Murder in the Bayou Boneyard

Cajun Country Mystery #6

by Ellen Byron

Maggie Crozat, proprietor of a historic Cajun Country B&B, prefers to let the good times roll. But hard times rock her hostelry when a new cell phone app makes it easy for locals to rent their spare rooms to tourists. With October--and Halloween--approaching, she conjures up a witch-crafty marketing scheme to draw visitors to Pelican, Louisiana.

Five local plantation B&Bs host "Pelican's Spooky Past" packages, featuring regional crafts, unique menus, and a pet costume parade. Topping it off, the derelict Dupois cemetery is the suitably sepulchral setting for the spine-chilling play Resurrection of a Spirit. But all the witchcraft has inevitably conjured something: her B&B guests are being terrified out of town by sightings of the legendary rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and vampire.

When, in the Dupois cemetery, someone costumed as a rougarou stumbles onstage during the play--and promptly gives up the ghost, the rougarou mask having been poisoned with strychnine, Maggie is on the case. But as more murders stack up, Maggie fears that Pelican's spooky past has nothing on its bloodcurdling present.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Halloween, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Holiday

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

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

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

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is the latest book in the Cajun Country Mystery series written by Ellen Byron. I've read all the previous books, and when this one became available on NetGalley, I had to request it. The book doesn't launch until September 2020, but it's one of my favorite series and I will highlight it again around publication day. So... let's chat a bit about this 5-star read.

Maggie, a 30ish witty young woman from Pelican, Louisiana, runs a B&B with her parents, the Crozats. Throw in Gran, her newly engaged grandmother, and you've got a lovely core family to entertain us. Maggie's fiance, Bo Durand, is a detective on the police force, and he's often forced to get the family out of a bunch of murders... though they never commit them, this time, someone in their estranged family is the victim. On top of that, several others are murdered, and when a strange werewolf-like beast roams the town, Halloween has everyone a flutter and afraid.

The mystery is haunting and clever. The extended family members are quite an annoying group... they start out nice, but clearly, they are out for something after all these years. The guests at the inn make for an eclectic bunch, especially the talkative parrot. By adding in humor and the holiday-theme, the book is even stronger. I enjoyed reading about the history of the town, some of the other families, and the plans for both upcoming weddings. I will say... there are tons of snappy lines, and Rufus has turned a corner! What a great dynamic to have the neighboring town's sheriff causing trouble this time.

Byron entertains... this is a top notch book, and I love being able to see the differences in her writing style, yet the amazing similarities too, with her Queens-based Italian family series. I hope one day we get a crossover because that would be just so over-the-top, I might not be able to stop myself from reading it every day for a month! Thanks for this funtastic (yep, my word for today) edition.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 6th book in the 'Cajun Country' cozy mystery series, amateur sleuth Maggie Crozat is suspected of murder. The book can be read as a standalone.



*****

Artist Maggie Crozat helps her parents, Ninette and Tug, run Crozat Plantation Bed and Breakfast in Pelican, Louisiana.



The Crozats are concerned because their inn - like other local hotels - has been losing business to a new app called 'Rent My Digs.' To increase business, Maggie and four other B&B owners create a package called 'Pelican's Spooky Past', to run every weekend in October. The inns are appropriately decorated for the month, which adds to the fun.



Each Pelican B&B offers a Halloween themed entertainment, such as serving meals that mourners ate in antebellum days;



holding a workshop that teaches guests to make cemetery decorations called immortelles;



staging a a play called Resurrection of a Spirit, performed in a spooky cemetery; and so on.



Guests at the Pelican B&B hotels rotate through the activities, providing more business for everyone.

To make Crozat Plantation B&B even more appealing, Maggie opens a spa on the property, which offers massages and facials. In the spirit of helping family members, Maggie invites a distant Canadian relative called Susannah Crozat MacDowell to be the masseuse for October.



