I love how cozy mysteries can just take you away to a different world and just let you enjoy the atmosphere. This Cajun Country series addition is no different; I loved getting to experience Mardi Gras in Cajun Country! Plus, there was a pretty good mystery to solve as well.

As Pelican, Louisiana recovers from a 100-year flood, it’s also time to get ready for Mardi Gras. That’s enough to keep any town busy, but add a mysterious body that washed in with the flood waters, and you’ve got trouble. Maggie, our heroine, ends up getting roped into judging the town’s annual beauty pageant, which is bad enough, but when her fellow judges start dropping like flies, things go from bad to worse. Can Maggie keep it all together and solve the mystery?

This is the fifth book in the series, but can certainly be read as a standalone - it was my fist time reading from this series and I didn’t have any trouble keeping up.

I really liked the atmosphere of the town - you feel like you’re deep in the bayou and I was so hungry for gumbo reading this book, it was really bad, lol. The mystery was also really compelling and there were enough suspects to keep me guessing (though I had some suspicions about the motivation).

The only thing that bothered me was that Maggie was a little rash. She - and some of the people around her - made some decisions that kind of bothered me. Like when they threw out an heirloom, multi-generation cast iron pot because the dogs licked it. Who does that?! I couldn’t believe it. But there does have to be some suspension of reality in any work of fiction, so I can let it pass.

Overall, this is a great cozy mystery that kept me very entertained. I am excited to check out the rest of this series!

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron is the fourth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series. Following a flood in Pelican, Louisiana, a body is discovered behind the Crozat Plantation B&B. The mysterious man is a stranger to the town, but Melanie wants to determine his identity. Her venture is sidelined when she has to take over as one of the judges for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant. When one of her fellow judges is murdered, Melanie has two murders to solve. This is a fun book which moved along quickly. Melanie and her family are typical southerners which is a good thing. I also enjoyed the historical aspect of the orphan train.

What a great read! I didn't feel I'd missed much, coming into the series with Book 4, as the writing is excellent and all the characters are really well drawn. Although it took me a few days to get through, the mystery is good and well plotted, the feel of Louisiana is there (or, at least, what I imagine Lousiana to feel like), and Mardi Gras sounds like so much fun!

I'm glad I got to the opportunity to read this, it's recommended and thoroughly enjoyable.

I loved the characters and the setting. It was great to know more about Cajun country and Mardi Gras. I did suspect the killer, so wasn't surprised much at the end, but I enjoyed the story. I should read more books from this series

A new installment in the Maggie Crozat series. A great cozy series set in a B&B will have cozy mystery lovers racing through and anxious for the next one.

I really enjoyed this book and I had a lovely history lesson to go with it. The way it was woven so beautifully into the plot line was incredible in and of itself; however, the world building and characters were equally fantastic. I didn't have the slightest idea who the bad guy was and I was floored when it was all put together. I enjoyed the different viewpoints that were shown through the annual beauty pageant. It was well-written instead of coming across as preachy or forcing one viewpoint and limiting the others.

Recipes included: Oyster Soup, Banana Bon Temps Cocktail, Banana Pancakes with Brown Sugar Butter, Easy-Peasy King (Bundt) Cake, Gumbo Recipes ( Gaynell's Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Gaynell's Seafood Gumbo), Ellen's Cajun Country Potato Salad, and Gaynell's Potato Salad.

Thank you so much to Ellen Byron, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

This series is still cute! Wouldn't it be great to spend some time at the Crozat Plantation B&B? These characters are still so charming and loveable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

This entry in the series is true to form: fun characters, great location, and enjoyable mystery. I really liked this one! I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I love this series because it takes me to my roots on my mom's side in southern Louisiana.  I can hear the accents and picture the scenery and the older homes.  This series also makes me laugh, a lot!  Here is one line that started me giggling - "Some men make their wives crazy all year.  I save it for Mardi Gras."

The book starts off with a bang with this line: "But an intrepid crew of Crozat family members and volunteers let the relentless rain soak them as they hauled away the detritus of small town life. It wasn't until they'd almost reached the bottom of the pile that they found the body. The body of a stranger to Pelican, Louisiana."

