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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
Deader Home and Gardens by Angie Fox is the fourth book in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series. Verity Long has given up her graphic design business and has become a ghost hunter. So far, though, she has not gotten any clients. Verity has kept herself busy by helping her boyfriend, Ellis Wyndell decorate his home. They are trying out new curtains when she receives a call from Lee Treadwell. Lee states he needs Verity to come over immediately. Verity is excited to have her first client. She heads home to collect Frankie, her gangster ghost and link to the spiritual world, and heads to Rock Fall manor (Lee’s ancestral home). It turns out that Rock Fall manor is haunted. A tragedy occurred after Jack Treadwell (Lee’s grandfather) brought home artifacts (that were said to be cursed) from an Egyptian tomb in 1910. The whole family died within a short period. Jack, Annabelle (his wife), Charlotte (his young daughter), and Robert (his brother-in-law). The governess survived but she suffered severe burns from a fire. The son survived but only because he was living in New York at the time. Lee has been living in the caretaker’s cottage on the property. He has never entered the manor house. Rock Fall is crumbling and needs major repairs. In order to accomplish that task, he needs to enter the house. Lee needs to find something of value that he can sell. Verity needs to find out why the ghosts are hanging around. In order to accomplish her job, Verity needs Frankie’s help (his power). Frankie, though, is not happy. He dislikes being stuck on her property, and has decided that having fun might free him. He wants to have his friends (his bootlegging, gangster friends who like to shoot off guns, gamble, and drink) around. In exchange for Frankie’s help on the case, Verity agrees to let him have use of the back porch (you know Frankie is going to take advantage). When Verity discovers Egyptian artifacts in the dining room of Rock Fall manor along with Jack’s journals, she calls in her old college professor, Dale Grassino. Dale is excited to read the journals, but he never gets the chance. He dies in the study. Did one of the ghosts kill him? Verity is even more determined to find out what is going on at Rock Fall manor (the ghosts have been very secretive) and get a happy ending for Lee and the ghosts.
Deader Home and Gardens was a delight to read. I love the antics of Verity and Frankie (Frankie is quite a character). Ms. Fox does a remarkable job at creating characters that the readers can relate to. The mystery was interesting as well as complicated and had a good twist (I do not believe everyone will see it coming). The ghosts or spirits were a nice mix. Some were scary and creepy while others were friendly and endearing. Deader Homes and Gardens can be read as a stand-alone (but why would you). Angie Fox gives the readers the background information on Verity and her situation (how she ended up with Frankie and dead broke). I do, though, recommend that you read the previous books in the series (they are highly entertaining). I give Deader Homes and Gardens 4.5 out of 5 stars (I did solve the mystery). The ending leaves the reader desiring more. I just wish we did not have to wait months for the next installment!
Deader Home and Gardens was a delight to read. I love the antics of Verity and Frankie (Frankie is quite a character). Ms. Fox does a remarkable job at creating characters that the readers can relate to. The mystery was interesting as well as complicated and had a good twist (I do not believe everyone will see it coming). The ghosts or spirits were a nice mix. Some were scary and creepy while others were friendly and endearing. Deader Homes and Gardens can be read as a stand-alone (but why would you). Angie Fox gives the readers the background information on Verity and her situation (how she ended up with Frankie and dead broke). I do, though, recommend that you read the previous books in the series (they are highly entertaining). I give Deader Homes and Gardens 4.5 out of 5 stars (I did solve the mystery). The ending leaves the reader desiring more. I just wish we did not have to wait months for the next installment!
bikes_books_yarn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent ghost story!
Again, the novels have much more spook factor than the novellas (which tend to be a bit more heartwarming).
There were some extra sweet Lucy bits!
Again, the novels have much more spook factor than the novellas (which tend to be a bit more heartwarming).
There were some extra sweet Lucy bits!
kim_brockway_gatehouse's review against another edition
5.0
Another Frightening Good Mystery!
I bought this book for Kindle and Audible and I alternated between reading and listening to the story.
I love Ms Fox's writing style; I find her books very easy to read and I like the way she weaves all the elements of her stories together - the mystery, the strained relationship between Verity and the rest of the townsfolk of Sugarland, Verity's financial struggles and, of course, the ghosts and their issues.
As a narrated book, again I was impressed with Tavia Gilbert's performance; loving the pace at which she read the story and her tonal adjustments for the dialogue. I would definitely buy books narrated by her in the future.
In short, I really loved this story, although I feel it's more Gothic Horror than Cozy, it has everything that I look for in a 5star story; I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat (I was even scared at times) - I was gripped!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a paranormal focus.
You can read my full review on my WordPress blog, Flora's Musings...
I bought this book for Kindle and Audible and I alternated between reading and listening to the story.
I love Ms Fox's writing style; I find her books very easy to read and I like the way she weaves all the elements of her stories together - the mystery, the strained relationship between Verity and the rest of the townsfolk of Sugarland, Verity's financial struggles and, of course, the ghosts and their issues.
As a narrated book, again I was impressed with Tavia Gilbert's performance; loving the pace at which she read the story and her tonal adjustments for the dialogue. I would definitely buy books narrated by her in the future.
In short, I really loved this story, although I feel it's more Gothic Horror than Cozy, it has everything that I look for in a 5star story; I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat (I was even scared at times) - I was gripped!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a paranormal focus.
