Crescent City Christmas Chaos

Vintage Cookbook Mystery #4

by Ellen Byron

It's Christmas. It's cozy. It's culinary. It's chaos! It's the fourth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.

Have yourself a merry little . . . murder?

Ricki James-Diaz gets the best present ever when her parents arrive in New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it a chance to catch up, it’s also an opportunity to jog her mom Josepha’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. The details have always been shrouded in mystery. And Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years, simply for not wanting to lose her precious daughter.

But digging into the past soon lands the James-Diaz clan in water hotter than a big pot of gumbo! When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is found dead at her home, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Now Ricki has another murder to solve, and tracking down a killer in Crescent City is going to take a miracle.

Luckily, ‘tis the season! And Ricki has all the staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on hand to help. Can she prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?

Genres: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Holiday, Fiction, Suspense

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Ellen is the bestselling, Agatha and Lefty Award-winning author of the Cajun Country Mysteries, the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, the Catering Hall Mystery series (which she writes under the name Maria DiRico), and the Golden Motel Mysteries.

Ellen is also award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

She is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crescent City Christmas Chaos is the fourth book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by one of my favorite cozy mystery authors, Ellen Byron. It’s a charming and engaging mystery featuring Ricki James-Diaz and a wonderful cast of supporting characters, and it highlights New Orleans’ culture, food, and history.

Ricki is a California transplant who has moved back to her birth city. She’s turned her avocation of collecting vintage cookbooks into a job by establishing a gift shop in the late home turned museum of Genevieve (Vee) Charbonnet, who ran one of the city’s finest restaurants before she died. Ricki’s gift shop features vintage cookbooks and kitchenware. She has great instincts for finding clues to solve mysteries, but she sometimes acts before thinking which can put her in danger.

With Christmas approaching, the staff of the museum are gearing up for the holiday. Ricki’s boyfriend, Virgil Morel, surprises her by bringing her parents to New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it an opportunity to catch up on their lives, but it’s an opportunity to try to jog her mom’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. But digging into the past has consequences and soon Ricki’s parents are suspects in a murder.

Ricki is a likeable person who makes friends easily, but she has trust issues due to her backstory. She is a softy at heart, organized, honest, and adept at telling when people are lying. There are many characters, but there is a character list at the front of the book for reference. For those who have read the prior books in the series, there are several repeat characters.

As always, the world-building and characterization are great. There are a few twists and turns and there are a few sub-plots as well. I enjoyed the humor that the author intersperses throughout the novel along with visits with the various animals. Thor and Princess are the canines Ricki co-parents with Virgil, and Gumbo and Jambalaya are the peacocks at the museum. Ricki also has a cat, Red Beans. Threads of found family, friendship, connections, and murder add depth to the novel. At the end of the book are some recipes.

Overall, this is an entertaining novel with some tense moments that kept me engaged throughout the story. This series is best read in order. The earlier books fill in Ricki’s background and readers can see her character grow over time. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries with an amateur sleuth will likely enjoy this series. I can’t wait to see where the author takes the next book in the series.

Severn House and Ellen Byron provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 04, 2025.
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My 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series with its view of the quirky side of New Orleans. But I was a bit disappointed in this book. I loved that the baddie was well hidden and the side plots of Olivia being Gaia Krewe Queen, the Bon Vee Cookbook and Vigil's cooking show. I was impressed with how Ricki went about her investigation of the murder, but I wanted a lot more Virgil and Ricki time. I mean, they claim each other as boyfriend - girlfriend, but never spend any quality time together. I, personally, love to see a little love with my cozy-mysteries.

Ricki's main squeeze, Virgil, has been offered a cooking special but the show has to be done in a really short time frame. He brings Rick's dad out of retirement to be his cameraman, and Ricki is thrilled that her parents will be in New Orleans for Christmas. She is excited to pick her mom's brain for clues as to her birth mother.

When a woman who was blackmailing Ricki's mom turns up dead and Josepha is a suspect, and Ricki is compelled to find out who done it. Ricki has stirred up a huge kettle of worms instead of gumbo and is it overflowing with suspects including those near and dear to Ricki.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series from the start, and this one is no exception. I am a huge cookbook fan with a large collection, so that has been a hook from the beginning! The atmosphere at Bon Vee, the shop, and the group of friends and now family add to the warm vibe. This book is ramped up even higher by the Christmas season, Ricki's developing relationship with Virgil, and a visit from her parents! Ricki is so excited by her parents' visit, which is making the holiday season even more special, until a person from her mother's past poses a threat to everyone's peace of mind. When this person shows up dead, things are worse as now her parents are suspects, scandal threatens Virgil cooking show in production, and a Bongle Bandit is threatening the holiday spirit in the Big Easy. Can Ricki and her posse help the police by tracking down clues without getting into trouble? Only time will tell. Many thanks to #Netgally, #SevernHouse, and the author for a chance for an early peek. #CrescentCityChristmasChaos #AVintageCookbookMystery #EllenByron #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Crescent City Christmas Chaos, by Ellen Byron, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book number four in The Vintage Cookbook,, Mystery series. Ricki has always known she was adopted, she was always curious about her biological parents. When her mom Josepha comes to visit for Christmas she wants to ask more about her adoption. The someone is murdered who was allegedly blackmailing Josepha. This was a nice mystery book, I did like the recipes in the back of the book.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars
When you open a book by Byron, you know you're going to have a fun read, and Christmas in New Orleans is a fun setting. The title references Christmas Chaos and there is definitely a lot going on in this book. Ricki James-Diaz owns a vintage cookbook and kitchenware store, which is part of a culinary museum in a historic house. The main plot is about the death of an unpleasant woman who has a surprising tie to Ricki's mother. This plot and Ricki's investigation was interesting and entertaining. I also enjoyed the subplot of Ricki and other staff of the Bon Vee Culinary Museum putting together a cookbook for the holidays. A couple of the others give a good glimpse into New Orleans culture, but sometimes take the focus away from the death Ricki is investigating.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and enjoyed getting to know Ricki's parents. This book would work as a standalone, but I've enjoyed watching the friendships between Ricki and her co-workers grow and how some of the characters, like Theo, have become more likable. Ricki still comes across as a bit immature, especially when she's around her older boyfriend, Virgil, but she is a smart, loyal, and kind character. There is a big reveal at the end of the book, and I wanted the story to continue. I am eager to find out what happens in the next book. A book about a culinary museum and bookshop wouldn't be complete and there are plenty of recipes for New Orleans dishes at the end.

