This is a great second book in this murder series. It is recommend you read the novels in order of publication. Reading out of order is okay but there is backgound in each book...

Take a trip to the Big Easy with this installment in this wonderful series. I should say Bog Easy adjacent to our fictional town of Pelican. I had to run back to the previous installments so I was fully prepared for this one, but it can be read as a standalone. Wear your beard and be prepared to enjoy the ride.

I've read a few cosy mysteries set in New Orleans and this one did not disappoint. It was a great holiday themed cozy mystery and the author had a fun voice that I enjoyed reading.

This is the 4th book in the Cajun Country cozy mystery series by Ellen Byron. While I’m usually a stickler for reading a series in order I have not read the previous books but still enjoyed this one. While this review is for the book I also partially listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrator was fantastic.

It’s Mardi Gras season in the small town if Pelican, Louisiana and our heroine Magnolia “Maggie” Crozat is called into service to replace her sick Gran-Mere on the judging panel for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen teenage pageant. In trying to pick a winner one of the judges is killed, another is almost killed, a body is found, historic flooding, secrets and lies abound for both people and for historic plantations,. Maggie has to pick a pageant winner, solve a murder, and try to not get killed herself in the process.

This was a fun and quaint cozy mystery filled with interesting and likable characters and southern small town quirkiness. I was going to give this 4 stars but one certain part I found ridiculous. As a lifelong Southerner myself I found it ridiculous that an antique family heirloom cast iron pot would get thrown out because said pot got licked by a dog. Sorry, would not happen and that bugged me. Re-season the pot, stick it in a 500 degree oven for an hour and any germs from the dog would be burned off. You wouldn’t just throw it out! And for that it’s 3 stars and not 4 for me.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.**

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron was a charming read that I really enjoyed. I’m new to cozy mysteries but really enjoyed this book’s atmosphere and characters.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I discovered this series a while back and it’s great. A bit of a mystery, tension, and the wit it’s been written with makes it a perfect cosy reading.

Attending New Orleans during Mardi Gras has always appealed to me. Unfortunately, my dislike of crowds have prevented that from becoming a reality. Sharing the adventures of this book were much more satisfying and enjoyable.

This is the first Ellen Byron book I have read and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy.
Actually, I did not expect the book to be that good, I was just looking to entertain myself for a while, but the surprise is that I found a very interesting and very well written story, with a good dose of humor, danger and of course, crime.
The story takes place in the small town of Pelican, Louisiana, in Mardi Gras neither more nor less when a flood interrupts the development of the festivities leaving the body of a stranger behind the Crozat Plantation B&B, belonging to the family of our protagonist, Maggie Crozat. From that moment on, a series of sometimes serious and sometimes funny events will lead us to the end of the story and the discovery of the culprit.
I give it five stars and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have some fun with the adventures of Miss Crozat.

This is a very late review, but I wanted to read this before reading the newest book in the series. I really liked how the author included lots of small-town Louisiana Mardi-Gras events in the story. Most people only think of the New Orleans Mardi Gras and assume all towns celebrate the same way. In fact, I think their celebrations (having lived in LA for 4 years) are much more interesting than the one in the big city. In this installment, Maggie (the main character) investigates the identity of a stranger killed in a flood and is drawn into judging a queen pageant. The addition of the young women contestants is a nice touch, as each has a very unique personality and very unique issues. Maggie also struggles with whether her relationship with her boyfriend Bo is meant to last. A great mix of romance and mystery and Louisiana culture!

The delightful setting of Pelican, Louisiana and the Crozat B & B continues to enchant the reader in this book in the Cajun Country Mystery series. Maggie and her family are getting ready for Mardi Gras in Pelican including the famous gumbo cook-off that her dad, Tug, participates in every year. He even has a special cast iron pot that he keeps in the safe that has been passed down in his family. Also Maggie is reluctantly filling in for her grand mere as a judge in the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen contest. This was interesting and I learned a lot about the rules of these type of contests in this book. I also liked that it brought in new characters to the story. There is also a mystery, a little romance, some laughs and some mayhem thrown in. This series continues to be one of my favorites and I can't wait for the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a really fun read with a great lead character. I loved Maggie. She was credible and so endearing. The story too was plausible and kept me hooked. I couldn't wait for Maggie to uncover the identity of the culprit. I loved the setting, I loved the language and I loved how busy the town of Pelican was with Mardi Gras approaching and Maggie trying the solve the crime. This really was a good read. Ellen Byron is a skilled writer and really knows how to draw the reader in and keep them interested right up until the final page. .

Typical cozy - great setting and characters. Plot was a little thin, but how can you argue with Louisiana during Mardi Gras?

