Elvis and The Memphis Mambo Murders

A Southern Cousins Mystery #3

by Peggy Webb

When her mama Ruby Nell enters a Memphis mambo contest, Callie Valentine Jones, Elvis, her basset hound who believes he is the King reincarnated, and her cousin Lovie must chaperone Ruby as she shakes, rattles and rolls her way to stardom until a killer waltzes into the picture, taking out the competition--one by one.

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

243 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Peggy Webb. USA Today Bestseller, is the author of more than 100 novels. Her thrillers and literary novels have topped Amazon charts. A former adjunct instructor of writing at Mississippi State University, Millions of her novels have sold around the world in more than 25 languages. Peggy is the most prolific writer her home state of Mississippi has ever produced, and she is considered one of the most beloved and iconic authors in the business. Pat Conroy calls her literary work "astonishing," Kathie Fong Yoneda labels it "brilliant," and readers consider her books "Must Reads." Peggy's has won numerous awards, including many Reviewer's Choice, the Maggie, a Waldenbooks Award for #1 Bestseller of the Year, several Word Weaving Award of Excellence, and the prestigious Pioneer Award for creating the subgenre of romantic comedy. One of her novels was submitted for a Pulitzer. Peggy also writes under the pen names, Anna Michaels and Elaine Hussey.

Peggy is an accomplished pianist and singer, and has graced the stage of her local community theater in roles such as M'lynn in Steel Magnolias (played by Sally Field in the movie), and the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. She composed the blues lyrics she credited to her characters in two of her books, including her latest thriller series from Bookouture, the Logan Sisters. She passed her love of music to her family. Her son plays guitar and harmonica, her daughter and two granddaughters sing, her youngest grandson plays piano, and her grandson David Webb made the gorgeous photographs that appear through her new, state-of-the-art website. For her latest news, visit her website at peggywebb.com, stop by her blog to leave a note, and contact her with any questions. She appreciates her fans and loves hearing what you think.



Series:
* Westmoreland Diaries
* A Southern Cousins Mystery

Reviews

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love love love Elvis so much! (the dog, not the singer). But are they really one in the same? My thoughts will be posted soon.

So it's been a while since I read this and I can't believe I haven't reviewed it. Once again Callie and the gang get mixed up in the middle of a murderous mess. Seriously, if I were these people, I'd be afraid to go out of the house. Callie's mother has entered a ballroom dancing contest so most of the family, Elvis the basset included, head to Memphis for the competition. However, suddenly the contestants start dropping like flies and Callie fears her mother is next.

This book was a lot of fun and even though I nailed the perp on the head, I still enjoyed the ride. I love the characters who are all full of southern charm and quirks. Once again I think Callie's cousin and best friend Lovie steals the show and I'm curious to see if Callie's mother and uncle ever become romantically involved - the tension is definitely there. However, it's no surprise that Elvis once again is the star of this novel. After every few chapters, the author inserts a chapter written in Elvis' POV. These little interludes are always very pertinent to the plot and are a blast.

I will be grabbing the next installment when I hit my not-so-local library in a few weeks.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a FirstReads giveaway! Overall, I thought this book was cute. The Elvis "cameo" was a little weird for me. I liked the characters, and found the story fun and interesting. I do plan on reading more by this author.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Elvis (and Lovie and Callie...)! I wasn't crazy about the ending, but there is always next book in the series

[Johnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

very fun read

[Ewa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was quite fun and really quick read, real cozy, although not too much action and plot.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was OK. Something light and fun to read when tired of the more serious stuff.

[Sandy Lipinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and action packed.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elvis is back as a Basset hound and he has all to moves. Callie is Elvis' human and he has her number. He helps her solve crimes and snoops out danger. Very fun to read and follow the antics.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. The dog being a reincarnation of Elvis was weird. The characters were okay but I was skim reading toward the end. I had suspected who had done the murders and just wanted to finish up.

