📖 Book Review 📖

Title: Murder in the Bayou Boneyard: A Cajun Country Mystery
Author: Ellen Byron
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Gavin Grody a real estate developer and owner of Rent My Digs is stealing local B&B business in Pelican, Louisiana. But Maggie has a plan to save their B&B by teaming up with other local B&Bs to host "Pelican's Spooky Past", a fun Halloween getaway featuring regional crafts, unique menus, a pet costume parade, and the Resurrection of a Spirit play performed in the derelict Dupois cemetery. When the play takes a spine chilling turn and an unexpected actor turns up dead, Maggie is on the case to find out who did it.

I love a good cozy mystery, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Just like most cozies, we get a great entourage of characters, delicious food descriptions, and of course a dead bodies. One major difference I found between this and other cozies I’ve read, Byron focused more on a story line than having Maggie run around solving a crime. We still had a taste of her amateur sleuthing skills, but we a lot more background story than a typical cozy mystery.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard was packed full of Halloween Cajun vibes and of course a fun guessing game of who-dun-it. I’ll definitely be checking out more books in the series... I think my only complaint is I would have liked a few more red herrings, as I’m my opinion that’s what makes cozies so fun.

If you’re looking for a fun new cozy series to dive into, I highly recommend checking it out.

This is a book that I enjoyed but would have enjoyed more if I had read the previous books in the series. It took me awhile to get into the book but when I did, it really took off!

I enjoyed the storyline immensely. It was fun to read about something different. Kudos to the author for taking me for a ride into Cajun country!

My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I do love this cozy mystery series. The Cajun Country series is set in Pelican, Louisiana at the Crozat Plantation and neighbouring area. Trying to help her families B&B as well as other local ones nearby, the are putting on "Pelican's Spooky Past" featuring regional crafts, unique menus, and a pet costume parade. Add in a spine-chilling play "Resurrection of a Spirit" being held at the decrepit Dupois cemetery and you know you are in for a frightful event. Of course there is a dead body, but that is not right away, the first mystery is who is dressing up as pine-chilling play Resurrection of a Spirit, trying to scare people away from the B&B.

I have read all of the books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. The mystery is always well-written and plotted, but the bonus for me is learning about the holidays, the celebrations and the culture of the area. Each mystery is a standalone story, but the personal life of the characters is ongoing and the storyline of the struggles of the family in keeping the B&B running develops throughout the books. Maggie is a great protagonist and all her family members are wonderful characters. There are also many recurring secondary characters that add some humour, quirkiness and southern charm.

Things are going pretty well at the Crozat Plantation in Pelican, Louisiana. The guest rooms are booked, Halloween is near, and Maggie’s relationship with Bo couldn’t be better. The bookings are due in part, to a plan Maggie devised. A phone app had locals renting out spare bedrooms, which hurt B&B business. Pelican’s Spooky Past features crafts, down-home cooking, a pet costume parade, and a play that takes place in the cemetery.

A letter from previously unknown Canadian relatives is cause for celebration, as is their visit. Susannah is distantly related to Maggie’s father. Of course, in Bayou country, there’s no such thing as a distant relative. Everyone is kin.

Susannah arrives with her husband, Doug, and his adult twins, Johnnie and Bonnie. Maggie has just opened a small spa on the property so guests can relax and be pampered. Susannah announces she’s a massage therapist—what could be better? She’s soon booked solid with appointments. Unfortunately, she also claims to be psychic and in giving readings, is stepping on the toes of the town’s voodoo priestess, certainly someone you don’t want mad at you.

Tourists are claiming to have seen monsters in the woods, causing some cancellations or adding ghoulish thrill seekers. During the play, a rougarou (werewolf) staggers from the woods, collapses and theatrically dies. The audience assumes it’s part of the play. Having sat through it three times, Maggie knows better. She’s still in for a shock when the costume’s head is removed and a familiar face is seen.

Before the police can begin to solve that death, another body is found. Things are looking worse and worse as the Crozat family could very well have a motive for a murder or two.

