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Liz Talbot Mystery #3

Lowcountry Boneyard

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Where is Kent Heyward? The twenty-three-year-old heiress from one of Charleston’s oldest families vanished a month ago. When her father hires private investigator Liz Talbot, Liz suspects the most difficult part of her job will be convincing the patriarch his daughter tired of his overbearing nature and left town. That’s what the Charleston Police Department believes.

But behind the garden walls South of Broad, family secrets pop up like weeds in the azaleas. The neighbors recollect violent arguments between Kent and her parents. Eccentric twin uncles and a gaggle of cousins covet the family fortune. And the lingering spirit of a Civil-War-era debutante may know something if Colleen, Liz’s dead best friend, can get her to talk.

Liz juggles her case, the partner she’s in love with, and the family she adores. But the closer she gets to what has become of Kent, the closer Liz dances to her own grave.

286 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2015

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About the author

Susan M. Boyer

27 books2,045 followers
Susan M. Boyer is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels. Her debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, won the 2012 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and garnered several other award nominations. Subsequent books have been nominated for various honors, including Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Okra Picks, the 2016 Pat Conroy Beach Music Mystery Prize, and the 2017 Southern Book Prize in Mystery & Detective Fiction.

Susan loves beaches, Southern food, and small towns where everyone knows everyone, and everyone has crazy relatives. You’ll find all of the above in her novels. She and her husband call Greenville, SC, home and visit the Carolina coast as often as possible.

Susan loves to hear from readers. You can reach her through her website: http://www.susanmboyer.com/

Sign up for her newsletter to get recipes from her books and to be among the first to hear the news when the next book is scheduled for release.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
Profile Image for Carmen.
2,069 reviews2,410 followers
March 29, 2016
She looked like she'd been sucker-punched. "I - oh no." She put one hand over her mouth and furiously fumbled with the other to get the door open. She did, just before she started retching. Then she sobbed and retched alternately for a while. She was all tore up, is what I'm saying.

I really, really liked this book.

When a 23-year-old woman goes missing, Liz Talbot and her partner Nate are hired to investigate. Liz is a Southern lady through and through and the book is a delightful explosion of Southern manners, food, slang, and sass.

Liz Talbot is such a strong, smart, capable character - but Boyer never has her cross the line into "badass" or "unrealistic." I mean, she can pick locks, B&E, and carries her Sig Sauer 9mm everywhere (she named it "Sig") - but she doesn't know martial arts and is unable to carry off any unbelievable feats that might strain one's suspension of disbelief, no matter how cool they are at the time.

The only thing unbelievable in this series is that Liz occasionally has help from a ghost - excuse me, "guardian spirit" - the spirit of her childhood best friend Colleen who committed suicide at age 17.

This is yet another book that combines mystery and romance, but I'm happy to say that the romance takes the back burner to the mystery on this one.

However, the romance that IS there is pretty awesome. For one thing, Liz is a woman who doesn't take any shit from men.

I was not going to chase this man. I loved him, true and strong. But I was all done with pining after men who didn't want me, or didn't want me enough. It was time one of them fought for me. I had offered to meet him halfway. His response was to tell me to sleep on it. The next move was his, and he was going to have to do better than why don't you stay with me tonight. A whole lot better.

LOL You go, girl!

And the romance between her and Nate is adult and real. They have conversations, long talks about serious subjects that couples need to talk about (children, finances, where to live). It's rare for me to read a book that posits romance but actually takes a look at how a couple really deals with life and the obstacles it brings. Usually romance storylines in books are sex-based - and while Liz and Nate have plenty of sex (off-page, don't worry!) - it's obviously love and respect that is the basis of their relationship. This is very refreshing.

I'm not going to talk about the mystery part of the novel - it's hard to do without spoilers - but I thought it was very enjoyable.

