Southern Ghost Hunter Series

Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #1-2

by Angie Fox

Southern Spirits
When out of work graphic designer Verity Long accidentally traps a ghost on her property, she’s saddled with more than a supernatural sidekick—she gains the ability see spirits. It leads to an offer she can’t refuse from the town’s bad boy, the brother of her ex and the last man she should ever partner with.

A Ghostly Gift
Verity Long doesn't want to see ghosts, and she'd rather not let anyone know her little secret, either. But when a restless spirit stirs up trouble in her friend's resale shop, Verity and her very new, very dead gangster friend team up to learn what is really happening.

The Skeleton in the Closet
A haunted library is no place for a girl who can see ghosts, but when Verity Long stumbles on a dead body in the middle of the main reading room, she has to believe someone…even a dead someone…must have witnessed the crime.

*This edition contains never-before-seen material and will be available for a limited time.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, Ghosts, Romance, Fiction

578 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2020

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books.

Angie is best known for her SOUTHERN SPIRITS™ mysteries, and for her ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER books.

Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Ghost Hunter series by Angie Fox

A Southern style, ghost hunter mystery series. I’ve read all the books. They are fun with a gangster ghost, a cute pet skunk and a neighborhood full of characters that Verity helps by clearing out or helping the ghosts causing trouble. These first few are cozy mystery style, while the later books have more depth and haunting situations.

This anniversary edition has the first few books and lots of extras that are entertaining and enlightening. From a floor plan of Verity’s historical home, to deleted scenes and the creation of the covers, the extra content is an appealing collection that you won’t want to miss.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the series and I leaped at the chance to get the anniversary special edition when I saw the special features added to the first three stories- two novels and a between novella. I’ve never felt this engaged with a cozy mystery series before, but it’s the combo of sassy fun characters, small town, clever mysteries on both the ghostly and human plane bringing a strong dose of history and romance with all the rest.


Southern Spirits is book one and introduces the Southern Ghost Hunter World.

Verity Long is the town pariah after dumping the scion of the wealthiest family at the altar. Only Verity knows that Beau Wydell is not as golden as everyone thinks and his mother won a lawsuit over the expense of the wedding reception that cleaned Verity out and has her on the brink of losing her old family home to pay the debt.
While despondently cleaning out the house she inherited from her grandmother and wondering if she’ll be homeless soon, Verity mistakes a funeral urn and ashes for a 'dirty' vase so she dumps the contents out over her rose bushes. This lands her with a gangster's ghost who is now tied to her house. Frankie agrees to help her find the money to keep her house (which is now his, too) if she'll do what it takes to free his ashes from the dirt and thus, free him from being stuck either at the house or wherever she took his urn.
Verity and Frankie are hired by Beau Wydell's older brother, Ellis, to help him with an angry ghost that is tearing up all the renovations he's making on the property he bought. In the process, Verity sees that Ellis is nothing like his brother and Ellis learns the truth of what happened between Verity and his brother. Ellis is also a cop so he manages to accept the truth about Verity's ghost gift and ghosts even while they work to solve what is shaping up to be a dangerous hunt for the truth that someone wants to keep unknown.

The novella, A Ghostly Gift, continues with Verity determined not to do any more ghost hunting, but still needing to make ends meet so she does a design job for her sister Melanie’s friend who owns an antique shop. Julie can’t pay, but agrees to trade Verity for household goods Verity needs from her store. Julie knows her store in the old part of town is haunted and doesn’t mind until one of the ghosts gets aggressive and begins breaking her pieces. Verity agrees to help and tows a reluctant Frankie along to help her figure out what has the ghost riled up.

Skeleton in the Closet sees Verity and the rest of Sugarland gearing up for the big celebration and festival. The town’s claim to fame was a Civil War battle fought on its doorstep and the town repelled the invaders. Founding families, the Wydells and the Jacksons are feuding over the historical displays. Verity is distracted when her ex tries wooing her again. But then the historical society volunteer’s body is found murdered just after she shares with Melanie that she found something important among the historical display items. This call puts Melanie and Verity under suspicion straining her relationship with Ellis so now she has to drag Frankie and the ghosts at the library into helping her solve the case.

Included in this edition is: how the first book came about, graphic sketches of Verity’s old family home, character sketches, the development of the covers and graphics of the ones not chosen, and deleted scenes. These extras make up about the last ten percent of the book so they are interesting for the fan and I enjoyed paging through it all. I’m not sure I would purchase this set specifically to get them if one already has the series books, but then again, it’s a fabulous limited edition that’s way more than affordable for what you get and the e-book edition graphics are crystal clear.

I love the light and humor mixed with a moderately hair-raising ghostly mystery adventures. Verity is an engaging lead character and narrator. I love that she has a pet skunk, Lucy, her bright researcher librarian sister, Melanie, southern manners and this second chance at something special with the stolid and handsome Ellis. Frankie is a fun and sparkling character in the series and he feels authentic the way he raises Cain and makes his deals with Verity before agreeing to help. The mystery and all the ghostly activities is a neat world the author created. It was fabulous revisiting the earliest stories in the series that withstood the test of a reread and also getting the extra special edition gems to please a fan. I can recommend this boxed set for fan and newbie alike.

