Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard has Nina Fleet who owns Fleet House Bed-and-Breakfast in Cymbeline, Georgia hosting Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players (GASP). It is the town’s seventh annual Shakespeare on Cymbeline Square which includes nightly performances of Hamlet by the amateur acting troupe. Nina does not learn until the actors arrive that their director is Harry Westcott. The group is rehearsing at the B&B while they adjust to the hot temperatures for their outdoor performances. When Len Marsh fails to return from a smoke break, Nina goes searching and finds the thespian dead in the hawthorn hedge. There were tensions between Len and several of the member of GASP. Nina with her trusty Australian shepherd sidekick, Mattie reluctantly team up with Harry to unmask the killer. Peachy Scream is the 2nd A Georgia B&B Mystery. It can be read as a standalone. Nina Fleet cannot believe her luck in obtaining the actors performing at Shakespeare on Cymbeline Square for her fledgling bed and breakfast. But then the bus arrives with Harry Westcott behind the wheel. Nina was hoping she had seen the last of the actor who believes he should be the rightful owner of her Queen Anne Victorian. You can always count on laughs when Harry is around. There is plenty of fun to be had in Peachy Scream. The death of Len Marsh has Nina donning her sleuthing cap once again. The killer does not seem happy to stop with Len because attempts are made another one of the thespians. Someone is also playing pranks that are getting everyone riled up. There is a red herring as well as a variety of clues. I wish this whodunit had been more of a challenge to solve. I did feel that the killer was rather obvious. Also, there was a repetition of key details regarding the investigation. This character driven story will delight those who enjoy easygoing, humorous cozy mysteries. Peachy Scream is a blithe tale with a hawthorn hedge, amateur actors, number nine Nina, a play within a play, the Secret Squirrel Society, madcap mayhem, and playful pranks.

Nina Fleet’s Georgia B&B is doing very well. It was difficult at first since her ownership of the house had been questioned by Harry Westcott, who claimed he inherited it. However, that’s all behind them now until Harry returns. This time he is directing a Shakespearean troupe and staying at Nina’s B&B. She hopes it won’t be awkward.

However, Harry Westcott is the least of her concerns. One of the members of the troupe is found dead in her garden. Things get crazier when Nina learns the victim had quite a few enemies starting with every member of the Shakespearean troupe. Nina fears no one will want to stay at her B&B since this is the second murder to occur there in just a few months. Meanwhile, Harry is concerned about his play. Together, along with Nina’s dog Mattie, they search for a killer.

This is the second book in the series and I loved this one even more than the first. The storyline moves along at a nice pace.

There’s quite a bit of character growth between Nina and Harry. I look forward to seeing if it goes any deeper. Both are realistic, fun characters. The supporting cast are an interesting group, especially the Shakespearean troupe. They each have their own quirks.

I always enjoy a B&B setting. The author did a great job of transporting me into the small town. I wasn’t overly shocked at who the culprit turned out to be, but the storytelling is intriguing and riveting. I found myself engrossed in finding out the whys and hows of it all. I can’t wait for the next book to be out.

Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard is the second book in Georgia B&B mystery series.

In this installment, Harry brings his amateur actors to Nina's B&B as they are taking part in Cymbeline's Shakespeare festival. When one of the actors from his troupe ends up dead, Nina will take it upon herself to solve the murder.
Harry is not so willing to take action this time, but teases Nina that she is a secret agent. Nevertheless he helps her out along the way.

I liked the dynamics in this book. I was pleasantly surprised to see Harry back and I especially liked how it ended, It will provide some additional opportunities for the possible romance to bloom.
This series has a certain sense of humor throughout the whole book which makes it even more pleasurable to read.
Set of characters are always unique and diverse, I appreciate that different circle of guests takes part in each book.
This is light, entertaining and easy to read mystery which provides hours of pleasure.

