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 … 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?
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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.
Southern Bred and Dead is the ninth book in Angie Fox’s Southern Ghost Hunters series. The story begins innocently enough as Frankie the German accompanies Verity to a fundraising event at the Three Angels of the Tabernacle Blessed Reform of Sugarland. As Frankie has plugged Verity into the ghostly realm, she is able to see many residents of the church graveyard, all of which seem angry. In fact, there is a point in which Verity is running for her life and on his special app Ellis receives the message of the danger she is in.
Ellis and Verity have words because of this and she lets him know of the conversation she heard in the prior book. Can they put all of this beyond them and go back to where they were?
As Verity does her best to help the restless souls find peace, she also works to help find peace for Frankie, his brother Lou, and sister in law Charity. This quest takes Verity on a number of adventures until she can lead them all to closure.
Will Frankie learn the reasoning behind his murder at the hands of his brother? Will they be able to come to terms and move forward? In a very convoluted story, Verity becomes the conductor to a symphony of differing strands in a story with great historical depth and modern meanings. This may we’ll be the premier story in this series. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
Southern Bred and Dead is the newest book in the Southern Ghost Hunters series. Verity has 2 deaths to solve this time and ends up solving a few other mysteries along the way. One of Verity’s grandmothers friends dies at a fundraiser at an old church right before giving her some items from Verity’s grandmother. Suspicious?? Frankie, Verity’s business partner and gangster ghost, plans to finally solve his own murder and find out why it happened. Verity’s boyfriend and local police officer Ellis, would prefer Verity let him solve all the murders and mysteries of the live residents (not happening!). Sometimes I find Ellis irritating in how he talks to Verity but I still think they’re a cute couple and hopefully will continue to work things out in their relationship. I liked the characters in this book along with some of the new characters. Maybelle is a hoot and made me laugh. You also get to meet Frankie’s brother Lou. Verity spends time visiting a bakery, floral shop, church and a speakeasy both in the present and past trying to solve the murders. I learned to like Verity’s ex-boyfriend Beau a little more than I used to. As always I loved Verity’s pet skunk Lucy. She sure loves her treats!! Good read for anyone and I highly recommend it.
So we are back with Verity and Frankie! Last book was a rollercoaster! I don’t want to give any major spoilers of it, but we definitely found out that ghost hunting can be some seriously dangerous stuff. So in a big overview of what you need to know to dive into this beauty if you’re new or want a quick refresh:
• Verity Long has a vase that her ex-fiance (Beau) gave her as a gift, only it wasn’t just a vase, it contained the ashes of a 1920s gangster name Frankie.
• When she wanted to clean the ‘vase’, she washed the ashes from it with water and threw them to her flowers ‘grounding’ Frankie to the property and now he can’t leave unless she takes vase with her (which, she apparently didn’t clean very good)
• Frankie can lend her his power to allow her to see the ghost side and when she is connected, she can *really* get hurt by anything that happens in the ghost side and also the normal one.
• She is dating a cop, Ellis (ex-fiancé older brother… small town) but they are so cute and so in love with each other. Also, we found out that Ellis isn’t too happy about Verity’s new job but he told Frankie so we were missing ‘the talk’.
• Now we know who killed Frankie and he really wants to confront this person so he can maybe get unground from Verity’s house.
So we start some weeks after what happen in Mint Julep (I think) and Ellis hasn’t said anything about what Verity overheard and she has asked so they are in some weird limbo and they aren’t sure what to do. She decides to have some little fun at a church charity where she is meeting one of her granma’s friend who has something she wants Verity to have before she has to go hunting the person who killed Frankie. She feels some weird stuff at the church and meets with granma’s friend who gives her a flower and when she is putting it away, the friend gets killed.
Now, I’m trying to write this review as spoiler-free as possible but beware that it may have some mild content, so read cautiously. I have to divide the story in two parts, one is Verity’s relationship and the other, the mystery around the dead person.
1. The first one made me hate Verity for almost 80% of the book and at this moment I’m not completely sold in that ending. I knew she was stubborn but I really wanted to bang her head against the wall to make her see reason or for something horrible to happen so she can understand what Ellis was saying. I don’t think she gets how dangerous is what she is doing and especially doesn’t get that is not that she is a woman and should have someone protecting her, but is Ellis wanting her to be safe because he loves her. I hate feeling like Ellis deserved better and I know this isn’t a romance, this is a cozy mystery with a dash of romance, but still, I think that if you’re going to delve into their relationship you either develop it better or cut it. Because this kind of not really solving anything definitely didn’t work for me.
