Cajun Kiss of Death, the seventh – and, unfortunately, final – book in Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country series, combines a riveting mystery with a touch of Southern charm to create a complex and heartwarming tale that had me smiling while turning the pages.

The book opens with a triple wedding on New Year’s Eve, and Maggie Crozat is finally marrying the man of her dreams, Bo Durand. But as Valentine’s Day approaches, it becomes apparent that something more than romance is afoot in Pelican, Louisiana. Chef Phillippe Chanson, who has come to town to open a satellite Cajun restaurant, has a penchant for “reverse engineering” recipes and calling them his own. When he is found murdered, there is no shortage of suspects, including several local chefs whose creations were pilfered – one of whom is Maggie’s mother, Ninette – as well as Chanson’s ex-wife and employees. Maggie begins to investigate, determined to clear the names of her mom and her friends.

As mysteries go, this one is fantastic, with so many twists and turns and a surfeit of suspects with secrets. In the midst of all of this, a couple of lively subplots heighten the tension. Maggie’s mysterious Valentine stalker keeps everyone guessing, while painting lessons with the renowned Vi De Lavallade both frustrate and enlighten Maggie. As captivating as these plotlines are, the heart and soul of this book – like the rest of the Cajun Country novels – are its people. Over the years, the Crozats, Durands, MacIlhoneys, and even Gaynell and the Gator Girls have become almost like family, and it is hard to say goodbye.

But say goodbye we must, as Cajun Kiss of Death has been reported to be the last book in the series. Although I am saddened by this turn of events, I really appreciate that Ms. Byron has provided these beloved characters with a proper send-off. Between the epilogue and the accumulated recipes at the end of the book, Cajun Kiss of Death ends on just the right note. Will there be a spin-off series in the future? I certainly hope so, as these characters are definitely worth revisiting.

Note: I received an ARC of Cajun Kiss of Death from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. The above is my honest review.

Crooked Lane Books is a reliable source of good cozy mysteries. Here, in this story by Ellen Byron, readers will enjoy a good setting, good characters and a good mystery. Perfect for its intended audience.

The story takes place in Louisiana where readers spend time at a B and B, an oyster shack and more, giving this title some local flavor. Also, it is Valentine’s Day, perhaps not a favorite time for disruption. Protagonist Maggie is on the case when a celebrity chef is murdered. There are lots of suspects including Maggie’s own parent. How will things resolves? Pick this one up to find out. Note that this title is part of a series but can be read on its own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The newest installment begins with a sweet opening that finds not one but three couples getting married. Maggie and Bo have made it to the altar and are now beginning a new chapter in their lives, along with their closest loved ones, Bo's cousin Rufus marrying Sandy and Maggie's grandmother marrying Lee. The triple wedding sets the tone for this grand finale that puts an end to Maggie's sleuthing adventures. The lighthearted tone sets the final mystery for Maggie while setting up new adventures she'll have in the role of wife and stepmom. The series has focused on the changes Maggie has experienced since moving back to Lousiana so seeing her settling down with her family and a new family creates a full circle moment that is satisfying. This lovely opening celebrates love and family which are two common elements that Byron has explored throughout the Cajun Country Mystery series. These elements strike a balance with the elements of murder, mystery, and suspense. The story jumps forward a few weeks later with Maggie settling into her new life and delves right into the set-up for the mystery.

Maggie's constantly surrounded by family and friends, and each one has a significant role which Byron touches upon a little more in each book, often drawing in various loved ones as suspects. The characters are relatable and create a community that's full of life with each one having a vivid personality. These characters provide allies in Maggie's investigations, a source of friendship and companionship, and provide the root of the humor throughout the series. Byron excels at witty dialogue and clever characters such as the attitude of Gran (an example being her comment about the A-G-E syndrome precluding a full night's sleep). Byron excels at bringing Lousiana to life through the vibrant, colorful, and lively details woven into every description.

