I'm a big fan of this series. The author does a great job of setting the scene, giving you the feel of the humidity in the air and the ambiance of moss-draped oaks and seashells crunching in the driveway, all without bogging the pace down with a lot of boring descriptions, leaving things open for the reader's imagination. The characters are also very homey and sweet but in a way that's believable and not cartoony-feeling.

In this book a new restaurant has opened in town. Not only does the new eatery jeopardize business for the two existing local hot spots, but the newly arrived chef feigns interest in their signature dishes in order to develop his own copycat versions. Though apparently legal, this move does not win Phillipe Chanson any friends in town. When the man turns up dead, no one is either very surprised or very saddened. But who killed him? When another body turns up, the mystery deepens.

There's a lot going on in this book. Three couples share a wedding ceremony in the beginning, one being Maggie and her beau Bo, another being her grandmother and her flame, Lee. Gaynell and the Gator Girls have just finished a big tour, the Doucet museum is devastated by an embezzler, and of course the Crozat B&B finds itself in the middle of yet another murder mystery.

The only bad thing about this book is that I thought the ending hinted at this possibly being the last book in the series. I hope I'm wrong about that because this is a series I'd love to see go on and on!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I enjoyed this book. I think it's probably best that the previous books in the series be read first. I had difficulty at first with all the people being listed, it felt like I was jumping into a movie near the end. It eventually grew on me. The mystery is interesting and the bad guys were caught. #CajunKissofDeath #NetGalley

I've really loved this series. This is the last book and I'm quite sad to say goodbye to Maggie Crozat and co. However I also think the series has been wrapped up really nicely and probably in the right place. I would 100% recommend this series to people. It's a great addition to the cozy mystery genre and I can't wait to see what this author does next.

The scenes is described in great detail and the characters are fun and free spirited. The main character find mysteries in a great b&b.there’s plent of plots and a decent amount of turns that keeps the read engaged. It’s set in the winter around Valentine’s Day. The Cajun spin makes you want to visit Louisiana

Now that I'm all caught up on the series, it seems a pity it's ending! This series is definitely going out on a high with a delicious plotline and a fun reveal; I did not see any of those endings coming. I really loved that she gave me closure at the end.

This is the second Ellen Byron book that I have had the pleasure of reading, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. To the bad luck of the readers, apparently it is also the last in the Cajun Country Mystery series... couldn't there be more, please?
In Cajun Kiss of Death, Phillippe Chanson, a famous restaurateur, decides to open another restaurant in his chain in the quaint little town of Pelican, Louisiana, putting the businesses of other small town chefs at risk, including that of Maggie's friend, JJ, proprietor of Junie's Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, which puts JJ in a dangerous situation when Chanson dies in an accident. What do oysters have to do with all this mess?
I recommend this excellent story, very original and well written, as always with a lot of humor despite the dangerous situations in which our friend Maggie Crozat is involved, including a stalker in the mix... I especially liked the original way of the author to close the series and a special mention to the beautiful covers she has chosen for her books!

I love everything about Ellen Byron's Cajun Country series and Cajun Kiss of Death lived up to my expectations! I do hate to see this series come to an end. The characters are wonderful. The location makes you feel as if you are there with them. Each book in the series is as good as the one before. I highly recommend this series to any cozy mystery lover. You will not be disappointed!

Cajun Kiss of Death is another great adventure in the Cajun Country Series. This a fun series with wonderful characters. Not sure if this is the last book in the series or not. It seems as though it may be the case. The murder is easy enough to solve however the overall story is a fun read.
#CajunKissofDeath #NetGalley

Another treat. This finale is a great way to send off characters you have grown to love throughout the series.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A new Cajun restaurant by a celebrity chef opening as Valentine approaches leads to a fiery boat crash. Clashes between the new chef in town arises leaving Maggie’s friend as prime suspect.

Suspects include her friend the owner of the oyster bar who might have feared competition, her own mother who believed the dead chef stole one of her cherished recipes. Perhaps it was a local seafood vendor who was miffed that the new restaurant offered oysters at a more affordable price despite a shortage.