2. The mystery around what happen was super interesting, I loved how Angie combined these two storylines so seamlessly, it was a natural progression and loved the contrast between the last book where we got a lot of hatred from our ‘bad guys’ and this one. I really would love to see more about this storyline, I think there is more to be said all the places that we visited, I think she made some impressions and could use those new resources and I mean she does have a date 😉
Overall I did like this book but for me, it’s an in-between, like we needed this part done to get to the good stuff, as an introduction on what’s going to happen in the future.
Southern Bred and Dead by Angie Fox
Book 9 of the Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series. Best read as part of the series.
Gangster ghost Frankie and Verity are solving another murder and chasing ghosts in this cute and sometimes scary mystery series. Lots of recurring characters that you want to meet over and over again (like the pet skunk Lucy) plus new parts of Sugarland that we haven’t visited (or broken into) yet.
The ghosts at the church are chasing Verity and it’s never been more dangerous to be a ghost hunter. Verity’s cop boyfriend isn’t happy with her ignoring the danger either since he can’t see or protect her from the malevolent entities.
It’s a race to solve the murder and figure out the multiple layers of mysteries to the resolution.
Pulse pounding chills and what feels like family by the end of book 9. Can’t wait to find out what’s next.
A Heartwarming Tale of Family, Love, and Redemption
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.
I love this series! This installment has Verity trying to find the truth behind the death of an old family friend. In the process we learn more about Frankie’s background and family. My only disappointment is that Ellis and Verity were at odds through most of the story….I really like their relationship and scenes together. Let’s hope Verity can solve the crime, help her ghostly partner and fix her love life by the end of this one.
Of all the Southern Ghost hunting novels so far, this one is my favorite! Why? Because Frankie! This book delves into Frankie’s past and the reason for his death. That gruff mobster has grown on me (and I’m sure you too) like a fungus. Despite his rough exterior and less than stellar personality, we are so eager to find out more about him. So when he convinces Verity to help him track down the clues to his murder, they end up with that and some bonus information that is pretty interesting!
Once again the reader is swept up in a ghostly adventure with Verity and Frankie. I love going along for these rides! I am grateful that this one wasn’t as creepy as the last one, Lol but it was just as fun and exciting! SBAD gets 5 stars! I think I may reread this a few times while I wait on the next one. 🙂
Jorie Davis, an old friend of her grandmother’s is found dead at the bottom of a church tower mere minutes after she had told Verity that she had an old photograph of her grandmother for her, but did she fall or was she pushed? And what had happened to the photo? What happens next is a rollercoaster of a ride through a haunted speakeasy & movie theatre culminating in a showdown in a cemetery that is reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
This is another fantastic addition to the Southern Ghost Hunter series. The humour is still there but Southern Bred and Dead is a little more solemn than we’ve come to expect from Angie Fox but this in no way lessened my enjoyment of the book. More of Frankie the German’s past life & death is revealed and there’s trouble in paradise between Verity and Ellis as he struggles with her ‘deliberately putting herself in danger’ as he sees it. Both elements which just add more depth to the series for me. We meet more eccentric characters both living and dead – wait until Ellis finds out about his ghostly competition and after hating Beau for the previous 8 books he’s slowly beginning to grow on me. I love how this series is evolving without losing the any of the humour and quirkiness that drew me to it in the first place. I can’t wait to read what Verity and Frankie are going to get up to next.
Snark, mystery, love , and a fabulous skunk. What more do you need in a book. I love this series and I adore the characters. Each story gets better and better.
The latest Angie Fox Southern Ghost Hunter book starts off with a great laugh. I won’t spoil it, but it involves Lucy, Verity’s pet skunk, and a pink purse.
Verity is a Southern gal who has a sweet pet skunk named Lucy, a 1920’s mobster-ghost sidekick, Frankie, and a sheriff boyfriend. Frankie can help her see and experience the past and that’s allowed Verity to solve several murders, both in the ghostly past 1920’s and present.
Verity is a little sassier in this tale and Frankie has become a little more sensitive as they close in on the person who shot Frankie all those years ago – and why.
Along the way, Verity and her boyfriend, Ellis, have some rocky times, which really worried me. Her ex-boyfriend, Beau, who is Ellis’s brother – another whole story there! – is also hip-deep in this book and becomes a real surprise.
There is no way to guess at how this story ends, but you won’t be disappointed.
I could not love this series more! It is so much fun to read! The story is in a series but can stand alone. Verity Long is such a great heroine. She is caring about those that are alive and not alive. While she can see the dead side with Frankie the German’s help she wants to help who ever is in need. This story gives a closer look into Frankie’s family. It still gave me chills and it was a “couldn’t put it down” book!
