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Liz Talbot Mystery #10.5

Postcards From Stella Maris: Five Liz Talbot Short Stories

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For Fans of the Liz Talbot Mystery Series...

Postcards From Stella Maris is a collection of five short stories for fans of the series who might be interested, for example, in Colleen's backstory.
I wrote the short story "Common Knowledge" for myself years ago, as a way to explore what happened to Colleen. As you might imagine, it's not as light as the series in general. This story has never been published anywhere before.
"Eviction" is the story of how Liz first met Rhett, her golden retriever, back when she was married to Scott the Scoundrel. This story is also not lighthearted, and it likewise has never been published before.

"Hogwash" originally appeared in Spinetingler Magazine. This is a fun little case which introduces the character of Zeke Lyerly, who appears in Lowcountry Bonfire.

"Highlights and Hot Lead" originally appeared in The Petigru Review. This is a Stella Maris slice of life story featuring Shannelle Johnson, a local judge's wife, and it takes place entirely at Phoebe's Day Spa.

"Everything is Relative" is a peek inside a Talbot family Thanksgiving. A few of Mamma's recipes are included at the end.

If by chance you've stumbled on this collection of stories, but you've never read a Liz Talbot mystery, I would encourage you to start with Lowcountry Boil (A Liz Talbot Mystery, Book 1) and come back to these stories later.

I so hope you enjoy these glimpses into Liz Talbot's formative years, her unfortunate first marriage, and her life between major cases.

81 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2022

145 people are currently reading
227 people want to read

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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5 stars
300 (49%)
4 stars
207 (34%)
3 stars
74 (12%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
30 reviews2 followers
September 28, 2022
I've missed Stella Maris! Not usually a fan of short stories or novellas at all but I absolutely loved these short stories about Stella Maris and its residents and how they came to be. Liz's Mamma is my favorite character. She is just too funny! Having read all the Liz Talbot cozies definitely made these stories more meaningful. I was fortunate to receive an ARC and my opinions are my own. Thank you, Susan for the wonderful glimpse into the past on Stella Maris and please keep the books coming!
Profile Image for Aimee Nicole Walker.
Author 70 books2,001 followers
June 27, 2023
I enjoyed this collection of Stella Maris short stories. I’m going to miss this cast of quirky characters.
1,568 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2022
I love, love, love this series! These snippets are the perfect way to get back story in place for a variety of people and situations. "Postcards" makes me want to go back and re-read them all again. I love Liz, but the supporting cast is fabulous and never feels like they don't belong - they only add to the storyline.
I received an ARC of this book, but the views are my own.
Profile Image for Tara.
16 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2022
If you are a fan of Susan M. Boyer’s Lowcountry series then Postcards from Stella Maris is a MUST read !!! And if you have not yet been introduced to this series and the world of Liz Talbot and the Island of Stella Maris you need to get caught up and start with the first book in the series Lowcountry Boil. Fans of this series get a glimpse into the background of some of the wonderful characters from this series. The author answers a lot of questions many readers always wondered about. You get to peak into the background of Liz and Colleen’s friendship, her first marriage and how Rhett came into her life. As well as some of the other much loved characters that reside on Stella Maris. But a favorite story will be Thanksgiving at Mamma’s that come along with many of Mamma’s favorite recipes.
I was provided an ARC by the author but the views and opinions expressed are completely my own.
9 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2022
Susan M. Boyer has given fans of The Lowcountry Liz Talbot mystery books, a “snapshot” of character backgrounds. There are 5 short stories, each focusing on a different character out of the books. Susan gives us tasty bites of previous told stories filling in questions we have been mulling over for years! As an avid fan, I was thrilled to be able to expand the characters motivations and backgrounds. She also provides numerous “I gotta try that” recipes in the final chapters.

