Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy suspense from author Ellen Byron. Never disappoints, highly recommend

I had not read anything by this author previously but it didn't matter, this cosy crime stands alone nicely and was a very enjoyable Halloween read. I had saved it for now and was glad I did. I liked the characters and the story was entertaining, perfect for a cosy night in. I also really liked the recipes included. I will certainly look out for more books by this author.

French Quarter Fright Night is the third Vintage Cookbook cozy mystery by Ellen Byron. Released 3rd Sept 2024 by Severn House (a new publisher for this series), it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in second quarter 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a delightfully light and humorous cozy set in and around a fictitious stately home in New Orleans and the shops and tourist attractions associated with it. Protagonist and amateur sleuth Ricki James-Diaz runs a vintage cookbook and kitschy kitchen supply store in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum and is a transplant to Louisiana from California.

Some of the characterizations and plot developments are admittedly a bit over the top and there are some twists which require a healthy suspension of disbelief, but all in all, it's a pretty good example of why the shopfront cozy subgenre is so popular. Ricki's internal Zen monologue ("I choose to feel calm" etc) was slightly intrusive at some points, but overall it added whimsy and a little humor to the read.

The eclectic mix of eccentric characters left an open field for most of the book for "whodunit" and why. The denouement and resolution are self contained in this volume and it works well as a standalone. With 3 books extant in the series, and having apparently found a new home with a new publisher and set to continue, it would be a nice choice for a mini-weekend binge read or buddy read. As with many shopfront/cooking allied cozy series, this one includes some bonus recipes in the back.

Four stars. The author is prolific and competent.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

I loved loved loved this book! I can't wait to read more in this series. Halloween, New Orleans, and murder? What else can you ask for?

This one was just mediocre for me. The pieces should work, and Byron’s writing is solid as usual, but there is just no spark to hold my interest. The characters and storyline fall a bit flat. I’m hoping that the next one in the series engages me more.

I received an advance release copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT by Ellen Byron
The Third Vintage Cookbook Mystery

New Orleans loves a holiday and it’s going all out for Halloween. With a multitude of activities all over town Ricki James-Diaz and her co-workers decide to get in on the action by transforming the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum into a haunted house with tableaus inside the mansion and an old shed turned into a crypt outside. During the dress rehearsal the staff are shocked to find a real dead body inside the crypt. The victim happens to be the insufferable assistant of their new next door neighbor, the same woman making their lives a misery. With the New Orleans Police Department beyond busy with all of the Halloween happenings and since pretty much everyone at Bon Vee is a suspect it only makes sense they work together once again to solve yet another murder at their property.

Ricki's LA past comes back to haunt her in the third Vintage Cookbook Mystery. While preparing for her first Halloween in New Orleans since childhood she has to deal with neighbors causing problems and ultimately comes face to face with a person from her past she'd rather exorcise from her life. Add murder to the mix as well as hints to her own family mystery and it's another challenging time for Ricki James-Diaz.

I love Halloween and I really enjoyed seeing how the people of New Orleans and the characters of the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series celebrate. The matching costumes of Benny and Jenny, detailed descriptions of decorations, and the camaraderie of friends celebrating make me want to spend Halloween with them in the Big Easy.

I really enjoyed not only the mystery, but how Ricki and her co-workers investigate; working together, albeit with different methods. I appreciate how Ricki deals with disappointment in regards to her investigatory work and her relationships. I also liked learning more about Nina and seeing how she keeps Ricki on her toes. And, of course, I love the addition of Red.

Combining the celebratory atmosphere of New Orleans with a well plotted mystery FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT is the perfect mystery read to get you into the Halloween spirit!

3.5 stars

In this third book in the 'Vintage Cookbook Mystery' series, a murder victim is found in a Halloween horror exhibit. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

Thirtyish cookbook enthusiast Miracle Fleur de Lis James-Diaz (aka Ricki James-Diaz) was born in New Orleans, spent many years in California, and is now back in the Big Easy. Ricki owns and runs a gift shop, called Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop in a New Orleans attraction called 'Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.'

