In Pelican, Louisiana, Valentine’s Day has a way of warming the heart, despite the February chill. But the air at Crozat Plantation B&B turns decidedly frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. And when the arrogant Phillippe–in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant–perishes in a fiery boat crash, Maggie Crozat’s dear friend JJ lands in very cold water.
Did JJ, proprietor of Junie’s Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, murder Phillippe because he feared the competition? Might Maggie’s mother, Ninette, have bumped off the chef for stealing one of her cherished recipes? Or was the culprit a local seafood vendor, miffed because Phillippe was somehow able to sell oysters for a remarkably reasonable price, despite an oyster shortage?
Maggie had planned to devote her February to art lessons in New Orleans, a present from her sweetheart, Bo. But now she has to focus on helping her friend and her mother cross a murder charge off the menu. Meanwhile, Maggie receives a series of anonymous gifts that begin as charming but grow increasingly disturbing. Does Maggie have an admirer–or a stalker? And are these mysterious gifts somehow related to Phillippe’s murder?
Blood may be thicker than water, but this case is thicker than gumbo. And solving it will determine whether Maggie gets hearts and roses–or hearse and lilies–this Valentine’s Day.
Release Date: Aug 10, 2021
Series: Cajun Country
Book: 7
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Price: $13.99
Maggie Crozat and Bo Durand are newlyweds and are looking forward to spending their first Valentine’s Day together as a married couple. Things are busy at her family’s Louisiana Bed and Breakfast because of some high maintenance guests – celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson and his staff who are opening a new Cajun restaurant in town. Not everyone is thrilled with the way Phllippe conducts his professional or his personal business so when the arrogant chef perishes in a boat crash, there are plenty of people with motives. When law enforcement zeroes in on Maggie’s friend JJ, owner of a competing restaurant, Maggie puts romance aside to track down the real killer.
This is the seventh book in the Cajun Country Mystery series and from the author’s note, it looks like this will be the final installment for quite a while. The author is going out on a high note because I feel this book is one of the best in the series. The generous, hard-working Maggie is a unique and likable character and I have enjoyed reading about her romance and now marriage to Sheriff’s Department Detective Bo. They have chemistry as well as mutual respect for each other. There are a lot of different subplots going on in the book including Maggie taking art lessons from an artist she admires, helping out at various restaurants in town, working her regular job, organizing fundraisers, and dodging the attention of an increasingly creepy stalker. However, all of the elements help create a fast-paced and entertaining story. I was surprised by the outcome of the murder and thought the solution of the stalker was stretching things a little, but overall, really enjoyed this book. An author’s note gives interesting background about some of the elements of the story and the recipes at the back seem like they would be tasty.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been following this series. The story itself would work fine as a standalone for new readers. However, there is a very detailed epilogue at the end that gives a glimpse at the characters several years in the future, so new readers may want to read prior books before this one. I love the book and the series and am hopeful by the author’s comment in her note that while this is the end of the series for now, she won’t completely rule out a book or short story in the future. This is great news for fans of this well-written series.
~ Christine
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