A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras- Blog Tour

 

Author: Ellen Byron

Publisher: Joffee Books 

Publishing Date: 4th August 2026 

Many thanks to ZooLoos BT and the publishing team for my copy of the book and a spot on the tour 

Blurb 

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

My Thoughts 

First of all, that cover immediately caught my attention, and the blurb had me even more intrigued. This really has all the ingredients I look for in a cosy mystery: a colourful setting, an intriguing murder, plenty of memorable characters and just enough drama to keep things interesting.

Ricki James-Diaz has returned to New Orleans after years in Los Angeles and is ready to experience Carnival season properly as an adult. She is looking forward to celebrating with her friends from Bon Vee, particularly as her boyfriend, Virgil, is about to be crowned King of the Krewe of Chew. Unfortunately, there is already a little tension surrounding the occasion because the woman being crowned Queen is Virgil's former girlfriend, leaving Ricki understandably less than thrilled about the situation.

But any relationship drama quickly becomes insignificant when the celebrations take a shocking turn. Just as Virgil is preparing for his big moment, the captain of the Krewe of Chew is discovered murdered on the float. What should have been a night of celebration suddenly becomes a murder investigation, and Ricki soon finds herself involved when a friend asks her to look into what happened.

One of my favourite parts was getting to see Mardi Gras from a completely different perspective. The book goes beyond the colourful parades and celebrations and gives us a glimpse into the work, traditions, money and preparation that go into making these events happen. It really brought New Orleans to life and made the setting feel like such an important part of the story.

There is quite a lot packed into this book, and I did occasionally wonder whether every storyline was completely resolved by the end. That said, there was certainly never a dull moment, and I was always curious to see what would happen next.

If you're looking for a cosy mystery with an atmospheric setting, an entertaining cast of characters and plenty happening along the way, this is definitely one I'd recommend picking up.