The museum is located in a refurbished mansion, and Ricki has an idea for attracting more visitors during the Halloween season. Ricki suggests converting the Culinary House Museum into a haunted house, and calling the spooky attraction 'Bon Veeevil.' This notion goes over big with the museum's manager and employees, and everyone gets on board to make it happen. Suggestions include a tomb with a dead body; an elderly abandoned bride in a soiled gown; a bubbling cauldron with witches; zombies and vampires; cobwebs and bats; etc.

Everything is going well at the Culinary House Museum until Hollywood heartthrob Blaine Taggert - whom Ricki knew when she lived in California - buys the mansion next door, called Duncan-Sejour. The Duncan-Sejour mansion is being prepared for Blaine's arrival by his assistant, Miranda Fine, who's a difficult combative woman.

Miranda sends complaint after complaint to the head of the Culinary House Museum, grousing about the attraction's trash bins, parking allotment, noisy visitors, and more. The museum folks fear the Halloween haunted house will really send Miranda over the edge, but that doesn't happen. When Blaine and his entourage arrive in town, it turns out the movie star knows nothing about Miranda's harassment campaign, and he makes her stop. Blaine even agrees to turn Duncan-Sejour into a Halloween haunted house alongside the museum's spooky exhibit. The two mansions are set up with the requisite frightening rooms and a 'dress rehearsal' is scheduled. Shockingly, the 'dead body' in Bon Veeevil's tomb turns out to be all too real: it's Miranda Fine, who's been murdered.

Amateur sleuth Ricki is afraid all the people at the Culinary House Museum, including herself, will be suspects, and she decides to investigate the homicide herself. Ricki even gets a grudging 'okay' from police detective Nina Rodriguez, whom Ricki has helped in the past. The only caveat is that Ricki has to immediately share any information she gets with Nina.

Fans of cozy mysteries know how this goes: Ricky sneaks around; sticks her nose in everywhere; follows people; asks questions; searches for clues; and manages to make some discoveries. Before the perpetrator is discovered, there's a second incident, involving a fire, which raises the stakes all around. All this leads to an exciting climax where the culprit is revealed.

Additional plotlines add interest to the story. For example, Ricki was abandoned by her birth mother and raised in an adoptive home. As an adult, Ricki is searching for biological relatives, and she's having some success. Also, Ricki and her neighbor Virgil - a famous television chef - are co-parenting two dogs called Thor and Princess. There's an attraction between Ricki and Virgil, and the possibility of romantic sparks.

Of course, the book's setting, New Orleans during Halloween, provides a wonderful ambiance for the story. The Big Easy is decorated; the pubs have beer crawls and Halloweenie contests; people wear costumes; and there's lots of partying and jollity.

Like her character Ricki James-Diaz, author Ellen Byron is a fan of vintage cookbooks, and the end of the book includes recipes from Byron's collection, such as Popcorn Balls and a Jack-O'-Lantern Cheese Ball.

This is a fun cozy mystery that's especially appropriate for the Halloween season.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ellen Byron, and Severn House for a copy of the book.

French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron welcomes in the fall season with a bang!

Can Ricki keep the Bon Vee staff from going to jail?

Ricki James-Diaz
Ricki is becoming a better person since coming back home to New Orleans. Not only is she finding out more about her birth family, but she is also finding a better life for herself, even if her old life popped in for an unexpected visit. Oh well, Ricki is the bigger person and will not let this matter slide over how happy she has been. I love how stubborn and tenacious Ricki was in this book. Along with being concerned for her family members who got in the crosshairs of her investigation. Ricki keeps proving how good the move from Los Angeles to New Orleans was for her.

The Mystery
Ricki and the rest of the Bon Vee staff were doing a quick dress rehearsal for their Haunted House tour, which ended when they found the dead assistant in their makeshift tomb instead of the dummy they had there. She was tasked with investigating why the assistant was found on Bon Vee's property instead of next door. Oh boy, was this one a doozy! I figured out who did it, but not the entire reason why! Wow, was that reason a big stupid one.

Five Stars
I am giving five stars to French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron. I recommend this book and the first two of this series. Ms. Byron has fooled me with them all, especially on the motive of why the killers have done it. She keeps me entertained with them all. I especially love the recipes in the back. She has some in the back of this one as well. I love how she includes what cookbook they came from and why she chose this recipe.

