Cover Image: Cajun Kiss of Death

Cajun Kiss of Death

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Member Reviews

It's Valentine's Day in Pelican, and Maggie just wants to celebrate with her man, Bo. Of course, this just can't happen. When a hoity-toity chef checks into the plantation and is then murdered, it's all hands on deck to solve the murder. It can't be JJ or Maggie, can it?

I first started reading this series because of the basset hound on the cover, but I found a great comfort read. I'm excited every time a new book comes out!

Thanks, NetGalley, for a copy of the book for my review!

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⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Bittersweet review.

This is by far my favorite cozy mystery series, so I am truly sad that this is the last book in the series. Everything about this series just ticks all the boxes for me. Excellent writing. Fantastic setting. Wonderful and well developed characters. Well executed plots that always keep you guessing. And a plethora of yummy sounding recipes at the end of each book. I will miss these characters and their crazy lives in Pelican, Louisiana.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

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Pelican, Louisiana is about to be the home of the newest restaurant from celebrity chef, Phillippe Chanson. While Maggie Crozat and her family are more interested in eating at local restaurants, like Junie’s, owned by their good friend JJ, many of the staff from Chanson’s new restaurant are staying at her family’s Bed and Breakfast.

The restaurant staff bring a lot of their own drama with them, from his ex-wife, who is managing Chanson’s restaurant brand, to his sous chef, who is also his new girlfriend. There is Trick, a mixologist who was roommates with him way back in New York when they were getting started, and Dyer, the writer hired to tell Chanson’s story, but only in a highly edited version.

When Chanson started talking to the best chefs in town, they brought out their Southern hospitality and finest Cajun dishes. But when customers of his started talking about how much his dishes tasted like theirs they realized that he was stealing their best recipes. And could the new restaurateurs be behind the bad reviews that suddenly showed up for Junie’s? Or for the excessive trash in the alley behind the restaurant?

As if that wasn’t enough drama for the Crozet family, the museum where Maggie works lost all their money to a desperate Board Treasurer, and she immediately steps in to start planning a gala event to raise funds. Her new husband has thoughtfully gifted her with art lessons from one of her favorite artists for Valentine’s Day. And an anonymous gifter sends her roses at the museum. The first dozen were lovely, but as the days go by and a couple more deliveries come, the number of roses dwindle, as do their health. Maggie realizes that it’s some kind of countdown, ending on Valentine’s Day, but she has no idea who they’re from or what it means.

And then the night of the official restaurant opening, Chanson splurges on a big fireworks display for his staff and the whole town of Pelican. Everyone shows up to see the sparks fly, and they do. Explosions, one after another, color the sky. But then a horrible accident leaves Chanson dead and all the spectators stunned. Or was it an accident?

As Maggie’s husband Bo works as part of the team to solve Chanson’s murder, she joins with family and friends to plan the gala, support JJ’s restaurant, finish her Valentine’s Day gift for Bo, help at the B and B, figure out who her stalker is, and try to find the artistic “it” that her teacher tells her is missing from her art. Will it all come together in time to save Valentine’s Day, or will it all break, like a sauce left too long without stirring?

Cajun Kiss of Death is the 7th book in Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country Mystery Series, and it is packed with lots of characters with big personalities. The murder story is compelling (who wouldn’t want to kill a chef who steals recipes?), and Maggie and her family add lots of warmth and kindness to offset the violence. There is definitely not a dull moment in these pages.

Cajun Kiss of Death is my first in this series, although I’ve read other books by Byron, which I loved. I think the writing here is very good, and the plotting is tight. However, there is a huge cast of characters to learn, even without the gang from Chanson’s restaurant. There is a list in the beginning of all the main characters, which helps some, but I would think it’s easier to access in the print version than in the electronic version. I was able to keep up with who was who, but I did have to take some notes on that.

That being said, I found the writing lively, and the Southern hospitality is real. The Cajun flavor is almost literal, especially in all those descriptions of food, and the Crozat family is just a great group of people to spend time with. This may have been my first trip to Pelican, but it won’t be my last.