Susannah brings her husband and grown stepson and stepdaughter, all of whom stay in a renovated schoolhouse Maggie is fixing up as a combination art studio/apartment.....



......for herself and her fiancé, Crozat police detective Bo Durand.



Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished, and Susannah soon announces that she's taking over the property of her ancestral relatives, right beside the Crozat Plantation B&B. Moreover, Susannah says the schoolhouse is on her property, and she's keeping it.

To sour Maggie's mood even more, legendary werewolf-like creatures called rougarous start jumping out of the woods scaring weekend B&B guests - some of whom leave early.



Worse yet, a rougarou stumbles into the cemetery during a production of Resurrection of a Spirit and promptly drops dead. As it turns out the rougarou is a murder victim wearing a werewolf costume.

Detectives from the nearby Ville Blanc Police Department get the murder case, and promptly finger Maggie as the prime suspect.



More murders follow, and Maggie is in the crosshairs for those as well.

Being an accomplished amateur sleuth with excellent connections in the Pelican Police Department, Maggie sets out to uncover the killer herself.

The accusations against Maggie and the ingratitude of the Canadian relatives is hard on the whole Crozat family. So Maggies's mom Ninette - who cooks to calm her nerves - fills the B&B with Cajun savories and desserts. In fact, when the house is burgled, the Pelican cops vie for the chance to investigate....knowing they'll get tasty bowls of gumbo or some other treat. (Note: recipes are included at the end of the book.)



While all this is going on Maggie and her Grand-mère are preparing for their joint wedding on New Year's Eve. Gran is doing most of the planning, and she's having a fabulous time - collecting swag from bridal expos and doing cake tastings at every bakery in town.



The book has a large array of additional characters, including townspeople of Pelican and B&B guests. My favorite visitors are a woman called DruCilla and her talking parrot Lovie - a clever bird who repeats whatever he hears and belts out tunes on command.



The story's southern Louisiana ambiance is authentic and charming, as is the affectionate appellation 'cher' (dear), which Cajuns use all the time (right back at ya, cher; thanks, cher; you look exhausted, cher; it's not about that, cher; etc.)

I enjoyed this delightful cozy mystery, and recommend it to fans of the genre.

Recipes in the book include:


Crawtatoes


Cajun Pecan Cookie Fingers


Ghoulish Cajun Goulash


Sugar High Pie


Holy Trinity Chicken

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Ellen Byron) and the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[JEN A · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all - can I just say I love the cover of this book. How can you not with such a cute little basset hound on it!

OK now that that has been said on with the review of the actual book.

I found this to be a fun campy mystery story that makes me long to visit Cajun country again. The main characters feel genuine and you really root for the heroine to find a love for Halloween.

The who done it part of the story really had me guessing till the end. I look forward to reading more books written by Ms Byron

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better place to celebrate Halloween than Pelican, Louisiana with its history and spooky atmosphere as a background. This was my first book from this series and I enjoyed it very much.

The story centres around Maggie and her family and their B&B business in the small town of Pelican. This particular Halloween they have joined up with the other local B&Bs to provide extra activities to increase the Holiday fun. Unfortunately things turn serious when the murders start.

The characters are entertaining, the mystery is intricate and the ending is way over the top but good fun. I enjoyed it all very much and will look out for the earlier books in the series.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newest Adventure Details:

Where: Pelican, Louisiana

Who: Maggie Crozat




When I found out I was heading to Louisiana….i was thrilled...Cajun country here I come!! When I met Maggie it was on the way to a funeral…. I wasn’t really dressed for the occasion, but...well ok. Upon returning from the funeral things were hectic @ the B&B and new spa getting things ready for guests coming for the Louisiana Halloween experience. Maggie was filling me in about the events coming up for Halloween, and how several local B&B’s collaborated to host "Pelican's Spooky Past" which included everything from a pet parade to a spooky play “Resurrection of a Spirit”. Maggie is a little less than thrilled when she tells me how the play has been moved to the cemetery where we had just come from. Creepy…. I was with Maggie...this seemed like a bad idea. Especially with all the sightings of rougarous… I know she had to tell me what they were too….it's a Louisiana urban legend...anyway...it’s a cross between a vampire and werewolf.

