Time to visit the big jazz festival in Ellen Byron’s latest installment of her Cajun Country Mystery Series. Not only are their delicious pralines but the winner of a television singing show and her entourage will be appearing. She’s a hometown girl who is feeling her stardom. This mystery is a delightful escape to all things Cajun with sexy cops, tipsy grandmothers and an interesting homicide investigation.

I have to admit – I just love the Cajun Country Mystery series and the fifth entry, Fatal Cajun Festival, did not disappoint! Maggie is gearing up and turning out pralines like hot cakes for the upcoming Cajun Country Live music festival. I’m glad to see that Ellen Byron is developing and adding complexity to her great collection of eclectic characters. There are some new introductions, including the hometown girl (Tammy) who hit it big on a reality singing show and her entourage, including her off-putting manager Pony.

Maggie’s good friend Gaynell, who packs her own serious set of pipes, is less than happy to see her high school tormentor Tammy returning to town and once again stealing the limelight (and a song or two). Not Pony makes a rather indecent proposal to Gaynell, he’s electrocuted on stage. Freak accident or well-planned murder?

While I’m not loving all of the plot points (the fake break-up was just awkward and didn’t move the plot forward), it was a solid entry in the series. I loved GranMere’s side story. Overall, I enjoyed Fatal Cajun Festival and I’m excited for the next book in the series!

This is book # 5 in the Cajun Country Mystery series and it's a good one. It can be read as a stand alone but most of the characters are from previous books. Maggie and her family are major sponsors of the Cajun Festival hoping to bring more tourist to their small Louisiana town. The headliner, Tammy, has reserved the entire B&B and turns out this local lady who made it big in the music industry has a few enemies left in town. Now Maggie's friend , Local band sensation Gaynell and the Gator Girls is the main suspect in the murder of Tammy's manager. Love the folklore about the area. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

2.5 stars. I can't make myself be more generous than that. The writing was simplistic, Maggie's inability to talk with her grandmother about 'death cleaning' plain dumb (as was the pretend break-up) and Maggie exhibited some first-rate too stupid to live behaviour. Oy.

The town of Pelican is hosting the Cajun Country Live! festival and local girl that made it big Tammy Barker is back in town to perform at the festival, and to be a pain in the backside of Gaynell, a girl Tammy bullied in highschool. Tammy sets Gaynell - an aspiring musician herself - up with her manager Pony, but Pony tells Gaynell she won't make it in the music business because she doesn't have sex appeal. Things come to real blows when Tammy finishes her set at the festival with a song Gaynell wrote and had wanted to use for her own set. Gaynell leaves making threats to Pony.

Shortly after, Pony is killed by electrocution.

Gaynell is the main suspect, because making threats gives you motive. Because Gaynell is her friend and she can't believe the girl would do such a thing, Maggie Crozat steps in to investigate. She even goes as far as to go on a pretend break-up with her fiancé so she can get closer to the musicians in Tammy's support band. Why out-of-town musicians would be interested in small town gossip about a couple's break up is beyond me.

Strangely enough, they are into the local gossip and let Maggie hang out with them to mend her broken heart. Ugh.

There's a large cast of characters. Probably too large to get a connection to any of them. Mainly, I didn't get a connection to Maggie, the sleuth, who is a woman of strong, but shallow emotions. It was an enjoyable story, though. And I probably won't pass if I come across any of the other books in the series.

This is the fifth Cajun Country Mystery and centers around a local music festival that was Maggie's grandmother's idea. The headliner is to be Tammy Barker who is a local girl who made good on one of those singing shows. She is a mean girl who has some sort of grudge against Maggie's friend Gaynell who is also a musician and who leads Gaynell and the Gator Girls.

Tammy and her entourage including her manager Pony Pickner, her assistant Sara and the members of her band. Tammy, Pony, Sara and a couple of Tammy's local cousins are staying at the B & B Maggie's parents run. They are causing her mother a lot of trouble because each one is on a different weird diet.