Egalleys for Cajun Kiss of Death were provided by Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

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A few weeks later just before Valentine’s Day, Celebrity Chef Phillippe Chanson is opening a restaurant in Pelican. The haughty chef has quite a stir in the town with his attitude, competitive drive, and recipe thievery. The chef dies with fanfare on the opening night of his restaurant leaving behind a surfeit of suspects including a beloved local restaurant owner and Maggie Crozat’s own mother. Maggie lays down her paint brush to don her sleuthing cap. Can Maggie paint the killer into a corner for the local police before Valentine’s Day? Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron is the 7th A Cajun Country Mystery. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this delightful series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and the town of Pelican, Louisiana. The characters are what make A Cajun Country Mysteries. I have loved watching these characters develop over the course of the series. Maggie has come a long way since Plantation Shudders. Maggie has a great family that is loving, welcoming, big hearts, and a wonderful sense of humor. Maggie’s grandmere is one feisty woman (her granddaughter is a chip off the old block). Cajun Kiss of Death has an opening that will delight fans of the series. There is food, family, fireworks, and fun. The whodunit was well plotted and a great one to solve. There is a surplus of suspects in this mystery with a plot twist or two along the way. I love how the author includes the history, culture, and cuisine of Louisiana. Ellen Byron brings Louisiana alive with her vivid descriptions. It is a place I want to visit. A Cajun Kiss of Death was over far too quickly. Based on the epilogue, Cajun Kiss of Death is the final book in this charming Southern series. I am glad the author provided the epilogue which gives those who love the series a contented conclusion. Cajun Kiss of Death is finer than a frog’s hair with purloined recipes, a jubilant New Year’s Eve gathering, flaring fireworks, stinky trash, stalker secret admirer, and a Valentine’s Day revelation.

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Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron
I have only read the first two in this seven book series so imagine my surprise when it starts with three weddings and ends with the end of the series. Of course, now I have to go back and read books three through six to fill in the blanks.
This one is a bit of a wild ride filled with Cajun cooking, a thieving chef, and various other food related skullduggery. The entertainment does’t let up. I got a lot of enjoyment out of this book because of the mostly pleasant characters and the charming location.

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The latest in the Cajun Country mystery series is once again filled with suspects in a murder. A new chef comes to town and opens a restaurant. The other restauranteurs in town are not happy at his tactics. And, someone is sending Maggie gifts in advance of Valentine's day, but it's not her husband! Add in some mouth-watering descriptions of Cajun and Creole cuisine and you've got a great book. Fun to read and lots of great characters, both recurrent and new.

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Cajun Kiss of Death is the seventh and seemingly final book in the charming Cajun country mysteries featuring amateur sleuth Maggie Crozat and the other members of the quirky and outlandish Crozat clan. Maggie and Bo have finally tied the knot and are settling into newlywed life and are reminiscing on the seemingly large amount of murders that have occurred in their small southern town of Pelican, Louisiana. Of course this can only lead to one thing, another murder. Celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson is new to town and set to open his restaurant in direct competition to other local establishments. Along the way he has made quite a few enemies with his shady business dealings, which range from pilfering most of the short supply of oysters for his own restaurant to stealing other chef's beloved recipes for his own use and profit. When Phillippe winds up dead by foul play, the list of suspects is long and includes many members of the local community. Maggie and Bo can't help but lend a hand in the investigation and as always the road to arrest never runs smoothly.
Byron has outdone herself with this latest and seemingly final addition to the southern Cajun mystery series. Full of southern snark and charm, with a sampling of Cajun culture, food, and flair as well as a bit of art and history, Cajun Kiss of Death brings Louisiana to life. The mystery is complex and interwoven seamlessly in the larger narrative, with plenty of other action on the side, including a Valentine's day stalker to keep the story moving along and readers entertained. The cast features quite a diverse and comical mix, including many of the old favorites along with plenty of new faces. Byron has established herself among the top of cozy mystery authors and while Cajun Kiss of Death may be the end of this delightful series, I am excited to see what she has in store for readers next.

