Friday Favorites: Southern Cozy Mysteries

 

Southern Cozies are a favorite of mine at least in part because I live in the south. For the purpose of this post I am using the Census Bureau's definition of the south-- South Atlantic: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, amd Delaware East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.

What makes a southern cozy? It takes place in the South. The dialogue is generally polite, but can be sharp (Bless her heart.) There is usually nothing overtly graphic in the way of violence, gore, or sex. The murderer is always caught and brought to justice and harmony restored. The main investigator is usually a likable, female character. And the villain is despicable.

I like the easy, light reading of the southern cozy. The banter is usually good. Settings for the most part are pleasant. I found when I was out of town for an extended period, that the southern cozies helped with my homesickness. 

Murder on a Girls' Night Out is the first in the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George. This is one of my all time favorite series. The books take place in Birmingham, Alabama. Patricia Anne (aka Mouse) and Mary Alice (aka Sister) are the sleuths. There is a lot of humor to the writing as well. There are 8 books in the series.

Another humorous series is the Cherry Tucker series that takes place in Halo, Georgia. Cherry Tucker is a talented artist who ends up having a skill for finding trouble as well. She has 6 novels and 2 novellas according to Goodreads. Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Reinhart is the first book in the series.

Another humorous southern cozy is The Liz Talbot series by Susan Boyer. It starts with Lowcountry Boil. I love the description of the plot of the first book on Goodreads. There are 11 novels and one novella. The novels take place in South Carolina. "Private Investigator Liz Talbot is a modern Southern belle: she blesses hearts and takes names."

Some other humorous southern cozies include: The Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano (Virginia), The Miss Fortune series by Jana DeLeon (Louisiana), The Southern Ghost Hunter series by Angie Fox (Tennessee), The Claire Malloy series and The Arly Hanks series by Joan Hess (Arkansas).

Two series that I have on my TBR list, but haven't gotten to yet are The Sarah Booth Delaney series by Carolyn Haines (Mississippi) and The China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert (Texas).

Do you have a favorite southern cozy series? Or does one of these appeal to you? Share in the comments. Happy Reading!

(All links open in new tabs and come from Goodreads.)

Book Review: The Sullivan's Island Supper Club by Susan M. Boyer

 

From the publisher:

From the bestselling author of the award-winning novel Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island comes a captivating new tale that explores the deep ties of friendship, family, and community—and the hidden cracks that can fracture even our strongest connections.

Welcome to Sullivan’s Island, an idyllic beachside town just outside Charleston, South Carolina. This serene, unspoiled sanctuary offers tourists a picturesque taste of the lush Lowcountry while the locals enjoy a laid-back, small-town lifestyle. Amidst an eclectic mix of newcomers and natives, lifelong resident and social maven Tallulah Wentworth’s legendary monthly dinners have united an unlikely group of women into the very best of friends.

To outsiders, this sunny, seaside haven is nothing short of paradise, but the residents of this beachside hamlet know that it harbors its share of troubles. Everyone has an opinion about the most hotly contested local issue—how to manage the maritime forest that’s sprung up on accreted land—and civility is quickly running out at both town council meetings and in online forums.

When a neighborhood meet-and-greet devolves into violence, several pillars of the community are led away in handcuffs. By the next morning, a very real, very dead body is the newest addition to Sarabeth Boone’s spooky Halloween graveyard display. But who could possibly be responsible for such a heinous act?

Did someone finally snap over the mounting tension between conservationists and cutters? Or was this a premeditated act perpetrated by an opportunistic killer masquerading as a trustworthy friend and neighbor?

The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club weaves a tale of mystery, friendship, and love—new love, old love, and second-chance love. Discover the lengths these women will go to protect each other and uncover the truth, even when it shatters the delicate balance of their seemingly perfect lives.

With her uniquely Southern voice, Susan M. Boyer delivers a fast-paced follow-up to the reader-favorite Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island. Perfect for fans of strong Southern women, twisting tales, and the breathtaking Carolina coast, this charming whodunnit mystery marries scandal and sisterhood for the ultimate reading treat.

The Sullivan''s Island Supper Club was released September 17th, 2024 from Stella Maris Books.

My thoughts:

This is an interesting book. We're made aware of the murder up front, but not who the victim is. The bulk of the book after that is a big flashback of events leading up to the discovery of the body. 