When Pony is electrocuted with Tammy's special microphone, Maggie has to go undercover with the band to find out who killed him. This is especially urgent because Tammy is throwing all sorts of suspicion Gaynell's way. Maggie and her fiance Bo pretend to break-up their new engagement so that Maggie's new career as a groupie seems less suspicious.

Many old favorite characters from earlier books in the series have roles in this one. And recipes also play an important role. Maggie makes bunches and bunches of pralines of various flavors to sell at the festival and the recipe for them is included.

This was a fun story with a lot of suspense and a nice romance between Maggie and Bo.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

A great addition to this series about life in Cajun country-Pelican, Louisiana. Maggie's world is interesting and is a great setting for a cozy who-dun-it mystery. I look forward to the next book in this series.

The 5th book in a mystery series I was afraid I would be lost when I started reading but its very easy to catch up and this reads well as a stand alone book, I really enjoyed the mystery and characters and would recommend to any lover of cozy mysteries

Another delightful book about life in Cajun country-Pelican, Louisiana. It's all about a music festival and local musician Gaynell Borgeois, and her band The Gator Girls and former Pelican citizen, now Country Music star, Tammy Baker.

I was captivated to read the story about local girl (who was not very popular with Maggie and Gaynell back in high school) who comes back to show her hometown just how wonderful she thinks she is. Plenty of back-up band interaction and mystery that fueled murder, kidnapping and more, Author Ellen Byron does a great job of presenting a realistic image of the festival and musicians.

With a complex cast of characters, most carried over from the previous books in the series, the author has provided notes for readers to refresh their memories about who's who. A very helpful way to put the reader back with Maggie Crozat and Pelican, LA.

This book had plenty of mysteries and sleuthing to satisfy readers, and could be read as a stand-alone without any confusion. Of course I do recommend reading them in order for enjoyment and maximum satisfaction. Just don't miss the opportunity to read this entertaining book that will have you sweltering and craving pralines while you listen to Cajun music!

I was fortunate to have a copy of the book made available by Crooked Lane Books through Net Galley. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

I received a free copy of FATAL CAJUN FESTIVAL (Book 5 of the Cajun Country Mysteries) by Ellen Byron in exchange for an honest review. Louisiana B&B owner Maggie Crozat is busy making pralines and selling them at the local Cajun Country Live! food and music festival while her parents are busy providing housing and figuring out how to prepare specialized food for hometown country music superstar Tammy Barker. When Tammy’s manager is murdered, Tammy uses the opportunity to exercise her longtime grudge against Maggie’s friend Gaynell Bourgeois. Tammy gleefully points the police investigation in Gaynell’s direction.

I liked this book; it was wonderfully entertaining. I recommend this book to fans of Ellen Byron, to fans of the series, and to fans of cozy mysteries with regional storylines. Being from Louisiana, I didn’t find any glaring errors (no basements or subways in this book), and I had a good laugh over some of the made-up names of towns and parishes. Be warned, there are delicious recipes hiding out at the end of the book.

#FatalCajunFestival #NetGalley

Fatal Cajun Festival is the fifth book in the Cajun Country Mystery cozy series. This was the first book I read by this author and the first book in this series. I was a little nervous starting with Book 5 but the book definitely stands alone. There is enough of a backstory to not be confused.

I recently traveled to New Orleans for the first time , and I can say the food and music are so spot on in this book. I loved reading about the Jazz Festival, well until the body showed up

I enjoy the fun characters and the well thought out mystery. I will definitely be going back to read the other books in this series.

Love, love, love this book and love, love, love this series. I love the stories about this family and how close they are. This was a great mystery and the ending was a complete surprise. Really fun read!

Fatal Cajun Festival is the 5th book in this series. I loved this story. This time there is a mustic festival that has been created my Maggie's gramdmere. Maggie's friend Gaynell and her band "The Gator Girls" are in the festival and the headliner, one Tammy Baker will be staying at the Crozat Plantation Bed and Breakfast.. Tammy Baker's manager is dead and Tammy accuses Gaynell as there were bad words between the manager and Gaynell. Maggie doesn't believe that Gaynell is guilty. Fun and fast paced story.