Nina and Mattie have their hands full with their GASP folks staying at their B&B. What an interesting group! They certainly made for a great story. Cymbeline may never see a Shakespeare play quite like the one performed for them at this festival. I enjoyed these characters and the storyline. I can’t wait to make another trip to Fleet House Bed and Breakfast. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

While I don't think it was the author's intent, the storyline involving Chris reads as transphobic and made me very uncomfortable. I don't think that Nina as a character nor the author had an idea of how harmful the behavior they engaged in regarding this storyline could be. As a whole, this book read to me almost as if it had been written by a different author than the first.

Peachy Scream has the most diverse cast of characters that contribute to the every twisting plot of this tale. A very entertaining read.


Nina Fleet has started over in life with a wonderful and cozy B&B that is as charming as she is. Geared up for the Local Shakespeare festival Nina’s hands just got full as the Theater group that is performing the play will now be using her B&B for their accommodations. A wonderful windfall that she cannot refuse yet comes with a bit of baggage in the form of the troop leader Harry, the newest nemesis in her life. Then to make things worse one of the guests is found dead. Nina is not having the best of weeks. Determined to figure out who the killer is and remove the tarnishment on her business his reputation, Nina is one tough cookie with some gutsy ideas that down to the bottom of the mystery.

With as much drama as a Shakespeare play itself, Peachy Scream is a very entertaining read. This is definitely a character driven story. There are so many personalities and interesting people that draw you into the story. Just wait until you get to meet the Reverend. Author Anne Gerard has done something extremely unique with the story. In retrospect the plot is really quite simple however her talented writing will constantly keep the reader guessing as to who and why. The B & B is truly charming and I’m sure I’m not the only reader that would enjoy a visit. The setting is spot on, the story is engaging and I guarantee you’ll love the way these characters interact with one another. A wonderful cozy mystery with a wonderful helping of humor add it in.

Description
To die, or not to die? Georgia B&B proprietor Nina Fleet turns amateur thespian to bring the curtain down on a Shakespearean actor's killer. It's nothing short of inevitable that Cymbeline, GA, hosts an annual Shakespeare festival. But stage-struck Nina Fleet is about to learn that putting on an amateur theatrical production can be murder. Nina's anticipating showbiz glamour and glitz when a community Shakespearean troupe arrives for a two-week stay at her B&B. But the lights dim when she learns the company's director is her nemesis, struggling actor Harry Westcott--who still claims to be the rightful heir to Nina's elegant Queen Anne home.

Meanwhile, the troupe members are not content to leave the drama upon the stage. Accusations of infidelity and financial malfeasance make a shambles of rehearsals. And then, two days into the troupe's stay, the lead actor is found dead in Nina's formal Shakespeare garden. Natural causes...or murder most foul? Nina uncovers evidence that something is indeed rotten in the town of Cymbeline. Too bad Harry is the only one who believes that she's not going completely off script. And exposing the truth isn't easy when the remaining troupe members say the show must go on...particularly when all of them seemingly had a motive for wanting their fellow actor to permanently exit stage right. Determined to keep the killer from making a curtain call, Nina and her trusty Australian Shepherd, Matilda, join forces with Harry to sleuth out the murder plot. Will they succeed before someone else shuffles off this mortal coil? Find out in Anna Gerard's delightful second Georgia B&B mystery.

My Review
Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard is the second book in the Georgia B&B Mystery series set in Cymbeline, GA.

I truly enjoyed this book, it is well-written and the story flows in such a way to make you want to read it in one sitting. The characters are well-crafted and believable. It has just enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the very end. I did find that the story was a bit slow at the start, but eventually it picked up enough to want to read it.

It was nice to see a possible romance between Nina and Harry, but not just yet. If this is an indication of another possible book with romance then I can't wait. This author is known to be as Ali Brandon where she writes various cozy series. One of my favorite is The Black Cat Bookshop Mysteries.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. It truly was an enjoyable book and I hope to see more books in this series. I give this a 4 star.

Nina Fleet has gone all out on her B&B, and takes in the local acting troupe for Cymbeline's Shakespeare festival, after some reluctance, because the director is her archenemy Harry Westcott. However, there's trouble brewing between the actors, and is rooted in both their professional and personal lives. During rehearsals, Len Marsh, the actor playing Hamlet, is found dead, and the evidence Nina found showed that he was poisoned. To keep her B&B's reputation intact, and for the show to go on, Nina and Harry has to team up to solve the mystery.

