Murder Gets a Life

Southern Sisters #5

by Anne George

Patricia Anne can't imagine why Mary Alice is in such an uproar over her son Ray's new bride. Sunshine Dabbs is Ucute as can be," even if she is a bit unconventional, which should hardly come as a shock to Mary Alicc given that she's the one who raised her boy. But with all her motherly instincts, Mary Alice is sure that this sweet little blonde Barbie doll--who met her son in Bora Bora after she won the trip on Wheel of Fortune--thinks she's found herself a fortune in Ray's hefty wallet. The sisters can't wait to get a look at Sunshine's family, and quite a look it turns out to be. As soon as Meemaw Turkett invites Mary Alice and Patricia Anne into her cozy trailer on the family compound they stumble over a corpse, and Meemaw's best hog butchering knife is stuck in its chest. Meemaw, a Cabbage Patch look-alike and Sunshine's grandmother, guardian, and the family matriarch is shocked to pieces and immediately summons the family to her trailer. Pawpaw, a lovable bearded grump has his own trailer, and their grown kids each enjoy a private home-away-from-home on the five-trailer compound.

The discovery of the mysterious body brings in Mary Alice's nemesis, good ol' boy Sheriff Reuse, who, she knows from her experience at the Skoot 'n' Boot, is nothing but trouble. Within minutes, the compound is strewn with a weird collection of friends, neighbors and relatives. There's Meemaw's spooky channeler, ready to give guidance as needed; Sunshine's jilted boyfriend skulking around; a bunch of dogs ready to attack...and Kerrigan, Sunshine's mostly absentee mama, who stars in the kind of video flicks that might even shock Mary Alice.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Cozy, Audiobook, Southern

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Anne Carroll George was an American author and poet. She was Alabama's 1994 state poet. George died in 2001 of heart surgery complications.

Anne George was an Agatha Award-winner and a former Alabama State Poet. She was a cofounder of the Druid Press, and a regular contributor to literary and poetry publications. She was nominated for several awards, including the Pulitzer for a book of verse entitled Some of It Is True.

Series:
* Southern Sisters Mystery

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This humorous title is the first one I've ever read in Anne George's Southern Sisters mystery series. Mary Alice ("Mouse") and Patricia Anne ("Sister") are two sisters in their sixties living in Birmingham, Alabama. The setting alone hooked me. I liked the descriptions, including the giant Vulcan statue I'd heard about in the steel city. August gets hot in Birmingham. Mary Alice's dog Woofer sleeps inside of an igloo house. Mary Alice trips over a dead turkey. Patricia Anne is filthy rich from marrying well-to-do husbands. This murder mystery, a quick read, abounds in offbeat scenes, quippy dialogue, and gentle chaos, but it's not too much over-the top. All told, it's just a pleasant way to while away a rainy Sunday afternoon.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful. Anne George had drawn her characters so well that I really wish I could meet them! I can honestly hear them speaking...!

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Murder Gets a Life, Anne George continues to prove she knows exactly what she’s doing. Funny, fast, and just a little absurd in all the right ways.

By book five, you’d think these women would have developed some kind of trauma response to stumbling over dead bodies like it's a hobby. But no. Mary Alice and Patricia Anne, our favorite chaos gremlins in sensible shoes, are still tripping their way into crime scenes like it’s a Tuesday brunch special. This time, the drama comes served with a side of hush puppies and trailer park intrigue, because Mary Alice’s son Ray has come back from Bora Bora with a surprise wife named Sunshine. Yes, that’s her actual name. Yes, you are right to be suspicious.

Sunshine, in addition to sounding like a scented candle, is also suspiciously blonde, suspiciously perky, and comes with a family so sketchy they might be sponsored by Crayola. There’s a Meemaw who looks like a Cabbage Patch doll but owns a butcher knife collection, a psychic friend channeling aliens, and an estranged porn star mother who drops in like an expired plot twist. The entire compound of trailers is one HOA violation away from spontaneous combustion, and naturally, the sisters arrive just in time to find a corpse impaled on the floor with Meemaw’s best hog-stabber.

Now, do the sisters call the cops and let them do their jobs? Of course not. Have you met these women? Patricia Anne barely finishes telling Fred to water the plants before she’s hip-deep in suspects, missing persons, and a murder weapon with a name. Mary Alice is too busy trying to get her son to see sense while also avoiding the sheriff, who might be her sworn enemy or possibly her future ex-husband, depending on how the day goes.

And look, I’m not saying the mystery is airtight. I’m saying that if you’re showing up to these books expecting Agatha Christie precision, you are in the wrong trailer park. This is more like a fried-chicken-fueled fever dream where vibes are evidence and clues come in the form of dogs, jewelry, and awkward family reunions. But does it work? Hell yes. Because the point isn’t the murder, it’s the glorious, unfiltered bond between Patricia Anne and Mary Alice. Their dynamic is the heartbeat of this series, and it’s never been better.

