Murder Most Grave by G.A. McKevett (Granny Reid Mystery #4 ) 4 stars

A school day for Waycross Reid brings some nasty name calling and hurt. He heads to the cemetery to talk to his grandpa (who’s dead). Before you bring the paranormal vibes, Stella “Granny” Reid goes to fetch him. On the way out of the cemetery, the Reid's hear a commotion. The local gravedigger has discovered a fresh body near a crypt. It is the body of a local hood, Dexter Corbin. Now Stella and her pal Sheriff Manny Goldford will try to find out who wanted to kill Dexter.

This mystery was a fun read; it had a lot of suspects with motive, means and opportunity. Unfortunately, the Sheriff also had to deal with personnel problems because his deputy was also gunning for his job. What made this mystery enjoyable was the interaction between Manny and Stella; add in the dialogue from Savannah and Waycross and you have a few laugh out loud moments. I was surprised by the ending and the identity of the killer. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for this ARC.

It was so good!!! My favorite Granny Reid Mystery, so far! I devoured it and can’t wait until the next one. Hope I don’t have to wait long!

This is the 4th book in the series set in the 1980s that follows Stella (Granny) Reid who is a grandmother to seven children. Stella lives in the southern town of McGill, Georgia and the townsfolk are generally a welcoming bunch. Stella is being kept on her toes with young Savannah who has taken to behaving like a teenager and Waycross who doesn't arrive at home after an altercation at school. She goes in search of him and finds him in the graveyard, whilst the graveyard groundskeeper discovers the body of a man named Dexter Corbin.

This was my second book in the series and enjoyed every aspect of G. A. McKevett's writing. Although not a 'traditional cozy' as many of the themes within are hard-hitting, it was an extremely compelling and intriguing mystery. There were some lighter touches with Stella and Manny's relationship and also a fair bit of humour and comedy. Granny Reid was a kind soul as well as being sassy and smart. With some good twists I was kept guessing and it made a superb standalone read which can't be said for every cozy series. I shall be picking up copies of the other instalments. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved Murder Most Grave. It was the perfect continuation of the series. It is always a pleasure to come back to McGill and see what new mystery Stella Reid will investigate with Sheriff Gilford. They are wonderful, heartwarming, and very human characters, and the relationship between them is a highlight of the series. The friendship between Stella and Elsie is also a highlight of the series. With Murder Most Grave, these elements lighten the tone of the book, considering the murder itself and the fact that some characters are worse than sewer rats (unfortunately, there are people such as those characters in real life). However, Ms. McKevett manages to keep everything balanced and, as with her other books, tackles delicate and sensitive issues with finesse. I salute her courage to address social issues which many people do not want to think about in a work of fiction. In my opinion, it makes the books better, while being entertaining at the same time. Thanks for writing such good books.

Stella's Reid's life is busier than ever, especially with a new grandbaby to raise. It doesn't help that her oldest Savannah seems to be taken with a young man who is definitely no good for her. When her grandson doesn't come home from school because he was being bullied she knows exactly where to find him. Anytime he runs off he always visits his grandfathers grave and this time is no exception. While there the grounds keeper discovers the body of Dexter Corbin, a man of ill repute. Who would of killed him and why is the question of the hour. Stella's friend Sheriff Manny Goldford is on the case and is happy to accept help from her. The two start asking questions in hopes in putting all the pieces together. Can the two figure it all out before someone else meets an untimely end?

Any G. A. McKevett's mystery is always at the top of my TBR list and Granny Reid's mysteries are always at the top of the top as this is one of my favorite series.
They are great mystery but they 're also full of interesting social and historical remarks and I can't help loving Granny Reid as she's clever, brave, and a great grand mother.
This is a sweet story as something could change in Stella Reid's life and, crossing finger, it could be an important change.
I'm always happy to catch up with these characters and I'm always involved in these mystery that I read as fast as I can.
This mystery was complex, the victim is someone hated by a lot of people, and the coming election for the sherif doesn't help.
It was an exciting and gripping read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love this series. The series is the backstory to the Savannah Reid series as we see Stella Reid raising her 8 grandchildren. We see Stella as granny, a woman with a best friend, a woman with a possible boyfriend, and a detective pairing with that boyfriend. This story starts with Macon at his grandfather’s grave having a man-to-man talk. But the local gravedigger soon finds a body. This is a good mystery and an even better story. I can’t wait for the next book.

Murder Most Grave Earns 5/5 Family Crypts…Engaging & Clever Cozy!

When young Waycross finds life a bit trying he runs off to his favorite sanctuary…the cemetery, especially sitting butt up against his late grandpa Art’s grave stone. That’s where his grandma, Stella May Reid, found him having a strange, yet one-sided conversation with his late grandfather. He seemed to feel better after a bad day at school, and was ready to head home with her, until…a scream and Mr. Horton, the landscaper (aka gravedigger), running past gasping for air struggling to say, “Dead…man. Crypt.”