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I really enjoyed this book! This is (what appears to be) the final installment in this series, so not exactly where I would have liked to enter this series, however I was able to enjoy it as a standalone. The author did a great job of giving detail that allowed me to understand what was going on and made it very enjoyable. I’ll definitely go back and read the rest of the series!
*note* if you haven’t followed the series, I wouldn’t recommend reading the epilogue- it gives a lot of detail into the future that may be better left until you have read the full story

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4.5 Stars - Top Pick

Maggie Crozat and Bo Durand are newlyweds and are looking forward to spending their first Valentine’s Day together as a married couple. Things are busy at her family’s Louisiana Bed and Breakfast because of some high maintenance guests – celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson and his staff who are opening a new Cajun restaurant in town. Not everyone is thrilled with the way Phllippe conducts his professional or his personal business so when the arrogant chef perishes in a boat crash, there are plenty of people with motives. When law enforcement zeroes in on Maggie’s friend JJ, owner of a competing restaurant, Maggie puts romance aside to track down the real killer.

This is the seventh book in the Cajun Country Mystery series and from the author’s note, it looks like this will be the final installment for quite a while. The author is going out on a high note because I feel this book is one of the best in the series. The generous, hard-working Maggie is a unique and likable character and I have enjoyed reading about her romance and now marriage to Sheriff’s Department Detective Bo. They have chemistry as well as mutual respect for each other. There are a lot of different subplots going on in the book including Maggie taking art lessons from an artist she admires, helping out at various restaurants in town, working her regular job, organizing fundraisers, and dodging the attention of an increasingly creepy stalker. However, all of the elements help create a fast-paced and entertaining story. I was surprised by the outcome of the murder and thought the solution of the stalker was stretching things a little, but overall, really enjoyed this book. An author’s note gives interesting background about some of the elements of the story and the recipes at the back seem like they would be tasty.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been following this series. The story itself would work fine as a standalone for new readers. However, there is a very detailed epilogue at the end that gives a glimpse at the characters several years in the future, so new readers may want to read prior books before this one. I love the book and the series and am hopeful by the author’s comment in her note that while this is the end of the series for now, she won’t completely rule out a book or short story in the future. This is great news for fans of this well-written series.

~ Christine

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Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and the town of Pelican, Louisiana, is buzzing about the new restaurant getting ready to open. It’s the latest from celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson, and this one will have an emphasis on Cajun food. However, Phillippe isn’t ingratiating himself with his new community, and several people have fights with him, including Maggie Crozat’s friend, JJ, the owner of a popular local restaurant, and Maggie’s own mother. The night of the restaurant’s official opening is more explosive than anyone planned, and in the aftermath, someone is dead. Will Maggie figure out what is going on?

It’s always a pleasure to return to Pelican. I absolutely love the characters, and the growth we’ve seen in them and their relationships continues here. There are several sub-plots, so something is always going on, and I had a hard time putting the book down. Since this is the last book planned in the series (at least for now), we get a wonderful epilogue that will leave fans very happy. As usual, there are recipes and a few notes on the reality behind the fiction at the end. Fans will be delighted with this visit, and if you haven’t met the characters yet, you need to fix that today.

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This is the seventh book in this series and unfortunately also the last in the series. This book is full of fabulous food and delightful characters. As always the storyline is well plotted and it will definitely keep the reader entertained. I just can't recommend this book and series enough. I will miss Pelican, Louisiana and the Crozat's and Durand's. This series will always top the list of my favorites! Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

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I loved hanging out with Maggie, Bo, their family and friends again. The food in this story will have your mouth watering. Thank goodness they included recipes at the end of the book. I enjoyed the story, which has a couple interesting twists in it. You will meet some interesting characters along the way. I really love Bo’s sense of humor and his and Maggie’s relationship. I think you will enjoy your visit to Pelican as much as I did. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

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This is a bitter/sweet review as I loved this series and the last book is excellent.
It closes all the stories and it's highly entertaining, complex and gripping mystery.
There's plenty going on and i had a lot of fun in reading it.
It was great to catch up with the characters and the solid mystery kept me guessing til the surprising solution.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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A celebrity chef opens up his latest destination restaurant in Pelican, Louisiana. Unfortunately the town people don't know that the chef has a reputation for stealing other people's recipes. They find this out after three local recipes end up on his menu including one of Maggie's mother's. Nothing can be done to him legally since the recipe cannot be copyrighted. The chef dies in a fiery boat accident during the fireworks display celebrating the opening of his new restaurant, making suspects of those he stole recipes from. Maggie is distracted by art lessons from a famous artist that Bo bought her for her Valentine's Day present and her own personal stalker.

