This is the third book in the Southern B&B Mystery series by Caroline Fardig. Although there is some continuation in the development of the characters and their relationships, the mystery is self-contained and this book can be read as a standalone story. Having said that, I have read all three in the series and would recommend you read them all.

Quinn Bellandini and her sister Delilah have a great relationship, Not only do they work together at the family B&B, they sleuth together and have become known around Savannah for solving crimes where the police have arrested the wrong person. In this story it is Quinn's friend and band mate's brother who has been arrested for the murder of Magnolia Stiles. Magnolia is a socialite who has more enemies than a person can count, so there are plenty of other suspect. Pepper begs and bullies Quinn into helping her prove her brother's innocence.

I enjoy how well Quinn and Delilah work together when investigating and this book has Pepper join in the search. Once again, they know just the right questions to ask to get information that the police don't have. The secondary characters are well rounded and add much to the story. Tucker, Quinn's boyfriend also works with them, but he has some real reservations about putting themselves in danger. Ending up in some seedy bars, being warned off, some vandalism and being held at gunpoint definitely give strength to is concerns. I enjoy the setting of Savannah with all the descriptions of the homes and the social activities. The story is well-written and the mystery has plenty of twists and turns. I thought I had it figured out than changed my mind many times. A fun story that had me guessing right up to the end. Another fine addition to this series although I did enjoy the first two in this series more than this one. I do recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers.

Quinn Bellandini is busy at a fundraising event when things take a terrible turn. The host is found dead and one of Quinn’s friends, Pepper, is beside herself. Pepper’s brother has been arrested for murder and she’s sure of his innocence. Since Quinn has experience with murder investigations, Pepper begs Quinn to help get her brother out of jail and find the real killer.

Quinn gets her boyfriend, Tucker, and her sister, Delilah, to assist in the investigation. Tucker is totally against the idea as he thinks it’s too dangerous, Delilah is more than excited to lend a helping hand. All three stick together to find out what really happened to the victim.

Their investigation leads them to more suspects than they thought. They had no idea the woman was so hated.

This is the third book in the series. I’ve read them all and have enjoyed each one. I don’t think you need to start with the first one, but it’s so much more fun if you do. While each mystery is contained within each book - there are no cliffhangers - it’s even more fun to see the character growth, especially in Tucker and Quinn’s relationship.

It’s a fast-paced story that keeps you guessing until the end. Just when you think the story is solved, you find out it’s not. This story has everything - mystery, humor and a touch of romance.

The author has a great skill for writing a mystery and keeping the reader in suspense until the finale.

I hope there will be more books in this series.

Title: Southern Double Cross
Author: Caroline Fardig
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5

Quinn Bellandini is minding her own business, living life and wishing she were back at the B & B she runs with her sister, Delilah, and her grandfather, instead of trying to pull off a fundraising gala—and keep the high society guests from sniping at each other and causing a ruckus. Then Quinn gets a call from her friend Pepper, working for the event’s caterer. Pepper tells her the hostess—and owner of the mansion hosting the gala—has been found dead.

Soon enough, Pepper’s brother has been charged with murder and Pepper insists the Bellandini sisters clear his name. Quinn’s questions only lead to more questions. The victim had more frenemies than you can shake a stick at. The catering company’s employees are shady at best. And then there are the rumors about the victim and her ex-husband’s rekindled relationship. Quinn isn’t sure where to start, but with her boyfriend Tucker’s help and the irrepressible Delilah on the case, she gives it her best shot.

I enjoyed this entry into the Southern B & B Mystery series (it looks to be the last, too). The writing is solid. Savannah, Georgia comes to life—as does the high society crowd that populates the pages. I’ve enjoyed watching Quinn and Tucker’s relationship grow, and the sisters are fun to read as well.

Caroline Fardig is a bestselling author. Southern Double Cross is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Alibi in exchange for an honest review.)

Description
A fundraising party goes south in a delightful cozy mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Southern Discomfort and the Java Jive novels

Quinn Bellandini is ready to get back to running her grandfather’s B&B in Savannah, Georgia, with her sister, Delilah—but first, she has to coordinate a fundraising event at the house of local philanthropists, with the help of her boyfriend, Tucker Heyward. Everything is running smoothly until Quinn’s friend, Pepper Fox, frantically calls her with the horrifying news that the lady of the house was found dead. Pepper’s brother, who was working as a caterer, is soon charged with her murder.