The suspects move firmly into place with Maggie working to determine who is innocent and who is guilty. Her ex-boyfriend from high school is caught in the middle when his father (who accuses a celebrity chef of stealing a recipe for fried catfish fillet) is arrested for disturbing the peace. Friendship is a key element within the story as they form a support system for Maggie outside of her family and help her in every way, even with murder mysteries. Gaynell and Ione are her galentines and their presence creates a fun trio of sleuths to investigate with humorous and heartfelt friendship moments. Byron steadily increases the stakes of the mystery with Maggie's mother going to jail after she learns that the celebrity chef took a recipe for her calas and disturbing gifts from a secret admirer. The mystery has Valentine's Day themed with love running rampant throughout from the triple wedding at the beginning to a sweet surprise from her new husband and stepson. Byron has crafted a brilliant goodbye to Maggie and her friends in this satisfying conclusion.

Cajun Kiss of Death starts out with a big triple wedding on New Years Eve. It then quickly segues to February. Maggie and Bo are enjoying newly wedded life when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks into Maggie’s parents B&B. All sorts of awful things happen from sabotaged kitchens, stealing recipes, Maggie being stalked by a mysterious admirer, plus of course murder. Ellen Byron describes the culture of Louisiana extremely well. We get great descriptions of the food, culture, and geography.
This is the seventh in the Cajun Country Mystery series. I found the beginning a bit confusing with the sheer number of characters as this was my first book in the series. However, the characters soon grew to be some of my favorites. I am excited to go back and read the series from the beginning. I would love to see this series continue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 5 stars.

What a great mystery book! Kept me on my toes at all times and I didn't want to put it down. I'm sad that this may be the last Cajun Country Mystery book, but it was was a good way to end it.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions of this book are my own.

It’s Valentine’s season in Pelican, Louisiana. Maggie Crozat is in the mood for love as she well should be. She and heartthrob Bo Durand are set to walk down the aisle behind Xander and Gopher (the basset hound) and Esme and Jolie (a Chihuahua). And if one wedding is not enough, the priest pronounces three couples husband and wife.

After a Mexican honeymoon, Maggie and Bo settle into married life on the plantation, helping to run the B&B, Maggie working at the Doucet Plantation, and Bo as police detective. JJ, their friend who owns Junie’s Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, has new competition when restauranteur Phillippe Chanson, celebrity chef and head of the Chanson Restaurant group (multiple locations), moves to Pelican. Phillippe has an ego the size of a hoop skirt and a one track mind that focuses only on himself. He and his crew are staying at the Crozat B&B. Maggie’s mom, Ninette, is thrilled when he asks her to cook real Cajun country food for him. She’s also furious to find he analyzed the ingredients in order to put the item on his menu like it was his own. She’s not the only one he steals from.

To make life more complicated, his brand manager is his ex-wife and his sous chef is his current girlfriend who lords that over the ex at every opportunity. Phillippe is a man who makes enemies wherever he goes.

It’s not surprising one of them takes matters to an extreme. During a fireworks display set in the river, Phillippe’s boat makes a speeding appearance and a dramatic exit as a mid-river crash puts a fast and fiery end to Phillippe. With so many suspects to choose from, where will the police start? The answer is with Ninette, followed closely and with more attention, JJ.

Maggie’s receiving anonymous gifts, a countdown to Valentine’s Day, creepy any time but these gifts bring an implied threat with them. Will Maggie and Bo see their first holiday together or will tragedy strike?

This is book seven in the series. It’s wonderful to see Maggie and Bo together at last. They aren’t the only ones who look forward to a happy-ever-after. In this case, I recommend reading the books in order so you can follow the romances from the beginning. The mysteries are clever, the characters someone you’d surely love to know, and Crozat a welcoming place to stay whether visiting in the summer humidity or winter’s chill—not to mention the fabulous food!

