Southern Bred and Dead: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Novel with Humor (Amateur Sleuth Southern Small Town Series Psychic with Animals Funny Witch Romance Story)

Angie Fox

Aug 2020 · Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries Book 9 · Angie Fox

About this ebook

A haunted church. A ghastly death. Can Verity clear up the case before she’s buried way over her head?

Verity Long would really like a day off. Between uncovering the culprit who capped her gangster ghost housemate and dodging the bomb her boyfriend just dropped on their relationship, her spiritual calling has gotten complicated. But when she steps out for a little fun at a church fundraiser, she has another mystery on her hands when a family friend plunges from the bell tower.

With her pet skunk and a spectral mobster buddy in tow, Verity charges back into the world of furious phantoms. But as she follows a shocking trail of clues through a dangerous speakeasy, a possessed movie theatre, and a spooky mob safehouse, she could end up sleeping with the ghostly fishes.

Can Verity lay everything to rest before a mysterious murderer reads her last rites?

Ratings and reviews

Southern Bred and Dead by Angie Fox is the 9th tale in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone if you are new this engaging paranormal series. Verity Long lives with her pet skunk, Lucy and her ghostly friend, Frankie “the German” Winkelmann. One day Verity accidentally dumped Frankie’s ashes out of the urn and onto a rose bush. That is the day she met her first ghost--Frankie and it has been a wild ride ever since. I thought Southern Bred and Dead was well-written with developed characters and steady pacing. Sugarland, Tennessee is a small Southern town full of quirky residents. We get to meet Maybelle Clemens who is quite a character. She comes from a family of ministers, so she likes to go out of her way to shock people with her behavior. I liked all the action in this book. Verity has her hands full in Southern Bred and Dead. She must find out who killed Jorie Davis, who was an old friend of her grandmother’s. Frankie wants to know why his brother, Lou killed him. To top it all off, Ellis is not happy with Verity’s ghost hunting business and it has caused a rift in their relationship. The mystery surrounding the death of Jorie was multifaceted. It was interesting and fun to solve (I love figuring out the guilty party before the reveal). I liked learning more about Frankie and his family. We finally learn why Frankie was killed. I found Southern Bred and Dead to be a more serious book than the others in this series. There are humorous moments especially with Maybelle, but it lacked that laugh-out-loud humor that is normally present. That did not hinder my reading enjoyment. I love visiting Sugarland with its unique residents, cozy small-town feel, plethora of specters, and Southern manners. Let us not forget the adorable Lucy. My favorite part of the book was Verity at the speakeasy. She gets to enjoy some jazz music, meet a new friend, and experience a felonious first courtesy of Frankie. Southern Bred and Dead is a delight with menacing mobsters, frightening phantoms, a deadly dagger, a bothered beau, a pious pastor, and a sweet skunk.

Another exciting adventure from Angie Fox in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery Series brings great satisfaction as you keep turning the page and can’t put the book down. The ghosts in this book kept this reader’s eyes wide open as Verity attempted to break though barriers to solve strange behavior, missing photographs, and tangled relationships. The plot gets more intense after a long time friend of Verity’s deceased grandmother falls from a haunted church steeple and her boyfriend’s police partner doesn’t believe her when she insists it was murder. A secondary plot has Verity helping Frankie to find his brother and solve the reasons behind his death. Family and relationships provide a strong theme in this series showing the strength and knowledge of the author concerning Southern United States society.This theme provided a uniqueness and charm that lightened the book. I received an ARC for review. I would highly recommend this book. I enjoyed reading about Verity and Frankie. I loved how the characters were able to strategize their way out of predicaments with the ghosts by having a general plan that was adaptable to the circumstances. I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens between Frankie and his relatives.

Angie Fox’s 9th installment in her Southern Ghost Hunter series, Southern Bred and Dead, is a beautifully crafted story that explores some of the most complex human emotions and relationships. Protagonist Verity Long returns in this story that seeks to answer questions about the unfortunate demise of her long dead, ghostly sidekick and roommate, Frankie. As the unlikely duo begin exploring the events surrounding Frankie’s death, they uncover a decades old secret that changes everything. The story line of this book was so well written, taking two seemingly unrelated events and weaving them together in a lovely examination of complicated family and personal relationships. Fox’s novels are always easy to read, drawing you in from the first page, and holding your interest until the last word, and this one is no exception. For those who have enjoyed this series, all of the favorites are here, Ellis, Frankie, Lucy the skunk, Beau, and, yes, even Virginia. The lush Sugarland backdrop doesn’t disappoint, either, and the good ole Southern institutions of family, faith, friends, and great food bring the details vividly to life. Southern Bred and Dead is also a great stand-alone book, and for those who aren’t familiar with the series, you have eight additional full-length, and four novella length stories to binge read. If you enjoy colorful mysteries that are rich in details, with a generous side of romance, and a paranormal leaning, you’ll enjoy these delightful tales.

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books.

Angie is best known for her SOUTHERN SPIRITS™ mysteries, and for her ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER books. Visit her at www.angiefox.com.