Murder in the Bayou Boneyard: A Cajun Country Mystery

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.

I love this series so very much! It’s funny and entertaining in a way that’s quintessentially southern, taking us deep into the heart of Cajun country and making us feel like we’re right there with the characters. The mystery is a compelling, twisty thing that kept me guessing for the entirety of the book. There are so many devious red herrings I couldn’t settle on a suspect until the big reveal showed us the true villain. (FYI, I was wrong on just about all counts.) I adore books and series with big, nosy, involved families. When they’re in a small-town setting with other equally nosy, quirky residents, I love them even more. I think that’s one of the things this series excels at: it’s cast of unique characters and how they all interact. Even the most passing of the supporting cast has depth and personality. They may resemble the stock images, but there’s always a flair that sets them apart. I never want to see this series come to an end, because I want to continue reading it for as long as possible. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

What a delightfully entertaining experience Ellen Bryon brings us in Murder in the Bayou Boneyard, the 6th book in her award-winning Cajun Country Mysteries! The fantastic characters will win your heart while haunting and homicide will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Realistic, well developed characters, a setting that will put River Road on your bucket list, and a sometimes eerie but always complex plot make Murder in the Bayou Boneyard the perfect complement to this must- read series. Offering the flavor of River Road, the warmth of a loving family, and an invasion of ghosts, ghoulies and Rougarou, Halloween at the Crozat’s B&B should seem perfect, if you like that sort of thing, but there is nothing about the holiday that Maggie likes. In spite of her aversion to the much-celebrated but too strange holiday, she applies her marketing skills to drawing much needed guests during the slow month of October with a haunted history theme. In her spare time, Maggie locates Tug's great-niece and encourages her to join the family's new spa as massage therapist. What could go wrong when family involved? While Gran is playing bridezilla and planning their double wedding, Maggie and the family are dealing with spooky things, theft, shifty businessman, and murder right in their pack yard, a crime for which they look appear to be the perfect suspects. I requested a copy of Murder in the Bayou Boneyard from Netgalley because I am totally in love with the series. All my friends will be hearing about it between now and it’s September release, but they expect that. I enjoy sharing books that excite me as all the books in this series do.