Flora Reviews…
The Skeleton in the Closet (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #2)
by Angie Fox
Read: 24th – 29th December 2017
Format: Kindle
My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
…So what’s this book about?
The Skeleton in the Closet is a paranormal novel of approximately 251 pages that would sit well in the ‘cozy mystery’ genre and is the second book in Ms Fox’s Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series; currently 6 novels and 3 novellas. This murder mystery tale is set in modern America – Sugarland, Tennessee to be exact – and features the town’s residents, both living and deceased.
If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you’ll know, I don’t post spoilers or reveal plot twists in my book reviews, so here’s what the official blurb has to say about the story:
From New York Times bestseller Angie Fox, the second book in the new Southern Ghost Hunter mysteries
A haunted library is no place for a girl who can see ghosts, but when Verity Long stumbles on a dead body in the middle of the main reading room, she has to believe someone…even a dead someone…must have witnessed the crime.
Her ghostly sidekick Frankie warns her to stay out of it. The very alive, very handsome deputy sheriff, Ellis Wydell, inadvertently places her directly in the middle of it. And her ex-fiancé, Ellis’s brother, is back with an agenda of his own.
Undaunted, Verity presses forward, uncovering scandalous secrets, long-forgotten ghosts, and a shocking trail of clues that places her directly in the path of a killer.
…So, what did I like about it?
I fell in love with Angie Fox’s writing style after reading Southern Spirits (read my review here). I find her books very easy to read and I like the way she weaves all the elements of her stories together; the mystery, the strained relationship between Verity and the rest of the townsfolk of Sugarland, Verity’s financial struggles and, of course, the ghosts and their issues. The Skeleton in the Closet did not let me down.
I loved that the characters, both living and dead, were complex and multi-dimensional with their own stories, agendas and personalities. I liked the twists and quirks that Ms Fox created in her paranormal world of spirits and that the town of Sugarland is steeped with history and charm; the scenes are so well described, that I was easily transported there.
I prefer to read stories with intelligent, witty heroines who have plenty of gumption and resilience and who never give up. Our leading lady here does not disappoint.
Although I wouldn’t class this as a romance novel, I enjoyed how the friendship between Verity and Ellis continues to build and develop throughout this book; the pace feels very natural and realistic. I can imagine that the romance between Verity and Ellis will continue to blossom in future books. I also like the way that Verity’s relationships with the ghosts in Sugarland are portrayed – especially Frankie.
OK, for a cozy mystery this has some wonderfully tense moments and I think I actually held my breath for a few pages – scary! I would like to add that I usually work out the ‘who dun it’ aspect in cozy books before the big reveal at the end too but that wasn’t the case here and I loved that!
…So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
No, not a thing.
…So, basically what I’m saying is…
I really loved this book; although it’s a quick read, it doesn’t lack depth! The Skeleton in the Closet has everything that I look for in a 5 star book; I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat (I was even a bit scared at times), I was gripped! Murder, mystery, humour and a cute romance what more could a girl want!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys ‘cozy mysteries’ with a paranormal focus. We get a sneaky teaser from the next book in the series The Haunted Heist; which is already added to my Amazon wish list.
So, has my review of THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET (SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES #2) sparked your interest? Just click on any of the links below to check out the book yourself, or to find out more about other books I’ve read, take a look at my profile on Goodreads.
See THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET on Goodreads.com
Buy THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET in print, eBook or audio formats from all the usual places including; Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Google Books ~ Kobo
Visit ANGIE FOX ‘s own little corner of the web, connect on Facebook or see what she’s up to on Twitter or see what she’s posting on Instagram
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