If you haven’t read the Liz Talbot Lowcountry books, you will find these stories to be a bit confusing so I’d strongly suggest you start at the beginning with “Lowcountry Boil”. They are certainly worth your time! Even if you haven’t read the series, the recipes would certainly be a treat! Thank you, Susan, for this tasty morsel.
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,691 reviews22 followers
September 28, 2022
What a delightful read! I was absolutely thrilled to once again visit Stella Maris and read about some of my very favorite characters, especially their back stories and histories (and there are some of Mama's recipes at the back! You can bet I am going to be making them.). Every time I read these books, I feel hungry.

If any of you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Susan M. Boyer's Lowcountry mystery series, you definitely need to check it out! Each book is filled with family, friends, mystery, laughter and South Carolina charm. I can't recommend this series enough. I've not only read the entire series, but I also own them all on audiobook (I love the narrator of the books, she really brings them to life).
Profile Image for Tanna Mullinax.
24 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2022
Postcards from Stella Maris was another hit from Susan Boyer!! I was fortunate enough to be able to read an ARC and absolutely loved it!! It was so much fun to read “backstories” of some of the characters and story lines!! I also really enjoyed the recipes included with the book!! It made me wish that I could travel with Liz Talbot and eat at Mama Carolyn’s table!! If you have read and loved the Liz Talbot mysteries, this is a must read!! If you haven’t read the series, start with Lowcountry Boil!! You will really enjoy the mystery and fun antidotes!
Profile Image for Jackie.
784 reviews62 followers
December 16, 2022
Ms. Boyer has given me many hours of escape from life in this series! I truly enjoyed this fast delightful read that brought me to my happy place! Loved it!
Profile Image for Marti.
2,390 reviews17 followers
October 21, 2023
Very glad I found this collection of short stories to give me more background on the characters in the Lowcountry series.

I read these one a day.
Profile Image for Kelly Shuffield.
34 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2022
Postcards from Stella Maris are exactly that. Just enough info in each story to make you want the full "letter." My favorite "postcard" was Colleen's story. It was heartbreaking, but at least we know she continues to watch over Stella Maris. I am also ready to dive into Mamma's recipes in the last part of the book. It's cooking/baking season so it's time to try something new for family events.
Profile Image for Lisa G. Hudson.
696 reviews61 followers
September 29, 2022
DELIGHTFUL BACKGROUND ON STELLA MARIS!

Susan M. Boyer has finally written a book that gives a little more insight into the background of Liz Talbot, the main character of her award-winning The Liz Talbot Mystery Series. I have been a fan of Boyer’s writing since I read her first book, Lowcountry Boil, back in 2012. This series is loaded with mischief, mayhem, murder, and enough hilarity that will keep you entertained from the first word to the last in every single installment. Postcards From Stella Maris is delightful because I like learning the background of a beloved character, Colleen, and seeing Liz’s brother, Blake, the police chief, disarm a tense situation without breaking a sweat, getting an inside look at the relationship between Liz’s parents, and learning how Liz approaches the delicate situation of staking out a friend.

My favorite chapter is “Highlights & Hotlead” and has to do with an overzealous Mom who misunderstands a phone conversation she hears between her high school son and some unknown party. The part she “thinks” she understands is that she is going to be a grandmother! She goes to the local beauty shop, with her shotgun in hand, and proceeds with her brand of interrogation of the young, high school girls – much to the shock and dismay of all the other women in the building. The explanation is spectacular! It is Boyer doing what she does best – providing you with comedic relief that will have you laughing until you cry! Then she picks up the storyline and continues right on.

My other favorite part is when Liz is helping her Mom prepare for Thanksgiving. Her Mom has cooked everything you could want, then doubled it, then tripled it. She has multiple refrigerators & they are bursting at the seams. It is late the night before but she still “thinks we might need another dessert”. Oh, how I can relate! This sounds just like my Sweet Mother! She was exactly the same way! We always had those same conversations at Thanksgiving!

My favorite quote: “Before she would let Daddy retire, Mamma insisted that he find something to occupy his time besides sandpapering her nerves all day.” This will be the story of my life with my husband!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author/publisher. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Profile Image for Laura Edwards.
1,177 reviews13 followers
September 8, 2024
This rating is mainly due to the first story, otherwise the rating would be lower.

