"Fried Green Tomatoes" meets Stephanie Plum, in this sassy, Southern series starring the lovable and eccentric Valentines and Callie Valentine's fa...
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reviews
Jan 08, 2012
Connie
rated it: 
The book had positive possibilities, but I got bored in certain sections, meaning I read a lot of unnecessary fluff, and had a pretty good idea of the outcome nearly a hundred pages before the story's end.
I was really bothered by the lead protagonist's absolute cluelessness. I didn't like that she's "separated" from her husband, but is lured into having sex with him each time there's a quiet moment. And I never caught on to why exactly they're separated. That relationship More...
I was really bothered by the lead protagonist's absolute cluelessness. I didn't like that she's "separated" from her husband, but is lured into having sex with him each time there's a quiet moment. And I never caught on to why exactly they're separated. That relationship More...
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Oct 17, 2010
Nicky
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Elvis and the Dearly Departed is a wonderful first novel to a series I am going to continue reading, I enjoyed this one that much I have the second one waiting to be read now. I love mysteries and crime novels and this one sounded to good to resist. I have to admit I do have a soft spot for Basset Hounds.
In this novel we meet the Valentine's who all have their own part to play in the running of Eternal Rest funeral home, and you come to realise that it just wouldn't work if one of them More...
In this novel we meet the Valentine's who all have their own part to play in the running of Eternal Rest funeral home, and you come to realise that it just wouldn't work if one of them More...
Oct 15, 2010
Jenn
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What a wreck this book was! Okay, the stuff between Callie and Jack was fun, but Jack wasn't fleshed out nearly enough for me to really care much about him. The rest of this, though? I laughed at myself a lot because when I first started reading this, I kept reading it a la Olympia Dukakis is Steel Magnolias. No, really. I read the entire first chapter out loud in a tacky Southern accent. It cracked me up, but I'm not sure that was the author's intent. I generally enjoy the bumbling heroi
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Oct 07, 2010
Sandi
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Elvis and the Dearly Departed deserves more than two stars, but doesn't really qualify for three. It's an extremely fluffy "mystery" that is completely implausible. The author uses a dog's narration to tell the reader things the protagonist couldn't possibly know. It leave a bunch of loose ends, probably to sell sequels. However, it's short and has some funny moments. It's more of a sitcom mystery than a thriller.
This ebook was free through Barnes & Noble. It's noth More...
This ebook was free through Barnes & Noble. It's noth More...
Apr 09, 2009
Susan
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Welcome another eccentric southern family in the Valentines. Narrator Callie is a beautician with a lot of lust for designer shoes and her soon-to-be ex-husband, the handsome, mysterious Jack, who has no intention of letting her go. Her Mama sells headstones and has a gambling problem. Her beloved cousin Lovie is a caterer with a man--no, make that men--problem. And courtly Uncle Charlie runs the funeral home and the family. When a body disappears from the viewing room, Callie and Lovie tr
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Jan 14, 2011
Karen
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Elvis and the Dearly Departed
Biography
Peggy Webb is the bestselling author of more than sixty novels. A former adjunct lecturer at Mississippi State University, she has won numerous writing awards, composes blues songs on her vintage baby grand and shares her home in Tupelo, Mississippi, with her chocolate Lab and a quirky muse who channels Elvis.
Synopsis from the Publisher
They say you can't get to Heaven without passing through the Eternal Rest Funeral Ho More...
Biography
Peggy Webb is the bestselling author of more than sixty novels. A former adjunct lecturer at Mississippi State University, she has won numerous writing awards, composes blues songs on her vintage baby grand and shares her home in Tupelo, Mississippi, with her chocolate Lab and a quirky muse who channels Elvis.
Synopsis from the Publisher
They say you can't get to Heaven without passing through the Eternal Rest Funeral Ho More...