The Crozat Plantation is a place you’d want to visit as Maggie’s mom cooks delicious meals. Take a tour of nearby plantations to see the guides dressed in their hoop skirts as they share the history of the house. This is book six of the series, all reviewed here, and often found on my Best of List at the end of the year. Recipes include: Holy Trinity chicken (onions, bell peppers, celery), ghoulish Cajun goulash, crawtatoes (alternately shrimptatoes), Cajun pecan cookie fingers, as well as a list of which recipes are in the other books. Then there’s the sugar high pie which has pecan pie base mixed with a bit of bourbon, dark and milk chocolate, coconut and raisins with suggestions of dried dates or cherries, said to serve 6-8 (not once you get a taste of it!)

Byron also writes as Maria DiRico. Don’t miss the first in the series, reviewed here, Here Comes the Body, a catering hall mystery, set in New “Yawk.” The second book will be out soon.

Each book in author Ellen Byron's Cajun Country series just gets better and better. MURDER IN THE BAYOU BONEYARD, of course, is the best so far.Each time I thought I had things figured out, I promptly got fooled. I only knew who done it when the author wanted me to. Well done!

ne look at this cover and I couldn’t hit the “request” button fast enough! How could I resist this adorable vampire basset hound lurking in a spooky graveyard? I always enjoy returning to Maggie’s historic plantation homestead-turned B&B located in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun country. While reading this, I kept picturing Disney’s Haunted Mansion overlooking an overgrown cemetery shrouded by Spanish moss.

Of course, this cozy mystery is light on scares, so it appeals to even the most squeamish of readers, but the author does a fine job weaving a lot of Halloween hijinks into the storyline. There’s a rougarou lurking in the woods, inexplicable happenings in the attic and–even more frightening–nefarious relatives outstaying their welcome at the Crozat Mansion B&B! Bloodthirsty Cajun monsters ain’t got nothing over Maggie’s Canadian relatives, let me tell ya!

I must warn you, there’s a LOT of characters to sort through in this mystery, so it’s quite a challenge keeping them all straight, let alone sorting out the suspects. Since I’ve read all the other books in this series, it wasn’t so hard, but I did find myself flipping back to the list of characters. I love it when they include these little glossaries in cozy mysteries because the struggle is real, yo!

As for the characters, Maggie and her Crozat family are as charming as ever. It’s cute that she and her granny are planning their weddings together. The only thing I couldn’t figure out was why the granny’s fiancé never entered the picture. Where was he? Hell, I can’t even remember who she’s marrying, to be honest. Guess I’ll need to look in the previous book to catch myself up to speed. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of the “spunky grandma” trope in these books. I find them annoying rather than cute, and Maggie’s grandma is walking a fine line…but she does have her moments.

While I’m being nitpicky, I had to roll my eyes at Maggie when she shouted at a suspected killer –who, at the time was brandishing a potential weapon– “Stop in the name of the law!” I know this was supposed to be chuckle-worthy, but it just made me groan.

Gripes aside, this is a quality mystery series filled with Cajun lore, Southern cooking and heartwarming moments. I must warn you: Do not read this on an empty stomach! You’ll get some mad cravings for shrimp gumbo, crawfish etouffee and sugary cakes!

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard has everything a reader wants in a cozy.
A sassy amateur sleuth, a scattering of animals (including a hilarious talking parrot), enough murder and mayhem to keep things interesting, and a touch of romance. Finished off with food descriptions to make your mouth water and the recipes at the back of the book and this is a feast for the imagination.

Can be Read as a Standalone
For those who have read the previous books, Murder in the Bayou Boneyard continues to develop the characters and the larger arcs for the series. For those who are starting the series with this book, there are enough references to catch the reader up on past events, without making the reader feel left out.

Terrific Location
Louisiana is a marvelous place to set a mystery. Between the supernatural creatures, complicated history, and local superstitions, there’s plenty of material for Byron to work with. Add in spooky old plantations and longstanding family histories and the backdrop for Maggie’s investigation sizzles.

Readers will Root for the Protagonist
Maggie Crozat is not a fan of Halloween, and this year gives her plenty of reasons to feed her dislike, but the intrepid protagonist proves herself a worthy adversary and her experiences might just change her mind about the holiday . . . or maybe not!

A great escape from the challenges of 2020, Murder in the Bayou Boneyard will cement Byron’s place in your reading repertoire. Whether she’s an old friend that you get to visit again or a brand new reading experience, her latest release will keep you up at night . . . in a good way.

