October is shaping up to be scary busy for my party planning business, Liv 4 Fun, with a riverboat gambler-theme engagement party for seventy-five people and a city-wide, multi-venue spooky Halloween fundraiser for charity to cap off the month. I had hopes the annual Dixie businesswomen’s retreat this weekend would be a respite for me before crunch time—but it isn’t exactly turning out that way.
Morgan Robison, president of the Professional Women’s Association of Dixie, known as PWAD for short and commonly referred to as pee wad, has assigned me the task of looking after our guest speaker for the retreat. Lucinda Grable, who grew up in Dixie and had been Morgan’s college roommate at Ole Miss, is now a TV celebrity with her own popular ghost-hunting show. I foolishly thought it might be fun to meet her and hear about her ghost-hunting exploits. If I’d only known, I would have run faster than snagged pantyhose.
Morgan’s a vice-president at Dixie Savings and Loan, with her main qualification being that her daddy owns the bank. But Morgan really excelled at a couple of things: telling other people what to do, and making time with other women’s husbands and boyfriends. Both of these talents mean there are lots of people in town who don’t much care for her. So when a few other PWAD members and I stumble over her dead body on the grounds of the retreat center, there are suspects aplenty.
With Morgan turning up up dead just after Lucinda and her ghost-hunting crew had led us on an excursion in a neglected, little family cemetery, a couple of the ladies imagine there may be some otherworldly element involved. But when Sheriff Dave arrests their friend for murder, the pair’s suspicions move from ghosts to ghost hunters. And the reality TV diva threatens to call the law on them unless I can get her newfound “stalkers” to behave.
I’ve really tried to stay out of the murder investigation this time around. The last time there were murders in Dixie, the FBI started eyeing my husband and father-in-law as possible suspects. I had no choice but to try to point the sheriff in the right direction. While I’m not happy Morgan was murdered, she was neither kith nor kin to me.
However, Lucinda’s stalkers are beginning to make me wonder if Dave has locked up the wrong person for murder. Lucinda’s personal assistant appears to have caused Di and me to have a little accident —and the sheriff seems totally disinclined to look at other suspects. So I’m left with no choice but to track a killer with my trusty sidekick, Di Souther.
By the way, Di would not appreciate being referred to as my sidekick, so maybe I should dub her my partner in crime-solving instead. Either way when it comes to unraveling a murder mystery the two of us fancy ourselves to be a little bit Thelma and Louise but, truth be told, Lucy and Ethel would probably be closer to the truth. Still when the two of us go looking for a killer we usually find one—much to the consternation of Sheriff Dave, who is also Di’s somewhat complicated love interest.
You can read more about killer parties, Southern charm—and murder in It’s Your Party, Die If You Want To, the second book in the Liv and Di in Dixie mystery series, published by Kensington. Great timing for a fun Halloween read.
Between a riverboat gambler-theme engagement party and a murder mystery dinner for charity, Dixie, Tennessee, party planner Liv McKay is far too frenzied to feel festive. Add to the mix her duties at the annual businesswomen’s retreat and the antics of a celebrity ghost-hunting diva, and Liv’s schedule is turning out to be the scariest thing about this Halloween—especially when the ladies stumble across a dead body in a cemetery. . .
Morgan Robison was a party girl with a penchant for married men and stirring up a cauldron of drama. Any number of scorned wives or frightened philanderers could be behind her death. As Liv and her best friend, Di, set out to dig up the truth, they’ll face the unexpected and find their efforts hampered by a killer with one seriously haunting vendetta. . .
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About the author
Vickie Fee grew up on a steady diet of Nancy Drew, daydreams and sweet iced tea. She has a journalism degree and spent many years as a reporter covering small Southern towns populated with colorful characters, much like those in her books’ fictional town of Dixie, Tennessee. She’s a past president of the Malice in Memphis chapter of Sisters in Crime and current member of the Wisconsin Sisters in Crime and Guppies Chapter. She’s currently at work on the next book in the Liv and Di in Dixie mystery series. Connect with Vickie at vickiefee.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a signed copy of It’s Your Party, Die If You Want To. US and Canadian entries only, please. The giveaway will end October 1, 2016 at 12 AM (midnight) EST. Good luck everyone!