Pelican, Louisiana is recovering from a flood.
During the flood the body of an older man
washes up on the Crozat property. Who is
this man? How did he die? Why was he on
the Crozat property?
Magnolia Crozat better known as Maggie
helps her parents( Ninette and Tug) and
her Gran-mere at the Crozat Plantation
Bed & Breakfast.
Gran-mere falls ill so a Maggie takes over
as a judge for the Miss Teen Pelican Mardi
Gras Gumbo Queen Contest, A contest
Maggie of which she never approved.
The chairman of the judges has already
decided who should win because of whose
daughter she is and the position the family
holds in the community plus the family
would be apt to donate some of their
antiques to the Pelican Historical Society.
This man has a lot to do with the Society.
He also had wanted to bring an exhibition
to Pelican about the Louisiana Orphan
Train. This train brought numerous orphans
to Louisiana in the early 1900’s. These
children were provided homes and raised
in Louisiana. It was interesting learning the
historical information about this phenomenon.
Then the chairman changed his mind about
the exhibit. Why did he abort the Orphan
Train exhibit idea?
Then he is shot!!! He dies after running his
car into the back of Maggie’s car. Who killed
him? Was the killing of the older unknown man
related to the killing of the contest judge?
Is there a connection between the two men?
There is a variety of characters involved in
the Pelican Mardi Gras Festival Activities
that all add flavor not only to the gumbo
being made but to the contest and murder
mystery. There are plenty of well created
suspects to sift through to find the culprit.
Mix a taste of deceit, secrets, murders, social
issues (autism, veterans and teen pregnancy),
deft description, historical fiction, romance
and plenty of southern humor makes this
story an intriguing, suspenseful and dramatic
read with mouthwatering recipes at the end.
This is book # 4 in the Cajun Country Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Mardi Gras Murder.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books via Net Gallery
for the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and
my own.

Mardi Gras Murder sounded really promising, but for some reason, the characters and the story just didn’t quite click for me, which was a shame. In part, this could be because I haven’t read the previous three books in the series and so may be missing some valuable insight and linking material. I did enjoy the humour of the story though and also the link back to events during the 1920s. The story is well written, so I think readers who are already familiar with the characters and their tone/behaviour will probably really enjoy it.

A torrential rainfall hits the small town of Pelican, Louisiana, causing flooding and massive damage. After the flood waters recede, the only death was a stranger who was found in a ditch near the Crozat Plantation B&B. Maggie Crozat feels it is her family's responsibility to determine who this man is and once it is determined that he was murders, not drowned, who killed him. It is also Mardi Gras season and the tourist still expect celebrations so the town is trying to move forward. As the town prepares for the local pageant. Maggie is tapped to be a judge when her grandmother ends up with pneumonia. Throw in the opening of the Louisiana Orphan Train exhibit, the Gumbo competition, Maggie finding a painting that has another one underneath, and a possible treasure hunt and Maggie is extremely busy. When a local man is also murdered, Maggie works with the police to determine who the murderer is and why.

There are a few things I really enjoy about this series. First is the customs and way of life that is shared with the guests and the reader. We learn about the Mardi Gras celebrations as well as the intricacies of small town Louisiana living. The characters and their relationships also bring so much to this series. When Maggie's beau, Bo and his cousin Ru head off to New York to get information on the murder victim, Maggie is left to investigate on her own. I love the phonecalls from New York sharing the goings on and the way Ru ingratiates himself with the New York police department, (note sarcasm here). Throw in the contestants in the pageant, Maggie's family and you have a good character driven story. Don't think the murder was not a well-written one, as that is not my intention. It gave us plenty of suspects as the author delves in the past of Pelican and gives us a bit of history involving the Orphan Train. I figured out the motive for the murders early on, but the perpetrator was not as easy to figure out. There were plenty of suspects and since I had no idea of who I suspected, I just enjoyed the ride. The showdown was wonderful, well-plotted and unexpected. Those final scenes had me on the edge of my seat with a great ending. I definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a well-written and plotted cozy mystery, with great characters, interesting twists and a bit of historical information shared within the storyline. It will not disappoint.

I had not read the first 3 books in the series before reading this one and I think that was okay. There was a bit of characterization that probably would have meant more if I had, but I enjoyed the read and it worked well as a standalone book too. I have already purchased the first 3 books and will be reading them soon. This is a well written story with a few twists, but most especially the ending! I did not see it co.ing and love it when an author is able to stump me, which doesn't happen too often! Enjoyable clean, cozy mystery with good pacing and twists and turns. Give it a try. I'm glad I did.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC copy of the book. The opinions expressed above are my own.

Ellen Byron is a new author for me but I found the book to work well as a standalone mystery.
A torrential rain hits the small town of Pelican, Louisana. After the waters finally recede, a stranger's dead body is found. It is up to Maggie Crozat to find out the identity of the stranger and solve a mystery that seems to get bigger and bigger the more she investigates.
This was so much fun to read especially learning about Mardi Gras, Gumbo pageants, orphan trains, and much more. The characters and story are well fleshed out and the book is well worth a read for those who love cozy mysteries.

Another great addition to this series. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book. I feel like the characters are friends that I can't wait to check in on.

A new author for and the fourth books in this series. I was able to follow the events as it works well as a standalone. The ending will surprise. I highly recommend this book and series. Cajon recipes are included.

I have not read the other books in this series, however when I met the author at ALA in 2018 in New Orleans, I was charmed by her.

This book was populated with colorful characters and so much fun! There's a mystery painting and potential treasure, an oh-so-Southern beauty pageant, murder mystery, family history, and so much more!

Floods and festival season have brought out ALL the characters (oh, so many characters!) in Pelican, Louisiana, and it seems like everyone is a suspect for something. Maggie and Bo are adorable, and they overcome a lot of relationship tension in this book. I was rooting for them to pull through and pull together to solve this mystery.

Speaking of the mystery, it is a good one. I didn't feel lost not having read the other books in the series. The clues were good - not too obvious, and with some misdirection thrown in. There is a lot of Southern charm, but also a lot of Southern sass, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.