influencer Campaign
- National PR
- Regional PR: Louisiana and Virginia
- Advertising Campaign: Facebook/Instagram and BookBub
- Book Club Campaign
- Influencer Campaign
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781685126988 |
| PRICE | US$17.95 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Stacey M, Reviewer
Grave robbing, diamonds, pirates, a love affair and a great 'whodunnit'. This is such a great book! Written over dual timelines, present day and 18th Century New Orleans, this is a clever detective story and a great historical fiction. Well researched with lots of historical information that is convincingly written into the story.
I really enjoyed learning about the main characters lives as well, this is not just a mystery story but a well rounded character driven fiction.
Deirdre B, Reviewer
First thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was so good. A journey to discover truth, there are twists and turns and moments where you gasp. This was my first novel by this author and I can’t wait to read more. The intrigue was there and it gave me everything I needed in a historical thriller.
Chris M, Librarian
This book engaged me from the start. New Orleans is the perfect setting for this modern day crime rooted to the past. The crime, the breaking in to a grave of an actress from the 1800's, could have been written off by the police as unimportant but the detective, Bo Duplessis consulted a friend, antiques dealer Bruneau (Bru) Abellard to learn about the actress. Ties to between Jane Placide, the actress, and the pirate, Jean Lafitte are discovered. and Bru is hooked on learning more. With every discovery by Bru and his friends the more questions there are. What secrets were hidden in the grave? The cast of characters are quirky and interesting and their relationships with each other add depth to the story. I loved the historical research and problem solving involved in figuring out this mystery. There was so much to love and I hope there are more books with these characters. I highly recommend this book to readers of mysteries or historical fiction.
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