On top of all the other things goings the new masseuse (and Maggie’s newly acquainted Canadian cousin) they hired for spa services wasn’t working out...and even more of a problem refusing to leave the old school house/art studio turned spa. Maggie’s cousin Susannah Crozat McDowell and her husband instead produce a property map claiming the land that the spa sits on is theirs….and not only are they not leaving she is going to continue her spa services and expand to psychic readings. A frustrated Maggie looked into the property dispute, and unfortunately the McDowell’s are right...at least partially.

At the nightly performance of “Resurrection of a Spirit” I was almost asleep having seen this production...and that is a stretch..calling it a production...when screaming had me wide awake. Did they rewrite the ending??...thank god….No...the actors look a little thrown off, but are trying to improvise when someone dressed as a rougarou comes barreling onto the stage. The rougarou seems in obvious distress, and then collapses. Upon removing the head, they find Maggie’s cousin Susannah....dead. What is going on here?? Why would Maggie’s cousin be dressed as a rougarou?? wWhen it is labeled a murder and Maggie and her family are the main suspects...Maggie talks me into helping her figure out what is really going on here before her wedding, business, and life is ruined…




My thoughts:

This was my first book in this series, and although could be read as a standalone…. I think it would have been better to understand the relationships of the characters to have read the other books first.

I really enjoyed this book! It ticked off 2 of my favorite themes in cozies... a B&B and the holiday season….and what better holiday to write about in Louisiana then Halloween! Speaking of the writing...it was great! It was fast paced, lots of spooky sightings, suspects, twist and turns, quirky characters, but above all else the food!! You guys Byron does such a great job describing the food that my mouth was salivating, and I was smelling the Cajun delicacies...especially the Ghoulish Cajun Goulash...which was weird because I was making Split Pea Soup. Lol.

Loved that Maggie was smart and sensible…. Sometimes in cozies that is not the case. Grandma was a real hoot, and I loved that Maggie and she were planning a double wedding!

I’ve ordered the earlier books in this series...so I plan on spending lots of time with Maggie and family! Cozy mystery lovers are in for a screaming good time!!

For more book fun check out my blog @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Ellen Byron, and the publisher for this opportunity

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars What's not to like? Halloween theme with the Crozat family.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an effort to increase bookings at her family’s Louisiana bed and breakfast during October, Maggie Crozat has come up with the “Pelican’s Spooky Past” promotion. Five of the area B & B’s are teaming up and offering historical crafts, food, and other promotions to tie in to the season. Someone else has gotten into the act since guests keep siting a rougarou, a local legendary monster. One of the events during the month is a play being staged at a nearby dilapidated graveyard. The first couple of weekends, the play goes well, but then at one performance someone in a rougarou costume stumbles onto the stage and dies. As cross jurisdictional strife heats up, Maggie and her family find themselves caught in the middle as prime suspects. Can Maggie clear their names?

Reading this series always makes me want to visit Louisiana in person, and this book is no exception. I also appreciate how we learn something about local customs, legends, and food while we read. The plot is strong with plenty of twists and action to keep us engaged and guessing. I do have a couple of niggles with the climax, but they are minor overall. The characters are as wonderful as ever. I love seeing the regulars again and watching them and their relationships grow. Meanwhile, the suspects are just as strong as the series regulars. Those looking for some Cajun flavor in their life will enjoy the five recipes we get at the end of the book. Fans of the series will enjoy the latest book, and if you are new to the series, this will make you go back and read the books you’ve missed.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sixth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat and her family and friends are back in another delightful book. When mysteries happen in Pelican, LA, Maggie, a B&B owner in Cajun Country, is quick to help investigate and find the guilty party.

