Pecan Pies and Dead Guys

Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox is the seventh book in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries. Verity Long is surprised when she receives a call from her boyfriend and deputy, Ellis Wydell. He wants her to come to a crime scene at the quarry with Frankie to see if can provide some insights. Unfortunately, Verity is unable to provide any helpful intel. Later that evening, Verity and Ellis are attending a barbeque hosted by Virginia Wydell, Ellis’s mother when Inspector Julien De Clercq catches up with them. They have agreed to help Inspector De Clercq with a case that has stumped him for a century in exchange for the charges against Frankie being dropped. Verity has three days to solve the murder that occurred on the Adair estate in 1928 before the ghostly crime scene and the suspects disappear for another year. In the world of the living, Virginia is on a tear because Beau has decided to quit his law practice and to become an eclectic folk artist. He says it is all thanks to Verity (oh dear) and Virginia wants Verity to fix it. Virginia dangles a precious Long family heirloom as bait. After a night of questioning ghostly suspects, Verity finds a pecan pie on her kitchen counter. Lucy knocks it over before Verity can take a bite. When another pecan pie is left in the kitchen, Verity becomes suspicious. How did the person get into her home when all the doors were locked? Come along to charming Sugarland, Tennessee where ghosts and murder abound along with eccentric citizens, adorable skunk and a determined sleuth. Pecan Pies and Dead Guys is a part of The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries and I suggest reading the series in order. Each book builds upon the previous one in this charming Southern series. Verity has her work cut out for her in this time. There are two murders to solve along with the mysterious pecan pie problem and Beau’s desire to become an artist. Beau believes he is the next Andy Warhol and his new girlfriend, Zoey Lee is encouraging him (his artwork would work well in a haunted house). I like the variety of quirky characters with my favorite being Verity’s resident ghost, Frankie “the German” Winkelmann. Of course, let us not forget Verity’s pet skunk, Lucy (only in Sugarland). Pecan Pies and Dead Guys is nicely written with a fast pace. I quickly devoured this novel. I laughed frequently at the wacky antics in the story. Wait until you discover what Frankie has created in Ellis’ attic. The two mysteries were interesting with the ghostly one being more difficult to solve. The present day murder is a cinch to figure out. I wish the author had put a little more effort into it. The ending is sweet and heartwarming. We also get a clue as to what will occur in the next volume in this whimsical series. I am giving Pecan Pies and Dead Guys 4 out of 5 stars. I have gotten my mother hooked on this series. When she heard I received Pecan Pies and Dead Guys, my kindle disappeared (I am thankful I have a spare one). I heard chuckles emanating from her room for the next several hours.

I actually think this was my favorite books in this series I enjoyed it immensely. There was a lot of kooky happiness and all of the usual characters appeared in this volume along with some new ones. Some nice some not so nice. Beau appears to have lost his mind, and Virginia is losing hers watching him as she thinks spiral out of control to crazy town... Ellis is busy working a case deemed to be an accident, but that he’s sure is a homicide. All while our lovely heroine Verity takes on a rather large case all to help out her lovable gangster ghost Franky! Inspector Julien De Clercq, whom we met in the last book show up to say he needs a criminal to help him solve the last case he worked before dying. He tells Franky and Verity that they can work for him solving the murder of A Judge on the Historical Adair Property, or Franky will be imprisoned on Verity’s property. So really this punishment effects them both! The Murder has became a menacing vengeful poltergeists who rules the Adair property with an iron fist, leaving Verity and Franky in some trouble. Meanwhile in non-ghostly life Virginia invites Ellis and Verity to a barbecue with the sole purpose of having Ellis talk some sense into his brother Beau. Beau it appears has a new girlfriend who for the SHAME owns and works in a food truck!! She is also responsible for his drastic change into a bohemian southern artist... Of course Virginia believes it’s all Verity’s fault not the new girlfriends, so she charges Verity with the job of getting him back to work at the family law firm. Ellis isn’t as large a part in this book he’s there but he’s busy working his own case. A woman is found dead at the bottom of the quarry it’s deemed an accident but Ellis is sure she was killed. Working on that assumption he continues to work the case only the victim isn’t from Sugarland and the can find no links to help get the case moving so it stagnates all the way until the end. Leaving Franky and Verity in there own with the dower Inspector. Verity and Franky’s case was super interesting for me, I loved all the 1920’s splash. I loved getting to know all the ghosts at the Adair’s parties. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Beau’s weird story arc, or and Ellis’s case seemed like an after thought. I did thing the characters life stories moved in a positive direction so I can see a small window for a happy ending in there future. That makes me a little happy they had seemed to stagnate in past books or even back track. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Another great one by Angie Fox! This series just keeps getting better and better. As usual very hard to put down! Ellis and Verity are even closer, Beau apparently has a screw loose since his Sugarland Express experience, and Virginia and Verity may have come to an understanding. Verity and Frankie make a great detective team, even if Inspector De Clercq doesn't agree with their methods. Fantastic series! Can't wait for the next one!