The Witches of the French Quarter Mysteries: Book 1
Publication Date: October 10, 2023
The day Althea buried her mother she learned she was a witch.
When a self-proclaimed witch shows up at her mother’s funeral, she brings more than sympathy for Althea’s loss. Luella insists Althea comes from a long line of witches and that she is the coven’s only hope for survival. While she doesn’t believe Luella, she agrees to visit her family home in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Althea assumed she’d sell the house and move on with her life, but a murder complicates her plans. She is a prime suspect, but she learns she isn’t the only one in her family accused of murder. Her mother left New Orleans after a spell resulted in the death of two witches.
Arriving during Mardi Gras season, the exuberance of the food, music, and celebrations overwhelms Althea. But it’s nothing compared to the paranormal world she discovers. As if witches weren’t enough, Althea meets vampires, werewolves, and a talking cat.
She may going insane, but Althea is determined to stay in New Orleans long enough to solve the murder. Becoming an amateur sleuth wasn’t part of Althea’s plans, but neither was becoming a witch. Will she accept her magical inheritance so she can discover the truth about her past, and her future? She might not have a choice if she wants to stop a killer.
Mardi Gras and Magic is the first book in The Witches of the French Quarter Mysteries. Join Althea as she explores the French Quarter and the world of witches, vampires, Voodoo, werewolves, and magical creatures. Thea must investigate supernatural mysteries to unearth long-buried secrets and to find her own place in this world.
Reeling from her mother’s sudden death, Althea Fontenot discovers her birthright is waiting for her in New Orleans. And by the way, she and her mother are both witches.
With Mardi Gras and Magic, author Jen Pitts crafts a whimsical paranormal story to launch The Witches of the French Quarter Mysteries series. No-nonsense, Althea finds the concept of witchcraft absurd, but she can’t deny the strange things happening. The adorable kitty on the front cover is Tasso, a wise-cracking feline with powers of his own.
The story takes a sinister twist when one of the young witches is found dead, indicating a pattern within the Fontenot Coven. Althea must regain the powers stripped by her mother in order to protect the coven before it is too late.
The paranormal world comes to life against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans as the investigation heats up. There’s even a bit of romance between Althea and a vampire.
Mardi Gras and Magic incorporates humor, enjoyable characters, and a classic setting to bring this mystery to life.
Jen Pitts is a lifelong mystery reader who turned her obsession into writing cozy mysteries of her own. When she isn’t plotting fictional murder and mayhem, she’s chugging coffee, traveling, reading, and enjoying life with her husband, two children, and two cats in the Pacific Northwest.