In this book, Halloween is coming up, and some local B&B owners put together the "Pelican's Spooky Past" package to draw visitors to town. The package included fun events for the visitors. It's all good until someone spots a rougarou. More sightings start scaring off the visitors. Then someone dressed as a rougarou stumbles onto stage during a play... and dies. Maggie jumps in to solve the mystery.

I have read all of the books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but the personal events happening with the characters is a continuing storyline.

Quirky characters in an inviting setting. I love the Southern charm of Pelican and its residents. An entertaining read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This is a wonderful Cozy-Mystery series and I just love the Cajun Country and all the colorful characters that call this area home. I know that the author lives in So Cal and not So LA, but she has a love for this area that comes through in every book. The whole Crozat family is just wonderful and I love the way they are trying to preserve their ancestral home and survive in the modern world.

A new way of booking lodging has made times difficult for the B&B owners in the small picturesque Cajun town of Pelican, LA. To make matters worse the tech wiz who invented the phone app is buying up smaller properties making it difficult for those with jobs in Pelican to find affordable housing. In order to bring tourists to the B & B's, Maggie Crozat has come up with a marketing idea for the Month of October. "Pelican's Spooky Past" is a package featuring lodging and a slew of special activities just for the B&B guests. The package includes a performance of "Resurrection of a Spirit" a special play performed in the cemetery on the derelict Dupois plantation. Talk about a spooky atmosphere. It works. With the opening of the new spa at the Crozat B&B, they are booked for the month. When a distant cousin contacts the family, and she is a licensed masseuse, Maggie invites her and her family to come for an extended visit and the take the job as the new spa's masseuse.

The only thing plaguing the Crozat family are the sightings of a mythical rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and vampire. The sightings are terrifying the guests. But even more terrifying are the bodies that start dropping. When the first body drops dead on stage at the end of a performance and instead of the Pelican police and Maggie's fiancé, Bo, they have to deal with an ambitious detective who is out to pin the murder on Maggie.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is by far my favorite cozy mystery series. The books are always well written. The mysteries keep me turning the pages and guessing right until the end. The characters are extremely likable. The setting is fantastic, and you get yummy recipes as a bonus. I can't wait to see what these characters get up to next. 👍👍

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Halloween in Pelican, Louisiana can be interesting but this year business at the local B&B’s in taking a hit due to a new enterprise for regular folks can rent out rooms to tourists. So a few local B&B’s band together to host weekends featuring “Pelican’s Spooky Past” packages complete with spa treatments, crafting classes, special menus, and a play Resurrection of a Spirit performed in a cemetery. Visitors may also be treated to seeing a rougarou, which is a cross between a vampire and a werewolf, and scary.

The Crozat’s have added a spa to the property and a Canadian cousin has agreed to come to town as their massage therapist. Maggie quickly learns her dear cousin and her husband have ulterior motives for their visit. Then one night the masseuse crashes the play and dies, the Crozat’s become prime suspects. When there is another murder Maggie plunges herself into the investigation.

These characters continue to be some of my faves. Maggie is a smart amateur sleuth who doesn’t give up. Her relationship with her sassy grandmother is fun and heartwarming. Her mom and dad have a ton of energy and go to great lengths to meet their guests’ needs while still being there for their family and friends. This story takes family to a new level when the Canadian cousins come to town with their outlandish plans.

Ms. Byron has crafted a mystery filled with twists, turns, and a bit of folklore. I am fine with the rougarou as long as I don’t have to meet one in the middle of the night, better yet as long as they stay within the pages of this book. The author also includes a variety of Cajun dishes, some of the recipes are at the back of the book.

What I really enjoy is that the Crozat’s daily life endeavors blend seamlessly with the mystery. Wedding plans are ongoing and Maggie gets a big surprise at the end of the story with a big message for everyone, especially in the world we are living in today.

