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A review by melslostinabook
Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse by Kate Young
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!