Cajun Kiss of Death: A Cajun Country Mystery

Another excellent addition to the Cajun Country Mysteries series. There's so much going on in this book - weddings, (dangerous?) secret admirers, and murder. Maggie does her best to figure things out - with the help of friends and family. And then there's the wonderful (but maybe a little sad) epilogue. I love and enjoy this series so much. The author does a brilliant job of doing the scene and pulling a reader in and then making them feel like a part of the mystery and part of the Crozat family. I highly recommend this series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

Louisiana, bayou, historical-setting, law-enforcement, family, friendship, recipes, cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, bed-and-breakfast, murder, murder-investigation***** This is not an unbiased review because I love this series, NOLA and the Bayou country, and especially the FOOD. If you've never read any of the other books about the folks in Pelican, Louisiana you won't get lost in this one, but you'll probably want to read the others anyway just for fun. If you've read the others, like me, you'll love this one, too! The Crozats and all of Pelican are fun and engaging people who make you feel like you just want to go there for a visit to the B&B, the town, and the historical plantations. And the FOOD! Recipes can't be copyrighted, but the chef in question seems to have appropriated one too many and it became the death of him. Beyond that, no spoilers and the publisher's blurb is very good. Loved it! The cast of characters is at the beginning, and a few great recipes at the end. An excellent read and well worth the price. I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

A few weeks later just before Valentine’s Day, Celebrity Chef Phillippe Chanson is opening a restaurant in Pelican. The haughty chef has quite a stir in the town with his attitude, competitive drive, and recipe thievery. The chef dies with fanfare on the opening night of his restaurant leaving behind a surfeit of suspects including a beloved local restaurant owner and Maggie Crozat’s own mother. Maggie lays down her paint brush to don her sleuthing cap. Can Maggie paint the killer into a corner for the local police before Valentine’s Day? Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron is the 7th A Cajun Country Mystery. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this delightful series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and the town of Pelican, Louisiana. The characters are what make A Cajun Country Mysteries. I have loved watching these characters develop over the course of the series. Maggie has come a long way since Plantation Shudders. Maggie has a great family that is loving, welcoming, big hearts, and a wonderful sense of humor. Maggie’s grandmere is one feisty woman (her granddaughter is a chip off the old block). Cajun Kiss of Death has an opening that will delight fans of the series. There is food, family, fireworks, and fun. The whodunit was well plotted and a great one to solve. There is a surplus of suspects in this mystery with a plot twist or two along the way. I love how the author includes the history, culture, and cuisine of Louisiana. Ellen Byron brings Louisiana alive with her vivid descriptions. It is a place I want to visit. A Cajun Kiss of Death was over far too quickly. Based on the epilogue, Cajun Kiss of Death is the final book in this charming Southern series. I am glad the author provided the epilogue which gives those who love the series a contented conclusion. Cajun Kiss of Death is finer than a frog’s hair with purloined recipes, a jubilant New Year’s Eve gathering, flaring fireworks, stinky trash, stalker secret admirer, and a Valentine’s Day revelation.