153 ratings | 66 reviews | avg rating:5.00

more photos (7)

Ellen’s Year In Books

Ellen’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Ellen’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Ellen’s 2025 Year in Books

Ellen Byron’s Followers (1,654)

Ellen’s Bookshelves

to-read (43)
currently-reading (37)
read (171)
bed-and-breakfast-mysteries (7)
bookstore-mysteries (2)
catering-mysteries (3)
cozy-mysteries (12)
culinary-mysteries (11)
louisiana-mysteries (9)
new-orleans-mysteries (3)
See all bookshelves »

Ellen’s Friends (182)

Crystal

11,335 books | 917 friends

Gina Hott

15,911 books | 682 friends

Lily

1,786 books | 2,185 friends

Carla

5,281 books | 38 friends

Tracy Wood

1,660 books | 62 friends

Norma

268 books | 17 friends

Marisa

21,530 books | 443 friends

B needs coffee

490 books | 306 friends

More friends…

Ellen Byron

Goodreads Author

Born

in New York, The United States

Website

http://www.ellenbyron.com/

Twitter

ellenbyronla

Genre

Mystery, Humor and Comedy

Influences

Agatha Christie, Louise Penny, Jacqueline Winspear, all the Brontes, C ...more

Member Since

May 2013

edit data

Ellen is the bestselling, Agatha and Lefty Award-winning author of the Cajun Country Mysteries, the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, the Catering Hall Mystery series (which she writes under the name Maria DiRico), and the Golden Motel Mysteries.

Ellen is also award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

She is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America.

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Ellen Byron questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Ellen Byron’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 22,435 ratings · 3,762 reviews · 17 distinct works • Similar authors

	Plantation Shudders (Cajun Country Mystery, #1) 3.81 avg rating — 4,103 ratings — published 2015 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bayou Book Thief (Vintage Cookbook Mystery, #1) 3.90 avg rating — 2,567 ratings — published 2022 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Body on the Bayou (Cajun Country Mystery, #2) 4.02 avg rating — 2,422 ratings — published 2016 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Very Woodsy Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries, #1) 3.45 avg rating — 2,475 ratings — published 2024 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mardi Gras Murder (Cajun Country Mystery, #4) 4.05 avg rating — 2,038 ratings — published 2018 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Cajun Christmas Killing (Cajun Country Mystery, #3) 4.07 avg rating — 1,997 ratings — published 2017 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murder in the Bayou Boneyard (Cajun Country Mystery, #6) 4.12 avg rating — 1,419 ratings — published 2020 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fatal Cajun Festival (Cajun Country Mystery, #5) 4.10 avg rating — 1,338 ratings — published 2019 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wined and Died in New Orleans (Vintage Cookbook Mystery, #2) 4.08 avg rating — 1,298 ratings — published 2023 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cajun Kiss of Death (Cajun Country Mystery, #7) 4.22 avg rating — 1,050 ratings — published 2021 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Ellen Byron…

136 posts
Ellen Byron's Blog

Cover Reveal for ALL ABOARD FOR MURDER, Golden Motel Mystery #3

I'm so excited to share the wonderful cover for my third Golden Motel Mystery, which is currently available for preorder : Book cover for ALL ABOARD FOR MURDER, mystery author Ellen Byron's 3rd Golden Motel Mystery, set during Halloween Here's a quick synopsis of the plot... Dee Stern is starting to feel at home running her Golden Motel in the scenic California village where she relocated after le Read more of this blog post »

View more on Ellen Byron's website »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 10, 2026 12:20

View all 136 posts »

Series by Ellen Byron

Cajun Country Mystery (7 books)
by

Ellen Byron (Goodreads Author)

4.00 avg rating — 14,366 ratings

Vintage Cookbook Mystery (4 books)
by

Ellen Byron (Goodreads Author)

3.99 avg rating — 4,983 ratings

Golden Motel Mystery (3 books)
by

Ellen Byron (Goodreads Author)

3.55 avg rating — 3,023 ratings

Ellen is Currently Reading

Ellen Byron is currently reading

The Ex-Wives Club (Alibis Collection, #2)

by Sally Hepworth (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sep 12, 2025 07:44AM

Ellen Byron is currently reading

The Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Secret, Book, & Scone Society, #1)

by Ellery Adams (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sep 12, 2025 07:42AM

