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A review by krisrid
Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction by Amy Metz
5.0
Well, goodness gracious, y'all! That was more fun than a whole pack-a-pigs in a mud hole!!
First off, full disclosure - I am an unrepentant "Southern-phile. So I really, REALLY wanted to like this book. Fortunately, it is just delightful, so I can say without any reservation or embellishment that this is absolutely one of the best cozies, heck, one of the best BOOKS, I've read in a while. I loved everything about it!!
First off, I loved the title. Who DOESN'T want to read a story set in "Goose Pimple Junction", I ask you??!! You just have to know that a story set there is going to be eventful and entertaining, and it was.
The characters are exactly what you would expect in a small, Southern town. They are "characters" in the very best sense of the word, every last one of them. I loved getting to know them, and want to be friends with all of them.
The plot was actually pretty good, with a well conceived "old" mystery that connected to the present day goings-on, so we sort of get two mysteries for the price of one, and both stories were engaging and well-done.
And last, but certainly not least, probably my favourite thing about this book was the detailed and thorough education in "Southern-speak" the story delivers. It was an absolute hoot, and I laughed all the way through. Each chapter begins with a "Southern-ism" that is explained, used in a sentence, and translated for the non-Southern among us. The conversations throughout the book are also peppered with Southern terms and sayings, and as main character Tess is a transplant who doesn't yet "speak" Southern, the reader gets explanations for things when they are given to Tess as she learns how things are done in Goose Pimple Junction. It is a testament to my obsession with all things Southern that the vast majority of the Southern-speak was clear to me and only a few times I needed the explanation.
Also, I listened to this as an audio book, and if you have any interest at all in audio books, this is a terrific story to listen to. The narrator does a pitch-perfect Southern accent, and if she isn't Southern she must have lived in the South at some point because not only does she bring the characters and the accents to life, she puts the "flavour" of the Southern folks front and centre in her narration. I feel like I enjoyed this book even more by listening to it than I would have had I just read it in my own head.
I literally adored everything about this book! I am DEFINITELY going to be listening to the other books in the series, and I fully expect this to become one of my favourite series! Highly recommended for cozy enthusiasts, especially if you have any affinity at all for the South and its folks.
First off, full disclosure - I am an unrepentant "Southern-phile. So I really, REALLY wanted to like this book. Fortunately, it is just delightful, so I can say without any reservation or embellishment that this is absolutely one of the best cozies, heck, one of the best BOOKS, I've read in a while. I loved everything about it!!
First off, I loved the title. Who DOESN'T want to read a story set in "Goose Pimple Junction", I ask you??!! You just have to know that a story set there is going to be eventful and entertaining, and it was.
The characters are exactly what you would expect in a small, Southern town. They are "characters" in the very best sense of the word, every last one of them. I loved getting to know them, and want to be friends with all of them.
The plot was actually pretty good, with a well conceived "old" mystery that connected to the present day goings-on, so we sort of get two mysteries for the price of one, and both stories were engaging and well-done.
And last, but certainly not least, probably my favourite thing about this book was the detailed and thorough education in "Southern-speak" the story delivers. It was an absolute hoot, and I laughed all the way through. Each chapter begins with a "Southern-ism" that is explained, used in a sentence, and translated for the non-Southern among us. The conversations throughout the book are also peppered with Southern terms and sayings, and as main character Tess is a transplant who doesn't yet "speak" Southern, the reader gets explanations for things when they are given to Tess as she learns how things are done in Goose Pimple Junction. It is a testament to my obsession with all things Southern that the vast majority of the Southern-speak was clear to me and only a few times I needed the explanation.
Also, I listened to this as an audio book, and if you have any interest at all in audio books, this is a terrific story to listen to. The narrator does a pitch-perfect Southern accent, and if she isn't Southern she must have lived in the South at some point because not only does she bring the characters and the accents to life, she puts the "flavour" of the Southern folks front and centre in her narration. I feel like I enjoyed this book even more by listening to it than I would have had I just read it in my own head.
I literally adored everything about this book! I am DEFINITELY going to be listening to the other books in the series, and I fully expect this to become one of my favourite series! Highly recommended for cozy enthusiasts, especially if you have any affinity at all for the South and its folks.