Title: A Cajun Christmas Killing
Author: Ellen Byron
Series: Cajun Country Mysteries #3
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: October 10, 2017
Pages: 304
Book Source: Paperback
“Maggie Crozat is back home in bayou country during the most magical time of the year. In Pelican, Louisiana, Christmastime is a season of giant bonfires on the levee, zydeco carols, and pots of gumbo. Except, this year, the Grinch has come to stay at the family-run Crozat Plantation B&B. When he floods travel websites with vicious reviews, Maggie thinks she’s identified him as rival businessman Donald Baxter. That is, until he’s found stabbed to death at Maggie’s workplace. And Maggie and her loved ones become top suspects.
The Crozats quickly establish alibis, but Maggie’s boyfriend, Detective Bo Durand, remains under suspicion. With Bo sidelined during the investigation, Maggie finds herself forced to work with an unlikely ally: longtime family enemy Rufus Durand. Her sleuthing uncovers more suspects than drummers drumming, and lands her in the crosshairs of the murderer.” – Amazon
Kim’s Review
You know some series where you have a bit of trouble remembering the characters or what’s happened in previous books? I did not have that problem with A Cajun Christmas Killing by Ellen Byron, although it’s been a good three years since I’ve read the first book in the series, Plantation Shudders.
And I really have no reason as to why I missed book two, Body on the Bayou, or haven’t read the rest of the books in A Cajun Country Mystery series…. Well maybe, so many books, so little time.
But I need to make time to read the rest. A Cajun Christmas Killing reminded me how much I enjoy Byron’s writing… and I do love books that take place in the South.
Byron’s vibrant descriptions of the plantations, living history museum, and food makes the reader feel like they are actually in Louisiana. Although I’ve always wanted to visit, I feel like she could make even those who don’t like to travel want to take a trip there.
You can feel the love and tell that family is everything to the Crozats. Gran is so much more than a Southern Belle, although she still knows how to use those connections when needed. And I really enjoyed that she knows her way around a computer. Maggie’s mom and dad work hard to keep the B&B running, and I would stay there just for her mom’s cooking.
I was also pleased that Rufus, who ends up replacing Maggie’s boyfriend, Bo, on this case, is not such an unpleasant character any more, and yet he’s still got some sass to him. In so many cozies the law ends up being confrontational to the protagonist, which is fine, but sometimes it can feel overdone.
There were lots of red herrings and great suspects, and a thrilling confrontation with the killer at the end. Byron even has a twist with the killer which I enjoyed. The Cajun Country Mysteries is a cozy series that I very, very highly recommend.
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