Pepper knows her brother didn’t commit the crime and asks Quinn, now a veteran detective with two solved murders under her belt, to prove his innocence. Quinn can’t bear to see her friend upset and enlists Delilah and Tucker to help investigate.

The invite list quickly turns into the suspect list as tensions mount and old feuds are brought to light. Could Quinn have hired the only catering company in Georgia that throws in a murder on the side?

My Review
Book 3 of the Southern B&B Mystery Series - Southern Double Cross is a winner!

This is the kind of cozy mystery novel that grabs you and does not let go until the very end. Very well crafted-characters - truly enjoyable. One of the things that I enjoy in books are the list of characters. For me this helps me go back and reference a characters in the book.

The novel starts off with a hiccup at the fundraising event Quinn is coordinating. Letting her boyfriend Tucker ease some of the stress, she slips back into stress mode the moment he leaves.... poor Quinn she really can't get a break.

To make matters worse, the cantankerous southern belle Magnolia Stiles is murdered and Parker is being blamed for the murder.

Can Quinn along with Tucker and Delilah solve the mystery?

Buy the book - it's great!!

I give this a definite 5 Star!!

SOUTHERN DOUBLE CROSS by Caroline Fardig
The Third Southern B&B Mystery

Quinn Bellandini is stressed out. She's put a lot of effort into the fundraiser for the women and children's shelter and wants the event to go smoothly. Things start well enough, aside from minor complaints and one disastrous run in between the hostess and a waiter with raspberry galettes. But when her friend Pepper calls her to come quick it's more than raspberry stains on Magnolia Stiles dress. Pepper's brother found her murdered body...while he was stealing. Now the elite in charge kick Quinn off the committee since she hired the help, and Pepper demands she investigate and get her brother out of jail!

There are a lot of unpleasant people in Savannah, Georgia. At least among the characters found on the pages of the third Southern B&B Mystery. There are plenty of catty women, from the social elite to "the help". Heck, Quinn's boyfriend's mother is telling all the rich young things that Tucker dumped her and is available. Even Pepper, Quinn's bandmate and friend, is a nasty demanding shrew. She's lucky Quinn is a goodie two shoes helper because I'd tell her to shove it and let her thieving brother rot in jail!

I like the methods in which Quinn and her sister, Delilah, run their investigation. What I don't like is that they now seem to consider themselves professionals and don't bother giving the police pertinent information they discover until the very end. This even after someone they spoke with was assaulted and vandalism was committed against them. Tucker's anger over Quinn's involvement and the ensuing fights also became tiresome. I appreciate Uncle Frank's role, and especially loved the part he played in the ending.

SOUTHERN DOUBLE CROSS is a story about friends, enemies, and betrayal. It's a clever mystery wrapped in Southern manners and the insidious way those manners can hide the sordid underbelly of truth.

Southern Double Cross
Southern B & B Mystery, Book #3
Caroline Fardig
5 Stars


Synopsis:

A fundraising party goes south in a delightful cozy mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Southern Discomfort and the Java Jive novels

Quinn Bellandini is ready to get back to running her grandfather’s B&B in Savannah, Georgia, with her sister, Delilah—but first, she has to coordinate a fundraising event at the house of local philanthropists, with the help of her boyfriend, Tucker Heyward. Everything is running smoothly until Quinn’s friend, Pepper Fox, frantically calls her with the horrifying news that the lady of the house was found dead. Pepper’s brother, who was working as a caterer, is soon charged with her murder.

Pepper knows her brother didn’t commit the crime and asks Quinn, now a veteran detective with two solved murders under her belt, to prove his innocence. Quinn can’t bear to see her friend upset and enlists Delilah and Tucker to help investigate.

The invite list quickly turns into the suspect list as tensions mount and old feuds are brought to light. Could Quinn have hired the only catering company in Georgia that throws in a murder on the side?

Don’t miss Caroline Fardig’s “wildly entertaining”* Java Jive mysteries, which can be read together or separately:
DEATH BEFORE DECAF | MUG SHOT | A WHOLE LATTE MURDER | BREW OR DIE | MURDER OVER MOCHAS

*Suspense Magazine (Goodreads)

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. And there was a lot of action taking place in this book and a lot of sleuthing. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place.

The characters are well developed and well defined. I really enjoy the way that Quinn and Delilah interact and how much they love each other. They are as close as two sisters could be, even though they are very different. We got to spend a little more time with their friend, Pepper, which added some depth to the story.

