donderdag 3 april 2014

Duffy Brown – Pearls and Poison

The third book in the Consignment Shop Mystery series, published March 4, 2014.
Genre: cozy mystery
Cover: fun, the dog’s name is Bruce Willis

Pearls and Poison photo w485757_zps60edfba3.jpg

It's election time in Savannah, Georgia, and Judge Guillotine Gloria—aka Reagan Summerside's mom—is neck and neck in the polls with Kip “Scummy" Seymour. But the already dirty campaign is about to get downright filthy—with one candidate getting buried six feet under…
With her strong opinions and knack for getting into trouble, Reagan is not an ideal volunteer for her mother's alderman campaign. Plus, she'd rather be running her consignment shop, the Prissy Fox, and eating doughnuts with her dog, Bruce Willis. But when her mother's opponent, Kip, is found poisoned and her mother is pegged as a suspect, Reagan nominates herself as lead murder investigator.
Reagan is intent on finding Kip's killer and clearing her mother's good name, but she soon finds herself on the bad side of Kip's enemies-turned-suspects. This time, no amount of costumes and makeup can keep her inconspicuous and out of danger. Because the closer Reagan gets to the truth, the hotter things get…


If you start reading this book, be ready for some crazy Southern ladies, southern charm, foodstuffs, lots of quaint sayings, and typical Southern guilt trips between family members.

Gloria is doing what she can to keep her head above water, working in her consignment shop, wearing clothes and shoes that are falling apart, in the hopes of being able to pay the next water bill, or electricity bill, or whatever. In tourist season she manages some ghost tours, but now that it is getting colder, she really needs to make some serious money. So having to help her mother with her run for Alderman, is not really something she wants to do. But of course, she has no choice in the matter. When her mother’s main competitor comes into their campaign headquarters, boasting about his next sleazy move against her mother, her mother flips. And then she needs to make up for it, and try to get Kip to stop his next campaign advertisement besmirching her good name. But Kip ends up dead, and her mother is the police’s main suspect. Of course, being a judge, means that Gloria has enemies a plenty. The bad guys she sent to prison and their friends and family as well.

The town brings in a police detective from outside, to handle the case fairly, but the man is set against her mother from the start. And so Regan has no choice but to start investigating by herself, and of course with the help of her dear auntie KiKi and some other friends. Her mother doesn’t want her to, she has faith in the system as a judge, and her mother’s lawyer Boone certainly wants her to stay out of things. She only makes people suspicious and clam up, so how can he find the real killer if he has to get her out of trouble time and again?

But Regan does manage to find some leads and suspects, and yes she does get in trouble big time.


I enjoyed this third book in the series a lot; the characters are over the top but still believable and fun to hang out with. The plot was good and I really did not guess who the real killer was before it was almost too late. It was very well done by Duffy Brown to keep me guessing like that. I liked Mercedes, a new friend Regan makes.
I wonder if there will ever be a relationship between Regan and Boone, she certainly is not ready for that yet. Her slimy ex-husband is still trying to sell her beloved Cherry House out from under her, and Regan will do whatever she can to keep it and make it beautiful again.
Regan also helps her friends as much as she can, in finding a job or love or whatever they need. She is a good person, and I like her. She does her best.

This is a fun cozy mystery series, and I hope there will be many more. These books are pure entertainment and it is all written so lively and vivid, I will recognize some things when I will ever be able to visit there.

9 stars.



Autobuy author

Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian

30 opmerkingen:

  1. Reacties
    1. Yes I do love this series a lot Blodeuedd, the Southern craziness is fun.

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    2. Thanks so much. The South is a fun setting and Savannah is so lovely with terrific food. Thanks for recommending it, Aurian.

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  2. I'm starting to think that I should get into this whole cozy mystery thing. It seems like a fun genre. Great review!

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    Reacties
    1. You could try out the first book in this series, to see if it is your thing Carmel. Or one of the others I love so much ;)

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    2. The first book in the series is Iced Chiffon. It’s Reagan opening up the consignment shop to finance her big old home and then her ex tries to sell the house to pay his legal fees as he’s accused of murder. To save her house, Reagan goes after the murdered to avoid the legal fees.

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  3. Oh I love crazy southern ladies and foodie books! Wonderful review Aurian this sounds fun

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    Reacties
    1. Thanks Kimba, it is a really fun series.

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    2. I looove Southern food and Savannah has it in spades. I use all the restaurants there and all their speciality dishes. I just love Savannah

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  4. I so need to try this series. Love the dog's name too! LOL It's been too long since I read a cozy.

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    Reacties
    1. I added that especially for you Melissa.

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    2. He’s Bruce Willis as he’s had a tough life and a bit scared up from being a rescue dog. BW is in all the books and a big part of Pearls and Poison.

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  5. Reacties
    1. I am still not sure about that at times Diana

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    2. The next book is from Boone’s point of view. Dead Man Walker. He finds himself in a whole lot of trouble.

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  6. "If you start reading this book, be ready for some crazy Southern ladies, southern charm, foodstuffs, lots of quaint sayings, and typical Southern guilt trips between family members. "

    Sounds very nice indeed!

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    Reacties
    1. The Southern way of saying things is why use one word when five will do just nicely, thank you very much. :-)

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  7. I love a mystery like that and I'm curious about Reagan. It's so nice to have a fun book like this one. I'll try to read some soon.

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  8. Ooo just skimming! I have this on my tbr pile. I love this series and aws to Bruce Willis! Glad you enjoyed it!

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  9. I'm not even really sure what a cozy mystery is. But everyone seems to like them, so I'm thinking I should try to find out.

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    Reacties
    1. I can recommend some really good series to you Jessica, just send me an email when you are ready.

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    2. A cozy is the mystery without the blood and guts. Think Sherlock and Agatha and not Criminal Minds and Stephen King. It’s set in a small town and centers around a theme…mine is the consignment shop and my new series is CyclePath because it;s a bike shop. No cussing or sex. All fun. :-)

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  10. Thanks for the great review!!! I truly appreciate it and that you had fun with Reagan and the Savannah regulars sure makes my day. I always think of Auntie KiKi as the auntie we all want in our life…leap then look. :-) The next book is Dead Man Walker and from Walker’s point of view.

    Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments. I truly appreciate it. Anyone wanting Pearls and Poison tote and swag just email DuffyBrown@DuffyBrown.com. Hugs, Duffy.

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  11. The next two books are Walker in trouble and Reagan helping him out.

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