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Ghost Hunter Series: 5th Anniversary Special Edition by Angie Fox is a real treat! I've been reading this series from the beginning and was so excited to get a copy of this boxed set. Ms. Fox has included diagrams of Verity's home in Sugarland and some deleted scenes from the series.

These first three books are a reader's introduction into the ghost hunting adventures of Verity Long and Frankie, Verity's ghostly sidekick. The mysteries are well crafted, the ghosts range from terrifying to sweet and kind, and Verity's life in Sugarland which is often complicated. With deft twists, turns, ghostly characters, some scary encounters and humor, I was totally immersed in Verity's ghost adventures again.

The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read: November 2023

I didn't actually re-read the books contained in this collection - I bought it for the anniversary special extras, which included the floor plan to Verity's house and some deleted scenes from the books, because I love that sort of world building detail in any series that I'm invested in!

It is currently available for free on Amazon UK and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes easy-to-read paranormal cosy mysteries. However, one small point to note is this collection doesn't contain the first 3 full-length books in the series; it has the first book, a novella (#1.5) and then the second book.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and reviewed every single book in this series, and I loved every one. (If you are interested in seeing my reviews, just go to each book and see my review.) Verity, Frankie, and her new boyfriend (don’t want to spoil anything) are a great team and they go on such great missions together. The author is an exceptional writer who writes books full of fun, action, and a little bit of romance. You can’t go wrong, either, with this anniversary edition which has some deleted scenes, peaks at covers that didn’t make it, and some fabulous other things. I loved taking a trip down memory lane and seeing how these books and this series came together. Highly recommend this box set! I received a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Judy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

DELIGHTFULLY ENTERTAINING!!!
Title: Southern Host Hunter Series: 5th Anniversary Special Edition
Series: Southern Ghost Hunters Mysteries
Designation: Anniversary Edition with first three stories in the collection (Books 1: Southern Spirits, 1.5: A Ghostly Gift, & 2: The Skeleton in the Closet - Two Full-Length Novels & One Novella), Standalone, NO Cliffhanger #cozymystery #sweetromance #humor #paranormal
Author: Angie Fox
My Rating: FIVE DELIGHTFULLY ENTERTAINING STARS*****

I adore cozy mysteries, love gripping suspense, and completely addicted to anything supernatural, but throw in a little sweet romance and I'm totally smitten! Unfortunately, it's often difficult to find the perfect combination of these four elements in one book but thankfully I've found an author who brilliantly combines them all into a fabulously entertaining series. Angie Fox has delighted her readers yet again with her latest release, a supernatural cozy mystery compilation of the first three stories of her bestselling Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries Series. This collection celebrates the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the series and includes Book 1: Southern Spirits (Full-Length Standalone), Book 1.5: A Ghostly Gift (Novella-Length Standalone), and Book 2: The Skeleton in the Closet (Full-Length Standalone). As an additional bonus, Fox has also included deleted scenes and never before seen artwork and insights on several of the characters, which can only be found in this anniversary edition. Start reading here or anywhere in the series. Fox does an outstanding job of giving readers backstory in every book and each can certainly be read as a standalone, though I will say it’s much more fun when the stories are read in order of their release. But just a word of warning... Once you start, you'll be hooked! I should know since I own them all, read them all, and LOVED them all. As I said, I own all the individual books but purchased this anniversary edition for the bonuses alone! I became a diehard Angie Fox fan seven years ago after reading The Accidental Demon Slayer, the outrageously hilarious first release in Fox's best-selling Biker Witches Mystery Series, another fabulous collection I highly recommend, especially if you love your mystery generously laced with paranormal elements, side-splitting humor, and dreamy romance. But just a quick heads up - there’s a lot more sass, shenanigans, and x-rated Romance. In Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, the emphasis is on the mystery and not the romance, and any canoodling is behind closed doors. But I digress, so let's talk about the Southern Ghose Hunter Mysteries Series. It's imaginative, cute, laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and so heartwarming. The narrative is beautifully written in the first-person with a single perspective from the heroine, Verity Long. The dialogue is smart, snappy, well-executed, at times hilarious, and flows effortlessly. There's so much I truly love about this collection, but it's the cast of endearing and instantly engaging characters who completely steal the show. They literally grab your attention, engage your imagination, and completely capture your heart! Verity Long and her cast of quirky cohorts carry this entire series and have become my favorites in the cozy mystery genre. Fox skillfully combines every single one of these elements to craft a deliciously cute and delightfully entertaining whodunit adventure filled to the brim with danger, drama, humor, ghosts, suspense, mystery, and plot twists, with even a little heartbreaking angst and heartwarming romance.

Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! It's my all-time favorite cozy mystery series! I adore the Southern Ghost Hunters World and the fictional town of Sugarland, Tennessee as well as the charming cast of characters Fox has created for this series. Southern Belle Verity Long is an absolute delight and Ellis Wydell is one hunk of burning love! lol... And never fear, Verity's gangster ghost housemate, Frankie Winkelmann aka Frankie the German, from the flapper era is around to cause all kinds of trouble and Lucy, the pet skunk, is ever-present for a little heartwarming comic relief. And the supporting characters will also steal your heart, and that includes the spirits, specters, spooks, and villains. And yes, I'm including you, Virginia and Beau Wydell! I giggled, snorted, snuffled, sniffled, and fumed through every book. Would I recommend it? You bet and I am, for ages twelve to a hundred and twelve! Angie Fox is a master of her craft and never fails to deliver a wonderfully entertaining whodunit, layered with thrills, chills, and ghostly encounters, expertly infusing events from both past and present to create a mystery within a mystery. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! Just as soon as she releases her next book! Was I entertained? Completely and totally entertained! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!

