THE LAFITTE AFFAIR

Woolworth’s crime novel serves up a 200-year-old mystery alongside one from the present.

As this debut novel—the first in a planned series about New Orleans antique dealer Bruneau “Bru” Abellard—begins, Bru gets a call from Detective Thibodaux “Bo” Duplessis of the New Orleans Police Department. Bo is Bru’s childhood pal and a “friendly antagonist.” A lifelong bachelor and history lover, Bru helps Bo, who’s married to “saucy eyeful” Angeline, investigate the thefts of valuable items. This time, it’s a grave that’s been robbed, and it’s unclear what was taken. The grave belongs to actress Jane Placide, who died at age 31 of Yellow Fever in 1835. Bo asks his friend to research Jane, hoping to determine what could have been buried with her that was worth breaking into her tomb to steal two centuries later. A leading actress of her time, Jane had won the admiration of theatergoers and the hearts of potential suiters. There are indications that one such admirer could have been Jean Lafitte—pirate, smuggler, slave trader, and a hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Bru, aided by his former good friend, one-night lover, and historian Sallie Mae Maguire, tries to tie Lafitte to Jane. Running parallel to these efforts is the search for the thieves and whatever was stolen. In this mystery, modern-day grave robbers and long-ago star-crossed lovers are skillfully intertwined. The historical backdrop is fascinating, and the descriptions of contemporary New Orleans are on the mark (Woolworth namechecks famous NOLA restaurants such as Manale’s and Commander’s Palace). Evocative descriptions of the city and its surroundings, including the “vast network of sinuous waterways carving their way through swaying oyster grass,” weave throughout the book. There is humor (“she long ago mastered the art of speaking authoritatively on topics about which she knows little”) as well as sweetness (Bo’s kids get a kick out of Bru using “his highly trained nose” to guess what’s for dinner). Woolworth’s novel is a well-crafted mystery that is beautifully written, educational, and all-around entertaining.

Ça c’est bon!