Ricki James-Diaz loves running Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum in the Garden District of New Orleans.  A transplant from California, Ricki’s getting used to her quirky coworkers and the weather, but what Ricki didn’t plan on, was having one of her kitchenware appliances used as a murder weapon in the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, WINED AND DIED IN NEW ORLEANS.

The staff at Bon Vee Culinary House Museum are an eclectic bunch of people, including Eugenia Charbonnet , the President of the Bon Vee Foundation, Iris Randowski, an overzealous tour guide, and Olivia, the new Gen-Z summer intern.  Ricki has her hands full with running her shop and finding activities for Olivia to do when Mordant, the tour guide and handyman, uncovers crates of old Madeira wine under the house.  The wine is from around 1853 and is very valuable.  When word gets out on social media about the wine, long-lost Charbonnet family members start showing up for their cut of the new treasure.  Cousin Jean-Louis Charbonnet makes his intentions known and starts rubbing people the wrong way, especially Eugenia Charbonnet, who has the most to lose.  When Jean-Louis ends up in the bushes whacked by a meat-tenderizing mallet, all eyes are looking at the head of the Bon Vee Foundation as the suspect.  Ricki knows Eugenia didn’t do it, but Eugenia’s still hiding something.  Ricki has to work fast to find the truth.  There are plenty of shady suspects to investigate, including disgruntled staff members, a loan shark, a snarky assistant, a disgraced sommelier, and greedy relatives.  Ricki’s investigation will take her to the shores of Florida and back to the Big Easy in search of a killer.  Will she catch the real culprit?  Or will she end up in the bushes as well?

WINED AND DIED IN NEW ORLEANS is so much fun from the beginning to the end.  Set in New Orleans at a historic site in the Garden District, it has plenty of atmosphere and ambiance. The characters are an eclectic, colorful bunch who will entertain readers with their antics.  The mystery is nicely crafted, offering a plethora of likely suspects and selfish motives.  There is a lot to keep readers entertained, from car crashes, social media gaffes, cooking demonstrations, hurricanes, wine, and a hidden door.  The addition of Olivia, the Gen-Z technology whiz summer intern, who changes Ricki’s opinion of her, adds a nice humorous touch.  Ricki’s crush on Virgil also becomes complicated when he hires a new assistant, who definitely does not like Ricki.  Overall, this mystery is highly entertaining as it effectively balances mystery elements and relationship drama.  Ellen Byron is fast becoming a staple on my must-read cozy list.  Vintage recipes included!  

Book Summary