I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from Severn House and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent entertainment! Didn’t want to put it down! Great cast of characters who band together to solve the murder. Laughed out loud at the “combat crawling”! It really tickled me seeing a different side of Mordant! I highly recommend this story and the previous three books in this series. Brava! 🫶🏻

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Ricki was one busy shopkeeper this Christmas season, but this time it seemed like she was gone more than being there. She had all her virtual plates spinning in the air as she tackled running the shop, helping her friends with a cookbook project, sleuthing a murder case, and she tried to squeeze in time for her parents as well as Virgil.
The folks were in since Luis was being Virgil’s cameraman for his food show special. Toss in a random bandit going around stealing stuff dressed as NOLA’s beloved snowman character, and I’m surprised Ricki didn’t wave a white flag or tell them to stick a fork in her, she’s done lol. When she and some friends came face to face with a killer, one friend surprised them all by saving the day. Eventually the bandit was caught and Ricki got an amazing Christmas surprise. Can’t wait for the next book now!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas is getting ever closer, and Miracle James-Diaz, Ricki, to her friends, is busy, busy, in her vintage cookbook and kitchen equipment store at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum in New Orleans. Boyfriend and top chef Virgil Morel has arranged a surprise for her at the museum’s Thanksgiving dinner; her parents are visiting until Christmas. Delighted by her good fortune, Ricki is determined to take the opportunity to talk to her mom about her birth mother's identity and why it's always been shrouded in secrecy. When the body of one of the people involved in her adoption is discovered, Ricki’s parents find themselves at the top of the NOPD's suspect list! Determined to solve the case and prove the police have got it all wrong, Ricki and her good friend, Mordant, begin their own investigation. Unfortunately, with everyone involved hiding something, the holidays getting ever closer, and a thief targeting local stores, Ricki knows it's up to her to find the person responsible.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Severn House, but the opinions expressed are my own. I love Ellen Byron's books, but this series had passed me by until now. I didn't feel at a disadvantage in not having read the previous three books and enjoyed this enormously. There was such a lot going on, and it was fun meeting all the main protagonists. I was way off on the killer’s identity, but it all fitted together brilliantly. Recommended.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Christmas is a busy time at The Bon Vee Culinary House Museum and Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware Shop. Ricki James-Diaz has filled the shop with some fabulous things for the holidays, but her boyfriend, Virgil, has delivered the best presents of all: Ricki’s parents, just in time for the holidays. The current “cooking world hottie” has a new project in the works and Luis James-Diaz has the expertise he needs. Josepha is excited to be home for the holidays. Ricki thinks now would be the perfect time to learn more about the mystery of her adoption. Her parents have been open to her research, but her mother has been keeping a secret. To keep her daughter safe and with her, Josepha had paid a blackmailer for years.

Now, the blackmailer has been murdered, and Luis, Josepha, Ricki, and even Virgil, find their names on the list of suspects. Local law enforcement is a little bogged down by a rash of robberies by someone dressed up as New Orleans’ Mr. Bongle, now called the Bongle Bandit, but Detective Nina Rodriguez tells Ricki to stay out of the case. Yeah, right, Ricki is totally on the case. A case that must be packaged up with a bow by Christmas.

Christmas in New Orleans. What could be better? It’s the perfect time to catch up with all our friends at Bon Vee. These unique and diverse characters continue to delight me in the best ways. I loved that Ricki’s parents were in town for the holidays and were featured characters in the story. Virgil did a really good thing in bringing them to town, even with all the chaos that ensued.

Ms. Byron had to plot this book out with such precision to allow the many subplots to flow so effortlessly with the main mystery. Holiday happenings at Bon Vee, the Krewe Court announcement, Virgil’s project, a spur-of-the-moment Bon Vee community cookbook, the Bongle Bandit, Ricki’s continued search for her birth parents, and just what is Theo Charbonnet being so secretive about? The twists and turns of daily life added to the twists and turns of the murder investigation, kept the pages turning at a brisk pace. Surprisingly, Nina is on board as Ricki, Zellah, Cookie, and Mordant try to pin down the killer as she tracks the Bandit. Following clues, some sneaky sleuthing, and a key piece of information set up an exciting showdown. But hold on, there is another mystery to solve, and it has an epic take-down.

I love the way Ms. Byron tells a story. She always includes traditions unique to the setting, in this case, New Orleans, so there are infinite details, large and small, to choose from. She also includes interesting tidbits that really add to the story. I have seen a few recipes on headstones, so they are not unique to NOLA, but I enjoyed the small part one played in this story, and how it inspired a cookbook. There are several Southern recipes in the back of the book to inspire home chefs, too.

Crescent City Christmas Chaos is a marvelous addition to this series. A Christmas theme, engaging and heartwarming characters, an entertaining, tightly woven plot, all set in a wonderful place. This being the fourth book in the series, there are continuing subplots from previous books. While it can be read on its own, I recommend reading the series from the beginning to meet these fantastic characters from the start.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable visit with Ricki and her friends at the Bon Vee museum, only this time, we are treated to time spent with her parents for the holidays. I loved being a part of their Christmas festivities and following along as they looked to clear her parents’ name in the murder; the mystery was well-paced and had me guessing the whole time. I did switch between the ebook and the audio book because I didn’t want to stop reading and I always love the interpretations of the various difficult to pronounce words (Tchoupitoulas is always my favorite) and all were well done except for “praline” which is said differently in the South. Other than that, both were perfect and a great way to spend the day.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely one of the best of the series; the mystery was good [and very unique], I didn't know who the killer was until everyone else did [HOORAY!!!] the supporting cast of characters really shine in this one, the love of NOLA also shines through, the side dramas were engaging and not annoying [as sometimes happens in cozies], we FINALLY get to "meet" Ricki's parents [who are both awesome and real hoot!], AND it's Christmas; all make up the perfect combo for a fun holiday read. Fantastic!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellen Byron, and Severn House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rae Franco-Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a delightful surprise for Ricki James-Diaz when her parents come for Christmas. She lives in the big city of New Orleans. Ricki is looking forward to the visit as she wants her Mom to help her in finding her biological mother and family. But that will be easier said than done when a murder takes place of a woman her Mom knows from past workplace. But why is she the prime suspect? This will take Ricki and her staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on fact finding mission. They need to find the real murder and why was she killed. Soon people find out she was a not so nice person. There is so much going on during the Christmas season. She has a vintage kitchen shop at this museum and has an idea to bring in something special this season

Down in New Orleans you know there is a variety of yummy foods to try. So you all will get a surprise at the end of the book. You will need ingredients, pot, pans and a stove for these mystery gourmet recipes to try.

