Viva Durant and the Madness of Madame Bouchard

Viva Durant #2

by Ashli St. Armant

Viva Durant, teen detective, is back in New Orleans to crack her latest case! This audio original features original music from the creator, Ashli St. Armant, and an engaging performance from Audible Hall of Fame narrator Bahni Turpin.

Now that she’s returned to New Orleans for Thanksgiving break, Viva is charged with figuring out the truth behind a mysterious bout of illness traced back to a local creole restaurant called Madame Bouchard’s. Were customers poisoned on purpose, or was it a simple cooking mistake? And who could be behind the chaos? Viva only has a week to solve the culinary mystery, and to do so, she’ll have to contend with a longtime rivalry, rumors of voodoo magic, and Thanksgiving dinner with her extended family!

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens, African American

Audible Audio

First published November 18, 2021

About the author

Ashli St. Armant is a vocalist, actor, writer, and arts educator based in Southern California. She is the founder of Leaping Lizards Music, a music and theater education program for students, TK-12. She is a professionally trained vocalist and actor who attended the Orange County High School of the Arts and holds a degree in Child Development from Saddleback College. Alongside teaching, writing, and raising her two sons, Ashli tours with her band, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards, a jazz band for young audiences. Together they have produced four albums featured by NPR and L.A. Times, and have performed at numerous venues, including Lincoln Center and Sprout Network (NBC).Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons is Ashli’s debut audio original, and sets the path for her new venture into children’s literature.

Reviews

[Kirsten LaCole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think The Viva Durant books having the making of becoming a geart detective series,like Nancy Drew. I look forward to the next book.

[Charmaine Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun listen. I enjoyed the main character a lot and it would make a great cozy mystery to listen to with kids. I will go back and read the first one in the series as well.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable listening experience. This series is refreshing and wonderfully entertaining, and I love love Viva lol. I'm ready to go another adventure with her.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viva Durant and the Madness of Madame Bouchard by Ashli St. Armant
4h 30m narrated by Bahni Turpin
Viva Durant #2

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Children's > Middle Grade; Fantasy, Thriller > Mystery Thriller; Cultural > African American

Featuring: New Orleans, Thanksgiving, Grandma's House, Restaurant, 14 Going on 9, Music Breaks, Food, Singing, Voodoo

Rating as a movie: PG

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: 📱12% 31:56 Ch. 3 - I'm going to ignore the continuity issue, my son says he likes this one better so far, but I'm holding off judgment for now.
📱31% 1:24:01 Ch. 7 - My son started groaning when she began to sing. She is very young acting for a high school and her thought process is very elementary, even more so than in the previous book. On the bright side, we are splitting up so I can finish on my own and not wait a week.

It was overall better than the previous book but it still seemed off for the character's age. I figured it out early on, but it seems to be written for 7-year-olds so that's not surprising. The conclusion reminded me of Matlock so it got 3 stars.

Recommend to others?: Maybe. I think this would be great for younger kids but too slow for kids over 10. Just my opinion.

[Ken Pawlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book in the series, it's still a fun story. I like that Reid got a more prominent role than in book 1. Bahnie Turpin's narration is epic. I could listen to them read all day long.

[Bina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good as book 1. Really enjoyed the music, the setting and Viva being me mentored in becoming a gumshoe by her grandmother.

[Dana "dew" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Nancy Drew as a kid so I was charmed by the story of Viva Durant, "youngest detective in New Orleans" and the Case of the Silver Buttons.

In fact, I enjoyed that first book in this series so much that I listened to it twice. I, unfortunately, wasn't as crazy about this one. The mystery of Madame Bouchard didn't hold my interest as much. That being said, I am certainly NOT the target audience. I'm still giving this a thumbs up for kids. I just preferred the mystery, music, and Viva's budding/new-found appreciation of her grandma in the first story.

So while this story was just meh for me, I think it would be unfair to just give it 2 ☆'s, so I'm rounding up.

I would absolutely recommend Ashli St Armant's Viva Durant series for elementary to middle school
aged kids. Definitely a fun, light read/listen for children.

Also, I am a big fan of Bahni Turpin as a narrator. She is FABULOUS!

