This is a pretty riveting cozy from a master of the genre. The New Orleans setting is super atmospheric, and I find the ways Ricki is learning about her biological family fascinating (and it plays a major role in this story). The vintage cookbooks and cooking tools that make up Ricki's store are so interesting and fun, and her coworkers at Bon Vee make for a great cast of characters.

I really enjoy this author and this series. This is the second book I have read. A storm has hit New Orleans and during repairs on the museum a case of valuable old wine hidden under the house is discovered. A fund raising auction for the wine is organized to help pay for the repairs. When news of the wine is publicized all sorts of claims to the wine come out of the wood work. When one claimant is found dead in front of the museum and Eugenia is the prime suspect, Ricki sets out to solve the murder. I love the characters and the setting. The museum, the shop and the vintage cooking background are a lot of fun. The mystery was good with lots of suspects and the solution made sense. I look for word to reading the next book in the series. Enjoy

Wined and Died in New Orleans

by Ellen Byron

Ricki fled from Los Angeles to New Orleans to escape a past tarnished by her innocent association with a Ponzi scheme billionaire. Now connected with the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, Ricki opens her own museum gift shop, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop. She purchases old cookbooks and kitchen tools for resale in her shop.

The plot centers around a murder. Ricki leads friends who are also her co-workers at the museum in trying to solve the case. She feeds any information she discovers to Nina, a local detective with whom she “collaborated” on a previous case. The plot is good and has plenty of complications and surprises involving some very old wine discovered on the property. Suddenly the family tree expands as people claiming to belong to the Charbonnets descend on Louisiana in hopes of a share of wealth and fame. Also the reader gets a taste of Louisiana from references to food, dialect, and an impending hurricane.

I have enjoyed other books by Ellen Byron with a Louisiana setting, but this one does not appeal to me and is definitely not a page turner. I didn’t identify or empathize with any of the characters. Ricki and her friends/coworkers seem to go round and round in their efforts to discover the murderer. Ricki has a revelation of a personal nature that is an interesting twist. Ricki and her neighbor, Chef Virgil, are co-parents of two dogs, making the potential for interesting scenarios which never develop. The dogs have very minor roles.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. The author provides a list of characters at the first of the book which helps orient the reader.
2. This is the second book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery Series. I have not read the first book in the series, but I don’t think that affected my reflections on this cozy mystery.
3. There is a recipe section describing selected vintage cookbooks and any information about them that emerged during the author’s research. She also chose a recipe from each book to add to that section.

Publication: February 7, 2023—Berkley

Memorable Lines:

“You need a drink.” “Everyone keeps liquoring me up. Is a drink New Orleans’s answer to everything?” “Pretty much.”

“I guess you could call me a California Charbonnet. Kind of like a California chardonnay but with notes of murder and bizarre family dynamics.”

“Sam’s on the Crisis Negotiation Team. I din’t pass the training. Apparently, sarcasm isn’t perceived as an ‘effective oral communication skill.’ “

Ricki James-Diaz has a lot of her hands. Not only is she struggling to focus on Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, she's dealing with an impeding hurricane! Just to add to the chaos, an insanely expensive of wine has been dug up, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum. The Bon Vee, of course is where Ricki's cookbook store is housed. There's an immediate family squabble over who owns the priceless bottle of wine and meanwhile, a dead body turns up at the mansion! How will all this be resolved? Ricki steps in to solve the crime, leading us down a merry path of red herrings and twists and turns. I love this series, this is the second book. Looking forward to many more!

Ellen Byron does it again! I absolutely adore her books and this one is no exception. Ricki is a strong protagonist who owns a vintage cookbook shop within a house museum in New Orleans. This mystery has wine, family secrets, and the threat of an oncoming hurricane to keep the reader fully engaged. The side characters are pretty great also! This book had me clamoring for the next in the series, so I hope it will be coming soon.

It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.

Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. She’s less thrilled when the post brings distant Charbonnet family members out of the woodwork, all clamoring for a cut of the wine’s sale.

When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, the NOPD zeroes in on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice as the prime suspect, figuring that as head of the Charbonnet family, she has the most to gain. Ricki is determined to uncover the real culprit, but she can’t help noticing that Eugenia is acting strangely. Ricki wonders what kind of secret her mentor has bottled up, and fears what might happen if she uncorks it.