When Maggie comes up with the idea of teaming up with four other Bed and Breakfasts in Pelican, Louisiana offering a Halloween themed stay dealing with the areas spooky past. All seems to be going according to schedule until a local legend the rougarou appears causing havoc for the other inn keepers. A rougarou is a hybrid of wolfman and vampire who may pass his curse on to another after 8 days.

Added to the rougarou problem is the arrival of a long lost family member of the family who is going to try and take over the inn as well as stealing business from friends. When the play part of the weekend is going on at the family cemetery a rougarou staggers in and dies at the end of the play. Maggie is able to keep the guest believing that this is all a part of the act. The rougarou is unmasked and it turns out Maggie is under the mask.

Maggie is concerned that the police will arrest her family. More extended family members are dying. More evidence is mounting against her family. Will her family be cleared or will the curse of the rougarou get them. I know I keep typing rougarou i just love the word. I would recommend this as a fun Halloween read.

What can I say. I am a sucker for Louisiana, bayou, voodoo, gumbo and Halloween... And when it is rolled into one nice cozy mystery with a few added bonuses: a love story, double wedding, happy family, evil relatives, unexpected inheritance (spoiler-alert), it is magical. Yes, it is magical.
I absolutely loved Murder in teh Bayou Boneyard and want to be Maggie's friend forever. I am not big fan of cozies, but this one... Well, the voice, the dynamics, the characters and the relationships between them... Well, I am aching for more.

Halloween is coming to Pelican, Louisiana. Halloween means mystery, spookiness, tourists, lots of yummy food and trick-a-treating. Right? Wrong. This time around Halloween also means a murder or two, onslaught of evil relatives, a missing wedding dress and a voodoo doll you can't put pins into.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is the 6th installment in the series. However, I managed to read it without much stumbling. Maggie Crozat and Co have grown and developed in the 5 previous novels to become a very interesting, colourful and exciting bunch of characters.

Reader will get a happily ever after at the end. All is well that ends with a party...

Can't wait to read previous 5.

A fabulous addition to a great cozy series. It is close to Halloween but Maggie is not excited about that. To help business though she creates a themed event for the whole month pairing with several other places. Things start fairly well and a recently discovered cousin is coming to be the masseuse at the new spa on the property. This starts as a great turn of events until things go bad making it necessary to fire the cousin who turns up dead not long after. The death happened at a jurisdiction line so a new group of police are involved who quickly focus on Maggie. This makes for a fun ride when she starts looking into things. Overall a satisfying mystery mixed with plenty of characters making for a pleasant mix. A total must read for cozy fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

Murder In The Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron

Maggie Crozat, proprietor of a historic Cajun B&B in Pelican, Louisiana, has Halloween heebie-jeebies. Some visitors are terrified by sightings of a legendary rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and a vampire. Maggie has to find out who is behind this.

A well-written cozy mystery.. It contained great descriptions of New Orleans and the Cajun background. Full of great characters. Kept the killer a secret until the end. Highly recommended.

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review.

Sightings, hauntings, folklore, and murder..... Quirky characters in a fabulous setting to fall in love with over and over again.

Join Maggie and her family and friends in another adventure in Cajun Country.

The series that had me fall in love with cozies, still going strong and bringing me home.

If you love clean light romance, humor, and mystery, this is the series for you.

Oh my goodness this was such a fun book to read! I was a little reluctant at first but I admit I got this because of the dog on the cover. However, you can bet I will be looking for the other books in the series. I looked forward to returning to the book each day to complete it. If I had all the time in the world, I would have read it in one sitting.

Magnolia Crozat (Maggie) and her family own a B&B in the small town of Pelican, Louisiana. It's Halloween time and the spooks and spirits are out for mischief and merrymaking and the Crozats are caught in the middle. Maggie's distant cousin Susannah, has contacted the family from Canada and is eager to meet them. As an added bonus, Maggie's B&B is opening a spa and Susannah just happens to be a massage therapist. However, things become ugly when Susannah is murdered and Maggie's family are all suspects. Will she find the real killer before the B&B goes out of business?