To keep Maggie busy she’ll have to deal with a secret admirer as she begins to get anonymous gifts but they soon become disturbing in nature. Could her admirer/stalker be dangerous and somewhat related to the murder?

A charming Southern hospitality cozy that will keep you guessing,

There are many quirky characters in this Cajun cozy mystery and I enjoyed getting to know them all. The Cajun cooking sounded amazing and made me hungry for a trip to Bayou country. There were several mysteries within mysteries that keeps readers guessing what will happen next.

Enjoyed the plot, the characters, the theme and the writing of this story.
It starts with a triple wedding set in Louisiana with wonderful food and camaraderie that set the tone to what will come.
A new business that could put in jeopardy the livelihood of small traditional restaurants in rural Louisiana would lead to murder.
Great cozy mystery.

This book is the epitome of charm and old southern hospitality all rolled into one. This is the first book that I have read of Ellen Byron's but she has been on my to be read list for some time. I have a fascination with New Orleans and even though I have not been there, I have been to the rest of the state and was left captivated by what I found there.

There is something different about the people there that you don't find anywhere else. They are so friendly, wonderful, and gracious. And this book totally captures all of that. I love that the story is based in a small town and that everyone knows everyone else. I grew up in a small town myself so that feels very familiar to me. I love the sense of community, how everyone watches out for everyone else.

The mystery itself was very interesting and original. I haven't seen that in other books and I read a lot of cozies. I loved how there was so much history linked in with everything to. I wish Pelican was a real place. I would move there in a heartbeat.

All of the characters are well written and fleshed out and I enjoyed watching how everyone interacted with each other. It's like reading about a giant family reunion that goes on every day all day long. Everything sounds like it would be breathtaking to see the scenery there.

I loved everything about this book. It's like a big warm Cajun hug in between the pages. The only thing that would possibly make this book any better was if it had a magic portal that could transport you there where you could see and do everything.

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. A completely fabulous book.

I was given this ARC to be read and reviewed by NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

After their wedding on New Year's Eve, Maggie Crozat and Bo Durand are settling into married life.
Celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson is due to open his new Cajun-themed restaurant in Pelican. While some are excited about the opening, others are concerned about the impact on other restaurants in Pelican, When the chef is killed in a firey boat crash at the celebration for the restaurant's opening.
Due to the habit Chanson had of stealing recipes from other chefs and claiming them as his own, Maggie's mom Ninette and two of Maggie's friends are considered suspects. As some of the restaurant staff are staying at the family's B&B, there is the possibility that one of them is the murdered. As Maggie begins to look into Chanson's background and his relationships with his staff, she must also deal with the fact that she has a secret admirer/stalker.

I have high expectation of the books in Ellen Byron's Cajun Country series and Cajun Kiss of Death met every one! The newest book in the series is an excellent example of why this series is an award winner. A realistic view of life on River Road, warm and unique characters, and a complex mystery combine to create a book that give cozy and amateur detective mysteries the kind of reputation is making the world aware that this genre can be as excellent as any other.
I am not sure that Cajun Kiss of Death is any better than my all-time favorite, A Cajun Christmas Killing, but it is in competition for that personal title. Maggie and Beau’s marriage is a beautiful as we all expected. It was fun to peak into casually lovely l moments between two of my favorite characters. Ellen Bryon gives us a gift with a surprising epilogue that fans are sure to love. I hope that this is not the final Cajun Country novel but I fear that it may be.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this awesome novel. Sharing books this good with my friends and followers is one of the highlights of my retirement.
#CajunKissofDeath #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #EllenByron

Louisiana, bayou, historical-setting, law-enforcement, family, friendship, recipes, cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, bed-and-breakfast, murder, murder-investigation*****