In the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Ricki has to help solve a murder, untangle family secrets, and grow her business, all while living under the threat of a hurricane that could wipe out everything from her home to Bon Vee.
Amazon.com


Wined and Died in New Orleans is the second book in Ellen Byron’s Vintage Cookbook mystery series. It was released by Berkley on February 7th. Categorized as a culinary mystery, the series isn’t quite the norm in that subgenre. Main character Ricki isn’t a cook/baker. When she does try to make a dessert for streaming, she makes such a mess of it that it is turned into a comedy (luckily). But Ricki does appreciate vintage cookbooks and kitchenware, which is one of the interesting aspects of this series. The characters also draw readers into the action because they are so well defined. I strummed through the book in little time wishing it were longer.

Please welcome Ellen Byron back to WWK. E. B. Davis

Was Italianate architecture popular after the Civil War? Was it popular throughout the country or just the South/New Orleans? What characterizes this style? Italianate architecture was popular all over the country. It harkened back to 16th century Italian Renaissance architecture, but New Orleans put its own touch on the style, with ironwork balconies and galleries, and Greek Revival columns on many stately homes.

What motivates fangirls such as Iris and her obsession with Eugenia? Their motivated by wanting to be accepted by whomever they consider “cool.” I.e., in Iris’s case, Eugenia represents the height of New Orleans society. Being embraced by her would give Iris bragging rights with people who don’t have access to the upper echelons of New Orleans rarified upper crust.

I was surprised that Ricki left Thor and Princess home alone when a storm was going strong, but she had to get to work. Aren’t most dogs terrified of thunder and lightning? Our dogs would bark at thunder and lightning but weren’t scared of it. I used them as role models.

Although most of the staff aren’t thrilled with having to supervise Eugenia’s granddaughter, Olivia, during an unpaid, semester-long internship, she grows on Ricki. What does Ricki like and recognize in Olivia? As Olivia proves herself useful and then even invaluable when it comes to assisting Ricki in the dreaded task of making a cooking video, the intern grows on her. Also, of everyone on the staff, Olivia is closest in age to Ricki. But even Ricki feels her age around a Gen Zer like Olivia!

I’m confused. Is Olivia Theo’s cousin or niece? Oops, did I mess up?! Olivia is Eugenia’s granddaughter. Theo’s father is Eugenia’s brother, which makes Theo Eugenia’s nephew and Olivia’s cousin. Keeping the family relationships sorted out is tough! My mother is from an Italian family where she only has one brother but a huge amount of cousins who are related on one level or another. I used that as the prototype for all the cousins coming out of the woodwork in Wined and Died in New Orleans.

Ricki seems to be going through a lot of stress. Is it due to her new job, relocation, or weather panics? Or due to the fact that her landlady Kitty Kat lets herself into her house whenever she feels like it? Will Ricki overcome her praline addiction to tell Kitty to knock it off and knock, respecting her privacy? It’s all of the above! It’s the impending storm. It’s the fact she finally and very reluctantly does a little social media and it backfires. It’s adjusting to her new life. As to landlady Kitty, Ricki will eventually tell her not to come and go from Ricki’s home whenever she pleases. But it’s a delicate situation because Kitty is one of Ricki’s mother’s best friends and is giving Ricki a real break on rent. So, Ricki wants to handle it carefully.

Ricki is relying on an old method developed by Emile Coué, which relies on verbal positive affirmation. She happens on the mantra, “Every day in every way, I’m getting better and better.” Unfortunately, this is the same saying that Inspector Dreyfus says over and over again in The Pink Panther in response to Inspector Clouseau before he goes mad and is carted off to the funny farm. Is it because of this mantra that Detective Nina starts calling Ricki “Inspector Clouseau?” I had no idea about the mantra being Inspector Dreyfus! It’s actually one I’ve used myself over the years. Nina calls Ricki that to tease her. He’s the archetypal bumbler who still manages to do his job.

Can I assume posting a simple message on Facebook doesn’t cut it anymore to advertise or trend? Do you need hashtags, tags, GIFs, animation, etc. the whole shooting match? Oh yes. You need all of that. It’s a big pain, to be honest. And a ton of work.

