Agatha Award-winner Ellen Byron launches a new cozy mystery series set in New Orleans with Bayou Book Thief. I love her setting, but thank heavens her latest book includes a list of characters because there are so many quirky characters involved in this one that it’s hard to keep them all straight.
Ricki James is a twenty-eight-year-old widow who fled Los Angeles after two high-profile events that put her in the spotlight. Her husband’s death was all over social media because he was attempting a stunt when he died. And, she lost her job as curator of a collection of first editions when her billionaire boss was arrested for a Ponzi scheme. Now, she hopes to find obscurity and a fresh start in the city of her birth.
Ricki makes a proposal to open a gift shop at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum. Her gift shop would be “Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop”, named after Genevieve “Vee”Charbonnet, the late owner of the house in the French Quarter, and a legendary restauranteur. It takes Ricki a little time to feel accepted by the odd staff, partially because she lacks confidence after her eventful past in LA. Then, Ricki catches one of the tour guides stealing cookbooks, and he’s let go. She feels as if she’s responsible, but she feels even worse when she opens a trunk and finds his body inside.
Ricki’s an absolute disaster when it comes to dealing with Detective Nina Rodriguez. She’s such a nervous wreck that the police officer suggests Ricki needs meds. Then, she’s a little too pushy, calling Rodriguez every time she has an idea or suspects someone of killing the tour guide. She’s so pushy that she realizes she really needs to investigate.
To be honest, Ricki’s past has made her a mess. She’s lonely in New Orleans, insecure, and, at times, too immature for a twenty-eight-year-old widow. She still feels guilty about her husband’s death because she just tuned him out when it came to his social media stunts. Now, she feels guilty about the guide’s death. Her neighbor, a bartender, describes Ricki as “Attractive, but a little insecure in a charming way.” He also says she has “A sexy librarian vibe, with a side of California hippie chick.” Despite her insecurity, Ricki is a welcome addition to the amateur sleuth field.
Byron’s love of New Orleans comes through, and it’s part of the pleasure of this story. Of course, it takes time to introduce a whole new cast of characters to the cozy mystery field. Bayou Book Thief launches Ellen Byron’s Vintage Cookbook Mystery series. It’s going to be fun to stick with Ricki and her new friends.
Ellen Byron’s website is http://www.ellenbyron.com
Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron. Berkley, 2022. ISBN 9780593437612 (paperback), 304p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley to review for a journal.
