No self-respecting lady would allow herself to end up in Sarah Booth’s situation. Unwed, unemployed, and over thirty, she’s flat broke and about to lose the family plantation. Not to mention being haunted by the ghost of her great-great-grandmother’s nanny, who never misses an opportunity to remind her of her sorry state–or to suggest a plan of action, like ransoming her friend’s prize pooch to raise some cash.

But soon Sarah Booth’s walk on the criminal side leads her deeper into unladylike territory, and she’s hired to solve a murder. Did gorgeous, landed Hamilton Garrett V really kill his mother twenty years ago? And if so, what is Sarah Booth doing falling for this possible murderer? When she asks one too many questions and a new corpse turns up, she is suddenly a suspect herself…and Sarah Booth finds that digging up the bones of the past could leave her rolling over in her grave.

First, I’m glad the book I borrowed from the library didn’t have the skull on the cover–that makes the book seem darker than it is. It’s a cozy mystery with a Southern belle investigator, so even though there are a few murders, everyone has the nicest manners.

Southern fiction isn’t usually my favorite–it’s a bit slow and descriptive for my tastes. This book is also a bit slow and descriptive, but the murder mystery definitely helps keep things exciting. Overall, it was a fun book to listen to on audio. I’m not sure if I’ll read the rest of the series, but I liked the book enough that if I’m ever in a slump, I know I can pick up the next book in this series and be entertained. (Sort of a combo of Joanna Fluke and Janet Evanovich–a little racier than Fluke, but not as racy as Evanovich.)

Rated PG-13/R for adult themes and some language. Get your copy here!

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