**3.5 Stars**

Thanks to NetGalley and Henery Press for the free arc in exchange for a honest review.

In the latest installment of the Liz Talbot Mystery Series, Lowcountry Bonfire, private investigator Liz Talbot and her husband, Greg, find themselves embroiled in a murder that happens close to home. Right next door, in fact. The story starts with Liz’s latest client, and her parents’ neighbour, Tammy Sue Lyerly, lighting her cheating husband’s car on fire. What they don’t know, is the cheating husband is in the trunk…dead. Liz and Greg are quickly drawn into the investigation by the town Sheriff, Liz’s brother, Blake, and forced to investigate their friends and neighbours as they try to piece together the truth about the eccentric Zeke Lyerly, his hidden past, and who had reason to kill him.

I want to start by saying that I love this series and was highly anticipating this latest installment. Sadly, I felt that this time the story fell short. Zeke Lyerly was the type of character whose murder could have led in many directions, but most of these were left under-developed or abandoned. There is a sense that this book was rushed to print, as characters remained two-dimensional, the ongoing story of Colleen was hardly touched, and there were stretches of dialogue left without any narration. I was also disappointed by the low quality of editing in regards to sentence structure and continuity.

I would love to say that this book lived up to the rest of the series, but that just wasn’t the case. I still highly anticipate the next book and hope that these issues will be addressed.

So happy to have gotten a chance to review Low Country Bonfire by Susan M Boyer. I feel like Liz Talbots's is a member of my family by now in this sixth book in the series. Each book is able to stand alone, but you will want to read them all. In this book a client of investigators Liz and husband, Nate is suspected of killing her husband. In the course of helping her police chief brother Liz has to question friends and even family. Nothing is as simple as it seems on the surface as Liz uncovers a CIA background and Russian connections. Likable flawed characters and an interesting mystery set in Low country add up to another great read.

Lowcountry Bonfire is the sixth installment of Susan M. Boyer's Liz Talbot Mystery series. The day after Liz and Nate meet with Tammy Sue Lyerly to give her the information they have gathered on the indiscretions of her husband Zeke, they are called by Liz's father on an early Tuesday morning. Liz and Nate, among many other Stella Maris residents, watch as Tammy Sue lights her husband's vintage Mustang on fire, feeding the flames with his clothing after he does not come home the night before. When the tow truck driver is asked to open the trunk, no one standing by expects the contents--Zeke's body.

This is just the beginning of a week of confusing leads followed by Liz and Nate as they have been retained by the Stella Maris town council for just such an occasion. Their suspect board has become a who's who of the island with items regularly changing, but leads all pointing back to a bonfire party several months prior. It seems that an unfortunate choice of party games may have led to Zeke's death, but why?

Just what was it in Zeke's past that has caught up with him. Were all the tall tales he told about spies and missions true? As Liz and Nate follow the leads to far off events, the path leads right back home and almost adds Liz and Nate to the list of fatalities.

This book, as with the prior books in the series, is well written with a twisting plot. The characters are genuine, you probably know someone like them. Although this book would stand alone, why ever would one want to miss the rest of the series? I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

After being hired by Tammy Sue Lyerly to find out whether her husband, Zeke, is cheating, Liz and Nate, in the opening scene of this book, discover Tammy Sue has set Zeke’s prized Mustang, with all his possessions, on fire in front of her house. To make matters worse, when the trunk of the Mustang is opened, Zeke’s dead body is discovered. Zeke is a victim of strychnine poisoning, and all fingers point at Tammy Sue as the murderer. Liz cannot believe Tammy Sue killed Zeke, so she and Nate begin an investigation to find out who the murderer is. This story covers all the ins and outs and twists turns of their investigation. I have read the other books in this series, and this one is as good as the rest. I enjoyed the way the author, who is obviously very familiar with the setting, brought the reader right into the South Carolina lowcountry, with all its cultural, small town and distinct foibles and nuances. Again, Liz and Nate show their excellent sleuthing skills as they uncover clue after clue about this murder mystery, ultimately leading to a somewhat surprising finale, where the murderer and rationale for the crime are revealed. The story moves along smoothly and quickly, as we follow Liz, accompanied and assisted by her husband Nate, delve into the secretive, surprising life of Zeke, both in the lowcontry and during twenty unaccounted years, during which he was who knows were doing who knows what. A lot of what Zeke passed off as his accomplishments and adventures comes out as false, but there are some big surprises in his life that no one would have thought possible or probable. This is a fairly well-done story of a secretive man everyone listened to and doubted, who really had lived an exciting life between his growing up in the small town and his life after those years. I enjoyed reading about the lowcountry, as it always fascinates me. This book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone, though it will only whet the reader’s appetite for more about this PI duo. Throughout the series, Liz and Nate have matured into solid PI’s. Nate has taken on a bigger role, though Liz remains the main sleuth. This book is one that will appeal to readers of this series, to anyone who is familiar with or is interested in the lowcountry or to anyone who enjoys a good, light wholesome mystery, with no sex or passionate scenes—just good, wholesome fun. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

