Miss Fortune Mysteries Books in Order

How to Read the Miss Fortune Mysteries in Order

The Miss Fortune Mysteries, written by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon, follows CIA assassin Fortune Redding. When a mission goes wrong and a leak exposes her identity, she is forced to hide out in the quirky, swampy town of Sinful, Louisiana. Under the cover of a simple librarian, Fortune quickly finds herself in over her head when she crosses paths with Ida Belle and Gertie—two feisty elderly residents who form the core of the local "Geritol Mafia."

To get the best experience, readers should follow the publication order. While each novel presents a self-contained murder mystery that is solved by the end of the book, the overarching story, relationship development, and Fortune's efforts to keep her CIA cover intact progress chronologically. Reading the series out of order will spoil major character developments, shifts in the local power dynamics, and the romance subplot with Deputy Carter LeBlanc.

The Complete Miss Fortune Mysteries Reading List

Here is the complete chronological and publication order of Jana DeLeon's original Miss Fortune Mystery novels, extending from the initial release in 2012 through the latest releases in 2026:

1. Louisiana Longshot (2012) – The series opener, where Fortune lands in Sinful and immediately unearths a human bone in her backyard.
2. Lethal Bayou Beauty (2013) – Fortune goes undercover in a beauty pageant to clear a friend's name.
3. Swamp Sniper (2013) – Fortune is accused of murdering a mayoral candidate.
4. Swamp Team 3 (2014) – Gertie, Ida Belle, and Fortune must figure out who is targeting the local wildlife and land.
5. Gator Bait (2014) – A search for a missing boater leads the trio into dangerous waters.
6. Soldiers of Fortune (2015) – The Geritol Mafia helps Fortune protect a witness who knows too much.
7. Hurricane Force (2015) – A storm hits Sinful, bringing a killer along with it.
8. Fortune Hunter (2016) – A relative of Gertie gets caught up in a deadly situation.
9. Later Gator (2016) – A high-stakes asset retrieval mission disguised as a swamp excursion.
10. Hook, Line and Blinker (2017) – A local fishing tournament becomes a crime scene.
11. Change of Fortune (2018) – Fortune struggles to balance her old life and her new attachments.
12. Reel of Fortune (2018) – The team tracks down a thief hiding out in the bayou.
13. Swamp Spook (2018) – Halloween brings spooky surprises and a real-life corpse to Sinful.
14. Fortune Furlough (2019) – A rare trip outside of Sinful turns into a comedic and dangerous road trip.
15. Cajun Fried Felony (2019) – A cook-off turns deadly when one of the judges is poisoned.
16. Swamp Santa (2019) – A Christmas mystery that threatens to ruin the town's holiday spirit.
17. Bullets and Beads (2020) – Mardi Gras festivities are cut short by a murder.
18. Gators and Garters (2020) – Wedding preparations in Sinful are interrupted by a mystery.
19. Fortune Funhouse (2021) – A traveling carnival brings murder and mayhem to the bayou.
20. Frightfully Fortune (2021) – Autumn brings a chilling new investigation.
21. Swamp Sweets (2021) – A baking contest goes awry in typical Sinful fashion.
22. Flame and Fortune (2022) – A local fire leads to a deeper conspiracy.
23. Swamp Spirits (2022) – Ghost sightings and old town secrets plague the Geritol Mafia.
24. Clue Krewe (2023) – A mystery-themed game night turns all too real.
25. Fortune Teller (2023) – A psychic's predictions lead directly to a murder investigation.
26. Swamp Spies (2024) – Old enemies and covert threats circle back to Sinful.
27. Baskets and Beignets (2024) – Spring brings fresh pastries and fresh crime.
28. Marsh Madness (2024) – Fortune and her friends head to Voodoo Island to solve a complex puzzle.
29. Coeds and Cattails (2025) – Fortune deals with college-age antics and swamp secrets.
30. Marsh Mystics (2026) – The latest entry, exploring local folklore and modern mysteries.

Understanding the "Miss Fortune World" Shared Universe

Due to the immense popularity of the series, Jana DeLeon launched the Miss Fortune World project (originally associated with the Kindle Worlds program). This project authorized a select group of independent authors—such as Shari Hearn, J.L. Johnson, and Stephen John—to write and publish stories set in the town of Sinful using DeLeon's beloved characters.

If you see books listed under titles like Louisiana Luck, Triple Trouble, or Pelican Predators, these are part of the Miss Fortune World shared universe and are not written by Jana DeLeon. Readers should note that these books are completely optional. They do not impact the main continuity of Jana DeLeon's original series, but they offer fun, auxiliary adventures for fans who cannot get enough of the Geritol Mafia's antics.

What to Know Before You Start

The Miss Fortune Mysteries sit at a unique intersection of cozy mystery, slapstick comedy, and light action-thriller. While Fortune Redding brings the skills of a deadly CIA agent to the table, the tone remains lighthearted, focus-driven on friendship, and heavy on Southern charm. The primary setting of Sinful, Louisiana, plays a major role, with its swampy geography, local wildlife, and insular community gossip serving as key plot elements. The heart of the series is the intergenerational friendship between Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie, showing that age is just a number when it comes to outsmarting bad guys and breaking the rules.