While Halloween is not my favorite holiday that most certainly did not keep me from enjoying this cute book. The fact that B&B’s in these big old beautiful Louisiana homes is the setting doesn’t hurt this story a bit. All of the characters are fun. Some of them even a little quirky. It just added to the story.

This is your normal small town, festival, and a murder story, but it has such interesting personalities and customs that it is set apart from some of the others.

This is the first of Ellen Byron’s books I have read. It is the latest publication of a series titled “A Cajun Country Mystery”. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have no way of knowing about the other books, but this book could definitely be read as a stand-alone. In looking at the rest of the series all have good reviews.

Maggie Crozat manages her family's historic bed and breakfast in Pelican, Louisiana. Some distant relatives visit from Canada, coinciding with Halloween and a spooky local theater production. When there is a mysterious death in the midst of all this activity, Maggie finds herself a suspect ... and is determined to clear her name.

I wanted to read Murder in the Bayou Boneyard because I have enjoyed the other books in this series. I like the Cajun setting and Maggie's life at the B&B.

This book starts with a list of characters, which I bookmarked and referred to several times while reading. Because there are several storylines that run through this novel, there are a lot of characters! The cast of characters helped a lot. (I wish more cozy authors would do this!)

I found a lot to enjoy in this mystery. I like Maggie and her relationship with Bo, her family (especially Gran's wedding planning!), the B&B setting, and the Halloween activities. I also liked learning a bit of Louisana folkore about the rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and vampire.

There was a lot going on in Murder in the Bayou Boneyard, and the story was a more leisurely read than usual for me as a result. I enjoyed all the storylines and wanted to keep them all straight!

The mystery was well written with several strong suspects. I guessed part but not all of the denouement, and enjoyed solving the mystery along with Maggie.

Murder on the Bayou Boneyard is a fun cozy mystery read (perfect for Halloween and fall!). I recommend it for fans of cozy mysteries, southern settings, and atmospheric mysteries. Readers will do best to start with the first book in the series and read through, as the story builds from book to book.

Pelican at Halloween time was pretty awesome! I never completely guessed the killer, because all the red herrings and clues were so good and leading in all different directions. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. I got a kick out of Gran and her wedding plans right in the middle of a murder. I love that little Xander has come such a long way, and I can't help but feel that Maggie can claim some credit for that with giving him art lessons ever since she met Bo. Xander also taught Maggie that Halloween can be fun again.

That picture of Gopher on the cover is so darn cute! I think it might be my favorite cover so far! And yes, he did get to wear his costume along with his other dog friends. I've absolutely loved this series since the very first book, and I hope it runs for a very long time. Trips to Pelican, Louisiana are always a lot of fun. The baddies get theirs, and the wrap-up always gives that extra closure readers like. As always, I can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

