Sophia Rose is here with the eleventh book in the Southern Ghost Hunter; a paranormal cozy mysteries series. Give Up the Ghost by Angie Fox is a standalone mystery with some ghostly elements. Grab an iced tea and check it out….
by Angie Fox
Series: Southern Ghost Hunter #11
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Some secrets should stay buried.
Ghost hunter Verity Long is no stranger to scandal. In fact, it seems to follow her around like her pet skunk, Lucy. But Verity is as shocked as anybody when a town relic discovered in a time capsule unleashes a torrent of secrets that lead to murder.
Trouble is, the only residents in Sugarland who know the truth behind the scandal also happen to be very dead themselves. With a killer on the loose and a town in crisis, Verity braves a side of Sugarland she's never seen before. From a booby-trapped haunted mansion to a run-in with the spirit of Sugarland's most notorious blackmailer who may hold the key to setting mob ghost Frankie free...for a price.
But when a live killer gets an inside track on Verity's investigation, will she live long enough to give up the ghost?
Sophia Rose’s Review
A vicious Burn book, a murdered hairdresser, and a town roiling as past secrets come out. I was jazzed to pick up the latest ghostly murder mystery with the loveable amateur detecting team of Verity and ghost gangster Frankie.
The books are standalone murder and ghost mysteries, but there is Verity’s ongoing story and build of relationships particularly her side plot romance interest with sheriff’s deputy, Ellis Wydell, the brother of her ex-fiancé and son of the woman who has most made Verity’s life miserable. So, reading in order gives the background ongoing story.
In this latest, Give Up the Ghost, the daughter of a former gossip queen and blackmailer gets back her mother’s burn book that held all the secrets the hairdresser learned about the people in town, but then is murdered and the book is missing. Unfortunately for Ellis who is a sheriff’s deputy, he arrives on the scene to find his mother near the body and she has blood on her. He’s taken off the case, ordered to handle a stakeout outside of town, and can’t be there when his mother is deserted by the rest of the family and her so-called friends when pages from the burn book show up to tattle on her past.
Virginia Wydell has made Verity’s life a nightmare since she walked away from her wedding with Beau and started dating Beau’s brother, Ellis. Ellis knows what he’s asking when he calls on Verity to use her connection to the ghost world to get at the truth and help his mother. And, Verity’s heart is big enough to take care of the woman for Ellis’ sake.
But one more startling bit ups the ante for Verity and Frankie. A ghost they go to interview knows how to free Frankie from Verity, accidentally grounding his spirit to her family land. They have slowly become a partnership and they often fret about being stuck with each other, but when the possibility of freedom is offered? Neither are as excited as they thought they’d be.
Give Up the Ghost was a wonderful blend of ghost adventure, small town antics, murder mystery, and some character plotting. Virginia Wydell has been the bullying snobbish woman through the whole series so it was both gratifying and a bit of a shock to see her get her just desserts in this one. I didn’t figure out the murder mystery even though the suspect list wasn’t very long, but I also wasn’t surprised when the truth came out, either. The murder was backburnered for much of the book and I was more interested in what was going on with Virginia and Frankie’s storylines.
My biggest relief was discovering this was not the final book and there will be more ghostly mysteries to solve. Granted, it will be interesting to see what the reveals do to the rest of the series, but I am all in to find out. The Southern Ghost Hunter series falls in the paranormal cozy category, but it has some good excitement and even some creepy moments. I whole-heartedly recommend these to the cozy crowd, but even some of the urban fantasy lovers out there who like a good ghost story.
Give Up the Ghost by Angie Fox delivered a paranormal cozy that readers recommend, #bookreview #SouthernGhostHunter #SophiaRose Share on XAbout Angie Fox
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books.
Angie is best known for her SOUTHERN SPIRITS™ mysteries, and for her ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER books.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Ellis’s mom sounds like a piece of work. I do like the sound of this series! This is book one so is it a spinoff from a previous series that I’d need to read first?
Sophia Rose
Sorry Rachel, this is actually not book one, but book eleven. Book one is a permanent freebie, Southern Spirits. Give it a go. 🙂
BonnieReadsAndWrites
I like really light paranormal fiction so I might try this.
Sophia Rose
Glad to put it on your radar, Bonnie. If you have Amazon Kindle, the first book, Southern Spirits, is a freebie. 🙂
Katherine
This series has been on TBR since the first one – how is it on #11?? This sounds so fun!
Sophia Rose
LOL, time sure does fly, Katherine. I came to this series late, but it was so whimsical and fun that I had to devour the early books and get caught up.
Debbie Haupt
Wow book 11, how have I let this get away from me, oh yeah life LOL great review I have got to learn to say NO so I can go back and finish my unread list. Thanks Sophia Rose great review
Sophia Rose
It’s like you took the words right out of my mouth. Say no and finish up the ones on my list is a big goal of mine, too. 🙂
Wendy
I like the idea of a ghostly cozy mystery series! Wonderful review, Sophia.
Sophia Rose
This is the series that got me into the cozy mystery genre and it is still my favorite. 🙂
Anne - Books of My Heart
I’ve only read the first couple in this series but I liked them.
Sophia Rose
I started late in the series and went back for the earlier books and then pressed forward. It has stayed strong for me and I love Frankie’s antics. 🙂
Sara
Oh I am definitely going to add this to the TBR! Need to check out this series. Ghost hunting and cozy mysteries? YES please.
Sophia Rose
Yay! Glad to put it on your radar, Sara. The first book is an Amazon Freebie.