Review of Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron

From the publisher of Cajun Kiss of Death

In Pelican, Louisiana, Valentine’s Day has a way of warming the heart, despite the February chill. But the air at Crozat Plantation B&B turns decidedly frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. And when the arrogant Phillippe–in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant–perishes in a fiery boat crash, Maggie Crozat’s dear friend JJ lands in very cold water.

Did JJ, proprietor of Junie’s Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, murder Phillippe because he feared the competition? Might Maggie’s mother, Ninette, have bumped off the chef for stealing one of her cherished recipes? Or was the culprit a local seafood vendor, miffed because Phillippe was somehow able to sell oysters for a remarkably reasonable price, despite an oyster shortage?

Maggie had planned to devote her February to art lessons in New Orleans, a present from her sweetheart, Bo. But now she has to focus on helping her friend and her mother cross a murder charge off the menu. Meanwhile, Maggie receives a series of anonymous gifts that begin as charming but grow increasingly disturbing. Does Maggie have an admirer–or a stalker? And are these mysterious gifts somehow related to Phillippe’s murder?

Blood may be thicker than water, but this case is thicker than gumbo. And solving it will determine whether Maggie gets hearts and roses–or hearse and lilies–this Valentine’s Day.

My review

The usual characters are back in Cajun Kiss of Death, the seventh Cajun Country Mystery. There were some nice touches of humor along with a lot of details about everyday life. Most fans of the series will love this, I’m sure. However, I prefer to stay focused more on the mystery and get sprinkles of daily life. Here, the balance felt reversed to me. As a result, Cajun Kiss of Death felt a little slow to me.

The mystery was, of course, well-plotted, and it wasn’t until near the end that I knew who the killer was. The characters in this series have always been entertaining, but I noticed early in the book that they had all attained their happily-ever-afters. This had me wondering if I was reading the end of the series. The epilogue reinforced this feeling, so I’m not sure if this is the end or not. If this is the end of the series, I’ll be sad to see it go. 

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

Learn more about Ellen Byron and Cajun Kiss of Death at www.ellenbyron.com. Want more author news? If so, click here to read my Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.