Our cozy mystery heroine, Nina Fleet, is back, and in this book, she has been successful in running her B&B. She's still with Mattie, and everything remains to be the same except that we are sensing some blossoming feelings towards Harry. Harry, for his part, remains to be still annoying, but he has also positive feelings for Nina. Nothing has changed from the first book, except for their relationship changing into something more civil and cordial.

I was kind of iffy about the whole mystery. What the murder involved was an issue I wasn't well-versed with, and I was kind of uncomfortable with how it was handled. There are also a lot of the secondary cast characters who were not that properly fleshed out, and some are somewhat stock characters. Don't be blinded by the red herrings, because the story is deceptively simple; the motivation for the crime is something that we all know and can somehow understand, although the murderer's pyersonality is basically generic and does not earn much sympathy.

Is there something like a Harry/Nina romance in the works? Because I'm being led down that uncertain but hopeful path, and I'm not complaining. Since Book 1, I sensed that they already have fantastic chemistry, and I'm all for a romantic relationship. They already have some sort of sexual tension between them, and this story seems to cement it. There's no resolution as to whether their property dispute will be entirely settled, but there's an interesting development that will affect their future relationship.

I don't have anything else to say, just that I cannot wait for Book 3.

Nina Fleet has finally gotten her B&B up and running and now she has a full house - the actors who will be part of the Shakespeare Festival. They are known as the Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players or GASP. Too bad one of the troupe is her nemesis, Harry Wescott. He cried foul when she bought the house that he was convinced he was going to inherit. It's a tense situation but things get really bad when one of the actors goes off for a smoke and turns up dead. The suspected heart attack turns out to be death by poison and Nina is on the track of a killer.
In order to uncover the motive and the killer, Nina asks Harry to help. If that wasn't enough, she ends up becoming part of the troupe in order to investigate the other members. Everyone appears to have had a motive but which one was bullied enough by the victim to snuff him out?
The puzzle is well plotted and the characters are well developed making for a very satisfying read. The setting makes me want to stay awhile at Nina's B&B and the humor is great. I have enjoyed both books in the series and I'm looking forward to the next entry and seeing how Nina and Harry's relationship is progressing.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cymbeline, Georgia is about to hold the
town’s seventh annual Shakespeare Festival.
The festival will have authentic musicians,
craftspeople and an abridged performance
of a Shakespeare play to represent the
sixteenth century.
Nina Fleet owner of the Fleet House Bed and
Breakfast will house the troupe of the Georgia
Amateur Shakespeare players.
The director is Harry Westcott. He is an actor
and Nina’s nemesis. Harry is the grandnephew
of the home’s former owner who died without
updating her will. Shortly after the former
owner passed the house went up for sale
with Nina buying it. But Harry still insists that
the home really belongs to him .
The troupe will be staying there for two weeks.
The readers will take play in the working of
putting together a production by participating
in the rehearsals at the B&B then the final
actual performance on the twin stage. The
reader will also come acquainted with Yorick.
This is a fast paced adventure full of antics
with a cast of multifaceted, well created,
quirky characters with interesting backstories.
Plus Matilda (Mattie), the fur baby appears
thorough out the story. Mattie is a black, gray
and white Australian Shepherd that has one
blue and one brown eye. I enjoyed the role she
played especially when Mattie helped to keep
one of the characters alive.
Keeping up a streaming intrigue flow plus
keeping the story light and fun presents an
interesting twist and turn on who murdered a
man in the garden.
I loved the Shakespeare garden which consisted
of a series of herbs and flower beds that were
mentioned in the Bard’s works.
Also mentioned in the story was the a Halloween
charity event called a Peachy Scream.
I enjoyed the well presented murder mystery
mixed with the Shakespeare theme.
This is book # 2 in the Georgia B&B Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone. This is
the first book in the series I have read.
I volunteered to read Peachey Scream. Thanks
to Crooked Lane Books via Net Gallery for the
opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Stop by Cymbeline, Georgia and help solve the
murder mystery.