Cajun Kiss of Death is the seventh book in the series and the first book in the series I've read. According to the author's note this is the last Cajun Country Mystery book we'll have for a while. Loose ends are tied up before the final word is read

I enjoyed reading Cajun Kiss of Death. I love the characters and setting, and I'm looking forward to reading the previous books in the series.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Valentine's Day has arrived in Pelican along with a new restaurant in famous chef Phillippe Chanson franchise. Everything is not as it seems with the chef and his business practices. When he ends up dead, no one is truly surprised.
Newly wed Maggie does everything in her power to help clear bestie J.J. good name and find the real killer. This will be no easy feat considering all the people done wrong by Philippe.
Book seven in the series is another great installment in the fun series in small town Cajun country living.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a review copy of this book.

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The seventh in the series. I was sad to learn at the end of this book that it would be the last. I enjoy the characters and will miss visiting with them.

There was plenty happening in this story. We have a dead recipe stealing chef, a stalker, a returning ex-beau, and embezzlement. Maggie tries to keep herself, family, and friends safe and out of trouble.

So, trying to figure out if all the above items are related or not was a toughie. I enjoyed the pace, descriptions, and suspense.

I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

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I reached the end of this book, and now I feel slightly bereft to realize that this is probably the last one in the series. These characters have come to life in my imagination. I feel like I have lived their stories with them. I anxiously follow along as Maggie puts together tiny puzzle pieces only she picks up on. I fret with Bo every time she stumbles into a potentially dangerous situation. And I love the weird, quirky residents of Pelican as if they were my own family. The author knows how to create a mystery that keeps me guessing and keeps me so entertained that I’m too busy having fun to try and out-think the plot. This book was no exception to that state of affairs. I have no idea what she has up her sleeve for the future, but my fingers are crossed for a return to Pelican at some point.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

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Having missed the first books in Ellen Byron's "A Cajun Country Mystery" series, I decided to take the plunge and dive straight in at book seven with this novel, Cajun Kiss of Death and I'm really glad I did!

Set in Pelican, Louisiana, I got to meet Maggie Crozat, the proprietor of a historic Cajun Country B&B. She and her detective beau, Bo Durand are married and other changes are in the offing. Junie's Oyster Bar and Dance Hall are to have some competition as a new high-end restaurant is opening in the area. When celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson is found murdered, Maggie dons her sleuthing cap.

Maggie is a really strong character and I was thrilled to be able to get to know her. All of the other characters in the story were very well-drawn, too. I enjoyed reading about their daily lives and there was a fair bit of drama in there as well to keep up the level of intrigue. With a diverse cast and rich in humour, there were several likely suspects but my guess was off the mark. The author's writing style was transfixing and her plot was well-structured throughout. Cajun Kiss of Death is a wild ride to the finale and will delight many lovers of cozy mysteries. I am hoping to read this series from the beginning which might take some time!

Disclosure: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing a digital ARC of One for the Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron via Netgalley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Weddings, murder and beyond that, oh my! This book was really bittersweet especially when it came to the ending. I loved the three weddings we got to celebrate in the beginning with more things being celebrated at the end. Everything was just wrapped up really well.

I had no idea who the killer was and thought Maggie's idea for the reveal was pretty clever. Bo must have too, because it worked out. I have to say I guessed one of the little secrets that came out at the end! ;)

Since some of the other reviews have mentioned the epilogue, I guess it's fair game to say the series is ending with this book. I was really sad to read that last chapter and see that there's an epilogue. But I honestly loved the epilogue as much as I did the one in Harry Potter. The author did a great job of showing us our favorites from this series and what they'd be up to twenty years down the road. Again, very bittersweet, but I'm still smiling despite having leaky eyes from reading!

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

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A new restaurant is coming to Pelican, Louisiana and with it comes a lot of drama which quickly becomes deadly. Newlywed Maggie Crozat promptly becomes involved trying to help a good friend clear his name from the suspect list and comes up with a creative way to use her artistic skills to try and figure out who is really guilty of murder.

This is an engaging cozy with lots of action that will keep you guessing and a setting that will immerse you in all things Louisiana. This is the 7th book in the series but could be read as a stand alone. It will just take you a bit to figure out the large cast of characters. Thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

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