This is the fourth book in this series that I have read and it kept me page turning from beginning to end.
This case has Beth and Mike away from Mississippi and in Savannah Georgia, and they are there to help and elderly woman learn that her husband is philandering, and then sadly to help prove she didn’t murder him.
We meet prejudice head on in this wealthy community, and if you can turn your back on it, this sounds like one awesome place to live. I’d eat on the patio and watch the waves crash, but alas that is not about to happen, but I loved reading about it.
We are kept on our feet as my mind went from one suspect to another, and I had a niggling about a suspect way back in my mind, but was I right, the only way to find out is to read this book that will keep you up as we try to find whom is responsible. We also meet and interview a new PI, and I’ll bet we are about to find her in our next story, and she has a quite a story on her own.
We are going on a culinary journey, along with some sparks of romance, run in with the law, and sadly a good murder mystery. All through the book we find people with great faith in God, and they seem to move on with adversity with the help of Him.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series, and being able to catch up with old friends is an added bonus. Enjoy!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give a positive review.

I just love books about Savannah, Charleston, etc.  The setting itself is almost a character.  But to get the book right, the author must know the ins and outs of the cities.  These cities beg to be explored and if you've never been there, it's quite difficult to fake it.

Either Mary Ellis has either visited Savannah, lived there or done extensive research.  She presents it like a native.

I have not read the first three books so my frame of reference concerning characters is a bit off but that will be remedied this spring break.  I was able to see why this was a good cozy series and the mystery itself was a dandy.  The plot follows the investigation of two PIs who travel from Natchez, MS in search of leads for a cheating husband case.  Their target winds up dead and the duo are off to solve it.  Solid mystery!

3 stars to Mary Ellis's Sunset in Old Savannah, the fourth in her "Secrets of the South" mystery series. In this book, the Price Investigation team heads to Savannah to investigate a new case and enjoy this lovely view:



This was my introduction to the series, as I received a free ARC from NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I will go back to read the first few books, and I suggest reading this series in order to ensure you understand all the history. This was a good ole' cozy, leaving me interested in reading more, but didn't spark a major love-fest with the series quite yet. Let's hit the slopes...



Story 
As I didn't read Books 1 thru 3, I'm not sure I have the full background, but here's the gist: Michael Preston and Beth Kirby have been working together for a short time as PIs in the Price Investigation Firm. Beth's a former cop who left the force after a bad experience with a former partner. Michael resigned from his accounting position to take up more investigative work. Their boss sends them from their hometown in Natchez, Mississippi to Savannah, Georgia to help a wealthy woman, Evelyn Doyle, determine if her husband is cheating. Seems a few fights and sparks have happened between Michael and Beth in previous books, but that's all so far.

After a few days in Savannah, they prove Evelyn's husband was having an affair with a woman young enough to be his daughter. Evelyn thanks them and mentions she will forgive him and ask him to stop, after all, she is a good, Christian woman. Beth thinks the woman's a little crazy, but later finds kinship with her, almost looking at her as a mother-figure. The boss encourages the pair to take a few paid days off and relax after finishing the case early. But when they do, they start getting a little romantic and wondering whether there could be more between them. Suddenly, Evelyn calls from jail, needing help to get a lawyer and release -- hubby's dead!



Along the path, Beth and Michael discover some shenanigans in the husband's insurance business, a brother with a grudge, a confused and bitter jilted lover and some secrets about where the wealth came from. Michael and Beth split the work, track down clues and try not to piss off the local police who want them out of town ASAP. Beth comes closest to tracking down the ultimate culprit and finds herself in need of a rescue at the end.



But the boss, who has too much work in Savannah, asks them to recruit another PI to work out of Savannah for future cases... while solving the murder and helping their client Evelyn, the pair interview potential candidates and take-on a new case at a sushi restaurant where the owner suspects someone's stealing. 



Key Thoughts 
1. The setting is beautiful. Love hearing about the old town squares, the weather, the big homes, the views of the ocean. Helps bring a clear picture into focus for the story.