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is a totally entertaining Halloween mystery and a fantastic addition to this series. I am so excited for the next book in this series.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie is becoming one of my favorite characters. She goes to the end of the earth to help her friends and family, and always earns a gruff thank you from the sheriff.
There is plenty of action in this fast paced book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt immersed in all things Louisiana while reading this story. The setting does an excellent job of putting the reader in small town Louisiana complete with mansions, food and even rougarous. The setting also proved to be an excellent backdrop for the Halloween theme of this story. Add some murders for the mystery and Gran exploring every aspect of the perfect wedding for humor and it becomes a well balanced plot.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Turureta]

I arrive late at the party, this is the first book I read in this series or of this author. I will probably go back to the others.
If you like cozy mysteries, and I do, this is what you'll find here, nothing more, nothing less. It is not a surprising or an innovative book, it is what is supposed to be and sometimes that's what you need as a reader.


I read an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley. My opinion is independent and unbiased.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in author Ellen Byron's Cajun Country series just gets better and better. MURDER IN THE BAYOU BONEYARD, of course, is the best so far.Each time I thought I had things figured out, I promptly got fooled. I only knew who done it when the author wanted me to. Well done!

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. This book was a great addition and the perfect October cozy read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Halloween in on the Crozat Family B&B in Pelican, Louisiana and everyone is excited to celebrate, except Maggie Crozat. She doesn't care for all the supernatural so when a fabled Cajun werewolf/vampire creature scares the guests watching a play set a local cemetery, she has all the more reason to detest the merrymaking. But the fright turns deadly when someone is poisoned on the property. She's also dealing with greedy relatives who came from Canada to visit under false pretenses and a massage therapist she hired who has a dangerous side hustle. It's no wonder she's finding it near impossible to plan for her upcoming nuptials with law enforcement officer Bo Durand.

This is one of my favorites series. I don't want to read it too quickly because then it will be that much longer until the next release. Not only is it very well-written, but the author goes to great lengths to provide an inviting setting, but also interesting local folklore and delicious sounding recipes. I always learn something new about the area, in addition to enjoying a well-plotted mystery with strong characters. I want a great seat for their wedding--am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Crozat is not a big fan of Halloween, but she does know how it can help the local B&B community by having festivities dedicated to the spooky holiday. So thanks to Maggie, the B&Bs in Pelican, Louisianna are offering packages as part of October’s Pelican’s Spooky Past festivities and people are heading into town.

Having finished the spa at the Crozat’s B&B, Maggie invites a recently found cousin who is a masseuse to work for them for the month so they can get to know each other better. Turns out the long lost cousin has claims to the land adjacent to their’s and intends to sell it to a chemical company. Maggie is hurt by the snub from her cousin. But when said cousin turns up dead in a neighboring town, Maggie looks like the primary suspect. Luckily the local police don’t believe the Crozats had anything to do with the woman’s murder, but everyone is scrambling to find the real murderer and get back to normal before Maggie joins the increasing number of bodies that piling up.

I adore this series, but who doesn’t like to partake of some good old Cajun fun now and then? This series is full of history, family, friends and mystery. You cannot go wrong with a book from Ellen Byron and a visit to Cajun Country.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed this cozy mystery set in a Louisiana mansion now being operated as a B & B by Maggie Crozat and her family. It's fun and I love the setting. What made me sad is that I expect the last big hurricane probably did some damage to the home. I bet it lost it's ailing roof.

This is, thankfully, set before that hurricane at Halloween. The local B & B's have been running special packages especially appropriate in voodoo country. There is a lot of planned activities and sightings of a local werewolf. Maggie has invited her distant cousin to come and be a massage therapist. She shows up with her husband and two teen-age stepchildren.

This turns out to be a disaster. The woman gets fired and then tries to take land and sell it to a chemical plant destroying the value of Maggie's home. Then dead bodies appear including the cousin and then her husband. Plants turn out to be deadly and werewolves are everywhere.