Tl;dr - This mystery series (this is Book 3) is a great blend of soft and hard. Boyer does an amazing job of walking that thin line between too fluffy and too dark. This is right in the middle and perfect. Bad stuff DOES happen, but at no point are you grossed out or plunged in the mind of a killer. And fluffy cute stuff DOES happen, but at no point do you feel like your teeth are going to rot out of your skull from sweetness. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am definitely going to read the next book in the series when it comes out.
Profile Image for Betty.
2,004 reviews72 followers
January 27, 2015
An outstanding paranormal mystery. It continues the story of LizTalbot and her spirit guardian, Colleen. Liz is hired by the father o f his missing daughter to find her as the Charleston Police have put the case on hold. AsLiz and partner began to investigate events start to unfold and their lives are in danger. Colleen is around saves them several times. Liz discovercoldcase dating twenty years earlier. I recommend this series highly and the nextbook is already on my Must Read list.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from HENERY PRESS through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Karyn Niedert.
377 reviews23 followers
January 27, 2015
Procured via: NetGalley

Book Title and Author: “Lowcountry Boneyard” by Susan M. Boyer

RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2015

RATING: 4 Stars Download it to your Kindle, Nook, or Kobo immediately!

GENRE: Literature and Fiction / Mystery and Thrillers

AUDIENCE: Fans of Janet Evanovich and Carolyn Haines will enjoy the Lowcountry series

SERIES: Liz Talbot Mystery #3

SUMMARY: Blurb from Netgalley:

“Where is Kent Heyward? The twenty-three-year-old heiress from one of Charleston’s oldest families vanished a month ago. When her father hires private investigator Liz Talbot, Liz suspects the most difficult part of her job will be convincing the patriarch his daughter tired of his overbearing nature and left town. That’s what the Charleston Police Department believes.

But behind the garden walls South of Broad, family secrets pop up like weeds in the azaleas. The neighbors recollect violent arguments between Kent and her parents. Eccentric twin uncles and a gaggle of cousins covet the family fortune. And the lingering spirit of a Civil-War-era debutante may know something if Colleen, Liz’s dead best friend, can get her to talk.

Liz juggles her case, the partner she’s in love with, and the family she adores. But the closer she gets to what has become of Kent, the closer Liz dances to her own grave.”


REVIEW: I’ve been a huge fan of Susan M. Boyer’s books since she hooked me with “Lowcountry Boil”. In “Boil”, Liz was determined to catch the culprit behind her grandmother’s untimely demise. Between the layers of mystery, she was fending off a conniving ex-husband, dealing with her hottie partner Nick, and accepting help from the ghost of her best friend who died eighteen years earlier.

In “Lowcountry Boneyard”, Liz and Nick have been hired to find young socialite, Kent Heyworth, who seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. All signs indicate that she wouldn’t have just run off, leaving her friends and family in such a worry. Facing down Kent’s rich family ties, a friend with artistic jealousies, a best friend with boyfriend jealousies brings danger and excitement to the forefront. Will they find Kent alive and well before they become permanent visitors in a lowcountry boneyard?

I’m very pleased to have read this installment in the series, and can’t wait for “Lowcountry Bordello” to be released!

*Tremendous thanks to Netgalley and Henery Press for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

FYI: Additional books in Susan M. Boyer’s Liz Talbot series are:

LOWCOUNTRY BOIL (Liz Talbot #1)
LOWCOUNTRY BOMBSHELL (Liz Talbot #2)
LOWCOUNTRY BONEYARD (Liz Talbot #3)
LOWCOUNTRY BORDELLO (Liz Talbot #4) November 2015
Profile Image for Kathy Martin.
4,103 reviews112 followers
April 2, 2015
This is the third book in the Liz Talbot mystery series. While I'm curious about her other cases, this book stands alone quite well. Liz is called on to investigate the disappearance of Kent Heyward. The police have moved the case off the active list despite the pressure put on by her socially prominent parents. Liz immediately begins nosing around and soon uncovers all sorts of possible suspects from her shady uncles, to her chef boyfriend, to her new artist friend. Liz knows that she is getting warmer when someone sends her a rattlesnake as a way of discouraging her interest in investigating.



