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Plantation Shutters
by Ellen Byron
Plantation Shudders:
A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Louisiana
New Series
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (August 11, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1629532509
E-Book ASIN: B011IZPRR6
Synopsis:
Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders
It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival–elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes– Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.
With the help of Bo Durant, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Look at that cover, that house is gorgeous. I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. I can totally understand the need to turn it into a Bed & Breakfast. The costs to upkeep such a beautiful home must be astronomical. Of course when you invite people you don’t know into your home you are never sure who is going to show up. This end of the summer group are quite a unique bunch. Frat boys, lovebirds, a family with kids, a Texan, and then the elderly honeymooners that check out permanently before their stay barely begins. The cards are stacked against the Crozats, the people died in their B&B and Sheriff Ru Durand would love to see them lose their family home. He is a man carrying a huge chip on his shoulder. Thankfully his cousin Bo has come to town and he is a detective with an open mind and someone Maggie would like to get to know better after this murder mess is cleaned up.
The story was full of Southern charm and mouth watering Cajun cooking. Don’t worry, recipes are in the back of the book. I have never been to Louisiana but Byron’s words sure transported me there. I could almost feel the humidity and the few breezes that came through. I could definitely smell the food!
The author has created really wonderful characters. Characters that I wanted to get to know better immediately. They are a pretty diverse group. Some of them I truly liked and others not so much, but they all had key roles to play and they played them very well. What I really like is that they have room to grow.
The whodunit had me scratching my head several times, everyone seemed to have a secret. The twists kept turning in directions I didn’t want them to go. Thankfully Maggie doesn’t give up as she knows the sheriff isn’t doing much detecting. Bo Durant was such a breath of fresh air. He was professional and tried to move the case along. He knew the Crozats were losing money and their business was in jeopardy.
I enjoyed the romantic tension flying between Maggie and Bo. You just know that the feud between the families is going to make a relationship between pretty difficult. I can’t wait to read how it plays out. I shudder to think what could happen next.
This is a great debut for this series!
About The Author –
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 11th. 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.
Webpage – Blog – Twitter – Facebook – GoodReads – Amazon
Be sure to visit the other stops on this tour!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 1 – A Blue Million Books – Interview
October 1 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Spotlight
October 2 – readalot – Review
October 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
October 3 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – Spotlight
October 3 – Book Babble – Review
October 4 – A Fold in the spine – Review
October 6 – Back Porchervations – Review, Interview
October 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
October 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
October 9 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post
October 10 – Jane Reads – Review, Guest Post
October 11 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review
October 12 – Frankie Bow – Interview
October 12 – WV Stitcher – Review
October 13 – Girl with Book Lungs – Review
October 14 – MysteriesEtc – Review
October 14 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – Spotlight
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thank you for the giveaway! I’ve been eyeing this book since it was first listed in the Mystery Guild. It sounds great!
Great interview! I’ve always wanted to see Louisiana. It’s mysterious all on its own but then you add a murder. I love the cover. It draws you in.
This book sounds like a great murder mystery! Thank you for the review and giveaway.
Would love this! Thanks for the chance.
I love Louisiana! I’m looking forward to reading Plantation Shutters. Thank you for the chance to win a copy!!
This book is on my TBR list. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
What a great setting. We toured the Louisiana plantation homes last year. Can’t wait to read this.
Ann
What an intriguing cozy mystery! Love the cover too.
I love the cover and the setting. Sounds like a good book!
I am looking forward to this. A new author, new series is always so exciting. Thanks for this opportunity.
Sounds like a great read.
I know. I could TOTALLY live in that house! :O)
This sounds like a good read.
Thanks so much! Really excited to be part of this tour.
I’ve always wanted to visit a plantation and this looks like the next best thing. Thanks for the review. robeader53@yahoo.com
This sounds like an interesting cozy. Thanks for the opportunity.
Oh, I would so love to win this!! Have had it on my ‘wish list’ since seeing it the first time. Congrats, Ellen, on the release of this terrific book!
I agree–that house on the cover is wonderful!!!
The person that chose the cover art should be rewarded. I know I wanted to read it as soon as I saw it!