Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Lowcountry Boneyard

Lowcountry Boneyard
3rd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press; First edition (April 21, 2015)
Paperback: 292 pages
Review Copy Provided By: NetGalley
ISBN-13: 978-1941962473
E-Book ASIN: B00SHNYOWW

Synopsis

Where is Kent Heyward? The twenty-three-year-old heiress from one of Charleston’s oldest families vanished a month ago. When her father hires private investigator Liz Talbot, Liz suspects the most difficult part of her job will be convincing the patriarch his daughter tired of his overbearing nature and left town. That’s what the Charleston Police Department believes.

But behind the garden walls South of Broad, family secrets pop up like weeds in the azaleas. The neighbors recollect violent arguments between Kent and her parents. Eccentric twin uncles and a gaggle of cousins covet the family fortune. And the lingering spirit of a Civil-War-era debutante may know something if Colleen, Liz’s dead best friend, can get her to talk.

Liz juggles her case, the partner she’s in love with, and the family she adores. But the closer she gets to what has become of Kent, the closer Liz dances to her own grave.

Review: Lowcountry Boneyard is book 3 in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. I love love love this series. I read Lowcountry Bombshell in 2013 and I was hooked. This is a must read series, trust me on that.

Its very southern and for some reason that's one the draws for this very northern girl.

What really sets this series apart is the person that helps Liz with her cases, and that's her dead best friend.  I absolutely love Coleen's role in this series.  She's a spirit guide, rather than a ghost and she actually solidifies in this installment. Woot!

Oh and just because this is part of a series, don't be concerned, these books really stand alone, though if you really want to get to know all the characters, I highly recommend reading the prior two books.

I love the touch of paranormal to this series as well as the relationship between Nate and Liz which was touch and go for a while during this book. However, the end result will make most fans of this series jump for joy!

The mystery involves a missing young woman, Kent Heyward from a prominent family. There's a lot going on in her disappearance, both within her family and with people that are associated with Kent.

I have to say that about 50 pages before the end, I knew who was responsible for her disappearance. I will admit to being sad at the end, because I really was hoping for a little happy that wasn't related to Nate and Liz, but that wasn't meant to be.

The mystery is a page turner and a fun read!

Rating: 5 flowers

About This Author

Susan M. Boyer is the author of the USA TODAY bestselling Liz Talbot mystery series. Her debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, won the 2012 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and garnered several other award nominations. Susan loves beaches, Southern food, and small towns where everyone knows everyone, and everyone has crazy relatives.  You’ll find all of the above in her novels.

Susan lives in Greenville, SC, with her husband and an inordinate number of houseplants.

Author Links:

http://www.susanmboyerbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Susanmboyerbooks

https://twitter.com/susanmboyer

https://www.pinterest.com/susanmboyer/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895680.Susan_M_Boyer

Purchase Links:
Amazon        B&N      Kobo      Google Play

Tour Participants

April 20 – Mystery Playground – Interview

April 21 – Christa Reads and Writes – Review

April 22 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – Review

April 23 – Babs Book Bistro  – Spotlight

April 24 – Laura’s Interests – Review

April 25 – Latte’ Da! – Guest Post

April 26 – deal sharing aunt – Interview

April 27 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post

April 28 – Musings and Ramblings – Review, Interview

April 29 – View from the Birdhouse – Review

April 30 – Community Bookstop – Review

May 1 – A Blue Million Books – Guest Post

May 2 – A Chick Who Reads – Review

May 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

TLC Book Tours Book Review: Lowcountry Bombshell

About Lowcountry Bombshell

• Paperback: 266 pages

• Publisher: Henery Press (September 3, 2013)

Private Investigator Liz Talbot thinks she’s seen another ghost when she meets Calista McQueen. She’s the spitting image of Marilyn Monroe. Born precisely fifty years after the ill-fated star, Calista’s life has eerily mirrored the late starlet’s—and she fears the looming anniversary of Marilyn’s death will also be hers. Before Liz can open a case file, Calista’s life coach is executed. Suspicious characters swarm around Calista like mosquitoes on a sultry lowcountry evening: her certifiable mother, a fake aunt, her control-freak psychoanalyst, a private yoga instructor, her peculiar housekeeper, and an obsessed ex-husband. Liz digs in to find a motive for murder, but she’s besieged with distractions. Her ex has marriage and babies on his mind. Her too-sexy partner engages in a campaign of repeat seduction. Mamma needs help with Daddy’s devotion to bad habits. And a gang of wild hogs is running loose on Stella Maris. With the heat index approaching triple digits, Liz races to uncover a diabolical murder plot in time to save not only Calista’s life, but also her own.

Review: Lowcountry Bombshell is the second book in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. About 30 pages in, I was in love with the book, and I immediately ordered Lowcountry Boil.

Before I go into the book, I have to say, I low the covers for the books in this series, they are so quirky and they actually go hand in hand with the story line, which doesn't often happen.

It is easy to connect with all the characters here, especially Liz and Nate. Their relationship really heats up in this book, making it part romance and part cozy mystery.

But the real star of the show is Calista the Marilyn Monroe doppelganger, whose crazy family tries to make her believe she's Marilyn reincarnated. Her life has been so manipulated by everyone close to her.

There is just so much to love about this book. I love all the information about Marilyn Monroe. I mean, how can you not love her? And in this book, you can't help but love Calista, she's so messed up, but so sweet. I hope as the series continues that she'll still be part of the local color of the novels

I want to compare it to other cozy mystery series that I've read, but I really can't, because Liz Talbot is so different. She's smart and savvy. She knows what she's doing. She's a character that you really want to get to know. Oh and I definitely want to see how things work out with her and Nate.

As for the mystery, you will totally not be able to guess whodunit!

Rating: 5 flowers

About Susan Boyer Susan M. Boyer has been making up stories her whole life. She tags along with her husband on business trips whenever she can because hotels are great places to write: fresh coffee all day and cookies at 4 p.m. They have a home in Greenville, SC, which they occasionally visit, and they run away to the beach as often as possible.

Susan’s debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, is an Agatha Award winner for Best First Novel, a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense recipient, and a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist. Her next book, Lowcountry Bombshell, will be released September 3, 2013. Susan’s short fiction has appeared in moonShine Review, Spinetingler Magazine, and Relief Journal, among others. To learn more about Susan, visit susanmboyerbooks.com. You can also connect with Susan on Facebook and Twitter, see what she’s pinning on Pinterest, and find her on Goodreads.