Ellen Byron's books just keep getting better. She completely pulls you into her cozy world and you don't want to leave.

I had the absolute honor of interviewing Ellen at Malice Domestic this year. My YouTube interview with her is going live August 9th - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaparovshFQ. I was so glad I got approved for this book because I was so curious about it after speaking with her. It did not disappoint!

4.5 stars rounded up

This was the fifth entry in this charming cozy mystery series by Ellen Byron, but it was my first time reading one of them. I felt the book worked well as a stand alone. I never felt like I was missing out on too much of the back story. This was a well-written, cozy mystery set in small town Louisiana. I enjoyed the way Ms. Byron wove interesting local and historical information into the story. I also appreciated that the police were involved in solving the mystery as well as our heroine. Too often I find cozies annoying because unskilled civilians manage to do everything all on their own. I particularly enjoyed the recipes at the back of the book. They all sound fabulous.


Thank you to Crooked lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Fatal Cajun Festival is the fifth book in the highly entertaining Cajun country mystery series. Down on the Louisiana plantation, the town of Pelican is gearing up for their first ever music festival, Cajun Country Live, which will feature one of their very own. Tammy Baker, a former resident of Pelican who is starting to make a name for herself in the music business is set to headline the show. Things take a sinister turn however when a member of Tammy's crew turns up dead. Maggie's best friend Gaynell quickly falls under scrutiny for angry remarks she uttered at the deceased close to the time of death. Maggie however is sure of her innocence and teams up with Bo in order to clear her friend's name.
It was wonderful to be able to visit Pelican Louisiana and catch up with Maggie and the crew. Louisiana has it's own unique charm and flavor that really stands out in these stories. The author does a wonderful job of weaving in some enjoyable side stories that help move the narrative along. There was lots of country drama featuring our favorite Crozat crew, including wedding decisions that must be made between Maggie and Bo and GranMere is also facing a love crisis of her own. The mystery was very complex, with plenty of suspects to sift through and surprising revelations and connections unveiled towards the end. There was lots of love in the newest addition to the Cajun country mysteries and I look forward to further adventures in the future.

Louisiana B&B owner Maggie Crozat kicks up her heels at a country music festival--but she'll have one foot in the grave if she can't bring the killer of a diva's hanger-on to heel.

Grab your tickets for Cajun Country Live!, the pickers' and crooners' answer to the legendary New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Maggie Crozat, proprietor of the Crozat Plantation B&B, plans to be in the cheering section when her friend Gaynell Bourgeois takes the stage with her band, Gaynell and the Gator Girls.

The festival's headliner, native daughter Tammy Barker, rocketed to stardom on a TV singing competition. She has the voice of an angel...and the personality of a devilish diva. But Maggie learns that this tiny terror carries a grudge against Gaynell. She's already sabotaged the Gator Girls' JazzFest audition. When a member of Tammy's entourage is murdered at the festival, Maggie makes sure Gaynell is number one on the suspect list.

Gaynell has plenty of company on that list--including every one of Tammy's musicians. Posing as a groupie, Maggie infiltrates Tammy's band and will have to hit all the right notes to clear her friend's name.

This was a quick, easy read in the summer heat! I enjoyed following along as Maggie worked to clear Gaynell's name.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Maggie Crozat and her fiancé , Bo Durand, put their wedding planning on hold to help Maggie’s grandmother plan a music festival to attract tourists to Pelican, Louisiana. Gran’s idea will help the whole town and has brought more business to their family’s hotel. The festival’s headliner, Tammy Barker, has booked all the rooms at Crozat Plantation Bed and Breakfast for her return to Pelican from Los Angeles. Many people in Pelican are thrilled to see their hometown hero again. However, one of Maggie’s best friends, Gaynell Bourgeois, doesn’t have such fond memories of Tammy, who bullied her in high school. A suspicious death at the musical festival puts Gaynell in the spotlight as the prime suspect, so it’s up to Maggie to prove her friend’s innocence.