The mystery had a lot of clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The girls like to take chances when solving a mystery, especially Delilah, and it is no wonder that Quinn’s boyfriend, Tucker, is not too happy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. The whole series is great and definitely worth reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing Group-Alibi, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Southern Double Cross is the third book in Caroline Fardig’s Southern B&B mystery series. Quinn Bellandini is serving on the fundraising committee to support homeless mothers and their children. Their big spring fundraiser is a large garden party for supporters being held at the plantation home of Magnolia and Duke Stiles. Quinn has several things to deal with—the music is too loud, the waiters inefficient, and the drinks too watery, plus local rich girls taking aim at her boyfriend, Tucker Heyward. What she didn’t expect to deal with was theft and the murder of their hostess.

When her bandmate Pepper Fox’s brother Parker is arrested on suspicion of the crimes, Pepper begs Quinn to help find evidence that her brother is innocent. Quinn’s sister Delilah is thrilled to be involved in another investigation. While drawn deeper into the mystery, they are faced with threats, sniping debutants, and seedy stakeouts. As these ramp up, Tucker becomes more worried and tries to get Quinn to stop. However, Quinn feels obligated to help Pepper clear Parker.

This is yet another well woven mystery by Ms.Fardig. Great characters, a lovely Savannah setting, and an unexpected conclusion make this a must read. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

B&B owners Quinn and sister, Delilah solve the murder to prevent a friend’s false imprisonment. Although he is a thief, he isn’t a murderer. Suspects and reasons to want victim gone make this a tough case to solve. Great story line, kept me reading.

This is the first book in the series I've read but there was plenty of backstory to help me understand and follow along. The story was twisty and interesting with humor and natural dialog. I enjoyed meeting the characters, quirky and snooty alike, and the peak at their different lifestyles. Oh, and Uncle Frank, the ghost. I was hooked right to the end and will have to circle back to book one. I highly recommend this book to anyone who like cozy mysteries set in the South.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Fun and mystery are just two of the reasons I love Cozies. This series is both with a dash of good old Southern charm and some delicious recipes too. I love the whole cast of characters here and the baddie is a mystery until the end, unless you can decipher Uncle Frank's mysterious clues.

Quinn Bellandini has a knack, or some would say misfortune, for stumbling over dead bodies and then solving their murders. It is getting to be a well known accomplishment in Savannah, GA. All she really wants to do is help run her grandfather's B&B and hang with her boyfriend, Tucker. Being part of the community, Quinn is helping stage a fund raiser at the plantation home of Marjorie Stiles, a leader of Savannah society. Rubbing shoulders with the elite of Savannah isn't all it is cracked up to be, but Quinn feels passionate about the women's shelter the fund raiser is supporting.

With Tucker acting as her gofer, Quinn is feeling good about things until she gets a frantic phone call from her friend Pepper Fox who is the caterer for the event. Pepper's brother, Parker, has found a body. Not at all what Quinn wants to hear. This body just happens to be Marjorie Stiles, a lady with a lot of frenemies but few true friends. When Parker is arrested, Quinn, Pepper and Quinn's sister, Delilah, and Tucker too, set out to prove his innocence.

There is nothing like old money, or old secrets, and the lengths that old Savannah society will go to in order to hid the truth.

I enjoyed the previous mysteries in this delightful series and this one didn't disappoint me. Quinn is on the case, again along with her sister Delilah and her best friend Pepper. Not only does Quinn help run the family B&B, she is helping put on a fabulous fund raiser at a local Southern mansion owned by Duke and Magnolia Stiles. They are loaded and this event, if all goes well, will bring in much needed funds for the women's and children's shelter. One major fly in the ointment? Magnolia is not a nice person and things turn deadly when her very dead body is discovered in her bedroom. If that wasn't enough, the list of suspects is as long as your arm and, topping the list is Pepper's brother. They had a couple of run ins during the fund raiser and Pepper turns to Quinn and Delilah for help. Given that the sisters have dabbled in homicidal investigations before, it's a no brainer and so the sleuthing begins.
I like the relationship between the characters - sisters, best friends, boyfriend-girlfriend, family in general - it all works and the characters have plenty of depth. The mystery itself is complex enough with its twists, turns and red herrings, that I picked the wrong person and was surprised at the end. For me that is what I call a satisfying read. I hope there will be more than just three in this series but, if not, I've enjoyed my reading time with Quinn and her friends and family.
My thanks to the publisher Alibi and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