Once again Angie Fox brings us into the world of Sugarland… Oh how I have missed sweet little miss sassy Lucy…
This time Verity and Frankie are in for a him ding a linger. Of a murder to solve all the while trying to find out a even bigger reason. Why Frankie’s brother shot him? In this book Verity is being emotional support not only for a ghost, but to calm her boyfriend Eli’s fears too. So can Verity pull thru by the skin of her teeth or make it out free n clear?
Angie Fox is absolutely one of my go to authors when I want mystery and a bit of romance. We’ve been building up to the mystery of Frankie’s killer for a long time and we found out who at the end of the last book, but not the why. This book sees Frankie trying to confront his killer and at long last we find out the why, and it was a shocker. We also see that Verity and Elis are a bit on the outs after the events in the asylum and an unlikely person is determined to see them happy together. Add in a bit of the adorable Lucy and some hoots of secondary characters and you have yourself one great book that I couldn’t put down! Highly recommended!
This is the 9th book in the series. Verity is at it again crime solving and dealing with the goings from her ghostly sidekick as she tries to solve the mystery of his death. I loved the back story of Frankie’s made him more real to me in this one. A nice clean fun cozy mystery fast to read and pass the time. looking forward to see what comes next.
We are at the ninth book in this series, and I think this was probably the best yet. The tone of this book was a little more serious than usual. Verity and Ellis have a serious problem in their relationship that I was worried about the whole book, and I was especially worried when the ex showed up and was nice. LOL! Add that, Frankie is exploring and figuring out a big family mess, and the murder of one of Verity’s grandmother’s friends make this book a little more serious. Don’t get me wrong, there was still the humor you’ve come to expect, but the subject matter was a little more serious. All in all, this was a great addition to the series, and I’m anxious to see how the events at the end change events in future books. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Frankie is the major focus of this, the 9th of this wonderful series. For the past eight books poor Verity has been trying to undo the big oops she committed when she bound his ashes to the rose bush in her garden. Frankie does get tired of being hauled around tied to his urn and Verity has to always figure out how to do the hauling. She can’t just walk around holding it like a bouquet of flowers. This time she has the idea that if Frankie can find his brother and resolve his many issues with him then maybe it will set him free. Heck, she’s even tried to introduce him to self help books and talk therapy. Needless to say, Frankie is…well, Frankie.
On a trip to the Three Angels of the Tabernacle Blessed Reform Church of Sugarland to meet with volunteers who are trying to raise money for renovations Verity chats with an old friend of the family who wants to give her a photo of her grandmother when in her early 20’s and some other mementoes.
Verity has to leave her for a moment and when she returns, the lady is gone. When next seen, moments later, she is falling from the church tower. If it was suicide, why? If it was murder. who and why? This starts to create a rift between Verity and her boyfriend, Ellis. This thread had me more than a little on edge all through the story. Ellis wants her to stop her ghostly investigating, fearing that he won’t be able to prevent her being seriously harmed. Having to set that aside is hard but Verity does have two things to investigate and Frankie is ready to take her for quite a ride back to the world that was his in the 1920’s. While they search for his brother, Lou, Verity gets to see what Sugarland looked like back in the day. Very well presented with some very funny parts. Like a certain bartender who gets Verity to make him a promise.
This was a bit more serious than previous books but finding out more about Frankie’s past was well worth it. The usual cast of characters was on hand and Lucy was her usual awesome cute self. (She reminds me of the skunk I knew and loved as a kid) If you are new to this series, this can be read as a stand alone but, to get the best out of it I would encourage reading them in order. Just line them all up and settle down to binge.
I love these books. This one gives the reader more insights into the characters that I love from the previous books. It’s fun to escape into Verity’s world.
I just love this series! Tagging along with Verity as she tries to help everyone she sees (living or dead) leads to some interesting adventures. This is the 9th in the Southern Ghost Hunter series and it was just as fun to read as the ones before. I really enjoyed learning more about Frankie in this one.
What a great read! A different vibe from the others in the series. There was more history of Sugarland in this book. I was able to visualize the town and the buildings in present and past times. Example: Verity and Frankie went into a run down BBQ joint. Frankie then let Verity “see” what the building was during his time, a flower shop and speakeasy! Great description of clothes and the music of that period.
The majority of the story is set at the Tabernacle Blessed Reform Church, where Verity’s friend “falls” from the church bell tower to her death. Her investigating causes a lot of friction with Ellis. He feels she is beginning to cross the line with the law to get answers. I was nervous for their relationship the entire book!
The other major part of the book is about Frankie and his family. I’m really glad Angie Fox delved into his story. We learn how he joins the gangster life. And the story of him and his brother Lou is very moving. Frankie really does care deeply for the people in his life, even Lucy!
A fun read with zombie ghosts, ex fiancé and an appreciation for family.