Liz is also a little preoccupied by the state of her relationship with her partner and love interest Nate. They have been having a sort of long-distance relationship for a while with Nate based in Greenville and Liz near Charlotte. One of Liz's reasons for staying in Charlotte is the ghost - guardian spirit - of her childhood best friend whose presence she hasn't shared with Nate. Colleen's existence, her close ties with her family, and her desire to preserve her island home from real estate developers are strong reasons to stay in Charlotte. Nate feels he has equally strong reasons to stay in Greenville. This disagreement causes a break in their romantic relationship but they are also business partners working as private investigators.

The more Liz and Nate investigate the more they learn about long-buried family secrets. Liz finds herself in danger on a number of occasions. Luckily, she has a guardian spirit to direct her actions and help keep her safe.

This was a fun mystery with a decidedly Southern flair. Liz calls on her Southern charm a number of times as she is investigating. I like her relationship with her family with an over-protective older brother and a mother who seems to think proper makeup can solve a lot of problems.
Profile Image for Nancy McFarlane.
853 reviews155 followers
February 22, 2015
Lowcountry Boneyard is another fabulous entry in the Liz Talbot mystery series as Liz takes the case of finding the missing Charleston heiress, 20 year-old Kent Heyward. We are again entertained by Liz’s sarcasm and humor and her attention to the smartest accessories any respectable southern girl would be sporting. The case dredges up family secrets hidden for years by Charleston aristocrats and if not for the help of Liz’s dead best friend and guardian spirit, Colleen, Liz and her loved ones might not be around for another case. Smart and witty the mystery is serious and believable and Liz Talbot and her entourage of fun and funky friends, family and associates are not to be missed.
Profile Image for JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book).
1,389 reviews26 followers
March 17, 2015
When Liz Talbot, a private investigator, is asked by Colton Heyward to find his daughter Kent, she doesn't have a clue of what she's getting into. It seems Kent disappeared without a trace, after leaving the house for a night out. Colton is upset because he thinks the police aren't doing enough to find her and have almost closed the case. And that doesn't sit well with him because Colton is a very rich and powerful man and wants it done. Now. So Liz takes the case, but on her terms. She tells him she isn't going to give him a daily update, but will inform him when she has something to report. For the time being, Colton is appeased.

But when Liz starts an earnest search for the missing girl, she and her partner/boyfriend Nate Andrews find themselves sucked into a whirlpool of secrets, lies, and hatred that goes far deeper than just the missing girl, but also but something that has been buried by several people; both pleasant and not-so-nice.

This book starts out as a simple missing persons case, but turns into something else. Ms. Boyer adds a layer of intrigue and deception, all the while masking it in the fact of a father who loves and is afraid something awful has happened to his daughter. For we find that there is more than meets the eye: There is the boyfriend, Matt Thomas, whom the father doesn't like, friends that neither parent knows about, including Evan Ingle, an art gallery owner; Kent's best friend Ansley, who has things she herself may be hiding, and Mrs. Heyward's nasty mother Abigail, who unsuccessfully tries to manipulate Liz into doing what she wants.

Liz soon realizes she's onto something when she is "warned off" the case in an ugly and very scary way. But instead of leaving it be, she digs deeper, which doesn't bode well for either her or Nate. To worsen the situation, she and Nate, the love of her life, are having problems themselves. He knows he loves her, but is still unsure of her commitment to him. I found this side story just as interesting as the main one.