Premise for the series:
Although the last few months have been difficult for Verity Long, it's also been surprisingly hectic for the beautiful former aspiring graphic designer from Sugarland Tennessee. Breaking off your engagement, having to sell everything you own, and searching for a job is enough to keep anyone busy. Unfortunately, the one thing it hasn't been is profitable. Verity has gained some recognition, or I should say notoriety, as Sugarland's resident runaway bride and novice ghosthunter. But what choice did she have? She lost absolutely everything after breaking off her engagement with her lying, cheating, now ex-fiance Beau Wydell, youngest and favorite son of wealthy, influential town aristocrat Virginia Wydell. And if a miracle doesn’t suddenly appear in the form of $20,000, she’s also going to lose the only thing that matters to her, the home she inherited from her grandmother. Verity's graphic design services had once been in demand until her almost mother-in-law used her influence to ruin her good name and her business. Had it been left up to the vengeful Virginia Wydell and her lying, two-timing son Beau, Verity would have been tarred, feathered, and run out of town on a rail. Now it seems no one in Sugarland needs her services, so she's embarked on a new career and a whole new business...as a ghost hunter. It seems there’s a whole lot happening on the Sugarland ghostly plane that Verity never knew existed - until now. She may not know exactly what she’s doing but hey, it’s a paying gig, so don’t judge! And that's not the only change in her life. She's kinda-sorta-maybe attracted to handsome Deputy Sheriff Ellis Wydell, who is also kinda-sorta-maybe sweet on Verity too! Yes, his last name is Wydell and yes, Ellis and Beau are related - they're brothers! Huh? Oh yes, brothers! As you can imagine, the couple is trying to keep things on the down-low, for now, but you know how it is in a small town. Even with Ellis sneaking in Verity’s back door, secrets always find a way of making themselves known. I don't think this new development will be well received by Virginia or Beau Wydell. And let's not forget Verity's sweet little pet skunk Lucy and her very dead, black and white gangster ghost housemate, Franklin Rudolph Winkelmann aka Frankie the German. Yup, I said ghost. Frankie became trapped on Verity's property when she unknowingly dumped his ashes onto the roots of her grandmother’s rose bushes from a vase she received as a gift from Beau. How was she to know that the ugly vase was actually an urn? Oh no! But in her defense, she had no idea what the ashes were and what would happen. So until she can figure out a way to free Frankie, she's stuck with the ghostly, not-so-nice, wise-guy criminal from the flapper era. And the fact that Frankie has turned her back porch and backyard shed into a speakeasy and hideout for him and his buddies hasn’t helped matters at all. Verity's life certainly wasn’t perfect but on the bright side, she does still have her pet skunk Lucy, her grandmother’s house (for now), a maybe-kinda-secret boyfriend, and on occasion Frankie does actually lend her, albeit begrudgingly, some of his power so she can see all those otherworldly things that go bump in the night. It seems Verity's life has become a lot more interesting...and dangerous. But who better to protect her on her first official case than Deputy Ellis Wydell himself. After all, he's her first paying client who needs help with a troublesome spirit. What's a spunky, independent, never-quit, born and bred Southern Belle to do? What any good southern girl worth her salt would do, of course! When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade! Verity’s determined to make a new life for herself and embark on a new career - as a ghosthunter! To heck with all the critics, nonbelievers, naysayers, and Wydell! And remember, we, Southern Belles, never let our enemies see us sweat! You go, Verity! lol...

[Anne Monteith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first tow novels, a novella and some deleted and other extras in the Southern Spirits series by Angie Fox. These cozy mysteries are humorous, entertaining and clean.

Verity Long becomes persona non grata in her hometown of Sugarland, Tennessee after he leaves her wealthy fiancée at the altar. Now her almost ex-mother-in-law is determined to make sure she loses everything that she cares about. She has already sold almost all the furnishings and fixtures in her home, most of clothes and tomorrow her beloved family home will be auctioned off unless she can raise another $20,000. The only thing left in her home is her futon and an old, ugly “vase” that nobody bought at the estate sale. Looking at the vase she realizes that there is a pile of dirt in the bottom; she takes it out side to hose it out and mixes the “dirt” that she can get out into the ground around her rose bushes. She soon finds out that it’s not a vase, it’s and urn and the dirt was the ashes of a now angry ghost who she has grounded Frankie to her house or wherever his urn and the few remaining ashes that are still left inside are located. Frankie knows about Verity’s situation and tells her that he knows where some money is stashed; thus, begins the adventures of a reluctant ghost-hunter and the even more reluctant ghost that is tied to her.

4.5 STARS: I received a free digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a honest, unbiased review. I sincerely thank Netgalley, author and/or publisher for giving me this opportunity

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Ghost Hunter Series:5th Anniversary Special Edition
Storied 1-3
Angie Fox
5 Stars

Synopsis:

New York Times bestseller Angie Fox celebrates 5 years of the Southern Ghost Hunter series with a limited edition boxed set of the first three stories in the series, along with never-before-seen additional content, including deleted scenes, original art, an inside look at the characters, and a behind-the-scenes peek at how the series came together.

