Liz Talbot returns in another well paced mystery. It took a bit for me to get into the story, but once I did, I raced along with the characters to the ending. Charleston is richly described as always, and the atmosphere makes psychic phenomenom seem fully plausible!

I have read nearly all of the Lowcountry mysteries by Susan M. Boyer and this is the first one that has been a disappointment. In nearly every way the story fell flat.

Husband and wife team, Liz and Nate, are hired by an anonymous client to investigate a hit-and-run. The police are convinced they have the right suspect but Liz isn’t so sure and the investigation begins. And, so do my issues with this book.

Nate and Liz seem to have very few boundaries when it comes to their investigations. Breaking into homes, trespassing and eavesdropping are all considered acceptable in the quest for truth and that didn’t particularly set well with me. In addition, there are pages of information about exactly what streets they drive, where buildings are located in Charleston and even where they park their vehicles. General information like this, in small doses, is fine and can enrich a story. But, this much information isn’t necessary and it only detracts.

The family drama was just a little over the top for me as well. While I love quirky families, this time I found Liz’s family to be just a little too much. Her parents, in particular, display very juvenile behavior and her sister and fiancée are simply unnecessary additions.

Finally, I really missed Liz’s ghostly friend, Colleen. Her presence and contribution was minimal and I realize that her character is part of the reason this series has always “worked” for me. I hope she appears more in future books.

All in all, I can only give this book 3 stars and that may be a little too generous.

Susan M. Boyer is a wonderful writer, there's not doubt about that at all. But I hadn't realized LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP mentioned domestic violence. I stopped reading the moment I was aware of that fact. I can't read stories that deal with that subject. Not even there's just a hint of it. I'm sorry I was unable to finish. My four star rating is based on Ms. Boyer's writing ability alone.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Did not realize that this was book number 7 in a series so struggled with the characters and who was what do cannot give a positive of negative review I am afraid.

Very good book. I can't wait to read more by Susan M. Boyer. She has a way with words, the story and characters. A highly recommended read.

This is a charming series. In this new installment Poppy Oliver claims she was just trying to help when police find her and her damaged car near a dead man in the road. Add a mysterious donor hiring Liz and Nate to look into the death, a best friend ghost who has no end of opinions, multiple plotlines and you're in for a great time.

Lowcountry Bookshop is the 7th book in the Liz Talbot Mystery series, and another enjoyable addition. Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews are partners and married in a private investigators business and have been hired to prove Poppy Oliver innocencent. The couple also gets help on cases from Liz's spirit guardian, Colleen. Colleen and Liz were friends when Colleen committed suicide as a teenager. This book got me hooked early on, there are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. The chemistry between Liz and Nate is great, some funny moments. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the first book that I've read in this series. It was very good. The characters are very likable. I'll be sure to check out more in the series.

This is a husband and wife PI Team that solve mysteries in Charleston, SC. Liz and Nate live on a island and drink a lot of Cheerwine, the soft drink of the south. Liz also has a very crazy family that she is very close to.
I enjoyed the mystery and would like to go back and read the earlier books.

One dark and extremely stormy Charleston night, a man is hit by a vehicle and killed crossing the street near his home. Who did it? Was it intentional? Was it a hit and run? Was it the woman who says she stopped to help the victim? The dent on the front of her car suggests it could go either way for her. Liz Talbot and her partner Nate are hired to find the answers to these questions and more in the seventh installment in the Liz Talbot Mystery series.

Liz and Nate are hired by a law firm to investigate. They won't tell her who hired them to look into it, but they do admit that it's because their client is worried about the woman who stopped to help the victim. Poppy is a sweet woman and seemingly wouldn't harm a fly. Could she possibly be responsible for this accident?

Several of the women under investigation frequent the same bookstore. Also several of them have a connection to a group of women helping abused women. Was the man killed an abuser?

More information comes out as Liz and Nate investigate. Colleen, their ghostly friend, plays only a very little role in this mystery encouraging them to stay on track and keep investigating. I like that she doesn't come out and provide all the answers for them.

Periods of serious investigation are punctuated by the more lighthearted escapades of Liz's family. Her daddy seems to try and one-up himself in his quest to disturb her mamma when he acquires some goats and a pool building business.

It's a private investigation procedural. It gets a little repetitive at times, but it all goes to advancing the plot.

Overall, I give this mystery 4 out of 5 stars. The mystery shows good imagination as the pieces come together. It's well-written and paced well. The end has a bit of a twist, but it works. And I really enjoyed the humorous family parts.

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer was released May 29th, 2018 from Henery Press.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

This series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. While there is a paranormal twist to the books (and that is something I generally do not care for), the charm of the relationship between the real and paranormal is a fun one to read.