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cheeky cute.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Valentine clan head to Memphis to keep an eye on Mama entered in a dance competition with her new beau, and the reincarnation of Elvis Presley, now a Bassett Hound, is along for the ride. When a woman is pushed off the roof of the Peabody Hotel and Mama claims someone is trying to kill her too, Callie and her cousin Lovie, must find the killer. The "Southern Cousins" is a great cozy mystery series. Very funny and a romance that's sexy without being "husky".

[Drebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Callie Valentine Jones's mother Ruby Nell enters a Mambo contest, Callie and her cousin Lovie travel to Memphis to keep an eye on Ruby Nell and her dance partner Thomas Whitenton. Callie is worried about the relationship between her Mama and Thomas but when bodies start popping up everywhere and several other murder attempts are made, Callie has other worries. She and Lovie, along with the help of her dog Elvis (who thinks he is the reincarnation of "the" Elvis), begin to investigate the murders but they need to be careful or they'll be the next victims.

"Elvis and the Memphis Mambo Murders" is a very funny and cute cozy mystery filled with quirky characters. I was a bit nervous at first about the characters because quirky often means over the top and while some characters are indeed larger than life (Lovie literally is) author Peggy Webb manages to rein the humor in so that there is also a good mystery mixed in with the humor. Webb alternates the viewpoints in the book between that of Elvis and Callie and I was pleased that this wasn't simply another animal helping their owner solve a mystery - Elvis may think he's being helpful but he also thinks he is, well Elvis. Along with Elvis, quirky characters include Lovie, Ruby Nell, Ruby's best friend Fayrene (who can mangle a phrase with the best of them), and Bobby Huckabee (who claims to have a psychic eye). These characters lend a lot of humor to the book and there were some laugh out loud moments including an escape to a balcony that doesn't exist. Webb walks a fine line with these characters and mostly succeeds although she has an annoying habit of explaining each of Fayrene's malapropisms - she needs to trust her reader's intelligence. As for the mystery elements, while the book is well plotted with plenty of surprises, I figured out halfway through the book who the killer was.

"Elvis and the Memphis Mambo Murders" is a very funny cozy mystery.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay read for a southern cozy. Normally I love these types of books but a
bassett hound who thinks he is Elvis reincarnated just made me suspend my disbelief too much. The story is told from two different viewpoints; mostly from Callie and then a few chapters from Elvis.


Callie, who along with her cousin Lovie, accompanys her Mama, Ruby Nell, to Memphis for a dance contest. The dead body count starts to escalate fast and furiously in the Peabody Hotel setting. After Mama insists someone tried to kill her, Callie and Lovie try to figure out who the murderer is. Elvis, of course, thinks they should listen to him. Apparently not only can he put on a show but he can help solve crimes. In what universe does this happen?

There were too many bodies too quickly with not enough real suspects and almost no motives. I felt like I didn't even get to know the characters and then they were dead. Maybe it's just me, but talking and rationalizing animals just doesn't do it for me. I guess it is a cute shtick and it works for some people.

On the plus side, it was a quick read with a few laughs along the way even with the stereotypical southern women characters. The Peabody Hotel setting and the ducks helped somewhat.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Kensington.

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is even fluffier than the first book in the series, Elvis and the Dearly Departed. Its silliness wore thin for me. I think I might have been okay if it had been a mass-market paperback, but it was a $22.00 hardback. Thank goodness I won it through FirstReads. I can't imagine why the publisher thought it was a good idea to release it in hardback. Even more shocking, the Nook version is $13.20. Why? It's okay, but even if I really loved the Southern chick-lit mystery genre, I'd be hard pressed to justify spending that kind of money for something so short and fluffy. The book wasn't bad, I probably would have given it 3 stars if I hadn't been so ticked about the format.


