Southern Spirits – First book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series – Book Review
Author: Angie Fox
Genre: Cosy mystery, supernatural, paranormal, urban fantasy, romance
My rating: ★★★★☆
Release Date: Published 13th January, 2015 by Angie Fox
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
What did I think?
Verity is a bright, plucky southern gal in danger of losing the family home through a nasty relationship breakdown. But Verity’s got a can do attitude and when she runs into a ghost, Frankie (quite the character himself), suddenly she sees the possibility of saving her home. Before you can pour the sweet tea, Verity is off trying to solve a mystery in Sugarland, the small town where she lives in Tennessee. By the final chapter, everything gets wrapped up neatly, cosy style.
One thing I didn’t understand about this book is why the character Ellis was called a bad-boy in the blurb. He certainly didn’t seem like the resident bad-boy to me but I pushed it aside as it wasn’t important in the scheme of things. What is important is that you suspend your logic to a degree when reading this story! 😛 But this is true of many novels, not just cosy mysteries. Just lean into the fun, the mystery, and enjoy.
There is a hint of romance, but the real hook in Southern Spirits (as stated in the blurb) is Verity’s “supernatural sidekick”, Frankie,) in tandem with Verity’s “ability to see spirits”. And I loved it! Supernatural and paranormal stories appeal to me anyway, plus this is the genre in which I am trying my hand as a writer in my spare time. So, admittedly this story was an easy sell in my case.
There is only one instance of the F-word being used in this novel and all violence is dealt with in a way that isn’t too confronting, even though there are murders, other violence, a nasty ex (and some of his family, too..ugh), and ghostly tantrums.
It’s not a perfectly crafted (or worded) novel, but it is an enjoyable read with a cute story – many points at which I chuckled to myself – and a pacy plot that swept me through the book easily. Had I not had other commitments, I could happily have finished this book in one sitting. Well, with breaks to make tea, anyway. The book is just over 250 pages – on the short side – but that is common for cosy novels.
Southern Spirits is the first book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series (of eight books) by Angie Fox, and I will look forward to reading more.
PS. Though I read the paperback, this (first) book is free to download for Kindle right now. Links below.
For more info: Goodreads – Amazon USA – Amazon Australia