This story is filled with absolutely delightful characters and mouthwatering foods. I would love to come to Pelican and spend a weekend at the B&B, hang out with Maggie and her lovely Grand-mere (who reminds me a little of Grandma Mazur from Janet Evanovich) and eat some delicious southern comfort food made by Maggie's mom Ninette. I loved coming back to Pelican each night when I have time to read. I absolutely adored this charming and perplexing cozy and you're darn right I am going to go out and buy the others right this minute!

4.5 stars

This is the sixth book in the Cajun Country mystery series by Ellen Byron.

Basic premise: Maggie searched for her relative and invited her to come to town. Then this relative starts a business just like Maggie’s and then tries to take over their homestead where she has an art studio. Then this same relative is found in a rougarou costume and then collapses dead in the middle of a theatrical performance.

It was hard to figure out who the killer was due to all the twists and turns this story took. Just when you thought you had your head around everything, something else was introduced. This was kind of a real thrill ride. On one hand you had the murder, then on the other hand you had to take into account Maggie’s journey with giving over her business to her friend and then possibly losing her family home to someone she thought was family.

This story does what it is supposed to. It made me fall in love with the residents and want to go back and read the books I had overlooked until now. Definitely a series I want to continue on with

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron is a brilliant southern mystery. Ms. Byron's writing captures this fun, polite, Louisana charm that makes it, so fun to read.

Did Maggie kill her cousin over a border issue? Will Maggie have a happy Halloween for the first time in a long time?

The Crozat family B and B and the others in Pelican Louisana are hosting Pelican's Spooky Past weekend trips to bring in more business. Although, these weekends just aren't adding up to what the innkeepers expected.

There is a rougarou running around scaring their guests and causing havoc. Then Maggie's long lost cousin turns out to be a shyster who doesn't want to be part of the family; just take them for whatever she and her family can. However, after an argument with Maggie, she is found murdered. To make things worse, the Pelican Police force is sharing the investigation with the neighboring town of Ville Blanc's Police, where Detective Griffith has decided that Maggie or someone in her family is the killer.

This isn't all, though; there is someone stealing things from their house. The local newspaper is reporting that the Crozats are suspects, and now they are losing customers. Then the cousin's husband is shot. Yes, Maggie and Bo have their hands full. And did I mention Halloween is coming up?

The Crozats
I loved it all. Maggie keeps moving forward, and her family is so great. Gran keeps them cordial and classy, Ninette is cooking the most fabulous Halloween treats (recipes in the back). Tug is supportive and always lending a hand.

Maggie shows her kindness by helping people, even when she doesn't have time. She sees things that most people don't, and her intuition is knocking out the suspects. However, this family is hit with so many things throughout the course of this installment. I did like seeing the comeuppance that some of the players got was justly due.

Five Stars
I love this series, and Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron is such a marvelous addition. One day I plan to read the entire series one after the other. Since I haven't done that yet. I will tell you that this installment is filled with fabulous characters, a beautiful setting, and the right mix of mystery, history, and community. My rating for Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron is five stars. I thoroughly recommend it to all you cozy mystery fans out there.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. 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 Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Halloween in Pelican, Louisiana can be interesting but this year business at the local B&B’s in taking a hit due to a new enterprise for regular folks can rent out rooms to tourists. So a few local B&B’s band together to host weekends featuring “Pelican’s Spooky Past” packages complete with spa treatments, crafting classes, special menus, and a play Resurrection of a Spirit performed in a cemetery. Visitors may also be treated to seeing a rougarou, which is a cross between a vampire and a werewolf, and scary.

The Crozat’s have added a spa to the property and a Canadian cousin has agreed to come to town as their massage therapist. Maggie quickly learns her dear cousin and her husband have ulterior motives for their visit. Then one night the masseuse crashes the play and dies, the Crozat’s become prime suspects. When there is another murder Maggie plunges herself into the investigation.

These characters continue to be some of my faves. Maggie is a smart amateur sleuth who doesn’t give up. Her relationship with her sassy grandmother is fun and heartwarming. Her mom and dad have a ton of energy and go to great lengths to meet their guests’ needs while still being there for their family and friends. This story takes family to a new level when the Canadian cousins come to town with their outlandish plans.

Ms. Byron has crafted a mystery filled with twists, turns, and a bit of folklore. I am fine with the rougarou as long as I don’t have to meet one in the middle of the night, better yet as long as they stay within the pages of this book. The author also includes a variety of Cajun dishes, some of the recipes are at the back of the book.

