Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (August 11, 2015)

Synopsis

Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders, the Cajun Country series debut from Ellen Byron.

It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival–elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes– Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durant, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.

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Review

I loved this book and why? several reasons – set in a small town in Cajun Country (aka South Louisiana) which is where my mom is from and I have many relatives still living there. This reminds of the small town where she lived. Most people know each other and have a long history together.

The characters were diverse and showed promise for greater development in future books. I even liked the fact that even though there is going to be at least a 2nd book that the author wrote this book and tied up many things, but not quite everything!

That Bo (the new police detective) had a son that was most likely on the Autism Spectrum and how he dealt with it (just a peek but perhaps more in future books?) and how Maggie and her family treated him and understanding that he had special needs.

There is a dog – April and Gracie liked that the most.

Of course there are annoying characters like the town sheriff – Rufus. He is Bo’s cousin but they couldn’t more opposite if you tried. And Vanessa who is Rufus’ girlfriend.

The mystery is a mystery, I don’t think there are enough clues to figure it out ahead of time, but you might have your suspicions of who the killer is…or will you?! I had no idea but the author wraps it nicely and it all makes sense.

A series to watch and we give it 5 paws up!

About the Author

Byron is a native New Yorker who loves the rain, lives in bone-dry Los Angeles, and spends lots of time writing about Louisiana. She attributes this obsession to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University. Her debut novel, Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery, launches on August 11^th.  Her TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and many network pilots.  She’s written over 200 magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning, Graceland.  She is also the recipient of a William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant. She’s the proud mom of a fifteen year-old daughter and two very spoiled rescue dogs.

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