2. The banter between the two leads can be amusing part of the time. But on the whole, their dialogue felt a bit stiff and planned. Too much unnecessary drama for a couple starting to date. They fell into all the traps of the boring get to know you details.



3. Beth Kirby can be very annoying. In the first few chapters, she's a complete and utter train wreck to her partner and the client. She seems to think she's better than everyone else, has a snotty reply that can only be taken one way, and she has trust issues. I'd have dropped her right away... but she gets better throughout the book. Only issue is, there were times where I thought she wasn't likable enough to read another book. Part of her attitude becomes a little bit of charm along the way, even though she cries several times, which makes me think she's not well-balanced to handle a job as a PI. Sometimes it's funny. Sometime's it's not.

4. The POV alternates between Michael and Beth, or the focus of their activities does -- one or the other. Doesn't feel 100% consistent. Then when the third detective is added, and a different case being discussed, it feels a little off. While it was a fun short diversion, it won't work for all readers.



Final Thoughts 
So while parts of the book fell a bit flat, the overall story arch, the characters, the setting, etc. had some good points and I'd be curious to see another book by this author. It's a decent read, the normal cozy you can handle over a few days and drift off into someone else's world without getting too caught up. Take it for a spin and get comfy in the historic charm of Old Savannah.

Another not-so-cut-and-dried mystery in this fun series set in the Deep South!
The Price Investigation team from Natchez, Mississippi gets sent on the road to Savannah, Georgia by their boss, to work on what was to be a simple case. When things get complicated, Beth and Michael dig their heels in, as their client becomes number one suspect in a murder. The mystery kept me guessing up until the action-filled ending!

Beth and Michael from the last book have a lot of banter that seems to be teetering at times between professional and playful. Beth is kind of rough around the edges, but seemed to be softening up finally as she sees Michael in a different light, appreciating him and trusting him more. A new addition to the team, one with secrets of her own, seems to hint that the series will hopefully continue. 

Recommend to readers who enjoy a mystery with a bit of romance. This book is fourth in the series, but fine to read as a stand alone.

(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)

Thoughts:

In reading SUNSET IN OLD SAVANNAH (Secrets of the South Mysteries Book 4) by Mary Ellis, I am uncovering more books to read inside this funny, mystery-laden series!

Working inside Price Investigations, we are on a case where infidelity leads to murder. As we are grasping at clues, digging up suspects, and falling in love, we’re taking chances, facing danger, and at times, coming into narrow escapes from creepy characters.

The senior investigator is Elizabeth Kirby, and she is forming a reason for this hire before meeting our client. However, once she meets Evelyn Doyle, the costly divorce case she’s envisioning hits a few bumps. Yes, this socialite believes her wealthy husband is cheating, but she is not looking to net his money. Evelyn Doyle wants to win her husband’s heart, again. As this couple is not young nor is their marriage, they are not just suffering the loss of a honeymoon mentality, but by all accounts, these folks have a time-tested relationship where mistakes can be overcome. Nevertheless, can the known meet the unknown in relationship issues and still find forgiveness?

Meanwhile, Michael Preston was once the newest member of the team, and Elizabeth Kirby, in fact, trained him. Michael is coming into his own with investigations, and his accounting skills and computer investigation techniques bring more scope into the facts. His findings will outweigh her take at times, but his feelings for her seem to grow with his admiration of her. Again, their boss determining to uncover the facts teams them up only the truth is hiding away from their home office.

Traveling together brings other problems into a case that can make or break working relationships. Add to this, the lies and secrets interjected by the death of their latest subject and the guilt piles on even as we meet the newest member of Price Investigations.

Having been introduced to this series inside book four, SUNSET IN OLD SAVANNAH (Secrets of the South Mysteries Book 4), I fell in love with two characters falling love. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the Price Investigations team and to learning their stories!

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

SUNSET IN OLD SAVANNAH (Secrets of the South Mysteries Book 4) by Mary Ellis turns a broken vow into a twister and the price of a misstep can be murder!

Evelyn Doyle is an upper crusted member of the elite living on Tybee Island. As her husband has been stepping out on her, she decides to hire an outside investigator to find out the facts. Her years of this marriage tell her this misstep can be a midlife crisis. He is not a womanizer by nature, and she is willing to forgive once everything is on the table.