This sounds like such a fun read and I love the cover art. A new series for me to get interested in – yay!
It would be fun to win this book. Thanks for the chance!
I love Halloween based cozies. So toss my name into your magic hat please Dru.
I love cozy mysteries and this one looks really good! Thanks for the chance to win it!! lindaherold999@gmail.com
Love Southern small town mysteries! Always full of fun characters. I’d love to win this one.
I love the title. Thank you for the giveaway.
LOVE the cover!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I enjoy seasonal themed mysteries and I love the title.
I love the title of this book. Sounds like a fun series. Thank you for the chance to win
Halfway through and loving this book!
Another series to be put on my t-b-r list. I will never live long enough to read them all, but it will be fun trying.
Does so look like a good read. Love those punny titles. New author/new series. So looking forward to getting started on this series. Thanks for a most interesting post
Great series, great author, great giveaway. I really enjoyed the first in this series and would be delighted to add number two to my collection. Thank you for the contest today!
I love the cover and I’m sure I would love the book. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Thanks for this intriguing cozy mystery.
This is a gotta read book! I love the cover and holiday stories.
I used to belong to a professional women’s organization in the 80’s. I was on the committee to call everyone to remind them of the monthly meeting. As a professional, I thought it was ridiculous. As a professional I thought a letter would look more professional. The calling like we were children was silly.How could we be taken seriously if we didn’t take each other seriously.
Would love this book!
Great review I’m looking froward to reading this, it sounds very good. love the cover and she’s a new Author for me,
Penney
Sounds like one of those characters who when she is found dead no one is particularly sad.
I already have a copy, so don’t select me for a copy. I just wanted to compliment Vicki Fee on another terrific book. Anyone getting a copy of this book is in for a real treat. Excellent writing, excellent story, and lots of fun.
Yay — a Halloween book! Please sign me up for the giveaway! Thanks Dru Ann ~
Clever title! I want it.
Love the cover and the book has all the things I love in a mystery!! Thanks for the chance to win it!
Sounds like a fun series, I just bought the first book to get started. Thanks for the chance to win. Oh, and I love the cover!
Love this series, thanks for the chance to win & read the second book!
I chuckled when I read the title of this book since it made me think of Lesley Gore and her song. I would love to be the fortunate one to win this book. robeader53@yahoo.com
Thanks for letting Liv and me hang out on your blog today, Dru!
Lisa Weiner and Grace Topping: thanks for the kind endorsements!
And good luck to everyone in the drawing — appreciate you dropping by!
love halloween themed books and really enjoy this series. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this newest title!
I loved the first book and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance!
Seems like this book has everything covered. An engagement party, a Halloween fundraiser, a cemetery excursion and a murder. Looking forward to reading “It’s Your Party, Die If You Want To”.
Sounds like a fun Halloween cozy.
I cant believe I have missed this series. I love reading books set in my home state of TN. I would love to win a copy of this one!!
What an interesting series and I don’t know about it. I will have to remedy that.
Sounds like a great cozy.
Sounds like a great cozy mystery .
Will be looking for the first in the series this weekend. I would enjoy winning the second in the series. Southern cozy mysteries are fun to read. Thanks for the opportunity.
A new author, to me, with Southern charm. I’ll include her on my must reads list.
I will have to add to my long list of TBR books. I love the title.
I love this series. Thank you for the chance to win a signed copy of It’s Your Party, Die If You Want To.
I love Halloween and Halloween parties! This book sounds right up my alley. Thanks DruAnn for bringing it to my attention. Thanks also for the chance to win a copy Vicki! 🙂
Looking forward to Liv and Di’s next adventure. Don’t think I’ll be able to take them on a road trip this time. 😉
A good mystery is always nice read for the Fall. Thanks for the giveaway. Hoping to win.
I can never resist October Cozy Mysteries and this would be a good one. Please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Elaine N., Liv and Di had a blast on your road trip! Thanks for taking us along for the ride 🙂