The recipes are Golden Pumpkin Loaf, Pumpkin Chiffon Pie, Chicken and Oyster Broth, Popcorn Balls, Jack-O-Lantern Cheese Ball, and a recipe she says not to make called Creamy Pimiento Ring.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Halloween, New Orleans and a murder, what more could you ask for. A great read anytime of year. I highly recommend French Quarter Fright Night the third book in the Vintage Cookbook by Ellen Byron. Thank you Severn House, Ellen Byron and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellen Byron, and Severn House for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series. This story takes place in New Orleans during Halloween time at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum which is the largest house in the garden district. It was the home of Genevieve "Vee" Charbonnet who was a big name in her day and her home was turned into a museum. All of a sudden a person from Rickis past moves into town and next door, movie star Blaine Taggart along with his motley crew and personal assistant. While preparing for their haunted house, their new neighbor is giving them nothing but problems. Finally the haunted house is all set up and during the test run a dead body is found in their haunted house. It's the dead body of Blaines assistant.

There are a lot of people who could have possibly killed her as more information is discovered. Problem is it's almost everyone including Blaine. Can Ricki figure out who the killer is before someone else gets murdered?

This had some good mystery to it along with talk of Halloween decorations and festivities. There is a bigger story line that involves more than just the mystery and I feel this book really explores that story line. There is even potential for a romance to happen. If you're looking for more than just a mystery book this is the story for you. The other two in the series include Bayou Book Thief and Wined and Died in New Orleans .

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #ellenbyron #frenchquarterfrightnight #severnhousepublishers

"Welcome to the Bon Veeevil Festival of Fear! Prepare for the spookiest night of your life."
French Quarter Fright Night is the third book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series and this takes place in New Orleans during Halloween. In the book we follow Ricki and her friends as they investigate the murder that happened. This book kept me guessing until the very end and was a page turner from beginning to end. This will get you in the mood for Halloween and was the perfect cozy read for the fall season. The author did a great job writing this one and I look foward to reading more books by her. Overall this was a great cozy mystery read that I enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves a good cozy mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for this cozy read in exchange of my honest review of French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron.

Overall this was such a cute little Halloween book!! I love the laughs that the characters gave me and I think this really got me into the holiday spirit.

A haunted house in New Orleans, a historical cookbook seller, and a problematic neighbor who happens to be one of the biggest movie stars. What could go wrong?

In this cozy mystery we are taken to New Orleans during Halloween as Ricki and her co-workers at the Bon Vee house. As they prep for the holiday they have a new obstacle, a horrible new neighbor. Tension rises to a fever pitch until one day the next door movie star's assistant turns up dead and everyone at Bon Vee is a suspect.

There were a lot of great elements to this story. The cast of characters and the setting of New Orleans during Halloween hit all the right beats. Unfortunately that was about the extent of it. The "will they won't they" relationship fell flat. The mystery itself had very little clues to keep the reader's attention and there was very little guessing about the end, which kind of came from nowhere.

French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron is an engaging addition to the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series that expertly blends Halloween fun with intriguing mystery twists. The vibrant setting of the French Quarter adds a festive backdrop, while the well-crafted plot keeps you guessing until the end. Byron strikes the perfect balance between spooky and suspenseful, making this installment a delightful read for fans of both cozy mysteries and seasonal thrills. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A must-read for anyone looking to celebrate the Halloween spirit with a touch of culinary charm!

Dollycas's Thoughts

Halloween in New Orleans is made even better with the Bon Veeevil Festival of Fear. The Bon Vee Culinary House Museum sets up a haunted house that they say will be the spookiest night of your life. Ricki James-Diaz knows the haunted tours will be great for business and a lot of fun too. But their new neighbor's assistant is giving the museum a lot of flack. The new neighbor is Blaine Taggart, movie actor, and someone Ricki hoped she would never see again.  Ricki has no choice when his disagreeable assistant is found dead in the fake tomb in Bon Vee's Halloween display, especially when she and all the others at the museum fill the suspect list.

Spooky? Yes! Scary? Yes! But it looks like is going to be up to Ricki and her friends to bring the killer down before they have the ghost of a chance to kill again.

______

I am so happy this series has found a new home because these character's stories were just beginning.