Southern Spirits
When out of work graphic designer Verity Long accidentally traps a ghost on her property, she’s saddled with more than a supernatural sidekick—she gains the ability see spirits. It leads to an offer she can’t refuse from the town’s bad boy, the brother of her ex and the last man she should ever partner with.

A Ghostly Gift
Verity Long doesn't want to see ghosts, and she'd rather not let anyone know her little secret, either. But when a restless spirit stirs up trouble in her friend's resale shop, Verity and her very new, very dead gangster friend team up to learn what is really happening.

The Skeleton in the Closet
A haunted library is no place for a girl who can see ghosts, but when Verity Long stumbles on a dead body in the middle of the main reading room, she has to believe someone…even a dead someone…must have witnessed the crime.

*This edition contains never-before-seen material and will be available for a limited time. (Goodreads)


Review:

I have read this series from the very first book, and it is one of my favorite series. I love the characters,the setting and the mystery.

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Verity is one strong woman, she has to be to be able to deal with all of the things going on in her life. Frankie is one stubborn, gruff ghost but you can tell that he has a soft spot for Verity, but he would never admit it. And Lucy, the skunk, is one of my all time favorite cozy animals.

The writing style flows smoothly and the stories are an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the book right away. She is also very talented in creating suspense and tension with the written word.

This anniversary edition contains the first 2 books and a novella in the series. It also includes deleted scenes, which I found very interesting and had me wondering why they were deleted. There is also a little insight into a few of the characters, which I enjoyed. There were examples of illustrations of the book cover for first book and it was like I was getting a look at the process first hand, which was great.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy series. This anniversary edition has enough special treats to make it worth your buying.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Ghost Hunter Series: 5th Anniversary Special Edition by Angie Fox features the first three novels in the series along with special bonus content. Southern Spirits, A Ghostly Gift and The Skeleton in the Closet are the three stories in this special edition. For newcomers to the series, this is your opportunity to get these three charming tales in one handy volume. For fans and neophytes alike, you will enjoy the special content which includes sketches (the layout of Verity’s house is one example). We also get a more in-depth look at the characters along with deleted scenes that feature our major players (Verity, Frankie, Ellis and Lucy). There is a juicy scene that did not make it into Southern Spirits will hopefully appear in an upcoming book. Frankie shocked Verity with some surprising information. There is a sweet deleted scene featuring the adorable Lucy. We also get a look at early book covers. I must say I liked the third rendition of Southern Spirits better than the final version. I especially appreciated the author’s insights. All three stories are delightfully entertaining. I laughed often while reading these paranormal whodunits (which is high praise from me). There is a preview of The Haunted Heist included at the end. I cannot wait for Southern Bred to come out this year. Southern Ghost Hunter Series: 5th Anniversary Special Edition has a gangster ghost, a dashing deputy, a malevolent mama, a sweet skunk, a rocky romance, and a feisty female protagonist.

[Angela Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three books and bonus materials, what a great anniversary present!
Southern Ghost Hunter Series: 5th Anniversary Special Edition by Angie Fox is Delightful! Ms. Fox has included diagrams of Verity's home in Sugarland and some deleted scenes from the series.

These first three books are a reader's introduction into the ghost hunting advenature's of Verity Long, who knows how to show her southern charm to the living and all the ghosts she encounters. The mysteries are fun and light-hearted, the ghosts range from terrifying to sweet and kind, and Verity's life is very interesting. She meets all sorts of ghostly characters, some scary and some humorous. She handles each situation with Grace and style.
This anniversary edition has the first few books and lots of extras that are entertaining and enlightening. From a floor plan of Verity’s historical home, to deleted scenes and the creation of the covers, the extra content is an appealing collection that you won’t want to miss. This is the perfect anniversary addition!

[Peggy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are wonderful. Fun reading. Great characters. Interesting plots. The extras in this set are excellent. I loved reading the deleted scenes and commentary. And showing the house floor plan showed that the description in the book put an accurate picture in my mind. Get it. Read it. You'll be hooked.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the set quick to read enjoyable with plenty of laughs nice to have the first books all together in one set well worth reading

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fun read for fans of cozy paranormal mysteries

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it's been 5 years since this story came alive! I'm so happy it did and it was so nice to make a re-read about Verity, Lucy, Ellis, and Frankie along to celebrate their 5-year anniversary. I loved to revisit how everything started and to know all those tidbits about Verity's house and the deleted scenes. It's nice to remember where everything came from and to know Angie's view of things.

I have to say if you're new to the series, this is the perfect way to start! It's the beginning and it has the first two novels and one novella. A quick recap of what you can find: (1) Southern Spirits = Verity Long has lost almost everything she has, all on the hands of the mother of her awful ex-fiance and it's on the verge of losing her grandmother's house when by accident she traps a ghost on the property (Frankie) and gains a gangster sidekick that lends her the ability to see spirits. With this new supernatural power, she gets a 'job' that could help her save her house working with Ellis, brother of the nasty ex, which could mean more trouble that she wanted in the first place. (1.5) A Ghostly Gift = Verity doesn't want to see ghosts, much less to let anyone know she actually does, but when a friend has some paranormal problems at her shop she teams up with her gangster friend to help those in need. (2) The Skeleton in the Closet = Verity is helping out her sister at the library with a display when she uncovers a dead body in the middle fo the main reading room. Inadvertently she puts herself in the middle of the investigation and under the killer sights.

