88) Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron

The Blurb :

The Crozats feared that past murders at Crozat Plantation B&B might spell the death of their beloved estate, but they’ve managed to survive the scandal. Now there’s a très bigger story in Pelican, Louisiana: the upcoming nuptials between Maggie Crozat’s nemesis, Police Chief Rufus Durand, and her co-worker, Vanessa Fleer.

Maggie, inexplicably tasked with being Vanessa's Maid of Honor, quickly discovers why everyone else refused the assignment when the Bridezilla hands her a long list of duties — the most important of which is entertaining Vanessa’s cousin, Ginger Fleer-Starke, a mysterious woman with dangerous secrets. But just days before the wedding, Ginger’s lifeless body is found on the bayou behind Crozat Plantation and the Pelican PD, as well as the Crozats, have another murder mystery on their hands.

There’s a gumbo-potful of suspects, including an ex-Marine with PTSD, an annoying local newspaper reporter, and Vanessa’s own sparkplug of a mother. But when it looks like the investigation is zeroing in on Vanessa as the prime suspect, Maggie reluctantly adds keeping the bride-to-be out of jail to her list of Maid of Honor responsibilities.

My Thoughts :

I really enjoyed the series debut, Plantation Shudders, and had this book on my pre-order list as soon as it showed up on Amazon.  Unfortunately I got behind with my reading and didn't get to it straight away and then when I did start it I kept having to put it down as I couldn't concentrate or didn't have enough time.  I was enjoying it but with life throwing other things at me I just wasn't getting far.

Finally I finished this one and have to say that I really liked it.  It wasn't as good as the debut but it was still a great book.  The mystery kept me guessing and there are some wonderful characters involved in the series.  This time around it seems they got a little crazier than I remembered them to be but it all made for good reading so I don't care one bit.

Some of the plot was a little annoying in a way.  The whole wedding debacle was slowly getting on my nerves but I wasn't the only one.  Even Maggie had had enough and I felt it brought us a little closer.  Sometimes the Bo angle frustrated me but I think that was intended.  After all there is nothing like a romance problem to keep people reading.

All in all this series got off to a great start and is continuing to shine in this second installment.  I can't wait to read part three and hope that there are many more Cajun Country Mysteries to come.  I will definitely be picking them up and checking out what Maggie gets mixed up with next and how things progress with her guy and all the other wonderful characters in her life.

82) Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron

The Blurb :

It's the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family's plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival--elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other--one from very unnatural causes-- Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durand, the town's handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives?

My Thoughts :

I am sucker when it comes to cozy mysteries and I keep collecting more and more review copies because they look so good.  Sometimes this backfires on me but Plantation Shudders was one of the best debut in a new series I have read this year.

Plantation Shudders has everything a good cozy mystery needs.  A super location, quirky characters and a great mystery plot.  The location, the Crozat Plantation, opens up some very nice angles that make this book stand out.  The Louisiana history and culture are very high on that list but also the general feel of the location and for instance the food, makes this location not only stand out but makes the story even more enjoyable.

There are lots of interesting characters to be found in this first installment in the Cajun Country Mystery series and they all have their own little quirks and special personalities.  Maggie's family and the rest of the characters met in this book cover a lot of variety but the guests in the B & B offered and will continue to offer more diversity in the series.  There is never a dull moment due to the different kinds of characters that come together in this book.

A huge thumbs up to the mystery and plot.  The author kept me and Maggie guessing right to the end and there were some lovely twists and turns along the way.  A few red herrings had me coming to the wrong conclusions but when the big reveal came along it all made sense.  Sure it was a little over the top but aren't all good cozy mystery plots?

I am extremely happy I picked up this book and wish I had managed to read it before the release date. There is no doubt that I will be picking up the next book in the series and can't wait to go back to the Crozat planation for another visit.  It will be interesting to see what happens next with the regular characters and also what the kind of trouble the next lot of guests will bring with them.  Plantation Shudders was a wonderful and enjoyable read.  Well worth checking out!

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