Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Cajun Kiss of Death: A Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
The next shot from Cupid’s bow may be fatal in USA Today bestselling, Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron’s hearty and delightful seventh Cajun Country mystery.
Cajun Kiss of Death: A Cajun Country Mystery
by Ellen Byron
I received this book free; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no cost to you.
Cajun Kiss of Death: A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (August 10, 2021)
Hardcover: 320 pages
In Pelican, Louisiana, Valentine’s Day has a way of warming the heart, despite the February chill. But the air at Crozat Plantation B&B turns decidedly frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. And when the arrogant Phillippe–in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant–perishes in a fiery boat crash, Maggie Crozat’s dear friend JJ lands in very cold water.
Did JJ, proprietor of Junie’s Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, murder Phillippe because he feared the competition? Might Maggie’s mother, Ninette, have bumped off the chef for stealing one of her cherished recipes? Or was the culprit a local seafood vendor, miffed because Phillippe was somehow able to sell oysters for a remarkably reasonable price, despite an oyster shortage?
Maggie had planned to devote her February to art lessons in New Orleans, a present from her sweetheart, Bo. But now she has to focus on helping her friend and her mother cross a murder charge off the menu. Meanwhile, Maggie receives a series of anonymous gifts that begin as charming but grow increasingly disturbing. Does Maggie have an admirer–or a stalker? And are these mysterious gifts somehow related to Phillippe’s murder?
Blood may be thicker than water, but this case is thicker than gumbo. And solving it will determine whether Maggie gets hearts and roses–or hearse and lilies–this Valentine’s Day.
My review of Cajun Kiss of Death
If you’re a cozy mystery lover and you’re not reading the Cajun Country Mystery series, you need to be! The first book I read in this series happens to be the one right before this, Murder in the Bayou Boneyard. I quickly became engrossed in the story though I hadn’t read the others. So, though it’s always fun to read cozy mystery books in order, you’ll enjoy this book even if it’s your first Cajun Country mystery. (This book is the final planned book in the series though, so you might feel like reading from the beginning.)
Though I’ve never been to Cajun country, I know it’s got its fair share of colorful characters. Cajun Kiss of Death has its own colorful characters including main character Maggie’s gran. Even though Maggie and Gran are no longer living together, they’re still very close. Maggie does get a bit jealous of Vanessa, her frenemy and another colorful character, since Van is helping Gran redo the place Maggie and Gran lived. But it’s the colorful character JJ who becomes the prime suspect when the new celebrity chef is murdered. Maggie knows her friend could never murder anyone, so she gets in deep solving yet another murder!
Tons of stuff happens in Cajun Kiss of Death! I absolutely love how Byron keeps the plot, with its multiple mysteries, moving forward at the perfect pace. I’m not a fan of useless fluff whether it be unimportant scenes or background characters. Everything (and everyone!) in this book is important for the story development. I love having multiple mysteries to solve because they keep you on your toes. You won’t want to skim anything, or you might just miss an important clue.
I highly recommend this immensely entertaining cozy mystery book!
About Ellen Byron
Ellen’s Cajun Country Mysteries have won the Agatha award for Best Contemporary Novel and multiple Lefty awards for Best Humorous Mystery. She writes the Catering Hall Mystery series, which are inspired by her real-life, under the name Maria DiRico. Ellen is an award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
Author Links
Newsletter:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23234.Ellen_Byron?from_search=true&from_srp=true
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico?from_search=true&from_srp=true
Purchase Links – PenguinRandomHouse – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound
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Cajun Kiss of Death TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 16
Novels Alive – GUEST POST
The Avid Reader – REVIEW
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 17
The Book’s the Thing – SPOTLIGHT
Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 18
Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
August 19
Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 20
The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
August 21
Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 22
Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 23
StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
August 24
Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
August 25
Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
August 26
Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 27
Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
Reading Is My SuperPower – RECIPE
August 28
ThisIsMyTruthNow – REVIEW
I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
August 29
BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
Dear Reader – REVIEW
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This looks so good I have read a few of this authors books and loved them. Hope this tour picks up a lot of readers for this author!
I totally agree! She’s great!
Christy, thank you for the fabulous review! I really appreciate it.
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping!
Thank you both so much!
Love the title & cover! Sounds awesome!