USA Today bestselling series For Southern girl Verity Long, friendship means sitting down to stories and sweet tea on the front porch. For her gangster ghost housemate, it means dragging Verity out to a remote haunted asylum during a raging thunderstorm to do a favor for a long-dead mob boss.But Verity is always ready to help out a friend, even one as eternally eccentric as Frankie. And in the … out a friend, even one as eternally eccentric as Frankie. And in the case of Mint Julep Manor, the stakes are too high to refuse. The criminally insane mob boss holds a secret to Frankie’s past, one that might set Frankie free. Do the favor–survive the favor–and they might change Frankie’s afterlife for good. Fail, and they might never leave the asylum.
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Verity has such a good heart that she can’t say no to her ghostly sidekick when he pleads with her to take him the local (and long ago shuttered) insane asylum ,now known as the Mint Julep Manor. He needs to talk with one of his old gang acquaintances, a really crazy guy, because he holds the key to the one question that consumes Frankie – who shot him in the head, who killed him. With Frankie’s urn stowed in her ample and very stylish tote bag, Verity sets off, with Frankie riding shotgun and her boyfriend, Ellis taking a snooze in the back seat. Fasten your seatbelts – tight as you can – here comes the creepy, the scary, the dangerous and it’s all coming straight at Verity, Frankie and Ellis. From both the living and the dead.
When they arrive at the asylum, Verity has been given permission to talk with the prisoner, Scalieri, three times. She isn’t even thrilled with once as she has already met the gangster and he scared the daylights out of her and there is no reason to think that this encounter will be any better. He is being held under guard in the ghostly “prison” wing complete with very sinister ghostly guards. Those aren’t the only ghosts in residence – several patients are there and several of the medical staff are also there. They make it clear that Verity is not welcome. Somebody else isn’t welcome – the woman who owns the mansion wants to turn it into a tourist attraction and wants Verity to do her ghostly thing and contact them for her. Bad idea, lady, very bad.
I don’t usually like creepy, intense ghosts in my mysteries. I’m more for the gentle, friendly, helpful ghosts. Let’s just say Verity can become one of those ghosts if one of them comes after her while she is using Frankie’s powers to allow her to travel in the ghost world. I will make an exception for Verity and Frankie. Yes, I got a bit creeped out along the way but it wasn’t enough to put me off. On the contrary, I was as eager as Frankie was to get the answers, to find out who dunnit – not just in the real world but in Frankie’s world. I was not disappointed. I will just say that I loved the ending and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for Frankie. I’ve become rather fond of the big galoot and his antics. I also want to see more of the relationship between Verity and Ellis. Last, but not least, I want to see more of Lucy, Verity’s pet skunk. She’s lucky she had to stay out of this story.
Oh, one last thing – if this is your introduction to Verity and the gang, no worries, this works as a stand alone. However, be prepared to binge read the pervious books as this taste will leave you craving more.
Surprises in the 8th installment of the SGH series.
The eighth installment of the Southern Ghost Hunter series, The Mint Julep Murders, finds Verity Long, her formerly alive sidekick Frankie, and cop boyfriend Ellis trapped in the previously abandoned Pikesville Sanitorium dubbed Mint Julep Manor. Located in a neighboring county, the trio is on a mission to get some answers about Frankie’s untimely demise. They meet current owner, Barbara, who is intent on turning the facility into a destination spot for ghost hunters, and a couple visiting for the ghost experience who have some underlying motives.
When one of the small group is found dead, Verity must connect with the spectral plane and the long dead residents of the asylum to unmask the killer among them. What she finds brings a new understanding of what is possible in the present world, as well as the spirit world.
My favorite part of this series is the thoughtful and respectful way author Angie Fox has her protagonist interact with the dead. Obviously these are fictional characters, but many settings have some basis in actual historical events or practices. This particular book deals with the cruel and torturous treatments inflicted on mental health patients, once upon a time, and Verity’s commitment to helping the Manor’s long dead residents overcome the lasting effects of the horrible things they endured in life.
Another fantastic fast paced read, this continues to be one of my favorite mystery series because of the interesting and complex characters, the unexpected plot twists, and the descriptive writing that Fox excels at. If you enjoy mysteries that aren’t terribly dark, mixed with paranormal fun, memorable characters, and a little Southern flavor, this is the series for you. So whether you pick up a hard copy or add this to your electronic reader, make sure you don’t miss The Mint Julep Murders.
Here we are at the eighth book in the Southern Ghost Hunters series, and it’s still going strong. While this is a cozy mystery series, this latest is a tad darker and spookier than the previous installments. However, don’t be afraid to pick it up because it still has the trademark snark, fun, and mystery of the ones before it. No, Lucy isn’t in this one, but you’ll be glad she isn’t when you read this. LOL! I was surprised at the villain at the end just because we’ve never gone there before. Curious as to what I mean? Check it out! I am curious to where the series is going next with the two revelations at the end of this book. Can I have the next one now, please?!? I highly recommend this book and was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Crazy Spirits in a Closed Asylum
This book is 8th in the series. I have read about half of them. Although they are written to stand alone, it would be ideal to read the books in order. The series seems to be a bit more intense as it goes along. Parts of this story raised some serious goosebumps. It all works out in the end. I loved this book. It is not quite a cozy, but it isn’t gross or deeply scary. It is a bit scarier than book 7 and a lot more scary than book 1. I am glad to have read it and plan on reading the whole series. There are some very funny moments and Frankie the gangster is a hoot. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Verity has one in-your-face ghostly housemate! Frankie is as gangster as it gets but he lacks a corporeal body to undertake the investigation into who killed him!