I'm not going to reveal any more about the book, but I think it is well written, absorbing, and worth the read. It might even make you appreciate your own family more. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series (please, Ms. Boyer, don't disappoint! Hustle the next book!) Highly recommended.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review but this in no way influenced my decision.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,383 reviews22 followers
February 3, 2015
Continuing the story of Liz Talbot, PI par excellence, and her spirit guardian, Colleen, this story packs a fantastic whomp as a cozy, paranormal mystery. Liz is hired by a local father to find his missing daughter. Through a myriad of twists and turns, Liz and her partner (and also lover/boyfriend) Nate weave their way through the many and varied characters, event and stories/histories of the local populous to solve this intriguing mystery. The author had me hooked from the get-go. I did not even want to put the book down, eagerly waiting for the next clue to fall into place in this fascinating mystery. I had not read the other books in the series, but that did not create any problems for me, as this book can be read as a stand-alone. The chemistry between Liz and Nate sizzled. Though not the primary plot in the story, the author did manage to enhance the story with the romance between Liz and Nate, while not detracting from the main plot.

The author managed to bring out the particular culture of the Charleston denizens who make up the bulk of the other characters. Yes, there is a certain culture present in this city and area, and, unless you are part of it, you probably won’t see it, unless you read this mystery. The description and actions and events that surrounded the cast of characters brought this culture and its subtle nuances out quite nicely.

I found myself caught up in Liz and her investigation into the girl’s disappearance, constantly wondering where things and event would take me next. In the end, everything came together nicely—and the ending was a bit of a surprise for me.

I have not read anything else by this author, but I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Liz Talbot PI story, as well as going back to read the books in the series that I missed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery that is well-written. I am sure you will not be disappointed. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.
Profile Image for Annie McDonnell.
Author 1 book117 followers
April 1, 2015
Susan M. Boyer delivers a first rate mystery with a bit of the paranormal, even a love story thrown in the mix. It was so much fun to read, and quick to read…as I just did not want to put it down until the very last line.
It has been a long time since I have read a mystery, so let me say that Susan M. Boyer certainly whet my appetite for more. This is the third in a series about Private Investigator, Liz Talbot..She is a fantastic character, with a Guardian Spirit named Colleen that stays by her side.
Kent Heyward has been missing for a month, and the police are convinced that she just left of her own accord. Her father; Colten feels there is more to what happened to his daughter, so he hires Liz Talbot, PI to see what she can dig up. She is part of Talbot and Andrews Investigations, Nate Andrews being the other partner. Their story alone is quite intriguing.
I promise you will finish this book, and want to read more of Susan M. Boyer’s stories as she proves to be a gifted storyteller.
Happy to have finally read another mystery and I was not disappointed!
Profile Image for Bubble Bath Books.
250 reviews4 followers
March 13, 2015
Sissy: This is the third in Susan Boyer's Liz Talbot mystery series, and I can't think why we've never encountered this wonderful author before. Why wasn't she on your booky-sense radar, Bubby? The first two books in the series are Lowcountry Boil and Lowcountry Bombshell, and while they most certainly would have given us some background on the protagonist and the setting, Lowcountry Boneyard turned out to be a tremendously enjoyable stand alone read.

Bubby: I love finding fabulous new authors. I'm excited to go back and read the first two books in this series. Just the fact that our main character Liz has a dead best friend who pops up on a regular basis makes this book so much fun. Read our full review of Lowcountry Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer
Profile Image for Amy.
940 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2015
This was such a good book! I was sucked in on the first page and it just got better as the chapters flowed on. The characters were well formed and the mystery kept me guessing til the end. I figured out some of it as the clues came in, but I didn't figure it out completely until the end.
I am going to buy the other books in the series and look forward to the ones to come! Excellent job Ms. Boyer! I enjoyed myself thoroughly while reading this book! I recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery! If you are in a book club this would be a great book to have in it!
I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for letting me review this book!!
Profile Image for Erin.
11 reviews19 followers
January 15, 2015
I love Liz Talbot. She's smart, funny...and far from perfect. Her combination of southern charm and style is irresistible in this traditional mystery that made me want to visit Charleston again as soon as possible!
Profile Image for Lisa.
Author 10 books7 followers
March 11, 2015
I received a copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A fun mystery that kept my attention. It has likeable characters. Liz and Colleen have very good chemistry and I like the setting. A series I will visit again.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,432 reviews35 followers
May 8, 2015
In the third book of the Liz Talbot Mystery series, Lowcountry Boneyard, the reader catches up with P.I. Liz Talbot's latest investigative adventures.

