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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
sueemmy's review against another edition
4.0
Written with the perfect amount of sass, this latest book is full of quirky characters that manage to be interesting without being annoying and a plot full of red herrings and decades old secrets. Marygene finds two charred corpses and finds herself compelled to solve their murders by her deceased mother. A fun and quick read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
melslostinabook's review against another edition
4.0
Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse is the second book in the Marygene Brown Mystery series by Kate Young.
Marygene has settled into a routine after moving back home to the cozy island of Peach Cove, off the coast of Georgia. She has moved into her childhood home and works at the Peach Diner, owned by Marygene and her sister, where she bakes most of the diner’s scrumptious desserts, but also waits tables with her best friend, Betsy. Marygene is trying to figure out her relationship with former high school sweetheart, deputy sheriff Alex, when a new deputy arrives on the scene, setting the stage for a love triangle.
We learn in the first book of this series that Marygene’s mama passed away a couple of years ago, but hasn’t been able to “cross over” to the great beyond, so she has become an island spirit, presenting herself to Marygene. And because of this attachment, deceased spirits whose murderers were never brought to justice are attracted to, and seek out, Marygene to help solve the cases. Early on in the story, Marygene is doing a bit of early morning skinny dipping in the ocean on a stretch of secluded beach when she is literally accosted in the waves by a dead body. Then she stumbles upon a second body in the wine cellar of a house where she is catering an event for her friend and interior designer, Yvonne.
It soon comes to light that these two bodies are the remains of identical twin sisters who went missing from the island over two decades ago and the mystery was never solved. With her research and sleuthing skills, Marygene soon discovers that this cold case murder mystery hits close to home, as she learns that these sisters were a part of a secret sister group (or maybe they referred to themselves as island sisters, I can’t remember…) that her mama, along with Betsy’s aunt, and her friend Yvonne’s mother, were part of. Old family secrets that were long buried have begun to resurface and someone on the island wants to make sure they stay buried, at any and all costs.
Once again, the author has done a great job of keeping me on my toes, following one clue after another, second guessing myself about who the killer is, and boy was I surprised when it was revealed! (I have a bad habit of chasing red herrings.) Also, I just really love the author’s descriptive writing style. I couldn’t help but imagine myself there on the island, in the cozy atmosphere of the little town where everyone knows everyone else (and their business!), enjoying the delectable dishes that were served up at the diner, and laughing along at Betsy’s antics. Geesh, I really want to live on Peach Cove island!
There is a third book to this series, but I read it first, as it was sent to me for review by the publisher. The stories can be read out of order since the mysteries are self-contained, but it’s best to read them in order for ease of following along with the characters, their relationships, and family drama, etc. I certainly hope there’s a fourth book on the horizon for this series, as I have become quite attached to the residents of Peach Cove!
Overall, the Marygene Brown Mystery series is a delightful cozy mystery series full of southern charm and hospitality, mouthwatering descriptions of delicious food, and well crafted murder mysteries with a touch of paranormal. I highly recommend this series!
Marygene has settled into a routine after moving back home to the cozy island of Peach Cove, off the coast of Georgia. She has moved into her childhood home and works at the Peach Diner, owned by Marygene and her sister, where she bakes most of the diner’s scrumptious desserts, but also waits tables with her best friend, Betsy. Marygene is trying to figure out her relationship with former high school sweetheart, deputy sheriff Alex, when a new deputy arrives on the scene, setting the stage for a love triangle.
We learn in the first book of this series that Marygene’s mama passed away a couple of years ago, but hasn’t been able to “cross over” to the great beyond, so she has become an island spirit, presenting herself to Marygene. And because of this attachment, deceased spirits whose murderers were never brought to justice are attracted to, and seek out, Marygene to help solve the cases. Early on in the story, Marygene is doing a bit of early morning skinny dipping in the ocean on a stretch of secluded beach when she is literally accosted in the waves by a dead body. Then she stumbles upon a second body in the wine cellar of a house where she is catering an event for her friend and interior designer, Yvonne.
It soon comes to light that these two bodies are the remains of identical twin sisters who went missing from the island over two decades ago and the mystery was never solved. With her research and sleuthing skills, Marygene soon discovers that this cold case murder mystery hits close to home, as she learns that these sisters were a part of a secret sister group (or maybe they referred to themselves as island sisters, I can’t remember…) that her mama, along with Betsy’s aunt, and her friend Yvonne’s mother, were part of. Old family secrets that were long buried have begun to resurface and someone on the island wants to make sure they stay buried, at any and all costs.
