I had such a fun time reading Body on the Bayou. Somehow, Maggie Crozat has found herself the maid of honor to a true crazy Cajun bridezilla, Vanessa. As her to do list from Vanessa grows, Maggie tries to juggle the unrealistic demands while working at two plantations, finding time to focus on her art career, and sneaking in time for her budding yet clandestine romance with police detective, Bo. As members of Vanessa’s family stream into town for the wedding and associated parties, Maggie and her family are strong-armed into hosting Ginger – one of Vanessa’s cousin – and her two business associated at their bed and breakfast. Vanessa warns Maggie to be cautious of Ginger but, at first, Maggie can’t see why. Soon enough, however, Ginger’s true colors shine through.

With the wedding getting nearer and nearer, Maggie is horrified to stumble over the body of Ginger in the bayou. On top of yet another murder at the Crozat B & B, the family finds themselves hosting two new moms – a lost dog and cat – as well as their litters, not to mention the reappearance of Bo’s ex-wife Whitney, who confides in Maggie that her feeling for her ex aren’t entirely in the past. Vanessa ads another task to Maggie’s list: figure out who killed Ginger. The trouble is that all evidence seems to be pointing towards Vanessa.

A fast pace and feisty characters drive this story and keep readers turning the pages. The characters are dynamic and engaging, fresh among the canvas of characters in the cozy mystery genre. Body in the Bayou features a cleverly intricate plot and a villain I never suspected or saw coming. For as much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, I liked this one even more, and I’m quite eager for the next installment!

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

About the Author
Ellen Byron is a native New Yorker who loves the rain, lives in bone-dry Los Angeles, and spends lots of time writing about Louisiana. She attributes this obsession to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University. Her debut novel, Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery, launches on August 11^th.  Her TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and many network pilots.  She’s written over 200 magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning, Graceland.  She is also the recipient of a William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant. She’s the proud mom of a fifteen year-old daughter and two very spoiled rescue dogs.

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