Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781683313052; 9781683317555
Crooked Lane Books
296 Pages
$20. 19; $15.99; $7.80 Amazon
October 10. 2017
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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. The sleigh bells are jingling, and the clock is ticking for Maggie and Rufus, who must catch the killer or it will be the opposite of a Joyeux Noel.
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Maggie Crozat is an artist who returned home to Pelican, Louisiana after her relationship soured. She's still painting, but mostly she's helping at her family's Crozat B&B and acting as a tour guide at the Doucet Plantation, which once belonged to her family but was donated to the state, and is now open to visitors.
She's also involved in a new relationship with Bo Durand, and while they're still finding their way, they're completely committed to each other. Unfortunately, she hasn't had the easiest (to say the least) relationship with Bo's cousin Rufus, who doesn't like the Crozats - all dating from a feud going back to the Civil War.
When Maggie's family discovers that someone is writing negative reviews of their B&B and she finds out from her Uncle Tig that a man named Steve Harmon is trying to turn the Crozat home into a boutique hotel, Maggie isn't letting it happen without a fight. And when she discovers that a particularly nasty guest is the same man, her mother throws him out of the hotel. But when Maggie is giving a tour at the Doucet plantation, she discovers Harmon's body, and now there's a bigger problem:
Although Maggie and her family have been cleared of any wrongdoing, the same can't be said for Bo. He had a very public argument with Harmon, and is on desk duty until the murder is solved. So Maggie and Rufus must team up to find the killer and clear Bo's name. But there's more going on beneath the surface, and Maggie starts to realize that Harmon's enemies weren't all in the hotel business, and even his widow isn't sorry he's gone. But as she gets closer to the truth - and the killer gets closer to her - another death occurs and Maggie's running against the tide to find out who wants her permanently out of the picture...
This was a delightful book to read. Ms. Byron gives a wonderful vision of what Maggie's Pelican looks like during the holidays, and it would be wonderful to visit. Bonfires, winter warming food and drink, and decorations galore. Maggie has grown up in a wonderful atmosphere.
Aside from the scenery, it was a surprise - albeit a nice one - to see the changes in Rufus since he's become a father. He's mellowed out and realized the type of person he was, and watching him and Maggie work together to help Bo was refreshing, to say the least; he's actually becoming a likable character.
The murder itself was very well done, and I while I figured it out a little earlier than Maggie, it was nice to watch how she put everything together at the end. I also enjoyed the subplots involving Bo's ex-wife, Rufus' new (maybe) love interest, and it was quite revelation to finally meet Maggie's ex Chris (and realize how she dodged a bullet on that one).
All in all, Ms. Byron has given us another worthy journey into Cajun Country, its traditions, its people, and a wonderful mystery to decipher. I look forward to reading the next in the series. Highly recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/Cajun-Christmas-Killing-Country-Mystery/dp/1683313054/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2073901743
More on Ellen Byron's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ellen-byron/
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