An Act of Misfortune. Acts Of Misfortune Series, #1

A cribbage tournament should be the most dangerous thing happening in Sinful. It isn't. Before the cards are even dealt, Gertie Hebert has ignited a feud with Celia Arceneaux, triggered a fake dynamite scare, caused a stampede of God's Wives, poisoned half the town, and somehow left Sheriff Carter LeBlanc flattened like a speed bump in a church parking lot. Fortune Redding figures things can only get calmer from here.
She is spectacularly wrong. A "relaxing" bird-watching trip to Baton Rouge ends when Gertie discovers a body at the bottom of a ravine-and accidentally photographs something that might be even bigger news than the murder: an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a bird science declared extinct decades ago. The dead man was an environmental professor waging a lonely war against a ruthless land developer hellbent on bulldozing the woodpecker's habitat and turning it into a strip mall.
Suddenly Fortune, Ida Belle, Gertie, and their gloriously stylish New Orleans investigator friend Brennan Noble are hip-deep in corporate greed, political corruption, a missing murder weapon, and a hired killer who does not share their love of wildlife. With Carter sidelined, Celia scheming, Gertie training for cribbage glory, and Ida Belle weaponizing seafood gumbo for both charity and personal revenge, Fortune has to catch a killer before the park is paved, the tournament implodes spectacularly, and Gertie accidentally starts another stampede.
In Sinful, even bird-watching is a full-contact sport. MAY 2026: Just released. "Burning Mistakes."  Part of the "Throwback to the early days of Miss Fortune series." Available online today. What readers are saying about An Act of Misfortune Customer5.0 out of 5 stars Good bookReviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023Verified PurchaseThis is the first Fortune book I've read that wasn't Janice Deleon written.
I'm surprised it was so good. You can tell the difference but still enjoyable reading. 5.0 out of 5 stars An act of misfortuneReviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023Verified PurchaseWhat a very enjoyable, fun mystery ! You make Fortune and her awesome ! I thank Jana DeLeon for you and others to continue Fortune Stories ! I hope there is another Misfortune mystery real soon! Fun book!!Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2022Verified PurchaseI really enjoyed this book!It'll make you laugh out loud.
I found myself absorbed in the characters, and I absolutely loved Brennan!Thank you Stephen. Keep them coming!? Love Books5.0 out of 5 stars what a story!Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2023Verified PurchaseI read the story a couple of times so I wouldn't miss the comedy and snarky dialogue between the characters. Read the fabulous beginning to the book a couple times like I did. It's hilarious!  Caitlin5.0 out of 5 stars A fun readReviewed in the United States on February 15, 2023The first thing about this book that stood out to me was the humor.
While the suspense/mystery aspect was the main theme of the book, the humor was a nice touch. The story line was creative and kept me engaged. I found it to be one of those books that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next.