Before you think this book is all fun and games, it isn't.  There are actually several murders but we don't know if they are all tied together or not.  We suspect that they might be, but it takes the effort of many characters to solve the mystery.  There are twists and turns galore and when the killer is revealed I was quite surprised.  While we have a few clues to figure things out, they don't necessarily point to this character.

Another favorite line of mine in this book was this one: "We shouldn't ignore the past. We should study it and use what we learn to build a better future."  How true is this statement in today's world?

We give this 5 paws up!

I didn’t believe that another book could be as good as A Cajun Christmas Killing but I was wrong. Ellen Byron is an excellent author who brings humor, heart and mystery to each book she writes, but Mari Gras Murders shines even among her delightful cozy mysteries. The realistic depth of character, the closeness of the community, and the unique culture of the area that this author paints so beautifully, pulls the reader into a special world that is not to be found anywhere outside of Louisiana except through the eyes of a few exceptional authors. The fun of Mardi Gras flows through the novel as Maggie juggles searching for a killer with judging the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant. Our favorite tour guide, artist, and hospitality hostess would rather face a murderer than a beauty pageant but when her grandmother can’t fulfill her duties she drafts the reluctant Maggie to fulfill her Crozat obligations.
The book begins with devastating flooding with which so many of us can relate in this time of frequent natural disasters. Watching the strength of this southern town as they recover brings an additional element of reality to the story and a greater respect for the characters we already love. I found it fascinating to discover that children from the orphan trains were sent to Louisiana as well as further west. I have no doubt that a reader new to the series would be as captivated as those of us who have adored the earlier books.
I was thrilled to get an ARC of Mardi Gras Murders from Crooked Lane books via NetGalley! The book is amazing and I am delighted to share my loved with fellow readers through reviews, on line, and in person.
#MardiGrasMurder #NetGalley

Forget about New Orleans y’all. I want to go to Mardi Gras in Pelican and stay at the Crozat Plantation Bed and Breakfast!

Author Ellen Byron has penned another Cajun mystery delight. I was quickly pulled into MARDI GRAS MURDER, and held captivated until the last page.

This was a thrilling murder mystery combined with subplots that increases the depth of the story. Page after page, I hung on every word, and by the end of the book I was near breathless.

Mystery, humor, action, and wonderful recipes make MARDI GRAS MURDER a must read!

I laughed myself silly during sections of this book! Anyone who has attended a Mardi Gras knows Nothing stops it! Not ever! From that simple fact comes a freaking awesome story with a little something for everyone. Much like Mardi Gras throws except with better aim ;) you have a pageant, mystery, romance, family n friends and a party. I really loved the interplay between Maggie and Bo the main characters.

You can definitely tell the author knows and loves New Orleans due to her descriptiveness. You receive seven recipes, a pageant fact, and a small history lesson.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is the fourth book in the Cajun Country Mystery Series. This was the first book I'd read in the series, but now I'll be reading the first three books. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting in this book, the author did a great job of making me feel like I was on the Bayou.

It's Mardi Gras time in the small time of Pelican LA and everyone is ready to party, but first Maggie and her policeman boyfriend have to solve the murder of a man who washed up after a flood. When another murder takes place Maggie and Bo's relationship gets rocky but they push through to solve the murders.

I highly recommend this book, the plot had a lot of twists and turns and it was a fun read. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great follow up for this talented author. Nice & light but still holds your attention! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Pelican, Louisiana is underwater, floods have ravaged the area. The clean up continues as the residents prepare for their Mardi Gras celebration complete with a parade, contest to crown a gumbo queen and a gumbo cook-off. Then a body is found in the water behind the Crozat Plantation B&B. No one recognizes the man so its going to be a tough case to solve but Maggie is going to do her best to find out who he is and who killed him.

Maggie also gets roped into the queen contest as a judge where she learns about the Louisiana Orphan Train and that the exhibit set to open has been postponed. She also comes upon another dead body, one of her fellow judges. She is starting the think the deaths have to be connected and may even have something to do with the Orphan Train exhibit. She also makes an interesting discovery at Doucet and another at Grove Hall.

The floodwaters are receding but the bodies are starting to pile up. It’s time to catch this killer before they strike again!

Oh my goodness, the author has filled this book with so much Mardi Gras goodness! Maggie is involved in everything, I was tired out she reading about all the things she did. In addition to all her duties and murder queries she and Bo are having trouble connecting. With his job, the flood damage, and his son he doesn’t have much free time. But there are some issues below the surface too. I was rooting for this couple through the entire story, worried and concerned but so happy with the ending.