The chapters are told from different characters points of view. We get to know pretty much all of the guests at the Sullivan's Island Supper club as well as why it was formed. I was a little confused at first, but each chapter is clearly marked as to when the events in it took place as well as whose eyes they are being seen through. And the  female characters are all strong women. I think my favorite though is Sarabeth Boone who was hosting a party with her husband Tucker the night before the body was found in her front yard.

It is a mystery, but it seems to me that it is told more as a story about the women and the community they inhabit. After the initial discovery of the body, we are left guessing as to who the victim and the killer might be as we get to know the group. I was able to guess who the victim was, but I was a little surprised at who the killer was.

Overall I give this book 5 stars out of 5 stars. It's well written. And the way the mystery is handled is different from any mystery book I've read lately. The characters are interesting. There is one scene with an attempted suicide, so be aware if this is a trigger for you. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, then you will like this one. And if you are a reader who likes to read about strong southern women, then this would be a good book for you. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This did not affect my opinion. My review is freely given and all my own ideas.

Happy Book Birthday to The Sullivan's Island Supper Club by Susan Boyer

 

Today is the publication day for The Sullivan's Island Supper Club by Susan Boyer and published by Stella Maris Books! I'm reading it now and finding it a good and interesting read. Review to follow. 

From the publisher:

Welcome to Sullivan’s Island, an idyllic beachside town just outside Charleston, South Carolina. This serene, unspoiled sanctuary offers tourists a picturesque taste of the lush Lowcountry while the locals enjoy a laid-back, small-town lifestyle. Amidst an eclectic mix of newcomers and natives, lifelong resident and social maven Tallulah Wentworth’s legendary monthly dinners have united an unlikely group of women into the very best of friends.

To outsiders, this sunny, seaside haven is nothing short of paradise, but the residents of this beachside hamlet know that it harbors its share of troubles. Everyone has an opinion about the most hotly contested local issue—how to manage the maritime forest that’s sprung up on accreted land—and civility is quickly running out at both town council meetings and in online forums.

When a neighborhood meet-and-greet devolves into violence, several pillars of the community are led away in handcuffs. By the next morning, a very real, very dead body is the newest addition to Sarabeth Boone’s spooky Halloween graveyard display. But who could possibly be responsible for such a heinous act?

Did someone finally snap over the mounting tension between conservationists and cutters? Or was this a premeditated act perpetrated by an opportunistic killer masquerading as a trustworthy friend and neighbor?

The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club weaves a tale of mystery, friendship, and love—new love, old love, and second-chance love. Discover the lengths these women will go to protect each other and uncover the truth, even when it shatters the delicate balance of their seemingly perfect lives.

Check it out!

Review: Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer

One dark and extremely stormy Charleston night, a man is hit by a vehicle and killed crossing the street near his home. Who did it? Was it intentional? Was it a hit and run? Was it the woman who says she stopped to help the victim? The dent on the front of her car suggests it could go either way for her. Liz Talbot and her partner Nate are hired to find the answers to these questions and more in the seventh installment in the Liz Talbot Mystery series.

Liz and Nate are hired by a law firm to investigate. They won't tell her who hired them to look into it, but they do admit that it's because their client is worried about the woman who stopped to help the victim. Poppy is a sweet woman and seemingly wouldn't harm a fly. Could she possibly be responsible for this accident?

Several of the women under investigation frequent the same bookstore. Also several of them have a connection to a group of women helping abused women. Was the man killed an abuser?

More information comes out as Liz and Nate investigate. Colleen, their ghostly friend, plays only a very little role in this mystery encouraging them to stay on track and keep investigating. I like that she doesn't come out and provide all the answers for them.

Periods of serious investigation are punctuated by the more lighthearted escapades of Liz's family. Her daddy seems to try and one-up himself in his quest to disturb her mamma when he acquires some goats and a pool building business.

It's a private investigation procedural. It gets a little repetitive at times, but it all goes to advancing the plot.

Overall, I give this mystery 4 out of 5 stars. The mystery shows good imagination as the pieces come together. It's well-written and paced well. The end has a bit of a twist, but it works. And I really enjoyed the humorous family parts.

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer was released May 29th, 2018 from Henery Press.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Teaser Tuesday: Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

Mama clasped Poppy's hand in both of hers. Tears filled her eyes. "I'm positively mortified."

"Why?" asked Poppy.

"You're our guest,' said Mamma. "And wildlife ate hydrangeas on my dining room table."

(69% through on my Kindle)

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer was published  May 29th, 2018, from Henery Press. The mystery has both serious and light moments.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: The teaser and its location are from an ARC and may differ in the final edition.

