Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery

Dumbest. Plot. Ever. Woman is poisoned at B&B. Most of the other guests have hidden agendas of one sort or another (of course). One man in particular has reason to hate the deceased. So although as far as we know the police don't know how or when the poison was administered, and there is no evidence at all linking him to the crime they decide he has no alibi and feel they are not only entitled, but obligated to arrest him for first degree murder. Reeaally. The nasty bully police chief (who hates the main character and all her family) uses the word 'jailable' in a sentence. She states there is no such word. So he immediately tells an officer to arrest her for "contempt" because she disrespected him. Her detective boyfriend has to talk fast to change the chief's mind - because evidently he figures this will fly as a legitimate offence. Puleease. I can only imagine how insulted someone who works for a police department in any small town in the state of Louisiana would be if reading this book!! Good grief!! I read three-fourths of it, and couldn't take it any more.

This was a 3/4 rating for me. I enjoyed the story and liked the Mom, Dad and Gran characters very much. However, I found Maggie, the main character really, really annoying. She was demeaning to those staying at her B&B, immediately referring to age, size and anything that didn't measure up to her personal standards. She was knee-jerk in her reactions, mouthy and not likeable at all. I usually choose not to write any negative comments because authors put so much into their work, and always feel that everyone should individually decide on their book choice. But I have removed the second book in this series from my Wish List.

3.5 stars. The 1/2 star is for the recipesI picked up this first book of a series, because I’m a sucker for mysteries set in Cajun country. This is an easy-read cozy with the requisite amateur sleuth(s), although a police detective is also investigating the murders. The rest of the small town cops are inept, to say the least, but the detective is the amateur sleuth’s “in” to the investigation.Set-in-Louisiana, cozy clichés: a plantation trying to survive as a B&B; a spunky young woman returns to her hometown and becomes a sleuth; whinging about humidity and heat; lower-IQ small town cops engaging in graft; delicious Louisiana cuisine; bayous & alligators, zydeco, gris-gris bags, and a Cajun grand-mere. Add white, college men in a KKK-founded fraternity, plus mention of the “War of Northern Aggression.”What I didn’t like: The all white cast of staff & guests; labeling a cross-dresser as “Norman Batesy,” and the description of a sweating, obese woman with three chins. The author needs to make up her mind about the shudders/chills, and if genuinely paranormal, use judiciously but consistently.

I love southern location type cozies, so I was really looking forward to trying out this new series. This is the 1st book in a Cajun themed series which I have to tell you, I'm so happy to have read! This beautifully depicted location, complete with an incredible and inviting family of the lead character, I really enjoyed my time spent on the Crozat B & B Plantation.The lead character returns home after a failed relationship to focus on her life and where its heading. Between working and helping with the family's B&B business, she really has her hands full. Little does she know, the new influx of guests and situations to come are going to make her already busy life even busier! Throw in some quirky characters, both loved & hated......the town of Pelican is in for a few surprises!The mystery itself was multi-dimensional and kept me guessing until the reveal. This story takes place in the late summertime, which was perfect reading given the high humidity and temps where I live & temp descriptions in the story! I loved the bits of "cajuness" throughout and could definitely picture everything clearly in my mind!! **Thank you to the author.....I am very much looking forward to the next book in series **

I have read the first two books in this series and have enjoyed them. Good stories and interesting details about the area. I am loathe to purchase the third in the series as this is priced at more than £8.00, for what is essentially a cosy afternoons read. Lowering the price a little may well get more readers and therefore more reviews than currently.

This book is so bad I thought it was satire.

I remember when I was young asking my mother why she read romances and she said that this was the way she could visit the places that she would never see. Cozy mysteries does the same for me, especially this time Plantation Shudders. Who wouldn't like to see the Cajun Country? And the way that the author paints it, this is a place that I will visit again.I am also very glad that I do not work at a inn if the customers are anything like the ones visiting Crozat Plantation. As much as I did not like most of the customers, I did like Maggie, her family and her friends.I especially loved it, when at one point when Maggie was extremely upset asks "Bo... was there a moment when it hit you that you had to grow up and be an adult?" Who hasn't thought the same thing?I thought that mystery was just okay, but everything else was so good that I give this book 4.5 stars.

This book is only okay to read for a cozy mystery.The sceneries are great as I always like reading the Southern culture of the US.However, as far as the mystery goes and the main character doesn't leave much of impression to me.