A dip in bookings and a climb in rougarou sightings lead to murder and mayhem in this latest Cajun Country Mystery. It is Halloween time at the Crozat B&B and Maggie is not a fan of the October holiday. The one thing she had been looking forward to was meeting a new Canadian cousin and her family who found them through an ancestry search. As luck would have it, the cousin is a massage therapist and Crozat B&B just opened a new spa to increase bookings. In addition to the spa they are also taking part in Pelican's Spooky Past with four other B&Bs to combat a local real estate investor and creator of an app called Rent My Digs. Each location was offering an event that capitalized on the Halloween traditions of the region and the Crozats were offering an immortelles craft and Creole and Cajoun meal to give one the experience of an authentic condolence call at the Crozat Plantation. Guest will also have the opportunity to watch a play taking place in a boneyard/cemetary. Sounds like fun right? Except that there is a rougarou making an appearance and scaring all of the guests. It is sure to be the death of the Spooky Past tour or at least the death of someone. Don't worry if you get a little lost with the characters because every Cajun Country Mystery comes with a listing at the front of the book of the cast of characters and there are some incredible recipes at the back of the book straight from the story. I heartily recommend the very hearty Trinity Chicken Soup, so named because it uses the Holy Trinity of Cajun cooking, onions, green pepper, and celery. Perfect for cold October nights or just because you need to feel some comfort while you read your Cozy.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron is the sixth book in the Cajun Country Mystery. I have read all of the series and was not disappointed with number six. I am already waiting for book seven.
It's close to Halloween and Maggie is getting ready to open up the spa on the B&B's property. She has hired her cousin, Susannah, from Canada as the masseuse and the entire family has moved to the plantation, including her adult step children. In addition, Maggie is working on the local B&B's Pelican's Spooky Past packages, hoping to bring more guests to the local area. Oh, and throw in planning the double wedding for her and her grandmother. When it's let out the cousin and her husband are planning on selling a portion of their land, Maggie confronts Susannah and fires her. Maggie just wants to enjoy the evening and has taken a van load to the local historic Dupois cemetery for a play that is part of the package. When a "rougarou" appears and drops dead at the end, everyone is shocked when the victim is Susannah. Due to the location of the cemetery there are two police departments investigating. one department is set on Maggie being arrested for the murder, the other knows she is innocent. Then when another murder occurs, Maggie knows she has to kick it in gear or she won't make it to the altar.
This is an easy to read Cozy that has it all. Byron has plenty of suspects and plot twists that has you guessing to the end. I love the setting and the main characters are likeable. There is friendship, family, humor, and romance through out. Recipes are also included.
I was given an ARC by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an honest review.

Ms. Ellen Byron can do no wrong with her Cajun Country Mysteries. These cozies have solid plots centered around Maggie Crozat, a spunky, arty, smart thirty-something, and her family's Bed and Breakfast, in Pelican, Louisiana. The latest entry in the series finds newly engaged Maggie opening a spa over the B&B's carriage house with her Canadian cousin Susannah serving as the masseuse.

Susannah shows up with her husband and twenty-something step-children in tow just as the B&B's in Pelican kick-off the town's "Spooky Past" packages meant to drive reservations over the alternative, an Airbnb-esque "Rent My Digs" company that is snapping up the affordable living options and causing significant financial stress for the town. Adding to the stress, the working situation with Susannah goes sideways and she puts a claim on Crozat land. It's not long before bodies start stacking up with suspects a-plenty.

With two police departments fighting over the case, including her police detective fiance Bo Durant's department, Maggie tries to clear suspicion from herself and those she loves, keep the spa open and reservations at the B&B in the books, plan a wedding, juggle her job, and plan a wedding. It's another campy, at times hilarious mystery, full of well developed and quirky characters, with a well-developed plot, full of twists. I'll be sticking with the Crozats and this series - I can't wait for the next Cajun Country mystery!

Evidently this is the sixth book in the Cajun Country series by Ellen Byron but the first one I have read. Maggie Crozat helps run the family bed and breakfast in Pelican, Louisiana, and is in the midst of helping plan a double wedding (hers and her grams). The town, in order to kick start some business, drums up the idea of a spooky retreat between all the bed and breakfast spots in the area. When part of the festivities, the Resurrection of a Spirit play ends in death, the spooky festival just got spookier. Otherwise, between a couple of murders, a rougaru sighting, and burglary, it is just a normal town. As Maggie is the leading suspect, she begins her snooping and those involved do not like the fact she is getting close. As the death count goes up, Maggie begins to put things together. Although part of a series, can be read alone. If like cozy mysteries, this is one you can curl up on the couch with your favorite blanket and beverage, and let yourself be transported to the Bayou. I loved the history that Ms. Byron included at the end, along with the recipes. Will have to get the other books to catch up. Thanks to Ms. Byron, Crooked Lane Publishing, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The sixth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat and her family and friends are back in another delightful book. When mysteries happen in Pelican, LA, Maggie, a B&B owner in Cajun Country, is quick to help investigate and find the guilty party.

In this book, Halloween is coming up, and some local B&B owners put together the "Pelican's Spooky Past" package to draw visitors to town. The package included fun events for the visitors. It's all good until someone spots a rougarou. More sightings start scaring off the visitors. Then someone dressed as a rougarou stumbles onto stage during a play... and dies. Maggie jumps in to solve the mystery.