You can read my full review on my WordPress blog, Flora's Musings...
lunaeclipse's review against another edition
5.0
You know how you feel when you start a book and know you are going to like it? Then you discover that it's part of series? That's how I felt. I knew immediately that I was going to love this book. Then as I neared the end, I had a hope that the next one would be out soon. Only to quickly realize that this was an arc I got from Netgalley and that I would have to wait awhile. Well at least I have a few books to catch up on.
leacherry's review against another edition
5.0
This has to be one of my faves in the entire series so far, besides the first one, obviously. The murder was from another world, literally and the mystery was one for the books. This series just keeps getting better and better by the book!!
inmyhumbleopinion's review against another edition
5.0
Sit back with a sweet tea and a red velvet cupcake and enjoy the latest installment in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries by Angie Fox. Verity’s life has taken a turn for the better. Her boyfriend doesn’t want to hide their relationship and she has her first real ghost hunting job. And boy is it a doozie. So all she has to do now is nail down her working relationship with Frankie and solve the mystery of the manor. Piece of cake. Not. I love this series and thoroughly enjoyed this installment.
lattes_lipstick_literature's review against another edition
4.0
So I really like this series. I've read the other three books and I love them, this one was no different. This one was interesting because now everyone knows that Verity can see ghosts. Trying to set up a business around this she seems to be failing until she gets a call to visit the Rock Fall mansion. Things start off a bit intense for Verity and I like that she is still scared despite doing this a couple of times now, she isn't all gung-ho about it. We still see a lot of our favorites like Frankie, who is finally coming into his own as a character and I really like the friendship between him and Verity. Lucy is still around and being cute and cuddly (about as cute as one can be given that she is a skunk). We then have Ellis, who is still sexy and understanding and caring and kind and okay... He is pretty much perfect.
I do like Ellis and Verity's relationship, he is supportive of her choices and doesn't try to control her life (but just wants her to be safe, which is understandable). I am really glad that it doesn't take center stage in the story but is there as a comfort. This new mystery was interesting, even if I did solve it right away. That's okay because while this is a mystery, it doesn't have to be complicated which is why I go back to this series every time. It's interesting to see what is going to happen after the developments in this book and if her business will start taking off. I hope it does, that means more books.
I do like Ellis and Verity's relationship, he is supportive of her choices and doesn't try to control her life (but just wants her to be safe, which is understandable). I am really glad that it doesn't take center stage in the story but is there as a comfort. This new mystery was interesting, even if I did solve it right away. That's okay because while this is a mystery, it doesn't have to be complicated which is why I go back to this series every time. It's interesting to see what is going to happen after the developments in this book and if her business will start taking off. I hope it does, that means more books.
chaos_tempest's review against another edition
4.0
I received an e-arc from the publisher/author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Verity and Frankie are at it again, after giving up on her graphic design business, Verity has decided that being a professional ghost hunter is a better option for getting the bills paid. Her first client, Lee Treadwell believes his family home is severely haunted after seeing the old governess and a young girl in an upstairs window. When Verity arrives on scene she is quickly attacked, but not all is what it seems. What really happened to cause an entire family to drop like flies, one right after the other? And what is keeping all these spirits captive?
Frankie has been my favorite character since the beginning, but in this volume he topped the chart. He has become absolutely petulant, he wants to find a way out of the garden and nothing is working out! He bargains with Verity to make her house into his new gang house, amongst other things, so she can keep using his powers. Verity is certainly working to come into her own as a ghost hunter, I find it most odd that she actually believes that ghosts like her, considering how many have tried to kill her and Ellis. That is one thing I am sick of, she has been nearly killed, with Ellis, in every book!
The family mystery is engaging, not overly complex, but it is fun to watch it all unfold, the real treat was the interweaving of the ancient Egyptian mystery into it, but there were no Egyptian ghosts, that would have been cool, but no. The family ghosts and the ghosts of the help were fairly creepy, especially the child! The dolls, oh my gosh, the dolls! Otherwise the governess was the creepiest.
Verity and Frankie are at it again, after giving up on her graphic design business, Verity has decided that being a professional ghost hunter is a better option for getting the bills paid. Her first client, Lee Treadwell believes his family home is severely haunted after seeing the old governess and a young girl in an upstairs window. When Verity arrives on scene she is quickly attacked, but not all is what it seems. What really happened to cause an entire family to drop like flies, one right after the other? And what is keeping all these spirits captive?
Frankie has been my favorite character since the beginning, but in this volume he topped the chart. He has become absolutely petulant, he wants to find a way out of the garden and nothing is working out! He bargains with Verity to make her house into his new gang house, amongst other things, so she can keep using his powers. Verity is certainly working to come into her own as a ghost hunter, I find it most odd that she actually believes that ghosts like her, considering how many have tried to kill her and Ellis. That is one thing I am sick of, she has been nearly killed, with Ellis, in every book!
The family mystery is engaging, not overly complex, but it is fun to watch it all unfold, the real treat was the interweaving of the ancient Egyptian mystery into it, but there were no Egyptian ghosts, that would have been cool, but no. The family ghosts and the ghosts of the help were fairly creepy, especially the child! The dolls, oh my gosh, the dolls! Otherwise the governess was the creepiest.