Liz Talbot and her husband Nate are private investigators. They have been hired to prove someone innocent of killing an individual. There is a twist in the hiring and it sets up a more full-blown investigation than usual.

The paranormal part of this story is on back burner and more hard-hitting investigation takes over. I really appreciated reading how an investigation would take place. The ways of changing ones look and how to take photographs without seeming to be doing so.

The plot flowed and the characters were great. I must admit a soft spot for Liz’s mother. She a real Southern lady and puts up with enormous amounts of misbehavior before putting her foot down.

I am already looking forward to reading the next book in this series and have to settle in the for the long wait.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

4.5 Stars

I love the Liz Talbot "Lowcountry" cozy mysteries. Liz and Nate are the perfect couple/investigative partners. Her disguises crack me up. I wonder how there is room in her car for her with all the stuff she carries around with her. Ha!! It simply amazes me how she always gets away with them.

In this, the 7th book of the series, it focuses on a bookshop that holds a secret. A secret so big, not even the owners know what it is. This secret plays a very important part in the book. A part that is very interesting in the way things are done. I admire this secret tremendously. (There's a spoiler for you or is it an enticement? Ha!!)

This book starts out with a hit and run accident and the mail carrier is the "usual suspect" as she is found at the scene and just happens to have a dent in the front of her car. Of course, what actually happened in this accident is discovered near the end of the book and no one, ever, could guess it.

An excellent series that I thoroughly enjoy and can't wait for the next one!

Thanks to Henery Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Reading the latest book on Susan Boyer’s Lowcountry series is like going back to visit old friends. You know, the kind who can pick up the conversation right where you left off. Liz, Nate, Colleen and the rest of the crew are back to take us on a tour of Charleston and Stella Maris, by way of an intriguing mystery.

However, you don’t have to read the other six books to enjoy Lowcountry Bookshop. This book stands alone as a good mystery and a fun read. To balance out the violent undertones that are part of Liz and Nate’s private investigation business, the book has light and humorous moments with Liz’s family shenanigans. And then there’s the food. Oh my, the food! You can almost taste all the wonderful southern cuisine in every meal, whether in a Charleston restaurant or in Mamma Talbot’s kitchen.

This time around, the investigative duo is unraveling the questions surrounding what seems like a simple hit and run. But is anything ever simple in their lives? Heck no. Not only is the case not a slam dunk, but the layers upon layers of possibilities leaves everyone guessing up to the last chapter…even Liz and Nate.

Poppy, the mail carrier who found the body, needs help and someone is going to make sure she gets it. So Liz and Nate are hired by an anonymous benefactor to help clear the name of the (supposedly) innocent Poppy. And that’s just the first step en route to the whole story.
Several paths lead them to Buxton Books and The Ghosts of Charleston where things get as dark and stormy as the night of the accident. Everyone they encounter has something to hide, and something for Liz and Nate to uncover.

Eventually, once the whole cast is out in the open, the truth comes out. But not necessarily as anyone expected. Even me, the reader who always figures out the ending.

The book left me ready for the next one in the series. For anyone who has read the others, there will be inside references that make you want to know more. For the new readers, there are story lines that are likely to play a big part in the future.

I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Lowcountry series.

Unfortunately, this was not a great read for me. I have in the past read later books in series, without starting from Book 1, and not found myself confused or lost. This did not go that way. I felt the main characters were not well introduced. Having a bit of a backstory in the first chapter would go a long way I think.

What was up with the ghost friend Colleen, who barely appeared in the rest of the book after having such a big role at the beginning?

I was not a fan of the need to constantly mention street names or the corner of Street A and Street B. This type of geographic description was not necessary for the plot line.

I'm sure this is another topic mentioned in previous books, and I would have just ignored it, but it was mentioned at least three times. What is the significance of this tropical storm dream/fear that the main character has. Should I understand it? What did it have to do with this story?

The mystery of who killed Phillip Drayton's was okay but far from a thriller. I never felt like there would be a second murder even though I think that was the author's intension.

However, the network of women saving abused women was clever. Also, the main character's family dynamics were fun. Unfortunately, that was not enough to save this book in my opinion. I was really looking forward to reading something by this author, but I guess I should have started with a different book.

I love a cozy mystery series where the main character is a PI and Susan M. Boyer's Liz Talbot never disappoints. I loved seeing how she and Nate worked this case with the added frustration of not knowing who their client was or what they could be possibly hiding. Pretty much anytime there's a case laid out on a white board I'm completely in! The mystery was interesting and not one that unraveled quickly. I really felt this one really showcased Nate and Liz working as a team with undercover work, surveillance, and other fun tricks of the trade. It also showcased Charleston, South Carolina to the point I want to go on an book my trips - the food, the history, the ghosts all shone and played an important part in the story. By the end I wanted an order of Fried Green Tomatoes followed by a ghost tour! This mystery can be easily enjoyed by first time visitors to the world of Liz Talbot's Charleston but the small subplots involving Liz's quirky family and her ghostly friend Colleen might make a bit more sense if you've already met them.