Stan Horton runs to his car and sets off to notify the police, and Stella grabs her grandson and hurries home. Staying home was a challenge since she’d always been a bit curious and worked well with the local sheriff to uncover many a killer’s identity. She got her best friend to stay with her troop of eight grandchildren in her care (long story), and headed back to the cemetery. There she finds Sheriff Gilford at the steps of the Patterson crypt examining the gruesome scene. The body? Dexter Corbin has been murdered. Due to Dexter’s history with the town’s residents, there will be a long list of suspects, and it’s obvious the crime scene points to someone the victim knew and premeditated means and opportunity. The sheriff, a long-time friend and more, and Stella work well together, but a civilian’s involvement isn’t by the book accepted, and with a very contentious election for sheriff looming, his opponent and his deputy can’t help but point out all of Sheriff Gilford’s flaws and failures.

Brilliant Fourth Cozy! G.A. McKevett has set her delightful story during the year 1988 when cell phones and other tech devices were limited (What’s a pager? LOL). The investigation stretches one’s empathy since many thought the victim deserved it, and efforts are hindered by the contentious election for sheriff riddled with subterfuge and resistance from Deputy Faber. The small town gossip line is an important investigative tool slowly revealing what he said, she said, what bruises are revealed, and what the strongest motive might be. All ending in a shocking and perilous arrest! In and around the investigation are delightful picnics, campaign rallies, holding babies, corralling anxious young’uns, and a hand holding or more here and there. McKevett’s writing style is entertaining filled with seemingly accurate dialect abbreviations along with many southern idioms to illustrate situations and feelings. I think I hear my own grandmother in a few of the sayings. The grandkids play roles in the drama (how can they not; there’s eight of them!), and the thirteen-year-old granddaughter, who stars in her own Savannah Reid series as the adult detective turned private investigator, exhibits those interests and intuitive skills later to be useful. Real fun. Engaging drama. Satisfying closure. Don’t miss this gem!

Another great cozy mystery! Loved the story and the cast of characters. The story kept me engaged. Highly recommend!

I love spending time back in the 1980's with Stella Reid. Before this series began we came to know her as Granny to Savannah Reid. Getting to know her as the loving grandmother who raised eight grandchildren is a real treat. After reading Savannah's series(the Magnolia Detective Agency series) it's clear to see Granny's influence over her.
When her grandson, Waycross isn't on the school bus after school, Stella has a good idea where he went. Whenever he has things weighing on his mind he goes to the cemetery to talk to his departed grandfather. Sure enough that's where she finds him and together they head home. They don't get very far. They encounter the gravedigger who leads them to a dead man, murdered. The victim is the local bad boy, Dexter and the list of suspects is long. He wasn't nice, he wasn't much liked but who was pushed to murder? Stella has an eye for details when it comes to crime and she is very close to the local sheriff, Manny Gilford and he welcomes her input. Together they make a great team.
While there is always a satisfying mystery to solve, the main reason I enjoy this series so much is the relationship Stella has with her grandchildren and her friends. The small Southern town of McGill is the perfect setting and the 1980's time period means the pacing is slower. Spending time with the Reid family is a good way to relax....unless you are arriving when Stella and Manny are tracking down a killer.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy visiting the town of McGill! Stella, Manny, Elsie and the kids are a wonderful group.

This is the fourth book in the series and I was happy to be back. I felt this book was more about the relationship between Stella and Manny than the mystery itself. The murder of bad boy Dexter happens fairly early in the book, but I was 50% in before any investigation really started. This is not a bad thing, but something to be aware of. This installment seems heavy on the relationships and light on the mystery, However, I enjoy the characters so much I was okay with that.

These books are set in the 1980's (maybe early 90's) and I enjoy mysteries that take place before the internet and cellphones. I was thrown however when the characters started talking about texts. I knew they were referring to pagers, but I don't think the term text was used in the 80's. At least not in my neck of the woods at that time. We would say "he paged me" rather than 'he texted me". Just a small thing, but it was noticeable to me.

Although the mystery was light, this was a 4 star read for me as I love visiting these characters.

This is the 4th book in the Granny Reid Series and my first. The beginning of the book provides alot of backstory to know what's going on. I think it would be best to read in order. To fully enjoy the story and the characters.

Stella is raising her 8 grandchildren. Waycross runs off after school and Stella needs to go find him. She finds him in the cemetery talking to his grandpa's grave when the cemetery keeper is running and hollering. Stella loves her grandchildren and loves helping the local sheriff solve crimes.

This title is the fourth entry in the Granny Reid mystery series. I only wish there were more to read.

Granny Reid is raising a household full of her eight grandkids, among them a young
Savannah who you may know from her own series. Its kind of fun to get a glimpse of her as a child. You can definitely see
Where her Granny may have influenced her career choice!

