The Curse of Jean Lafitte (The Big Easy Collection) by Mary Walsh – Review by Ayla Phipps

The Curse of Jean Lafitte by Mary Walsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The City of the Dead in all its mystery. This is the first book I have read by the talented Mary Walsh and honestly the cover drew me in immediately followed but the synopsis. Having finally been to New Orleans for the first time for St. Patrick’s Day in March 2023, I have loved finding books that are based there. The perspective in this book is unique as it is dual perspective but not rigid. Sometimes paragraph to paragraph is from the others point of view and sometimes an entire chapter is primarily one or the other.
Jean Lafitte, and his crew visited Isla Mujeres, warned of the curses to anyone that removes anything from the island. After a treacherously long journey to New Orleans, they discover the cause of so many ailments, a gunner took six jewels from the island, two each of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Upon realizing they handled the man and looked to the Voodoo Queen herself, Marie Laveau for help on how to remove the curse. Unfortunately, she double crossed Captain Jean Lafitte and banished himself and his crew to their ship. Only she forgot her notes that revealed on the two-hundredth October new moon to rise over New Orleans the captain alone could leave the ship to find the jewels and remove the curse. Juliet Vance is a baker that is down on her luck and needed work she found a job at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. On the night of the new moon, she comes face to face with Jean Lafitte but only passes him off as another drunk. Only the next day everything changes she comes to feel safe with him and wants to help him in his quest to remove the curse. Nothing could have prepared her for what she faced next. Jean could see the ghosts of the French Quarter, everywhere they went but when he touched her, she could suddenly see them too.
Will Jean find the jewels in time to free them all? How will Juliet handle the ghostly side of the city she adopted eight years earlier? What will happen if they fail? Some of the funniest parts are Jean Lafitte learning about modern things, and his first shower honestly gold. Not to mention his first time trying on a pair of jeans. Everything about this book immerses the reader. Honestly if you have been to New Orleans, you will easily picture the places in your mind, taste the drinks mentioned throughout the book. I personally have been to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, and it truly is just as it is described in the book. From the candles in jars on the tables to the stone furnace in the middle of the room. You can feel the history in the place. New Orleans is truly like no other place in the world, or at least the United States. The moment I left I wanted to return, and this book made me miss it more.

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