I just laughed when I got the e-mail saying I had won this through FirstReads. I read the first book in the series a few weeks ago because it was offered free for the Nook. My mom wanted to borrow it, but I didn't have a paper version to share. I told her that it was good for a free book, but I wouldn't spend money on it. So, I'm getting another installment that I don't need to spend money on. Mom will be happy.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have never read any novels by Peggy Webb, and this is the latest in a series of "Southern" mysteries. Elvis, a basset hound, who believes he is the reincarnation of Elvis Presley, helps his "human" mother to solve murders. In this caper, many of the Valentine family members have gone to Memphis for a dance competition. Callie, the owner/mother of Elvis, and her cousin, Lovie, run around the historic Peabody Hotel attempting to solve the murders before Callie's mother, Ruby Nell, becomes a victim. The antics of Callie and Lovie resemble an adult version of Ethel and Lucy on I Love Lucy, but with less humor. Elvis, the dog, narrates many chapters, to let the reader know the status of the case. This is a fun read, with no graphic violence, but plenty of sexual humor. The cast of characters is extensive and at times very confusing, plus I had a difficult time with the first few chapters in trying to decide the narrator of the events. The many references to Elvis are interesting, but sometimes too overdone. This might be an interesting book for my Southern Voices Book Club to read and discuss.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I love Elvis, young Elvis that is, tunes, hips, lips, uhhh...anyway...a dog who thinks he is the reincarnation of the King and is allowed to tell part of the story? Okay...neat premise...and maybe if I start this series in the beginning rather than the third one I might dig the premise better. I think I am missing how Elvis came into being, how he came to live with Callie, I want to learn what's the deal with Jack the ex, and how much trouble Ruby Nell can get into.
I had a hard time keeping up with all of the extraneous characters introduced.
They came and went rather quickly, so I didn't care if they were the victim or not.
Now the family members, I did care about and enjoyed my time with. My favorite character is Lovie. I love her no holds barred attitude and zest for life.
I received this book from LibraryThing. You should join, it's a great place to log your bookshelves and win some books from time to time.
Four gotta love those Southern cousins beans.....

[Versel Rush · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this series and am sorry to say that this book just didn't measure up.

The book specific characters (as opposed to the continuing ones) were so shallowly written that I couldn't keep them straight. The clues were almost non-existent (however, I figured out who did it early on simply because there was no other reason for the character to be there).

I enjoyed the regulars (and am hoping the "final decision" regarding Jack is truly a final decision--I'm already tired of the "should I stay or should I go") and Lovie is still magnificent. I did find it hard to believe that in the 21st Century there was an adult who didn't know what The Company was (and, apparently, was totally inept with the computer and couldn't figure it out after googling).

I am not quitting the series; however, if the next one is as lackluster as this one, Elvis may join Stephanie Plum on my no-longer-buying-it list.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming cozy mystery from the series about talented beautician and sweet southern woman Callie Valentine Jones and her hound dog who thinks he's Elvis reincarnated. In this volume Callie & her cousin Lovie go to Memphis along with Callie's mom for a dance competition at the famous Peabody Hotel. When dancers end up dying, the girls, along with a little help from Elvis, must figure out who the killer is before he takes out Callie's mother.

I'll be honest, cozy mysteries are probably the genre I'm least interested in, but Webb does a nice job of creating a world that's worth spending a little time in. Definitely good for fans of southern literature as the southern charm oozes out of every page. And of course cozy mystery readers should find a lot to like.

[Kathy Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read! Elvis the basset hound & his human mom don't intially set out to solve murders in this book. The are in Memphis to support "moms" mom in a ballroom dancing contest. But, low & behold, someone is "knocked off. Elvis has his perspective on the murders and it is quite entertaining---yes, he has all the answers, if only his human mom and others would listen to him.
You'll enjoy the setting; Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. Yes, the ducks come take a daily dip in the fountain, Elvis naturally gets in on the act. Imagine a flock of ducks, a rambling basset hound, ballroom dancers and who knows who else running amuck in a fancy hotel!
The book has some colorful, unique southern characters. Don't think you'll guess "who dunit".