When Mordant (is that a real name or one supposed to sound like morbid, since he conducts haunted tours?) finds cases of 1853 Madeira under Bon Vee, it becomes a great asset.
• Are wines that old still good to drink or do they turn to vinegar or go bad in other ways? If there is no leakage in the seals and they’re stored in a way that protects them, yes, they’re still good to drink. I researched this both online and with Nadine Nettman, a mystery writer who’s also a sommelier.
• Will bottles that old cost $1000 per bottle? (They have 120 bottles!) Yes. This was based on a real auction I found for wine discovered under an 18th-century home in New Jersey.
• Was Madeira drunk after the U. S. Constitution was signed? It was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson’s and it was used to toast the Declaration of Independence.
• Are there such things as wine auctions? Absolutely. All over the world.

As to Mordant’s name, I made it up. I thought the word would make a good name for an odd fella who leads haunted history tours and is obsessed with New Orleans’ past.

You do a lot of research on old kitchenware, porcelain, and vintage cookbooks. What the coolest fact you’ve unearthed? That John Barrymore had a spaghetti recipe! LOL, I doubt it was really his. I’m sure whoever handled MGM publicity in 1928 supplied the recipe. But my favorite cookbook is still the Photoplay Cook Book [sic] of 1928. This isn’t necessarily one fact. But I think it’s the coolest thing I unearthed.

Ricki is more sympathetic to Theo in this book. She tries to protect him from the peacocks, who hate Theo, and they agree that Clarissa, a distant relation of the Charbonnets, is untrustworthy. What has changed? I think it’s really a case of that old saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” In commiserating over this awful interlopers, Theo and Ricki bond.

Nina, a police detective called to the scene is verbally abusive at times. She can be sarcastic, nasty, threatening, mocking, and accusatory. And yet, there are times she can be sympathetic and empathetic. Nina seems presumptive in who she assesses as spoiled and rich, and berates those she judges. It was no surprise to find that she flunked Negotiator school. Who is the real Nina? The real Nina is all of those things. But at heart, she’s empathetic. Many of the less appealing qualities are those she’s adopted to survive a very tough job. But she’s also funny, with a dry wit.

I’ve always thought of California in terms of psychedelic colors. Not so these days? No. Those days are long gone. I’ve lived here since 1990 and I would describe its essence as a place of earth tones.

Many of the Charbonnet women wear wool or heavy clothing when most people are sweating. Eugenia wears a wool-knit suit. Lyla wears a sweater. Olivia wears jeans, a flannel shirt underneath a jacket. Are they fashion over function/common sense? The thing about New Orleans is it may be hot as Hades outside but it will be FREEZING inside. Even if you’re just going to dinner, locals will warn you to bring a sweater. So even though it seems counter-intuitive, their dressing is common sense. You could paraphrase the old Mark Twain joke that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. Someone could say the coldest winter they ever spent was a summer night inside a New Orleans restaurant!

Why did you describe Virgil’s Bayou Backyard bar as a mashup of a tiki bar and Chuck E. Cheese? Because it’s got elements of tiki bar décor but also has fun games like cornhole.

Why does Ricki have mixed emotions about Iris? Because Iris can be helpful at times and seems to want to be in Ricki’s corner. They do share the goal of wanting to support Eugenia and Bon Vee.

Was fish in aspic a real recipe? It doesn’t sound very good. I know! It sounds horrible. But there was a period during the late 1950s and mid-1960s they wanted to put everything in aspic! There are blogs for “questionable recipes” and many of them are for downright scary aspic dishes, lol.

I was so glad Ricki said “flying roaches” rather the using that euphemism “Palmetto Bug.” Why not call it what it really is? Are they two different things? They’re definitely roaches, just a bigger and grosser version of them.

When Ricki uses Aunt Vee’s bedroom to shower and change, she hears someone call her name. Ricki chalks it up to “auditory memory.” Does Aunt Vee (or perhaps Grandmama?) haunt Bon Vee? You know what, if the series goes on for a while, she just might! New Orleans proudly bills itself as the most haunted city in the country. Locals are proud of it. So… why not?

What’s next for Ricki? Nothing concrete at the moment, but my hope is it will revolve around either Halloween or Mardi Gras, two holidays that no city celebrates like New Orleans. Both make fantastic backdrops for interesting mysteries.

