"Sitting in an ICU waiting room gives you plenty of space to reflect on all the things you need to say to a person you are praying will wake up to hear."

There are many surprising turns in the Southern charming cozy mystery Big Trouble On Sullivan's Island by delightful author Susan M. Boyer; one being the emotions while waiting with regrets in an ICU waiting room.

Hadley, a P.I., saves a dog and makes a new friend Eugenia, who's so grateful she hires Hadley to prove her husband Everette is cheating on her. Sounds simple. Hadley quickly gets the proof but before she can close the case Eugenia's been murdered and everyone knows it had to be Everette, even Hadley...except at the time of the murder he was under surveillance by Hadley. She's his alibi! Worse yet her ex boyfriend is the lead detective and he's about to arrest the wrong person.

One of the best twists of this character driven story, this murder and who is guilty, is it's not the main plot that drives this creative story with quirky personalities, family drama, and long hidden secrets. It's the connection it all has to Hadley.

I was enamored with narrator Courtney Patterson who had that perfect southern drawl often dripping with sarcasm and smugness. As Hadley so correctly states, "Smug people make mistakes." She's counting on it.

Hadley smashes her father's vintage cars every birthday to ease her pain of his neglect of her mother. She protects her friend suffering PTSD, takes care of her aging mentors, and becomes friends with the best gossiping elderly ladies on the Island. The biggest trouble on Sullivan's Island was it ended but the good news? It's book one of the writer's new Carolina Tale collection each a character driven cozy mystery.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a refreshing listen for me. I absolutely enjoyed picturing this quaint and small beach town. Pictured living in a big house by the beach. Everything was easy to picture, and I love that! We follow Hadley who is a PI while she investigates a friend's husband for infidelity. But before she can wrap up the investigation, her client is found dead. We're on the case to find the murderer but as the investigation progresses, we discover that there is a dark secret waiting to be discovered in the shadows.
The narrator, Courtney Patterson does a wonderful job portraying Hadley and several other characters in the book. Her voice is very nice, and she used a wide array of tones and inflections throughout many scenes that added to the story.
This would be a perfect beach read especially for those who enjoy women's fiction and mystery.

A very special thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the gifted ALC.

This is a really amazing cozy mystery in the style of Sue Grafton. We have a complicated, flawed heroine. I love the South Carolina setting. We have a suspicious group of older friends with an old secret. The PI work is really fun and exciting. I didn’t like the vegan food stuff at all, but overall I really loved this book.

Big trouble on Sullivan’s Island
By Susan M Boyer

Hadley Cooper is a PI and has been hired to prove infidelity of a retired judge. One night while Hadley is surveying the judge, her client is killed. Follow Hadley on her quest to prove that the judge killed his wife.

I really enjoyed listening to this story. I appreciated how Susan would use alternative words to curse words, thank you. I get tired of hearing curse words so much in our current world.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island
Susan M Boyer
The setting is in Charleston, South Carolina. Our main character is Hadley Cooper private investigator.
When a dog is caught in a rip tide the owner wants to attempt a rescue but Hadley intervenes; she hop on a surg board and brings the dog safely to shore. Eugenia is thankful and a new friendship begins. Eugenia thinks her husband is cheating on her; she hires Hadley to find proof of her husband’s extracurricular activities. A short time later Eugenia is found murdered. The assigned police detective, Chase, a former boyfriend of Hadley’s focuses on what Hadley considerers the wrong person. Hadley is sure the husband is guilty. However, the scoundrel has the perfect alibi; Hadley herself witnessed him in Greenville at the time of death.
How can I not love this tale: a strong female lead with southern charisma, a crew of saucy friends, and plenty of humor thrown in. This is the first book in the new series, Carolina Tales. This is a delightful cozy mystery. The plot is well done. I love the setting. There are several twists and turns and secondary plots. I loved the humor. I look forward to more books in this series.

I have enjoyed author Susan Boyer's light, fun series centered on Liz Talbot and her beloved Stella Maris island home (purchase series here). I decided to read this first book in what is supposed to be a new series in the audio format provided by NetGalley in exchange for this review. That may have been my mistake.

I am not sure if it would have been different if I had read the paper book, but this book was only ok for me. I did not like the main character, Hadley, at all. She wasn't all that great, but everyone treated her like she was the greatest person in the world. There was no magical element, like in the Liz Talbot books, which I really missed. And finally, I couldn't get in to what was actually a really good mystery story because it seemed to be interrupted by constant reminders that Hadley only ate Whole Foods and plants and other people's diets were evil.