The best story by far is the first one, "Common Knowledge". I was under the mistaken impression that multiple stories in this collection would feature Colleen. Story number one is the only one. My heart broke for Colleen. And it's sad how Liz treated her once they reached high school, though I can't say it's surprising given the peer pressure teenagers face. The most disappointing aspect of the whole situation was Carolyn (Liz' mom). I always assumed she was a kindhearted woman, but she basically advised Liz to ditch her best friend because Colleen wasn't pretty or popular. Terrible, heartless advice and changes my feelings about the character. Maybe Carolyn deserves Frank and all the grief he brings into her life.

I didn't really care for most of the other stories. "Everything Is Relative", the one set during Thanksgiving, was okay. I liked getting more insight into Liz' family, even if they are a little over the top. I can see having a couple of weird relatives, but the whole family tree? I'm surprised Liz, Blake and Merry aren't nuts, too.

The real reason Liz' parents married is revealed in the first story and, boy, was I shocked. Especially given the pious way Carolyn acts at times. But at least it now makes sense why she married Frank. If things had been different, I doubt Carolyn would have chosen to marry Frank.

I also think the book would have been better served to end with the best story instead of having it at the beginning. Maybe reverse the order, put "Everything Is Relative" first and "Common Knowledge" last. Most likely, Susan Boyer didn't want to end on a downer note, but I, personally, would have preferred it in that order.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Edwards.
5,546 reviews9 followers
September 30, 2022
i got a wee bit more to read but i had to review ...was trying to recall the time or year i got to reading Susan M. Boyer ...if you are new to her writing, please take the time to check her out ...what a beautiful writer ...love her books. so so good. i am always a fan of cozy mysteries ...mysteries are some of my favorite kind of books. genres. if you are a longtime fan/reader of her books ... Liz Talbott ...i love this series so so much. i mean i was seriously getting teary eyed. no kidding. these characters ...these folks hold a huge part in my heart ...i know they may not be real ...but in my mystery heart they are totally real. like i said "Colleen" is not real but gosh oh gosh ...i know we all might have similar or know of similar real people who have similar situations in their own lives and geez louise does Colleen always pull on my heartstrings. "bless her heart", she's a character that i love ... i am thankful for this read, i see that Susan will be bringing us a new read near Christmas .... can't wait!! i will be waiting for that one soon. are you on her newsletter list? i don't do "social media" any more ...i didn't delete them completely but i felt i was wasting too much time on there ...so i walk away and don't miss them ...unless you are speaking about my favorite authors ... i still get their newsletter but i miss those FB (instagram) message ...thankful for the newsletter ...even more nowadays. i love this author. she is one i always recommend to book friends who are looking for a new author to them. please do check her out ...never a dull moment and always fun.
6 reviews
October 1, 2022
I was excited to read Postcards from Stella Maris. Liz Talbot Mysteries fans, these short stories are a must read. I loved the backstories and history of some of our favorite characters. Especially moving is the heartfelt story about one of our favorite characters, Coleen. Susan brilliantly covered Coleen and Liz's journey through childhood. Susan provided the information we were missing that led to Coleen's demise at age 17. It brought a tear to my eyes. Moving on to the following stories, you will find yourself laughing out loud and some very interesting information about the family. Especially hilarious is the spectacle at Pheobe's Day Spa. The final story finds us at a loving Thanksgiving Dinner with Liz's dysfunctional family. Also, as a special treat, Susan ends the books with some scrumptious southern recipes. Thank you, Susan Boyer! I hope we receive more post cards in the future. Now I am looking forward to the 11th book in The Lowcountry, Liz Talbot Mystery Series.