Once again, the author has done a great job of keeping me on my toes, following one clue after another, second guessing myself about who the killer is, and boy was I surprised when it was revealed! (I have a bad habit of chasing red herrings.) Also, I just really love the author’s descriptive writing style. I couldn’t help but imagine myself there on the island, in the cozy atmosphere of the little town where everyone knows everyone else (and their business!), enjoying the delectable dishes that were served up at the diner, and laughing along at Betsy’s antics. Geesh, I really want to live on Peach Cove island!
There is a third book to this series, but I read it first, as it was sent to me for review by the publisher. The stories can be read out of order since the mysteries are self-contained, but it’s best to read them in order for ease of following along with the characters, their relationships, and family drama, etc. I certainly hope there’s a fourth book on the horizon for this series, as I have become quite attached to the residents of Peach Cove!
Overall, the Marygene Brown Mystery series is a delightful cozy mystery series full of southern charm and hospitality, mouthwatering descriptions of delicious food, and well crafted murder mysteries with a touch of paranormal. I highly recommend this series!
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse by Kate Young is the 2nd A Marygene Brown Mystery. It can be read as a standalone because the needed background information is provided. We return to Peach Cove Island, Georgia where deceased souls who have been murdered are drawn to Marygene Brown. Marygene gets a help with the cases from her mama, Clara who is in limbo (she should have done more good deeds while alive). Marygene co-owns The Peach Diner with her sister, Jena Lynn. Marygene is a wonderful baker whose pastries are in demand by the island’s residents and tourists. Marygene is having relationship troubles with beau, Deputy Alex Myers. Alex was seen doing something that landed him in hot water with Marygene. Alex wanted his cake and to eat it too (if you get my drift). Deputy Javier Reyes is new to the force and sparks fly between him and our protagonist. It looks like Alex has competition. I wish less time had been devoted to Marygene’s love life. It was a little much for me. Marygene deserves a good guy who is understanding, kind, and loyal. There are a variety of colorful characters whose antics had me laughing. Betsy, an employee and friend, is a hoot. The food descriptions will have your mouth watering. Thankfully, there are recipes at the end of the book. I like the author’s conversational writing style which made Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse was easy to read. The story moved along quickly. The mystery was an enjoyable one to solve. It was complex (love that) with a variety of clues, several suspects and misdirection. I had a good time assembling the clues and arriving at a solution. There is a dramatic reveal where I got to see if my deductions were correct. There was plenty of action in this story that helped move this story along quickly toward the end. The paranormal element is fun and enhances the series. Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse is a capricious cozy mystery with a disdainful deputy, unabashed bathing beauty, a chill cellar, pretty pastries, a defensive dad, and crispy corpses.
kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
SOUTHERN SASS AND A CRISPY CORPSE is the second book in the Marygene Brown Mystery Series by Kate Young. The action starts right from the very first in this edgy cozy mystery. Protagonist Marygene Brown gets involved in a decades-old cold case after accidentally bumping into the remains of the missing young woman while skinny-dipping in the ocean off the coast of Peach Cove Island in Georgia. From this set up, the mystery takes a unique and entertaining twist in that Marygene doesn’t want to be involved in solving the mystery, nor has she ever wanted to be an amateur sleuth. Except her deceased mother’s ghost is quite insistent that Marygene do so… or else… Adding to the twists in Marygene’s life is the fact that she’s the daughter of Sheriff Eddie Carter, the result of an affair between the sheriff and her mother. Marygene is pulled between her mother’s ghost and her sheriff father while working alongside her half-sister and half-brother at the family-owned Peach Diner. Ms. Young’s vivid imagery leaps from the pages as the story unfolds. The reader feels the emotional angst the protagonist feels, smells the delectable peach treats baking at the family diner, hears the sound of the waves on the beach, and sees a ghost that shouldn’t be there. With each turn of the page I felt like there was something new to discover.
Ms. Young crafts a fast-paced plot. There are layers upon layers of mystery surrounding the cold case(s) and plenty of suspects for Marygene to discover. The author has created some terrific characters, especially in the island’s older generation that were around when the cold case occurred. These memorable characters added some humor and humanity which I found important since the book covers some serious topics that can be quite tragic. It adds an element of emotional depth and I appreciated that each scene is written with sensitivity and weaves into the story without detracting from the flow. With a heart stopping reveal, Ms. Young wraps up the threads of the plots and subplots in one highly satisfying conclusion, making me count the months until the next book in this series is released.
With the Peach Diner serving up all sorts of delicious Southern food and delectable peach treats, the reader will get hungry reading the descriptions. Fortunately there are several recipes at the back of the book to whet any appetite.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ms. Young crafts a fast-paced plot. There are layers upon layers of mystery surrounding the cold case(s) and plenty of suspects for Marygene to discover. The author has created some terrific characters, especially in the island’s older generation that were around when the cold case occurred. These memorable characters added some humor and humanity which I found important since the book covers some serious topics that can be quite tragic. It adds an element of emotional depth and I appreciated that each scene is written with sensitivity and weaves into the story without detracting from the flow. With a heart stopping reveal, Ms. Young wraps up the threads of the plots and subplots in one highly satisfying conclusion, making me count the months until the next book in this series is released.