The bonus at the very end of the book includes a floor plan of Verity's house, an image of the whole property, 5 deleted scenes, previous versions of the art cover and preview of the next book on the series!!

I have to say I loved it all. It's a nice addition to my library and can't wait to know more tidbits and obviously about our beloved characters!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collector’s edition has two full books over 35o pages each and a small novella that is super cute and inspiring. This is the type of bind-up that will give you a great introduction to the series and then suck you into the world enough that you will want to continue on with book three.

Southern Spirits Book #1

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series by Angie Fox.

This book was like a comedy of errors. First Vertity traps Frankie on her property after she dumps his ashes into the garden thinking it was just an ordinary vase in need of washing. Now he is stuck to just haunting her property. But since there is a bit of residue in the vase, Verity can tote the container around and it gives Frankie the ability to move beyond the house’s property line.

Verity is in a bind. She is about to lose her house and she needs money fast. First Frankie has a get rich quick idea which backfires, then she realizes that with Frankie’s help, she can see spirits. Now her ex’s brother, Ellis, is in need of a little ghostbusting and enlists Verity to assist him in disposing of the annoying spirits causing destruction on his property. Verity can’t say no. She needs the money. But being around Mr. Wonderful won’t be easy. He is the brother of her ex and he doesn’t have the highest opinion of her. Not to mention, he is the town cop and could probably arrest her if he so willed.

I thought this was a hilarious cozy mystery romp into the spirit world. I never knew what to expect and the plot went places that would probably crop up in future books. The world building on this was awesome. What a great start to a series. I am looking forward to seeing what Fox has in store for us next. I am intrigued by the budding relationship between Verity and Ellis too. Crossing my fingers for a love match between the two of them.

A Ghostly Gift Book #1.5

5 Stars

This is the first novella (#1.5) in the Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series by Angie Fox.

This was a real quick read and there wasn’t a lot of conflict here or mystery. Everything was wrapped up in very few pages but I thought it was so sweet how Verity helped a lonely ghost find his lost love. Just AWE-inspiring!

Just wish there had been some Ellis sightings in this novella. I missed seeing him in the pages of this one.


Skeleton in the Closet #2

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series by Angie Fox.

I feel like there is a real kinship to the Scooby-Doo gang here. Not sure why. There are ghosts, yes. But they are usually misunderstood and the bad guy is usually a living person who is not living their best life.

This had a lot of good backstory and gave us a glimpse into the lives of Ellis’s parents and how invested they are into keeping their standing in the community even when a long held truth about town history is found to be an out and out lie!

I never really felt like the reason Verity’s ex was trying to squeeze himself back into her life was thoroughly uncovered. By the end, when he didn’t want her anymore, I figured that he must have been as wrapped up in his family’s drama as his mother was.

This series is sort of unassuming. It looks like one of those superficial cozy series that just seem to be spit out every two weeks with only a few pages to the mystery. But this is not that. This series is completely thought out and just a joy to read. I don’t feel like I am waisting my time reading this. I am enjoying the heck out of it!

Can’t wait to start reading the rest of the series! I am hooked on Verity, Ellis and Frankie!

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Ghost Hunter series is whimsical, funny, and even dangerous at times and it has my recommendation to anyone that wishes for a fun, lighthearted cozy mystery series to read.

Angie Fox does it again with a unique twist on a cozy mystery series. Southern Ghost Hunters characters Verity and Frankie are funny and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page, I kept coming back for more until I was done with all three books.

I fell in love with Verity before the second chapter even started, she broke, and in need of money to save her family home, which by the way is in very much need of some TLC so you think she has enough on her plate all to find she trapped a ghost on her property. These two become a dramatic crime-fighting duo, which will take on any human or ghostly ghost.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verity Long, Frankie the gangster ghost and Lucy the adorable skunk make one of the most entertaining sleuthing teams I've read! Verity has troubles - in the first book, she's on the hook for a high society wedding (hers), is desperately trying to raise money by selling every item in her family's home. One item she doesn't sell and so begins her adventures in the other books!

I enjoyed the books and loved the characters! The mystery kept me guessing, laughing and wanting to read more!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Leah Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of the first three stories of the series is perfect for new readers and longtime fans. Verity and Frankie have crazy adventures full of zany antics, mystery, humor, and a dose of suspense. There is a lot of charm packed into these pages. I loved the bonus content. It really is an awesome bonus for fans. You can't help but fall in love with these characters. And a few you will love to hate.

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a humorous paranormal mystery. The characters were fun and lively. The story was well written with a bit of crazy goings on. Verity can see ghosts and is now expected to send them packing often with some hilarious results. I loved this series.

[Tracie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully witty series! Southern Spirits: 5th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set is full of humour, mystery and dynamic characters, I enjoyed this immensely and would recommend you read it too.

[Kanwarpal Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The southern spirit

For a girl who is about to lose her family home,Releases the ghost of a long-dead gangster,And opens Verity Long’s eyes to a whole new world.