I received an ARC from the Author. All opinions are my own.
127 reviews
October 2, 2022
Book a quick getaway to Stella Maris!
If you have missed Liz Talbot’s world of Stella Maris like I have, don’t miss Postcards from Stella Maris, a new short story collection from Susan M. Boyer. The five short stories provide additional insight into characters like Colleen and who can resist a Talbot family Thanksgiving dinner! The recipes at the end are a bonus.
Boyer’s Liz Talbot series is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries set on the Carolina coast that include an interesting variety of small-town characters headlined by Liz and her family. This short story collection would be enjoyed most by those who have read other books in the series. I highly recommend each of the books in this series and can’t wait for the next novel in the Liz Talbot series later this year!
Thank you to BookFunnel, the author, and publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
46 reviews
September 28, 2022
POSTCARDS FROM STELLA MARIS by Susan M. Boyer consists of 5 short stories offering "back stories" of Liz Talbot, her quirky family & friends, who readers have been introduced to in the Liz Talbot Mystery Series. Author Susan Boyer writes with a Southern charm that’s fun to read and offers mouthwatering Southern recipes!
If you’re a fan of this series (full disclosure I am a huge fan), this book is a MUST READ! It will answer so many questions you had while reading the series. If you haven’t yet read the Liz Talbot mystery series, after reading these 5 short stories, you'll become a Liz Talbot fan!
I was not influenced to write a positive review because I received an advanced copy of this book.
Profile Image for Cynthia Smith.
238 reviews8 followers
September 28, 2022
Postcards from Stella Maris by Susan M. Boyer is a collection of five short stories that establishes the background for the Liz Talbot mysteries and gives the reader insight into the series’ characters including the protagonist. I was surprised at how dark and downright sad most of them are, especially the one about Colleen, but they did provide a depth to the characters that was somehow missing before. The story about Shannelle Johnson brandishing her shotgun at the local day spa did make me laugh out loud. And the story about the Talbot Thanksgiving will make you feel that your dysfunctional family is downright normal. If you enjoy the Liz Talbot mystery series, I highly recommend this collection so that you can get to know and understand the characters just a little bit better.
Profile Image for Ethel Eckenstein.
10 reviews
September 29, 2022
This book is 63 pages long and is easily read in 1-2 hours. Postcards from Stella Maris contains 5 Liz Talbot short stories. Liz is a Low Country character readers have grown to love while reading the cozy mystery series written by Susan M. Boyer. Reading the series (starting with Lowcountry Boil) prior to reading the short stories is encouraged. These short stories provide more background information for the series. I was thrilled with this book! Just the Liz fix and laughs that I needed to go have a great day! Goes without saying I’ll be enjoying Mama’s Trifle tonight or maybe her Cream Cheese Pound Cake as I continue through my Stella Maris journey!! Thanks, Susan, for the recipes at the end of the book.
Profile Image for Ashley Cate.
480 reviews5 followers
October 6, 2022
Great addition to the Liz Talbot series

I was so excited when I found out these short stories were available that I bought them immediately as an ebook. I am not someone that usually reads ebooks so that should tell you how much I love these characters and this author. These stories give a lot of great background and insight into Liz Talbot’s character and what made her into the person she is today (in the series). Some of these stories are definitely darker then the series books usually are, so just a word of warning there. I also may have tested up a bit reading about Colleen. These short stories are a great way to take up some of the time before the next Liz Talbot book releases.
Profile Image for Ileen.
87 reviews
September 29, 2022
If you are a fan of Liz Talbot and her life in Susan M. Boyer’s mystery series set in Stella Maris, South Carolina, these five short stories will fill in some of the missing details from the books and a few of them will make you laugh along the way. If you haven’t read the book series, you’ll love it but start with Lowcountry Boil, the first book in the series.
And the icing on the cake at the end of the short stories is some favorite family recipes that will delight you. For the record, my favorite of the five stories was the one about Colleen. And also this book was an advanced reader copy which I’m happy to review and the opinions are all mine.
12 reviews
September 29, 2022
Great background info! In this short story, Susan Boyer, gives us the background on some of the characters from her Lowcountry Series. It will reveal info about Colleen and a list of other people in Liz's life. I enjoyed learning the reason for some of the story lines in Liz's past. I think readers will enjoy looking back to understand some of the residents of Stella Maris. It is a nice addition to the Lowcountry Series. A nice quick read that keeps you wanting more from the author! Love this series and the setting. You can't go wrong when a book is set in the lowcountry of SC. A must read :-)
Profile Image for Daniele.
1,074 reviews41 followers
September 30, 2022
Full of Southern charm and colorful characters, POSTCARDS FROM STELLA MARIS gives fans of the Liz Talbot Lowcountry Mystery series five snippets of Liz’s past including insight into her friendship with Colleen, her dog, and other characters. I particularly enjoyed the Talbot family Thanksgiving. It is nice to have these stories all in one collection, and they make a wonderful addition to the series. If you have not read this delightful series, I suggest you do starting with the first book LOWCOUNTRY BOIL. Highly recommended!