Susan Boyer has another hit on her hands with Lowcountry Bookshop. It is like returning to old friends. The books are set in the charming areas of Stella Maris and Charleston, which is a treat with its shops and Restaurants. The Characters are likeable and you can read this book without having read the others.

Poppy Oliver found herself in trouble after reporting a hit and run. Someone decided to hire Liz Talbot and her Partner Nate to prove her innocence. There were two calls made that night to report the incident one from the victims phone and one from a burner phone. Why was Phillip Drayton-the Victim, outside during a storm and why had some kind of pepper spray been used on him? As the Partners investigate it becomes obvious a lot of answers are needed to solve this mystery. Colleen, a ghostly friend, who appears to just a few people might help.

This book flows with a nice juicy mystery. Prepare to put your feet up and spend the evening because this one grabs hold and doesn't let go. I really liked it. So I am giving it five stars.

My thanks to Netgalley and Henery Press

LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP, the seventh book in the popular Liz Talbot Mystery Series, is a delightful trip to Charleston, South Carolina, full of rich food, local color, bright characters, and a complex mystery to solve.

In this installment, we find private investigators Liz and Nate hired by an anonymous client through a law firm, tasked with proving mail carrier Poppy Oliver’s innocence. Poppy swears that she happened across Phillip Drayton’s body in the street in front of his house, but the police have other ideas since she was found at the scene with a suspicious dent in her car. What begins as a fact finding mission for a seemingly simple case soon becomes a complex mystery for our intrepid pair to solve. And, what does a local bookstore have to do with it all?

Boyer’s characters are what keep me coming back to this fun series. Liz and Nate are relatable, organized, and smart investigators. There are no bumbling amateurs here. Well developed and engaging, I can easily imagine that we would be friends in real life. Poppy is one of the gentlest suspects I have come across in a long while. Her heart is as big as the South, and, like the characters in the book, I want to take her under my wing and protect her. Liz’s family is a hoot, and I adore the laugh-out-loud scenes in which they appear. Oh my, pygmy goats! These light hearted bits really balance the heavier subject in the book.

The mystery starts out seemingly straight forward but quickly proves to be complicated. It kept me guessing for a good part of the book. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, including the victim’s brother and wife, a would-be stalker, a nurse, private club owner, and a socialite, among others. It is amazing how a random choice here and there can lead to someone’s demise. I enjoyed following along with Liz and Nate to solve the case (and tagging along on their fabulous dinner dates and family dinners).

LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP can easily be read as a standalone mystery, but I recommend the entire series to fans of cozy mysteries, especially to readers who enjoy a fantastic Southern setting, interesting characters, and a few laugh-out-loud moments.

I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley from the publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Lowcountry Bookshop

by Susan M. Boyer

In Lowcountry Bookshop, Susan M. Boyer outdoes her last cozy mystery which I thought was good. In this book Liz Talbot and her husband Nate, both private investigators, are hired anonymously through an attorney to prove the innocence of a very sweet mail carrier who stopped at the scene of a hit and run. The plot is very complex and involves a group of women who try to help victims of domestic violence.

Watching Liz and Nate go about their business of investigating the crime and the people involved is very interesting. They have tools, disguises, and methods that they use to pursue the truth regardless of where it leads them.

In the middle of some pretty intense scenarios, there is a little comic relief as Liz’s family deals with a situation involving a Bassett hound, a pig with a broken leg, three escape artist goats, and a backyard dug in preparation for a swimming pool. As you can imagine, “Mamma ain’t happy” and everyone knows it.

Set in the Charlestown area of South Carolina, Lowcountry Bookshop features heat, humidity, and Southern charm. This mystery will keep you on your toes as you follow its complexities and guess who did it and why—right up until the end.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.


Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery

Notes: 1. #7 in the Liz Talbot Mystery Series but works as a standalone
2. Slight paranormal aspect: One character is a helpful guardian spirit. Frankly, she contributes little to the solving of the mystery and could easily be removed without harming the plot.

Publication: May 29, 2018—Henery Press

Memorable Lines:

Sunday morning arrived on air as thick as mamma’s gravy.

At five in the morning, it was already eighty-three degrees.

Everyone had baggage. Some of us had heavier bags than others.

A little too predictable... if you like the other books you will like this but I found a pattern from her other books.

I'm new to this series but I like what I've read so far.
Liz and Mate are good, strong characters and their personalities work well together.

The story has a strange twist to it which keeps the reader turning the pages.