“Fatal Cajun Festival” is the fifth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series, but the “Cast of Characters” at the beginning of the book makes it easy for new readers to catch up. I have read each of the prior books and have liked the main character, Maggie, from the very beginning. She has shown how devoted she is to her family time and time again, and this time, she shows how loyal she is to her friends. She not only stands behind Gaynell no matter how bad the situation looks for her, she actively looks for evidence to clear her friend’s name.

I like that even though Maggie investigates some things on her own, she regularly fills Bo in on the direction of her sleuthing so they can compare notes and to minimize the chances of putting herself in danger. Trouble still seems to find her, but she has Bo’s support and respect for Maggie’s contributions to the investigation. Some clues are given to the identity of the killer, but things gets fairly complicated so I didn’t begin to guess the truth. When everything is revealed at the end, I was very surprised. I really enjoyed the epilogue which sets up something wonderful that I assume will be the highlight of a future book. The descriptions throughout the story really transport the reader to Louisiana’s Cajun Country. The setting and the characters have made this a series in which I eagerly anticipate reading each new installment. I would rate this book 4.5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

FATAL CAJUN FESTIVAL by Ellen Byron is the fifth in her Cajun Country series and is a welcome addition to the set. I’ve read all but one in the series, and found them all to be well plotted and entertaining. As in the other books in the series, this one is well plotted and entertaining with satisfying conclusions to both the mystery and some of the side stories that help make the secondary and tertiary characters come to life and give depth to the fictional town of Pelican, Louisiana.
This is a classic cozy book with not too much emphasis the murder and no grizzly details about dead bodies. It is rich in questions regarding who might have motive for killing and plenty of clues and red herrings to throw the reader off. The protagonist in the series, Maggie Crozat, is helping her grand-mere who has had the brainstorm of creating a Cajun Country Festival to be held in Pelican as a precursor to the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The star attraction is set to be Tammy Barker, a native of Pelican who has made it big in the industry.
From the moment Tammy steps off her tour bus she begins ordering people around like the diva she wants to be. Even before she arrived she booked Maggie’s family plantation, now a B&B in its entirety for herself and select members of her staff. Early on, a rivalry between Tammy and Maggie’s best friend, Gaynell also rears its ugly head. Tammy acts like the epitome of a “mean girl” toward Gaynell, squeezing her out of activities, belittling her and making her doubt her own musical talent, even stealing a song Gaynelle has just finished writing and turning it from a ballad into a pop tune that will probably ruin it. Tammy is written in a way that she becomes easy to dislike, almost immediately
As in all good cozies, Maggie is compelled to investigate this latest murder. She is given an assist and also more information than might typically happen by her police detective fiance, Bo. His willingness to involve her in the murder is explained by referring to a severely understaffed police department coupled with an urgency to solve the murder before Tammy and crew move on to New Orleans for Jazz Fest.
There is no shortage of possible murderers, and Maggie manages to investigate them all, even while she is busy making pralines to sell at the festival, preparing for a bridal shower for her friend who is expecting triplets, and helping her grand-mere who is busy going through her things to accomplish a “dostadning” , which is Sweedish for death-cleaning. This involves sorting through many of her belongings in an attempt to reduce them and thereby save your family from the burden once you are dead.
The book is filled with secondary characters who are delightful in their own right. Byron has an excellent ability to write enough in just a sentence or two to make them come alive in your imagination. Most of the characters are ones you would like to know and they are spread across such a wide age span there is bound to be one or two who may become more like kindred spirits to you.
I highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. Each book has a mystery that is complete within the book, however if the reader likes to get to know the secondary characters as they unfold, it is best to read the series in order. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me an Advanced Digital Read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Fatal Cajun Festival is an intriguing story sat in Louisiana. A small town visited by a music star that came from there. She has issues with a local gal , then a murder occurs. Lots of plot twist that will keep you guessing. A wide range of characters that you'll enjoy getting to know.