When crates of very old, very valuable wine are discovered under Bon Vee, Charbonnet family members no one has ever heard of start crawling out of the woodwork. When a dead body is discovered on the property and Eugenia is at the top of the suspect list, Ricki makes it her business to clear her name, weather be damned.

This is the second book in the series, and I liked it just as much as the first book – maybe even more, since the local sheriff seems to have moved past his distrust of the Charbonnet family. He’s still a good ol’ boy, but he appears to be more competent at his job than he seemed in the first book. I like Ricki and the other recurring characters, and the way they work so well together. I liked learning a bit about traditions in bayou country, but the worry about a potential hurricane – or even a tropical storm – felt all too real.

There were a couple of puzzles to solve in this book, and I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was for one of them, but couldn’t figure out if the events were related, so I wasn’t sure who was behind the other. I was astonished when the killer was revealed, as I never even thought about that character being guilty.

I look forward to the next book in the series to find out if Roo is indeed a changed man, and to learn what happens next for Ricki, Eugenia and the rest.

This is a cozy mystery. Ricki's the bumbling detective who managed to stumble across a few clues, but it's not really a clue-based mystery. Her boss is the top suspect for the murder, so Ricki's determined to find as many people as possible with motives and to tell the detective about them. Then she's determined to prove that one of the Charbonnet relatives that have shown up isn't really a Charbonnet. It won't save her boss from a murder charge, but, hey. Ricki tried to sneak a used cup to get that person's DNA, yet she's upset when someone else did the same thing to her. Lots of double-standards in this book. A man who drives drunk and cheats on his wife was basically given a pass because 'his wife drove him to it.'

Things really turned absurd by the end. Whodunit's motive didn't make logical sense as a motive for murder. And rather than pass on information to the police like Ricki had been doing all along, she decided to withhold critical information from the police (who were present and better equipped to handle the situation) and instead confronted the armed killer by herself, without a weapon or backup. Seriously foolish woman.

It's the 2nd book in a series. You don't need to read the previous book to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the first mystery. There was no sex. There were a few uses of bad language.

Transplanted California girl Ricki James-Diaz is trying to calm her fear of hurricanes, run her vintage ccokbook and kitchenware shop, and overcome her fear of social media. When a cache of very valuable wines is discovered in Bon Vee, Ricki posts the find to social media which manages to unearth Charbonnets from all over who all want a piece of the prize.

When one of the most obnoxious is found killed with an antique meat mallet from Ricki's shop, Ricki is on the case to prove that none of her friends at Bon Vee had anything to do with it despite all of them having run-ins with the victim in which they threatened to kill him.

Bon Vee and the Charbonnet's restaurant have been facing hard times because of Covid and various weather disasters, the wine find would be a real lifesaver. Ricki needs to sort through quite a variety of suspects to find the guilty party.

Meanwhile, Ricki is still on the hunt for her birth parents and learns that she is a Charbonnet, great-granddaughter of the famous Miss Vee. But the generations in between are still a mystery.

This was an engaging story with interesting characters. I enjoyed the strong bonds of family and friendship growing among the cast of characters.

Absolutely loved it! Author Ellen Byron has yet another hit cozy series on her hands - Wined and Died in New Orleans, the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, is a fast-paced whirlwind of a story, and includes everything from long-lost (and greedy!!!) relatives to a hidden wine cache! When one of the clan is found bludgeoned to death with a vintage meat mallet, this reader was kept guessing right up until the very end when protagonist (and proprietress of the super fun Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop) Ricki starts to unravel the crime. If anyone can make me laugh while reading a murder mystery, it's Ellen Byron, and I recommend any of her books, but especially this newest release, to one and all! A+ and 5 stars!

This is book 2 in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series, and like it predessor, it's a quick read that will have you falling in love with uptown new Orleans and the the Bon Vee cast of characters all over again! As transplant Ricki is dealing with hurricanes and even more chaos at Bon Vee, she suddenly has competition for too many things in her life- some surprises and some just out right crazy shocks. But it is NOLA, and there was always a reason she found herself staying in NOLA and not going back to California. Fans of the first book will love seeing the characters evolve, and will be looking for more changes to come in the third book!

When Ellen Byron launched the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series with Bayou Book Thief, I complained that amateur sleuth Ricki James was a bit of a mess. She’s still a little too impulsive for my taste, but she’s growing on me. And, I love the cast of characters in this latest in the series, Wined and Died in New Orleans.

The Bon Vee Culinary House Museum has the same financial woes as other New Orleans mansions, but the Charbonnet family is determined to continue to operate the house. It does need some repairs, though, and, in the process, crates of wine are uncovered, buried there over one hundred fifty years earlier by the first owner, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki James-Diaz, who runs the mansion’s vintage cookbook shop, uses the discovery to promote the shop, posting on social media. But, her post brings family members out of the woodwork, pushing claims on the house and any inheritances, including the proceeds from an auction of the wine.

Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, president of the Bon Vee Foundation, isn’t the only one to express anger at the newcomers. But, when one of the claimants is murdered, Eugenia tops the suspect list. Ricki feels guilty about her media post, and turns amateur sleuth to protect the woman who gave her a second chance. Although a hurricane is bearing down on New Orleans, it could be family turmoil that destroys Bon Vee and Ricki’s future.

Family takes center stage in Wined and Died in New Orleans. Byron, author of the award-winning Cajun Country mysteries, combines setting, vintage cookbooks and recipes, along with family, in this second delectable cozy mystery. And, once again, I’m grateful that Byron and her publisher include a cast of characters!

When a cache of 200-year-old Madeira wine is discovered under the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, the fringe Charbonnet relatives come out of the woodwork wanting their share. When one of them is murdered and family doyenne Eugenia is suspected, Ricki leaps into action. With hurricanes threatening and family secrets to unearth, this book is a tense mystery with some plot twists the reader will not see coming. Enjoyable.

Solid foundation that catered to the eclectic cast of characters, a New Orleans atmosphere and murder lurking to be committed before the adventure takes hold in this well-written drama that I could not put down. Found wealth always brings out family you never knew existed and that is what happens at Bon Vee and when said person is found dead, the proprietress becomes the primary suspect. Ricki knows that Eugenia is innocent, despite her acting weird and that is another subplot, and begins an investigation to find the guilty party. As to the subplot, it explains Eugenia’s action which was a bonus in all that was going on. Ricki deals with a list of suspects who have stronger motives while uncovering clues to support those motives and the more she digs, the more someone doesn’t want to be exposed. This was a finely tuned mystery with engaging dialogue, a likable cast of characters, some who had a pivotal role, that would eventually lead us to the killer. This was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see where we go next with Ricki and her friends.

This second in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series builds on the promise of the debut title , Bayou Book Thief. Ricki's vintage cookbook and kitchenware shop, housed in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, is doing well but The museum needs repairs and money is tight. When crates of a very old wine, hidden long ago by the home's builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet, are discovered under the porch, it seems repair funding has been found. The decision is made to auction off the wine and use the money raised for much needed work. There's lots of excitement when the auction is announced but suddenly long-lost and previously unknown Charbonnets come crawling out of the woodwork - all wanting a cut from the auction proceeds. When one of the claimants is found dead Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, the head of the family becomes a suspect since she has the most to lose and because the murder weapon is found in her office. Ricki and her colleagues and friends pull together to find the killer and clear Eugenia's name. Ricki has her work cut out for her - training a college intern, filming a cooking video and dealing with the constant threat of hurricanes. In the process she learns family secrets - one of which involves her!
This a fast-paced cozy with quirky characters and lots of New Orleans atmosphere both climatic and culinary. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

Every thing I love in a cozy mystery is part of WINED AND DINED IN NEW ORLEANS. An amazing cast of characters who I’d love to mingle and chat with enhance the atmospheric setting of the grand old Bon Vee mansion. Great descriptions of the New Orleans area; from the decaying infrastructure, to the threat of hurricanes, the food and drink, and the mix of cultures are here in Ms. Byron’s rich narrative and visuals. Humor abounds throughout the story, and I really enjoyed the laugh-out-loud moments!

Ricki James-Diaz is a delightful protagonist who works hard to stock vintage cookbooks and rare kitchen items in her dream store, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop in the Bon Vee mansion. Ricki’s joined by Eugenia’s granddaughter, Olivia, who will be interning with them this semester. Olivia turns out to be a social media whiz and extremely helpful to Ricki. I really liked Olivia and hope to see her in future stories. I love Mordant, tour guide and handyman, who’s like a knight in shining armor for Bon Vee. Each returning character is unique in their own way and some I like more than others.

The mystery and double murders in this second novel center around several crates of rare wine Mordant uncovers that were hidden at the mansion years ago by ancestor, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. The wine is appraised and very valuable, and is to be auctioned off. Once OhNo!La breaks the news, Charbonnet relatives start crawling out of the woodwork! From France! From Dallas! From the Panhandle! It’s an amusing Charbonnet reunion with Eugenia secretly checking everyone’s DNA as they all want to claim a portion of the wine sale proceeds. Almost everyone is arguing and fighting with each other—and, of course, someone is murdered. What a suspect list! This story is so much fun and absorbing to read! Around this point, it’s only about 21% into the plot which just gets better, and better, and better!