What I really enjoy is that the Crozat’s daily life endeavors blend seamlessly with the mystery. Wedding plans are ongoing and Maggie gets a big surprise at the end of the story with a big message for everyone, especially in the world we are living in today.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is a totally entertaining Halloween mystery and a fantastic addition to this series. I am so excited for the next book in this series.

This book had so many things I love--Halloween, Louisiana, murder--and the cover was simply adorable--but it just wasn't for me. This novel is part of a series and though it can be read as a stand-alone, I think I would have appreciated it more if I had actually read it as part of the series. And there were so many characters! And back stories! I just couldn't. I'm used to novels that are a little grittier and dark, and this was just too kitschy cute for me. There was nothing actually wrong with the story--just wasn't for me.

I thought Murder in the Bayou Boneyard was well-written with developed characters. I always enjoy visiting Pelican, Louisiana. There is nothing better than to be there at Halloween. I enjoyed the spooky happening and learning about the Rougarou. I just loved that this was a double mystery. There are spooky sightings, a pesky police detective, a chatty parrot, and various suspects. This was a fun mystery to solve. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard had plenty going on in it which made the story zip by so quickly. There were some quirky characters including bird who lands Maggie in hot water. Maggie and Gran are both engaged. They are going to have a double wedding. Gran has taken over the wedding planning for the extravaganza. She is particularly enjoying the cake tastings. I just loved the screaming doorbell at the Crozat Bed and Breakfast (I want one for my house). Murder in the Bayou Boneyard can be read as a standalone. I recommend reading this entertaining series in order. It will allow you to know the characters, their relationships, and the town. The ending was delightful. There is a bounty of food in this story (had my stomach growling). There are recipes at the end for some of the items featured in the book including Ninette’s Holy Trinity Chicken and Cajun Pecan Cookie Fingers. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is an entertaining cozy mystery with a creepy cemetery, a wrathful Rougarou, a determined detective, a prolix parrot, multiple murders, a bold bridezilla, and problematic property line polemic.

I enjoyed this Cajun cozy mystery. It got off to a bit of a slow start but when a murder finally occurred, it picked up and moved well. Maggie, owner of an historic B & B, must discover the murderer herself as a pushy detective has her in his cross hairs. As more murders happen, her situation becomes more desperate.

The setting is great and I appreciate all of the cultural information included. I learned about the background of Creoles and Cajuns, such as their mourning traditions. I was introduced to the rougarou, a ghost like monster similar to the bogey man of my childhood. There were good descriptions of mansions and plantations. Byron includes some interesting facts about the location in her notes at the end of the novel. She also includes some great recipes.

I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a good cozy mystery set in an unusual location. You'll have an enjoyable read, learn some new things, and have some new recipes to try.

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

Anytime I read one of the books in this series, I feel like I am visiting my family that lives in Cajun country. The vernacular is spot on and the food, well, let's just say it is all delicious and I'm glad that the author provides recipes at the end of the book.

I enjoyed spending time with Maggie and her fiance' Bo, and the rest of the Crorzat family. The whole family is a bit wacky but I love have they have each other's back no matter what the situation. Actually, the whole town seems to support one another, at least most of the time. However, this time there is a new family relation in the picture and she is not what she seems. Her whole family is a bit off and that does not win them any friends.

I enjoyed learning some interesting tidbits about the superstitions that many believe in the south and how they especially love Halloween. I don't think I had ever heard of a rougarou before this book so now I'm going to have to ask my Cajun family about that mythical creature.

The mystery is engaging and I have to admit, I wasn't sure who the killer was or why. As I read further into the book and near the end, I had my suspicions, but I didn't really know they why. It was interesting to uncover the truth in the situation. I'm going to be cryptic because the why is rather intricate and I don't want to spoil anything for you.

There is a somewhat sad scene near the end that touched my heart and hopefully will touch yours. Another one that I won't share details because you'll need to read the book to find out!

I'm not sure what the next book will hold but I'm hoping it is Gran and Maggie's double wedding!  We get a taste of Gran's planning and her affinity for cake testing.  I can't blame here, one of my favorite parts of planning a wedding. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!

We give this book 5 paws up and if you have never read this series, start with the first book in the series, Plantation Shudders.