Cajun Kiss of Death

The newest installment begins with a sweet opening that finds not one but three couples getting married. Maggie and Bo have made it to the altar and are now beginning a new chapter in their lives, along with their closest loved ones, Bo's cousin Rufus marrying Sandy and Maggie's grandmother marrying Lee. The triple wedding sets the tone for this grand finale that puts an end to Maggie's sleuthing adventures. The lighthearted tone sets the final mystery for Maggie while setting up new adventures she'll have in the role of wife and stepmom. The series has focused on the changes Maggie has experienced since moving back to Lousiana so seeing her settling down with her family and a new family creates a full circle moment that is satisfying. show more This lovely opening celebrates love and family which are two common elements that Byron has explored throughout the Cajun Country Mystery series. These elements strike a balance with the elements of murder, mystery, and suspense. The story jumps forward a few weeks later with Maggie settling into her new life and delves right into the set-up for the mystery.

Maggie's constantly surrounded by family and friends, and each one has a significant role which Byron touches upon a little more in each book, often drawing in various loved ones as suspects. The characters are relatable and create a community that's full of life with each one having a vivid personality. These characters provide allies in Maggie's investigations, a source of friendship and companionship, and provide the root of the humor throughout the series. Byron excels at witty dialogue and clever characters such as the attitude of Gran (an example being her comment about the A-G-E syndrome precluding a full night's sleep). Byron excels at bringing Lousiana to life through the vibrant, colorful, and lively details woven into every description.

The suspects move firmly into place with Maggie working to determine who is innocent and who is guilty. Her ex-boyfriend from high school is caught in the middle when his father (who accuses a celebrity chef of stealing a recipe for fried catfish fillet) is arrested for disturbing the peace. Friendship is a key element within the story as they form a support system for Maggie outside of her family and help her in every way, even with murder mysteries. Gaynell and Ione are her galentines and their presence creates a fun trio of sleuths to investigate with humorous and heartfelt friendship moments. Byron steadily increases the stakes of the mystery with Maggie's mother going to jail after she learns that the celebrity chef took a recipe for her calas and disturbing gifts from a secret admirer. The mystery has Valentine's Day themed with love running rampant throughout from the triple wedding at the beginning to a sweet surprise from her new husband and stepson. Byron has crafted a brilliant goodbye to Maggie and her friends in this satisfying conclusion. show less

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 show more 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. show less

This seventh and final Cajun Country mystery begins at Maggie and Bo's wedding on New Years' Eve. Also marrying at the same time are Grand-mere and Lee Bertrand and Rufus Durand and Sandy Sechrest. We get to see all the characters we have come to know through the previous six books.

A few weeks later, the B & B is hosting the crew of a new Cajun restaurant which is being opened by Phillippe Chanson. Guests include his ex-wife and business partner, his best friend also a partner, his new girlfriend who is a sous chef, and some other employees. Folks at Pelican have mixed feeling about the new restaurant. Maggie and her family will enjoy more traffic at their B & B, but JJ is wondering if his restaurant can compete with the new one. show more Maggie also notices lots of tension among the various restaurant people.

Locals are also incensed when Chanson steals recipes from local joints and even from Maggie's mother. So when Chanson dies in a speedboat accident while celebrating the Grand Opening of his restaurant with fireworks over the Mississippi, there are a number of suspects who wouldn't mind that he was no longer around. Because the accident damaged a barge and a bridge, a number of law enforcement agencies get involved including Bo, Rufus and the Pelican police.

Meanwhile, Maggie is dealing with some additional issues. The accountant for Doucet where Maggie works has cleaned out the bank accounts and skipped town leaving the non-profit in danger of closing. And Maggie seems to have attracted a stalker. She is also dealing with art lessons, which were a gift from Bo, with a teacher who seems delighted in putting down Maggie's work.

Maggie's abilities as an observant artist play a key role in solving the murders of Phillippe Chanson and the man who was hired to write his autobiography.