[Ms. Nigeria Nigeria Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really waiting on a 3rd book😁

[Hilal Tunçkol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly love Viva and the "Nancy Drew" vibes I get from these books.

Viva finds an excuse to go back to New Orleans, and now, she starts her official training with her grandmother, to become a private eye, and as her grandmother teaches her what she knows, Viva has to solve the mystery of Madam Bouchard's restaurant, where several patrons were poisoned recently.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Viva gets suspicious of the sous chef who quit his job as soon as the restaurant was closed due to the poisonings, and the biggest rival of Madam Bouchard, but the ending was a real treat and a surprise.

Turns out, Madam Bouchard's husband, who is a botanist, was working with some poisonous daffodils in Madam Bouchard's kitchen and the poisonings were nothing but an accident.

Also, I happened to learn thanks to this book that too much nutmeg can be poisonous, so, that was a plus.

[Darcy( Taylors Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Ashil St. Armant did an amazing job writing the second viva durant book! I love the way viva is not afraid to be bold and is willing to get into some trouble to do the right thing. I was so surprised at the end when we learn who poisoned Madane Bouchareds hot sauce and made all of her customers sick. So many plot twists and surprises. This is an audiobook that everyone should read!

[Abbie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are a gem!

I've listened to the first two installments with our 7yo son. We LOVED them! The story writing is amazing, and the performances are on point. So fun and intriguing from start to finish. He asked to start the next story immediately, and when he thought there wasn't another, he asked to restart the first one. These have been such a joy as he learns the potential that each story, each book, has to bring value to his life. Thank you for sharing your art with us.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5* for me. I was disappointed to not get as much of Viva exploring New Orleans and a lot of long pauses and musical transitions. I thought the mystery was pretty unbelievable and the numerous assumptions Viva and even Gram made were disappointing. However, I like the relationships in this series, the narrator is top notch, and I'm hopeful that we'll get more of Viva (and Reese) going around New Orleans in the future.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed her search, but I admit to enjoying the first book better. I felt like there were some obvious things missed by Viva that she should have gotten, but maybe I’m looking too hard with adult eyes. I just like a good mystery. I would suggest this to others. I love the New Orleans descriptions.

[Patricia Ange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viva and grandmother are at it again. This second book in the series is unfortunately not as good as the first mostly because the mystery is not as fascinating when it's happening right now in actual time. I still enjoyed the characters enough to give them four stars.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy listening to Viva solve mysteries. Pretty sure I would have eaten these up as a kid. I got invested enough in the story that I wish Grams talked to Viva more about what it means to be a private eye and also about the case.

[Julie Bedwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series of books especially in audio format. These books are fun mysteries which I have always enjoyed. I like the audio versions because they include music, and I enjoy the narrator's voices for the characters.

[rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's refreshing how all the characters are brown or black, really got me relaxed into the story. I'm a bit disappointed in Viva's grandma for believing the first solution, though. Maybe this was a harder case for them both when people were on the line? I want more, though.

[Razia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one as well. Got through it in about 2 days, which is very fast for me on an audiobook.
Viva is such a sweet character, very believable, and lovable. Looking forward to listening to the next one.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute. Daughter and I listened to this together, we loved the mystery and suspense. We thought we had it figured out a couple of times. We loved the ending, just started the third and we hope to find more in the future.

[Gwendolyn Shingshang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as enjoyable as the first book Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons. Imaginative and enjoyable. This would be very good for young readers.

[Suani Villalpando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una lectura muy rápida, sí bien dirigida a un público más pequeño, es igualmente entretenida y ligera.
Me gustó bastante para la segunda parte.

[♥✨Ari Taylor ✨♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great book to listen to!! But be sure that you listen to 1# first.🤓

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short read with an engaging narrator and interesting mystery.
Recommended for YA and mystery fans.

[Nick Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good, if not better, than the first book. Music + YA detective story make for a happy kiddo.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just really love this series. The setting, the characters, the jazz! And Bahni Turpin fan club for life.

[Tariâna Rodovalho · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first is more interesting, this one I thought to be too slow, the villain was obvious too

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again a great mystery solving book!

[Rebecca (booksandbreggs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute middle grade. 3/5 stars.

[Lynette Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun listen! Great narration!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're so sad this is the last book in the series! We love Viva and her adventures!