I love this 3rd book in the series! The vintage cookbooks are a sweet draw to the museum gift shop and to my heart as well. Ellen Byron writes such a fun, quick paced story in the fabulous New Orleans, where fun, mischief, good food and murder happen.

A blast from Ricki’s past threatens the Bon Vee House Halloween celebration.

FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT is the third book in author Ellen Byron’s fun and cozy Crescent City-set VINTAGE COOKBOOK MYSTERY series, and the evocative atmosphere of the Garden District manor house-turned-museum is the perfect setting for this Halloween-themed tale of murder. An old acquaintance from Ricki’s past disturbs her healing equilibrium and may threaten the peaceful existence of the Bon Vee in the Garden District.

Miracle Fleur de Lis James-Diaz, or Ricki as she is known to all, is the main character and amateur sleuth of the series. Surprisingly, she’s given a subtle nod of approval to snoop by the lead detective investigating the murder of the latest victim discovered on the grounds of the historical Bon Vee House, the obnoxious personal assistant of their new neighbor. Ricki marshals her resources to dig into the background, current activities, and future plans of the deceased for clues to her murder with the intention of clearing the names of the museum staff.

The plot delves into Ricki’s past and her history with her deceased estranged husband, Chris, when the new owner of the home next to Bon Vee proves to be none other than Blaine Taggart, Chris’s former best friend who contributed somewhat to his accidental death. There was trouble brewing between the staff at Bon Vee and Blaine’s due to a constant barrage of unfounded complaints lodged against the museum by Blaine’s assistant. The story builds bit by bit, developing the tense enmity between the neighboring properties and setting a sinister stage until it is almost a relief when the murder occurs.

The author’s storytelling is engaging and compelling: the story flew by! I liked the glimpses of Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, the grande dame and owner of Bon Vee, thawing in her attitude and manner toward her newly revealed cousin, Ricki, and I literally laughed out loud over the many clever quips and fun banter throughout the book, especially when it involved Cookie or Theo. I enjoyed the interesting historical tidbits that were worked into the story, including the collectible cookbooks and details of the vintage kitchen items. There is also a welcome menagerie of pets to love. With a variety of possible suspects, motives, and subsequent plot twists, I was absorbed in the story and highly entertained from start to finish.

I recommend FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT to cozy mystery enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy stories set in New Orleans and fans of the previous books in the series.

I enjoy this series because it brings back memories of Louisiana and my family. While they didn't live in New Orleans, they did live in the southern part, and I could imagine the accents and people very easily. This cozy has a diverse set of characters, some crazy moments, and inspiration, too.

Several aspects of the book kept me entertained. Ricki is searching for her family, and with the advances in DNA testing, you can find more family than you might have ever wanted. There is the neighbor who is complaining about everything. We all have one of those on our street. However, when she ends up dead, it is up to the crew at Bon Vee to uncover the truth. Each character has their strengths in helping uncover clues to put the pieces together. Luckily, the local detective doesn't mind them sleuthing on their own as long as they share any information with her. Now, this detective is smart to include them instead of them going off on their own and causing more problems.

I almost thought there would be a love triangle for Ricki, but luckily, the actor, Blaine, really wants something else. I won't spoil what he wants; you will have to read the book to find out. It was interesting how often Blaine inserted himself into Ricki's life. He has a motive, but is it a good one?

There is a new addition to the family, a kitten they call Red while searching for her owners. By the end of the book, the kitten has a new name: Red Beans. It is such a cute name and very appropriate for Louisiana.

The mystery is well crafted, and I did not suspect the killer until near the end. Even then, I wasn't sure. There were too many red herrings pointing me in different directions.

I really enjoy this series, and I can't wait to see what happens next for Ricki, her search for her family, and the cookbook store within Bon Vee.

We give this book 5 paws up.

This is an absolutely delightful Halloween themed cozy that provides readers with a vicarious chance to enjoy the spooky holiday fun in New Orleans and also to find out more about Ricki's life before she opened her vintage cookbook shop in the historic Bon Vee museum. I can't decide if this was my favorite book in the series so far -- all three have been great reads! The setting and characters are fantastic and so is the mystery.

this unpredictable story is filled with quirky and complex characters, lots of twists and turns, murder and mayhem. A real page turner and a must read!

Halloween in New Orleans (or anywhere, really) is a favorite of mine so this book had me in a festive mood. The mystery was well-paced and incorporated so much of the Halloween vibe that it made it even more thrilling. I loved investigating with Ricki and her friends and had no idea who the guilty party was until the reveal. The best part in this series, for me, is the ongoing search for Ricki’s family and it gets a lot of attention in this one. Can’t wait to see what else is revealed.

French Quarter Fright Night is the 3rd book in the Vintage Cookbook series but my first to read in the series. I was able to follow the story well even without reading the first two. I usually do read a few random Halloween cozies from different series during September and October. I definitely got what I was looking for in this book. The characters are very well written, the story moves along at a great pace and the mystery was a fun one to solve. I love the New Orleans setting. You can almost hear the busy streets while reading.