I'd skip this one and read the Liz Talbot series instead.

Big Trouble on Sullivan's Island is the first book in the new Carolina Tales mystery series from Susan M. Boyer, and I loved it!

Hadley Cooper is a PI who takes on what she thinks will be a fairly routine job for a new friend, Eugenia. Eugenia believes her husband is cheating on her and wants Hadley to get proof so the cad cannot get her family money in the divorce. When Eugenia is murdered, Hadley is sure the cheating husband is behind it. The problem is, Hadley had tailed him to Greenville, four hours away, and she is his alibi.

I am a big fan of Susan M. Boyer. I was introduced to her Liz Talbot mysteries on a trip to Charleston, and they are well-written mysteries full of Low Country charm. Happy to say Boyer has done it again! Her new detective series has memorable characters, sass and humor, secrets and betrayals, a few twists, and plenty of family drama! Hadley is a relatable FMC and a resourceful investigator, and I enjoyed her internal dialogue and found myself really rooting for her. I connected with Hadley and her backstory so much that a few scenes even made me tear up toward the end.

The book is layered and solidly plotted, and I was impressed with how much world-building intertwined with the mystery without overpowering it. However, it is beautifully depicted and makes Charleston and Sullivan's Island come alive. Seeing how all the threads wove together and the investigation played out was fun. Add in some vivid, quirky characters and a foul-mouthed bird, and I have to say I look forward to returning to this world again very soon—highly recommended!

Courtney Patterson narrates the audiobook and does a great job! She brings the variations in each character and their specific voices and personalities to life. I also thought she injected a lot of humor into the funny Southern phrases the author employs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this ALC.

I have never read a book by Susan M. Boyer before, but she appears to have a lot of them written! I started a new job this week where I have the flexibility to listen to audiobooks/music while on the clock, and this was the book I listened to during my first few days. It was such a good story, it kept me engaged and many things happened I never expected. I didn't care too much for the narration, though. I much prefer when there are at least two narrators. The narrator of this book used different voices for the different characters, which I wasn't a fan of personally.

Susan Boyer, author of the Liz Talbot series, brings us a new character in Hadley Cooper. Also set in the Low Country, Hadley has a complicated family situation. Like Liz Talbot, Hadley is a PI. A viral video of her latest breakup leaves her a bit unsettled and on her morning bike ride on the beach, she rescues a dog from a shark and a riptide.

Hadley is befriended by the dog's owner, a wealthy woman of consequence in Charleston. Finding much in common, Eugenia Ladson welcomes Hadley into her group of close friends. Upon learning Hadley is a private investigator, Eugenia hires her to prove her husband really is the philanderer she believes. But, Eugenia is killed and Hadley herself appears to be Mr. Ladson's alibi. Positive he was the murderer, Hadley sets about to prove it.

The audiobook is narrated by Courtney Patterson, who voices the characters with just the right Low Country inflections. If you enjoy stories of the Low Country, or Susan Boyer's other books, you won't want to miss this one.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start by saying that I would really give this book 4.5 stars, only losing a half a star because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the narrators accent through the majority of the book (though she does do an amazing Ukrainian accent)! The story seemed like a really sweet mystery at first but had some dark elements mixed in which I enjoyed, and left out all the poor language and there was no sex to speak of. I could easily loan this book to my teenage daughter with no qualms whatsoever! If you’re looking for a clean murder mystery set in the south, be sure to check this book out!

This start to a new mystery series has PI Hadley Cooper moving out to Sullivan‘s Island after the option falls in her lap. Her own story - the one she tells herself and the reality of it are as much at the center of this story as the actual murder she ends up investigating after her kind and fun loving neighbor is unexpectedly stabbed in her own home. Is this simply a case of a husband facilitating a separation that lets him stay with the money or are the secrets that have been kept for almost half a century coming back to haunt the people involved ?
I needed a relaxation read and the combination of an engaging mystery that kept me guessing especially about the machinations and the orchestration and the beautiful descriptions that made summery weather, Charleston and the South Carolina coastal islands come to life for me hit the spot. This book was just perfect for my reading needs and I loved every minute and will definitely read book two in this new series just as soon as it is available.