Author Susan M. Boyer weaves an entertaining Southern cozy mystery set in Charleston and the lowcountry island town of Stella Maris, South Carolina, that follows the adventures of Liz Talbot and partner Nate Andrews as they investigate the disappearance of twenty-three year old Charleston heiress, Kent Heyward.

Written in the first person narrative, Liz's sassy wit and southern charm keeps the reader engaged as she tries to fill in the pieces of the puzzle of why Kent disappeared, while stumbling upon troubling and deeply buried dark Heyward family secrets that could get her killed! This fun cozy mystery is full of intriguing twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. It has a paranormal twist in the form of Colleen, Liz's ghostly best friend, who is Stella Maris' resident guardian spirit, who also helps Liz with her investigations. And if that isn't enough to draw you into the story, the reader gets up-to-date on the romance between Liz and her partner Nate.

With a quirky cast of characters whose witty dialogue will keep you stitches, and a fast paced Southern cozy mystery guaranteed to make you want some sweet tea and hushpuppies, Lowcountry Boneyard is an enchanting tale that will leave you wanting more of Liz's adventures!

Lowcountry Boneyard is the third book in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. While the books can be a stand alone read, I would recommend that the series be read in sequential order, as the stories easily flows from one book to next with new mystery adventures for our sassy Southern P.I. Liz Talbot.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
883 reviews51 followers
March 24, 2015
This is the third book in this series to feature private investigator Liz Talbot and I have enjoyed all three books. Liz lives in the house her grandmother left her beside the ocean on Stella Maris, a South Carolina island, while her agency partner Nate Andrews covers their office in Greenville, a three hour drive away. Nate and Liz have a complicated relationship since they are business partners and Liz is now very happily divorced from Nate's scuzzy brother. As if that wasn't complication enough, she and Nate are now having a long-distance romantic relationship.

These novels have a genuinely good mystery at the heart of each book. For those who don't like any unusual elements creeping into their mystery novels you need to know that Liz has a 'spirit guide' who was her best friend in high school before Colleen committed suicide. The role of Colleen is growing with each novel and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. In this novel Talbot and Andrews Investigations are hired to find the missing 23 year old daughter of a very wealthy and socially prominent Charleston family since she has been missing for over a month and the police don't seem to have any further clues to follow. Liz approaches the case from a different angle and begins to find clues which might be leading to a resolution of the mystery.

I enjoyed this story, more so when Liz and Nate were not conducting their romantic relationship, but I can say that Ms. Boyer writes those portions in such a way as to leave details for the reader to imagine. Personally I prefer straightforward crime solving, but this series of novels always has a challenging mystery to be solved and the small community of Stella Maris and Liz's family are wonderful in their detail. I see from the material in the digital book copy that the fourth book, Lowcountry Bordello, will be available in November, 2015.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Chaitra.
4,389 reviews
May 28, 2015
I've visited the Holy City once. I didn't do anything but drive around for a day and hang around Magnolia Plantations on another, but there isn't another city that left such an impression on me in so short a time (other than San Francisco, but that was more expected). Thanks to this book, I'm going back in October/November this year. I love the descriptions, I think them true to the essence of Charleston.

It's a very good mystery as well. I like how dark it is, I like the professional way the protagonists eliminate their suspects, and I like that the who of the whodunnit isn't someone out of the left field. They're always there, not eliminated randomly, but investigated thoroughly. Please note that I'm only judging this book by itself and against other cozy mysteries, because that is what I read it as. I found it refreshing that someone with a brain was in charge for a change, even if the police are pretty much cozy tropes.