It's a fun story and the secondary story is the planned double wedding of Maggie and her grandmother. The planning is fun and Maggie's grandmother is a hoot. She has sampled so many wedding cakes that the bakers are on the look-out.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pelican at Halloween time was pretty awesome! I never completely guessed the killer, because all the red herrings and clues were so good and leading in all different directions. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. I got a kick out of Gran and her wedding plans right in the middle of a murder. I love that little Xander has come such a long way, and I can't help but feel that Maggie can claim some credit for that with giving him art lessons ever since she met Bo. Xander also taught Maggie that Halloween can be fun again.

That picture of Gopher on the cover is so darn cute! I think it might be my favorite cover so far! And yes, he did get to wear his costume along with his other dog friends. I've absolutely loved this series since the very first book, and I hope it runs for a very long time. Trips to Pelican, Louisiana are always a lot of fun. The baddies get theirs, and the wrap-up always gives that extra closure readers like. As always, I can't wait for the next book!

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

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that I enjoyed but would have enjoyed more if I had read the previous books in the series. It took me awhile to get into the book but when I did, it really took off!

I enjoyed the storyline immensely. It was fun to read about something different. Kudos to the author for taking me for a ride into Cajun country!

My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween is made even creepier for Maggie with a murder, appearance of a rougarou (wolfman creature), greedy "surprise" family members, bossy guests and all this while Maggie and Grandmere are planning their double wedding. When Maggie contacts a massage therapist to work at her new spa, she has no idea how much trouble is headed her way!

I enjoyed the book and it kept me reading well into the night. My favorite part of the book centered around Grandmere and Maggie's double wedding. Bo and her family are as supportive as ever and the wolfman legend added just the right amount of fright to the book! It is a wonderful Halloween mystery!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!
Let us go to the Pelican, Louisiana
to stay at one of the five local plantations
offering the “Pelican's Spooky Past”
package. This package will include
Halloween traditions of the historical past.
We are staying at the Crozat Plantation
B& B. There we will meet Magnolia Crozat
better known as Maggie, her parents
( Ninette and Tug) and her Gran-mere.
Crozat will offer unique cajun style menu’s
made for mourners in the past. You will
make immortelles which are cemetery
arrangements from dried flowers, beads
and ceramics. These were meant as immortal
memorials to the dead.
You will attend a play, Resurrection of the
Spirit, performed in the nearby derelict
Dupois graveyard in the evening.
Murder, ghost, burglaries and my favorite
happenings: appearances of the scary
rougarou ( the Cajun version of the
werewolf make this an attention keeper
from the first word until the ending scene.
I loved that the story was filled with drama,
intrigue, tension, twists and turns and quirky,
colorful,and well casted characters.
There are recipes after the end that made
my mouth water: Crawtatoes, Ghoulish Cajun
Goulash Cajun Pecan Cookie Fingers, Holy
Trinity Chicken and Sugar High Pie.
This is book # 6 in the Cajun Country Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Murder in the Bayou
Boneyard. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and
the author via Net Gallery for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this cozy series! It is a favourite that has a number of things I especially enjoy, and this book was no exception.

First the book is set in Louisiana - not New Orleans, a favourite location for me - but a small town very near NOLA. The Southern flavour of food, music and manners that infuse the books of this series is a charming and appreciate component for me, as I am an admitted "Southern-phile" and love everything about the culture.

The characters in this series are likable and quirky, but smart and entertaining. Even the supporting characters add fun spice to the stories.

The murder in this book was a well-plotted story, and everything came together nicely in the end with a couple of surprises.

This is an auto-read series for me. It has everything I enjoy in a cozy, and nothing I don't.

[Carlymor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but I enjoyed this so much that I am going to go back and read them all. Maggie Crozat is stressed out about quite a few things- her approaching wedding date, the opening of the spa at her b&b, and previously unknown family that comes to visit from Canada. When her distant relatives visit, it becomes clear that they have more than a family reunion in mind, claiming ownership of part of the Crozat land. When one of them gets murdered, Maggie is a suspect, having definite motivation. I’ve read the author’s other series and have enjoyed it and this book was also good. I’m definitely going to go back and pick up the previous books.