📖 BOOK REVIEW⠀📚
BOOK: Southern Double Cross
AUTHOR: Caroline Fardig
@carolinefardigbooks
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Published: February 11, 2020
https://amzn.to/31QyKtv

My favorite cozy detective author is at it again. This is book #3 in the Southern B&B Mystery series. I continue to enjoy these novels because they are a quick, enjoyable read with really complex likable characters. For more on what I thought about this book, watch my video!
https://youtu.be/U23QoREqOtE

Short Synopsis (abbreviate from Goodreads):
Quinn Bellandini is ready to get back to running her grandfather’s B&B in Savannah, Georgia, with her sister, Delilah—but first, she has to coordinate a fundraising event at the house of local philanthropists, with the help of her boyfriend, Tucker Heyward. Everything is running smoothly until Quinn’s friend, Pepper Fox, frantically calls her with the horrifying news that the lady of the house was found dead. Pepper’s brother, who was working as a caterer, is soon charged with her murder.
Pepper knows her brother didn’t commit the crime and asks Quinn, now a veteran detective with two solved murders under her belt, to prove his innocence. Quinn can’t bear to see her friend upset and enlists Delilah and Tucker to help investigate.
The invite list quickly turns into the suspect list as tensions mount and old feuds are brought to light. Could Quinn have hired the only catering company in Georgia that throws in a murder on the side?
*****
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

Southern Double Cross is a delightful, enjoyable mystery that is hard to put down until you have finished reading the last page.

Quinn is helping with a fundraiser at the home of Magnolia Stiles, a philanthropist and a not so nice one at that. Her boyfriend, Tucker, is on hand to help, and she definitely needs it when dealing with Magnolia. If that wasn’t enough, her boyfriend’s mother is telling everyone they have broken up. She is ready for this evening to be done. What she isn’t expecting is for Magnolia to be found dead, or her best friend’s brother to be charged with the crime.

Quinn thought she was done with finding bodies and being involved with murder, but she can’t let this one go. She has to help her friend, Pepper, prove her brother’s innocence. She never expected there to be so many suspects or so many secrets to come to light.

I fell in love with the storyline, the setting, and the characters. When I love those three things, I know I’m going to love the book. I was right about this one!!!! The storyline was full of twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout the book.

Who wouldn’t love the setting of Savannah, GA. I grew up in Charleston, SC, so anything that takes place in either of those places, are dear to my heart. The author writes so descriptively that I felt like I was a part of the story itself.

I, myself, enjoy quirky characters. They make me remember the book, and this one was full of those kind of characters, even the murder victim herself. Who couldn’t love Quinn’s family?

The book just kept getting better with every page I read. To make it even better, there were recipes at the end as well. If you are looking for a great little cozy mystery, give this book and the others in the series a try.

I'm a fan of Ms Fardig's other series. I thought the premise was interesting. I liked the use of the grandfather’s spirit and how he assisted Quinn. At times I felt it was a satire on upper southern society and at other’s I felt it was played just right. The sister is a little to driven and gleeful while investigating but I respect her enthusiasm.

I did not suspect the killer until near the reveal. Glad to see that Tucker really cares about Quinn.

This is book three in the Southern B&B mystery series. Quinn and her sister Delilah help to run the family bed and breakfast in Savannah, Georgia. Quinn is working a fundraiser when a murder is committed and a family friend's brother is subsequently arrested for the murder. Quinn sees spirits and this helps her investigations. Tucker is Quinn's boyfriend.
I enjoyed the book and didn't feel at all lost. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and the ending!
Authoress Caroline Fardig also writes three other series Java Jive, Ellie Matthews, and Lizzie Hart.

Quinn and Delilah are a hoot!
When you are known around town as the solver of murders and your best friends brother is framed for murder he didn’t commit, Quinn can’t help but get her arm twisted into this mess that is as hot as the southern heat.
Quinn is a sweet southern girl with a knack for solving murders faster than the local police. She’s kind to the core with a quirkiness and spunk. She is a guitar player after all. I enjoyed the entertaining banter between Quinn and her sister Delilah. They are so different and that is part of what makes them so comical. Delilah will speak her mind and has a great knack for putting two and two together. Pepper is a hot mess with everything going on but even with her pushiness she's a grateful and loyal friend. From rubbing noses with the elite to shady meet ups in dive bars and crazy stakeouts Quinn and Delilah walk with their head held high into craziness that their world seems destined to stumble upon.
Southern Double Cross is a fun and twisty cozy in the Southern B&B Series. This is my first read by Caroline Fardig. I enjoyed her fun and entertaining style of writing. A plot that hand me guessing and then double guessing myself. With so many suspects and a lot of personalities going around Quinn uses her good and not so good wits along with her southern charm to peel through the many layers of this mystery.