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peggy Webb certainly has a sense of humor! This book is an entertaining comical mystery guaranteed to give you a good laugh. There is a murderer loose in Memphis and Callie and Lovie are determined to find him before he kills again. Callie's basset hound, whos name is Elvis and thinks he IS Elvis, is cute, funny, and clever and cracked me up by his antics and his take on what is going on. There is just a bunch of crazy stuff happening throughout the book. The best description of the story is "sassy"!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute enough mystery, but you have to be prepared for a fair amount of whimsey--a basset hound who thinks he's Elvis reincarnated and a hairdresser (his human mommy) who can't decide if she loves her husband, who's never home, or the handsome vet down the road. The whole Valentine family--Callie, the said hairdresser, her feisty mom, her even more feisty cousin, and Elvis, of course--go to Memphis for a dance contest, only to run across several dead bodies. That brings Callie's uncle, the best funeral director in Mississippi and so much more, and her husband Jack to the rescue.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun, crazy installment in this series. I love Elvis, the basset hound who thinks he's the king reincarnated. He has admiring fans, always wants to put on a show, howls Elvis songs and is just plain funny. The setting of this book, the Peabody hotel in Memphis, is also great. The parade of ducks takes place each day. Elvis tries to steal the show from the ducks, but dead bodies start upstaging them all. Elvis and his "human mommy" set out to catch the killer. A fun, fast paced read.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the third in a series that centers around a hair stylist, her dog who thinks he is the reincarnation of Elvis Presley, and their wacky family. I received this book as a First Reads giveaway. While the book is a light-hearted, entertaining murder mystery, it almost seemed like a knock-off of the Stephanie Plum series, down to the sidekick who loves to eat. I would have liked a little more character development, although I may have missed that by not reading the first two books.

[Diana S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars.
I loved that the book is set at the Peabody Hotel.
It was funny, delightful,and a little over-the-top crazy.
There's Ballroom Dancing, Blues, Ribs, Ducks, Hoochie Mamas, and of course - Murder ....
And I can't forget Elvis (still charming as ever) and he got to return to see his beloved Graceland.
If you're not up on your Southernese, you will be by the end of the book.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wishy washy Callie and her cousin, Lovie have traveled to Memphis with her mother Ruby Nell and Mrs. Malaprop for a dance competition. Callie doesn't like her mama's dance partner and dislikes that the door between their rooms is open for him to enter at his discretion. When female dancers start showing up dead and the murderer is heard to lisp "die hoothie mama," she feels she needs to find him before he harms her mama.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, thrilling goofy ride with the South's version of Lucy and Ethel. Callie and her cousin are a bit crazy. They also love solving or trying to solve murders. Their friends and family are eccentric and funny. Callie's dog Elvis thinks he is the reincarnation of the real Elvis. He gets to write a few chapters so we can see things from his point of view. If you want a zany cozy mystery that makes you laugh out loud this is the series for you.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but maybe I just wasn't in the mood to love it. The humor was as good as it always is in these books but I'm not liking how the relationship between Callie and her ex-to-be is going. Elvis is as feisty as ever and I love Uncle Charlie. I don't know if this is a spoiler or not but I was disappointed that Callie got a tattoo. Just a personal thing - I don't like tattoos.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best of the series but still entertaining with those zany women from Mississippi and the reincarnation of the King. Cali finds out that Jack works for the "company" and that her uncle also worked there. She doesn't have a clue what that mea or she would understand why he doesn't want children. But they catch the crazy killer in the end with Elvis' help and all is well.

[Kara Rull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny story. The cousins are a hoot and Elvis reincarnated as a dog makes an interesting twist. If you like tongue-in-cheek mysteries you are sue to like this book; lots of mayhem and twists and turns in the plot.

[Barb Foerst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvis and his mom Callie go to Memphis to watch her mom in a dance contest. During a reception a guest falls from the roof - or is she murdered. Next there is another murder, and Lovie and Callie begin their search for the murderer to protect Callie's mom. Lots of tongue in cheek laughter.