Crescent City Christmas Chaos

by Ellen Byron

Overview

It's Christmas. It's cozy. It's culinary. It's chaos! It's the fourth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.

Have yourself a merry little . . . murder?

Ricki James-Diaz gets the best present ever when her parents arrive in New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it a chance to catch up, it’s also an opportunity to jog her mom Josepha’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. The details have always been shrouded in mystery. And Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years, simply for not wanting to lose her precious daughter.

But digging into the past soon lands the James-Diaz clan in water hotter than a big pot of gumbo! When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is found dead at her home, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Now Ricki has another murder to solve, and tracking down a killer in Crescent City is going to take a miracle.

Luckily, ‘tis the season! And Ricki has all the staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on hand to help. Can she prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781448316854
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	11/04/2025
Series:	Vintage Cookbook Mystery , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	883 KB

About the Author

Ellen Byron is an Anthony Award-nominated bestselling author and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, and Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico). She is also an award-winning playwright and the writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. Ellen was the 2023 Left Coast Crime Toastmaster 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.

Editorial Reviews

The characters feel like old friends. Everything about this story keeps the reader invested . . . you won’t be disappointed. This book will keep fans excited and looking forward to the next installment

thecozyreview.com on Wined and Died in New Orleans

Byron’s love of New Orleans, its people, its history, its culture, its food, shines in every page in this charming book. California transplant, the delightful Ricky heads a cast of exceptional supporting characters, all as quirky as the city in which they’re lucky enough to live. Bayou Book Thief is the start of what I am sure will soon become one of my favorite series and I can’t wait for my next visit

bestselling author of the Poppy McAllister mysteri Libby Klein

Byron, author of the award-winning 'Cajun Country' mysteries, combines setting, vintage cookbooks, recipes, and family drama in another delectable cozy

Library Journal on Wined and Died in New Orleans

A spooktacular Halloween romp

Tina Kashian

[A] fantastic whodunnit . . . will keep you guessing late into the night

J.C. Kenney

Fans of Byron's award-winning 'Cajun Country' mysteries will enjoy her return to New Orleans with an engaging, fun cast of characters

Library Journal on Bayou Book Thief

Standard cozy fare served up Crescent City style

Kirkus Reviews on Bayou Book Thief

A cast of exceptional supporting characters, all as quirky as the city . . . Bayou Book Thief is the start of what I am sure will soon become one of my favorite series and I can’t wait for my next visit

National Bestselling author on Bayou Book Thief Vicki Delany

The Big Easy rolls across the pages of Ellen Byron's latest Vintage Cookbook mystery. French Quarter Fright Night is rich and full, and I couldn't put it down

Olivia Matthews

Plenty of suspects and plenty of fun

Kirkus Reviews on Wined and Died in New Orleans

2025-08-02
A parental visit, a catfight among holiday parade royalty, a string of thefts, and of course a murder add spice to Miracle “Ricki” Fleur de Lis James-Diaz’s New Orleans Christmas.

Tending to Miss Vee’s vintage shop inside the historic Bon Vee Culinary House Museum is a congenial gig, especially since Ricki, adopted as a child, learned she’s a cousin to Bon Vee’s blue-blooded owner, Eugenia Charbonnet Felice. She’s happy to have Eugenia’s granddaughter Olivia as a helper, and she’s thrilled when Olivia’s chosen to lead the Krewe of Gaia as its queen in the annual holiday parade. Life gets a little more complicated when Ricki’s adopted parents turn up to help her boyfriend, chef Virgil Morel, film a holiday cooking show. Ricki’s mom reveals a grudge against former co-worker Phyllis Gibbs, who terrorizes her neighbors in fancy Peony Place, and who’s universally hated by her colleagues at high-priced Crescent City Concierge Care. Phyllis is promptly murdered, leaving a slew of suspects. But Det. Nina Rodriguez is too busy tracking a robber dressed as Mr. Bongle (a knockoff version of NOLA’s legendary mascot, Mr. Bingle) to focus on finding Phyllis’ killer. So Ricki takes on that chore herself. The maids in Olivia’s krewe start bickering. Ricki’s dad gets into it with the director of Virgil’s film. Byron spins so many plot threads that getting them all squared away before Christmas proves to be quite a stretch.

Life in the Big Easy shouldn’t be this tough.

Kirkus Reviews