What an interesting group of people. I love all the friends and frenemies. I would hate to be Magnolia, but perhaps she brought a lot of grief on to herself. It’s funny with mature, in age anyway, ladies act like they are in high school. You may be shaking your head at them at times. Or giggling. You can certainly find out who your true friends are when place in certain circumstances. I would hope my friends would be like Quinn and D. I wouldn’t mind having an Uncle Frank hanging around to help me out at times. I enjoyed both the story line and the characters. I look forward to hanging with them again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

From Random House/Alibi comes the latest in the “A Southern B&B Mystery” series from Caroline Fardig.

I like Quinn a lot, she’s cautious, polite, and slightly afraid to speak her mind but she still has courage. She is the ultimate southern lady. I love her sister Delilah, she is spunky, not scared to tell people what she thinks! I love cozies that have a B&B base and this book delivers. The inn sounds like it would be fun to stay in, the food sounds wonderful.

The victim isn’t necessarily a nice person, but as the story moves along, readers will find that they may feel sympathy for her choices in life. Suspects seem to drop at our detectives' feet almost daily with more than enough to confuse Quinn, Pepper, and her sister, and keep them on their toes. The killer is not what you would expect but it is easy to believe. Just when you think the story is over, the group is confronted with the truth at the B&B. Giving readers an entirely new perspective on the murder.

Readers will enjoy the back and forth between Quinn, her sister, friends, family, and Tucker. Southern Double Cross is a page-turner, an intriguing mystery, it takes place in a fabulous B&B filled with fun guests and mouth-watering descriptions of breakfast that will leave readers hungry for more. I am happy to recommend this book and series.

When Quinn Bellandini is forced to tell the police that it was Parker who actually found the dead body, she knows she has to investigate to prove that he's innocent of the murder.   The police are simply too happy to build their case against him to  bother looking for other suspects.   So as she's done before, she joins forces with her sister Delilah to get to the bottom of things.  With help from their deceased Uncle Frank, the sisters set out to prove their friend innocent.

Fardig writes a clever tale with puzzling twists; a fast paced adventure that I finished in one sitting!   Her characters are interesting and quirky, making this B&B mystery a really great read.   Unexpected answers to shrewdly asked questions and diligent investigation lead the sister duo to the solution . . . but it wasn't the solution I was expecting!   That's the most enjoyable part of reading mysteries for me, the race to find the answers before the sleuths do.   And it's that much more fun when the guilty party is not who I thought it was!

Southern Double Cross is the third entry in Fardig's Southern B&B series, and while it can definitely stand alone, you'll want to catch up on Quinn and Delilah's previous escapades too.

[Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.]

Best Bellandini sisters B&B mystery yet! Quinn gets dragged into yet another murder mystery because she did the right thing. What starts off as a charity event ends in tragedy or at least in murder with a side of larceny and fellow band member Pepper 's brother Parker is left holding the bag containing the bloody and expensive cat statue. Naturally, Pepper demands that Quinn makes it right and get Parker out of jail and off the hook for murder, larceny, well that is another story. Tucker, ever the southern gentleman respects Quinn's need to help but is even more worried this time around because one of the thieves could also be a murderer and the Bellandini sisters are sleuthing in all the scary places. Delilah, or D as Quinn refers to her, has decided that the less savory interviews will be her and Pepper's task, which leaves the social elite for Quinn to deal with, I mean to entertain. Are we sure that the killer is a hoodlum or might it be one of Mag's own frenemies since she seems to be keeping her friends close but her enemies close enough to stab her in the back. This is a great third book for this series and I very much like the blossoming romance and the realness of their disagreement and the way they work things out. Even D gets a taste of romance in this one. It definitely looks like Tucker Heyward is here to stay regardless of his Mother's foolish attempts to spread untruth's about their relationship status or the female sharks aka Savannah's social "sh"elite (debutantes). Best of all, I now have another scone recipe to try out!