[Kay Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 🔪
Author: Ellen Byron
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: 8th September 2020
(Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free early copy!)

Synopsis:
Maggie Crozat has the Halloween heebie-jeebies in USA Todaybestselling and Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron's howlingly funny sixth Cajun Country mystery.
Maggie Crozat, proprietor of a historic Cajun Country B&B, prefers to let the good times roll. But hard times rock her hostelry when a new cell phone app makes it easy for locals to rent their spare rooms to tourists. With October—and Halloween—approaching, she conjures up a witch-crafty marketing scheme to draw visitors to Pelican, Louisiana. 
Five local plantation B&Bs host "Pelican's Spooky Past" packages, featuring regional crafts, unique menus, and a pet costume parade. Topping it off, the derelict Dupois cemetery is the suitably sepulchral setting for the spine-chilling play Resurrection of a Spirit. But all the witchcraft has inevitably conjured something: her B&B guests are being terrified out of town by sightings of the legendary rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and vampire.
When, in the Dupois cemetery, someone costumed as a rougarou stumbles onstage during the play—and promptly gives up the ghost, the rougarou mask having been poisoned with strychnine, Maggie is on the case. But as more murders stack up, Maggie fears that Pelican's spooky past has nothing on its bloodcurdling present.

My Thoughts:
Oh my gosh! If this isn't the CUTEST cosy Murder mystery I've ever read. I have to admit it was the adorable pup dressed as a vampire on the cover that drew me to this one. I mean, how cute is he? But the old fashioned Louisiana fun and rougarou folklore kept me interested. That adorable pup did not let me down, this book was a complete delight to read. Quick, light and fun and full of all the Louisiana pride, bayou beauty, Cajun folklore and cute animals you could ask for!
Maggie is a wonderful and fun character. With a wonderfully modern Miss Marple personality and vibe. It was lots of fun solving the mystery along with her, and her witty and sassy banter was a treasure. This is the sixth book in the series and it would be lovely to read the previous books and see how Maggie has grown throughout the series to the character she is here in the Bayou Boneyard.
I honestly didn't expect to like this book, I certainly never thought I'd love it, but sometimes you find pleasant surprises in unexpected places and Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is definitely one of those unexpected gifts.


[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I found the characters interesting and likeable. I definitely felt invested in the main characters Maggie and Bo and the family, as I was angry that Suzanne and Doug were trying to pull some fast ones over them. I figured that Bonnie had something to do with it, but never suspected that Emily did it. This book has multiple murders so plenty of mystery to go around. #MurderintheBayouBoneyard #NetGalley

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron is the 6th A Cajun Country Mystery. Maggie Crozat came up with “Pelican’s Spooky Past” to help draw customers to the local bed-and-breakfasts. It runs the month of October with various activities including a play in the Dupois cemetery. The Crozat family are also getting to meet a distant cousin and her family who will be arriving from Canada. One night they hear a guest screaming outside. She claims to have seen the legendary Rougarou. Maggie writes it off as a prank until guests from other bed-and-breakfasts have similar sightings. Maggie is watching the “Resurrection of a Spirit” in the cemetery when a Rougarou stumbles onto the stage and collapses. When the mask is removed, it turns out to be Maggie’s new cousin, Susannah MacDowell who is now dead. Maggie and her family come under suspicion because of a recent altercation with the victim. When a second death occurs, Maggie knows she needs to solve this case quickly before Pelican turns into a ghost town.

