HOME OF THE HAPPY is a fascinating combination of true crime and memoir.

The author's grandfather was murdered in murky circumstances back in 1983. She takes us along as she tries to unravel family secrets and small town gossip in her quest to find out what really happened.

The writing is engaging and immersive. This is a powerful look at the generational trauma of violent crime.

*Thanks to Mariner Books for the free copy!*

This was an interesting memoir/true crime story. Being from Louisiana I’m always fascinated with stories based here. The ending was a little rushed though.
L

Having grown up in Evangeline Parish, this is a story that hit very close to home. It was very eye opening to learn about the details of this case. You truly never know what could happen in your own backyard. It's hard to believe this is a debut. I thought it was very well written and engaging. I originally picked this up to learn more about the case, but I ended up really enjoying the parts of her personal life as well. It was interwoven so well into the story that I never felt bored. Even though the author is directly related to the case at hand, I think she did a great job of balancing her personal bias and delivering us the facts. In the end, I felt very conflicted on my feeling on the case. I'm still not sure what to believe.

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot’s Home of the Happy is a compelling blend of true crime and memoir, unraveling the decades-old mystery surrounding the murder of her great-grandfather, Aubrey LaHaye, in 1983. The book is both an investigative deep dive and a personal reckoning, as Fontenot meticulously examines the case, questioning whether the man convicted of the crime was truly guilty.

What sets this book apart is its dual timeline structure. Fontenot oscillates between historical events and her modern-day investigation, creating a narrative that is both suspenseful and deeply introspective. Her prose is lyrical yet precise, capturing the haunting atmosphere of rural Louisiana while maintaining the rigor of investigative journalism.

Beyond the crime itself, Home of the Happy explores themes of memory, justice, and the weight of family legacy. Fontenot’s ability to weave personal history with broader societal questions makes this more than just a whodunit—it’s a meditation on how communities process trauma and how unresolved truths linger across generations.

For readers who appreciate true crime with emotional depth, this book delivers a gripping and thought-provoking experience. Fontenot’s storytelling is immersive, ensuring that the mystery stays with you long after the final page.

A very interesting deep-dive into the kidnapping and murder of the author's great-grandfather [Aubrey LaHaye, a banker and influential and beloved man in his community, who's body was eventually found in the Bayou Nezpique] and both the history BEFORE it happened [and boy was THIS interesting; I know little about the this part of the South and learning different things was absolutely fascinating] and the aftermath, which continues to this day, 40+ years later.

Filled with cohesive, exhaustive research, rich Southern history [so much learning!], an amazing family lineage, and a story that will just blow your socks off [and make you question everything, much like the author and her family STILL are] and leave you with massive book hangover and wanting just a little bit more.

Christine Lakin is a new-to-me narrator, but I hope that I get to listen to her again soon. This could not have been an easy book to narrate [with all the names, crazy pronunciations, and EMOTIONS!] and she handles it with east and a clear, uplifting voice. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jordan LaHaye Fontenot, Christine Lakin - Narrator, Mariner Books, and Harper Audio Adult for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

of the Happy had an interesting premise, but ultimately, it didn’t quite deliver the impact I was hoping for. The story felt a bit drawn out in parts, and despite some moments of promise, the overall execution came across as rather lackluster. I found myself wanting more urgency and depth from both the plot and the characters. While it wasn’t a bad read by any means, it just didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Thank You to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this. It was very interesting to read a true crime told by a family member who is just trying to find out the truth. Jordan really looked at all angles of the case and found some interesting information. Who really killed her great grandfather? The man who was found guilty or someone else? I hope she will do a follow up after John Brady Balfa's next court date, if it ever comes.

This true crime/ memoir written by the great granddaughter of a murdered man drives her to re-investigate this crime. The book begins with an atmospheric telling of the times, the place, the food - all things for this Cajun setting. Having family in Louisiana and being from Texas, I felt quite familiar with all the places talked about in this story. With both the murdered man's family and the accused murderer's family still living in the area, Jordan LaHaye Fontenot takes on this case as a journalist and a desire to find out what really happened to her great grandfather, and to find out if the law got the right person.

My thanks to Net Galley and Mariner Books for an advanced copy of this e-book.

For me personally, "Home of the Happy: A Murder on the Cajun Prairie" was quite scattered and disjointed with far too many people to keep track of. I fear there won't truly be a resolution to the case, which was rushed from the start with minimal evidence. Locals familiar with the story will more likely appreciate this true crime work.

**Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley

This is a true crime, but you forgot about that when you were reading it. Sometimes I found myself wandering, but the book was pretty good, It didn't completely pull me in like some books do though.

It was fairly fast paced and well written. I did enjoy the story and made me research the events a little

Well written, thoughtful and ultimately painful true crime. Fontenot's great grandfather was brutally murdered and a man was convicted of the crime. Things didn't add up for her, however, and she went on this quest for answers. This is both her memoir and her investigation. The Cajun Prairie was not a place I was familiar with- and she brings it to life. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. True crime fans and those who enjoy mysteries should pick this up.

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot's "Home of the Happy: A Murder on the Cajun Prairie" is a riveting blend of true crime and memoir, centered around the 1983 kidnapping and murder of her great-grandfather in Louisiana.

