Vintage Cookbook Mystery: Book 5
Publication Date: August 4, 2026
It’s cozy. It’s culinary. It’s Mardi Gras madness! It’s the fifth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today-bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.
Step 1: join a killer krewe
It’s carnival season in New Orleans, and Ricki James-Diaz and her friends from Bon Vee are dressing up for Mardi Gras. They’ve joined the notorious krewe of Chew to support Ricki’s chef boyfriend, Virgil, who is to be crowned this year’s king. It’s all fun, throws, and over-the-top outfits until the krewe’s captain is found strangled with his own medallion.
Step 2: survive the festivities
The prime suspect is Ricki’s friend, the deceased’s wife who discovered he was cheating on her. It seems a straightforward case, but Ricki isn’t so sure. The krewe’s leader had many enemies including his mistress, his krewe co-founder who he ousted, and his college friend whose girlfriend he stole. One thing’s clear, Ricki’s at the center of yet another murder investigation. And if she’s not careful, her first Mardi Gras could also be her last . . .
Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, these delightful mysteries bring New Orleans to life with fun characters and delicious recipes. This series is a must-read for culinary cozy lovers!
Ricki James-Diaz and her friends are all set for carnival season in New Orleans, joining the krewe of Chew, where Ricki’s chef boyfriend is pegged to be crowned this year’s king. Little do they know, the krewe’s captain has been strangled and the hunt is on for a killer in Ellen Byron’s A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras.
While this book can be read as a standalone, readers would benefit from reading the series from the start to get a more thorough feel of the characters and their distinct personalities.
The main protagonist, Ricki, has a biological family that she just discovered as well as her family who adopted her at birth. None of this is a secret, and it’s discussed throughout the book, so none of the plot has been compromised.
I liked the Mardi Gras vibe throughout the story. It’s clear the author immersed herself in Mardi Gras for research, so she understood the whole concept and could explain many of the details to readers.
I never knew that the beads and things being thrown to the crowd were called “throws”, or how expensive Mardi Gras can be for people who are involved in it. I knew almost nothing about Mardi Gras until I read this book. People take Mardi Gras very seriously in Louisiana.
This story was fast-paced, and there were no slow or awkward parts. I liked Ricki and her boyfriend Virgil. I also appreciated Ricki’s friends and supporting characters. They added to the story positively. They were funny, they kept the plot moving, and they were just as likable as the main characters.
A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras fills the pages with rich Louisiana history as well as facts about Mardi Gras and its roots. Mixed with an entertaining mystery, this book will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups.
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