This is not an unbiased review because I love this series, NOLA and the Bayou country, and especially the FOOD.
If you've never read any of the other books about the folks in Pelican, Louisiana you won't get lost in this one, but you'll probably want to read the others anyway just for fun. If you've read the others, like me, you'll love this one, too! The Crozats and all of Pelican are fun and engaging people who make you feel like you just want to go there for a visit to the B&B, the town, and the historical plantations. And the FOOD!
Recipes can't be copyrighted, but the chef in question seems to have appropriated one too many and it became the death of him. Beyond that, no spoilers and the publisher's blurb is very good. Loved it!
The cast of characters is at the beginning, and a few great recipes at the end.
An excellent read and well worth the price.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of CAJUN KISS OF DEATH (Book 7 of the Cajun Country Mysteries), by Ellen Byron, in exchange for an honest review. Maggie Crozat and her fiancé finally tie the knot just in time for Valentine’s celebrations. Meanwhile, celebrity chef Philippe Chanson has decided to open a Cajun restaurant in their little town of Pelican, Louisiana. However, Chanson appears to have maliciously impaired the business of the two other eateries in town. Chanson’s also managed to offend the local cooks by stealing their secret recipes. As part of the grand opening for the restaurant, Chanson hosts festivities on the river. His showboating ends in a fiery crash, and the death is determined to be murder. The multi-agency task force investigating the murder seem to focus on the locals, but Chanson had an entire entourage of cooks, staff, managers, and even a ghost writer. Could one of them have had motive to cook their golden goose? Meanwhile, Maggie begins receiving increasingly threatening gifts from an anonymous source. Can her stalker have something to do with Chanson’s murder? The book concludes with an epilogue detailing the future of the Crozat family, so this appears, to me, to be the conclusion to the series.

I liked this book and enjoyed the series. I do want to clarify that, despite what the book may imply, Ville Platte is nowhere near New Orleans; it’s roughly 140 miles (about 3 hours) away. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, Cajun food, Creole food, weddings, art, B&Bs, restaurants, stalking, celebrity entourages, and celebrity drama.

#CajunKissofDeath #NetGalley

Well, I look forward to each new entry in this series, but there were a number of things that make me just give Cajun Kiss of Death a just OK rating. Starting with the story line. I've read many mysteries with a similar storyline and there wasn't enough originality about this version for it not to feel like a slog to read. The book seemed twice the usual length.

The setting and back story was similar to the previous books. Something's happening at Doucette, there's a gala or similar event, the usual family members and friends pop up briefly, etc. They just didn't add much.

Some of the positives is that we get a limied view of Maggie and Bo's marriage and find out that Maggie is not perfect, though just taking one person's criticism so quickly to heart was pushing reality a bit.

There is an epilogue which makes me wonder if the series is ending. I could find nothing online to confirm or not. If the series isn't ending, I don't see why it was added. It does not finish off the main story. It souldn't have been needed for length, so it just seems out of place. It was satisfying and is a nice touch if CKoD is the last book of the series.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyable series and this one doesn’t disappoint. A wedding, of course a murder! the only thing that left me wanting was the fact this is the last book in the series. Boo!

"Cajun Kiss of Death", by Ellen Byron, is a murder mystery set up in a small town in Louisiana. Ms Byron uses her obviously extensive skills from script writing to bring a snappy tale. She includes all the desirable elements, and is smart about limiting information. It reads very much like a mix between Murder She Wrote, Golden Girls, and Gilmore Girls. There is also a clear demarcation between good and shady characters, as well as worryingly copious drinking. There is even a “Twenty-years later” chapter, to close off the last generation and confirm the happy ending.

"Cajun Kiss of Death" is not a great book, but it is a good time filler. Also, those who enjoy Cajun cooking will find added recipes at the end. It is also a good option for readers who like stories set in very specific environments, and find Louisiana culture attractive, particularly where it concerns its food, plantation, and French influences.

On the other hand, this book does not have a deep and demanding plot, which would make it a bad choice for lovers cerebral thrillers. Additionally, this is also a type of chick lit where the males are either antagonists or, at best, mildly supporting characters. Thus, it would not be enjoyable to people with an interest in gender balance issues, or who enjoy rounded character development.

I consider Cajun Kiss of Death to be a good book, whose author has clearly planned as light entertainment, and it fulfils such purpose. Sadly, it tries so hard to be hype and have a super-cool female, that it loses much of its attractiveness half way down the volume. Everything is so focused on the protagonist, she becomes more of a chore to like than an inspiring heroine.