When out of work graphic designer Verity Long accidentally traps a ghost on her property, which was in the Urn given to her as a gift. she’s saddled with more than a supernatural sidekick Frankie—she gains the ability see spirits by sharing his power. It leads to an offer she can’t refuse from the town’s bad boy, the brother of her ex and the last man she should ever partner with.

Ellis Wydell is in possession of a stunning historic property haunted by some of Sugarland Tennessee’s finest former citizens. Only some of them are growing restless—and destructive. He hires Verity to put an end to the disturbances. But soon, Verity learns there’s more to the mysterious estate than floating specters, secret passageways, and hidden rooms.

There’s a modern day mystery afoot, one that hinges on a decades-old murder. And Mayor Steward wad the culprits behind and his truth got unveiled and she put him behind bars .

The ghostly gift

Verity is having trouble furnishing her new Victorian home. She is also trying to get used to having a ghost knocking around the place. Frankie is a dead gangster trapped with her after an unfortunate mishap with his ashes in the Urn. Rather than scary, he is quite endearing. The device of having him help Verity see the dead — and use her ability to make some much needed cash to survive and endure the expenses.

Verity’s sister, Melody, wants her to help her friend Julie get rid of a ghost who has been bothering the collectibles case in her resale shop. Though Julie isn’t in a much better position than Verity and can’t offer money, a new set of kitchenware to the struggling Verity sounds just as good. It soon becomes complicated, however, when Verity and Frankie pay a visit at night, and discover the resale shop is a bar from another time. A soldier from the war worried about the great love he left behind, and whom he needs to find before she passes, this short and surprisingly warm story of love after dead .

A tradition featuring bottle caps and a girl who seems to have dropped off the map in ’42, when the young soldier died, turn this into a warm and sentimental short story, respectful of the sacrifice made by so many in WWII. Author give a beautiful tribute to fallen heroes of war.

The skeleton in the closet

This is the second book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series which I would recommend reading in order if possible but it could work as a stand-alone if necessary.

Verity stumbles upon a dead body while helping her sister prepare for a big event. The Mystery of who killed Darla or what their motive was so Verity decides to see what she can learn with the help of her ghostly sidekick Frankie and Ellis, a local officer and could be the new fling for Verity . Throw in the efforts to win her back coming from her ex-fiance and the demands of Frankie, and Verity has her hands full in this book.

I thought that this book was very entertaining. I had no idea who was responsible for all of the things going on around Verity as she was charged with murder but she finds a way and solve the case. I was very happy with the development that we saw in Verity’s romantic life. The book was very well written and I felt like the pacing of the story was spot on

[SarahSmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this series from the beginning. I first started reading the Demon Slayer series nearly 10 years ago and can't get enough of Angie Fox. I have kept up with her writing and followed her on Facebook where I had the opportunity to join her review crew about five years ago right before the Southern Ghost Hunter Series premiered. This compilation is well worth your time. It has the first book Southern Spirits, the novella A Ghostly Gift, and the second book The Skeleton in the Closet, as well as some awesome bonus material. Below are my reviews from the books in the series, but here I'm going to focus on the bonus material. There are a lot of deleted scenes, one of which might see the light of day in a future book, which I can't wait for. There are also some book rejected book covers, all of which were great, although my personal favorite had Lucy on the cover, but sine she's not really the "star" of the show, even though she steals the show every time she's in a scene I can understand why she was cut. There's a lot of great background stories from the author too. If you love this series you will love this edition. If you haven't read this series yet, you are in for a treat!


Southern Spirits Review:
Angie Fox writes awesomely funny paranormal romances, although I might call this one a semi-romance with a hint of romantic possibilities to come. This was a fantastic start to the series and it made me want more! Verity Long is now being haunted (sort-of) by a ghost, Frankie, a 1920s era gangster. The reason she is being haunted is because she locks Frankie to her property because she accidentally dumped his ashes into her rosebushes and then watered them down for good measure. Frankie wants to be free, but he also doesn't want to be stuck on Verity's property, especially since she is in imminent danger of losing it, due to the debt she owes her ex-fiance and his mother, for the wedding she (rightfully) called off. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series plays out! Highly recommended!

A Ghostly Gift Review:
This was a short-cute story to pass the time between the first book Southern Spirits and The Skeleton in the Closet (Book #2). As with the first book in this series I highly recommend it!

The Skeleton in the Closet Review:
Angie Fox is an amazing author that I keep coming back to again and again when I need a laugh. I loved the first book, as well as the novella in between, in this series. This is a great murder mystery with some romance, as well as a bit of well deserved karma thrown in. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series plays out! Great, quick read! Highly recommended!