At the back of the book, find recipes from the wonderful Cajun cooks—beer bread, a mystery cocktail (drink this one at home, it’s a powerful mix of several liqueurs), baked catfish po’ boy with quick remoulade sauce, gooey pineapple pecan cake, calas (rice balls or fritters), and butter beans and river shrimp.

As Maria DiRico, she has written two Catering Hall mysteries (so far) set in New York. Look for her newest series, the Vintage Cookbook mysteries, coming soon!

It’s Valentine’s Day in Pelican Bay and Maggie Crozat is back to her sleuthing ways. This time she’s trying to clear her friend and restaurateur JJ for murdering a new restauranteur to the area, celebrity chef Philippe. Along with her usual crew, Maggie hurries to solve the murder before another victim is claimed.

Cajun Kiss of Death is a wonderful cozy mystery that sadly ends this series. I always enjoy reading about the residents of Pelican Bay and this installment was no exception. Funny, action packed and full of sweet romance, this was a perfect finale with a satisfying epilogue wrapping up the end!

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, it was an okay read, with a nice wrap up to the series.

Book 7 and the last of the series. As the last in the series, it's not a great starting point for new readers.

I didn't go into this book knowing it was the last one, but as I read I very much got the idea that it was the end of the road for the series. The author was tying everything up. The mystery actually felt like it was taking a back seat to all of the wrapping up.

As a series long reader, I am glad to see it, and the big occasion that the books have been leading towards, but I'd have liked a stronger mystery. The dead man wasn't very likeable, and I didn't much care who offed him.

I'm sad to see this end though, I very much enjoyed my visits to Cajun Country and Crozat, along with Maggie's slightly crazy family.

Cajun Kiss of Death Earns 5/5 Fireworks…Engaging & Clever!

Ethically-challenged celebrity chef and restaurateur Philippe Chanson is flambéed. An ex-wife, current girlfriend, and a slew of disgruntled colleagues, vendors, and competitors have motive. Maggie’s mother Ninette as well as her best friend JJ have motives, too. Maggie is receiving ominous gifts. And…recipes! Just another delightful cozy from favorite author Ellen Byron set in the Cajun south offering vivid descriptions, witty banter, diverse characters (all introduced in the “Dramatic Personae” for easy reference), quirky personalities, southernisms, a clever mystery to challenge one’s inner detective, and wonderful Cajun recipes, each with entertaining introduction to bring Cajun home: Maggie’s Beer Bread, Cajun Country Mystery Cocktail, Baked Catfish Po’ boy with Quick Remoulade Sauce, Gooey Pineapple Pecan Cake, Calas (Rice Balls or Fritters), and Butter Beans and River Shrimp.

This was a fun, cozy mystery set in Louisiana. I loved all of the Cajun food and the recipes, I freaking love it when there are recipes at the end of the mystery (can't wait to try them). This was book #7 in the Cajun Country Mystery series and unfortunately for my bank account I now want to go back and read the first 6 books.

This story had a great cast of characters and some fun twists and turns. I did not expect the killer to be who they were, I had guessed a different person. I cannot wait to read book #8.

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron is book seven in the A Cajun Country Mystery. This is one of my all time favorite series.
The Crozat B&B is hosting a celebrity chef and his crew that is opening a new restaurant in Pelican. When he ends up dead Maggie starts her own investigation due to not only is her mother a suspect so is JJ, her dear friend who happens to also own a restaurant in town.
There are plenty of suspects and plot twists in this well written Cozy. The characters are likeable and you will feel as if you are in the bayou. The end was jaw dropping for me.
There are recipes included.
I was given an ARC via Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

MURDER ON THE BAYOU

Ellen Byron has livened things upon the reading horizon by gifting readers with another “visit” to everyone’s favorite Cajun Hideaway - the Crozat Plantation B&B, located in beautiful Pelican, Louisiana. Valentine’s Day is nearing and everyone is preparing for a grand celebration and Newlyweds Bo & Maggie are trying to come up with perfect gifts for each other. Things can never stay peaceful for too long, and they become frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. He is in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant in Pelican. WHY is the Big Question. When Phillippe falls victim to a tragic accident, who is the murderer?? You will not believe who the two main suspects are! How could anyone possibly believe either of them could kill anyone?? You will not want to miss this installment! Money, Sex, Power & MURDER!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