I have read all of the books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but the personal events happening with the characters is a continuing storyline.

Quirky characters in an inviting setting. I love the Southern charm of Pelican and its residents. An entertaining read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Crozat and her family have turned the family’s Louisiana plantation into a Bed & Breakfast. To drum up business, they make October a theme month with the neighboring B & Bs. It focuses on the town’s spooky past. But with several rougarou, a Cajun vampire/werewolf, sightings, and an argument with some seriously not-nice Canadian relatives, Maggie has her hands full. So when there is a Murder in the Bayou Boneyard, Maggie decides to investigate with the help of her police detective fiancé, Bo.

Maggie is battling multiple villains. There are werewolves, an Airbnb house renter undermining her pool of guests, a murderer, and her own family trying to steal her land. Good thing she has strong family bonds and the love of a good detective. I love holiday themed cozy mysteries. Plus Cajun recipes. 4 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have always enjoyed this cozy mystery set in a Louisiana mansion now being operated as a B & B by Maggie Crozat and her family. It's fun and I love the setting. What made me sad is that I expect the last big hurricane probably did some damage to the home. I bet it lost it's ailing roof.

This is, thankfully, set before that hurricane at Halloween. The local B & B's have been running special packages especially appropriate in voodoo country. There is a lot of planned activities and sightings of a local werewolf. Maggie has invited her distant cousin to come and be a massage therapist. She shows up with her husband and two teen-age stepchildren.

This turns out to be a disaster. The woman gets fired and then tries to take land and sell it to a chemical plant destroying the value of Maggie's home. Then dead bodies appear including the cousin and then her husband. Plants turn out to be deadly and werewolves are everywhere.

It's a fun story and the secondary story is the planned double wedding of Maggie and her grandmother. The planning is fun and Maggie's grandmother is a hoot. She has sampled so many wedding cakes that the bakers are on the look-out.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Maggie always seems to find a body or be around when someone is murdered. In the new Halloween themed addition to the "A Cajun Country Mystery" series, Murder In The Bayou Boneyard, Maggie and crew are at it again.

Even with her wedding on the horizon, and her grandmother going all out and really needs Maggie to keep her from going to far overboard, Maggie finds a way to get involved in another murder investigation. To make matters worse, she also has her squatter cousins to get rid of. The cast of characters in this series are well known to anyone who enjoys cozies that make you laugh, cry and long for good cajun food. The added twist this time is trying to convince Maggie that Halloween is a holiday she can enjoy, even with bodies dropping like flies. This holiday won't go off without a hitch, or two, or three…

The suspect pool is limited to the local townsfolk and a few new additions. The victim(s) aren't all innocent in one way or another, but no matter what type of person they were, Maggie must find the killer. Her search isn't easy as the Halloween holiday has everyone running around in rougarou costumes and playing what appears to be silly pranks. Maggie solves the murders while putting herself in danger and almost upsetting her and her grandmother's wedding plans. Readers may be surprised by the unveiling of the killer. The recipes are delectable.

Murder In The Bayou Boneyard is a fun engrossing read that will keep readers happy. The descriptions of locations and food make you want to visit Cajun country to enjoy all it has to offer; food, music, history, and folklore, everything needed for a wonderful adventure. I wouldn't mind spending a holiday or two with the Crozat's, especially Halloween. I was thrilled with this latest addition to the series and look forward to the next installment.

ARC provided by Crooked Lane Book via Netgalley

I’m tired of these books officially. I cannot stand Maggie. She’s a little too full of herself, and constantly snarky. When she complains that someone was being mean to her because he’s supposedly classist, I had to roll my eyes. The guy may be classist, but you cannot say it’s not deserved in Maggie’s case.

