cover image Fatal Cajun Festival: A Cajun Country Mystery

Fatal Cajun Festival: A Cajun Country Mystery

Ellen Byron. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-64385-129-7

Byron’s witty fifth Cajun Country mystery (after 2018’s Mardi Gras Murder) finds Maggie Crozet, whose family owns the Crozet Plantation Bed and Breakfast in Pelican, La., gearing up for Cajun Country Live!—a music and culture festival. The town is abuzz when Tammy Barker, a rising country music star and winner of the popular TV talent show Sing It, signs on to headline the event. Tammy rolls into Pelican with her ragtag entourage of musicians, assistants, minders, and groupies. Can trouble be far behind? Although professing to have matured, Tammy is finding it hard to overcome the mean girl skills she honed in high school. Her primary target is Gaynell Bourgeois, a local musician and friend of Maggie’s. When Tammy’s “handsy” manager is murdered and Gaynell is arrested for the crime, Maggie steps up to investigate. Byron supplies a few nasty characters readers can love to hate, along with a joyous dollop of Cajun lore. Cozy fans will enjoy returning to Pelican and dropping in on the Crozet clan. [em]Agent: Doug Grad, Doug Grad Literary. (Sept.) [/em]