This was my first book from Net Galley. I read the first, second and third books in the Cajun Country mystery series. This is the fourth book and it was wonderful! I loved the characters. I learn more about Cajun Country every time I read a new novel in this series. This book is worth the wait. Readers are in for a treat!

What happened to Gerard Damboise? Could it have anything to do with the missing children from the little known Cajun Country Orphan Trains? Why is an amateurish painting a treasured family heirloom? Most importantly, who will be the winner of the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen Pageant? As a bonus, there's light romance with a hot LEO and a budding relationship with his adorable son.

Set against the rich traditions of the Courir de Mardi Gras, this is an engaging mystery that could only happen deep in Cajun country .

Laissez les bon temps rouler!


I received a free digital review copy of this title from NetGalley.

#MardiGrasMurder#NetGalley

The pacing in this book was slow for my taste. I like a mystery that keeps you guessing and with this one I just didn't find myself caring who did it.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron. This is the fourth in the series from the Cajun Country mysteries, but the first I've read of either the series or the author.

I loved the cover and the description and dived into the book with enthusiasm ... then I almost closed it again when faced with a seemingly enormous cast of characters. However, I pressed on, ignoring the pages-long list, and I'm glad I did.

Murder seems to follow main character Maggie wherever she goes, and where better to hide a murderer than during mardi gras? Although the story opens before mardi gras actually starts when a body is discovered following recent devastating floods to the district.

I really enjoyed the characters in the end, even though there were lots of them. They were colourful and interesting. I also enjoyed learning of some of the local customs.

I did get lost with some of the descriptions, wondering in which house we were now and I felt that some characters were introduced a little early.

There was what felt like padding dotted all over the place, such as the Miss-longest-beauty-pageant-in-the-world-title contest that practically every character had to refer to in full and sometimes several times in just one paragraph, and the information-dump that some single sentences were used for.

I was also surprised when one character at the end was suddenly experiencing unexplained growths having to be removed from his head. And I felt the *other* mystery could have been wrapped up sooner, perhaps before the main mystery was solved, as when the main mystery *was* solved, it felt like the end of the book, but then there were a further two chapters and an epilogue.

But it's a great story that kept me interested and the pages turning. I'll certainly look out for more by this author, and may go back to the start of the Cajun Country mystery series.

I had the best time reading this book! Each book in this series is better than the last. Pelican, Louisiana and it's inhabitants have certainly grown on me. This is a well written mystery and the descriptions and phrases are right on point. It's Mardi Gras in Pelican and of course it can't go off without a hitch. Maggie is judging the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant when one of the judges is murdered. When another judge is taken to the hospital things are not looking good for the celebration. Can Maggie solve this mystery or is she in danger too? I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery and Mardi Gras!

There is a lot going on with Maggie in Pelican, Louisiana. First, she’s judging a contest for her ailing grandmother, she’s refereeing her parents over her dad’s enthusiasm for making gumbo, she’s working on a new project at her job, she’s experiencing a little bump in her relationship with Bo and of course, investigating an unknown body as well as the recent murder victim who lands in her lap. Are they connected? You’ll have to read this tantalizing book that radiates southern charm to find out.

I love books that immediately grab my attention and this one succeeded, quickly becoming a page-turner. I was completely  immersed in all aspects of this well-written drama. The descriptive narrative from Maggie’s first appearance to the discovery of the body to the murder to her interaction with family and friends and to all the hoopla around Mardi Gras kept me involved as the author intended. It was fun watching everything play out with the suspect pool and the snippets of clues that were sprinkled throughout. An appearance by Xander always brighten up the story for me and the author does a great job in his portrayal. A nicely done tale with a quirky cast of characters, engagingly fetching dialogue and a perfect backdrop of the Crozak's home and town. When all was said and done, I enjoyed this latest adventure with Maggie and her friends.

It is a pleasure to visit with Maggie Crozat and all of the residents of Pelican, Louisiana in the 4th installment of this cozy series. These books are the perfect who-dun-it mysteries because they are a fun light read and so far I have not figured out who the culprit is until the last few chapters in these books. Often times I know who did it within the first 6 chapters or so but that is not the case with this series! Bravo! I look forward to the next book!!

