Occupation: Private Investigator

So, my husband, Nate, meticulously planned a family getaway for the better part of a year. He brought our entire family to St. John, in the US Virgin Islands, to celebrate our one-year anniversary, Christmas, and a slew of other happy milestones. We had much to be grateful for. Apparently, Nate was quite wealthy, something the terms of his grandfather’s will required him to keep from me until our first anniversary. I was still processing exactly how much we had to be grateful for.

If you’ve never been to St. John, it’s the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands. At roughly twenty-eight square miles, it’s slightly larger than Stella Maris, but the topography is very different. It’s lush and hilly, reminds me of a rainforest, like someone set a piece of the North Carolina mountains (another favorite place of mine) on top of this unspoiled island in the middle of the bluest, clearest water you’ve ever seen. Two thirds of the island is a national park, which helps keep this island from being overdeveloped. Some would argue parts of the island are sprouting too many condos, and I wouldn’t argue against them. But most of this island paradise still runs wild and green, covered in dense vegetation. I like to think someone like Colleen watches over St. John.

There’s no airport in St. John. We flew into St. Thomas, rented Jeeps, and drove them across St. Thomas to Red Hook on the east end, then took the car ferry over to St. John. This was somewhat of an adventure in and of itself, especially with our bunch. We’re all accustomed to car ferries, of course. But the one we took from Red Hook over to St. John was a bit more rustic than the Stella Maris ferry, and the waves much more active. Merry slipped Mamma one of her little yellow pills when we left the airport, as a preventative measure.

I’d been looking forward to our trip for months. If you’d told me before we left for St. John that Mamma would make fast friends with two ladies from the Upstate, and that these three sweet Southern belles would embroil us all in a case involving adultery, junk cars, and money laundering, I would’ve politely inquired as to which hallucinogenic you were imbibing. But that’s exactly what happened.

Lowcountry Getaway, A Liz Talbot Mystery #11
Genre: Private Investigator
Release: December 2022
Purchase Link

Christmas in the Islands…Nate Andrews whisked the entire Talbot clan off for a holiday adventure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As they relax on the beach of sunny St. John, Liz Talbot grapples with the secret her husband has kept since the day she met him—he’s a very wealthy man. Will all that money change everything?

Meanwhile, the wild donkeys on the island follow Daddy around like he’s their leader, and Mamma has made new friends. Beverly Baker and Frankie Summey are conducting a do-it-yourself investigation. They’re hot on the trail of Beverly’s husband, Melvin, and his mistress, the tantrum yoga instructor. When Mamma is caught masterminding an undercover operation, naturally, Liz and Nate step in.

As the family gathers around the Christmas tree, Beverly and Frankie stumble into the crosshairs of a dangerous criminal organization. Liz and Nate scramble to find a killer before three sweet Southern belles wind up in a tropical prison.

About the author
Susan M. Boyer is the author of the USA TODAY bestselling Liz Talbot Mystery Series which has won or been nominated for honors such as the Agatha Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Macavity Award, multiple Okra picks, and the Pat Conroy Beach Music Mystery Prize. She and her husband call Greenville, SC, home and spend as much time as possible on the Carolina coast.

All comments are welcomed.

GIVEAWAY: Susan has generously offered to give away one kindle copy of Lowcountry Getaway. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends December 28, 2022. Good luck everyone!