"Lowcountry Bonfire" is Susan M. Boyer's best Liz Talbot mystery to date. Liz and husband Nate delve into the mysterious murder of Zeke Lyerly, a local Stella Maris mechanic and neighbor of Liz's parents. Readers who enjoy cozy Southern mysteries should not hesitate to grab this book up as a top summer read.

Zeke Lyerly has been catting around on his beautiful wife, Tammy Sue. After am epic hissy fit which includes setting Zeke's Mustang on fire, Zeke's body is discovered in the trunk. Zeke has been a Stella Maris enigma for years, favorite son turned teller of tall tales. His stories of being a mysterious spy, NASCAR racer, and other crazy tales which happened during his time away border on insanity. As Liz and Nate delve deeper into Zeke's past, his time away from Stella Maris before meeting and marrying Tammy Sue may hold the key to his death.

I love stories set the in South, and Stella Maris has developed into a dream location for my (years from now) retirement, Liz and Nate are a wonderful couple, and other than some sexy scenes, there wasn't needless gratuitous sex. I am concerned about Colleen's future as guardian of Stella Maris, and can't wait for the next Liz Talbot mystery to bring more details to light.

This is another delightful entry in Susan M. Boyd's Stella Maris, SC mystery series. I've read the entire series, and this entry was particularly impressive because I had an unusually hard time solving the mystery. Boyd's characters seem more and more like family. As a person born, raised, and living in the South, I find they ring absolutely true to the southern culture I love. Boyd's skill with humor makes me anxiously await each new adventure for Liz and company. Thanks very much to Hennery Press and NetGalley for giving me access to the electronic ARC for this title !

I have to say that I adore this series and this installment didn’t let me down. Nate and Liz must solve a murder in their home town to clear the name of one of their Private Investigation clients. The mystery becomes more and more interesting as they deserve odd facts about the murdered man’s background. Untangling this mystery involves delving into the history of several town members who have some sordid secrets. This story was a fun read and I enjoyed it immensely. I love all the side characters and the chemistry between Nate and Liz is undeniable. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries you shouldn’t check this series out! If you are an audiobook lover like me these also make a great listen!

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Henery Press. Thank you.

I've read all of the Liz Talbot mystery novels and this is the one I like the least. I kept picking up on too many things that just seemed wrong. Granted, author Susan M. Boyer still writes Southern the way it really is - maybe with just a tiny bit of exaggeration for emphasis purposes. I must confess to liking the books more when the ghostly presence was kept as more of a background note and the way Liz and her husband Nate walked all over correct police procedure in this book was too egregious to overlook. So was this just me being too picky? I don't know for sure, but I didn't have to dither around to decide on a 3 star rating - smack in the middle of really/kinda bad and really/kinda good.

This story begins with a woman pitching a purely hissy fit when she gets the investigative report from Liz and Nate (private detectives) that her husband is having an affair. So she gathers up his clothes, piles them in the 1969 Mustang convertible he loves so much and sets the clothes on fire. Naturally Tammy Sue is going to be a suspect when her lying, cheating husband turns up dead. Except that's also when everybody on the tiny island South Carolina community of Stella Maris finds out just how little they knew about Zeke Lyerly.

As I have said, this one didn't work well for me. If you live in a very small community, and everyone is supposed to know the complete history of everyone there, then why was nobody ever curious about Zeke's background? You really can't have it both ways. Plus, Colleen (the ghost) has turned into a pest instead of a charming point of interest of the series. At least for me.

I like this book a lot and highly encourage you to read the series.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It in no way influenced my liking or disliking of it.

We start in the yard of one of Liz's latest clients, whom has just found out her husband was cheating. While in the process of setting his car on fire, a body is found in the trunk. In return, Liz must find out the real killer before her client goes to jail for murder.

As expected, I loved this book. We get our usual humor, 20 suspects, and no way to put it down until the end.

