Does anyone do community, family and friends any better than Ellen Byron does in her Cajun Country series? February and Valentine’s Day normally mean love and special dinners in Pelican, Louisiana, but a new restaurant in town leads to murder in Byron’s Cajun Kiss of Death.

The triple New Year’s Eve wedding, when Maggie Crozat marries police detective Bo Durand, and her two other couples marry, leads to a food-filled Cajun reception catered by JJ, the owner of Pelican’s most popular restaurant. But, that will be the last happy celebration for the local residents for a while. And, that’s one of JJ’s last happy moments.

Phillippe Chanson is opening Chanson’s Cajun Kitchen, part of his Chanson Restaurant Group. His team, including his ex-wife and his rumored girlfriend, as well as his biographer, are all staying at Crozet B&B. At times, Maggie can feel the tension in the air. But, when he “steals” one of her mother’s recipes, and JJ’s restaurant is closed by the health department, the local community is upset with the bad boy chef. It’s obvious that the chef is going to go out in a blaze of glory that will bring suspicion on Maggie’s friends, family, and the restaurant staff.

Byron adds extra mysterious touches to this latest story. Maggie is receiving flowers from an anonymous admirer, but they’re sending them to Doucet, the historical site where she works. She assumes they’re from her new husband, until Bo says otherwise. But, she’s too busy worrying about Doucet. It’s not only outsiders who bring problems to the community. One of Doucet’s board members embezzles funds from the site, money it needs for payroll and survival.

As always, Pelican comes together to save Doucet with an unbelievable gala. There are fun moments in the book, despite the murder investigation, and the suspicion in the community.

There’s so much that could be said about Cajun Kiss of Death, but so much is a spoiler. I want to praise Byron’s books, and her characters. There’s so much love in these books that it’s a joy to return to Pelican and Maggie’s life. Of course, the Cajun music and food (recipes included) add to the overall joyous atmosphere. And, I always appreciate it that Maggie doesn’t keep secrets from Bo. She may have plans to trap a killer, but she consults with the police and works with them, not against them.

Byron kicks off Cajun Kiss of Death with a wedding celebration, and she ends the book with another reunion of family. It’s a perfect conclusion to the satisfying mystery.

Ellen Byron’s website is https://www.ellenbyron.com/

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron. Crooked Lane Books, 2021. ISBN 9781643857381 (hardcover), 320p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .PDF to review for a journal.