Ricki has moved back home to New Orleans. She's attempting to locate her birth parents, as a business and is also a mystery solver.. For Halloween, Bon Vee is hosting a haunted house. Someone isn't happy with it and complains. Unfortunately, later she is found dead in a crypt. This along with her deceased husband's best friend living next door makes for a busy Halloween season.

This is the third book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series; however, I had no problem jumping in and reading this as a standalone novel. This book has everything I love about a cute cozy mystery - a great location, an interesting bunch of characters, and a plot that isn't obvious from page one.

This story is set in fabulous New Orleans, and as a NOLA lover, all the references about the city hit all the right boxes for me. I loved the friendship and camaraderie between the characters, and I even enjoyed some of Bon Vee's new neighbors. I love Halloween and would love to celebrate it in New Orleans - who knew there is a Halloween parade?

I thought that the mystery was well planned and had a good, believable resolution at the end. I really enjoyed this book.

I’ve been waiting a year and a half for the latest book in the Vintage Cookbook mystery series, and French Quarter Fright Night was totally worth the wait! Ellen Byron knows how to write a cozy mystery that’s not only puzzling but also completely fun!

It’s the Halloween season, and Ricki James-Diaz along with the rest of the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum staff are planning to turn the museum into a haunted house. And, wouldn’t you know it? A dead body turns up in the spooky tomb they’ve set up for the haunted house! Of course, the staff are all suspects…again!

Truthfully, I loved everything about French Quarter Fright Night! Fall is the perfect time of year to read Halloween cozy mysteries, and the New Orleans setting, where there’s a lot of spooky stuff all year, makes it even more of a fall must-read! Byron brings the haunted house to life with her descriptive writing. I love the Miss Havisham theme that Eugenia suggests. That’s probably my favorite thing about Great Expectations, and it is perfect for a haunted house.

Of course, Ricki’s shop where she sells vintage cookbooks and vintage kitchen themed items is all decked out for the season too, and she’s getting lots of business! One reason behind that extra business has to do with Bon Vee’s newest neighbor…movie star Blaine Taggart. Everyone is hoping to get a glimpse of him…everyone but Ricki. You’ll find out why when you read the book!

I simply love the characters, and Byron excels at writing characters that leap off of the page! There are twins who are in their mid-sixties that cracked me up with their matching costumes especially given the fact that they’re different genders! I really enjoyed getting to reconnect with all of the characters from the previous books, but if you haven’t read the first two, you’ll still be completely entertained by them. Furthermore, you’ll enjoy trying to solve the murder along with the characters! There are plenty of red herrings to throw you off track, but if you follow the clues carefully, you’ll figure it out!

I highly recommend French Quarter Fright Night! The Halloween in New Orleans setting, haunted house, entertaining characters, witty dialog, and not so easy to solve mystery make this a must read cozy mystery book!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

So glad this series is getting new life! This was wonderfully atmospheric with New Orleans at Halloween time, and the theme was incorporated in a very authentic way. The story continued Ricki's journey to learn more about her birth family with interesting new connections.

Reading Ellen Byron's cozy mysteries always made me wish to travel to Louisiana.
This fast paced and solid mystery kept me reading and guessing
Due to health issues cannot write a proper review now, a proper review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

French Quarter Fright Night is book #3 in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by Ellen Byron.

I’m drawn to New Orleans based stories and I enjoyed Ellen Byron’s other books, so I expected to enjoy this and I wasn’t disappointed! I love the descriptions in the books. I feel like I’m there seeing it. While I’m sure there is detail in the earlier books that would be helpful, I had no trouble reading this as a standalone. I do plan to catch up on the earlier books. Interesting characters, great location, intriguing mystery full of twists that kept me guessing made this an entertaining read. I recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Ricki James-Diaz has returned to New Orleans after living in Los Angeles for several years and enjoys the friendships she has made as well as running her vintage cookbook and kitchenware shop inside a historic home and museum. The Bon Vee Culinary House Museum is going all out to create a haunted house for the Halloween season. Ricki is excited until a friend of her deceased husband arrives from Hollywood to live in the mansion next door. When Blaine's assistant is killed, Ricki and her friends have to prove none of them are guilty of the crime.

The New Orleans setting and the theme of vintage cookbooks make this a unique series. It's fun with a lot of quirky characters that work well with the setting. I like that Ricki has the support of her friends in this investigation and that the detective on the case is starting to trust Ricki's observations. I thought Ricki seemed immature in the first two books of the series, but she has grown some since then and I liked her a lot more in this book.