I should mention I read the third first. I would have liked to read the first one first, but my library didn't carry it. I've since moved, and my current library system does stock both previous books of this series and I will be sure to check it out. The one thing I bothered me would hopefully be clear had I read the previous books, Colleen and her protecting Liz. Based strictly upon this book, Liz doesn't seem like a good choice environment-wise. I mean, when she was offered the first choice to give up her council seat, she jumped at it. That's being open to persuasion, according to me.

However, I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed its description of Charleston. I will look for more books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
Profile Image for Sequoya Cox.
16 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2015
*I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Henery Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion/review of this title*

I stumbled onto the first two books in this series accidentally and fell in love. This author is very good at writing a mystery with many twists and turns. I figured out the guilty party earlier than in previous books but still did not know the reasoning until the author revealed it! So I still enjoyed every minute. There are only 3 things that bothered me about the book. The worst being all the label name dropping done mostly in the first half. I don't need to know that the character is wearing a different designer every other paragraph. I also did not like the big time gap that occurs between books 2 and 3. Last but not least I missed not knowing much about what all the other characters from previous books were up to...except for a few. Other than that the book was great!
Profile Image for Rowena.
Author 3 books36 followers
January 15, 2015
I was lucky because I got to read this early! I begged Susan to send it to me and I just could not put it down. As usual, there's trouble in the Lowcountry and Liz is on the case. A daughter of a prominent family in Charleston has gone missing and the police have stopped looking. Enter Liz and her partner Nate. The closer Liz gets to the truth, the more danger she and those she loves are in.

A quick and fun read that nearly had me texting the author to make sure everything turns out ok for our spunky heroine. Smart with just the right amount of sexiness, LOWCOUNTRY BONEYARD continues the fabulous tradition of the the previous Liz Talbot mysteries.
Profile Image for Gena DeBardelaben.
431 reviews
March 5, 2015
eARC: Netgalley

I'm a newcomer to the Liz Talbot series. I received Low country Boneyard, the third in the series, for review. I wasn't very far into the book before I knew I was hooked...and not just on this book, but on the series. I love the island of Stella Maris and all the quirky Southern characters. I feel like I've found a new happy place and I can't wait to visit again!
Profile Image for HENERY PRESS PUBLISHING.
147 reviews63 followers
Read
June 22, 2016
“Has everything you could want in a traditional mystery: a credible and savvy protagonist, a meaty mystery, and setting that will make you want to spend time in South Carolina. I enjoyed every minute of it.” – Charlaine Harris, New York Times Bestselling Author of Day Shift
Profile Image for Diana Belchase.
99 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2015
Susan Boyer does it again, keeping you on edge and simultaneously howling in laughter! Her plots are page turners and this is another example of her wonderful style. This is a book you'll want to own and read again and again.
Profile Image for Aimee Nicole Walker.
Author 70 books2,001 followers
June 10, 2023
Another fun addition to the Liz Talbot mysteries. Just the right amount of angst for the couple, an excellently paced mystery, and perfectly placed red herrings. I adore the Talbot family.
Profile Image for Carla.
7,472 reviews173 followers
May 14, 2018
I really enjoyed the third book in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. It had a little of everything that I like, mystery, humour, romance, family relationships and supernatural. There was also danger in this one, but not too bad.

Liz is hired to find the missing Charleston heiress, 20 year-old Kent Heyward. She has been missing over a month and the police are no longer actively investigating. When Nate, her partner in the business and in love, ties up the case he is working on in Greenville, he heads to Stella Maris to spend time with Kate. He ends up jumping into the investigation and together they uncover some family secrets that put them in serious danger. As well, their relationship quickly goes south when they realize that they do not want a long distance relationship and neither is willing to move across the state to live with the other. Will they find Kent alive or dead? Who is responsible for her disappearance?