A fantastic addition to the Georgia B&B cozy mystery series by Anna Gerard.

The mystery behind Len Marsh's murder is 'GASP' worthy. Although certain clues pointed to the certain somebody, it was well-masked with red herrings. I definitely couldn't identify the killer or the reason behind the murder until the end.

Harry Wescott's Nina's "arch-enemy-turned-would-be-crush" is back! He brings with him the members of GASp - a drama team (each of whom has a very 'dramatic personality, mind).

I loved the writing style. Anna is an amazing storyteller. I was hooked on to the story from the start. A dash or two of humour was enjoyable.

Highly recommended for cozy fans.

Peachy Scream is the second book in the Georgia B&B Mystery series.
After a successful trial run, Nina Fleet’s B&B is officially open. She is excited as her first guests are arriving. Her first guests are a troupe of Shakesperian actors, Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players(GASP) who will be appearing at the local Shakespeare Festival. She begins to have second thoughts after seeing the troupes bus. The bus is that of her nemesis, Harry Westcott. Westcott has, in the past, claimed that he owns the house. Nina is somewhat relieved that Westcott seems willing to put their differences aside.
Once the guests have settled in their rooms, they come downstairs for drinks and to discuss the upcoming rehearsal schedule. Before long there are accusations of infidelity and financial misdoing. Nina soon notices that Len, who has the lead in the play, is a first-class bully. Two days later, everyone is sitting outside having drinks when Len leaves to go to the designated smoking area for a cigarette. When he fails to return after a reasonable time, everyone heads off to search for him. He is soon found dead next to some bushes. He has had a heart condition and it is first thought he had a heart attack. When Nina returns to where the body was found to search for his drink glass, she will find it near where he died hidden in some shrubs. Nina notices some residue remaining in the glass. She secures the glass, intending to take it to the coroner/funeral director/preacher for analysis. The analysis will show that he was killed. With a killer probably stay at her B&B, Nina will ask Harry, somewhat reluctantly, to help her to find the killer.
The book is well-written and plotted, with an interesting cast of believable characters. There were enough red herrings and twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end.
I will be watching for the next book in this young series.

Description: Peachy Scream is the 2nd book in the Georgia B&B Mysteries series. Previously, we saw Nina, who fell in love with a 1890s three-story home in Cymbeline, deal with Harry Westcott - jaded great-grandson of the home’s original owner, the creation of her B&B, and a penguin-costume clad body in the alleyway.

Now, Nina and her beloved dog Matilda are back ready to greet her new guests - the acting troupe slated to perform at the “7th Annual Shakespeare on the Cymbeline Square” festival.

To Nina’s dismay it appears that Harry, who still wants to claim his great-grandmother’s former home as his own, is not only the director of the troupe but the one that picked her B&B. Nina knows that she must stay on her toes, while still remaining an ever present and gracious southern host. She couldn't imagine, however, that she would find Hamlet dead in the Shakespeare garden behind her B&B - okay not Hamlet, Hamlet but Len Marsh, a VP of the US Division of a multinational electronics company in ATL that was casted as Hamlet. Nina isn't sure that Len’s death was an accident and fears that the killer is among them. Can she get to the bottom of the case while maintaining her newly found business and keeping Harry’s hands off the deed?

Opinion: Peachy Scream is the standard cozy mystery and not in a bad way! The story slow going in the beginning (due to some overly long/complex descriptions) but still really enjoyable. I loved the theater themes throughout the book and the cozy town that reminded me a bit of Star’s Hollow from Gilmore Girls. I am also extremely happy that there is no unnecessary back and forth romance. Yeah, something could absolutely happen with Nina and Harry but the author isn’t shoving it down your throat, which is far too common in cozy mysteries now. Nina is navigating this weird B&B with a side of murder investigation world solo with her lovely dog and I’m here for it!

