Love this book! Love the cast of characters and the mystery. So many suspects! Love the recipes in the back. I really enjoy reading about this family and all the local history and traditions. Can't wait for the next book!

I have never read the author but the description seemed fun...but honestly I had a hard time getting into it ...probably had three to four weeks go by ..trying several times...but finally just sat down and decided I was reading this book and so glad I did ...after I really started quickly got into it.....felt it was possibly geared a little more towards a female audience but was still very entertaining for a guy ...overall a very fun book ..I would recommend it and look forward to picking up the other books in the series. Review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37854421-mardi-gras-murder

It took me a few days to get into the book but that's more my fault than the author's. I enjoyed it and as it's not released until October, I won't ruin it by giving a blurb, there are other books in the series and I'd recommend checking them out.

A murder during Mardi Gras is nothing new, but a murder of a Mardi Gras Princess judge? That's a whole other matter! Lots of suspects, but only one could be the murderer. Likeable characters, wonderful description of the celebrations and a little history thrown in makes for a book to sit back and enjoy!

I so enjoyed this read......I do not go into the plot with my reviews, if you want the book’s synopsis, you can readily obtain one in many places. The characters are warm and likable. The setting in Louisiana evokes a feeling of small town comraderie without being “sappy.” A wonderful respite from big city newsie novels, allowing for “good ol’ southern comfort.” Not to mention, murders......and trying to uncover who did it. Favorite quote from the book, “We shouldn’t ignore the past. We should study it and learn and use what we learn to build a better future.” Good advice for today’s world. Oh, and the recipes included at the end are a bonus! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Another good entry in this engaging series.

Again, Byron incorporates lots of details that makes her series seem so realistic. Besides the titled Mardi Gras, she mentions second Mardi Gras which was new to me, a pageant, the after effects of the last hurricane and how everyone was affected, the orphan train (I heard about them in England during WWII, but not in the US), the real impact that family history plays in current events which seems a more southern than northern thing. etc.

There's a lot going on, but it was easy to follow and was interconnected well.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The story starts with a body that turns up behind the Crozat Plantation B&B at the same time that the town is preparing for their Mardi Gras celebrations and beauty pageant. Maggie Crozat's grandmother usually deals with the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant, but now she is sick in the hospital and left it to Maggie to coordinate the event.

Maggie feels overwhelmed. She is not really a fan of beauty pageants and is determined to find out the identity of the body that turned up behind her family's plantation. So, she starts a little investigation of her own. Her relationship with Bo, the official cop in Pelican, is rocky, her father is busy trying to win the Gumbo cookoff and when things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, one of the judges at the beauty pageant is also found dead. Now Maggie and Bo have to rush against time to find out if these two murders are connected.

What I think worked well in this novel was Byron's wonderful characterization of the South. The descriptions of the people, the foods, the preparations for celebration--everything was so on point that it transported me back to Louisiana. I love New Orleans, and I really enjoyed learning more about that culture and the fact that although most people are familiar with the more over-the-top Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, smaller towns in Louisiana celebrate what's called Courir de Mardi Gras--which translates to "Fat Tuesday Run." I really appreciated all the research she put in writing this story and all the bonus recipes at the end of the book.

Mardi Gras Murder is book four of the Cajun Country Mystery series, but I was able to follow along fine--even though I haven't read the other books in the series. This is a great cozy mystery! I read the entire book in one sitting, and I really enjoyed the ending.

A well woven tale with a likable protagonist. Byron writes a well written mystery novel but also tells a tale of living in the South that feels like you could really be there. An interesting mix of characters are also thrown in and the story keeps your attention.

I would read another from this series.

Another fun book in the Cajun Country Series. This one takes place during Mardi Gras in Pelican. The whole family is getting ready for the celebrations. Maggie is a judge for the local pageant and Her father is perfecting his Gumbo. During cleanup a body is found on Crozat. Maggie is determined to identify the victim and solve his murder. When a fellow judge is also killed she is sure the murders are connected. I really enjoy the characters and the small town setting. The author does a really good job with capturing the Cajun background. The mystery was good and the solution made sense. This series should be read in order. Enjoy

Love cozy mysteries, and Ellen Byron is one of the reasons why. Mardi Gras Murder is another great book in the Cajun country series. I honestly didn't know until the very end who was causing all of the chaos. Very well written and easy to follow even if you didn't read the first few books in the series. So if you want romance,drama,comedy,and a whole lot of mystery then you must read.

I loved this book by Ellen Byron, this is the first time I have ever read one of her books, but now I will have to back-pedal and read all of her prior books.

This book was a real treat for the cozy mystery lovers and also the reader got to look and experience the Mardi Gras celebration and the time honored traditions that go along with it in the small town of Pelican, Louisiana. Sounds like a good time for all until the mysterious flood victim turns out to be murdered!

Maggie has her hands full when she unfortunately lands the job of judging the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant, and another jolt when one of the judges falls out of his car dying and mumbles "Secrets and Lies". Now Maggie has two murders to try and solve in her already busy life! Could this also be connected to the Orphan Trains?? What some people will do to hide a secret.

Hop aboard for this colorful ride through Cajun country and let the fun begin!

This book was an excellent well written read, with fleshed out characters (dead and alive) Can't wait to read more from this author.

Give this entire set as a gift, it will be devoured!

