A MURDERER’S GUIDE TO MARDI GRAS (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries)by Ellen Byron
About A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras
A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Louisiana
Publisher : Severn House
Publication date : August 4, 2026
Print length : 240 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 1448320011
ISBN-13 : 978-1448320011
Digital
ASIN : B0H3TD242P
It’s cozy. It’s culinary. It’s Mardi Gras madness! It’s the fifth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today-bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.
Step 1: join a killer krewe
It’s carnival season in New Orleans, and Ricki James-Diaz and her friends from Bon Vee are dressing up for Mardi Gras. They’ve joined the notorious krewe of Chew to support Ricki’s chef boyfriend, Virgil, who is to be crowned this year’s king. It’s all fun, throws, and over-the-top outfits until the krewe’s captain is found strangled with his own medallion.
Step 2: survive the festivities
The prime suspect is Ricki’s friend, the deceased’s wife who discovered he was cheating on her. It seems a straightforward case, but Ricki isn’t so sure. The krewe’s leader had many enemies including his mistress, his krewe co-founder who he ousted, and his college friend whose girlfriend he stole. One thing’s clear, Ricki’s at the center of yet another murder investigation. And if she’s not careful, her first Mardi Gras could also be her last . . .
Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, these delightful mysteries bring New Orleans to life with fun characters and delicious recipes. This series is a must-read for culinary cozy lovers!
About Ellen Byron
Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.
Author Links
Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico
Goodreads: Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico
Purchase Links – Amazon–Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books –
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras! It’s written by Ellen Byron. This was such a fun cozy mystery with the perfect mix of mystery, quirky characters, and that lively Mardi Gras atmosphere. I loved how the vintage cookbook theme was worked into the story—it gave the mystery a unique little twist.
There were plenty of suspects and enough twists to keep me guessing. I loved all the different descriptions. I really liked the behind the scenes look at Mardi Gras. I’m originally from Cleveland it’s definitely not celebrated like it is in the south.
Ricki has returned to New Orleans after living in Los Angeles. This will be the first Mardi Gras as an adult. Her boyfriend Virgil has the honor of being one of the Kings for the Krewes. However there’s a murder that has the wife as the prime suspect. However there’s a killer that doesn’t want a deep investigation.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little history, food, colorful characters, and a good murder mystery at the center of it all, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. A fun and entertaining read!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Great Escapes for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Win a print copy of the book
Some deaths are designed.
S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estate series—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.