The 2nd book in the vintage cookbook cozy mystery series is a page turner! Lots of twists and turns and secrets came out in this book that will leave you anticipating book 3!
Byron has created a great protagonist and her love of New Orleans makes the city feel like a supporting character.
The recipes in this book are unique because they are from collections of old cookbooks....so fun!
I highly recommend this series to any cozy mystery lover!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Ellen Byron, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

The second installment of The Vintage Cookbook series by bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Byron, Wined and Died in New Orleans finds Ricki James-Diaz, owner of Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop located in the historical Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, investigating the murder of a relative of Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, president of the museum Foundation board and niece of the late owner of Bon Vee, Genevieve Charbonnet. Distant relatives of hers are coming out of the woodwork to claim part ownership in a stash of rare French wine (120 bottles) from 1857 that had been hidden under the house by the original builder of the house. One cousin came from France and filed a lawsuit claiming he should be part owner of the wine. When the murder weapon is found under Eugenia’s desk, she becomes a suspect, and Ricki, who is an amateur sleuth, must find the real killer before Eugenia is arrested.

Byron is an excellent storyteller, and this novel flows, with plenty of twists and turns, as well as sub-plots that will keep readers on the edge. The author also does a good job of developing her characters, and Ricki is a viable protagonist. The supporting characters are also well-developed – some are likeable and some not – and it is difficult to know who-done-it before the dénouement at the end. Byron captures the ambiance of New Orleans, and makes readers want to visit soon.

One fun aspect of this series is that there are recipes from old cookbooks included, and there are plenty of food-focused scenarios in the book. This is a fun novel, and most readers will want to read the previous book as well as the subsequent that are to come.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Very entertaining book! I love all the characters and family connections. Very excited for the next book!

Wined and Died in New Orleans is the second Vintage Cookbook cozy mystery by Ellen Byron. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a delightfully light and humorous cozy set in and around a fictitious stately home in New Orleans and the shops and tourist attractions associated with it. Protagonist and amateur sleuth Ricki James-Diaz runs a vintage cookbook and kitschy kitchen supply store in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum and is a recent transplant to Louisiana from California.

Some of the characterizations and plot developments are admittedly a bit over the top and there are some twists which require a healthy suspension of disbelief, but all in all, it's a pretty good example of why the shopfront cozy subgenre is so popular. Ricki's internal Zen monologue ("breathe, I choose to feel calm" etc) was slightly intrusive at some points, but overall it added whimsy and a little humor to the read.

The eclectic mix of eccentric characters left an open field for most of the book for "whodunit" and why. The denouement and resolution are self contained in this volume and it works well as a standalone. With 2 books extant in the series, it would be a nice choice for a mini-weekend binge read or buddy read.

Four stars. The author is prolific and competent.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

The newest addition to the “A Vintage Cookbook Mystery” series, Wined and Died in New Orleans, has added a fun and intriguing aspect to this series. Only the second book, yet the characters feel like old friends. The setting is beautiful, and no matter what type of cozy you enjoy, the combination of Ricki, murder, and bad weather will keep you on the edge of your seat.

When crates of old wine are discovered on the ground of Bon Vee that could be worth a small fortune, greed comes out of the woodwork. It isn’t long before murder follows suit. Just when the investigation gets underway, Ricki, Bon Vee, and everyone in the city is in the path of the worse possible weather. Ricki’s fears are coming to fruition, and she doesn’t have long to figure out who the killer is before it may be too late for all of them.

The suspects are friends and family, but Ricki wonders if there is more to the story than meets the eye. Regardless of the weather, evidence could be washed away in more ways than one, but when she starts asking questions, it isn’t a hurricane Ricki needs to fear. Plenty of twists and turns throughout the story keep readers on their toes. The pace is good without being too fast or slow. The characters make you smile and worry at the same time. Even the killer holds fascination. The unveiling is easy to imagine and makes Ricki and the reader doubt much of what they thought they knew.

Wined and Died in New Orleans< is a crowd-pleaser. Everything about this story keeps the reader invested, from the weather and Ricki’s constant fear of a hurricane to the murder and killer, you won’t be disappointed. This book will keep fans excited and looking forward to the next installment.

Bakers and cooks who also enjoy well-plotted, clever mysteries will devour this series! I often get irritated at cozy mysteries that are highly formulaic and wooden in delivery. In this series, Ellen Byron can write, my friends! No complaints at all from this cozy mystery reader. I’ll be recommending this on all my summer reading lists.