Thank you to Ellen Byron, Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this mystery Christmas novel.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed being back with Ricki and her crew (or should I say krewe?) of friends and family – and of course her super cool vintage cookbook and kitchenware shop. Like Ricki, I don’t really cook but her shop seems so fun that I would absolutely always be stopping in to see what new stuff she’s added since my last visit. She’s also got such a lovely – and diverse – network of support, from her parents to the staff of Bon Vee (many of whom are her dear friends and/or family), her swoony chef boyfriend Virgil and other friends like Mordant, Ky, and Kitty Kat. Even an almost-friendship at this point with detective Nina. This makes for a great ensemble cast that’s consistent from book to book, in addition to the variety of characters that we meet with each new mystery (aka, the victims and the suspects lol).

In Crescent City Christmas Chaos, ‘chaos’ really is the name of the game as the murder investigation keeps those closest to Ricki under the microscope. Throw in some Mardi Gras Krewe drama (I had no idea about that side of things), the stress of producing a cooking show or a community cookbook, a rogue Christmas bandit, a quartet of caroling tour guides, and Ricki’s continued search for answers about her past …. you’ve got yourself a delightfully chaotic story that will have you turning those pages just as quickly as I was so you don’t miss anything. I found all the different angles to the murder case intriguing, and they kept my mind swirling the whole time with my own hunches. Hunches which were made more complicated by the victim having plenty of secrets – some of which directly affect Ricki – not to mention a couple of twists that caught me completely off guard.

Bottom Line: Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron serves up a delicious mystery that’s as flavorful and unpredictable as the Crescent City itself. Between krewe drama, cookbook shenanigans, a high-pressure cooking show, and a murder that hits a little too close to home, this story kept me guessing while I absorbed all the eccentric charm of Ricki’s world. As usual with this series, I loved the lively blend of suspects, secrets, and side characters unique to this story, as well as my reunion with the continuity characters who help create that “quirky family” vibe that makes each book so delightful. The twists are clever, the pacing stays steady, and the mystery is layered enough to make even the most seasoned armchair detective unsure of their sleuthing abilities. One thing’s for sure: I’ll happily keep visiting Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop for as many adventures as this series wants to serve.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an ARC of this novel.

Since many associate Christmas with chaos, this cozy mystery’s title is immediately relatable. But when you add in the colourful and lively setting of New Orleans, some seasonal culinary activity, and a couple of entwined mysteries, the intrigue multiplies along with the chaos—and the fun.

This is the fourth instalment in
the author’s ‘Vintage Cookbook Mysteries’ series featuring Ricki James-Diaz, recently returned from California to the place of her birth. She has turned her passion for vintage cookbooks into a lovely little bookstore/culinary gift shop in the historic home, now museum, of the late restaurateur Genevieve (Vee) Charbonnet, hence its name, Bon Vee. Just as the countdown to Christmas begins, her parents arrive unexpectedly, an early surprise gift from her fiancé, chef Virgil Morel. Virgil is not acting entirely to make Ricki happy—he has been offered a cooking special on TV, highlighting the traditional Christmas morning Réveillon meal, and needs the help of her father, a veteran cameraman. But Ricki is also not happy to see her adored parents solely because she misses them. She was adopted as an infant; her mom Josepha, then a single Black nurse, felt so blessed to have her that she named her Miracle. But she also knew too well how racism worked, and had buried, or claimed to have forgotten, such details as the identity of her white birth mother. That is the first mystery: Ricki wants to know her birth story. The second concerns a nasty former nurse who had worked with Josepha. When Ricki tracked her down, she claimed to barely know her. In truth, she had been blackmailing her.

Shortly after a meeting that ended in frustration, the woman is dead, seemingly the victim of a home invasion. And Josepha becomes the prime suspect. Ricki, who has honed her detection skills in the previous books, has learned much. Her pursuit of the real killer, as well as her biological mother’s identity, are carried out expertly and with a touch of New Orleans’ sophistication, wit, style, Christmas cheer and gastronomic delights. As always, the character development is well-handled—whether readers know Ricki and her family or are just meeting them, they seem real and familiar in a warm way. Either way, the author provides enough context to fill in previous happenings and to move the story forward. And the Christmas bonus is the recipes at the story’s end. Gathered from the author’s private collection of Louisiana vintage cookbooks, they are the makings of the Réveillon feast prepared by Virgil in the story. The bread pudding with rum sauce is spectacular!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Christmas time in New Orleans. Ricki James-Diaz is surprised by her boyfriend when he hires Ricki's father to be the cameraman shooting his TV special. Ricki looks forward to talking to her mom and learning more about her birth parents. She learns that her mother has been blackmailed for years by a woman named Phyllis Gibbs who worked in the office of the Charity Hospital where her mother was a nurse.

Gibbs helped Ricki's mother by changing her records to indicate she was widowed rather than single which was a key point to allow a Black woman to adopt a white infant. But Gibbs demanded payment for her assistance.

When Gibbs is found dead after recent visits by Ricki, her mom Josepha, and dad Luis, Josepha and Luis head the suspect list in the eyes of the New Orleans police. Ricki is on the cast to prove her parents innocent and find the guilty party. Her friend Nina has the case but is more preoccupied finding the Bongle Bandit who is breaking into all sorts of stores and potentially scaring the tourists.

Ricki learns all sorts of things about Phyllis Gibbs as she investigates. The woman was running all sorts of scams and had a plethora of enemies who might have committed the crime. Among them are her next-door neighbors in her exclusive residential area. And the people she worked with at a Concierge Medical group weren't happy with her either.

When Ricki's boyfriend Virgil gets swept onto the suspect list because Phyllis left money to the animal rescue he's involved with, Ricki has even more reason to solve the crime.

This was an engaging cozy mystery with tasty recipes included. I liked that Ricki runs a vintage cookbook and housewares store inside a culinary museum. She had a lot of help from her friends as she worked at solving the case.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is set in New Orleans at Christmas time. The parents of the main character come to town and surprise their daughter. When a woman is murdered it turns out she had been blackmailing the mother of the main character which make the parents prime suspects. At the end of the story the main character meets her birth mother. The book was an easy read.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ricki is thrilled to learn that her parents are coming to New Orleans for the holidays. Not only will it give them a chance to catch up, it will give her the opportunity to ask her mother Josepha more questions about Ricki’s adoption. When some of those details come out, and one of the parties involved ends up dead, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Ricki and her friends are determined to find the real killer – and soon – so *everyone can enjoy the holidays.

