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Saturday, August 22, 2026
My Thoughts RHINO HORN UNDERGROUND by Deven Greene
Saturday, August 15, 2026
My Thoughts A MURDERER’S GUIDE TO MARDI GRAS (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries) by Ellen Byron
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
Sunday, August 9, 2026
My Thoughts Where There’s Smoke . . . (A Haunted Paint Store Mystery) by E.J. Copperman
Where There’s Smoke . . . (A Haunted Paint Store Mystery) by E.J. Copperman
Where There’s Smoke . . . (A Haunted Paint Store Mystery)
by E.J. Copperman
About Where There’s Smoke . . .
Where There’s Smoke . . . (A Haunted Paint Store Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Publisher : Severn House
Publication date : August 4, 2026
Setting – New Jersey
Print length : 256 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 1448320445
ISBN-13 : 978-1448320448
Digital
ASIN : B0H1RND6TL
Paint store owner Laura Meehan must prove her amateur sleuthing skills (again!) when her small town’s public library starts burning in this installment of the Haunted Paint Store cozy mystery series.
Don’t mess with a paint store owner’s safe haven!
Laura Meehan has her hands full with her paint store, but also with another case (that she will definitely leave to the police to solve)! The Sea Breeze Public Library is burning and it’s clear from the beginning that it must be arson.
Who would want to burn a library down and why? Was it a group of moms protesting what they see as inappropriate book content? Maybe it was someone who didn’t like a title they lent? Or is there something more alarming going on?
As a library volunteer, Laura simply has to find out, and together with her IT-savvy husband Roy and her ex-detective father’s ghost (real or imagined still yet to be determined), she stumbles upon a lot of obstacles on her quest to find the truth—and maybe even an arsonist who might strike again!
A light-hearted cozy mystery with a paranormal twist and Copperman’s signature wit, humor, and zaniness. Perfect for fans of Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries and Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, as well as funny and cozy mysteries by Janet Evanovich, Elle Cosimano, and Amanda Flower.
About E.J. Copperman
E.J. Copperman is a figment of someone’s imagination. Sometimes E.J. writes as Jeff Cohen. Where There’s Smoke is his 36th published mystery. But he says he doesn’t write mysteries; he writes comedies that have a mystery in them. It’s up to you to decide if that’s true.
MY THOUGHTS
Where There’s Smoke . . . (A Haunted Paint Store Mystery) is written by E.J. Copperman.
I’m always a sucker for a cozy mystery with a little paranormal twist, and this one definitely delivered. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be my last.
I really enjoyed the characters and the quirky world of the paint store. I really love quirky different characters. The ghostly happenings added some fun moments without taking away from the mystery itself.
The mystery kept me guessing and I liked trying to piece together what was really going on as the story unfolded. There were enough twists and little clues to keep me guessing, but it never felt overly rushed.
Overall, this was a light, entertaining read with a fun cast of characters, a little humor, and just the right amount of spooky. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with paranormal elements, I think this one is definitely worth picking up!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Great Escape Book Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 3 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
August 3 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
August 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 4 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
August 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
August 9 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 10 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 10 – Because I said so – adventures in parenting – REVIEW
August 10 – From the TBR Pile – REVIEW
August 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 11 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 12 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT