MY REVIEW:
I love this series! I enjoyed the first two so much that I couldn’t wait to read “Magnolia Moonlight”. As a lifelong Southerner it was fun reading about locations that I am at least somewhat familiar with, especially the Memphis area. The stories are all the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. Throw in a strong message of faith and I am a happy reader.
“Magnolia Moonlight” introduces a couple of new detectives at the Price agency. Beth Kirby and Michael Preston are left with what seems to be a simple case in Natchez, Mississippi while their boss Nate Price and his wife Isabelle take a belated honeymoon in Bay St. Louis after two years of marriage. Sparks fly between Beth and Mike but not necessarily the romantic kind. It will be a miracle if the pair will be able to work together long enough to solve their case. Meanwhile, Nate and Isabelle find themselves embroiled in a case of their own that involves her ex. Things aren’t looking so hopeful for a relaxing and romantic honeymoon after all.
Mary Ellis has created some very entertaining yet down-to-earth characters for “Magnolia Moonlight”. I found it easy to empathize with each one of them (except one police officer that I disliked) and hated to put the book down for even a few minutes.The plot was imaginative and moved along at a steady pace with a few surprises along the way. At times I found Beth to be a little bit testy but Mike’s good disposition and charm made up for it and eventually I liked Beth also. It was fun to catch up with Nate and Isabelle again but I did miss Hunter and Nikki. Maybe they will make an appearance in the next installment.
It was with regrets that I reached the end and will find it difficult to wait until April for a chance to read Sunset in Old Savannah to learn what happens next for Beth and Mike. Lovers of Southern novels, cozy mysteries, or both definitely need to run to the nearest bookstore for copies of the entire Secrets of the South Mysteries series.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What Sinister Secrets Lurk in the Shadows of Yesterday?
Natchez, Mississippi—Private Investigator Nate Price and his new wife, Isabelle, need a vacation. Their coworkers generously team up to surprise them with a belated honeymoon…but the happy trip turns sour when Izzy spies her ex-husband, who appears to have taken up his gambling addiction once again.
While the boss is away, Price Investigations remains in the hands of Beth Kirby, a former police officer, and Michael Preston, a former forensic accountant. Hardly a dream team, as Beth resents working with a man who has no experience in his new job.
But Beth and Michael must move past their differences if they hope to uncover the truth behind a beloved Southern preacher’s demise. The preacher’s widow suspects foul play, despite the evidence indicating suicide.
With tension escalating between these investigators and local law enforcement—and new threats arising on all sides—how will Beth, Michael, and Nate hold on to faith and bring the truth to light?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Ellis is the bestselling author of many books, including A Widow’s Hope, An Amish Family Reunion, and Living in Harmony. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life.
A Word from the Author
“The next in my Secrets of the South Mysteries, Magnolia Moonlight, took me to Natchez and Bay St. Louis, both in Mississippi. Natchez in a lovely town sitting high on a bluff above the Mississippi River, and Bay St. Louis is a vacation destination along the Gulf Coast. Price Investigations hires two new PI’s to investigate the suicide of a Baptist minister after his wife suspects murder. When Nate and Isabelle leave on their honeymoon, everyone ends up with more than they can handle in my brand new romantic suspense.”