I'm very new to this series but I've slowly become a fan.
I enjoyed the story and I'm slowly getting to know the characters in the series.

The author has a way with the narrative that wrapped me up in a cocoon filled with southern charm and mayhem. Any book that makes me feel what the characters feel is a testament to the author’s ability to pull me in and create long-lasting moments to cherish.

The pacing fits the tempo of this enticingly intriguing tale where the mystery was executed nicely, keeping me in the throes of what was happening with the residents of Stella Maris, especially that tense moment when I couldn't read fast enough to learn the outcome of the incident involving one of the duo. As always, I enjoy time spent with Liz's parents who light up any scene they are featured in.

Boasting a superb cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a small-town atmosphere, this was one of the best book in this wonderfully endearing series.

I've loved each and every Liz Talbot Mystery and Lowcountry Bonfire is no exception. The characters are so much fun! It's great to read a series set in the South that's written by a true Southern Belle like Susan M. Boyer! The settings, dialogue, food, characters, everything all ring true.

If you haven't read any of the Liz Talbot Mysteries, you need to treat yourself today! You won't regret it!

I don't know how, but Susan M. Boyer's Liz Talbot Mystery Series just keeps getting better. Liz and Nate seem to be on a simple case that tragically ends with a murder and resulting deep seeded mysteries. The tension is ever present with each thrust and feint of the unfolding story. Even when there seems to be resolution, one is left with a chilling fear of what may be coming in the future. I can't recommend this entire series highly enough!

PI Liz Talbot returns! This time, she and partner Nate Andrews are looking into the bizarre life of Tammy Sue Lyerly’s husband. A Walter Mitty type, who claims to have been a NASCAR driver and a government agent among other things, Liz figures the guy hasn’t got anything real to hide. He’s just off on another imagination vacation. But, unfortunately, Tammy’s worst fears have come true and Liz has the photos to prove it. Not long after, Romeo turns up dead and the cops like Tammy for the killer. This is such a wonderful, snarky Southern series – I love it and so will fans of Carolyn Haines

Thoroughly drenched in the modern southern voice, Lowcounty Bonfire is sixth in the Liz Talbot mystery series. I was happy to go adventuring again with Liz and her crazy friends, acquaintances and relatives. The dialogue and character interactions are hilarious and had me laughing throughout the story.

For such a small area, there sure are a lot of murders! This time it is one of her parent's neighbors, Zeke, and Zeke's widow Tammy Sue is the first to be blamed for his death. Liz and partner / partner Nate are on the case to clear Tammy Sue and find the real culprit. Most of the suspects are from Stella Maris, although a few new people are introduced. Mother is still the same perfect southern hostess. Father is busy upping his crazy. Colleen is bray-snorting and jesting.

Overall a great, fun read in a lovely, comforting (for a cozy!) series. Not to be missed.

Might I just start this review by saying I want to eat at Mamma’s house! I love this series and I loved this book. I’m pretty sure, if Mamma were a real person, I’d love her the most. 😀

Liz and Nate have another death to investigate when Tammy Sue’s husband is found, dead, in the trunk of his Mustang she has set on fire. While it would seem she should be the first person suspected, there are just too many other variables to consider.

Zeke, Tammy Sue’s husband, was a popular former high school baseball standout who liked to tell tall tales. He had left small town, Stella Maris, to join the Army after high school and the 20 intervening years are an additional mystery to solve.

The story is full of good food and an exciting investigation. I loved it and can’t wait for the next!

I love this series- each book reminds me of growing up in SC and visiting my relatives in Charleston. The characters are very real and the stories are full of twists and turns and a surprise or 2.

FANTASTIC FROM START TO FINISH!!

Lowcountry Bonfire (A Liz Talbot Mystery Book 6) is the best book in this series to date!! I've enjoyed this series since the first book, Lowcountry Boil, was published in 2012. While Boyer uses many of her beloved characters in each book, she always manages to introduce interesting new characters that make the story so much more interesting and intriguing. By the time I had finished the first two paragraphs of Lowcountry Bonfire, I knew this book was going to keep me busy because I was "hooked" & didn't want to stop reading until I was finished! The opening scene will leave you speechless! This book has a fantastic plot, superb characters, family love, friendships old & new and some very deep, dark secrets that cause someone to seek revenge. Can Liz and Nate solve the case before the death toll rises? What other secrets will they uncover? I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this opinion is strictly my own and without influence.