Mar 21, 2010
Kim
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So I really liked this book, its the first in a series and picked up the first 2 at the library the other day. Read the book in a day and half. So very fast read, its light hearted and funny. Set in Tupelo Mississippi, Elvis's birthplace, and its full of crazy characters who all return in the 2nd book as well. Its along the same lines as Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum series, but not as long and involved. If you are looking for a light read, perhaps for a beach vacation this is your book
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Jun 09, 2009
Ann
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OK--here's the premise... Cute, mournful looking Basset Hound is really a reincarnation of Elvis and writes some of the chapters. The other voice is a hairdresser and makeup artist who loves good shoes and helps her uncle the undertaker get his clients ready for the next whatever. Sounds awful, doesn't it? Well, it was not only not awful, it was quite good and I'll look for a second in what I hope will be a series. Did I mention that they all live in Tupelo, MS???
Nov 22, 2011
Nicole
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I nearly gave up on this book at least a dozen times. The plot is nonexistent, the storyline is unbelievable, and as colorful as the characters were, they were annoying, not likeable.
This book attempts to imitate a Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" novel but it is missing critical elements, especially the humor, although the author tried to add hilarity. (Much like the last 4-5 of the Plum series for that matter!) I am glad I found it free on Kindle.
This book attempts to imitate a Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" novel but it is missing critical elements, especially the humor, although the author tried to add hilarity. (Much like the last 4-5 of the Plum series for that matter!) I am glad I found it free on Kindle.
Oct 09, 2011
Beth
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Cute cute cute comfy mystery. It is not going to be a literary Noble prize winner; and I don't believe it is meant to be. Completely entertaining. Told from the point of view of Callie and her dog Elvis. Elvis believes, well he is Elvis reincarnated as a Basset Hound. Callie is a mixed up southern belle trying to divorce her husband because he won't have children. Meanwhile Callie and her friend Lovey find themselves in all sorts of pickles.
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Nov 19, 2011
Julee
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It was fun and cute, with adventures in Mississippi of Callie, her cousin Lovie, the rest of the eccentric family and her dog Elvis, who is indeed the reincarnated King.
The whole thing involves not only a murder mystery, but a temporarily disappearing corpse from the funeral home Callie's uncle owns. I was reading it as an eBook and still don't have the hang of "paging" back and forth to re-read some confusing events. By that, I mean I sometimes end up hitting the "ad More...
The whole thing involves not only a murder mystery, but a temporarily disappearing corpse from the funeral home Callie's uncle owns. I was reading it as an eBook and still don't have the hang of "paging" back and forth to re-read some confusing events. By that, I mean I sometimes end up hitting the "ad More...
Jun 03, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Written from the perspective of Callie and her hound dog who believes he is Elvis reincarnated. The chapter titles alone were hysterical, not to mention those written from the perspective of Elvis the hound dog.
I found it to be an enjoyable light fluffy read, not ground breaking by any means. In the end you are left wondering about a lot of things, which leads me to believe the author intends many more follow ups.
Would I read them? Sure.
Would I by them? No More...
I found it to be an enjoyable light fluffy read, not ground breaking by any means. In the end you are left wondering about a lot of things, which leads me to believe the author intends many more follow ups.
Would I read them? Sure.
Would I by them? No More...
Jan 02, 2009
Frances
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This was a light southern mystery. It didn't flow well and events moved in an uneven manner. There were a few chuckles and some southernisms but that didn't make up for a poorly written book. Elvis is a basset hound who lives in a small town outside the hometown of the real Elvis, Tupelo, Mississippi. Better southern mysteries are those written by Anne George set in Birmingham, AL.
May 31, 2011
Denise "Renee"
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What a hoot! I just love the characters of Callie and Lovie. I guess I can relate to them--I grew up in the South, my Mom and Sister were hairdresser, I love shoes and one of my grandmother's hobbies when I was a kid was dressing up us kids and going to the funeral home (right down the street from her house) to "visit" whether we knew the deceased person or not!
Dec 02, 2010
Michele
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This book is soooooo much fun. I loved it!! I love the characters in the book, from the lead characters Callie, her dog Elvis and Lovie her cousin and partner in crime. Or crime solving I should say.
Ms Webb's turn of her words is hilarious. I had to bite my lip to keep from waking my husband while laying in bed reading it. My best way of explaining Callie and Lovie is that they are southern Lucy and Ethel. And Elvis is the consummate star.
Will I read more? Heck yes!! More...
Ms Webb's turn of her words is hilarious. I had to bite my lip to keep from waking my husband while laying in bed reading it. My best way of explaining Callie and Lovie is that they are southern Lucy and Ethel. And Elvis is the consummate star.
