John Kennedy Toole wrote “A Confederacy of Dunces,” a novel about Ignatius J. Reilly, a peculiar and arrogant man living with his mother in New Orleans. Ignatius spends his days criticizing modern society and trying to avoid work.
When circumstances force him to find a job, his misadventures create chaos for everyone around him. The story is full of unique characters and captures the vibrant atmosphere of New Orleans.
“Cane River” by Lalita Tademy follows four generations of strong women from enslaved ancestors to their descendants navigating freedom and family life in Louisiana.
Through their struggles and triumphs, the story explores how they fought to build a legacy despite the societal challenges they faced. Set along the Cane River, the book gives a vivid sense of place and history, tracing the roots of one family over a century of change.
“Dead Until Dark” by Charlaine Harris introduces Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in a small Louisiana town who can read minds. Her life changes when she meets Bill, a vampire who doesn’t have thoughts she can hear.
As a series of murders shakes the town, Sookie and Bill get drawn into the mystery, uncovering secrets about the people in their community. This is a story that blends supernatural with small-town drama.
“A Gathering of Old Men” by Ernest J. Gaines is set on a Louisiana plantation where a Black man is found dead. The story follows a group of elderly Black men who each claim responsibility for the murder to protect one of their own.
The book captures their courage as they confront a history of oppression, with the events unfolding in the shadow of racial tensions and personal reckonings.
The novel “The Tin Roof Blowdown” by James Lee Burke takes readers to post-Katrina Louisiana, where the devastation of the hurricane intertwines with a murder investigation.
Detective Dave Robicheaux faces a brutal crime that connects to the chaos in New Orleans, revealing a darker side of the storm’s aftermath. The story explores broken lives, greed, and survival in the shattered landscape.
The novel “Dead and Gone” by Charlaine Harris takes readers to the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, where Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress, faces new dangers.
This time, a brutal murder leaves the community shaken, and Sookie becomes tangled in a deadly clash between fae and humans. As secrets unravel, Sookie must navigate a fragile line between loyalty and survival in a world where trust is scarce.
Natalie Baszile’s “Queen Sugar” tells the story of Charley Bordelon, a widow who moves from Los Angeles to rural Louisiana after inheriting a sugarcane farm from her father.
Charley, unfamiliar with farming and faced with the challenges of the agricultural world, must navigate the complexities of her new life. The book explores her struggles with family tensions, cultural shifts, and the legacy of her father’s ambitions.
There’s a raw authenticity in Charley’s attempts to make the farm her own, all while carving out a place for herself in a community filled with its own histories and conflicts.
“The Awakening” by Kate Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman living in late 19th-century Louisiana. She begins questioning her roles as a wife and mother while experiencing a newfound sense of independence.
Set against the backdrop of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the novel explores her struggles as she seeks freedom and a life beyond societal expectations. Some scenes take place during her summer at Grand Isle, where moments by the sea spark her inner transformation.
Anne Rice wrote “Interview with the Vampire,” a story told from the perspective of a vampire named Louis. He recounts his transformation into a vampire and his life alongside the mysterious and manipulative Lestat.
The book explores the relationship between the two, their deep differences, and their shared experiences in New Orleans, a city steeped in atmosphere and history. The arrival of Claudia, a child turned into a vampire, adds another layer of tension to their immortal lives.
The book “The Neon Rain” by James Lee Burke introduces Detective Dave Robicheaux, a tough but deeply moral cop in New Orleans. While investigating the murder of a young woman, he uncovers a web of corruption, violence, and power struggles.
The humid, tension-filled streets of Louisiana create the perfect backdrop for the story, which pits Robicheaux against dangerous criminals and his own inner demons.
Rebecca Wells wrote “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” a story about lifelong friendships, family struggles, and the complexities between mothers and daughters.
It follows Siddalee Walker, a playwright, who discovers a scrapbook from her mother’s close-knit group of friends, the Ya-Yas.
Through the scrapbook, she uncovers the secrets of her mother’s past, gaining insight into their complicated relationship and the bond between the Ya-Yas. The book paints a vivid picture of life in Louisiana, filled with humor, heartbreak, and moments of connection.
“Modern Baptists” by James Wilcox follows Mr. Bobby Pickens, a middle-aged man in small-town Louisiana whose quiet life takes a turn when his half-brother Tchoupitoulas, freshly released from prison, shows up on his doorstep.
Bobby is dealing with a crush on his boss at the drugstore, while Tchoupitoulas stirs up trouble wherever he goes. The story is filled with quirky characters and unexpected events, painting a vivid picture of Southern life and small-town quirks.
The novel “Addie Pray” by Joe David Brown follows a clever young girl named Addie as she teams up with Long Boy, a con artist who might be her father, to pull off small cons across the South during the Great Depression.
Set in Louisiana and other Southern locations, the story explores their unconventional bond and the challenges they face in their hustling life. Addie’s wit and confidence make her a memorable narrator as she navigates a world that feels bigger than her small-town roots.
