Book Review - Death on the Lanai (Golden Girls Cozy Mysteries) by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

My Review

The Golden Girls receive an invitation to a mysterious party, along with a beautiful butterfly brooch.  There is no indication which lady the invitation is directed to, so they travel together to a little island to attend the party together.  Blanche is delighted to find the host is her long ago beau from NYC named Declan;  he was an artist while she was a Rockette when they were both young.  She is happy to reconnect with him at the party, and surprised to see he has paintings of her at his home.  There is a power outage at his house and the next morning they wake up to find that Declan has died mysteriously.  The Golden Girls work together in this winding, spooky old house to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read Death on the Lanai because I read and loved the first mystery in this series.  I am an avid mystery fan and this is such a fun, fresh idea for a series.

The author does a remarkable job at the characters' voices.  I can't even imagine how many The Golden Girls episodes she must have watched to have the characters down so pat!   The zingy humor I remember from this series (one of my favorites!) is here, but there is also a well constructed mystery.

I love the mystery trope of a murder at a house party, with all the guests naturally becoming suspects.  Add in a remote island setting and a massive power outage!  It was interesting to see how Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia work together under these trying circumstances to sleuth and solve the mystery.

Death on the Lanai is a delightful read, and I recommend it - and the first book in the series (Murder By Cheesecake) - to other cozy mystery fans, and especially for readers who love The Golden Girls.

Book Review and Giveaway - A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries) by Ellen Byron

My Review

Ricki James-Diaz is looking forward to a fun Mardi Gras season, with great sales in her vintage cookbook shop and being part of a Mardi Gras krewe for the first time.  Then the krewe's captain ends up dead and his wife (a friend of Ricki) is a suspect.  Ricki ends up sleuthing, as she juggles work, friends, and her boyfriend Virgil (who is being crowned king).  Then things get really dangerous . . .

I wanted to read A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras because I absolutely love this series.  It's one of my favorites:  vintage cookbooks, New Orleans, and an appealing cast of characters.

This was a fun read!  I have enjoyed this entire series but I think this book is my favorite.  I really liked the Mardi Gras setting.  I've been to Mardi Gras and loved the "behind the scenes" glimpses we get in this book.

A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras is an exciting mystery story.  We have the current mystery along with growing danger for Ricki as she investigates the murder.

As always, I enjoyed Ricki's family, her friends, her boyfriend Virgil, and her pets (two dogs and a cat with the cute name Red Beans).

I love the vintage cookbook references and tidbits in this book (and the others in the series).  I collect (and sell!) vintage cookbooks and often find myself looking up a cookbook that I read about in this series.

I enthusiastically recommend A Murder's Guide to Mardi Gras to other cozy mystery fans.  You will love the New Orleans Mardi Gras setting and the well done mystery storyline with just the right amount of twists and turns!

Book Synopsis

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!

Author Bio

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. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico

Goodreads:  Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico

Purchase Links – Amazon –Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – 

Giveaway