Fontenot crafts a narrative that’s as much about the mystery of the crime as it is an exploration of family, trauma, and the complex relationships within a tight-knit community. The story immediately grips with its mix of personal history and the haunting backdrop of the Cajun prairie, which feels alive in Fontenot's vivid descriptions.

The investigation into her great-grandfather’s murder and the questions surrounding the man convicted of the crime pull readers deep into a web of small-town secrets and a larger quest for justice. Fontenot’s meticulous research and personal reflections create a captivating and emotionally charged narrative.

"Home of the Happy" stands out in the true crime genre, offering more than just a murder mystery. It’s a meditation on identity, memory, and the way communities carry collective grief. Fontenot’s emotional depth and dedication to uncovering the truth make this a thought-provoking and unforgettable read. Fans of true crime and memoirs alike will find it both compelling and poignant.

What a spellbinding memoir/true crime. The writer does an amazing job not in just taking the reader on a journey through the days after the murder of her great grandfather but also on her mission to find answers. I have never read a book that so seamlessly takes a reader through the past and into the future. Mid way into the book you find yourself also looking for answers for the murder and trying to predict what will happen next. The only problem with that is… it takes such a turn, you don't see the twist coming. This book is filled with just about anything you can think of when it comes to true crime books, a murder, a questionable conviction, and a quest for truth. When you pick this book up, be prepared to never want to put it down.

I received a free copy of, Home of the Happy, by Jordan Lahaye Fontenot, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In Louisiana in 1983 a body was found, Aubrey LaHaye's body. Jordan LaHaye Fontenot, had questions about her grandfathers murder. This was a n interesting read, but im still left with questions not answered.

This case was so well written. The research, passion, and commitment to finding out who murdered her great grandfather was definitely handled with honesty and care. There was so much detail about what it was like in her small town during this time and what kind of an impact this left on their community. There were many chapters that I just had to skim through but it was very informative and thought provoking.

Overall the book was very well written and was a very interesting true crime story written by a direct relative of the victim.
I thought the story gave a lot of insight to the victims family and what was going on around the time of the crime.
It did go over a decent amount of evidence in regards to the trial and the man charged with the murder.

I wish the family knew or was able to show or prove what was going on in town and with the family etc at the time of the murder. I also wish it was able to give lore distant evidence as to if the man charged actually committed the murder.

Overall good book, would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

Fans of true crime will love this sad, atmospheric and well researched dive into a missing great-grandfather turned murder set in Cajun country. In the 1980’s, Jordon Lahaye Fontenot recalled her missing great grandfather’s body being discovered in a shallow part of the Nezpique River. Many years earlier, Audrey Lahaye, a retired bank president, was kidnapped by thieves who demanded a ransom for the old man. The ransom was never paid. Lahaye was never found.
Through meticulous research into the Cajun culture of central Louisiana, the author uncovers its people, their customs and the tragic mystery surrounding the missing Lahaye.
Enter a beautiful, mysterious and mystic place, often written about by James Lee Burke. Lahaye Fontenot surrounds the reader with a great sadness, a family both broken and unbroken, and an unbridled tenacity for truth.
Park your reading chair in Eunice and Mamou, Louisiana, for murder most Cajun, and the woman determined to peel away the mist of reckoning. Home Of The Happy is unique, passionate and as deep and flavorful as a good gumbo.

👉🏻 For my friends who want insight into how violence affects generations, especially in small, close-knit towns.

HOME OF THE HAPPY by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Thanks, @marinerbooks, for a review copy via #NetGalley. (Available 1 Apr 25)

“On January 16, 1983, Aubrey LaHaye’s body was found floating in the Bayou Nezpique. His kidnapping ten days before sparked ‘the biggest manhunt in the history of Evangeline Parish.’ But his descendants would hear the story as lore, in whispers of the dreadful day the FBI landed a helicopter in the family’s front lawn and set out on horseback to search for the seventy-year-old banker.”

Part memoir, part true crime, and all small-town Louisiana dynamics, this was a candid, well-researched, and unflinchingly written account of events by LaHaye’s great-granddaughter, Jordan. A proven journalist and exceptional writer, she dug deep into old court records, newspapers, and family interviews to clear the cloud of history and attempt to uncover the truth about who murdered her PawPaw Aubrey.

“As much as this story is about a murder, and about a place, and about a family— it is also a struggle for knowledge, for answers, for truth; a struggle that continues far beyond these pages. It is a grappling with things unknown, and things that might never be known, and how we carry on despite it. I have laid these gaps, these questions, bare.”

Personal story: While reading the book description, something sounded familiar. I asked hubby (a native of Evangeline Parish), “Do you remember Aubrey LaHaye?” After correcting my pronunciation (I’m a Yankee, forgive me), he reminded me. “I’ve told you this story. He disappeared on my 13th birthday. My mother was so upset she forgot it was my birthday. It was the only one she’s ever forgotten.” He then started naming classmates and relatives.

The author investigates and reports on an event that found her great grandfather kidnapped and murdered in the 1970s. She interviews family and others in the small town to try to make sense of what happened, why it happened and who committed the horrendous crime.

While writing on the details, I was fully engaged, but my interest waned a bit when the focus wasn't on the events. Overall a good true crime novel for fans of the genre.

This was written by an author from my hometown so it was very cool to get an ARC! The book was very well-researched and atmospheric. Would recommend for sure!