I'd like to start out by saying that I did not read the first book of the series, Southern Sass and Killer Cravings, however I had no problems keeping up in book 2. I am a fan of paranormal cozies and this was delightful. The author did a wonderful job with character and plot development, not to mention the setting, which is a small island off the coast of Georgia.

Marygene Brown, her family and friends are likeable and people you would like to meet. I wish I could visit the real Peach Cove Island and the diner there, which has been in Marygene's family for several generations and is a favorite guard gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.

I really recommend this series for lovers of cozies, especially paranormal ones, which not only make you laugh but have you try and guess whodunnit.

I would like to thank Kate Young, Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Honestly, I just don't know where to start. Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse by Kate Young is full of fun, ghosts and mystery. That doesn't sound like a good mix but somehow Young brings it all together. Before I go any further with my review I do need to warn you that this is not the first book in the series. Not having read the first book, I had to pay close attention to some of the characters and their back story. But truthfully. the storyline is so well explained that it didn't take away from enjoying this book.. Marygene is struggling with relationships, friendships and the ghost of her mother. It doesn't help that she keeps finding burned corpses. Most of us would run the other way but Marygene really doesn't have a choice in the matter. At the insistence of her dead mother, she has to solve the murder of the two bodies. Even though the book is about burned bodies and ghosts it is so much fun to read! The way Young ties the characters together and brings the past into the present kept me interested from the very first. And of course I love being surprised. I did not figure out the ending and had to read it twice to make sure I understood who the actual murderer was. I sure didn't see that one coming! This is definitely a five-star read. This is a curl up and read from beginning to end book.

This is the second in this series, however you don't have to have read the first book to enjoy it. The characters are interesting and real enough to be believable. There is a lot of action with Marygene becoming involved since she finds two dead bodies at different times and at different places. She has a good position because her father is the chief of police and her ex is a deputy. Some of the action is heavier than some cozys. The ghost of Marygene's mother makes numerous appearances and brings a bit of intrigue to the story. The ending is a little bit convoluted.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Kate Young for the chance to read this book for an honest review.
Marygene Brown has just moved back to Peach Cove Island to help her sister and brother run the family diner which features delectable peach desserts. As she is going for her morning swim, skinny dip actually, she comes across a dead body in the ocean. Before she can recover from that discovery, she and her brother find another body in the basement of a friend's open house!
Marygene has to explain to the Sheriff, who also happens to be her Dad, how she keeps finding bodies. Her boyfriend, a deputy working for her Dad is not very happy about the skinny dipping and there is a new deputy in town who seems very interested in Marygene. Throw in the fact that the bodies are part of a missing persons case from 25 years ago and Marygene and her quirky friends are all looking for answers to a long ago murder.
The characters are fun and most of them are very likeable and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. This is the first book by this author for me but, it will not be my last!

Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse is the second in Kate Young’s Marygene Brown Mystery series. In the opening chapter, the protagonist Marygene is out for an early morning swim, in the buff no less, when she encounters the first (yes, first) corpse. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to Jena Lynn, Marygene’s sister and co-owner of the Peach Diner, and so many interesting friends and family, including Betsy, Yvonne, Aunt Vi. The entire supporting cast is appealing, relatable and very true-to-life. Well, there are a few not-so-nice characters but isn’t that true-to-life? The sense of place was captured beautifully, enveloping the reader in the ambiance of the island location. There are many twists, turns and red herrings as the mystery evolves, all of which keep the reader turning the pages late into the night. I was enchanted from the first chapter. This was first of Kate Young’s books that I have read but it won’t be the last!

A strong 2nd addition to this series, the corpses and secrets are piling up. Can Marygene solve this puzzle? Well written with great characters and plenty of diversions to keep you guessing.

The first chapter won me over. The sheriff's adult daughter skinny dipping was incredibly funny to me. This is a fast paced mystery with some if the quirkiest characters ever, a quaint little town and Mama's ghost. I'm certainly looking forward to reading more about Marygene and family and friends.

Marygene came home for her moms funeral and to fulfill her duties as a good daughter and help run the cafe with her sister. She is soon haunted by her mothers ghost. This is a unigue cozy. The characters are odd and the town is a sweet little town where everybody knows each other. There is drama, some witty banter and of course some murder. This is a fun read that will keep you guessing . I recommend it.

Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse is another enjoyable installment to the series! I'll admit, I first wanted to read these books because I love the covers so much. But then when I started reading I realized there's more than meets the eye because the insides are just as perfect! I highly recommend this series.

As I've already read the first book in this series, I had to read this one too. I love the characters, the plot is engaging and well written and even though I had suspicion on the culprit(s), I wasn't quite sure until the end.

This is a good story but I sometimes feel that the stereotypes and outlandish behaviour of certain characters threatens to derail it. Still enjoyable, though!


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

Marygene Brown, after a bad marriage in Savannah, has returned home to Peach Cove Island for good. She's taken her part in ownership of the family restaurant as the main baker, and is living inthe home her mother left her after she passed. But her mother never passed away permanently -- she's returned on and off as a spirit that only Marygene can see. Oh, there are people who believe in island spirits, but it's mainly the older ones and her friend Betsy, who waitresses at the restaurant.

The thing is, her mother only shows up now and again when she needs to tell Marygene something or help her, and right now, when Marygene is skinny dipping in the river, she needs to help her...because a charred body is floating near her. After Marygene has done screaming and putting herself together, she calls Eddie, who's her father and also the sheriff.

But things are never easy these days: Eddie has hired a deputy who looks on her with suspicion, and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Alex is heated again. But when she's catering a party for her friend Yvonne, it takes a nasty turn: another body is found in the cellar by Margene and her brother Sam. Yet that's not the worst of it, and Marygene is finding herself in a firestorm of trouble, one that could get her killed once again...

This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it quite as much as the first. This series is like a breath of fresh air in the cozy genre; there is no 'evil nemesis' (at least none permanent), which I absolutely loathe when it occurs. Nothing takes away from a good story than a person who ruins it by trying to destroy the life of someone.

Marygene is a damaged soul: she has a past that still causes her pain and she's having trouble moving on from it, and now she has her mother as a guardian spirit - with rules: her mother isn't allowed to be with her all the time, and comes and goes without Marygene being able to determine. She's also trying to create a different relationship with Eddie, whom she's only known was her father since she was sixteen. But she has a strong relationship with her sister Jena Lynn and brother Sam; and, of course, Betsy, who sticks by her and understands about the island ghosts like no one else.

Still, there's the matter of the bodies: it seems they've been identified as twins who disappeared twenty-five years ago. But there are complications: there's a group of women - one of which was Marygene's mother Clara - who knew them and the living ones might have clues as to what happened. But since they're all giving different stories, Eddie isn't getting anywhere with it. And Marygene thinks Eddie might be hiding something himself. Now Marygene is determined to find out the truth since if she doesn't, her mother told her the spirits could be vengeful.

We also have the return of reporter Calhoun, and I like him even more in this book than I did in the last. He's a reporter with ethics, and he cares about Marygene. I definitely like him more than Alex, who has a hair-trigger temper. I'd like to see more come of it, although I don't think even if it did that it would be awhile. I'm just glad he's still in the narrative. He was good to her in the last book, and just so in this one, too. We also have a new deputy in the picture who has an attraction for Marygene, but rightly she's working through her issues, which are primary to her.

The mystery was a very good one, and it took time to sift through suspects and what really became of the young women so long ago, and why their bodies surfaced just now. When everything started to come together, it was a strange and sad tale all at the same time. Desperation and sadness make people do things that I've never understood and probably never will.

All in all, it was an intriguing mystery that kept me reading and trying to filter out the clues as to finding a killer; it was written well and the climax was done nicely. I would love nothing more than to read the next in the series immediately; so I will have to patiently wait until that comes about. Highly recommended

One of my new favorite series. Marygene owns a diner with her sister and brother. When there is a murder. Marygene and her friend investigate. which makes her dad the sheriff not happy. To hear more read the book