Ellen Byron is currently reading

Malicious Intent (Lily Larkin Mysteries, #2)

by Hannah Ellis (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sep 12, 2025 07:40AM

rss
Ellen’s Recent Updates

Ellen Byron wrote a new blog post Cover Reveal for ALL ABOARD FOR MURDER, Golden Motel Mystery #3 I'm so excited to share the wonderful cover for my third Golden Motel Mystery, which is currently available for preorder : Book cover for ALL ABOARD F Read more of this blog post »
Jan 23, 2026 01:36PM · 1 like · like
Ellen Byron is now following DonnaRae Menard Author of Murder in the Meadow
Jan 11, 2026 08:19AM · like
Ellen Byron is now following Millicent Eidson Author of Anthracis: A Microbial Mystery (MayaVerse #1)
Jan 11, 2026 08:18AM · like
Ellen Byron wants to read Solid Gold Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery, #2) by Ellen Byron (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:17AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ellen Byron wants to read Spring Melt by Lori Duffy Foster (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:16AM · like
Ellen Byron wants to read Death of a Codebreaker by Max Folsom (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:15AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death of a Codebreaker by Max Folsom. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death of a Codebreaker by Max Folsom <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ellen Byron wants to read Imminent Risk: A Kolya Petrov/Alex Feinstein Thriller (The Kolya Petrov Thrillers) by S. Lee Manning (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:15AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Imminent Risk by S. Lee Manning. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Imminent Risk by S. Lee Manning <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ellen Byron wants to read Fire And Dalmatian: A Lily Dreyfus Mystery (The Lily Dreyfus Mysteries Book 3) by Darlene Dziomba (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:14AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fire And Dalmatian by Darlene Dziomba. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fire And Dalmatian by Darlene Dziomba <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ellen Byron wants to read Wicked Fun (Jane Hawkins, Unretired Serial Killer Book 1) by Dave Pasquantonio (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:13AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wicked Fun by Dave Pasquantonio. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wicked Fun by Dave Pasquantonio <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ellen Byron wants to read Player Elimination (A Wren Winters Mystery, #1) by Shelly Jones (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:12AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Player Elimination by Shelly Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Player Elimination by Shelly Jones <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Ellen's books…

Quotes by Ellen Byron (?)

“Some nasty old fart and his weird wife died, but the airboat swamp tour was awesome.” She”
― Ellen Byron, Plantation Shudders

1 likes

“That's what I love about vintage cookbooks," Ricky said. "They're an amazing window into how life was lived in past decades and how our eating habits have changed.”
― Ellen Byron, Bayou Book Thief

tags: herkenning

0 likes

“Something's going on. Something funky.”
― Ellen Byron, A Very Woodsy Murder

0 likes

See all Ellen Byron's quotes »

Polls

April 2026 COZY MYSTERY Poll

We ask that you only vote if you are planning on participating in our discussion, should your choice win.

Which COZY MYSTERY would you like to read in April?

Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron

12 votes, 46.2%

Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary by Amy Lillard

7 votes, 26.9%

Peg and Rose Solve a Murder by Laurien Berenson

7 votes, 26.9%

26 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Cozy Mysteries : August 2015	8	75	Aug 06, 2015 02:07AM
Goodreads Los Ang...: Book'd in Burbank 2016 SEASON PREMIERE	1	12	Dec 04, 2015 03:36PM
Cozy Mysteries : Title and Author Game, Round 2	15570	1209	Mar 21, 2016 09:15AM
Cozy Mystery Corner : Save Our Cozies Readathon - July 16th	69	120	Jul 14, 2016 07:22PM
Save Our Cozies R...: Hourly Check In	163	116	Jul 18, 2016 08:26AM
Cozy Mysteries : August 2016	8	75	Aug 15, 2016 10:19AM
Cozy Mysteries : Aug 2016 Mini Challenges	101	90	Sep 01, 2016 11:07AM
The Challenge Fac...: TCF Summer Camp	135	298	Sep 01, 2016 06:10PM
The Challenge Fac...: TCF's 2016 Summer Seasonal Challenge	62	158	Sep 21, 2016 04:43PM
Crazy Challenge C...: June 2016 Monthly Scavenger Challenge - America's Cup	159	134	Sep 29, 2016 11:04AM