We get more of Patricia Anne’s daughter Haley (who may or may not be recovering from her own drama), and Fred is still the human version of a deep exhale. And let’s not forget the absolute delight of watching Mary Alice spiral into full protective mama bear while also possibly investigating an underground smuggling ring. I didn’t know I needed that, but here we are.

Honestly, this one had me laughing out loud more than the last two combined. The banter is top tier, the insults are oddly affectionate, and the pacing zips along like someone duct-taped a cozy mystery to a soap opera and let it run wild at a family reunion. And beneath all the hilarity, there’s still that sincere emotional core, about mothers and sons, about belonging, about how messy family can be when love and resentment are tangled up like Christmas lights.

I gave it four stars, no hesitation. It’s exactly what I want when I crack open one of these: chaos, comedy, a little murder, and a whole lot of heart. It’s Southern-fried shenanigans with a body count, and I am absolutely on board.

Whodunity Award: For Featuring a Family So Dysfunctional It Made Me Feel Better About Mine

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

While running his wildly successful deep sea diving business in Bora Bora, Mary Alice's son Ray, marries Sunshine, a Barbie doll lookalike. His aunt, Patricia Anne and mother, Mary Alice, are trying not to judge Sunshine's "wealthy" trailer park trash enclave in Birmingham, but the red flags just keep coming. First there's the stripper, then the attack dogs, the cabbage patch doll-faced MeeMaw and finally a murder. As with all of Anne George's Southern Sister cozy mysteries there is snappy, hilarious dialogue, elaborate loving descriptions of the Birmingham environs and and the two very full of beans sexagenarian sisters. What's not to love!

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and humorous read. Mary Alice referred to as 'Sister' by Patricia Anne, who is referred to as 'Mouse' by Mary Alice. Due to Sister's nosiness, they literally stumble over a murder at the Turkett compound which eventually uncovers a felony operation. Mary Alice 'Mouse' ends up injured again, sporting a black eye at her daughter's wedding. It was extremely funny and well written. The only con I have is the unnecessary profanity. That is just plain tacky!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

These sisters are hysterical! Great plot and mystery but also a real pick me up ! Totally enjoyed!

[Lauren Gamache · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Never a dull chapter & doesn’t drag on one bit.

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this series years ago and came across this book by chance at the library. Decided to re-read it and refresh my memory. Hilarious. This is the one where Ray marries Sunshine and it turns out her family are involved with Pearl smuggling from Bora Bora.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a witty, fun read. This is my first Ann George book, but it must definitely won't be my last. From laugh out loud moments to touching comments, the sisterly banter made this such a great read. I love how the mystery was there amidst all the back- and- forth sniping.

[Diane Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Mouse and Sister more and more. I’m sorry I only have 3 more books to read in the series. This one had a recipe in the back that sounds really good: Vulcan’s Buns

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness - I laughed so hard at the things in this book, and that was only in the first four chapters. This has to be my favorite book in the series so far.

[Ande Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read

The adventures these two sisters have always keep me laughing. Being familiar with the surroundings makes it even more special.

[Ann aka Iftcan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do like Mary Alice and Patricia Anne (aka Sister and Mouse). Mary Alice actually reminds me more than a bit of some of my aunts.

In this book, Mary Alice's son Ray has sprung a surprise marriage on his poor Mother. The new bride is described by Patricia Ann as looking like a "blonde Barbie."

The two are working on getting to know Sunshine (our Barbie bride) and her family and welcoming them into the wacky clan. Mary Alice and Patricia Anne head out to check out Sunshine's family and fall (literally as well as figuratively) over a murdered man.

All of the fun and wacky behavior that one expects of Sister and Mouse are in this book.

[Marty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patricia Anne and Mary Alice are sisters with grown children. Mary Alice is upset to find that her son, who runs a diving boat in Bora Bora has married a young cute girl he met in Bora Bora. Yes, she is from his home town, but not from the same background as his family. Most of her family live in a circle of run-down trailers on the edge of town --– Personally, I found the whole thing quite confusing and a but too “cutsie” and “down home” for me.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mouse and Sister just can't stay out of trouble. This time Sister gets a surprise daughter-in-law. Their worst fear is that the new in-laws are "common as turkey tracks" but things get worse when a body shows up impaled on the floor of one of the in-law's trailers.

These books just get funnier and funnier. Even if you aren't a southerner, you can't help but laugh.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gem. A quick and funny read. Characters that are unforgettable and you can’t wait to meet them again. Next time I’m at the Book Exchange I will pick up more from this author. I was sorry to read she had passed away in 2001.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fun. Candy reading, and the characters are enjoyable.

[Zona Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started the Sisters series with this one and fell in love with these funny ladies. I read it aloud to my husband and we couldn't stop laugning.

[Diane Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still laughing! I thought I could be catty at weddings, but Fred has me beat! I love it! However, I will never look at another turkey the same ever again.

