It’s Release Day for Bayou Book Thief, the first book in Ellen Byron’s new series, The Vintage Cookbook Mysteries! Says the Library Journal, “Fans of Byron’s award-winning ‘Cajun Country’ mysteries will enjoy her return to New Orleans with an engaging, fun cast of characters.”
Congratulations, Ellen! You can pick up a copy through the link below. And read to the end of this post for a link to a special book launch event…

About BAYOU BOOK THIEF…
A new mystery series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.
Twenty-eight-year-old widow Ricki James leaves Los Angeles to start a new life in New Orleans after her showboating actor husband perishes doing a stupid internet stunt. The Big Easy is where she was born and adopted by the NICU nurse who cared for her after Ricki’s teen mother disappeared from the hospital.
Ricki’s career dream comes true when she joins the quirky staff of Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, the spectacular former Garden District home of late bon vivant Genevieve “Vee” Charbonnet, the city’s legendary restauranteur. Ricki is excited about turning her avocation – collecting vintage cookbooks – into a vocation by launching the museum’s gift shop, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware. Then she discovers that a trunk of donated vintage cookbooks doesn’t contain books – it holds the body of a cantankerous Bon Vee employee who was fired after being exposed as a book thief.
The skills Ricky has developed ferreting out hidden vintage treasures come in handy for investigations. But both her business and Bon Vee could wind up as deadstock when Ricki’s past as curator of a billionaire’s first edition collection comes back to haunt her.
Will Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware be a success… or a recipe for disaster?
And…

Ellen Byron and author Karen White discovered they have a lot in common! Join them virtually via Murder by the Book on Thursday, June 7 to learn all about the connection they share, and how it even found a way into one of their books. Click here to learn how to view the event. And click here for more appearances by Ellen!

Congrats on your new book/series. I am looking forward to reading it.
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy it.
Three cheers to you, Ellen! Hope you have a fabulous release day!
Thanks, J.C.!
Congratulations Ellen!
Thanks, Linda!
Congratulations Ellen! I’ve been waiting for this!
Mary, thank you! Such fond memories of trooping through the Garden District and lunch with you and Bob. And then… Ida.
Huzzah–the day is finally here! Congrats, my dear!
Thank you, roomie!
Happy, happy book birthday to you and Bayou Book Thief, Ellen! It’s gonna be a hit! Huge congrats. xo
From your lips to God’s ears, as the saying goes! Thanks, darlin’ Lisa!
Goooooo El! Happy Book Birthday to you, you know… again. 😉
LOL, Tracy! And thanks. Giving everyone a break on the releases. The next one isn’t out until February!
Congrats!!!!!!
Thanks, Mark!!
Hooray, El!! Happy book birthday to you!
Thanks, Jen!! And nice work on the MHC award!
Huuuuuuuuuge congrats, Ellen! So excited that this is out in the world!!! <3
Thanks, Kathy! xoxo
Congrats on the new book, Ellen. As a vintage cook book collector myself, I’ll have to give it a whirl.