Ricki James-Diaz is getting comfortable in New Orleans and continues to learn more about her birth family. She is friendly, organized, likable, and quite an amateur sleuth. She shows strength in this story when part of her tragic past comes to town. The author has surrounded her protagonist with some quirky characters but they all feel genuine. I love all their interactions. They all continue to grow and entertain readers so well.

I enjoyed the Halloween theme and Ms. Bryon's world-building. Her words painted vivid pictures of every scene and the characters that inhabited that scene. She pulls her readers in and holds them tight as the story unfolds. I am also a fan of vintage cookbooks. I would walk out of Ricki's shop with bags of them. There are 5 yummy recipes after the story and one I have seen before and I agree with Ellen "Don't make this recipe!" My mother tried to serve it once and it was an epic fail. The New Orleans setting always comes alive. Halloween must be a blast in the Big Easy.

Ms. Bryon has written a great mystery with twists, turns, and red herrings. There ended up being an abundance of suspects and several strange happenings that entangled the mystery. It all kept me guessing right up to the very end. Bringing people from Ricki's Hollywood past was an excellent way to not only put forth a complicated mystery but to also give Ricki some closure. The author is also an expert in infusing humor in generous amounts throughout the entire story. I was caught laughing out loud more than once.

French Quarter Fright Night is a fabulous whodunit. I am truly invested in these characters and the sweet ending leaves me hoping for more Vintage Cookbook Mysteries. I highly recommend the entire series. You really can't go wrong with anything written by Ellen Byron.

Ricki James-Diaz is enjoying life in New Orleans, working in the little vintage cookbook shop she owns (located in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum), and preparing for Halloween at the museum shop. When an old acquaintance of her husband who is a famous actor comes to town and situates himself next door to the museum, things begin to go bad. Blaine Taggart has an exceptionally difficult assistant named Miranda. Miranda is found dead in a Halloween display, and Ricki is determined to find the killer.

I wanted to read French Quarter Fright Night because I enjoy Ellen Byron's cozy mysteries, and especially love the Vintage Cookbook series. I collect vintage cookbooks and also sell them online, so I love the little vintage cookbook/cookware details in these books. I also enjoy the New Orleans setting!

I think this is my favorite of the series so far. The Halloween setting added a lot to the atmosphere. The staff at Bon Vee has become a tight group of friends, as well as colleagues, at this point and they all want to have this murder solved. It was fun watching their progress on the mystery along with the Halloween festivities at the museum.

There were a number of good suspects for this murder, and I enjoyed Ricki's sleuthing. This is a fast paced mystery with some snappy dialogue and little touches of humor.

Of course, I also loved details about Ricki's shop, like:

"After placing bids on a handful of cookbooks being sold via an online auction, Ricki went through every bookshelf to confirm each cookbook was in its proper place. She organized them first by decade, then type, followed by theme. She found a couple of 1960s community cookbooks on the 1950s hardcover shelf. One featured appetizer recipes, the other was all about fondues. She moved them to their proper locations. ‘I have more cookbooks from the 1960s than any other decade,’ she said to Red, the only other shop occupant. ‘That’s my new go-to destination if anyone ever invents a time tunnel.’" (eBook location 927).

I highly recommend French Quarter Fright Night for other fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for readers who have an interest in New Orleans or vintage cookbooks.

Ellen Byron is hands down one of my very favorite mystery writers, and I was delighted that this wonderful cozy series was continuing with book three. You could certainly read this as a standalone, but why would you when books one and two are just as excellent, and you’ll pick up on some interesting backstory. (I can also attest to book two being a wonderful listen as an audiobook.)

Here in book three, it’s Halloween time in New Orleans, and Ellen’s descriptions make this a festive fall read. That’s one aspect of Ellen’s writing that I thoroughly enjoy – each of her books evoke a strong sense of place and allow for me to feel fully transported. There’s so much here about New Orleans food and culture that I found fascinating and made this an immersive reading experience. Armchair travel at its best.

The mystery is solid and wonderfully paced. I was annoyed with life when I had to put this down and take care of adulting tasks. I investigated right along with Ricki and her crew of friends. Speaking of her friends…I adore all the supporting characters – they are truly unique and so entertaining. And the pets are especially fun – Thor and Princess are the dogs Ricki co-parents with her neighbor, and Gumbo and Jambalaya are the peacocks at the museum. There’s also the addition of another adorable bet in this story that readers are guaranteed to love.

