Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries) by Ellen Byron. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries) by Ellen Byron
A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Louisiana
Publisher : Severn House
Publication date : August 4, 2026
Print length : 240 pages
Hardcover
It’s cozy. It’s culinary. It’s Mardi Gras madness! It’s the fifth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today-bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.
Step 1: join a killer krewe
It’s carnival season in New Orleans, and Ricki James-Diaz and her friends from Bon Vee are dressing up for Mardi Gras. They’ve joined the notorious krewe of Chew to support Ricki’s chef boyfriend, Virgil, who is to be crowned this year’s king. It’s all fun, throws, and over-the-top outfits until the krewe’s captain is found strangled with his own medallion.
Step 2: survive the festivities
The prime suspect is Ricki’s friend, the deceased’s wife who discovered he was cheating on her. It seems a straightforward case, but Ricki isn’t so sure. The krewe’s leader had many enemies including his mistress, his krewe co-founder who he ousted, and his college friend whose girlfriend he stole. One thing’s clear, Ricki’s at the center of yet another murder investigation. And if she’s not careful, her first Mardi Gras could also be her last . . .
Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, these delightful mysteries bring New Orleans to life with fun characters and delicious recipes. This series is a must-read for culinary cozy lovers!
My review
A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras is the 5th book in the delightful Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by Ellen Byron. You can read this as a standalone, but for me, it’s been fun getting to know the characters since book one! Ricki’s fresh start in New Orleans has led to her finding family, friends who feel like family, and a new relationship. Since her boyfriend is “king” of a krewe for Mardi Gras, she, along with her friends from work, join his krewe.
This was such an eye-opener for me about everything that New Orleans does leading up to Mardi Gras. There are sooo many parades, and so much work that krewes do in order to get their floats ready and their throws ready. I mean, I thought throws were beads, but apparently there are all kinds of things krewes throw at parade-goers! And, as part of the mystery, Ricki gets hit in the head with a throw meant to injure.
I really enjoyed this twisty mystery with its many viable suspects. As always, I enjoyed the characters most of all. The main characters really feel as if they’re all one big family. The side characters are well-written as well and add to the story. I loved reading all about the parties and gowns and food! A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras just made me ready for the next installment in the series. I definitely recommend it to cozy mystery lovers!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Ellen Byron
Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.
Author Links
Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/
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: Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico
Purchase Links – Amazon –Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books
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A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 3 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
August 4 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
August 4 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT
August 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 5 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
August 7 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
August 7 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
August 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
August 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
August 9 – StoreyBook Reviews -REVIEW
August 10 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
August 10 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
August 11 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
August 11 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT
August 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
August 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
August 13 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – RECIPE
August 13 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT
August 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
August 14 – From the TBR Pile – SPOTLIGHT
August 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 15 – Because I said so – adventures in parenting – REVIEW
August 16 – Twirling Book Princess – SPOTLIGHT
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