This was my first Ellen Byron read. She did a good job creating a fun story that kept me entertained and wanting to keep reading. I love the twists and turns as Maggie and her law enforcement boyfriend Bo encounter as they try to solve the murder of first a stranger, then a pageant judge. The stranger if found in the flood waters at Maggie's family B&B so she feels the need to solve the murder. Ellen wrote great characters and dropped in some history too. The story keeps you going right up to the end trying to decide who the killer is. I will say the killer was never on my short list.

Fun, easy read cozy mystery. Will be looking at reading more by this author.

Mardi Gras Murder is the fourth installment in the Cajun Country Mystery series set in the bayou town of Pelican, Louisiana and featuring plantation docent and artist, Magnolia Marie "Maggie" Crozat. Mardi Gras is quickly approaching and Maggie finds herself thrust into the midst of the celebration which will culminate on the lawn of her family's Crozat Plantation B & B.

An unidentified body has washed ashore on the Crozat land following a major flood. Maggie's father "Tug" is determined to win the annual gumbo cookoff and is driving her mother nuts with his messy kitchen takeover. Maggie's Gran has developed walking pneumonia and appointed Maggie as her replacement on the judge's panel for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen.

Not a fan of beauty pageants, Maggie has her hands full dealing with the pageant moms and fellow judge, Gerard Damboise. Gerard has no intention of giving the most qualified teen the title and instead has already made his mind up that the daughter of the town's most prestigious family will be the winner. A fender bender results in Gerard tumbling out of his vehicle into Maggie's arms muttering a mysterious statement before taking his last breath. Convinced that the unidentified man and Gerard's death are connected, Maggie sets out with the help of family and friends to find a killer.

A fast moving plot with a a touch of Louisiana bayou history. Maggie learns about the secret lives of plantation owners that include the Orphan Train, hidden rooms for the mentally ill, and uncovers a hidden treasure map behind an old painting.

Readers will be delighted with the return of many series regulars including Detective Bo Durand and his son, Xander. I recommend starting the series from the beginning to evolve with the characters but this new addition can also be read as a stand alone.

I received an advanced copy of Mardi Gras Murder from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is the fourth book in Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country Mystery series. After a flood, a body is discovered on the Crozat B&B property and once again Maggie Crozat is involved in investigating a murder. Soon there is another murder of a judge for the local Mardi Gras beauty pageant. Who was the unidentified dead man and are the two deaths linked together somehow? These are only a couple questions Maggie and the local police department need to find answers to in order to solve these murders. This is a well written mystery with well developed characters. The series blends a bit of Louisiana history and culture into each mystery which adds interest. Ms Byron has added a bit of romance to the series with the relationship between Maggie and Bo but doesn’t seem to have felt the need to muddy up their budding relationship with the overused ‘love triangle’. I feel many authors use the love triangle storyline as a convenient crutch to add interest to the romance aspect in their writing. I appreciate that this hasn’t been the case in this series. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next mystery takes us.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!

I had not read the others in this series, but it is easy to jump in and get caught up. A fun look at life in a small town of Louisiana, where Mardi Gras may not be the event you think of in New Orleans, but where tradition still reigns. The mystery was well placed and kept me intrigued, the characters are fully developed and add quite a bit of color to the story. I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery, and am planning to pick up the others in the series.

I love a good "who don't it" and this did not disappoint. I loved the New Orleans flair of the city of Pelican Bay and the tie in with Mardi Gras. One aspect of the ending was predictable but that was totally fine. Am anxious to read other books by this author.

A fun cozy read with southern charm. I read a lot of cozies and this one was a good read.

After a terrible flood in Pelican, Louisiana, a body is washed up near Maggie's yard. It looks like a drowning but upon further examination, it looks as though the man was shot. Maggie's "gran" is laid up with an illness and tells Maggie she must take her place as a judge for the Gumbo Queen competition. Maggie would rather spend the time finding out who the dead man is and why he was shot but is forced by Gran to do her duty.

This is a first time author for me and I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery. I loved the descriptions of the smaller town of Pelican, the older family plantations and the pride of a family name. I have New Orleans on my bucket list, having never been there but now I am really looking forward to going there sooner than later. This was not only a fun read but an interesting one as well. I loved these characters and will now have to go back and get the first in the series. I now have a new author to add to my cozy series.

I got this book from Netgalley to read and review. I have posted this review to Goodreads and will post to Amazon closer to the publication date, end of September or early October.

New Orleans mysteries are always a fun read and the city history fascinates me, and I can add this one to the list of favorites. Really enjoyed the two mysteries intertwined together in the story, but I'm glad the author kept it light. Wonderful read.

I love this series for so many reasons. One of the biggest reasons is its lovely Louisiana setting. The history, traditions, food, music, language, and architecture add such a richness to these stories. The characters - protagonist Maggie and her family, friends, and neighbors - are all realistic and well-developed.

The plot is well-written, weaving together two mysteries, both real and fictional history, and the biggest Louisiana celebration of all, Mardi Gras. There were several strong suspects, and I didn't solve the mysteries on my own. This was a fast read for me, as I had a hard time putting it down. I found the end of the book very satisfying all around, and I'm also looking forward to trying some of the yummy recipes included at the end.

This book could definitely be read as a stand-alone, though the relationships among the townsfolk naturally change over the course of the books. I highly recommend Mardi Gras Murder to any mystery lover who also loves some history, celebration, and Cajun culture! I hope the Cajun Country Mysteries continue for a long time!

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.