There are a lot of characters within these pages. Study the wonderful cast of characters list the author provides at the beginning of the book before you start reading. Each character is unique so you shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping everyone straight. The core characters all shine and the supporting cast is excellent. The character development over the series and within this story is exceptional.

The story is very well plotted with some fabulous twists. I love the way Ms. Byron entangles the story-lines all together and blends in history and humor that hooks the reader from the first page to the last. Filled with Southern charm and a Cajun’ theme this story was so much fun to read.

Each story in this series has been a perfect escape. I always recommend starting a series from the beginning for maximum enjoyment but this story would read well all on its own.

Mardi Gras Murder is a sweet, funny, engaging murder mystery based in Pelican, a small town just outside of New Orleans, during Mardi Gras (of course!) Maggie is a local artist turned amateur sleuth, who along with her boyfriend, Bo, a local PD detective, work to solve the murder without more bodies dropping. Maggie is also serving as a judge in the local beauty pageant, which has it's own roadblocks and detours, but also could be the reason for the murder. Or is it unrelated and due to the historical society? Maggie must navigate these events and uncover details to quickly find the criminal before he/she ruins Mardi Gras!

As I am currently obsessed with New Orleans and all thing Mardi Gras due to my recent visit to the area, I was hungry for details and imagery about the holiday. I was not disappointed! I enjoyed the descriptions of the costumes, floats and even the gumbo. The images of the architecture of the old southern manors painted beautiful photos in my mind. And the story was just as perfect, as well as the entertaining and relatable characters. As a bonus, the recipes discussed in the book are included at the end for your convenience.

This book is the 4th in a series, but I didn't feel lost or unknowledgeable, as it can be read as a stand alone. However, I enjoyed it so much I'll be going back to read the first three novels in the series.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!! As the flood waters recede, it is Mardi Gras time on the bayou.
While all the tourists flock to New Orleans, the real party happens around the tiny town of Pelican, LA. From the Cook-off contest to the Gumbo queen pageant, including all the wonderfully crazy "momtestants," the residents of Pelican want to show off their love of the colorful history of the region. A special exhibit is planned around the role of the Orphan Train in Louisana, an exhibit that some are not as excited about as most.

With plenty of good, clean humor and lots of danger, secrets are uncovered almost as fast as they are covered up. Past, present and a mystery body all come together in a charmant story of friends and family.

This is from the Cajun Country Mystery series. Maggie is made to take the position of being a judge for the yearly Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen. When one of the other judges is murdered Maggie makes it her job to figure out who the killer is and why they did it.
The characters are fun and keep you laughing throughout the book. A very good mystery that keeps you guessing!

I've been reading this series since the beginning and it just keeps getting better with each book! This one involves floods, Mardi Gras, pageants, history - some less than savory, and of course a dead body or two. I love how the author really makes the setting come alive. This is small town Louisiana which is a bit different from the typical New Orleans setting but no less quirky. The mystery is solid with all kinds of twists and turns which is what I expect from this series. I loved all the personal elements too - seeing more of the Crozat family as well as catching up on her love life. This is a fun cozy series with a great setting. While I think it would probably be more enjoyable if started from the beginning of the series just so you can get to know the characters you could easily jump in here and have no problem understanding what was going on

Murder mystery set deep in the heart of Cajun country in Louisiana during Mardi Gras. I have to commend Bryon for her obvious study of the history and culture of the Cajuns of Louisiana. Having lived in Texas and had many Cajun friends, she brought their love of life, laughter, good times and food to life through this novel. The characters felt real and their love of the rowdiness of Mardi Gras was evident. Alcohol was involved but that is typical of Mardi Gras. I also enjoyed learning about the Orphan Trains that took over 2000 children to Louisiana during the same time other trains were heading west.

Maggie Crozat and her parents run a B & B. They have just been through a hundred year flood that floated a corpse up to their doorstep. What did the orphan train have to do with a dead corpse and how did it tie in to all the other strange happenings including Maggie have to judge Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen that occurred during Mardi Gras? Enough twists and turns kept me guessing until almost the end at who the culprit was and why.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.