There is an overarching, ongoing search for Ricki’s family throughout the series and I loved the facts Ricki was able to piece together in this entry.

Five stars, and I can’t wait for more! @severnhouseimprint

I love this 3rd book in the series! The vintage cookbooks are a sweet draw to the museum gift shop and to my heart as well. Ellen Byron writes such a fun, quick paced story in the fabulous New Orleans, where fun, mischief, good food and murder happen.

A blast from Ricki’s past threatens the Bon Vee House Halloween celebration.

FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT is the third book in author Ellen Byron’s fun and cozy Crescent City-set VINTAGE COOKBOOK MYSTERY series, and the evocative atmosphere of the Garden District manor house-turned-museum is the perfect setting for this Halloween-themed tale of murder. An old acquaintance from Ricki’s past disturbs her healing equilibrium and may threaten the peaceful existence of the Bon Vee in the Garden District.

Miracle Fleur de Lis James-Diaz, or Ricki as she is known to all, is the main character and amateur sleuth of the series. Surprisingly, she’s given a subtle nod of approval to snoop by the lead detective investigating the murder of the latest victim discovered on the grounds of the historical Bon Vee House, the obnoxious personal assistant of their new neighbor. Ricki marshals her resources to dig into the background, current activities, and future plans of the deceased for clues to her murder with the intention of clearing the names of the museum staff.

The plot delves into Ricki’s past and her history with her deceased estranged husband, Chris, when the new owner of the home next to Bon Vee proves to be none other than Blaine Taggart, Chris’s former best friend who contributed somewhat to his accidental death. There was trouble brewing between the staff at Bon Vee and Blaine’s due to a constant barrage of unfounded complaints lodged against the museum by Blaine’s assistant. The story builds bit by bit, developing the tense enmity between the neighboring properties and setting a sinister stage until it is almost a relief when the murder occurs.

The author’s storytelling is engaging and compelling: the story flew by! I liked the glimpses of Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, the grande dame and owner of Bon Vee, thawing in her attitude and manner toward her newly revealed cousin, Ricki, and I literally laughed out loud over the many clever quips and fun banter throughout the book, especially when it involved Cookie or Theo. I enjoyed the interesting historical tidbits that were worked into the story, including the collectible cookbooks and details of the vintage kitchen items. There is also a welcome menagerie of pets to love. With a variety of possible suspects, motives, and subsequent plot twists, I was absorbed in the story and highly entertained from start to finish.

I recommend FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT to cozy mystery enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy stories set in New Orleans and fans of the previous books in the series.

I enjoy this series because it brings back memories of Louisiana and my family. While they didn't live in New Orleans, they did live in the southern part, and I could imagine the accents and people very easily. This cozy has a diverse set of characters, some crazy moments, and inspiration, too.

Several aspects of the book kept me entertained. Ricki is searching for her family, and with the advances in DNA testing, you can find more family than you might have ever wanted. There is the neighbor who is complaining about everything. We all have one of those on our street. However, when she ends up dead, it is up to the crew at Bon Vee to uncover the truth. Each character has their strengths in helping uncover clues to put the pieces together. Luckily, the local detective doesn't mind them sleuthing on their own as long as they share any information with her. Now, this detective is smart to include them instead of them going off on their own and causing more problems.

I almost thought there would be a love triangle for Ricki, but luckily, the actor, Blaine, really wants something else. I won't spoil what he wants; you will have to read the book to find out. It was interesting how often Blaine inserted himself into Ricki's life. He has a motive, but is it a good one?

There is a new addition to the family, a kitten they call Red while searching for her owners. By the end of the book, the kitten has a new name: Red Beans. It is such a cute name and very appropriate for Louisiana.

The mystery is well crafted, and I did not suspect the killer until near the end. Even then, I wasn't sure. There were too many red herrings pointing me in different directions.

I really enjoy this series, and I can't wait to see what happens next for Ricki, her search for her family, and the cookbook store within Bon Vee.

We give this book 5 paws up.