Wined and Died in New Orleans Earns 5/5 Goblets … Engaging & Fun Cozy!

Crates of vintage French wine, potentially priced through the roof, have been found bringing out several interested parties. Ricki, who’ll try anything to boost business for Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, seizes the opportunity to announce the discovery. So, with so many vying for a swig of the windfall, is it any surprise a dead body is also discovered? The head of the museum, Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, and Ricki’s mentor, is the prime suspect. Ricki is sure she’s innocent and while anticipating the upcoming hurricane, she’s whittling through complex family dynamics, suspicious behaviors, DNA checks, and a new employee. Totally engaging all the way thru to the surprising and satisfying end. But, a murder mystery is only one mystery Ricki is eager to solve. She’s adopted, and although she has a great relationship with her adoptive parents, the identity of her biological family is important. An added and interesting side story to an already engaging series.

Ellen Byron presents a clever mystery for the second book in her series to keep me entertained. She includes vivid, sensory-laden descriptions of New Orleans, witty repartee, and entertaining multi-generational, some quirky, characters, along with several suspect and motive possibilities, a few engaging predicaments, an extra homicide, and a threat of a hurricane to make things more stressful. I am a fan of Ellen’s writing style always well-written, steady paced, funny, and poignant. AND … recipes, too! Byron cites and offers insights for several vintage cookbooks. Focusing on wine these recipes are perfect: Biscuit Tortoni, Curried Chicken, and Barbeque Frankfurters along with an alternate recipe using Ground Turkey or Beef. Try Beer Hush Puppies using your favorite brew. And, sans any alcohol, try this traditional dessert: Brownies.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country Mystery series, and her Vintage Cookbook Mystery series is just as delightful. Wined and Died in New Orleans, second in the series, is a treat.

Ricki James-Diaz is settling into New Orleans. She’s working to build up business for her vintage cookbook shop on the grounds of the Bon Vee Culinary House and Museum, and she’s trying not to worry about potential bad weather in the form of a hurricane.

When a trove of valuable vintage wine is found on the property, Ricki thinks a post on social media about the find might attract some interest. Little did she know it would go viral, and Charbonnet cousins would start coming out of the woodwork, aiming for a cut of the proceeds. But a cousin ends up dead, and Eugenia ends up as the prime suspect. Can Ricki point the police in a different direction so they can find the real killer?

This book is full of so many good things! Characters I love (and love to hate), vintage cookbooks, recipes, and most of all, a darn good mystery. Byron expertly lays down a variety of trails for us to chase suspects down, and the killer wasn’t someone I suspected. The fact that the murder weapon was a meat mallet from Ricki’s shop doesn’t exactly narrow down the field, either! A hurricane looming out in the Gulf raises the tension level a hair or two as well.

Eugenia’s granddaughter is a particularly engaging character. Ricki has Olivia thrust upon her to help in the shop, and at first, it looks like she’ll be more hindrance than help. But her social media savvy soon has Miss Vee’s drawing attention for all the right reasons, and once you get past the Gen Z attitude, Olivia is a lovely young lady. I hope we see more of her in future books!

And as a Louisiana girl myself, I can say the setting Byron creates is on point. Some books set in my home state make me cringe. This one makes me feel like I’m hanging out with people I already know.

Be sure to check out the recipes included in the book. I can’t wait to try those out. I do love a cozy mystery with recipes.

Five stars, and I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron makes Ricki feels like she has opened a can of worms by trying to do some good for the Bon Vee House Museum.

Vintage wine being found and distant cousins coming to town during hurricane season. Will Ricki find the time to ensure her new business is successful?

Ricki James-Diaz is back in a brand-new mystery! It's fall time in good old New Orleans, which is also hurricane season. Ricki is worried about the hurricanes, but more so for her business, as it has been slow. After discovering the wine, she takes it upon herself to post about it on social media after getting the go-ahead from Eugenia that it's okay to do so. Well, that brings about all sorts of drama for the Bon Vee staff. Ricki and the rest of the Bon Vee staff has more things to worry about when another murder happens on the property. Our resident sleuth has taken it upon herself to solve this one because she knows in her gut that it wasn't Eugenia that murdered this guy.

I loved Ricki in this installment, as she's getting used to being in New Orleans. Ricki is coming into her own here in New Orleans, and it's lovely to see.