In the midst of the alleged heirs fighting for their rights to the wine fortune; there is trouble inside the known Charbonnet Family. Brothers, Ralph and Hugo are acting suspicious. Chef Avril and husband, Wilder, are having problems, and Virgil has a new assistant, Carissa, who has taken an instant dislike to Ricki. The humor keeps on flowing!

More and more astounding surprises are revealed as the story moves forward. Could someone on the Bon Vee staff be a killer? You must read the story and see for yourself. All is revealed in the exciting and shocking conclusion to the story. I must say this is my personal favorite cozy mystery of 2022. I’d give it 10 Stars if I could! I highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans. I would read the first book before this one, if possible, to get to know the main characters. The author also treats readers to delicious recipes after the story.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishers. All opinions are my own.

WINED AND DIED IN NEW ORLEANS is the second book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Charming characters, a delightful vintage cookbook and kitchenware shop, the threat of a hurricane, and a murder that might be related to a long-lost treasure trove of rare wine, kept me glued to the pages. The setting of the enticing city of New Orleans only increased the appeal in this captivating story that is sure to please cozy mystery fans. With a dual mystery going on, protagonist Ricki has her hands full. Not only does she run her vintage cookbook and kitchenware shop set in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum (which I’d love to visit if it were real!), she’s trying to unravel her heretofore unknown family tree. Adopted at birth, she’s never known her true family and has decided to pursue finding them now that she’s returned to the city of her birth. I love how Ricki is close to her adoptive parents and, despite them living far away, she keeps in close contact. It’s obvious they were, and still are, a close family unit, which is heartwarming.

Ricki also becomes embroiled in trying to prove her mentor’s innocence when a body is found on the grounds of the museum. Tying the murder into the discovery of rare vintage wine along with distant relatives coming forward to claim their share keeps the story moving at a fast pace. And thrown in for good measure is a jealous rival for Ricki’s potential love interest. Ms. Bryon deftly weaves the strands of the tale together, making the story come alive with a strong descriptive voice. There were plenty of twists and turns to make me second guess the culprit several times, and upon the reveal a surprise awaited me. Wined and Died in New Orleans is another wonderful addition to Ms. Bryon’s delightful mysteries!

Another bonus in this series is the inclusion of mentions of vintage cookbooks along with recipes adapted from them for the home cook to try. With the theme of rare wine, it’s no surprise that the theme of the vintage cookbooks and recipes is wine-based.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bon Vee is a culinary museum in the heart of the garden district in New Orleans. As with any old house, particularly one operating as a museum, the maintenance is expensive and the bills are tough to cover. When the handyman finds several crates of ancient wine in the crawlspace, it seems their prayers have been answered... but their problems are just beginning! When cousins start coming out of the woodwork to lay claim to their share of the hidden treasure, tempers flare and people begin dropping.

The story was interesting and the characters are great, there was a lot of tension in the story both due to the killer on the loose and because of the threats to Bon Vee and to Ricki's budding relationship with Virgil. There was a lot going on in this book, which kept the story moving but kind of kept me from getting immersed in the characters and the setting. I missed seeing more of Ricki's store and the restaurants they frequented in the first book and I loved the part about her making a cooking video.

I do recommend this series, but I think I enjoyed the first one more than this. I will definitely be continuing the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

WINED AND DINED IN NEW ORLEANS by Ellen Byron is the second novel in the Vintage Cookbook cozy mystery series.

Just finished this beautiful cozy mystery novel.

This series is a love letter to New Orleans. Miracle, the protagonist, lived in California before she moved to New Orleans. She is a recent widow finding her bearings again. She was adopted by a nurse and her husband. One of the mysteries is Who are Her birth Parents?

In this story, several people claim to be related to the Charbonnet family. Eugenia, the Matriarch acts calm though she is really upset by an attempted challenge to the will and attempts to get money from her. One of the horrids is found dead and that horrible person was murdered. Unfortunately, Eugenia is a prime suspect. She is also Miracle's boss. Miracle decides to search for the real killer. Unfortunately, the real killer finds out about the search and puts Miracle's life at risk.

Really liked how Miracle, with the help of her crew, solves the murder.

To be honest, going into this book, I didn’t remember much about the first (I read a lot of cozies— they start to blend). What I do remember was a lot of diverse characters that I didn’t really connect with (despite their unique names) and a crazy cliffhanger ending. The good news- I got satisfaction with both! In book 1, I felt that the secondary characters were not distinct enough for me to remember who was who, but this story gave more focus to each supporting character and allowed them to establish their own personalities. And as for the cliffhanger, it was hinted at early and resolved throughout but left enough open to continue in further books. While I felt the first book struggled to set itself apart from other, similar series, I think the second has come into it’s own.