Guess Who's Coming to Die?

Thoroughly Southern #9

by Patricia Sprinkle

When Georgia magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough is invited to join the Magnolia Ladies' Investment Club--a group of snobby dowagers and heiresses, she discovers that murder is on the agenda when, during her first meeting, she stumbles upon the club president's dead body. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Fiction

277 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 6, 2007

About the author

Aka Patricia Houck Sprinkle.

When I met and married Bob, he looked over our budget and demanded, "Why don’t you write a mystery to pay for all the ones you buy?" I immediately knew I wanted to put a body in a building where I’d once worked. However, being over-endowed with the Protestant ethic, I wrote "important" things first and only wrote the mystery in my spare time, so my first mystery, Murder at Markham (reissued by Silver Dagger in 2001), took thirteen years to complete. It took even longer for me to learn that any writing which gives me pleasure is important, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Since 1988 I have written twenty mysteries, four novels, and five non-fiction books. I am grateful to my readers and editors for letting me do what I enjoy most in the world. Bob has concluded that writing is not a profession, it's an obsession--my favorite vacation is to go to a place where somebody else fixes my meals and where I can write more than I do at home, without interruptions. Thanks, if you are one of the readers who keeps my fingers on the keys. I enjoy spending time with you at conferences, book clubs, and signing events.

Reviews

[Jan Garrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I throughly enjoy her books,although they may not be high faluten :) I can always count on Sprinkle to entertain me

[Erin72 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather slow and boring in parts had to push myself to finish. A southern woman mystery, so very different to my world and the characters I did not relate to at all.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope county judge and local businesswoman MacLaren Yarbrough is invited to join the local ritzy ladies in their Magnolia Ladies' Investment Club. At Mac's very first meeting, she finds the outgoing president Willena dead on the floor of the bathroom. When the narrow-minded police chief homes in on her daughter-in-law as the prime suspect, Mac decides to "ask a few questions" to find other avenues to present to the chief. Mac tries to follow leads without her husband Joe Riddley knowing too much and becoming upset with her getting for involved in another mystery. Things don't exactly go according to plan and she winds up in the thick of things.

A Southern mystery to its' core, it accurately portrayed the way things work in the south and especially the unspoken 'rules' of behavior. Many of the antics had me laughing-out-loud as I have experienced them myself. Worth a read!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming Mac, a business owner, wife, mother and local magistrate, puts on her detective hat when a member of the local ladies' investment club she's just joined dies during a meeting. The victim's only relative, a cousin, insists that it must be a heart attack, but suspicion seems to fall on Mac's beloved daughter-in-law, another club member who has been humiliated by the victim. As Mac finds secrets about the women she's known all her life, she realizes how few of them she really knew.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is "A Thoroughly Southern Mystery" and that about covers it. The author creates believable and interesting characters and delivers great Southern charm without overdoing it. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading all of this series (twice)

[HELEN G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of possible suspects in this book; the murderer is finally revealed near the end of the book. I had to finish it before I could turn out the light to sleep last night.

[Deb_bluerose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted Mystery Series about a sweet-ol', little southern Lady...

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun series. I enjoy the strong Southern women and their strong Southern families. The mysteries are nicely plotted and the gardens are simply marvelous.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow but still a fun read.

[Judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is getting old quick!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good mystery and I thought the ending was really good.

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny read. Mac gets herself into a bit of trouble as everyone at the club she just joined is under suspicion of murder of the president of the club.

[Jannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Wish Patricia Sprinkle would write more of them, but I think she's finished. I really enjoy the adventures of McLaren and her family.

[Lois Hecksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "A Thoroughly Southern Mystery" series is thoroughly enjoyable and #9 is continues with charm, wit, tradition, and intrigue.