This is a fun series, and I like Ricki and the people she has around her. Maybe due to the addition of her parents as characters here, the other regularly recurring characters didn’t seem to be quite as involved in this story as they usually are, and I missed them. Until starting the book, I forgot that much of the storyline that carries from one book to the next in this series focuses on Ricki tracking down her biological parents. It seems a bit obsessive, but I’m not adopted, and may feel differently if I were.

The identity of the murder victim was not at all surprising, nor was the fact that the list of possible suspects was lengthy. There were red herrings scattered throughout, and I kept changing my mind about who the culprit might be. I didn’t figure it out until just before it was revealed in the book, and the motive was unexpected.

I hope this series continues, because I would like to spend more time with Ricki, Virgil and the rest.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ricki James’ – more formally Miracle James-Diaz’ – life has certainly gotten a bit more complicated (and interesting) in the intervening books in this Vintage Cookbook Mystery series that occurred between Ricki’s first adventure in Bayou Book Thief and this delightfully twisted Christmas murder. To the point where I really want to go back and find out all the deets even if I didn’t need them to enjoy this holiday mystery.

Ricki began her amateur sleuthing hobby the way that many amateur investigators do. In Bayou Book Thief, she was the potential suspect all the circumstantial clues pointed towards. She knew she was innocent, she knew the line to murder the victim not only formed on the right but went around several blocks, and that the NOPD was overworked and understaffed and all too inclined to take the easy way out of an investigation.

As that ‘easy way out’ for them had the potential of a jail sentence for her, she was desperate and determined enough to investigate for herself, leading to the creation of a delightfully quirky ‘Scooby gang’, the discovery of an unsung treasure among New Orleans’ literati, and, of course, the actual murderer.

This Christmas mystery begins as a treat for Ricki – and it ends that way too. But it middles in a victim that, again, no one will miss – but that Ricki’s family and friends will miss least of all. Not that Ricki’s not at the center of the mystery, but at least she’s off the hook when it comes to committing the actual murder. Her parents, not nearly so much.

Ricki has always known that she’s adopted, that her mother Josepha adopted Ricki as an infant before she moved them both to LA and met her husband. Ricki is white, her mother is black, her dad is Latino, so keeping Ricki’s adoption a secret was a non-starter. Which doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a secret involved, just not that.

A secret that doesn’t matter, NOW, to any of the people involved, but was juicy enough back then for Josepha to be blackmailed over it for years. Ricki’s adoption by Josepha, then a young, single black woman, was facilitated by a lie. Specifically, the lie that Josepha was a widow. A lie that was facilitated by someone in the records office of the hospital where Josepha worked as a nurse.

At the time, revealing that lie would have resulted in Ricki being sent into the foster system, and Josepha going to jail. So she paid, and she paid, and she paid until her blackmailer was declared dead.

Ricki’s search for her birthparents, while it hasn’t brought the dead back to life, has brought the knowledge that the dead weren’t dead to both the blackmailer Phyllis Gibbs (the next morning’s murder victim) and the blackmail-ee (Ricki’s mom)

That’s much too big a coincidence for even a beleaguered NOPD to ignore. Considering that both Josepha and Ricki’s dad Luis were caught on the victim’s ring camera paying her a visit in the hours before the woman’s death, it’s a bit too easy for Ricki to see the case forming in all their heads.

Especially when they have a bigger – or at least more attention getting fish to fry in a high-profile thief breaking into, well, pretty much everywhere while dressed in the costume of a well-loved New Orleans children’s icon. Like the local equivalent of Ronald McDonald was out knocking over shops and getting caught on camera while doing so.

So Ricki’s parents are under suspicion of murder. Her boyfriend is under suspicion of the same murder, albeit for entirely different reasons. Her friend-adjacent in NOPD want to solve the murder but the mayor demands that the NOPD’s resources be devoted to the much higher-profile string of thefts.

Leading Ricki – and her eager friends – to get themselves involved in a murder investigation – yet again – even as the younger members of the gang are also caught up in the purely local, but extremely divisive and incendiary – underhanded dealings of their parents in the generational drama that wraps around the selection of the Krewe Queens and their courts for the upcoming Mardi Gras Parades.

Between the thieving clown, the sniping Krewes, and the cold, dead body of a conniving blackmailer, there’s more than enough shenanigans to generate a LOT of chaos in Ricki’s life. It’s going to take a lot more than one night, and the spirits are going to need quite a bit of earthly help, but there WILL BE holiday spirit at the Bon Vee’s Christmas celebration no matter what ‘miracle’ Ricki James has to pull off to get it there!

Escape Rating A: This was just such a ‘right book, right time’ thing that I fell right into it and didn’t want to leave when I was done. (Leaving me with an itch for a good holiday murder to finish out the week!)

It also left me with a desire to read the middle two books in the series, Wined and Died in New Orleans and French Quarter Fright Night, just to find out the details of Ricki’s quest to find her birthparents – AND to experience more of Ricki’s New Orleans and the goings on at the Bon Vee. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t NEED those details to enjoy this story, I just want them. (I’m not quite sure this stands completely alone because I did read the first book in the series, but it definitely doesn’t require reading them all to enjoy this one – but why wouldn’t you since they’re terrific!)

I wrote a LOT in the first part of this to set the stage for the story, and I still don’t think I did it justice. There’s a LOT going on and it IS chaos. But the story goes down easy, like cafe au lait and beignets from Cafe du Monde, complete with clouds of powdered sugar to add to the delicious chaos.

The A plot here is clearly the murder, but the B plot, the Krewe court maneuverings, is fascinating because it gets just a bit into all the frantic paddling going on underneath the swans that are New Orleans’ famous Mardi Gras parades.

There’s also a C and a D, not plots exactly, but situations and history that link the two plots together and dive a bit more deeply into the way the city works – and doesn’t. The C part is the Charity Hospital, one of two public hospitals in the city that served everyone, which means they served those who couldn’t get medical care anywhere else. Conditions at Charity Hospital during Hurricane Katrina and the difficulties and heartbreak of its evacuation were a huge part of the story of Katrina, and the hospital was not rebuilt or reopened after. Josepha was a NICU nurse at Charity, and it’s where she cared for and ultimately adopted the abandoned infant Ricki. It’s a tragedy that lingers, and it lingers over this story as well because it’s an important part of Josepha’s and Ricki’s ‘origin story’.