This was a great cozy with some tasty sounding recipes interspersed in the story and detailed at the end of the book. I like the variety of interesting characters. I also like the Epilogue which jumped twenty years into the future and let us know how things were going for the characters. show less

Maggie Crozat is an artist who also works at her family's B&B, Crozat. They've been preparing for the arrival of renowned chef Phillippe Chanson, who is opening a Cajun-themed restaurant nearby. But no one expects the drama that comes along with their guests -- his ex-wife is his business manager, which makes it uncomfortable when his newest girlfriend is the sous chef. Along with them is an author who is writing a biography of the chef -- but only to the 'specifications' of his ex, which frustrates him.

But worse is the fact that his new restaurant is able to secure oysters at a low price, when there's a shortage, and it's causing Junie's, the local restaurant and bar, to lose major business. Not to mention that Phillippe has apparently show more been pilfering copycat recipes from the locals, including Maggie's mother, Ninette, causing the woman to have a very public confrontation about it. So when Phillippe is murdered, Ninette and JJ are both suspects. To make things worse, Maggie's been receiving anonymous 'gifts' from someone and it has her worried enough to enlist Bo's help. Now she has to try and solve the murder to keep her mother and friend out of prison, and try and find out who's stalking her, so she can stay alive to do so...

This is the seventh book in the series, and I have read every one of them. The only thing that really bothered me about this book are the reference to personal politics from the author which are scattered throughout the book (not a lot of them, but enough to irritate me). Maybe I'm the only one who it bothers, but I read to escape from the world, not have it thrust back at me, regardless of whether I think the same way or not.

Anyway, the mystery was fine itself. There were plenty of people who were angry with Phillippe, and it could have been any one of them, including someone he worked with. But then something else occurs, and the stakes are rising for the police to widen their net to find a killer. Maggie, meanwhile, is just trying to find a balance in her life among all this, and it's not easy. When things come to a head the killer is discovered and the reason is as old as time itself, but it makes for a good ending. Yet things are ending for Maggie yet, and another event occurs that disturbs her. The ending to that is fairly interesting and I enjoyed it.

There is an epilogue which makes me believe that the series is ending; otherwise I can see no reason why it was added. Still, I have enjoyed this series and all the characters, and loved spending time with them and would like it to continue. Recommended. show less

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 show more 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! show less

The Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron is the seventh book in the Cajun Country Mysteries, and while you can jump in and read it without having read the previous ones, you don’t want to. This cozy mystery series is one where you come to love the characters and look forward to each new book because you want to find out what your friends have been up to.

It starts off with a wonderful life event for many of the characters and a bit of calm in Maggie’s life before the first dead body shows up. Even with that and the craziness of the new restaurant staff that are opening a new Cajun eatery, the Valentine theme and love of friends and family shines through.

Byron is a master at showcasing the history, food, and culture of New Orleans and show more Louisiana. After reading any of the books in this series I think most people will want to add New Orleans to their bucket list… I know I did! Byron also keeps this series up with the times, which is apparent when the doughnut maker is questioned by the police. This really made me happy to see.

Although this appears to be the last book in the series, since the ending tells us what is going on with the clans 20 years later, there’s always a chance of novellas or a restart of the series in the future. Until then, I’m looking forward to seeing what characters and location Byron will be writing about next. show less

Finally we get to the wedding of Maggie and Bo Durand along with her Grandmère and Lee Bertrand. Several weeks later the Cozart B&B is hosting the cooking crew of Chef Celebrity Phillippe Chanson who is opening a new restaurant in Pelican. Everyone is excited until the true nature of the chef comes to light - he steals recipes to take the credit for great food including Maggie's mother's recipes served at the B&B. No surprise when Chef Phillippe turns up dead but was it someone whose recipe was taken or was there some other reason.

I really enjoy the setting and characters in this series/book and only wish I could get some of the scrumptious sounding food!