Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer is the seventh book in the “Liz Talbot” mystery series, coming May 29, 2018 from Henery Press.
Lowcountry PI Liz Talbot returns to the streets of Charleston in the seventh installment of Susan M. Boyer’s USA TODAY bestselling mystery series.
Between an epic downpour and a King Tide, those historic streets are flooded—and dangerous. A late night tragic accident along the Lower Battery leads Liz Talbot straight to her next case.
Who’s the client? Well, now, therein lies the first puzzle. When the police arrive at the scene of the accident, Poppy Oliver claims she’s only trying to help.
But the dent on the front of her Subaru and the victim’s injuries provoke a certain Charleston police detective’s suspicious nature. A wealthy, anonymous benefactor hires Liz and her partner Nate Andrews to prove Poppy Oliver’s innocence.
What exactly was Poppy Oliver up to? Is she a random good Samaritan who happens upon the accident scene? Or perhaps this tragedy wasn’t an accident. She just might be his abused wife’s accomplice.
Why does everyone involved in this case have a sudden burning urge for reading material, leading them to the same charming bookshop along the waterfront?
From a risqué, exclusive club in an old plantation to an upscale resale shop in the historic King Street shopping district to a downtown graveyard crawling with ghosts, Liz tracks a group of women who band together to help victims of domestic violence.
In her most challenging case yet, Liz fears she may find a killer, but justice may prove elusive.
Nice. Nicely done. With an intriguing premise, we are told by the prime suspect herself, that she did not kill poor Mr. Drayton. And that is where Liz and Nate step in, hired by an unknown client from a prominent attorney to find the person responsible. From the moment I was introduced to Poppy Oliver, I was on her side and I liked the tactics that Liz and Nate took to work their case in pursuit of justice. And it is within these pages where the action takes place among a varied cast of characters and it was up to the duo and me the reader to decipher what was going on. In addition, we have the situation at the Talbot’s home that adds to the enjoyment of the story being told.
The author does a great job setting the stage for this light-hearted drama with visually descriptive narrative and engaging dialogue that had me immersed in a book that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page turner. The pacing was on par with how well this multi-plot tale captured the essence of southern hospitality while endearing me to the escapades of those involved, no matter how much mayhem it may have caused. Who wanted Mr. Drayton dead? Was it the wife? A business partner? A friend? With a short list of suspects, the discoveries made by Liz and Nate played a factor as the drama unfolded and bit by bit, it all came down to one scenario that made plausible sense incorporating a few twists and turns that enhanced how delightfully entertaining this tale added to my reading pleasure. Bonus in my reading involved goats, pigs, a hole in the ground and several days at a spa. This is one of my favorite series and the author continues to endear me to a wonderful cast of characters from Stella Maris.
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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
I have really enjoyed prior books in this series. I just cannot keep up with every book I want to read lately, but surely do try. I hope to get this latest book though, as I love the laughs that this book gives me regarding the Southern “charms” of the characters.
Cynthia B.