That D should be an R, for the endemic racism that hangs over New Orleans like a pall, in the present as well as the past. In the past, it’s the reason Josepha had to lie about being a widow in order to adopt Ricki. In the present, the victim’s OBVIOUS bigotry was a HUGE reason why so many of the murdered woman’s victims hated her so much, AND it’s also part of the parental Krewe shenanigans.

In other words, for a story that is simply hella fun to read, there’s also a lot to unpack under the surface if you look for it. And that’s what I loved about Crescent City Christmas Chaos. A delightful cast of characters, a fascinating and twisted murder, an eye-catching distraction, and something to think about after the last page is turned.

I’ll definitely be back to this author’s New Orleans to see what I missed in the series, AND I’ll be looking for the next entry in it when it appears, because this New Orleans holiday mystery – complete with delicious recipes – was the perfect cozy mystery to fill in my holiday reads this season!

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Crescent City Christmas Chaos' by Ellen Byron.

This may be the first book I have read by this absolutely incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!! It is also the fourth book in Ellen's 'Vintage Cookbook Mysteries' series and what an absolutely brilliant introduction to a promising series it is (for myself)!! I cannot wait to read more books by this amazing author, especially the previous and future books in this series! Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Ellen Byron!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before!? Fairplay, you absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! If you are a fan of mysteries, cooking and Christmas then THIS book is an absolute must read for you!! Absolutely LOVED it!!

COOKING, CHRISTMAS, MYSTERY AND CRIME!! THE PERFECT READ WITH CHRISTMAS AROUND THE CORNER!!! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME READING ON JUST GRAB YOUR COPY OF THIS EPIC PAGE TURNER NOW AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!!

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely fantastic page turner!!! Well done to the incredible Ellen Byron!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? I would not typically recommend reading books in a series out of order but nobody could blame you for grabbing this book with it's stunning cover and fascinating synopsis!!! If you have started this book before reading the previous books then there is no need to worry. There is a silver lining of reading later books in a series first and that is that after you have finished this brilliant page turner, fallen in love with this series and found a new favourite author, just like I have, you can go back and read the previous three books in this epic series while, very impatiently, waiting for the next book in this promising series, just like I will be!! I have never come across anything like this book and series and I doubt I ever will again. I absolutely adored the fact that it is set in Bon Vee Culinary House Museum and that we get to explore the shops, meet all the characters and have fun trying to solve the mystery while we are there. Ellen has extremely thoughtfully included a cast of characters list which include the characters at Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, Law Enforcement, Peony Place residents, Crescent City Concierge Care, Krewe of Gaia and others. She has included every single character, where they are from and the role they play in the book. I thought this was very handy especially considering this book is part of a series and I reflected back on it a few times during the story to double check who was who. I wish more authors would include this in their books, especially when it comes to books in a series, so a HUGE well doe and thank you to Ellen for including it!! Not only has she included this list but she has also included several recipes at the back of the book which was another great idea and I am looking forward to giving some of them a try!! I absolutely love a good old cosy mystery and this has just shot straight to my favourite cosy crime series, yes even after just reading just this one book. I really cannot wait to get my hands on the previous and next books in this series! One thing I have got to get in before getting into my review is clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down! This book is brilliantly written with vivid evocative descriptions which bring the storyline, characters an surroundings to life perfectly in the readers mind. I absolutely loved the unique storyline and I will tell you now you may as well stop wasting your time reading this and grab your copy of this book now! You seriously need to grab your copy of this addictive cosy crime today and I can GUARANTEE you will not regret it!!! With a storyline absolutely packed full with mystery, Christmas, history, drama, recipes, humour, festivity, food, friendship, brilliant characters, fantastic settings, a great community and so so much more. I mean, seriously, What are you waiting for?! There is nothing more you could ask for or want in an absolutely brilliant cosy page turner. Except, perhaps for the next book to be brought out sooner!! Ellen's absolutely fantastic evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This book truly is an absolutely addictive, humorous, cosy, page turning, festive and compelling storyline in what promises to be an absolutely amazing series!! The plot was unique and realistic and Ellen really brings absolutely everything to life in front of your eyes from the characters to the mystery to the surroundings. Well done Ellen you did absolutely brilliantly and have most definitely made a new fan!! I completely devoured it in one sitting as I just could not put it down and I cannot wait to read more books in this series!!!

Before you start this make sure you clear your schedule because once you pick it up you are not going to want to put it down!!!!

The characters were absolutely fantastic with a diverse range of people from different backgrounds and different skills from carol singers to chefs, suspects to shopkeepers. They all had their own individual unique personalities with different strengths, flaws, weaknesses, quirks and interests. I mean, you really cannot ask for better characters than what Ellen brings you in this book!! I absolutely LOVED meeting and getting to know them all and I cannot wait to meet them and other characters in the previous and future books in what really does promise to be an absolutely addictive series!! Each of the characters were well developed, unique and thanks to Ellen's fantastic evocative writing skills they all came to life before my eyes.

Congratulations Ellen on an absolutely fantastic success in this brilliant page turner!!! Here's to the next addictive and unique book in this absolutely epic series!!! This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my favourite authors club and I cannot wait to get stuck in to the previous books in this brilliant series!!!

Overall an absolute must read, festive filled, addictive page turning purrfect read for food, festive and fun lovers!


#CrescentCityChristmasChaos #VintageCookbookMystery #CozyChristmasRead #MysterySeries #ChristmasMurderMystery #NewOrleansMystery #HolidayReads #EllenByronBooks #BookReview #BookExcerpt #BookRecommendation #ChristmasBook #HolidayReading #Bookworms #CulinaryMystery #BookishChristmas #ChristmasChaos #BookLoversCommunity #EllenByron #HolidayMurderMystery #MysteryNovel #CozyMystery #ChristmasReads #HolidayMystery #Bookish #Bookstagram #BookLovers #MustRead #BookAddict


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[Yuvaraj kothandaraman · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Crescent City Christmas Chaos" is a cozy mystery that pairs New Orleans holiday traditions with a murder investigation, family secrets, and romance. Ellen Byron creates a warm, festive atmosphere with genuine affection for her setting, but the book occasionally struggles to balance its multiple plot threads, resulting in a story that feels simultaneously too much and not quite enough.

The book opens with genuine warmth - Ricki James-Diaz, owner of Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop at Bon Vee museum, is preparing for Christmas while her boyfriend Virgil works on filming a cooking show special about Réveillon dinners (the traditional New Orleans Christmas celebration). Her parents visit from Puerto Vallarta to help with production, and Ricki hopes to use their presence to investigate her own birth mother, whom she was separated from as an infant at Charity Hospital. The stage is set for a heartfelt holiday story with mystery elements.