Price Investigations is now on a potential divorce case, but it is not the standard fare as they usually trend.

The two investigators assigned are Elizabeth Kirby and Michael Preston. These two make great friends and a great team, but things can get rocky inside a case where death comes into the mix. Their case moves swiftly from a routine investigation to them searching for a killer while keeping an open mind about the innocence of their client becomes impossible.

A husband dies from unnatural causes, and the prime suspect isn’t far from home. Evelyn’s knowledge of his affair plus her hiring of private investigators makes her the police chief’s target.

Price Investigation’s roster of suspects is growing rapidly while the police chief’s focus does not seem to budge.

From sleazy business arrangements and their cohorts to a black sheep brother, the murderous pool increases even beyond the kept woman and her friends.

The firm’s reputation is getting more cases than it can handle, and the boss puts out a call for them to make another investigative hire. In walks, Kaitlyn Webb whose past comes to meet present and danger hovers all around!

Will everyone survive to bring the guilty party to justice?

Sunset in Old Savannah pulls in your shirt collar and says " I want your attention right now and you better do it if you know what is good for you." why you ask?, because it is that good of  mysterious/suspenseful/adventurous/romantic book that keeps your attention peeked.  It has a fantastic starter that you do not want to miss that could or could not have a clue.  This book is exciting, mysterious, addicting because you do not want to put it down - you don't know what is going to happen next.  Evelyn is a rich woman indeed and hires Price Investigations to spy on her hubby and prove he is cheating - well did they?  I can't tell you that - but I can tell you a murder arises and the investigators are now investigating a murder - phew - aren't we having fun y'all?  You really are guessing til the end.  This book is great you really will love it.

I wanted to read a new author for me and because I enjoy mystery/suspense this seemed a good one to read. I've also been to Savannah and Tybee Island many times and loved the setting.  I enjoyed the story and although not familiar with the preceding books, it had just enough backstory to satisfy me.  The characters were well-written and not at all shallow. I especially enjoyed the newest employee added to Price Investigations. I'm sure there is more to come later on her story. The plot was feasible and moved at a decent pace. I didn't lose interest and felt the red herrings came at a good place. A couple of things about the story did make me wonder. I thought the forgiveness part on the client about her husbands affair was too pat and slightly unbelievable. I think she had a right to get angry and do a little rant or even cry on page. I"m assuming she did without it being written but I think as a woman and Christian, I would understand some well-placed/well-written anger. One other thing I didn't enjoy because it took me off-guard were the questions about the story at the end. I didn't read the book to learn anything but to lose myself in a story. Maybe this is part of the author/publisher deal, but it made me rethink wanting to read another book by this author.  As for the publisher, I will check other books to see if this is what they do. If so, maybe they should offer a workbook and class as part of the deal.  I still would recommend this book if someone asked since it is well-written and the plot is interesting. Absolutely love the setting.

Sunset in Old Savannah is the fourth installment from the Secrets of the South Mysteries series. Michael Preston and Elizabeth Kirby are hired to investigate the husband of Evelyn Doyle in Savannah, Georgia. This leads to a mystery when the husband was found dead and Evelyn becoming yet police suspect. Mike and Beth's investigation takes them to places they couldn't imagine. 

I thought Sunset in Old Savannah was an okay read. There is some good suspense. Predictable but worth a read. 

3 stars. 

I received this book from NetGalley.com. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

SUNSET IN OLD SAVANNAH, by Mary Ellis. Secrets.of.the.South series, with characters we have met. Price Investigations, has a case in Natchez, Miss, from a Mrs Doyle . Beth and her partner Michael to go, check it out, they have 10 days to get evidence. With evidence in hand, they show Mrs Doyle what her husband was doing. Instead of being shocked, she laughs, it's nothing but a fling, she's all of 20 something. Then murder changes everything, the schemes, suspects, the more they dig, the more corruption they find. Another great read, the plot flows smoothly, one enjoys the banter between Beth and Michael. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.