[Mayar Mahdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

It's been so long since I audibly laughed while reading a book. This was fun and cosy as always

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What total fun! Murder Gets a Life, the fifth installment of Anne George’s Southern Sisters series, is the most enjoyment I’ve had with sisters Patricia Anne and Mary Alice. The two sexagenarians are never at a loss for getting in the middle of trouble, but here they don’t actually solve a murder but rather get caught up in one. The supporting characters are colorful, and at some point, each of them comes to mind as the perpetrator of the murder. When all is said and done, I was delighted to see how all these characters wove into the basic plot. Meanwhile, with Mary Alice’s two adult children and Patricia Anne’s daughter being players also, it made for a fun, fun romp. An aficionado of murder mysteries could probably figure this all out long before I did, but I reveled in this swiftly paced, pleasurable read.

[Karissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a young woman named Sunshine shows up at Mary Alice's door claiming to be married to her son Ray, she opens a whole can of worms. Stunned, Mary Alice calls her sister Patricia Anne to tell her the news and to invite her to a dinner to meet the in-laws. That dinner is a revelation and makes Mary Alice want to learn more about Sunshine and the rest of the family dragging her sister along for the ride. After an 'accidental' meeting up with grandmother "Meemaw", they go out to the Turkett family compound. Meemaw invites them into her home where they immediately fall over a body. The man is dead, impaled to the floor, and not known to any of them. They call the sheriff and are thrown into the mystery of who the man is and why he was killed as well as by whom. Then Sunshine disappears, Mary Alice calls Ray home, and things get even more complicated. Threatening notes, dead turkeys, and odd pebbles all cast questions and doubts on who did what and why.

The best way to describe this book is odd, an unusual cast, unique revealed murder mystery, with a dose of deep south tossed in.

[Becki Basley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder gets a life by Anne George (southern sisters book 5)
( Rb digial Library loan)
This book starts out with Mary Alice being up in arms when her son marries a girl named Sunshine from the Alabama backwoods after meeting her in Bora Bora. She enlists her sister Patricia Ann to go with her to the town that Sunshine lives in with her Meemaw , but what they find when they arrive is a man laying on the floor with Meemaws trailer with Meemaws best hog butchering knife in his chest and Sunshine missing.
Like the rest of the books I have read the interaction between the two sisters the most entertaining but I got to say I was impressed with this mystery. It kept me guessing til the end.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patricia Anne and her sister Mary Alice are very different not only in looks but personality but now MAry Alice is in an uproar about her son marrying a barbie doll look alike while he was living in Bora Bora. Is this woman after Ray's money? Sunshine comes back home to visit her grandmother and other relatives. Sunshine seems like a very sweet girl but the relatives are very strange people living in trailers with junk all surrounding them being guarded by a pack of dogs. Sunshine goes missing after a man is found murdered in her grandmother's trailer. Its up to the two sisters to pujt together the mystery of her departure and help find her as Ray comes home expecting to find his bride.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th book in the series. Mouse (Patricia Anne) and Sister (Mary Alice) are surprised to hear that Sister’s son is getting married to a young woman named Sunshine. They met when she went on a diving trip to Bora Bora and was on Ray’s boat. When they head out to meet the family, they find themselves winding down a dirt road to a trailer encampment, with scary dogs and colorful family members. They are shocked by the scene that greets them, with Sunshine’s mother having found a dead body in the trailer and Sunshine is missing. The two cannot resist getting involved with a twisty tale of lies and misdirection in order to find Sunshine and figure out what is really going on.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Alice and Patricia Anne are off again on another one of their chucklesome adventures. Mary Alice’s son has gotten married in Bora Bora, and Mary Alice is a little leery of the whole thing. The sisters decide to check out the new bride’s family, and are surprised by them, a porn star mother, a loony deaf grandpa and a grandma, who has an invisible spiritual adviser from a space ship encounter that she had one night. Mary Alice and Patricia Anne are soon sucked into a murder, and hilarity ensues once again. These books are laugh out loud, and never a dull moment.

[Hanlie Pieterse · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two Southern sisters nestle deeper into your heart the more books you read. Everyone should have a sister like Patricia Anne, funny, outspoken and larger than life.

I live halfway across the world, but have a yearning to go and live in a Southern US town just like Birmingham, populated with the same colourful, politically incorrect people who left me laughing out loud more than once.

I often had to google to see if snake-handling churches and black pearls were real. Plus the food sounded great.

[Need to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jokes are getting recycled and the problem with reading books in a series back-to-back is the little recaps to describe the characters are getting old. But, I do like the expansion of the secondary characters to include the other adult children of the two main characters. This is one series where the family relationships come across very real and is one of the big reasons I'm continued on in the series.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series

Another great re-read. I love this series and miss the author who passed years ago. The adventures of these sisters are always funny but at the same time full of interesting information for background. The books made me curious about Birmingham years ago and I’m still exploring this city with inspiration from the sisters

[Reggie Virus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly choose this for my library's summer reading challenge and I'm glad I did. This book was funny and these sisters are a hoot! I wish I could be their friend in real life. Patricia Anne and her collection of husbands was fun to read about and Fred has all the sass! I will definitely read all the other books.