The whole thing revolves around a family member who Maggie hires to be a masseuse. Said family member owns ancestral property in Pelican, and now she wants to move in. It’s legally her property. Yes she did it in a sneaky way and she’s not really going to do right by the environment and all, but she’s within her rights to do what she needs to. But oh there was so much crap to endure about how ungrateful the family member is (I’m not sure why she should be grateful - there’s nothing in the book that indicates Maggie lifted them out of great poverty or anything), and how the family member is dead to her etc. Please Maggie. Maybe find out who really owns the property next to you? And where your property starts and ends before you make your plans?

I like her parents, and I can tolerate her grand-mere in small doses, but I can’t stand Maggie. There’s a bit too much entitlement in her. And I used to love this series. I went this far for just the Louisiana bayou setting, but this is it. I’m done.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron the 6th instalment in the "A Cajun Country Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series and am trying to get all caught up, so far I have only read the last two. Even though this is only the second book I have read in the series I was able to follow along easily so it can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed it and practically read in one sitting, I must find the time to read the other books in the series.

The protagonist Maggie is a strong, independent woman. The characters are well rounded and seem real as I could relate to each of them. I especially loved Maggie's family as they provide humor, quirkiness especially her feisty grand-mère. I especially love how the author includes local customs, legends, and food the story. The town of Pelican Cove, Louisiana sounds like a great place to visit too!

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron is the sixth book in this series.

As the wedding day is getting closer and closer Maggie's grandmother is getting more involved while Maggie is working hard to make a Halloween themed package. She has also managed to find a missing cousin, who has turned out to be a masseuse, just what Maggie needed for her spa.
Unfortunately, things don't work out the way they are supposed to. There is murder, there is land feud, scary creatures and so much more.
Maggie is yet again at the center of the problem and she is rushing to solve all mysteries that have befallen her family and are threatening their livelihood.

I have been following this series for a long time and what is most impressive is how incredibly atmospheric each book is. Reader has a feeling of being right there in the middle of the action.
All characters are so well portrayed, family and community connections are very special and I get such a cozy feeling while reading books from this series.
Mystery is well presented, clues are clearly given so that reader can also follow along and puzzle things out.
Books don't necessarily need to be read in order, if however reader is interested in personal relationship and live of the characters then it is best to read from the beginning.
If the book is read solely for the mystery any of the books will be a delight to devour.

First of all, thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley, and of course, the one that made it all possible, the author. The rest is my honest opinion of a review.

For those who haven’t read this series, you’re missing out. This would be a great one to start with. They can all be read as stand alones but of course you would love to start with the first one. This one is my all time favorite. It has a Halloween theme, something I really needed right now. There’s the mysterious rougarou running loose. Maggie just knew she shouldn’t have had a Halloween theme for a weekend hosting other B&Bs. After all, she is scared of all things Halloween. Her guests are somewhat on the strange side too. Having out of state relatives show up that you don’t quite know would be nerve racking.

I love the cemetery and night time adventures. This kept me guessing all throughout the story. This kind of read about cemeteries or Louisiana always calms me. Ellen Byron, you saved my life and keep me sane just when I thought it was too late.

A delightful and fun cozy mystery with a Halloween theme great for kicking off the fall season. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard was a Great distraction for a lazy day of reading.


Maggie is not a fan of Halloween, yet goes along with her family along with other B&B owners hosting Halloween theme weekend to help bring more business to their businesses. What should be fun and pleasant weekends turn into mayham and murder. Not to mention some appearances made by fabled, bayou creatures just to spice up the mix a little bit more. If that wasn’t enough Maggie has out of town distant relatives that are just not quite The kind of people she was expecting. Pelican, Louisiana maybe a small town but it sure got a lot going on.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard was my first visit with the characters of the Cajun Country Mysteies and William not be my last. Not only was the story entering, the mystery kept you guessing and the plot was solid. The characters are well developed and fun. The setting is like being transported to a different place. With everything that’s going on in the world right now I feel it’s important for myself to be able to get lost in a book. Author Ellen Byron does just that. I felt like I was right in the bayou with Crozets. The only thing missing was the delectable food that we read about through the pages of this entertaining book.

