A Journey Through Time: Getting in the Spirit of New Orleans

Whenever we’re planning a trip, we love diving into a book that takes place in the destination we’re about to explore. It’s our way of setting the mood and getting a feel for the place before we even step foot there. For New Orleans, the challenge wasn’t finding a book—it was choosing one! So many of the stories set here are steeped in voodoo, murder mysteries, and the wild celebrations of Mardi Gras. It seems like New Orleans has a bit of a spooky side, doesn’t it?

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(Available on Kindle, Audio, and Paperback via Amazon)

After a bit of searching, we found a book that perfectly captured the vibrant, mysterious energy of the city while also offering a fresh perspective: The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C. McPhail. Published in 2022, this historical fiction gem is set against the jasmine-scented backdrop of New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century, during preparations for the very first all-female Mardi Gras krewe, Les Mysterieuses.

The story weaves together the lives of two women, Alice Butterworth and Constance Halstead, who come from completely different worlds but are drawn together by unexpected circumstances. Alice, newly arrived from Chicago, is a pregnant woman abandoned by her husband and trying to survive by offering sewing lessons. Constance, a young widow burdened by her late husband's gambling debts, crosses paths with Alice at a New Orleans orphanage and offers her a place to stay in exchange for help designing a gown for the Leap Year Ball of Les Mysterieuses.

The gown they create becomes more than just fabric and thread—it’s a symbol of strength, independence, and the power of women supporting each other. But the story doesn’t stop there. Constance is entangled in a web of secrets and danger surrounding her husband’s mysterious death, debts to the infamous Black Hand gang, and the looming shadow of New Orleans’ notorious Storyville district. As Mardi Gras approaches, the stakes rise, and the two women’s bond is tested in ways they never expected.

We’re already hooked on the vivid imagery, the rich history of turn-of-the-century New Orleans, and the celebration of female resilience and friendship. This book feels like the perfect way to immerse ourselves in the city’s culture and history before we experience it firsthand.

So far, we’re loving every page, and we can’t wait to walk the streets of New Orleans with the story fresh in our minds. Have you read The Seamstress of New Orleans? Or do you have any other New Orleans-inspired books you’d recommend? Let us know—we’re always looking for our next read!