More than the usual revelry of Mardi Gras is in full swing this year in Pelican. Louisiana. A one hundred year flood has upended most of the town and delayed a long awaited exhibit of the Louisiana Orphan Train.
Thankfully the Plantation B&B owned by Maggie Crozat’s family was on high ground and spared damage from the flood. However after the flood waters recede, a body is found behind the B&B. The man is not a inhabitant of Pelican, nor does anyone know who he is.
Maggie has her hands full with festival preparations, being on the committee to elect the next Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen and restoring a mysterious painting. Plus her romantic relationship with her beau seems to be going nowhere. But she is determined to find out the identity of the dead man and why he was in Pelican.
If you enjoy reading about murder, mysterious happenings and secrets, pick up this good book by Ellen Byron.
Plus, I also enjoyed learning about the history of the Louisiana Orphan Train.

This is a book in the Cajun Country Mystery series. It's Mardi Gras time right after Hurricane Katrina. A body was found after the water withdrew. Maggie finds out from her boyfriend Bo, a Pelican PD officer, that it wasn't an accident. The stranger was murdered. Shortly after, Maggie is asked, by her Grand-mere, to be a judge for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen Pageant. Now one of the judges has also been murdered. Are the two murders connected? The judge is well known in thr community, while the other victim is a stranger. The murdered judge wasn't liked by many in town, so maybe the two murders aren't related. Either way, Maggie is determined to find out what happened to the two men. She will do this while trying to figure out where her relationship with Bo is going, helping her dad win the Gumbo contest, and working her new job as art restorer. I am giving this cozy mystery a solid 4-star review.

I received a free copy of Mardi Gras Murder (Book 4 of the Cajun Country Mysteries) by Ellen Byron in exchange for an honest review. This book is set in the fictional town of Pelican, Louisiana, located in fictional St. Pierre Parish along the Mississippi River near New Orleans. The town is in the midst of recovering from massive flooding. Many of the citizens are still displaced from uninhabitable homes. However, Mardi Gras must go on. Maggie Crozat, a local artist, is one of the judges for the local beauty contest. Before the committee can choose the next Gumbo Queen, a judge is murdered. Was the murder related to the pageant, connected to the body of the unknown man found during the flood, or was it motivated by something more personal?

As a series novice, I was able to follow the characters and the plot easily. You may find this an intriguing and entertaining way to explore some of the pageantry and silliness of Mardi Gras. There is little danger of solving the case before the end of the book as the author keeps the most important clues just between her and Maggie.

#MardiGrasMurder #NetGalley

Maggie Crozat finds herself stuck being in charge of the upcoming Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant due to the illness of her grandmother.
The Crozat family owns a bed and breakfast on what used to be their plantation, that the entire family helps run. When a body turns up nearby, she decides to help Bo, the cop in Pelican, La., and her boyfriend, find out who it is. Then one of the pageant judges turns up dead.
Maggie isn’t sure which is worse: dealing with the pageant people or finding a murderer.
Part of the Cajun Country Mystery series, it’s a nice and fast read.

Really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and the cajun atmosphere. I will definitely want to read more by this author. I was given a free book through Netgalley. My review is freely and honestly given

In Pelican, Louisiana, it is Mardi Gras time. Everyone gets involved. There are Mardi Gras runs, parades, a beauty pageant and a gumbo cook-off. If there isn't enough going on Pelican has had a recent flood, an unidentified dead body turning up post-flood and then one of the locals is murdered. There is a lot of history in this small town and lots of multigeneration homes. Maggie Crozat once again tries to help solve the mystery. A quick fun read.

Being the 4th book yet the first book in this series that I have read, I didn't feel lost. I felt this book is alright to read as a standalone. I will, however, be finding the first 3 and reading them! Honestly, what drew me to this book was the cover. Who doesn't love an adorable Basset Hound dog?! Growing up these are the kinds of dogs I knew. My Grandma had a couple!
The characters in this book are realistic and quirky. The setting was one of those inviting small town settings and I love the information set forth about Mardi Gras and Louisianna. One of the things I want to go back to New Orleans for!