The Mystery
Nobody at either Bon Vee or Charbonnet liked the murder victim after he inserted himself into everyone's affairs that dealt with the money side of both businesses. The Charbonnet family has many family members coming out of the woodwork to get what's rightfully theirs through the wine auction. I have to say that this mystery was one that I had a hard time following. See, I have to say that I fell for one of the red herrings and hoped it was one of the distant cousins that killed each other. I know, bad me. Everything tied together smoothly once the murderer was found, and I have to say that Ms. Byron led me like a fool to one of her carefully laid-out red herrings.

Five Stars
Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron is the next installment in this Vintage Cookbook Mystery series, and I loved every minute of being in New Orleans during the fall season. Granted, we didn't get to celebrate Halloween there, but it was hurricane season. Ms. Byron makes the reader feel like they are in the story with the characters as they go through the case's developments. I am giving Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron five stars and recommending it to anyone that loves a great southern cozy culinary mystery set in New Orleans.

Also, don't forget to check out the recipes at the back of the book. We have Biscuit Tortoni, Curried Chicken, Barbeque Frankfurters, Ellen's alternate recipe: Barbeque Ground Turkey (or Beef), Beer Hush Puppies, and Brownies.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. 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 Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Ricki James-Diaz hasn’t lived in New Orleans long. It makes her more than a little nervous to hear a hurricane is on the way. It’s not easy to put her fears aside and concentrate on her vintage cookbook shop. However, she tries to do just that.

When a buried treasure is discovered on the Charbonnet property, long-lost relatives come to claim their share of the prize. Of course, it’s up to the Charbonnet family to figure out who really shares their DNA. Amid the excitement, a dead body shows up and the police focus their attention on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, Ricki’s boss.

Ricki is sure her boss is innocent and intends to prove it.

I absolutely love this series. I enjoyed the first one but this one is even better as I got to know all the characters even more than before. Ricki is now on my favorite amateur sleuth list. She’s strong, capable and a little vulnerable, too.

Each character is well-written and jumps right off the page. They are wacky, fun and a couple are pretty evil. The story moved along at a fast pace. All of this combined to make an exciting cozy mystery.

I’ve never been to New Orleans, but it’s on my list of places I’d love to visit. This book really gave me a taste of it. The author transported me into the story and right to New Orleans. She does make armchair traveling fun.

Although the mystery is contained in this book, there’s also a secondary storyline which carries through the series. I think it’s so much fun to read from the start. This is only the second book in the series, which makes it easy to catch up.

I’m so looking forward to meeting up with Ricki and her zany friends again in the next book. This book has landed on my favorites of 2023 list.




FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dollycas's Thoughts

We are back in New Orleans and at Bon Vee Culinary House Museum where Ricki James-Diaz has her Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, and it is hurricane season. Ricki gets nervous whenever the clouds get dark and rain moves in. These days she tries to keep busy with her shop hoping to be distracted by what is happening outside.

A fabulous distraction takes hold when several cases of old, valuable French wine are found on the premises.  Trying to use social media to attract more visitors to the museum Ricki reveals the discovery in a viral post. It does bring in more visitors but it also brings in long-lost relatives of the home's builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet, all wanting to reap the rewards the wine will provide. It also attracts a murderer  . . . or was the murderer already there?

The police place the head of the Charbonnet family, Eugenia Charbonnet Felice at the top of the suspect list. She definitely is hiding something but Ricki knows she is no killer. Ricki pours herself into proving just that as storms rage and family secrets are revealed. Hold on tight, this could be a doozy.

______

The incredible quirky cast of characters from Bayou Book Thief is back with gusto. They continue to develop so well. They feel true to real life and at times they are delightfully funny. Ricki is a strong protagonist and a worthy amateur sleuth. In this story, she is given an intern who is fantastic. Olivia is Eugenia's granddaughter and a sophomore at Tulane. She is totally addicted to her phone and social media but she teaches Ricki a thing or two. She is only supposed to be there for a semester but I hope we see a lot more of her. The other new characters are the Charbonnet "cousins" that seem to have fallen out of the woodwork wearing their greed on their sleeves.  They are cleverly created to invoke the mood and emotions the author intended which was no surprise. Ms. Byron excels at character development.