I love Liz's character. She is a little quirky, fun, but not too stuck on herself, a good southern character. She is also smart, stands up for herself, brave and will not give up when she takes something on. She also has a good sense of humor and is just a bit sarcastic. Colleen, the ghost of her high school friend, is her guardian spirit and certainly does her part in this story on more than one occasion. I also enjoy her family. Her mom is the epitome of a Southern lady and her brother is a just a bit overprotective. Her younger sister brings home a beau in this story and it seems that if he sticks around, he will be just as much fun as her dad. Her father shows the redneck side of himself in a couple of scenes, one being laugh out loud. This is a great story, engaging, believable, twisty with some humour and a bit of romance. A great book for any cozy mystery lover. It is not imperative that you read these books in order, but it might help to enjoy the series even more.
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,618 reviews338 followers
November 5, 2015
Liz has been hired in Book #3 Lowcountry Boneyard by one of the most prominent Charleston Families to find their missing daughter - Kent Heyward , as the case is going cold and the police think that she just up and ran away. For those who have read Susan M. Boyer's other books in the Liz Talbot series, will know by now that Liz doesn't do anything halfway and that she can often be a magnet for discovering the hidden family skeletons no-one else likes people to know. As Liz goes around questioning Kent's friends and family including old family friend Ansley and Kent's boyfriend Matt - she may uncover some other secrets that people don't want to air out in public as if the knowledge fell into the wrong hands - they could look very guilty for the murder of Kent. Kent's disappearance will take Liz into the search of another family's history - the Ingles mainly Evan Ingles - the new art gallery friend that Kent recently befriended. Turns out his family has connections to Kent's mothers side . We learn reading this book and it also makes you wonder about wealthy and old money families , how true it rings - that they often will go to extremes with money etc to cover up family scandals. But if you are like Liz and have a knack for digging too deep, it may end up getting you almost killed as Liz is about to realise. We also have trouble in paradise for Liz and Nate whom in Book #3 are currently doing the Long Distance relationship thing and it seems to be putting them both on teetering wires. Can their relationship survive or will they have to make compromises/sacrifices ? Will Liz find Kent Heyward Dead or Alive ?

Find out in Book #3 Lowcountry Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer. This is the perfect read for those who A) love characters like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Darynda Jones's Charley Davidson and B) those who want a cosy light-hearted mystery.


Profile Image for Christy Wilson.
520 reviews5 followers
April 21, 2015
This is the third in the Liz Talbot Mystery Series, and the first one I’ve read. I was able to read it as a stand alone without any issues.

The stories are set in South Carolina, which serves very well for this novel. Liz owns a detective agency with her partner, Nate, who lives in Greenville while she lives in Stella Maris. They are a bit of an item as well. She also has another partner in the form of Colleen, a friend who is dearly departed and serves as her “guardian angel” (in a sense).

The story starts as Liz is hired by an influential Charleston family to find their daughter who has been missing for a month. With this being a mystery, I don’t want to give anymore away than what you read in the synopsis.

All I can say is – I must now purchase all the other books in this series as this is one of the best mysteries I’ve read. I loved the characters, their interactions with each other, the locale. I even loved reading about how Liz takes her notes and organizes them (yea I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to organizing things). Her family is also a great set of characters, specifically her father who acts like a true Southern father should, what with guns and shovels and fire at his disposal.

This is a mystery that grabs you from the start and makes you want to keep reading until you find out everything. The writing is smart, funny, and interesting. To be a mystery writer has got to be a huge challenge, and Susan M. Boyer meets that challenge.

Will Liz and Nate find out what happened to the daughter? Will they be able to work out the differences their long distance relationship has? Will her dad get rid of the rats inhabiting his backyard? Buy the book and find out!
935 reviews17 followers
June 2, 2015
Lowcountry Boneyard is a feast for the mystery lover. Liz Talbot is a passionate and intelligent PI with the manners and connections of a Southern debutante. Her actions in the course of seeking what happened to Kent Heyward are logical and well-considered. Few clues are found by luck, most are found with hard work and dedication. It is a delight to read a mystery where the heroine/investigator seeks out answers, rather than either falling over them or annoying people until they confess. Liz Talbot impressed me with both her intelligence and class. I also liked the supporting characters, including Nate, her business partner and boyfriend, and her family. Colleen, Liz's ghostly guardian, adds to the unique flavor to the story. All of the characters in Lowcountry Boneyard have a three dimensional feel, making it possible for the reader to understand their motives and behavior.