Byron excels at creating a sense of place. The descriptions of New Orleans' Garden District, the Bon Vee museum itself, and the city's holiday traditions feel lived-in and authentic. The supporting cast - Ricki's best friends Zellah and Cookie, her quirky cousin Olivia, the caroling tour guides are charming and add texture to the story.

The central mystery involves Phyllis Gibbs, a former co-worker of Ricki's mother from Charity Hospital days. Josepha reveals she'd been paying Phyllis hush money for nearly thirty years because Phyllis falsified documents to help Josepha adopt baby Ricki by claiming she was a widow rather than a single mother. When Phyllis suddenly dies, it appears to be from an overdose of digitoxin, and Ricki's parents immediately become suspects because they visited Phyllis's house the night before her death.

This is where the book becomes a tangled mess. The mystery component introduces several storylines that never quite integrate cleanly:

There is the murder of Phyllis herself. Then there is Art Broussard, who dies from a double dose of insulin he accidentally administered to himself. Then there are hints about a skincare scam involving Dr. Rachel Vernon from Crescent City Concierge Care. There are also mentions of the "Bongle Bandit" and a mysterious gang operating in the neighborhood. Each subplot feels like it belongs to a different book.

The biggest problem is the lack of focus. Byron introduces these plot threads but doesn't give them equal weight or resolution. Dr. Vernon has an alibi for Phyllis's death (she was at a conference in Atlanta). Art's death is ruled accidental, not murder. The skincare scam is mentioned but not explored. The Bongle Bandit and the gang are mentioned and then largely forgotten. By the end, you're not entirely sure which mystery was the "main" one.

When you reach the climax, Ricki goes snooping through Phyllis's house with Mordant and Theo (her P.I. friend and the mysterious cousin). They discover Dr. Vernon was selling knockoff skincare products, but this doesn't matter because Vernon has an alibi. Meanwhile, they accidentally witness Art's death, which is ruled accidental, not murder. The actual resolution to Phyllis's death is never clearly shown to the reader, we just move on.

This is frustrating. In a cozy mystery, readers expect a clear resolution where all the clues point to a solution. Here, it feels like Byron lost track of her own puzzle.

Where the book truly succeeds is in its emotional core. The relationship between Ricki and her mother Josepha is the strongest element. The revelation that Josepha has been living with this secret for decades, paying off Phyllis to keep her adoption story quiet is genuinely moving. When Josepha finally tells Ricki the truth, the scene has real emotional weight. This part of the story feels earned and authentic.

Similarly, the resolution involving Ricki finally finding her birth mother, Beth Norris (who was actually a customer who visited her shop earlier), on Christmas Day is heartfelt and touching. This discovery feels like the real climax of the book, even though technically a murder plot is also happening.

Ricki is a sympathetic protagonist- she is kind, loyal, and resourceful. But she is also sometimes reactive rather than proactive.
When she discovers Phyllis on her own and gets scared by her creepy demeanor, she immediately tells Phyllis that her mother is alive, which directly causes problems. Later, she sneaks into Phyllis's house but doesn't find anything actionable.

The supporting cast is charming but feels sketched in. Olivia, Zellah, and Cookie are likeable but could exist in many different stories. Theo, who is set up as a mysterious figure, never gets a real payoff for his secretive behavior he gets his real estate license and that's it.

The Forced Subplot About the Cookbook
About a third of the way through, Ricki decides to create a community cookbook for Bon Vee as a fundraiser. This idea is sweet but it feels shoehorned in. The book's already juggling multiple mysteries, family drama, a romance, and a cooking show production. Adding cookbook creation as a major subplot dilutes the focus even more. The cookbook element resolves satisfyingly but it distracts from the murder mystery.

The book is 432 pages and it feels both too long and too short. Too long because subplots drag out unnecessarily (the cookbook, the mention of gangs and the Bongle Bandit). Too short because the central mystery is never properly developed or resolved. The ending especially feels rushed, with Phyllis's actual death never being solved to the reader's satisfaction and the birth mother resolution happening in what feels like an epilogue.

This book is for readers who value character development and emotional arcs over tight mystery plotting.
If you are a fan of Byron's previous books or enjoy cozy mysteries that prioritize the warmth of the setting and supporting cast over puzzle-solving, you will likely enjoy this.
It is also good for readers who enjoy books set in New Orleans and want that atmospheric experience, even if the plot is secondary.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#CrescentCityChristmasChaos #NetGalley is the fabulous fourth book in this series, and it should be at the top of everyone's TBR pile.
Ricki is in for a big surprise when her parents arrive for the holidays.
Ricki's boyfriend Virgil made it happen, as he needs her father's skills for his premier television show.
With her mother in town, Ricki hopes to spark her memory of who her birth mother, but things don't go as planned.
A visit to a woman who may have an idea about Ricki's mother starts a chain reaction of events that leads to murder.
There is so much going on in this story, I was glued to the pages, anxious to see what was going to happen next.
This series has become a favorite and the author did a fantastic job with this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This holiday season in the Big Easy is anything but easy!

When Virgil surprises Ricki by hiring her father out of retirement as the cameraman for his upcoming cooking show special, she’s ecstatic to be reunited with her adoptive parents for the holidays, and as they’ll all be busy with the show and working at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, they’ve planned their visit to extend into the New Year. Ricki wants to take the opportunity to pick her mother’s brain about her memories of Ricki’s first days, when she was left at Charity Hospital as a newborn by her teenage birth mom. Josepha had always been supportive of Ricki’s quest to learn more about her birth parents, but this time, she’s uncharacteristically vague and resistant to delving into the past, especially when Ricki stumbles across the name of one of Josepha’s former coworkers who worked in the Records Department at that time. Tracking the older woman down proves simple, but Ricki gets creepy vibes from her the minute she mentions her mother is in town, and terminates the visit before asking about her memories of the teenager who gave her up for adoption. However, when the woman is found dead in her home under suspicious circumstances the next day, Ricki and her parents become prime suspects in her death.

Crescent City Christmas Chaos is the fourth book in author Ellen Byron’s intriguing New Orleans-set Vintage Cookbook Mystery series, and features vintage shop owner Miracle “Ricki” Fleur de Lis James-Diaz and her friends, family, and coworkers at the city’s beautiful Bon Vee Culinary House Museum. Ricki has established a unique and successful small business that she loves and has embarked on a lovely new romance with celebrity chef and neighbor Virgil Morel. Their relationship is still in the early stages, and Ricki is quite taken with Virgil’s innate goodness, especially after her past romantic experiences. They really fit well as a couple, as do her adoptive parents, Josepha and Luis James-Diaz, who met, married, and relocated to Los Angeles when Ricki was small.