This is a new author for me and I absolutely loved her style.
Ms. Young writes compelling and realistic characters with a touch of paranormal in her tale.
Marygene Brown is back home recovering from terrible abuse by her ex, and has started seeing her dead mama. That is bad enough...but when she decides to go skinny dipping tpo blow off some steam, she swims into a dead body. It's bad enough she has to call her bio dad to report it, then finds out someone took pictures of her in the buff.
She works hard to shake it off, while her dead mama is telling her she needs to solve it...uh..no thanks. A second body in her best friend's basement makes it impossible to ignore. We meet 'normal' and eclectic characters. Reasons for the murders are laid out for the suspects and island history and secrets are revealed.
There's a bit of romance tied into close family and friends. And a bonus...delicious recipes.
I loved this page turner and recommend it highly ti any cozy lover.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and offer my honest opinion gratis.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of SOUTHERN SASS AND A CRISPY CORPSE (Book 2 of the Marygene Brown Mysteries) by Kate Young in exchange for an honest review. When Marygene's mother died, she moved home to Peach Cove Island, Georgia. However, Mama has been required to hang around because she fell a little short of heaven. Mama warned Marygene that this would draw the dead to Marygene, but she doesn't really believe Mama. After all, having someone drop dead at your feet was just a one-time fluke. Then, Marygene goes for a swim and finds herself entangled with a gruesome corpse. Then, she helps cater an event and finds another one. Maybe Mama was right. Can Marygene help the victims find their rest before they become vengeful wraiths?

I liked this book. I didn't read the first in the series, but I was able to follow the story and connect to the characters. I recommend this book to fans of the series, to fans of the author, and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, small island towns, nosey neighbors, family, and interfering ghosties.

#SouthernSassandaCrispyCorpse #NetGalley

amateur-sleuth, small-business, small-town, ghosts, family-dynamics, abusive-spouse

She thought it was a quiet early morning to think through some relationship issues, so she lazed on the island's beach nekkid until the foul smelling burnt corpse washed up near her. Then her mother's ghost showed up and she knew that meant that she had to solve the crime even though she was a caterer not a detective. She does a fair job of sleuthing, finding another fried corpse, and having arguments with a boyfriend and also a police detective. Lots of plot twists, distractions, and red herrings. Very unusual!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from KensingtonBooks via NetGalley.

The second book in the series, and I actually liked this one better. The first one was good, but the names kept throwing me off. Marygene runs a local diner on the Georgia island they live on. With the ghost of her mama, she has become a magnet now for others. She doesn't see the ghost of the others, but the dead bodies are led to her. A good mystery, and one that I found hard to put down. Highly recommend this one, and hope her love life keeps bouncing around too.

I really wanted to like this book based on the blurb; however, it just didn’t hold my attention.
I didn’t like the protagonist and found the whodunit uninteresting.

Marygene recently returned to Peach Cove Island, Georgia after divorcing an abusive husband, and is now running their family diner with her sister. Marygene's mama is gone...kind of. Mama's spirit is haunting Marygene, and claims that because of their connection the dead will seek Marygene out to solve their murders. Much to Marygene's chagrin this appears to be true. While skinnydipping on an isolated beach, Marygene swims into a charred corpse. Later, she finds a second burned corpse in a wine cellar.

This fast-paced amateur sleuth mystery was well-written, and Marygene is a strong character. Although some serious topics were addressed, they were balanced by humor and an abundance of quirky characters. Romantic interests are an important subplot in this book but they did not, in my opinion, overwhelm the main mystery. I loved that Marygene really considered what she wanted from a relationship and what she deserved.

Recipes are included. This is the second in the series but I had no problem beginning with this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

Marygene Brown goes for an early morning swim at naturale and finds a body swimming with the fishes. The body of the woman who is Bernd and when Marygene’s Mama shows up, she knows she’s going to have to find the killer. You see, Mama’s ghost only shows up when Marygene need to help the dearly departed find justice. When the second body shows up identical to the first murder, the police find out the bodies are of two young women who had gone missing many years ago.

As Marygene tries to get to the bottom of what happened, she finds herself asking many questions about those closest to her. Did her Mama have something to do with the girls disappearance? Does her father no more than he’s letting on? So many questions, so few answers. But Marygene cannot let the spirits down, even when she narrowly escapes from her burning house.

A strong second entry in this series with well developed characters, a solid whodunit and red herrings that will keep changing your mind about who the murderer is and why they did it. A perfect read for the Summer beach bag!