With the Peach Diner serving up all sorts of delicious Southern food and delectable peach treats, the reader will get hungry reading the descriptions. Fortunately there are several recipes at the back of the book to whet any appetite.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
deanapotter's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars
A highly enjoyable small town cozy with a paranormal twist.
Marygene Brown is a strong woman, who has seen and been through a lot. She has returned home to take her place in the family business while the ghost of her mother guides her in an unknown family legacy. Still feeling the effects of a divorce and settling into a new way of life Marygene takes on the task of helping departed spirits pass on and bring justice to the crimes committed upon them. Willingly or not.
It’s one thing to stumble upon a body while swimming in the ocean but stumbling upon another while doing your job makes you think a bit harder. Marygene finds herself right in the middle of a decades-long mystery. With two dead bodies, her father being the local law, a new officer that she can’t quite figure out in the spirits of those departed knocking on her door, while reluctant when it comes to the spirit side Marygene proves to be a fantastic amateur sleuth in her own unique way. She learns Quickly that the little town she lives in has more secrets than she could’ve known.
Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse is a fun and unique cozy mystery. Marygene and her sister Jena Lynn are a fun and entertaining pair. Along with Eddie(father), good friend Besty who is hysterical, the cast of characters alone are entertaining. The story is filled with southern charm and a lot of sass. The mystery has some twists that definitely keep you thinking yet add to the entertainment value of the story. Kate Young made a fan of me with just one read.
A highly enjoyable small town cozy with a paranormal twist.
Marygene Brown is a strong woman, who has seen and been through a lot. She has returned home to take her place in the family business while the ghost of her mother guides her in an unknown family legacy. Still feeling the effects of a divorce and settling into a new way of life Marygene takes on the task of helping departed spirits pass on and bring justice to the crimes committed upon them. Willingly or not.
It’s one thing to stumble upon a body while swimming in the ocean but stumbling upon another while doing your job makes you think a bit harder. Marygene finds herself right in the middle of a decades-long mystery. With two dead bodies, her father being the local law, a new officer that she can’t quite figure out in the spirits of those departed knocking on her door, while reluctant when it comes to the spirit side Marygene proves to be a fantastic amateur sleuth in her own unique way. She learns Quickly that the little town she lives in has more secrets than she could’ve known.
Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse is a fun and unique cozy mystery. Marygene and her sister Jena Lynn are a fun and entertaining pair. Along with Eddie(father), good friend Besty who is hysterical, the cast of characters alone are entertaining. The story is filled with southern charm and a lot of sass. The mystery has some twists that definitely keep you thinking yet add to the entertainment value of the story. Kate Young made a fan of me with just one read.
katreader's review against another edition
5.0
SOUTHERN SASS AND A CRISPY CORPSE by Kate Young
The Second Marygene Brown Mystery
An early morning swim turns into a nightmare for Marygene Brown when a badly burned corpse bumps into her. Trying to put the incident out of her mind she's excited to cater a party to promote her friend's new business. But when she and her brother decide to store the champagne in the basement, they find another badly burned corpse. It seems Marygene's mama was right, the dead are drawn to her. In addition to crispy corpses, Marygene has to deal with her tempestuous relationship with Alex while keeping Peach Tree Island satiated with her baked goods. Will Marygene be able to help the dead? Or will she get burned?
What a great book! I loved the first Marygene Brown Mystery and this one even tops it. The fun and quirky characters balance out the scenes of heartfelt emotions. New characters enter the scene, including one I'd love to punch, or maybe trip and have fall into a puddle of mud...and chip her front teeth. There's angst and tragedy, maturing, or not, and an ultimate coming together. The penultimate scene was jaw droppingly shocking while also being an unbelievable adrenaline rush.
The most important aspect of the book are the various parental relationships, which are key here. The other thing to remember is that relationships and problems continue even after death. I loved learning more about the Island Spirits and discovering that more people can see and interact with them.
SOUTHERN SASS AND A CRISPY CORPSE is a fun mystery filled with both Southern charm and Southern sass. High drama, tangible emotions, slapstick comedy, and a complex mystery shrouded in secrets provide a perfect page-turning read.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
The Second Marygene Brown Mystery
An early morning swim turns into a nightmare for Marygene Brown when a badly burned corpse bumps into her. Trying to put the incident out of her mind she's excited to cater a party to promote her friend's new business. But when she and her brother decide to store the champagne in the basement, they find another badly burned corpse. It seems Marygene's mama was right, the dead are drawn to her. In addition to crispy corpses, Marygene has to deal with her tempestuous relationship with Alex while keeping Peach Tree Island satiated with her baked goods. Will Marygene be able to help the dead? Or will she get burned?