While the main plot follows Ricki’s well-done personal investigation into Phyllis Gibbs’s death, some interesting subplots vie for attention, including Virgil’s cooking special, the Bon Vee staff’s cookbook project, and Theo Charbonnet’s curiously secretive activities. Ricki’s search for her birth parents has been a theme running through the series since the beginning, and little pieces of the puzzle have been revealed in each successive mystery. This book does not disappoint.

With its crush of great subplots involving a plethora of engaging recurring characters, I recommend CRESCENT CITY CHRISTMAS CHAOS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who’ve read the previous novels in the series and those who enjoy a New Orleans setting or adoption theme.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

CRESCENT CITY CHRISTMAS CHAOS by Ellen Byron
The Fourth Vintage Kitchen Mystery

As Ricki James-Diaz prepares Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop for Christmas her boyfriend, Chef Virgil Morel, has exciting news. He's creating and producing a holiday special featuring the food of New Orleans and filming it right at Bon Vee. As producer he can hire his own production team and was able to coax a talented cameraman out of retirement-Luis James-Diaz, Ricki's father! Thrilled that both of her parents have come from Puerto Vallarta and will be staying in town through the holidays Ricki can't wait to spend time with them and perhaps jog some memories out of her mom regarding her birth mother. While her adoptive parents have been nothing but supportive when it comes to Ricki's quest to find more information about her birth parents things change when Ricki discovers that Phyllis Gibbs, who worked in medical records at the hospital where Ricki was born, is alive and well and living in New Orleans. The mere mention of the woman's name shuts her mother down and a brief meeting with the woman even puts Ricki on alert. When Phyllis is found dead the next morning everyone is stunned and when her death is deemed suspicious Ricki is nervous, for if a list was made of people who wanted Phyllis dead her parents' names would be right on top!

The Vintage Kitchen Mystery series keeps getting better and this fourth outing is my favorite thus far! It's wonderful having Ricki's parents in town and I love how her mom gets right into sleuth mode! Theo's furtiveness made me wonder what he was up too and I was considering something nefarious. The Krewe drama was fascinating-and I'm so glad I never had to deal with anything like that growing up.The ending of the mystery was exciting and satisfying, but the end of the book itself was a true Christmas gift! What a wonderful ending and beginning in one.

I love the vintage cookbook aspect to this series. Like Ricki. I also collect old cookbooks. I love looking through them even though I rarely if ever cook them. I enjoy reading the recipes included in CRESCENT CITY CHRISTMAS CHAOS. I find the recipe for almond soup most intriguing, even though if I stay true to form I won't bother trying to make it! That being said, I really appreciate having these recipes available.

CRESCENT CITY CHRISTMAS CHAOS is a delightful Christmas mystery celebrating food, family, and friendship in the heart of New Orleans!

[boogleloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars: This is Byron's fourth entry in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series, which is a Culinary Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Louisiana during Christmas. Featuring a vintage cookbook gift shop proprietor at a Culinary House Museum housed in a historic New Orleans mansion who finds herself turning sleuth after the woman who had been extorting her mom over details about her adoption is found dead and her mother becomes the main suspect. She'll need all the help she can get if shes going to prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas.

With plenty of twists and turns, Byron has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. There also an interesting over-arching plot of the MC's search for more information about her birth family. Witty and tons of fun, Byron's writing and character work are stellar; the main characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.

• For animal lovers, there's a veritable menagerie in this series: there are the MC's chihuahua mix and her beau's German shepherd mix, the museum's feisty shop kitten and the museum grounds resident strutting peacocks.
• Additions: Includes the fun descriptions of vintage cookbooks, gadgets and decor throughout the book and features some very delicious sounding recipes.
• Holiday theme: There are plenty of comfy, cozy festive holiday fun-filled activities and atmosphere!

Byron touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check out the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Bayou Book Thief.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Severn House in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Cheryl Malandrinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy mystery lovers are going to want to check out Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron, the fourth book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series.

When Ricki James-Diaz's boyfriend invites her parents to New Orleans, she has no idea her parents will wind up being suspects in a murder tied to a secret from her mother's past. As Ricki juggles the busiest shopping season of the year at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, a community-inspired cookbook project, and a budding romance while trying to find a killer to clear her parents' names, it's a good thing that the staff of Bon Vee and her friends have her back.

Before I get into my review, I have to give a shout-out to cover and jacket designer Nick May. What a fabulous, colorful, and fun cover he created for Crescent City Christmas Chaos. This is one of my favorite book covers of 2025.

As readers dive into Crescent City Christmas Chaos, they discover Ricki is still on the hunt for her biological mother. Meanwhile, the shop is as busy as ever with holiday shoppers. When her boyfriend, Virgil Morel, announces he is making his first solo TV cooking show special, this brings Ricki's father, Luis, back to New Orleans to be Virgil's camera operator. Thrilled to have her parents in town, this will give her the excuse to pry more details about her adoption from her mother. But when Phyllis Gibbs, the woman who helped Josepha adopt Ricki decades ago, is found dead, Ricki's parents become the primary suspects once it is discovered she had been blackmailing Josepha. This leads Ricki and a supporting cast of characters to search for the real killer.

Thankfully, Byron included a cast of characters broken down by who they are and where they work, because there are a ton, and I sometimes found it challenging to keep track of them all. This is a fun, light mystery with engaging characters, a fabulous setting, and a solid plot. Though this is the fourth novel in the series, it can stand on its own, and I don't feel anything is lost--except backstory--by reading this novel by itself. It's easy to see why Byron has won awards for her mysteries. I look forward to reading more from her.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crescent City Christmas Chaos is the first book by Ellen Byron that I’ve read. After seeing Ms. Byron on an online author chat, I was intrigued about her Vintage Cookbook Mysteries series. Ms. Byron had me at New Orleans, vintage cookbooks, a Culinary Museum, a gift shop, and recipes! Normally I prefer to start a series at the beginning, but I jumped at the chance to read the fourth installment, and meet the protagonist, Ricki James-Diaz. Ricki had moved from Los Angeles back to her birthplace, New Orleans, where she owns a Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware gift shop, housed within the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.

