Overview

Secrets can't stay buried forever-but maybe some should. In bustling, multicultural 1831 New Orleans, Tobias Whitney, the sexton of St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, uncovers a journal sealed inside the tomb of Dominique You-war hero of the Battle of New Orleans, privateer, and half-brother of the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. Convinced that the journal holds the key to Lafitte's lost treasure, Tobias turns to his sharp-witted and outspoken wife, Mary Catherine, to translate its cryptic French passages. Tobias and Mary Catherine discover secrets they could not have imagined-secrets that could change their lives forever. But is it really the truth? As the journal warns, Never trust a pirate! Lafitte Lives blends meticulous historical research with a page-turning mystery, bringing the legend of Jean Lafitte to life while telling the redemptive story of Tobias's grief and Mary Catherine's quest to help him overcome it.

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Reviews

""Lafitte Lives is a ripping good pirate yarn surrounded by a touching story of family heartbreak and healing, all wrapped up in a tantalizing mystery. Steeped in rich period detail, it's a tale filled with secrets and surprises readers won't see coming. After all, never trust a pirate!""-J.R. Sanders, author of the Shamus Award-winning Nate Ross series ""Lafitte Lives is an incredible, unforgettable adventure from start to finish. Christi Keating Sumich brings history and mystery vividly to life in this expertly crafted novel. A true treasure for any reader.""-Nicole Beauchamp, author of Haunted French Quarter Hotels ""In August 1831, Tobias Whitney, Sexton-caretaker-of St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans, makes a startling discovery. Hidden in a hollow space in a mausoleum is the diary of Dominique You-half-brother of Jean Lafitte. The diary offers a first-hand account of Lafitte's life after his reported death in 1823. As the title implies, Lafitte Lives. ​​Find a comfortable seat, grab your favorite beverage, and let your imagination loose as Christi Keating Sumich delivers an engaging tale of the infamous pirate and patriot who may-or may not-have faded into the swamps and bayous of south Louisiana.""-Michael Rigg, author of the New Orleans-based medicolegal thriller, Voices of the Elysian Fields

Author Information

Christi Keating Sumich is a lifelong resident of New Orleans. She is married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother of three grown children (plus a daughter-in-law). She has a soft spot for ""unconventionally attractive"" animals who need homes. Her claim to fame is being the winningest contestant on Hollywood Squares. She holds a PhD in history from Tulane University and a master's degree in English. She has taught history classes at Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans. Christi's writing combines her fascination with history with her love of the mystery genre. Her debut novel is Lafitte Lives (Level Best Books, February 2026), a historical mystery centered around her ancestor, the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. She is also the author of the Old New Orleans Bookshop Mysteries, featuring characters from Lafitte Lives. The Swamp Ghost is the first book in the series (Level Best Books, September 2026). Christi and her mom, Sharon Keating, are the co-authors of Hauntingly Good Spirits: New Orleans Cocktails to Die For (Wellfleet Press, August 2024) and The Brandy Milk Punch (Louisiana State University Press, March 2025), part of the Iconic New Orleans Cocktail Series.

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