The complicated investigation is resolved by the end of the book but Ricki's search for her birth family, as well as her potential romance with her neighbor, a handsome celebrity chef, have developments that I'm looking forward to seeing in the next book. The author includes recipes from vintage cookbooks at the end of the book.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Severn House at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Halloween opened the doors to the ghosts of Ricki’s past, and they brought murder and mayhem with them. I love Ricki. I adore the quirky, zany, unique cast of characters that surround her. But I think what I love best about this series is the way the author keeps me guessing with every page I turn. I was never able to out-think the mystery. And every time I thought I had a good theory about what was going on, the tables would turn, and my “good theory” would go up in a puff of smoke. The solution made perfect sense, but still blindsided me. Now that Ricki has a couple more answers about her life, I can’t wait to see where the author will take her next.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

So excited to visit Ricki and the gang again, especiallythe peacocks, Gumbo and Jambalaya. Ellen Byron brings New Orleans to life for the reader in this Halloween themed book. With characters you will love and love-to-hate, this fun and twisty whodunit will keep you guessing. While trying to solve the murder, Ricki continues her personal quest to find her birth parents. The Vintage Cookbook series is one of my favorites. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ricki and everyone at Bon Vee is preparing for Halloween. It is a highly popular holiday in New Orleans according to the book. Ricki’s past comes knocking in the form of her deceased husband’s best Hollywood movie star friend, Blaine.
Blaine’s assistant Miranda winds up dead on Bon Vee property. Ricki and Bon Vee employees are again suspects in a death, but so are the residents of the house next door that holds Blaine and his entourage.
There are haunted houses, Halloween bar challenges, a kitten, a used car salesman and plenty of events to keep the days and nights hopping.
There is a bit more about Ricki’s ancestry, which mostly comes at the end once the main mystery is solved.
I enjoyed following Ricki on yet another adventure through New Orleans and its people with a dose of Hollywood for good measure.
Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read an early copy of the book.

I love Halloween and New Orleans so I just had to read this book. I have not read the others in the series, but I was able to catch on pretty quickly.

Ricki James-Diaz manages the vintage cookbook shop in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum located in the Garden District. Ricki and the other employees of the museum come up with the idea of hosting a haunted house at the museum since New Orleans is always ready for a party! A new neighbor moves in next door and is making life difficult for Ricki and the Bon Vee. Once again, Ricki and her crew find themselves trying to solve another murder. Ricki also has to confront a person from her past that was involved in her husband's death.

New Orleans is a perfect location for a Halloween mystery.! The secondary characters of this book are quirky and delightful. If you are looking for a great Halloween themed read, this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ellen Byron for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for French Quarter Fright Night coming out September 3, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by this author and I love her Louisiana stories. I love that this book is set in the French Quarter. I’ve never been there, but it’s on my list to go. There’s just so much history there. I love cozy mysteries so much. I love that this book has food involved. It was a super fun book. I am obsessed with books about Halloween. It had the perfect spooky vibes. It’s perfect for spooky season. Ricki is a strong and smart character. I would definitely read more books in the series!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Southern cozy mysteries!

I was so happy when this series got a new publishing home since I was definitely not done being caught up in NOLA with these amazing characters. I hope there’s more to come since there’s one continuing mystery that got solved, but I can see tons more stories for these folks.

This book was especially cool taking place during October leading up to Halloween in NOLA. It was a great armchair vacation as well as a twisty, fun mystery. I hadn’t seen the whodunit coming until it was there, and the showdown was short but effective. I love how Ricki had taken intern Olivia under her wing like a younger sister, but I was never sure Liv appreciated it until toward the end. A cute side story about a kitten had a good ending and while I’ve only known this author to use an epilogue when she’s ending a series, I really, really hope this one isn’t ending! It nicely wrapped up the three books, but I guess it’s just hard to let go of characters we’ve come to like so much as readers. Hoping for more but pretty happy with the ending if this was it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I just love this Cozy-Mystery Series! This installment is set at Halloween and if you are looking for a holiday themed book, this is a great choice. The series is about Ricki's ongoing search for her birth family, her business located at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum and getting her life back together. This time Ricki must come to terms with the man who watched her husband die while filming his last crazy stunt. No warm fuzzies or letting bygones be bygones. Ricki is in no mood to forgive and forget, but she will help him find the murderer of his personal assistant, but that is only to prevent the police from pinning the murder on her or her friends at Bon Vee.

In the city that needs no excuse to celebrate, New Orleans goes all out for Halloween. The staff at Bon Vee Culinary House Museum have decided to host a Haunted House Tour, Bon Veeevil, and are excited about the special tours. It will be fun to annoy the new next-door neighbor who has done nothing but harass then since they moved in. Having had enough, Ricki confronts the personal assistant of the new owner and demands the complaints stop. Little did Ricki James-Diaz know that this just might become a motive for murder.

On a dark and stormy night, the nasty assistant meets her end in the Bon-Vee prop tomb. But the most shocking thing is that the new owner next door turns out to be Hollywood heartthrob, Blaine Taggert, who was the best friend of Nicki's husband and the person who filmed his last fatal stunt.

Because Niki and friends have been helpful in the past, the NOPD detective in charge gives her unofficial permission for Ricki to snoop around. But Ricki would prefer to stay as far away from Blaine as possible, but that isn't going to be easy when he turns up everywhere she goes. No shortage of suspect here, including Blaine, so Ricki has her work cut out for her.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.