Jana DeLeon Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Emerald Books
| Bayou Bodyguard | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Ghost-in-Law Books
| Trouble in Mudbug | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Mischief in Mudbug | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Showdown in Mudbug | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Helena Diaries | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Resurrection in Mudbug | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Missing in Mudbug | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Chaos in Mudbug | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Rose and Helena Save Christmas | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Helena Diaries is a companion novella to the novel Trouble in Mudbug and should be read after it. | ||
Publication Order of Marina at Midlife Books
| Wrong Side of Forty | (2020) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Miss Fortune Mystery Books
Publication Order of Mystere Parish Books
| The Reckoning | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Vanishing | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Awakening | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Mystere Parish: Family Inheritance Books
| The Accused | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Betrayed | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Reunion | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Shaye Archer Books
| Malevolent | (2015) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Sinister | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Diabolical | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Wicked | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Unseen | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Dreadful | (2018) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Damned | (2019) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Tempest Island Books
| Backrush | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Adrift | (2022) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Undertow | (2023) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Rumble on the Bayou | (2006) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Unlucky | (2007) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Lost Girls of Johnson's Bayou | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of 12 Days of Christmas Books
| Six Geese a' Slaying | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Seven Swans a' Shooting | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Eight Maids a' Missing | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Nine Ladies Dancing | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| The Tenth Dark Lord a' Leaping | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| The Goose, The Gander, And Three French Hens | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
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Publication Order of Happily Everlasting Books
| Dead Man Talking | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Once Hunted, Twice Shy | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Fooled Around and Spelled In Love | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Witchful Thinking | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Total Eclipse of The Hunt | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Curses and Cupcakes | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| An Everlasting Christmas | (2018) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
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Publication Order of Lizzy Gardner Files Books
| Unsavory | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Web of Lies | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Web of Lies | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
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Publication Order of Shivers Books
| Mystery Lover | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Keeping Watch | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Stranger in a Small Town | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| The Secret of Cypriere Bayou | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Waterford Point | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
| Phantom of the French Quarter | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon | ||
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Publication Order of Anthologies
Jana DeLeon grew up in Southwest Louisiana among the bayous and their alligators. Raised in Carlyss, a town she swears no one could locate on a map, some of Jana’s fondest memories are the thousands of hours she spent with her brothers scouring the bayous in an aluminum boat, Jana using the opportunity to study the birds, nutria and alligators, all in their natural habitat.
Jana’s family owned a camp on a Bayou just off the Gulf of Mexico. She spent many a day in the rope hammock she remembers hunging in the shade of a large deck stretched out over the water. It was within such serene surroundings that Jana DeLeon spent many an hour immersed in her books.
Her time in at the camp explains the prominent role bayou settings seem to have in her stories. Jana was a CFO before making the difficult decision to tackle writing as a career. She published her first book, ‘Rumble in the Bayou’, a standalone novel, in 2006.
Trouble in Mudbug Maryse Robicheaux, a scientist, was certain that all her problems would disappear once her mother-in-law died. The woman’s rude nature was hardly her only fault. She was also pushy and manipulative. The fact that she used her considerable wealth to run herd over the town of Mudbug in Louisiana didn’t help her reputation among the locals.
However, Helena’s death seems to have done very little to slow her down. Luc LeJeune, a DEA agent, didn’t think his undercover assignment investigating Maryse would prove so troublesome. More people want the sexy scientist dead that Luc knows what to do with. He will have to protect Maryse even while keeping his precious secrets from her; that is if he can resist his attraction for the brainy beauty. Trouble in Mudbug is a very fun read, far more interesting than one might presume from the synopses.
This is despite the novel’s rather frivolous nature. Any reader expecting to encounter a truly serious mystery novel will be sorely disappointed. However, for those individuals simply looking for a great and entertaining read, this silly novel will not disappoint them.
At the start of the story, Maryse is attending her mother-in-law’s funeral like any good person is expected to do. The fact that she is estranged from Hank, her deadbeat husband, doesn’t make the ordeal any more bearable. Her life would be much happier if she could find Hank and serve him the divorce papers.
Things take an interesting turn when Maryse learns that, for all the hate she held for the woman, she had been named in Helena’s final will, her inheritance shocking her to the core. Luc is just another undercover DEA agent investigating an anonymous tip about illegal dumping in the bayou; eventually moving into Maryse’s office and taking the guise of a zoologist, Luc quickly learns that there is so much more going on in Mudbug than meets the eye, especially as Maryse’ life begins to spiral.
Trouble in Mudbug is one of Jana DeLeon’s funnier novels, especially when told from the perspective of Maryse and the disturbing elements that begin to intrude upon her life, not least of which is her encounter with Helena’s ghost. The mystery is surprisingly intriguing and should prove entertaining even to fans of the mystery genre.
The twist and turns, while hardly earth-shattering, manage to surprise on more than one occasion. For the most part, Trouble in Mudbug will keep readers guessing. It is the sort of light-hearted story that catches most readers by surprise.