[AV Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A. Donovan
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous story. Keeps getting better.
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2020
This is the collection of the first 3 books in this series and the get better as they go along.
Book 1 Southern Spirits
Not all spirits come from a bottle. Verity Long is cute, smart and just got a ghost. She just inherited the ghost of the Great-great Uncle of the man she left at the altar. The Ex-beau is patently awful but Frankie, the Gangster Ghost, is hilarious. The especially sexy Deputy Sheriff discovers Verity's new ability to see ghosts and asks her to evict the spirits destroying his property in exchange for a large sum of cash. She desperately needs the money to save her family home, so she and Frankie go on a dangerous ghost hunt.
The very funny Frankie the Gangster Ghost is overconfident and snarky. The tasty deputy is also handsome and confident and Verity just wants to save her home by any means possible. Things go bump in the night and not all of them are the ghosts.
Book 2 A Ghostly Gift (novella)
This is truly a lovely romance. Verity is back when her sister asks her to help a friend. Julie's store has always been haunted but now they are causing damage to the wares. Of course, there is a ghost in distress and Verity is there to help. A lovelorn soldier and a lost engagement ring are the basis for a heartfelt love story. I wanted more from Frankie, the gangster ghost, but he did provide some old-time chivalry and a little snark.
Book 3 The Skeleton in the Closet
The beautiful ghost hunter is back trying to find the killer of a seemingly harmless library volunteer. Verity must also deal with the truly wicked almost-mother-in-law and the slimy and selfish almost husband. All this while hiding a flirty relationship with the deputy from Madam Wicked and Mr. Slimy.
Then there are the ghosts A frightening poltergeist, a jilted bride, a lonely Yankee soldier and a squad of Confederate soldiers and their eternal poker game. And Frankie, my favorite gangster ghost, is always there to help and make me laugh.
Added Special Features
Oh My! these are so worth the story. Cute drawings, and "A Closer Look..." at our favorite characters. But the deleted scenes -- why were they deleted? They are a fantastic expansion on the characters and well worth reading.

[Visionary Druid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deleted scenes: I love them, both in movies and books. Yes, I am the type of person who watches them whenever I buy/rent a Blue-ray or Dvd. When an author posts deleted scenes up on their website or facebook, you betcha, I read them.

I understand why authors and directors must cut scenes. Length restraints or the scene just does not fulfill a purpose with the plot or story pacing. There are some deleted scenes that it is obvious how much fun the author or creator had writing them.

I love how Angie divided the deleted scenes by characters: Frankie – our favorite gangster; Ellis – who needs more deleted scenes; and Lucy – everyone’s favorite skunk. Look out Pepé Le Pew, there’s a new skunk in town.

Another factor I liked about the deleted scenes: Before each characters’ scenes, the author writes a little introduction for them… As if someone like Frankie needs as such. – winks -

Angie, also, labels which book the scene belongs too. Which is incredibly helpful.

Other cool goodies and features: Also included in the 5th ANNIVERSARY EDITION is an image of Verity’s property with Frankie’s shack, the pond, and orchard. We cannot forget the cute drawings of Frankie, Verity, Ellis, and Lucy. I especially like the inside layout of Lucy and Verity’s home. Now, when I read future books in the series, I have a better visual.

Angie shares early book covers – ones that “almost” made the cut but needed a little something more. There are four with the last the cover we all know for the first book. It is neat to see the progress and read the author’s commentary about each one.

Honestly? I liked the first cover. Yes, it needed a few adjustments to fit Verity. Just something about it draws my attention.

Any fans of Angie Fox’s SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER series needs this special edition box set.

To read my reviews for the first three stories in the series, here are the links:
SOUTHERN SPIRITS review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

SKELETON IN THE CLOSET review -https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A GHOSTLY GIFT review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mary Lou Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOUTHERN SPIRITS is the first in a new series by Angie Fox. Though each story will stand alone, it is best that they are read in the order of release and you will want to read them all.

‘Loved’ does not begin to describe my feelings for this story. It had me holding my breath in more ways than one and so many times it’s a wonder I don’t need resuscitation!

There is a unique craziness that must be experienced and that is my recommendation. Pick up this book and read it. Get to know Verity, Ellis, Frankie the mobster ghost, and Lucy the lovable skunk.

A GHOSTLY GIFT is the second book in the Southern Ghost Hunter series.

This one is a short story that involves a WWII soldier ghost who is determined that his true love receive the gift he meant for her.

I love the dedication shown by the soldiers, by the townspeople towards those soldiers (the bottlecaps left in the bar), by the sweethearts left behind, and by the author in this display of her appreciation for our military and their families.

THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET is the third book in the Southern Ghost Hunter series.
Verity has been kicked down and then kicked some more by the town matriarch. In this story, Verity has a lot of leads that keep circling back to the wicked witch of town, errr Mrs. Wydell, but is that possible? Still there are a lot of secrets that do come out and this town will never be the same.

These three stories give a solid foundation of the who’s-who in Sugarland, TN. They also establish the fun, quirky nature of Verity and the romance that is blooming between her and Deputy Sheriff Ellis Wydell.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Title: SOUTHERN SPIRITS BOX SET
Series: Southern Ghost Hunter #1 - #3
Category /Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Recommended for: 14+ due to vocabulary
Grammar/editing: received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Moose Island Books

