Review & #Giveaway – Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron @ellenbyronla #5paws #cozy
Body on the Bayou by Ellen Bryon
2nd in Series
Genre – Cozy Mystery
Series: A Cajun Country Mystery (Book 2)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (September 13, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1629537689
E-Book – ASIN: B01H082DPY
Synopsis
The Crozats feared that past murders at Crozat Plantation B&B might spell the death of their beloved estate, but they’ve managed to survive the scandal. Now there’s a très bigger story in Pelican, Louisiana: the upcoming nuptials between Maggie Crozat’s nemesis, Police Chief Rufus Durand, and her co-worker, Vanessa Fleer.
When everyone else refuses the job of being Vanessa’s Maid of Honor, Maggie reluctantly takes up the title and finds herself tasked with a long list of duties–the most important of which is entertaining Vanessa’s cousin, Ginger Fleer-Starke. But just days before the wedding, Ginger’s lifeless body is found on the bayou and the Pelican PD, as well as the Crozats, have another murder mystery on their hands.
There’s a gumbo-potful of suspects, including an ex-Marine with PTSD, an annoying local newspaper reporter, and Vanessa’s own sparkplug of a mother. But when it looks like the investigation is zeroing in on Vanessa as the prime suspect, Maggie reluctantly adds keeping the bride-to-be out of jail to her list of Maid of Honor responsibilities in Body on the Bayou.
Review
This is still a new series (as this is only book 2), but what a great series. I will say that I have family that lives in South Louisiana in this general area, so I can relate to the crazy families, Cajun food and Zydeco music. But I don’t let that influence me….much!
Maggie is still trying to figure out her life but has somehow gotten roped into being Vanessa’s maid of honor. Now normally for most of us, that wouldn’t be a big deal…but Vanessa is just like those reality TV shows you see that don’t put brides in a good light, especially if they are Bridezillas like how Vanessa is acting. Maggie puts up with more than most people would for her.
That aside, the mystery portion has not 1 person being killed, but 2. Neither are good characters and when everything is revealed, maybe it isn’t such a bad thing that they are dead. The murderer was a little hard to figure out until we got near the end and I really had eliminated everyone but this character. I didn’t know the why, but we find that out as part of the reveal.
Then there is the budding romance between Maggie and Bo. It has its ups and down in this book, as most relationships encounter, but at least they are working towards figuring it out.
I do hope that Maggie does follow her dream of painting, she has talent but just hasn’t figured out how to market herself and her works. I think that could be coming in future books!
We give it 5 paws up.
Check out my review of the first book, Plantation Shudders!
About the Author
Ellen’s debut novel, PLANTATION SHUDDERS: A Cajun Country Mystery, has been nominated for an Agatha Best First Novel award, a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery, and a Daphne Award for Best Mainstream Mystery.
Ellen’s TV credits include Wings and Just Shoot Me; she’s written over 200 magazine articles; her published plays include the award-winning Graceland and Asleep on the Wind. Ellen Byron is a native New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles and attributes her fascination with Louisiana to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University.
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads
Giveaway
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edye
This book sounds awesome! 🙂
Dianne Casey
Love the cover of this book. I really enjoy mysteries that take place on a Southern plantation, it’s a great setting for a murder mystery.
Ellen Byron
Thanks for a lovely review!!