Teaser Tuesday: Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

The thing I couldn't get out of my mind was  Mallory saying that she shouldn't have come to the visitation. She'd known Phillip Drayton most of her life. The only reason she'd say such a thing was a guilty conscience. The question was, what was she feeling guilty about? Was it an unrequited love, an affair, or something much worse? (46% through on my Kindle)

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer was published today, May 29th, 2018, from Henery Press. 

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: The teaser and its location are from an ARC and may differ in the final edition.

Waiting on Wednesday #143: Lowcountry Book Club by Susan M. Boyer

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Expected publication: July 5th 2016
by Henery Press

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Somebody pushed Shelby Poinsett out her second-floor library window and it wasn’t her husband. At least that what Charleston’s most prestigious law firm wants Liz Talbot to prove. Liz must run the spectrum of Southern society, from the local homeless shelter where Shelby volunteered to the one-hundred-year-old book club where Charleston’s genteel ladies are dying to join, to bring a killer to justice. 

Related subjects include: women sleuths, private investigator mystery series, cozy mysteries, murder mysteries, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), book club recommendations, Southern fiction, Southern humor, Southern living.

Why am I looking forward to this book? It's going to be a humorous, Southern, mystery. I enjoy reading that type of thing. And I have enjoyed the other books in the Liz Talbot mystery series. This is the fifth one in the series. It looks like a winner to me.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. Thanks for coming by!

Review: Lowcountry Bordello by Susan M. Boyer

Published November 3, 2015
by Henery Press

What if your friend thinks she has found a body in the house she shares in ownership with her Aunt? And what if your investigation is complicated because it turns out the house is a bit of a high-class bordello?

Lowcountry Bordello is book #4 in the Liz Talbot series published by Henery Press. Liz and her fiance agree to look into the murder because, among other things, Olivia who found the body is one of Liz's bridesmaids. And the wedding is a week away. Couple that with a few ghosts in the bordello and her friendly ghost who is a guardian for all things Stella Maris, and you have an entertaining story.

The characters are interesting. How can you miss when you have an 80 something Aunt who runs the bordello? And with Liz, her family and friends just help to characterize her more. It would be easy to overuse the helpful ghost to solve the mysteries, but she has rules she must obey so that she can't reveal everything and spoil the story.

The plot moves along at a good pace, a little faster towards the end. It gets complicated at times like when they are reviewing the timeline for the murder and are trying to figure out who is a serious suspect. Overall though it's well done. The mystery is good and satisfying.

It's a southern mystery. Some might categorize it as a cozy even though Liz is a PI, probably because of the number of people involved that she knows and how homey it can get. I liked it in part because of the southern small town atmosphere.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: Lowcountry Bordello by Susan M. Boyer

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can participate, just do the following:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Published November 3, 2015
by Henery Press

"Trust me. No one is going to hurt Aunt Dean. She is well-defended. She'll likely never even have to use the twenty-two she carries in her robe, or whatever she happens to be wearing. She sleeps with it under her pillow. Has for years."

~ 6% through on my Kindle

Lowcountry Bordello by Susan M. Boyer is #4 in the Liz Talbot mysteries. It just came out November 3, 2015 from Henery Press. 

What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. 

Review: Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer

Calista McQueen won the lottery. Other than that, her life has paralleled Marilyn Monroe's in so many ways starting with her birthdate and resemblance to Marilyn.

Now according to her psychic, Harmony, some man from her past feels she owes him big. And Calista is scared because the time is approaching fast when her life will coincide with the age at which Marilyn Monroe died or was murdered. This is one coincidence she would much like to miss.

In an effort to prevent her death, Calista hires Stella Maris's own private investigator, Liz Talbot. Along with her partner Nate, her brother Blake- the local law enforcement, and other friends and family, Liz finds that there is more to this mystery than an ex-husband stalking Calista. And it will take all of them and Colleen, Liz's ghostly best friend, to solve it and come out alive.

Aside from a wonderful mystery, there is a pretty nice romance going on in the book. A few sex scenes, tastefully done, make this an adult book.

I couldn't pick out the bad guy for sure until the end, though I had my suspicions. I like the way the relationships developed between Nate and Liz and between Liz and Calista during the course of the book.

It's a good book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Lowcountry Bombshell is the second Liz Talbot Mystery. It is expected to be released September 3, 2013 by Henery Press.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.