Will I read more? Heck yes!! More...
Jul 22, 2010
Wonderbunny
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I liked this. Some of the southern "feely" stuff did start bugging me after a while. Plus I kept wondering how Callie could have even married someone without knowing for sure what he did for a living and it seems like everyone around her knows but how can she still be clueless. Those parts were a little frustrating but I liked the dog Elvis and the humor.
Oct 11, 2010
Megan
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Meh. It was a free read from Kindle, so no loss, but not a great one for me. Despite Elvis being in the title, the character of Elvis (a dog) wasn't really that integral to the story. I guess I was thinking it would be more like the "The Cat Who" books, but alas it wasn't to be.
The mystery wasn't that compelling and the characters were only somewhat entertaining.
The mystery wasn't that compelling and the characters were only somewhat entertaining.
Nov 14, 2011
Jane
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I guess a bassett hound that thinks he's channeled Elvis and a woman and her soon to be ex-husband (who can't keep their hands off each other) and a mystery sounded fun at the time. Not so much later - a little too cute and how many times and ways can you "not take your hands off each other" cram into one book.
Jan 19, 2011
Martha
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Oh my word! I got this one for free off of Amazon.com for my Kindle. I'd never read anything by Peggy Webb before, so didn't know what to expect. I loved it. I thought it was a quick little read and quite enjoyable. Who wouldn't love a Bassett Hound that thinks he's Elvis reincarnated?
Jul 23, 2009
Psieb
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I enjoyed this light mystery, even if it was not the best written book I have read in awhile. I think the best way to understand this book is to think Stephanie Plum moves to Mississippi. My favorite character in this book is by far Elvis and his point of view in the story. Some things seemed to be left up in the air and I can see additional books in the future.
Oct 11, 2010
Roberta
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This book is a quick FUN read. Elvis is a basset hound and a sleuth with his human mother and father. It's a murder mystery that takes many turns but be prepared to laugh out loud while on your commute or at home. I haven't enjoyed a book like this in years.
Nov 18, 2009
Mary
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I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! It was so cute! I went to the book store to buy the 2nd book in "southern cousins" .. and it's HARDBACK and they didn't have it! I'm going tonight to another book store to get it.
Jun 30, 2010
Janet
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Stephanie Plum mixed with the Trailer Park mysteries by Jimmie Ruth Evans. A good read, with only one complaint. Apparently Lovie and Callie have lived in this small town their entire lives. Everyone knows them, yet they are able to traipse around in disguise and nobody knows it’s them? I find that a little hard to believe.
Oct 03, 2009
Barb
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This has a Basset Hound in the story and on the cover - need I say more!
Perfect little cozy mystery. Likeable characters and laugh out loud moments. I loved the chapters written from Elvis' perspective (the Basset hound). I am eager to read the next Elvis adveture! I would recommend this to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.
Perfect little cozy mystery. Likeable characters and laugh out loud moments. I loved the chapters written from Elvis' perspective (the Basset hound). I am eager to read the next Elvis adveture! I would recommend this to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.
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Jan 08, 2011
Lisa R.
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It was ok. Elvis is a hound dog or rather Elvis has come back as a hound dog. His owner is a beautician and the family business is a funeral home. It's Chick lit.
Oct 20, 2011
Diane
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the dog's name is elvis, and unfortunately he gets his own chapters with his own POV. but otherwise, this is a cute and cozy mystery book set in the south.
Oct 09, 2010
GoldenjoyBazyll
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Take 1 dog that thinks he is the reincarnation of Elvis P...
add 1 family in the funeral business and a missing cadaver and what do you get..... FOOLISH!
add 1 family in the funeral business and a missing cadaver and what do you get..... FOOLISH!
Sep 16, 2010
Carolyn
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Light, easy read while I walk the treadmill in the morning. A little too stereotypically southern, even for a book set in the Deep South, but entertaining.
Oct 07, 2011
Skeeter
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What a light and cute story. I liked it, especially the dog "Elvis" Lots of reference to Elvis and his songs. I would like to read more books like this.
Jan 04, 2010
Amanda
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I had really high hopes for this book but was a bit disappointed. The characters are not well developed, so I found myself not really caring what happened to them.
