A Quarter After Tuesday

It's 2004, a year before Katrina would pound the Gulf. Jonna Lightfoot MacLaughlin has settled in to her new job as religion reporter for the New Orleans Banner, having been recruited because of her stellar work for the Denver Dispatch. New Orleans is a world of its own, and Jonna is adjusting --- learning new vocabulary words, discovering new foods and drinking chicory with her coffee. Pushing age 30, trying to stop smoking and vaguely hoping to lose 10 pounds, Jonna eagerly awaits and actively looks for feel-good stories that will draw in readers. But not all her leads look to be as inspirational as she would hope. There's the hateful graffiti displayed on the synagogue and the historically desegregated old-folks home mystified about the death of one of its residents. Jo Kadlecek packs a lot into her pages. It's been going on a year since Jonna has had a date, and now in the course of two weeks, three men are vying for her attention: influential real estate developer Reginald William Hancock III, local councilman Stephen Dall, and a one-time blind date in Denver --- nondescript David --- who comes to town for a convention. It seems that part of Kadlecek's vision is to break down stereotypes that her Christian readers might have of people who hold beliefs different from their own. Augustine's claim that "All truth is God's truth" is the lens through which Jonna sees life, whether relating to her neighbors or tracking down her stories --- from the crowd gathered around the tree-bark in which the Virgin Mary has been sighted, to the seemingly crazed woman who hassles the mayor, and the letter-writer who threatens Jonna with a voodoo curse. Confident in the basics of her own faith, Jonna listens to people with respect, not with fear. As in Denver, Jonna's social network includes an older brother living nearby, her newsroom co-workers and an apartment-house neighbor. She's a bit of a loner, dedicated to her work and not surrounded by girlfriends who gather to chat about their social lives. This dynamic gives the series a charm that seems a little offbeat from --- and less cynical than --- "chick lit." This, the second book of Kadlecek's Lightfoot Trilogy, stands alone as a self-contained mystery, though peculiarities of Jonna's parental dynamics and eclectic childhood memories will make more sense to those who have read A MILE FROM SUNDAY. It's clear that the trilogy will end with Jonna living in New York City, looking for new stories. Oh, and isn't that where David lives? Kadlecek notes an extra perk or incentive for book buyers: that "all royalties from the sale of this book will go to charities and ministries in New Orleans." --- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

Jonna Lightfoot MacLaughlin left her hometown of Denver (see A MILE FROM SUNDAY for her adventure as the Denver Dispatch journalist) for the Big Easy to work at the New Orleans Banner as the religion reporter. When Jonna stops for her usual coffee and two baguettes, she also receives a Big Chief message from one of God's messengers stating Big Mama is mad and in town. Real estate reporter Rufus Ezekiel "RED" Denton suggests Jonna do a story on the Harmony Interfaith Senior Manor; a place where his ninety-four years old Auntie Belle is a resident and his cousin Marva Rae Bills runs the facility. He explains the religious angle is that different faiths got together to establish the senior citizens home to care for their elders; seniors with powerful faith convictions. However, when she arrives, Marva Rae informs her that a septuagenarian resident Ricky Jefferson mysteriously died; the cause unknown. Jonna begins to investigate and soon worries that an unknown person plans for the residents to meet their maker a bit earlier than expected. At about the same time that she seeks a decent gumbo and answers to who wants to harm the seniors, her personal life goes from zero to meeting interested men even if they offer her fried dough instead of chocolate. The second The Lightfoot Trilogy tale (see A MILE FROM SUNDAY) is an interesting inspirational investigative thriller as Jonna escorts readers on fascinating tours of New Orleans's various faiths and sites. In fact, the mystery actually does not take full focus until the latter half of A QUARTER AFTER TUESDAY. The lack of the impact of Katrina on religion seems like a lost opportunity in spite of God's watery message to the heroine. Still fans will appreciate the intrepid reporter's trek around the Big Easy seeking good news to report while she meets some fascinating men, struggles with the latest heavenly message, and what is going on at HIS Manor. Harriet Klausner

This is a great book. While many think of this book as a chick-lit filled with romance, I found it more of a tame mystery with just a hint of romance. I really enjoyed the book. It kept me on my toes and intrigued to the very end. In fact, I want to know what happens next...when's book 3 coming out????

All royalties from this novel will go to the people of New Orleans. This is also a great summer read, light and fun. This novel is perfect for a summer book club, and you'll feel great while reading it-knowing that you're reading for a good cause!