Wined and Died in New Orleans

I liked this book better than book 1! Byron did a great job setting up book 1, so that the found family aspect in this one feels natural and fun. Ricki is capable and important to Bon Vee because we read what she did in book 1. Her passion for her pups is again natural and fun because we saw how she got there in book 1. There is so much from book 1 that pays off in this one. I love the family developments with the Charbonnets. There were several mysteries to solve throughout the book. I liked the way those mysteries were solved and propel us through the story. This book will make you fall in love with the series!

I thoroughly enjoyed Ellen Byron's Cajun Country Mystery series, and her Vintage Cookbook Mystery series is just as delightful. Wined and Died in New Orleans, second in the series, is a treat.

Ricki James-Diaz is settling into New Orleans. She's working to build up business for her vintage cookbook shop on the grounds of the Bon Vee Culinary House and Museum, and she's trying not to worry about potential bad weather in the form of a hurricane.

When a trove of valuable vintage wine is found on the property, Ricki thinks a post on social media about the find might attract some interest. Little did she know it would go viral, and Charbonnet cousins would start coming out of the woodwork, aiming for a cut of the proceeds. But a cousin ends up dead, and Eugenia ends up as the prime suspect. Can Ricki point the police in a different direction so they can find the real killer?

This book is full of so many good things! Characters I love (and love to hate), vintage cookbooks, recipes, and most of all, a darn good mystery. Byron expertly lays down a variety of trails for us to chase suspects down, and the killer wasn't someone I suspected. The fact that the murder weapon was a meat mallet from Ricki's shop doesn't exactly narrow down the field, either! A hurricane looming out in the Gulf raises the tension level a hair or two as well.

Eugenia's granddaughter is a particularly engaging character. Ricki has Olivia thrust upon her to help in the shop, and at first, it looks like she'll be more hindrance than help. But her social media savvy soon has Miss Vee's drawing attention for all the right reasons, and once you get past the Gen Z attitude, Olivia is a lovely young lady. I hope we see more of her in future books!

And as a Louisiana girl myself, I can say the setting Byron creates is on point. Some books set in my home state make me cringe. This one makes me feel like I'm hanging out with people I already know.

Be sure to check out the recipes included in the book. I can't wait to try those out. I do love a cozy mystery with recipes.

Five stars, and I can't wait for the next in the series!