Crescent City Christmas Chaos (Vintage Cookbook Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Louisiana
Publisher : Severn House
Publication date : November 4, 2025
Hardcover
Print length : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 144831318X
ISBN-13 : 978-1448313181
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1448318726
ISBN-13 : 978-1448318728
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1448316854
ASIN : B0F83YCC7X
Audiobook ASIN B0FTT9LZ92
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?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Christmas is a busy time at The Bon Vee Culinary House Museum and Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware Shop. Ricki James-Diaz has filled the shop with some fabulous things for the holidays, but her boyfriend, Virgil, has delivered the best presents of all: Ricki’s parents, just in time for the holidays. The current “cooking world hottie” has a new project in the works and Luis James-Diaz has the expertise he needs. Josepha is excited to be home for the holidays. Ricki thinks now would be the perfect time to learn more about the mystery of her adoption. Her parents have been open to her research, but her mother has been keeping a secret. To keep her daughter safe and with her, Josepha had paid a blackmailer for years.
Now, the blackmailer has been murdered, and Luis, Josepha, Ricki, and even Virgil, find their names on the list of suspects. Local law enforcement is a little bogged down by a rash of robberies by someone dressed up as New Orleans’ Mr. Bongle, now called the Bongle Bandit, but Detective Nina Rodriguez tells Ricki to stay out of the case. Yeah, right, Ricki is totally on the case. A case that must be packaged up with a bow by Christmas.
Christmas in New Orleans. What could be better? It’s the perfect time to catch up with all our friends at Bon Vee. These unique and diverse characters continue to delight me in the best ways. I loved that Ricki’s parents were in town for the holidays and were featured characters in the story. Virgil did a really good thing in bringing them to town, even with all the chaos that ensued.
Ms. Byron had to plot this book out with such precision to allow the many subplots to flow so effortlessly with the main mystery. Holiday happenings at Bon Vee, the Krewe Court announcement, Virgil’s project, a spur-of-the-moment Bon Vee community cookbook, the Bongle Bandit, Ricki’s continued search for her birth parents, and just what is Theo Charbonnet being so secretive about? The twists and turns of daily life added to the twists and turns of the murder investigation, kept the pages turning at a brisk pace. Surprisingly, Nina is on board as Ricki, Zellah, Cookie, and Mordant try to pin down the killer as she tracks the Bandit. Following clues, some sneaky sleuthing, and a key piece of information set up an exciting showdown. But hold on, there is another mystery to solve, and it has an epic take-down.
I love the way Ms. Byron tells a story. She always includes traditions unique to the setting, in this case, New Orleans, so there are infinite details, large and small, to choose from. She also includes interesting tidbits that really add to the story. I have seen a few recipes on headstones, so they are not unique to NOLA, but I enjoyed the small part one played in this story, and how it inspired a cookbook. There are several Southern recipes in the back of the book to inspire home chefs, too.
Crescent City Christmas Chaos is a marvelous addition to this series. A Christmas theme, engaging and heartwarming characters, an entertaining, tightly woven plot, all set in a wonderful place. This being the fourth book in the series, there are continuing subplots from previous books. While it can be read on its own, I recommend reading the series from the beginning to meet these fantastic characters from the start.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
Ellen is a USA Today bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, and Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico). Her new series, The Golden Motel Mysteries, recently debuted. 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. Visit her at Cozy Mysteries | Ellen Byron | Author
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Find all of Ellen Byron’s Books HERE and Written as Maria DiRico HERE.
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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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