In this installment, which can be read as a standalone, the museum staff is preparing for Christmas. Ricki’s boyfriend, Virgil, has surprised her by bringing her parents out for the holidays. While Ricki’s dad acts as cameraman for Virgil’s TV show, Ricki wants to dig deeper into her adoption by hoping her mother can provide her with more information about the birth mother. Not surprisingly, digging deeper has consequences. And Ricki, an amateur sleuth, finds herself involved in yet another murder. Worst still, her parents are suspects.

There are many characters in this book (some, like Ricki’s co-workers at the Museum, I’m sure are also featured in the other books in the series). As a newbie, I was glad to have the character list at the front of the book. The characters are all well-written and multi-dimensional, and the dialogue and situations are realistic. There’s humor, animals (dogs, a cat, and peacocks), food, fun sub-plots, and enough twists and turns to keep me intrigued. Overall, I was thoroughly entertained. I loved immersing myself in New Orleans and spending Christmas there! So much so that I’ve already started Book One, and will get caught up with Ricki and the other enjoyable characters in anticipation of the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and the author for the opportunity to read the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron was a fun book, although as suggested by the title, it felt a little chaotic. The story takes place in New Orleans and is part of the Vintage cookbook series. Ricki is the operator of Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop at Bon Vee, which is a museum of sorts with various business offered as additional incentives for guests. She and her cohorts decide to publish a cookbook. It starts off as an idea but quickly took flight and garnered more attention than they had hoped, but they did manage to get it off the ground. That is the good news. The bad news is that a woman called Phyllis Gibbs has been murdered and Ricki’s parents had been there to see her, separately, on the night she died. She had been blackmailing Mom for years and she had finally tired of it and told Ricki’s father. Hence the blackmail should end. It turns out she’d been blackmailing others. She was not a popular person.

There are a lot of settings and a lot of characters in this book. There is a helpful guide to the cast at the beginning of the book. The street Phyllis lived on is full of potential suspects. Again, she was not popular. When Ricki finally got in her house to check it out, it appeared she was somewhat of a hoarder, as well, but full of clues. Nina Rodriguez, the police detective, skirted on having a friendship with Ricki. She is a fun character, ready to let her hair down as soon as she’s off the clock. She, of course, is not happy with Ricki’s interference. The police are stretched thin, with a set of thieves and and an additional single robber that are causing mayhem in the town. Christmas is always a time for people, grifters and thieves, to try their best to take other people’s stuff. A very entertaining book, Funny in spots, sad in others. Well worth your time..

I was invited to read Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Severn House. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #SevernHouse #EllenByron #CrescentCityChristmasChaos

[Margie Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

In book #4 of Ellen Byron's lively Vintage Cookbook Mystery series, Crescent City Christmas Chaos (how's that for an alliterative title?), the holidays are looming and 28-year-old Miracle ("Ricki") James-Diaz is looking forward to a visit to New Orleans from her adoptive parents. But soon after their arrival, a much-disliked woman who knew Ricki's mother, Josepha, back in the day, is found dead, and Josepha becomes a suspect because of an irregularity with Ricki's adoption.

The suspicion that surrounds the family may also negatively affect Ricki's boyfriend, chef Virgil, who is hoping for great reviews for his debut TV special, for which Ricki's father has been enlisted as the show's camera operator. Ricki, who manages Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware for the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, corrals her staff and friends to investigate, and the local police detectives reluctantly accept their assistance. Subplots involve questionable skin care products at Crescent City Concierge Care, where ex-nurse Josepha is filling in part-time, and someone masquerading as a beloved holiday snowman character and taking an advantage of the opportunity to steal a few things. In addition, locals are submitting recipes for an upcoming cookbook, and Ricki's young cousin has been chosen a krewe queen for the next Mardi Gras celebrations.

New Orleans at Christmas time is beautifully portrayed by the author, and the characters--both those with which readers of the series are familiar and new supporting characters--are interesting and diverse. My favorites are a group of Christmas carolers hired by the museum who may be more annoying than festive.This is a fun cozy mystery series that makes the most of holidays, local color, and delicious-sounding recipes to charm the reader.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just in time for Christmas this cozy mystery is set in New Orleans during the holiday. Full of everything I am looking for in a cozy Christmas mystery, Christmas decorations, traditions, celebrations, food (including recipes), friends, and family it is a book and a series that I recommend. This is book 4 in the series but I read and thoroughly enjoyed it as a standalone. I found it easy to get into and enjoy. Of course now I plan to go back and read the earlier books.The chapters were short and I quickly found myself immersed in New Orleans and Ricki’s world.I collect cookbooks and found myself wanting to visit Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop.

The characters are interesting and quirky and having an attractive chef as a love interest just adds to the appeal. Ricki, the main character, is likable and has friends and family that provide support, assistance, and some mysteries of their own. I love that Nina, the police detective, refers to Ricki as ‘friend adjacent’. Isn’t that a wonderful term?

Ricki is trying to learn more about her past and family secrets are revealed. The secrets prove dangerous and the closer she gets to the truth the more dangerous it becomes.

New Orleans traditions, including Krewe courts, play a large part in the story. It was fascinating to learn more about them and watch as modernization was attempted. The Reveillon Dinner that Virgil created complete with recipes was one of my favorite parts as food is such a big part of culture and creates so many traditions.

I recommend this book to readers that enjoy cozy Christmas mysteries full of traditions and family.

Thanks to the author and Partners in Crime Tours for the free gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ricki James-Diaz has a vintage cookbook shop in a historic museum in New Orleans. She finds that a local woman extorted her beloved adoptive mother years ago; soon after that the woman is found dead. When her parents are suspects in the crime, Ricki goes to work to find the killer - with the help of several friends, during Christmas season in New Orleans.

I wanted to read Crescent City Christmas Chaos because I love Ellen Byron's books. I enjoy all her cozy series, but the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series is my favorite because I collect and sell vintage cookbooks.

As always, the food history and cookbook details in this book made for an interesting read! I also love the atmospheric visit to New Orleans over the holidays.

Ricki is a great amateur sleuth and I enjoy her sleuthing work with her friends and coworkers as well. She has now become friends with a local detective, and she helps the detective to solve this case with clues she finds. As always I like her pets - a Chihuahua, a German Shepherd, and a kitten. I also enjoy her fun, quirky friends, and her handsome chef-turned-TV-personality boyfriend Virgil.

There are a lot of characters in this book between the museum/shop, the neighborhood where the woman was murdered, and an upscale medical practice that could be involved. Thankfully there is a Cast of Characters section in the book, which helps keep all the characters straight!

I recommend Crescent City Christmas Chaos and this entire series for other fans of cozy mysteries. Readers who are interested in food history, vintage cookbooks, or New Orleans will especially enjoy this series.