The first book in the Ghost-in-Law series, the cast is particularly enthralling, especially Helena, a less than pleasant individual whose character arc allows her to emerge as one of the funniest (and surprisingly likable) characters in the novel. Eccentric as Jana’s many characters might be, she clearly respects them enough to keep them grounded.
At no point in the story are they so exaggerated as to become caricatures or stereotypes. Jana DeLeo injects elements of steamy romance into the story, but in moderation. +Mischief in Mudbug Sabine LeVeche was orphaned at an early age.
Currently in the middle of a medical crisis, Sabine’s situation requires her to locate a blood relative as soon as possible. Lucky for her, she has a sexy PI and a sassy ghost to depend on. ON the unfortunate side, a murderer is determined to put her down, possibly even before her illness can take her.
Mischief in Mudbug is another fun and amusing novel from Jana DeLeon. Somewhat far-fetched in its premise, Jana’s Mischief in Mudbug story manages to entertain where better authors might have stumbled. Part cozy mystery, part contemporary romance, Mischief in Mudbug is led by Sabine, a heroine introduced during the Trouble in Mudbug story.
Accompanied by Helena, a ghost who believes she was murdered, and a hunky PI (and Sabine’s perfect match), Sabine is out to save her own life and solve a mystery in the process. Jana DeLeon’s mixed narrative approach works, flowing nicely; the transition between the points of view of the leads allows readers to acquire a more comprehensive perspective of the story.
It could be argued that Jana’s mystery was a little predictable; though this failing was quickly countered by a surprising turn of events in the story. Jana’s ability to deliver twists where they are least expected is commendable.
Readers are encouraged to read Trouble in Mudbug, the first book in the Ghost-in-Law series, before proceeding with the sequel. Admittedly, this is not a necessity. Jana clearly wrote Mischief in Mudbug to stand on its own, however, knowledge of the back stories of the various characters and even Mudbug itself will allow one to better appreciate the events of Mischief in Mudbug.
This is especially true for Helena, a character with a prominent role in the first novel and whose presence in the sequel might be better enjoyed if one has an understanding of her history in Mudbug. ON the whole, however, Mischief in Mudbug can stand on its own.
Book Series In Order » Authors »
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Recently reread all of the Miss Fortune books. To say I laughed out loud is is funny. Even though I had read them earlier, they are as welcome as a summer rain. Just finished Book 7 in the Shaye Archer series. Intense, but with incredible characters. I hope you continue with the series. I’m about to start the Mystere Parrish/Family Inheritance series. You are an excellent author. Please keep up the great work.
Just finished Wrong side of Forty. Loved it. Wish there was more about the sisters. Thank you so much for the joy I get from all of your books
I was so glad I lost my credit card & while awaiting it’s replacement I went into my “Nook Library” and re-read your “Shaye Archer Series” and was so glad I did! Due to having practically no-recall at all, it was as though I was reading it a fresh. I realized that you had added two more books to the five I already had. Now I’m looking forward to re-reading all of your other books I read in the past, I know I loved all of the quirky antics in your very popular “A Miss Fortune Mystery Series” & your “Ghost In Law” Series was absolutely hilarious. Thank you so very very much for the lovely books you’ve brought to our world. I’ve passed on my love for them to my dearest friend who just had knee replacement surgery & her adult kids thanked me for passing on your name as a favorite author! Your books are such page turners that they’ve re-sparked my insomnia. Thank you for all of your vivid characters and lively antics that had me in tears of the good kind! Cynthia
I have all your books in the Miss Fortune Series, I believe I have acquired all of your Other books over time as well. I have gotten 3 friends and my older sister (we are all considered “seniors” over 55!) And I call the Miss Fortune books “the swamp sisters”…..I Laugh Out Loud-many times in most of the Miss Fortune books. I knew something was going on with you when You were slower with the release of the books in 2022. I was so sorry to hear of your health issues and I have my other “seniors” praying for your improved health! We Love Your Miss fortune books as the old saying goes “Laughter is the Best Medicine”. Get healthier and stay Happy knowing your bring so much laughter and Joy with your books.
God Speed to you,
Kathryn Atkins
Love all the Miss Fortune books. I’ve been reading them again for the third time. Love the girls antics
I’m reading all your Miss Fortune books for the second time. Love all of them, they keep me in stitches with Gertie’s antics. Maybe a Netflix, Prime. or Apple series should be produced.
Thank you for your crazy books.
Anymore Shaye Archer books coming out?
My cousin recommended the Miss Fortune series and the Mudbug series to me. I love these books. I’m listening to each of them for the third time. I wish I could find other books like these that I would love. I can’t wait until the next book comes out!
I love the miss fortune series! I wish you would make a cook book of miss fortune banana pudding and other recipes from the books! I have read all except the latest one!
Your series “Miss Fortune Mystery Books” are my therapy for keeping my sanity.
I really enjoy this series and have recommended them to family and friends.
Sincerely, Brenda
Hi,
Your series “Miss Fortune Mystery Books” are my therapy for keeping my sanity during the covid-19 pandemic. I love it…
Thanks form the bottom of my heart,
Selma