The book “Liquor” by Poppy Z. Brite is about two chefs, Rickey and G-man, who come up with the idea to open a restaurant where every dish features liquor as an ingredient.
Set in New Orleans, it captures the vivid energy of the city’s food scene, along with the challenges and drama that come with building a dream in the culinary world. From dealing with shady investors to navigating personal relationships, their journey is full of flavor and grit.
The “Lives of the Mayfair Witches” by Anne Rice tells the story of a powerful family of witches living in New Orleans and their connection to a mysterious spirit called Lasher.
Spanning generations, the Mayfair family’s history is full of dark secrets, supernatural encounters, and struggles for control over their inherited abilities.
The book explores their ties to an ancestral home and the ways their lives are shaped by the presence of Lasher, who has his own twisted motives.
The book “The Moviegoer” by Walker Percy follows the life of a New Orleans stockbroker named Binx Bolling during the week leading up to Mardi Gras. Binx feels restless and disconnected from the world around him.
He spends his days watching movies and seeking distractions to escape his inner dissatisfaction. His aimless search for meaning brings him into contact with his troubled cousin, Kate, and forces him to confront the emptiness in his life.
The story blends Southern charm with introspection, capturing both the setting and the character’s struggles.
Ruta Sepetys wrote “Out of the Easy,” a story set in 1950s New Orleans. The book follows Josie Moraine, the daughter of a brothel worker, who dreams of leaving her tough life behind to attend college.
She works in a bookstore and gets entangled in a mysterious death that shakes the city. The novel explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and the struggle to shape your own future in a place filled with secrets.
Susan Straight’s “A Million Nightingales” tells the story of Moinette, a mixed-race girl in 19th-century Louisiana who is born into slavery. The novel follows her life as she faces separation from her mother, struggles for survival, and searches for freedom.
Her journey takes her through plantations, cities, and personal losses, all while she navigates a harsh world shaped by race and power.
“Walk of the Spirits” by Richie Tankersley Cusick follows Miranda, a teenager who moves to a small Louisiana town after a hurricane destroys her home. She discovers she has a strange connection to restless spirits from the past and becomes drawn into uncovering their secrets.
With the help of her friends, she pieces together the history of the spirits’ lives, which ties deeply to the area and its rich, haunted traditions. The blend of paranormal mystery and Southern atmosphere makes this story stand out.
“The Black God’s Drums” by P. Djèlí Clark is a novella set in an alternate steampunk New Orleans. The story follows Creeper, a street-smart girl with a dangerous secret—she shares a connection with Oya, an orisha of storms.
Creeper dreams of leaving her life on the streets by boarding a sky ship called Midnight Robber. Along the way, she uncovers a plot to unleash a devastating weapon and decides to act, using her wits and her bond with Oya to take on powerful foes.
The book combines an atmospheric setting with Afro-Caribbean mythology and inventive technology.
“Things We Lost to the Water” by Eric Nguyen follows a Vietnamese family who settles in New Orleans after fleeing their homeland. Hương arrives with her two sons and struggles to build a life while holding onto her memories of Vietnam and a husband she left behind.
Over the years, the city shapes the family in different ways, from one son joining a gang to another exploring his identity. The book paints a vivid picture of New Orleans, from the neighborhood streets to the looming threat of Hurricane Katrina.
“Benton’s Row” by Frank Yerby traces the life of a man named Jonathan Odell from his humble beginnings in Louisiana to his rise as a plantation owner.
The story uncovers family secrets, power struggles, and complicated relationships, all set against the backdrop of 19th-century Southern life. Yerby weaves in themes of ambition and betrayal, painting a vivid picture of the time and place.
Poppy Z. Brite’s “Exquisite Corpse” is a dark and disturbing tale that explores the twisted minds of two killers. The story shifts between New Orleans and London, focusing on the meeting of a British serial murderer and an escaped convict from Alabama.
Their bond spirals into horrifying acts as they revel in their shared obsession with death. New Orleans serves as a haunting backdrop, adding an atmosphere that feels gritty and raw.
Brite doesn’t shy away from graphic detail, making this book a memorable exploration of the macabre.
The book “The Invisible Host” by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning is about eight strangers invited to a luxurious New Orleans apartment under mysterious circumstances. Once they arrive, they discover their host isn’t present but has set a deadly game in motion.
The guests soon realize they’re being targeted one by one and must uncover the truth about their connection to survive.
“Night Game” by Christine Feehan is set in the steamy bayous of Louisiana, where Gator Fontenot, a member of an elite paranormal team, is sent on a mission to find a missing woman.
The story introduces Iris “Flame” Johnson, a fiery and fierce woman with psychic powers, who shares a complicated past with Gator. Their connection heats up as they face danger from a deadly enemy lurking in the shadows of the swamp.