The author takes her readers right to New Orleans, the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, and more. From the weather to the grounds, to the street out front, and to each room we visit, her descriptive style is amazing. Vivid pictures formed in my mind. It was almost like watching a movie complete with sound. I have never been to New Orleans but after reading everything this author has written it is on the top of my bucket list of places I want to visit.

I know hurricanes make Ricki nervous but the author has plotted a great tornado twister of a story. The pace is fast and filled with twists and surprises that kept me guessing the entire way. She entwined the main plot with several subplots, and they all come together to what I only can deem as a perfect ending.

I loved every minute of Wined and Died in New Orleans. Surprises and excitement abound within these pages. I totally escaped right into this book.

I highly recommend both books in this series and for maximum enjoyment, they need to be read in order. I have given Wined and Died in New Orleans my highest rating, "A Trip to Paradise", the first of the year, and a spot on my Best Reads of 2023.

I am really looking forward to the next book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery Series and my next virtual New Orleans vacation.

Ricki James-Diaz runs Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop located in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum. There was trouble there recently, and the staff is trying to move on, regain their balance, and stay safe during hurricane season. It’s Ricki’s first and she finds herself checking the weather app a lot.

A spectacular find underneath the house seems like the answer to prayers. Crates of a very old wine, historically important and still drinkable, were found and Ricki is happy to spread the word on social media to drum up more business.

Unfortunately, as with most good news, there’s always someone willing to jump at the chance to take advantage. Distant relatives are coming out of the woodwork and are as appealing as any rat would be. Ricki regrets her social media post but tongues will wag, and there’s no way it would have been a secret for long.

Someone will be willing to go to the extreme of killing to get their hands on more of the moola. A body brings the police and their suspicions that Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, family matriarch and head of the museum, has the most to gain by the death. Ricki is sure she’s innocent. After all, the woman is impeccably dressed for every occasion and would never resort to anything so crass. On the other hand, she has been acting kind of weird. It’s not going to be any easy puzzle to solve, even though there are plenty of suspects to choose from.

Ricki is starting to feel New Orleans is home. Except for the threat of hurricanes, she’s happy with her new friends, her job, and sharing two dogs with the hunky guy across the street. I hope in book three, readers will get to meet Ricki’s parents. Seen only on Zoom until now, they will add even more spice to the stories.

Speaking of spice, check out these vintage recipes at the back of the book: biscuit tortoni, curried chicken, barbeque frankfurters (or with ground turkey), beer hush puppies, and for dessert, brownies.

Wined and Died in New Orleans is the second book in the Vintage Cookbook mystery series. Ricki James-Dias is happily managing her vintage cookbook/kitchenware shop in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum when another murder takes place at the museum. After some very valuable old French wine is found on the premises, distant relatives of the house's builder start arriving to stake their claim. One of them, a particularly unpleasant claimant from France, is discovered murdered. With the head of the museum board, Eugenia Charbonnet, under suspicion, Ricki works to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this novel because I enjoyed the first book in the series so much. I love vintage cookware and cookbooks, so that is a huge plus for me with this series.

Ricki is a fun amateur detective, quirky and smart and brave. I enjoyed watching her detecting process. I like her friends, her romantic interest, and the pair of dogs she co-owns with her crush.

My favorite features of this series, though, are the food history and vintage cookbook details, and the New Orleans atmosphere. There are great descriptions like:

"They reached the carriage house and climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Ricki found the box waiting for her. She borrowed the office box cutter to slice open the top and extracted the tureen from its nest of protection. Sleek and crème-colored, decorated with a design of raised ceramic leaves painted in warm fall tones, the tureen was stunning. The women admired it. “This may the nicest item in your shop,” Cookie said. “It’s gorgeous.”

“I know.” Ricki examined the tureen and matching ladle with a practiced eye. “And in perfect condition. The date on this is 1958. Tureens weren’t as popular by then, so it’s pretty rare, especially in this pattern. It’s called Autumn Days. The maker is Sunbaked, a ceramics company in California that went out of business in 1959. The person I bought this from didn’t know what they had.” (eBook position 556).

This is becoming one of my most anticipated cozy mystery series, and I already am looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend Wined and Died in New Orleans (along with the first book, Bayou Book Thief) to fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys vintage cookbooks, food history, or New Orleans. Lots of atmospheric fun here!

I like the characters and reading about New Orleans always makes me want to go visit. They mystery was interesting and it kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.