I very much enjoyed this fourth addition to the series! When a dead body floats up to the Crozat plantation after a flood it is a mystery as to who the person is and why they ended up dead and who the murderer is. Only that isn't the only murder that happens and Maggie ends up getting involved in the investigation as usual.

I absolutely loved Mardi Gras Murder! Ellen Byron's witty, clever, mysteries are a blast to read, and she doesn't disappoint with her newest release. It's Mardi Gras, and the citizens of Pelican, Louisiana are getting ready to laissez les bons temps rouler (and cook up some gumbo!!!) when a stranger's body is discovered after a flood, and a judge in the Gumbo Queen pageant is murdered. Maggie's up to her gumbo pot crown trying to discover the culprit before the big day. The usual cast of characters is back, and a delight to read about. Hands down, this book and this series are one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Grab yourself a comfy chair, chere, and settle down and enjoy this gem!

This is one of my favorite series. I enjoy visiting all of the quirky characters in Pelican, Louisiana.
This one is about Mardi Gras, so I learned a lot about celebrating it that I never knew. The mystery or mysteries in these books are always clever enough that the answer isn't obvious, but not too obtuse either. I hope this series continues because I look forward to seeing what happens next to Maggie Crozat, her family,her friends, and her boyfriend, Bo.
I received an Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.

Mardi Gras Murder is an intriguing addition to the series.
After a devastating storm wreaks havoc on their small town, the residents are devastated to find out on of their own has been murdered.
Maggie can't resist the urge to investigate, which puts her in harm's way. After the murder of another resident, Maggie digs deeper to seek out the truth.

This book has a lot going on, so it was very easy to find myself inside the story itself.

What I like most about the story is the cast of unique and colorful characters. They all present as very real and easy to like.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

It's nearly Mardi Gras and the small town of Pelican, Louisiana was just starting to gear up for the town's celebration when the river flooded out much of Pelican. In recovery mode and trying to get ready for Mardi Gras, a body of a unknown man is discovered on the Crozat property. Maggie Crozat has been known to investigate (very successfully) murders in the area, but turns this over to the police, believing it to be a flood caused death. It isn't until a few days later that Bo tells Maggie he was actually murdered. Maggie then starts on a quest to find out who this mystery man was and why he was killed.

Meanwhile, Maggie is pressed into replacing her sick grandmother as a judge for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant. One of the less pleasant tasks she has to do becomes more and more interesting when another judge literally rams his car into Maggie's and falls out of the car dying and saying, "Secrets. Lies." Now Maggie has to investigate his death, which also turns out to be a murder. Does it tie into the Historical Society's cancelled exhibit of the Orphan Train? Is another judge responsible? Why is the murdered judge's wife so unaffected by his death? How does this fit together with the first man found after the flood? And who has been using a hidden room in a mansion that is being remodeled as a rondevu place? Who will be crowned Queen? Is Bo breaking up with Maggie? Secrets in artwork, mask and costume making, customs of small town Mardi Gras...so much is packed into this book! The author even gives the lagniappe of several recipes as well.

The author has immersed the reader in the Mardi Gras celebration by using the French language as well as flowing descriptions of activities throughout the book. Vivid imagery leaves the reader smelling the gumbo and feeling the gait of the horse. The trifecta is complete as the descriptions of characters and their covert actions, as well as public actions, make them seem like real people, not characters in a book. It is easy to see why this is a popular series and author.

Finally the element of murder (or murders in this case) brings another example of the author's success. Nothing is obvious or quite what it seems. I wasn't sure who the guilty person was until Maggie spoke the name. And that all adds up to an terrific book that I am happy to recommend to mystery lovers of all ages.

Special thanks to Net Galley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for allowing me to read and review this excellent book.

cozy-mystery, mystery, friendship, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, family-dynamics, recipes

Which is worse; flooding in the bayou, finding a murdered stranger, the demise of the family gumbo pot, or getting stuck being a judge in a beauty pageant? Humor, suspense, plot twists, red herrings, teenage angst, and just plain craziness abound in this delight of a cozy mystery! Don't miss the Crozet family antics on the plantation/B&B in Pelican!
Disclaimers: I love Southern Louisiana, I love Cajun food, I'm addicted to this author's stories, and I requested and received a free review copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.