I absolutely LOVED this book!! Light cozy-mystery(ish) vibe with a touch heavier dose of psycho.
Hadley Cooper is a small island private investigator that I cheered on from the very get go. She experiences a little mystery (who is the man that essentially set her dream house in her lap - and for free), "disgrace" oh those jerk-hole exes, a hint of romance, family angst and the murder of a fabulous new friend, which precedes a really bad dude... This is my first Susan M Boyer book and I'm excited that this is the first installment of a new series!! I've added her other series to my TBR list and am excited to see what comes next! Courtney Patterson
is a fabulous narrator! I was given an audio version of this fabulous book by Susan M Boyer, Netgalley and Stella Marris Books in exchange for an honest review

Susan Boyer does not disappoint in this multi-layered mystery. Make sure you get the printed book; the narrator of the ebook is absolutely horrible

As a life-long South Carolinian, this book made me laugh out loud. The descriptions truly set the stage of life in the lowcountry. The storyline was great - just a little slow for my liking. It was my first audiobook, and maybe I chose the wrong one to have someone else read to me. I'm actually from Gray Court, so the pronunciation in the book annoyed me. There were little things here and there that made me wince (I need to research thr narrator - maybe she isn't familiar with the dialect? Some seemed over-played...like she was trying too hard to be southern). The plot was thrilling. A true "who done it" mystery. It's definitely a book I'd recommend, however I'm not sure the audiobook would be the best version! Maybe I'll read it again in my free time?

Hadley is a private investigator. She has been hired by her new friend to follow and stake out her husband. But, her new client was just found murdered in her own home and Hadley is 100 percent positive that the husband did it. There is only one problem, Hadley is his alibi.

Boy! Hadley is a “take no prisoners” kind of girl! I mean…you should see what she does to the “father she doesn’t want” every year…and I LOVED HER! She will keep you on your toes throughout this whole novel.

Now this is a bit predictable but I have been a fan of this author for years. I love her low country settings, her southernisms and her wild characters. This one is probably her best yet! I am so excited about this series. Now, I have to wait for the next one! DANG IT!


Need an all around good story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Fun & entertaining summer tale.
Charming characters & so atmospheric--felt like I was right there in the lowcountry ... listening to the audio version definitely enhanced the experience.
So glad this is the first in a new series--look forward to the next installment!
And will also start the author's existing / ongoing series.

With thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscapes Media for this audiobook ARC!

A thoroughly enjoyable audiobook. This was my first by this author, but certainly will not be my last. Hadley Cooper is trying to live her complicated life. She misses her mother and still has so many unanswered questions, is so very angry at her father and unwilling to connect with him no matter how hard he tries. She has a small circle of people that she considers her friends and chosen family, and her best friend since grade school days, North, who has so many issues of his own from when the world betrayed him. She meets Eugenia, who instantly decides that they’ll be friends and then she hires her (Hadley is a private investigator) to gather info on her estranged husband. It goes from routine surveillance to something much deeper when Eugenia is killed in a terrible vicious way ad Hadley will not rest until she is able to is able to provide information to the police to arrest the right man and exonerate the woman said man seemingly framed. Romance, mystery, family, secrets, letting go of old hurts, truths discovered, reconciliation and so much more. I absolutely adored this audiobook and the narration added to the listening experience. I can't wait for the next in this series. Hadley is fabulous!

Awesome new series about Hadley who is a private investagator.
She meets someone when she saved her dog and they beome friends .
She was then asked to find proof that her husband is having an affair.
She was also asked to house sit in her dream house.
A interestin,intriguing story with an old death and the murder of her friend and the reason she is house sitting.
Very good narration and narrator.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Narrator - I really enjoyed the narrator. Their southern accent really helped to immerse you into the story.

Story - I loved this story. I certainly was not anticipating how the story would end. The author did a great job of keeping you interested in the plot. Although I’m still wondering whose surfboard that was at the beginning - maybe I spaced out during that reveal if there was one.

Synopsis: Hadley, a PI, is on Sullivan’s Island and is hired by an old woman, Eugenia, she meets on the beach after saving the Eugenia’s dog from the surf. She is hired to get evidence that Eugenia’s husband, Everett, is cheating on her. While Hadley is following Everett out of town, Eugenia is murdered… so Hadley is his alibi, but thinks he did it. But how?