This novel is an immersion in all things Cajun. It got off to a bit of a rough start for me as the story began with lots of people, food and getting together. It took me a while to figure out who belonged to whom and how they were all related, whether by birth or business or interest. This is the seventh book in the series and I realized I missed much of the previous material on relationships. There is a big list of characters at the beginning of the book. That should have clued me in to the vast number of people and their interactions.

The murder did not happen until a quarter of the way into the book. After the murder, there seemed to be a better focus on the plot line and I became more interested. Prior to the murder, I did have a little trouble maintaining my interest in the book.

Several of the characters are involved in food preparation and service. There is much about the various kinds of Cajun foods and when they are eaten. Part of the plot is the stealing of recipes and I was surprised to find out that such a practice is done often and really cannot be prosecuted. And if you want to make some of the delicious sounding foods, recipes are included.

I like Maggie as an amateur sleuth. She is persistent in her tracking down the murderer as people she loves are suspects, including her mother. But I do think the best part of this book is the setting. It's a good book for readers who would like to be immersed in Cajun atmosphere, from hospitality to delicious food.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an honest and independent review.

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!

One thing I was not expecting from this book was for it to be the last one! I really enjoyed this entire series and I am sad to see it come to an end. I can only assume it was the end after the epilogue, though I haven't seen any confirmation of that. As for the mystery it was a great one. I loved all of the characters and the setting (I am a sucker for southern books). There are also a ton of food mentions that made my mouth water! The plot moves right along and was just a good as all the other books.

My beloved series has come to an end with this last book in the series. I am so very very sad.

This one starts off with three weddings and one of those was Maggie and Bo and all Maggie wants is to just get use to being married, she hopes there will be no more murders.

Things were going well for a while but then a celebrity chef decides to open a Cajun restuarant in Pelican and that would have been okay but he wasn’t a very nice man. He stole recipes, sabataged JJ’s restuarant, one of the local favorites all in trying to make sure his was the best. But during a fancy fireworks opening and him coming down the river in a boat ends up in the chef’ death there are plenty of suspects, but when JJ becomes their number one suspect, Maggie puts on her sluething hat again.

Because he was a celebraty there are more than just the local police involved and even if Bo thinks that JJ is innocent the other police don’t and so he is okay with Maggie doing a bit of sluething as long as she stays safe and tells him about anything she finds. Also going on is the fact that Maggie seems to have a Valentine stalker that is really freaking her out and Bo is taking it very seriously and doing the investigating on that one himself.

I have always loved my time in Pelican with Maggie and her family at the B&B or at Maggie’s other job at another plantation that is used as a muesuem. I have loved follow along with Bo and Maggie’s relationship and how sweet she has always been to his autistic boy who had a talent for art. Maggie is an artist and seen his great talent and helped him with it. So it was very bittersweet to see this one end, but I have to say I really liked how she ends the series which is why I know for sure it was ending, she had a nice epilogue that if you have read the who series you would know all the characters mentioned, etc. I am also going to miss Gopher and Jolie the dogs! The author has a new series starting next year and I just hope I enjoy it as much as I have this one!

I highly recommend this for fans of cozy mysteries!

So very very sad this series is done. :(

This is the 7th and final book in the series . I am always sad when a great series ends .
The story is set at Valentine’s Day and there is a triple wedding and a mystery !
Great characters !
Well developed perfectly paced plot and lots if twists to keep you guessing !
I really enjoyed this book !