[Joan Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Anniversary Edition of the Southern Spirits Series comes after 5 years and 9 books. This compilation contains the first 3 books, Southern Spirits, A Ghostly Gift, and The Skeleton in the Closet.
These books set the scene for the series as we are introduced to the main characters, setting, and story behind the adventures. Verity, a woman who left her rich fiancé at the altar due to his cheating, attempts to look forward after his mother strips her house and personal belongings of all valuables to reimburse for the non refundable wedding.
Frankie is a gangster from the 1920s who has a hard exterior and a soft interior. He became a ghost at the peak of his endeavors in life. Now, in death, Verity and Frankie work toward solving a myriad of problems in Verity’s small town life and the ghostly plane. This is a very interactive and exciting mystery series with Lucy, the pet skunk, as a lighthearted contrast to the seriousness of the plot at times.
This special Anniversary Edition supplies the reader with the first 3 books and plenty of exciting extra scenes not included in any of the previous released books. These scenes give the reader more insight into Frankie. Frankie reveals secrets about the Wydells. The author discusses her reasons for certain descriptions concerning Verity and why each cover was chosen. We get to see examples of different covers for some of books and some pen and ink drawings of Verity’s house. Prepare to be amazed by this Anniversary Edition. I received an ARC for review and just loved reading it for the chance to immerse myself in the stories again. When I got to the extra scenes, maps, musings by Angie, and covers, I kept reading them over and over again. It was just so good. I would highly recommend it for both new and loyal readers.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been a fan of Angie Fox’s Southern Ghost Hunter series for a while now, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of the 5th Anniversary Edition box set. This not only includes books 1, 1.5 and 2, but a host of special extras.

Southern Spirits: This was a great start to the series, introducing us to the most important characters, and solving a fun mystery (or two, or more, depending how you count!). There’s also a hint of romance, a lovely pet skunk and a myriad of ghosts. What more could you possibly want?

A Ghostly Gift: This is a fun novella - a small mystery for Verity to solve, with the help of Frankie and Melody. I really enjoyed it.

The Skeleton in the Closet:

Having introduced the concept, and the characters, in book 1, this story feels like more of a full length mystery. I had so much fun reading it (for the second time). I enjoyed seeing some ghosts again, and also meeting some great new ghostly characters. I really love this series as it doesn’t take itself too seriously, there’s always an interesting mystery, and of course Lucy, who is adorable!

Special Extras:

These were so much fun! I don’t want to give away too much, but there were some lovely illustrations of Verity’s house, a bunch of fun deleted scenes, and the process of the cover design for book 1. I really enjoyed these extras, they make this anniversary edition truly special.

I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[K. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never read a book in this series, now is your chance to get the first book, a novella and the second book in this series for a good price, and along with the books you also get some fun additions. This series takes place in the south and when Verity Long accidentally rinses out a vase given to her by her ex, outside in her rose bushes, she "sticks" the ghostly presence of a 1920's gangster on her property where he can't leave unless he rides along in his urn with her which she had mistaken for the vase.
Frankie the gangster gives her some of his ghostly power that enables her to see on the ghostly plain and solve mysteries and murders. Along the way she has to contend with an angry "was supposed to be her mother-in-law" who is set to do all in her power to take Verity down and things especially get complicated when she meets her ex's brother and sparks fly between them when he hires her to solve some ghostly occurances within his business opportunity. Ellis and Verity become an "item" to the horror of Elli's mother. The stories take off from there. There are seven books in the series along with three novella's I believe. In the limited time offer box set the reader will also get deleted scenes, insights into the main characters, the progression of the cover art and original artwork by the author. If you have never read this series, THIS is the box set to take a gamble on and see if you will enjoy the series.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Anniversary Edition with Fun Bonus Materials!
I just love a good special anniversary edition, don’t you? And when you pair that with three fantastic tales of mystery, memorable characters, and a little dose of Southern gentility, well, how can you resist? Angie Fox has re-released the first three books of her Southern Ghost Hunters series in a 5th Anniversary Special Edition, and just to make it really tempting, she’s thrown in some extra goodies; in depth character studies, deleted scenes, and some great illustrations.
One of my favorite mystery series, SGH follows Verity Long in her struggles and triumphs of putting her life back together after her almost-but-not-so-much wedding, that not only left her heartbroken, but with an adversary she’d rather not have. The first three tales lay out a solid foundation for the main characters and recurring settings of this series and set the stage nicely for the adventures to come. The bonus material is a wonderful addition as it adds so much to the understanding of the characters and the overall feel of the series.
If you’re a fan of Grafton’s character development, Evanovich’s humor, Harris’ touch of the supernatural, and Gilman’s clever plots, this series is for you. Fox’s writing smoothly and effortlessly takes you through the story. This is the perfect series for anyone who loves mysteries, and I highly recommend treating yourself or the mystery enthusiast in your life with this special edition.

[Tink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Southern Ghost Hunter Series: 5th Anniversary Special Edition contains the first three books in the Southern Ghost Hunter Series by Angie Fox. Starting with Southern Spirits we are introduced to our heroine Verity Long, her sweet pet skunk Lucy, and all of the other interesting residents of Sugarland, Tennessee. Verity becomes the unwitting town ghost hunter when she accidentally traps the ghost of old time gangster, Frankie the German, on her property. From that moment on she is connected to the spirit world and the beauty and danger that entails.

Southern Spirits, A Ghostly Gift, and The Skeleton in the Closet each have their own fun story to tell and I was very pleased to get to re-read each of them in this special edition set. I especially loved all of the additional content that is included. The art work is beautiful and it was interesting to see the progression from first draft cover to finished product. The deleted scenes were great, too. I really hope we see some of that Wydell history, and Frankie's connection to it, mentioned in future books. If you are a fan of the Southern Ghost Hunter Series, you will appreciate this collection. If this is your first foray into the series, this is a fantastic way to start by getting the first three books all together for your reading pleasure. I've been a fan from the first reading of Southern Spirits and I look forward to spending more time with my friends in Sugarland for years to come.