I thought Murder in the Bayou Boneyard was well-written with developed characters. I always enjoy visiting Pelican, Louisiana. There is nothing better than to be there at Halloween. I enjoyed the spooky happening and learning about the Rougarou. I just loved that this was a double mystery. There are spooky sightings, a pesky police detective, a chatty parrot, and various suspects. This was a fun mystery to solve. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard had plenty going on in it which made the story zip by so quickly. There were some quirky characters including bird who lands Maggie in hot water. Maggie and Gran are both engaged. They are going to have a double wedding. Gran has taken over the wedding planning for the extravaganza. She is particularly enjoying the cake tastings. I just loved the screaming doorbell at the Crozat Bed and Breakfast (I want one for my house). Murder in the Bayou Boneyard can be read as a standalone. I recommend reading this entertaining series in order. It will allow you to know the characters, their relationships, and the town. The ending was delightful. There is a bounty of food in this story (had my stomach growling). There are recipes at the end for some of the items featured in the book including Ninette’s Holy Trinity Chicken and Cajun Pecan Cookie Fingers. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is an entertaining cozy mystery with a creepy cemetery, a wrathful Rougarou, a determined detective, a prolix parrot, multiple murders, a bold bridezilla, and problematic property line polemic.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anytime I read one of the books in this series, I feel like I am visiting my family that lives in Cajun country. The vernacular is spot on and the food, well, let's just say it is all delicious and I'm glad that the author provides recipes at the end of the book.

I enjoyed spending time with Maggie and her fiance' Bo, and the rest of the Crorzat family. The whole family is a bit wacky but I love have they have each other's back no matter what the situation. Actually, the whole town seems to support one another, at least most of the time. However, this time there is a new family relation in the picture and she is not what she seems. Her whole family is a bit off and that does not win them any friends.

I enjoyed learning some interesting tidbits about the superstitions that many believe in the south and how they especially love Halloween. I don't think I had ever heard of a rougarou before this book so now I'm going to have to ask my Cajun family about that mythical creature.

The mystery is engaging and I have to admit, I wasn't sure who the killer was or why. As I read further into the book and near the end, I had my suspicions, but I didn't really know they why. It was interesting to uncover the truth in the situation. I'm going to be cryptic because the why is rather intricate and I don't want to spoil anything for you.

There is a somewhat sad scene near the end that touched my heart and hopefully will touch yours. Another one that I won't share details because you'll need to read the book to find out!

I'm not sure what the next book will hold but I'm hoping it is Gran and Maggie's double wedding!  We get a taste of Gran's planning and her affinity for cake testing.  I can't blame here, one of my favorite parts of planning a wedding. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!

We give this book 5 paws up and if you have never read this series, start with the first book in the series, Plantation Shudders.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie always seems to find a body or be around when someone is murdered. In the new Halloween themed addition to the "A Cajun Country Mystery" series, Murder In The Bayou Boneyard, Maggie and crew are at it again.

Even with her wedding on the horizon, and her grandmother going all out and really needs Maggie to keep her from going to far overboard, Maggie finds a way to get involved in another murder investigation. To make matters worse, she also has her squatter cousins to get rid of. The cast of characters in this series are well known to anyone who enjoys cozies that make you laugh, cry and long for good cajun food. The added twist this time is trying to convince Maggie that Halloween is a holiday she can enjoy, even with bodies dropping like flies. This holiday won't go off without a hitch, or two, or three…

The suspect pool is limited to the local townsfolk and a few new additions. The victim(s) aren't all innocent in one way or another, but no matter what type of person they were, Maggie must find the killer. Her search isn't easy as the Halloween holiday has everyone running around in rougarou costumes and playing what appears to be silly pranks. Maggie solves the murders while putting herself in danger and almost upsetting her and her grandmother's wedding plans. Readers may be surprised by the unveiling of the killer. The recipes are delectable.

Murder In The Bayou Boneyard is a fun engrossing read that will keep readers happy. The descriptions of locations and food make you want to visit Cajun country to enjoy all it has to offer; food, music, history, and folklore, everything needed for a wonderful adventure. I wouldn't mind spending a holiday or two with the Crozat's, especially Halloween. I was thrilled with this latest addition to the series and look forward to the next installment.