by Ellen Byron
Part of Vintage Cookbook Mystery, book 2
First published 2023
Hurricane season threatens New Orleans as Ricki James-Diaz struggles to draw customers to Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop. The store sits inside the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, where ongoing repairs reveal crates of centuries-old French wine hidden by the original owner, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki's social media post about the discovery attracts viral attention and distant Charbonnet relatives who want their share of the valuable find. The excitement turns deadly when someone discovers a body among the museum's autumn decorations. Police suspect Eugenia Charbonnet Felice, the family matriarch who stands to profit most from the wine's sale. Ricki believes her mentor is innocent, but Eugenia's odd behavior suggests she's hiding something important. While storm clouds gather overhead, Ricki must identify the real killer, protect Eugenia, and save her business from both financial ruin and potential hurricane destruction.
Genres: american-fiction, mystery, contemporary, adult-fiction, cozy-mystery
Vibes: atmospheric, charming, cozy, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family, mentor-mentee, small-business-owner
Setting: New Orleans, Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop
Period: Hurricane season, Contemporary
304 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: murder