Saturday, November 25, 2017

Murder on the Sugarland Express: The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries


Hello! I hope everyone is having a delightful weekend.  The Liverpool Girls by Pam Howes will be released on November 28.  It is the latest book in her Liverpool series.  The first two books are The Lost Daughter of Liverpool and The Forgotten Family of Liverpool.

Murder on the Sugarland Express by Angie Fox is the sixth installment in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries.  Verity Long feels the need to escape Sugarland, Tennessee after an incident with her ex-fiancé, Beau Wydell at the soft opening of Southern Spirits.  Ellis Wydell, Verity’s boyfriend, books them on a trip on the Sugarland Express.  Verity is hoping for a break from mysteries and ghosts while on the trip.  Unfortunately, Frankie (her resident ghost) believes it will be the perfect romantic getaway for himself and his girl, Molly.  Verity soon learns that the train has a dark history attached to it (and some unwelcome guests in the cabin next door).  As the bell rings on the Sugarland Express, the old ghosts are being called back.  The original train experienced a murder before a bridge collapsed and plunged the train into the icy river.  Inspector De Clercq (a ghostly detective) is intent on solving the original crime.  It is soon apparent that the Sugarland Express is following in the original trains footsteps (so to speak).  A woman is found murdered in compartment 9 in the exact same spot as the original murder.  Verity, Ellis and some unlikely allies set out to catch two killers—one past and one present.  Will the train make it back to Sugarland or will it suffer a similar fate to its predecessor? 
Murder on the Sugarland Express can be read alone.  I found the story to be well-written, have a decent pace and enjoyable to read.  I did find, though, there to be some repetition of details (and a couple of slow spots).  A little fine tuning would not go amiss.  Murder on the Sugarland Express has humor, intrigue, romance, ghosts, a cute skunk, and plenty of action.  I loved the descriptions of the train (I found out something I never knew about the caboose).  What mystery lover would not love to take a ride on a replica of a vintage train (especially one with ghosts and a mystery)?  The mysteries were engaging with great details.  I especially liked two clues on the vintage (1929) murder.  I had hoped that the mysteries would be more challenging.  It would delightful to finally see growth in Virginia and Beau Wydell (it’s about time).  Whether it sticks or not remains to be seen.   Readers will be entertained with Frankie’s hijinks.  At the end of the book we get a hint of what to come in the next book.
I will be featuring The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns next time.  It is the first book in A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series.  May each of you have a beautiful day.  I am currently reading The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader


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