What a great book! I loved the first Marygene Brown Mystery and this one even tops it. The fun and quirky characters balance out the scenes of heartfelt emotions. New characters enter the scene, including one I'd love to punch, or maybe trip and have fall into a puddle of mud...and chip her front teeth. There's angst and tragedy, maturing, or not, and an ultimate coming together. The penultimate scene was jaw droppingly shocking while also being an unbelievable adrenaline rush.
The most important aspect of the book are the various parental relationships, which are key here. The other thing to remember is that relationships and problems continue even after death. I loved learning more about the Island Spirits and discovering that more people can see and interact with them.
SOUTHERN SASS AND A CRISPY CORPSE is a fun mystery filled with both Southern charm and Southern sass. High drama, tangible emotions, slapstick comedy, and a complex mystery shrouded in secrets provide a perfect page-turning read.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book I have ready by this author and wow! What a story she weaves with interesting characters and backstories and the mystery itself? One I did not expect.
This is the 2nd in the series and if you have followed my reviews for any length of time, you know I prefer to read a series in order. For some reason, I decided to go ahead and read this book and while there was a little bit about Marygene's past I did not know about, the author did a good job of giving some detail so I didn't feel totally in the dark. I still think that it would be best to start with the first book in this series to have a better understanding of the characters, but the mystery is unique to this book.
Marygene has some baggage, and that might be an understatement. She has a complicated past and she is leery of trusting anyone outside of her immediate family. On top of that, she sees her mother's ghost who prods her into investigating the crimes. Her mother is limited as to what she can tell Marygene about the incidents but she does help save a few people indirectly. There is a fleeting relationship with Alex, a deputy that works for her dad, but a potentially innocent incident has Marygene thinking that perhaps they don't need to be together. Enter newer deputy, Javier Reyes. I believe he is in the first book, but he and Marygene seem to come to an understanding in this book. Could he be a potential love interest? Only time will tell.
The mystery of the "crispy corpses" was interesting because I don't believe any other cozy I have read had this as the crime. It left an interesting picture in my mind. On top of that, Marygene discovers the first body while skinny dipping. She is a brave soul to bare it all and then to end up finding the first body. Yup, there is more than one to find. And the ties to the past regarding these bodies added a nice twist. When the full truth was revealed you could have knocked me over with a feather. While I suspected one person involved with the crime, the full story was not one that even crossed my mind. Many people were shocked by the revelations.
Overall we enjoyed this cozy and I plan to go back and read the first book to gain a better understanding of Marygene and her family. We give this book 4 paws up.
This is the 2nd in the series and if you have followed my reviews for any length of time, you know I prefer to read a series in order. For some reason, I decided to go ahead and read this book and while there was a little bit about Marygene's past I did not know about, the author did a good job of giving some detail so I didn't feel totally in the dark. I still think that it would be best to start with the first book in this series to have a better understanding of the characters, but the mystery is unique to this book.
Marygene has some baggage, and that might be an understatement. She has a complicated past and she is leery of trusting anyone outside of her immediate family. On top of that, she sees her mother's ghost who prods her into investigating the crimes. Her mother is limited as to what she can tell Marygene about the incidents but she does help save a few people indirectly. There is a fleeting relationship with Alex, a deputy that works for her dad, but a potentially innocent incident has Marygene thinking that perhaps they don't need to be together. Enter newer deputy, Javier Reyes. I believe he is in the first book, but he and Marygene seem to come to an understanding in this book. Could he be a potential love interest? Only time will tell.
The mystery of the "crispy corpses" was interesting because I don't believe any other cozy I have read had this as the crime. It left an interesting picture in my mind. On top of that, Marygene discovers the first body while skinny dipping. She is a brave soul to bare it all and then to end up finding the first body. Yup, there is more than one to find. And the ties to the past regarding these bodies added a nice twist. When the full truth was revealed you could have knocked me over with a feather. While I suspected one person involved with the crime, the full story was not one that even crossed my mind. Many people were shocked by the revelations.
Overall we enjoyed this cozy and I plan to go back and read the first book to gain a better understanding of Marygene and her family. We give this book 4 paws up.
amberweirdo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
“Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse“ by Kate Young is the 2nd instalment in the "A Marygene Brown Mystery" series. I was excited to visit Peace Cove Island, Georgia again and the Peach Diner. I love the island setting and Marygene and her diner family. The story is filled with quirky characters, and the addition of Aunt Vi was a hoot. I like the little bit of island lore and spirit aspect that is in this series.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Marygene did.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Marygene did.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.