Review: Southern Harm by Caroline Fardig

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-ARC

Publisher:
Alibi

Release Date:
November 12, 2019






Synopsis from Goodreads:

A little Southern charm never killed anybody—until now—in an enchanting cozy mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Southern Discomfort and the Java Jive novels.

After solving a murder at a local restaurant, Quinn Bellandini just wants to get back to her comfortable life running her grandfather’s B&B in Savannah, Georgia, with her sister, Delilah. But those plans get buried when Quinn and her new boyfriend, Tucker Heyward, dig up an old skeleton while doing some landscaping in his aunt Lela’s backyard. Before long, Lela becomes the prime suspect in the thirty-three-year-old unsolved murder of a high school homecoming queen.

Tucker is devastated. But Quinn’s conscience won’t let her risk an elderly woman spending her twilight years in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. And Delilah, bored by the quiet B&B biz, has been itching to do some more investigating of her own.

Soon they’re questioning a growing list of suspects, from nosy neighbors and snooty Savannah socialites to mild-mannered teachers and old high-school friends of the victim—including Quinn and Delilah’s own parents. But no one is safe from a killer who’s totally old school.

My Review

Quinn Bellandini is settling in and running her Bed &Breakfast with her grandfather and sister in Savannah, Georgia. She has a new boyfriend, Tucker, and all is going well, until she does some landscaping and digs up an old skeleton. She learns that the skeleton belongs to a young woman who went missing thirty years ago.

When Tucker’s aunt Lela is arrested for the old murder case, he’s more than a little upset and asks Quinn to help him clear his aunt’s name. With the help of her sister, Delilah, the three of them begin their own investigation.

Quinn and her crew learn that the dead woman had many enemies and a few that hit a bit too close to home for their comfort. They vow to find the truth no matter where it leads them.

This is the second book in the series and I loved this one even more than the first. I don’t think it hurts to read this one without reading the first one, but it’s so much more enjoyable to read the series from the start. I felt like I was visiting old friends.

The characters are really coming alive with each book and the relationships are blossoming. The story moved at a fast-pace. The author kept me guessing until I was close to the end of the book. I kept changing my mind as to who the killer was. Keeping the reader guessing is always a good thing and the author hit all the right buttons for me. I’m looking forward to the third book in this fun series.

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.