I love this series so very much! It’s funny and entertaining in a way that’s quintessentially southern, taking us deep into the heart of Cajun country and making us feel like we’re right there with the characters. The mystery is a compelling, twisty thing that kept me guessing for the entirety of the book. There are so many devious red herrings I couldn’t settle on a suspect until the big reveal showed us the true villain. (FYI, I was wrong on just about all counts.) I adore books and series with big, nosy, involved families. When they’re in a small-town setting with other equally nosy, quirky residents, I love them even more. I think that’s one of the things this series excels at: it’s cast of unique characters and how they all interact. Even the most passing of the supporting cast has depth and personality. They may resemble the stock images, but there’s always a flair that sets them apart. I never want to see this series come to an end, because I want to continue reading it for as long as possible.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This is a wonderful Cozy-Mystery series and I just love the Cajun Country and all the colorful characters that call this area home. I know that the author lives in So Cal and not So LA, but she has a love for this area that comes through in every book. The whole Crozat family is just wonderful and I love the way they are trying to preserve their ancestral home and survive in the modern world.

A new way of booking lodging has made times difficult for the B&B owners in the small picturesque Cajun town of Pelican, LA. To make matters worse the tech wiz who invented the phone app is buying up smaller properties making it difficult for those with jobs in Pelican to find affordable housing. In order to bring tourists to the B & B's, Maggie Crozat has come up with a marketing idea for the Month of October. "Pelican's Spooky Past" is a package featuring lodging and a slew of special activities just for the B&B guests. The package includes a performance of "Resurrection of a Spirit" a special play performed in the cemetery on the derelict Dupois plantation. Talk about a spooky atmosphere. It works. With the opening of the new spa at the Crozat B&B, they are booked for the month. When a distant cousin contacts the family, and she is a licensed masseuse, Maggie invites her and her family to come for an extended visit and the take the job as the new spa's masseuse.

The only thing plaguing the Crozat family are the sightings of a mythical rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and vampire. The sightings are terrifying the guests. But even more terrifying are the bodies that start dropping. When the first body drops dead on stage at the end of a performance and instead of the Pelican police and Maggie's fiancé, Bo, they have to deal with an ambitious detective who is out to pin the murder on Maggie.

It’s Halloween in Louisiana and Maggie and her fiancee are working on wedding plans while also trying to attract people to their tourist cabins. Maggie feels lucky when a distant cousin who is also a masseuse moves onto the property to help out their month-long promotion of theater, visits to the graveyard, and spa treatments. There is also a rougarou running around (Louisiana werewolf) who is not a part of the program scaring off guests. In this mystery, you never know quite who to trust and cousins are not always what they make themselves out to be. There is a real taste of Cajun living here with excellent Louisiana foods, family, and bayou murder. For a downhome cozy Halloween mystery, this one can’t be beat.

I obtained this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

In an effort to increase bookings at her family’s Louisiana bed and breakfast during October, Maggie Crozat has come up with the “Pelican’s Spooky Past” promotion. Five of the area B & B’s are teaming up and offering historical crafts, food, and other promotions to tie in to the season. Someone else has gotten into the act since guests keep siting a rougarou, a local legendary monster. One of the events during the month is a play being staged at a nearby dilapidated graveyard. The first couple of weekends, the play goes well, but then at one performance someone in a rougarou costume stumbles onto the stage and dies. As cross jurisdictional strife heats up, Maggie and her family find themselves caught in the middle as prime suspects. Can Maggie clear their names?

Reading this series always makes me want to visit Louisiana in person, and this book is no exception. I also appreciate how we learn something about local customs, legends, and food while we read. The plot is strong with plenty of twists and action to keep us engaged and guessing. I do have a couple of niggles with the climax, but they are minor overall. The characters are as wonderful as ever. I love seeing the regulars again and watching them and their relationships grow. Meanwhile, the suspects are just as strong as the series regulars. Those looking for some Cajun flavor in their life will enjoy the five recipes we get at the end of the book. Fans of the series will enjoy the latest book, and if you are new to the series, this will make you go back and read the books you’ve missed.