Nina Fleet fell in love with a three-story Queen Anne home that dates to the 1890s. Located an hour west of Savannah, Georgia, it’s got charm galore. It’s also currently rented to a troupe of Shakespearean actors, in town for the annual festival. Although the actors are amateurs, they are skilled and clearly lovers of the Bard’s work.

If only their director was…someone else. When the owner of the house died, it was assumed she’d leave it and the contents to her nephew, Harry. The will had been updated, the house listed for sale, and Nina made a successful offer. Harry was not pleased. Lawsuits are pending. Of course, he’d turn out to be the director of the Shakespeareans.

He is a wonderful director and actor but often a louse to deal with. A truce is called for the duration and Nina can’t wait for the festival to be over.

Len is a high maintenance guest. He claims an injured knee, not bad enough to keep him from acting but painful enough to prevent him using the stairs to a second floor room. Another of the guests is a much younger actor named Chris, the one with ear buds and phone taking up all available time and attention. There are two single men, another couple, and Len’s wife, totaling eight, counting Harry. It’s going to be a long two weeks.

Offstage the troupe is a hot mess of arguments, accusations, and animosity. Two days into their stay, Len goes out to smoke in the designated garden area and doesn’t come back. He can’t—he’s dead.

With Len out of the picture, his wife locked in her grief and her room, will the show go on? The festival’s success is riding on the actors’ ability to rise above and perform as usual. With suspects limited to troupe members, it’s hard to sleep, knowing a killer is close at hand.

I enjoyed the characters a lot, especially Nina and Harry. I predict more time together in their futures. Nina’s Australian shepherd, Matilda, adds even more charm to the story, as all dogs do.

Peach Clobbered is the first book in the series. Gerard, writing as Ali Brandon, also pens the Black Cat Bookshop mysteries (6), the Tarot Cat book (1), and the Leonardo Da Vinci series (writing as Diane A. S. Stuckart, 3 books).

The last thing Nina expected was to find Hamlet dead in the garden of her B&B. Well, not Hamlet but Len, the actor who was meant to play him in the Shakespeare festival. AND, the other last thing she wanted was for Harry to turn up again in Cymbeline, Georgia. He claims to be the true owner of her home but this time he's in town to head up the production. Luckily, he agrees with her that the wrong person has been accused of the crime. Unfortunately, the company is staying at her B&B (which means there might be a villain in their midst) but that's also good because it lets Nina and Harry have more insight into the players. I'm not normally a fan of theater based cozies but this one was a treat, largely because I like the byplay between Harry and Nina. Don't worry if you missed the first book- this will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh, and dog lovers will enjoy Mattie!

Typical cozy mystery. This one is set in Georgia in a bed and breakfast. A traveling Shakespeare group is in town for a festival and has book the entire B&B. As it turns out, the director of the troupe (Harry) and the owner of the B&B (Nina) have preciously met when he tried to sue to get the B&B from her because he is a relative of the previous owner who has died.

The troupe is an interesting group of people and each character is presented well. None acts out of character. There are a few surprises, naturally. I liked the book and the fact that I determined the murderer about 3/4 of the way through the book did not take away my enjoyment. Although I knew the perpetrator, I had the motive all wrong. There were a few tidbits that I hadn't been aware of.

One of the delightful things about this book is that our heroine, Nina, had no romantic relationship with another character, although she does work with other people to solve the murder. I get so tired if the protagonist doing stupid things and then someone gets her out of a tight fix.
Loads of fun!

Fun and well-written cozy mystery. I enjoyed it. This is a new author for me. I'm excited to check out more of her books.

Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via the NetGalley website.

Big fan of Cozy Mysteries. This one started a little slow for me and I didn't really connect to any of the character. I like the storyline, but felt that it was a little bland.

Not sure if I would read another book in this series, but I would read another from the author.

This is the 2nd book in a cozy series that's highly entertaining. Full of Southern charm and humor you can't help but enjoy the book. The setting is fun and the characters are quirky. All in all a great read.

This series is really starting to hit its stride. With humor perfectly weaved into the mystery, fun quirky characters, this is a book you will not be able to put down. A great time from beginning to end,