I received an ARC of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Profile Image for Jennifer Ritter.
1,104 reviews29 followers
October 3, 2022
Postcards from Stella Maris is a gift from Susan M. Boyer, author of the Liz Talbot Mystery series set on the magical, mythical island of Stella Maris off the coast of Charleston. In this selection of short stories, the reader is treated to five character studies and background stories, along with some down home recipes.

For the series aficionados, it gives insight into some of the important characters of the mystery books, now numbering ten, especially Colleen. For those new to the series, this collection will present some insight into the residents of the island and, sometimes, the target of the mystery.

I very much enjoyed this anthology and do recommend it!
Profile Image for Merry Chapman.
2,465 reviews21 followers
October 5, 2022
How absolutely delightful these short stories are, leaving you with some sadness, laughter, anger since the author has you feel what the characters feel! I Love the insight into the characters from the Liz Talbot series and once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. You get to see more of the characters like Blake, Liz's brother, and her mother is a hoot! I loved the story about Mamma and Thanksgiving and all the ridiculously large family that came. I can't say enough about how I really enjoyed these short stories, they were incredible. And of course, I loved the recipes at the end. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here is strictly my own.
Profile Image for Karina.
600 reviews19 followers
October 14, 2022
Postcards from Stella Maris by Susan M. Boyer are a glimpse at some of the awesome characters from her The Liz Talbot Mystery Series. With these 5 stories you will read the backstory about some of our favorite characters from the series. There are even yummy recipes in the book. I love going back to Stella Maris. If you have read this Lowcountry Liz Talbot series you will love this book. If this is your first introduction to Liz Talbot you may get a little confused. If you are new to this series I definitely encourage you to start with the first book and not miss all the friends you will make reading the rest of the series.
108 reviews
September 27, 2022
I love all the Lowcountry series from Susan Boyer so this came along at a great time while waiting on her next book. These “postcards”/short stories gave an added glimpse into the world of Liz Talbot the star of the Lowcountry series. Gosh I hope she does more of these. Plus she included recipes from Liz’s mother. If you haven’t read the series do it now. Light, fun, mystery, romance - they have it all. Then pick this up for a further look inside the life of Liz and friends. I received an ARC of the book but ALL opinions are my own.
53 reviews2 followers
September 29, 2022
I enjoy all of the Liz Talbot Lowcountry Books written by Susan Boyer. These short story "postcards" are wonderful back stories on the characters in Susan's books. It was great to read the where and the why on the background of the characters and animals in the Lowcountry series. I also enjoyed Mama's recipes at the end. All in all, a delightful collection of short stories. If you haven't read the entire series of books, I highly recommend them! Always a pleasure to read especially for this displaced Charlestonian!
8 reviews
September 29, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories from Stella Maris. Colleen’s story in particular was just heartbreaking. I absolutely love the way that Susan writes about Liz’s parents’ relationship. My favorite line in the whole book was “Before she would let Daddy retire, Mamma insisted that he find something to occupy his time besides sandpapering her nerves all day“. I will definitely be trying some of the recipes! So thoughtful of Susan to include those. My mouth always waters when she describes Mamma’s Sunday dinners!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews

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