Starts with a New Year’s Eve triple wedding, Cajun style! Moves onto a David versus Goliath with a side serving of eatery espionage. This turned out to be a three mysteries in one, which makes it an excellent way to end an excellent series (sniff, sniff). I will miss the Crozat B&B and those culinary classics, love it when an author not only talks about food but also shares recipes! This time around I am giving the beer bread recipe a try but I may also look up the recipe for the French toast even though it isn’t in the recipes listed, because who doesn’t like French toast? The Epilogue was a nice touch to tie off the story.

The citizens of Pelican love to celebrate and a triple wedding ceremony is a great way to start this story. Trouble comes to the town when a celebrity chef opens a new restaurant and negatively affects the other two local restaurants and their business. There are some shady dealings and a lot of hurt feelings and it leads to food poisoning and even death. Who is behind the trouble and who's stalking Maggie?
Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Love is in bloom in Pelican Louisiana. Maggie and Bo, Gran and Lee, Rufus and Sandy all got married on New Year’s Eve just before the clock hits midnight. Their reception was catered by JJ, of Junie’s Oyster Bar and Dance Hall. But soon JJ is going to have some real competition, famous chef Phillippe Chanson is opening Chanson’s Cajun Kitchen, the newest addition in his Chanson Restaurant Group. He hopes his “fancy” eatery will become a “destination restaurant”. The locals are split on if this is a good thing or a bad thing for Pelican. JJ definitely is not happy and knows it could be a very bad thing for him.

A few weeks later most of the new restaurant’s staff is calling the Crozat B&B their temporary home and Phillippe is visiting some of the locals. He does have an ulterior motive. He has an excellent palate and he is putting it to use. He has them make their finest dish and is stealing their recipes. This trickery has him at odds with JJ and Maggie’s mother Ninette. The arrogant chef also has big plans to kick off his grand opening.

Sadly that event ends with a blazing fire and the demise of Phillippe Chanson. The man had made a few enemies including some of his staff but also includes Ninette and JJ and who knows who else.

With Valentines Day right around the corner, Maggie has made some plans of her own but with another dead body and her mother and her friend entwined in the case, she knows there can be no celebrating until she clears their names. She also has another mystery to solve . . . someone is sending her romantic gifts and the mystery man is not her beloved husband. When things take a creepy turn she knows she doesn’t have a secret admirer . . . she has a stalker and she may need help to get them off her tail.

I just love the characters in this series and having six of them have one of the happiest days of their lives together really warmed by heart. But you can’t have a trip to Pelican with drama and murder and Ellen Byron encases these characters in another fantastic mystery.

In Cajun Kiss of Death, the egotistical chef is killed in a way the damages the bridge on the main thoroughfare in and out of Pelican. That brings a wonderful opportunity to bring the ferry back to get people across the Mississippi. We have a ferry nearby that we try to take at least once each summer. With COVID and our busy family, we have not had the pleasure the last couple of years and I really miss it. It was a bit of a hassle for the people of Pelican but Maggie grew to enjoy it and I bet others did too.

The murder investigation had a lot of moving parts and with some of the staff saying at the B&B Maggie and her family were able to get a greater insight into their lives. This also gave Maggie a unique opportunity she may not have had otherwise. I really enjoy the way the whole family got involved in trying to bring a killer to justice, especially after another murder. The clues were unique and the big reveal was masterful. I felt like a fly on the wall and was completely entertained.

In addition to the main mystery of the book, there were a plethora of subplots and when I got to the epilogue I knew why. Sadly this 7th installment is the final book in this series but the author gives her readers a terrific mystery and her characters one heck of a send-off. There are many happily ever afters but one thing is very clear . . . “Crozat will always be there . . . for however long forever lasts”.

I will miss my virtual trips to Pelican and I will genuinely miss these characters but I bid them a fond farewell. I also want to thank Ellen Byron for sharing them with us for 7 marvelous mysteries. Reading them was time well spent and brought me hours of enjoyment. I hope they bring as much joy to future readers. I highly recommend them all. For me, they were all Perfect Escapes.