Things in this entry get started when Stella has to go in search of one of her grandsons who didn’t take the bus home from school. She finds him in the local cemetery talking to his grandfather., something he does when he has things on his mind that are bothering him. They are. Out to head home when they hear screams. They soon learn a body has been found, and away we go on another adventure with Stella and the local sheriff.

I love the fact that here we have a mature woman, doing what seems an impossible task of raising another family at a time in her life when she wouldn’t be faulted for pursuing a quieter path. But no, family is everything, and Granny Reid wouldn’t have it any other way. I also enjoy her relationship with the sheriff, old friends, both widowed, and appreciative of each other in a way that hints at maybe a bit more than just friendship, if only she weren’t so busy with all those kids!

Thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the series - it has all the components I enjoy. Its domestic , to be sure, but in all the good ways - family helping and supporting each other, a small town where everyone knows each other and has secrets. The fun is to be found in unraveling them!
At the centre of it all is feisty, loving, loyal Granny Reid who is far from ready to retire.

Stella knows that her grandson Waycross likes to go to the graveyard to talk to his grandfather when he's feeling blue so that's where she heads to find him. What the two of them find, however, is Dexter, dead as a doornail. Who killed the local bad apple? Well, Stella and her love interest Sheriff Manny Goldford investigate and discover there's more to the story than they knew. This part of the story is classic cozy stuff but I like this series because of Stella, who later becomes Granny Reid. She's managing eight grandchildren, including Savannah (a handful for sure) and having a good life. She's. hoot too. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I've read all the books in the series (as well as most of the Savannah Reid novels) and still think this would be fine as a standalone. It's entertaining, it's funny, it's got just enough red herrings- a good read.

This book in the series really concentrated on Granny Reid's relationship w/the sheriff. As they worked together to solve a murder, more of their backstory & feelings were revealed. This book had suspense and romance, as well as family drama & comedy. I look forward to the next Reid book!!!

Stella has her hands full raising her grandangels, from teenaged Savannah down to newborn Macon, so she hasn't had much time to spend with long-time friend – and Sheriff – Manny. When a body is found near the crypt of a prominent family in town, she can't help but assist him with the investigation.

This is book #4 in the spin-off Granny Reid series, and I liked it as much as the first three. Granny (Stella) has always been one of my favorite characters in the Savannah series, and I'm thrilled that she got her own series, where we get to know her better, but also get some of the backstory on the Reid clan when they were young kids. I like the supportive friends who surround Stella and do what they can to help out when the need arises.

As for the mystery, there are plenty of suspects on the Sheriff's list, because the victim wasn't very well-liked by the townspeople. Stella has a sharp mind and brought several points to Sheriff Manny's mind that he might otherwise have overlooked. I liked the way she didn't take on her own investigation but helped Manny along the way, unlike many of the characters we get in other cozy series. I wasn't surprised at the identity of the killer, although I didn't quite have the motive right in my mind. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. Read in ordde

I have been looking forward to the release of this book and I was grateful to receive an advance reader copy from NetGalley.

Stella is searching for her grandson after learning he ran away from school rather than taking the bus home. She knows to first look for him in the cemetery where he goes to pour out his heart to his late grandfather. After finding him the two are about to head for home when they hear horrible screams. On their way to investigate they are passed by the gravedigger who encourages them to follow him. Stella soon learns that there is a dead body near a mausoleum, and it is on the steps rather than buried. At the request of her dear friend, the Sheriff, Stella joins Manny in the investigation of what happened to the dead man. The small town is rocked by a killer that needs to be found before he takes another life.

This is the fourth book in G.A. McKevett’s Granny Reid Mystery series. I love the characters in this series. They are realistic and well developed. The setting is easy to picture. This story is engaging and the plot moves at a good pace. I like the progression of the relationships between several of the characters. Now that this book has been read I’ll begin waiting patiently for Book 5. I highly recommend this book and this entire series.

I really enjoyed this Cozy Mystery. Granny Stella is the amateur sleuth and I just love how she gets into the case . She is usually somewhere near where the bodies turn up and in this book there are 2 bodies that turn up. She has to answer questions for Sheriff Gilford and usually gets to ride around with him while he is asking questions and she thinks up her own questions and comes up with ideas on who done it. In this book. it is also election time for sheriff. Augustus one of the deputy sheriffs is running against him. It will be interesting and this is one cozy that ends happily.

Murder Most Grave by G.A. McKevett is the fourth book in the Granny Reid series. I've read the prior books in the series and have come to love the characters, especially Granny Reid and Sheriff Manny Gilford. This latest addition to the series was a very enjoyable read. The solving of the murders kept me turning the pages. I was very surprised to find out who the murderer was. I would have never guessed. I loved the surprise ending to this story. What a fun read!