In the course of her search, Liz uncovers secrets the rich Bounetheau family desperately want to keep hidden. The plot takes many twists and turns, but never does it venture into the wildly improbable. I was fascinated from beginning to end.

Lowcountry Boneyard is the third Liz Talbot mystery, but it can be read as a stand-alone.

I would highly recommend this mystery. I look forward to reading many more mysteries by Susan M Boyer in coming years.

I received an ARC copy from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom
Profile Image for Michelle.
297 reviews46 followers
March 21, 2015
I never pick up mystery novels. For some reason, suspense makes me nervous. It may be because sometimes I can't separate real life and fiction, which in turn makes me freak out during movies when the bad guy does something crazy. I received Lowcountry Boneyard for an honest review and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. It can be tough to pick up a series the third book in but I must say I was pleasantly surprised with this novel.

Liz Talbot is a PI who does her work with the help of her deceased friend Colleen. Yes, her ghost friend! Paranormal is also not a genre I dive into - I have trouble if a novel has too many unrealistic things going on. This book however was quite enjoyable! I never had a problem with it being the third book in a series. It was almost like I already knew Liz and what she's all about.

Back to the story, Liz takes on a case revolving around a wealthy, young girl who has gone missing. Kent has a large family and none of them seem to want her gone...or do they? With the help of her partner Nate (and love interest..so good!) and Colleen, Liz works through many twists and turns to figure out exactly what happened to Kent.

The writing on this was great and like I said, I had NO problems getting into this series the third book in. I actually may put the first two on my to be read list!
Profile Image for Nancy.
631 reviews21 followers
July 19, 2015
Islands have a certain magic, some more than others. In author Susan M. Boyer's mind, the fictional South Carolina island of Stella Maris is located a hop, skip, a couple of bridges and a ferry ride from Charleston. The picturesque beach community is also home base for PI Liz Talbot, although her hunky partner Nate wants her to move upstate in Lowcountry Boneyard (Henery Press, digital galley). As readers of the previous two books in this perky series know, Liz has a secret tie to the island in the shape of a ghostly guardian angel, her late best friend, Colleen, who conveniently pops up to warn of danger or gather clues in the spirit world. This time, Liz is searching for missing Charleston heiress Kent Heyward whom the police consider a rich-girl runaway. After meeting Kent's family -- including her stern father, matriarch Abigail and creepy twin uncles -- Liz thinks Kent may have had good reason to leave town, but Kent's chef boyfriend Matt and her BFF Ansley assure her otherwise. Dangerous surprises await when Liz goes poking around in a local cemetery and digging up family secrets in the lowcountry and upstate, but Colleen can't come to the rescue if Liz is too far away from Stella Maris. Not to give anything away, but the fourth book in the series is due in the fall.
from On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever
Profile Image for Heather Fineisen.
1,368 reviews116 followers
May 16, 2015

This is the third Liz Talbot Mystery in this Agatha Award Winning Series and the first for me. I followed it without any problem and liked the characters but I find knowing the history from previous entries in a series almost always enhances the reading experience.

I thought I would find the best friend ghost Colleen hokey but it works in most places and I found the history of the various ghosts Colleen encounters interesting and even charming.

And speaking of charming…Charleston, South Carolina. One of my favorite places. I had a stopover there on my honeymoon and have visited several times. Boyer captures the architectural beauty and culinary delights of the city through her descriptions. She even adds to this by creating a character who is a painter. The old southern family hierarchy and the rich history with the mystery of a missing heiress and ghosts screams sweetgrass and She-crab soup.

So, yes. I would and will read more of this series, going backwards and forwards. And I might even read these other titles on a trip to Charleston.

Thanks to Susan M.Boyer,Henery Press and TLC Blog Tours for providing a review copy. This did not alter my review in any way.

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