Mint Julep Manor looks like something from a movie but there is lots of skulduggery afoot.
Verity is a great heroine and really wants to help as many ghosts as she can, even those who may not have been the nicest people whilst they were alive! There were a few red herrings and twists to keep you interested.
Ghost hunter Verity Long visits a haunted mental asylum to see one of its inmates. The deceased crime boss demands a high price for his information. Verity does not want to give in to the mob boss’ request. However, she finds herself trapped inside the building with her boyfriend Ellis and ghostly sidekick Frankie. To escape, they need to find out who killed the building’s current owner. What horrors will Verity discover about Mint Julep Manor’s past? Will she get the information needed to set Frankie free?
Sheriff Ellis Wydell accompanies his ghost hunting girlfriend on her latest excursion. He gets his first taste of the dangers Verity faces on each supernatural investigation. When the asylum’s owner ends up dead, Ellis handles things in the living realm while Verity deals with the ghostly plane. Will this case strain Ellis and Verity’s relationship?
Verity is such a beautiful soul. She strives to help everyone, including the most tormented ghosts. I adore how strongly Verity defends the dead’s right for a peaceful afterlife. She dislikes anyone exploiting them, especially for monetary gain or public attention. What I like the most about Verity is the lengths she goes through to help Frankie without forsaking her ethics. She refuses to allow the gangster to push her into anything illegal. Instead, Verity looks for positive ways to solve her supernatural cases.
Ellis is still a dreamboat. I am glad he plays a more active role in this book than the prior ones. I love Ellis’ consideration for Frankie even though he cannot see nor hear the surly gangster. It really shows what kind of person he is inside, unlike some of his family members. What I like most about Ellis is his protectiveness of Verity. He dislikes feeling powerless against paranormal forces, but that does not stop him from trying to keep her safe.
THE MINT JULEP MURDERS is book eight in Angie Fox’s paranormal series, SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES. The story can stand alone, yet it is better to read the previous books and novellas to understand the characters and what drives them. I like how this book is darker than the prior seven books with just enough humor to break up the storyline’s tenseness.
THE MINT JULEP MURDERS is a suspenseful mystery with the right amount of zany humor. I like how things are churning in Verity’s world, both good and bad. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
You
It was a dark and stormy night and Angie Fox goes to a whole new place in her latest book. Our favorite ghost hunter is back and going to a insane asylum to hopefully help her ghost partner, Frankie. And we get to meet some new people too. This book had me not only on the edge of my seat, because it is really creepy and has some scary moments but also touched my heart with some of the ghost you meet. The setting is amazing, as I think we all have heard stories of haunted asylums and Ms. Fox catches that fear and sadness perfectly. She has tapped into a place of fear, lost hope and surprisingly love that will stay with you even after the story has ended.
ghosts, cozy-mystery, women-sleuths, murder, law-enforcement
The review is not unbiased because I really love this series (even if the cute pet skunk is only referenced rather than getting a cameo)! Verity became the conduit for ghosts a few years ago, especially her (sometimes unwilling) house ghost, Frankie. On this expedition Frankie wants answers from an old nemesis from Prohibition necessitating a visit to the dilapidated old insane asylum. The police officer/boyfriend, Ellis, insists on coming along for safety, and the whole venture just keeps getting scarier and scarier. No spoilers, just expect lots of surprises! I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Author Collective 20/Moose Island Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
This is hands down, by far, my favorite Southern Ghost Hunter novel. I love how it was more serious, and holy cow, the author has a serious future in horror if she decides to switch genres! This is an intense, snarky whodunnit that while staying true to the seven previous novels, manages to stand out from the crowd. This was a fantastic read, and I’ve already read it a second time, just because it’s THAT good! Spectacular read, thank you for the opportunity to review this gem!
Another great book in the series!
I must admit that it was a bit slow for me in the beginning (probably just me, though). Once the murder happens the story takes off. Plenty of twists and turns, a limited pool of suspects, the haunted asylum and its ghosts kept the story interesting. Mint Julep Murders was scarier than the other books in the series (in the best of ways).
Be warned, there are some small cliffhangers (at least for me.)
*I was lucky enough to get an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review
The Mint Julep Murders by Angie Fox is another winner in this series.
Verity, Frankie and Ellis visit the Mint Julep Manor to meet with a ghost from Frankie’s past. Verity and Frankie are hoping he can help restore Frankie’s memory about who killed him. As usual with Verity and Frankie, nothing goes as planned and soon they are stuck inside the old house with a murderer and several ghosts. I really like Verity as she always wants to help as many ghosts as she can which often leads her off the path of solving the crime(s). The story was fast paced with limited suspects, red herrings and twists that kept me completely in the dark. At one point in the story I was gripping my Kindle hard because I was scared for Verity. I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my afternoon that in the Southern Ghost Hunter world.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.