by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Lowcountry Book Club, and a link to purchase it from Amazon, along with a link to purchase it from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews, the newlywed private investigators of Talbot & Andrews, are focused on building up their business within the Charleston community. This is why they are in the law offices of Rutledge and Radcliffe taking on the case of suspected murderer Clint Gerhardt. Being both a former Army Ranger and from “Off,” the latter condemnation of being born outside of Charleston far more damning than the former, quickly resulted in Clint being arrested for the murder of his wife, the much beloved Shelby Poinsett. Known for her proclivity of taking in strays of all species, as well for as her charity work at the One80Place nonprofit benefitting homeless families and veterans, Shelby seemed to have had no enemies despite her wealth and prominence within the Charleston social elite. It’s up to Liz and Nate to uncover the dirt and find an alternative suspect, one who isn’t Shelby’s husband with known jealousy issues.

Methodically winnowing down suspects within the homeless shelter and volunteers, Liz swiftly focuses on the simmering resentments within Shelby’s book club. For nearly one hundred years, the Ashley Cooper Book Club has rigorously maintained its limited membership, and as its president, Shelby was stirring controversy over the proposed waiting list. Pursuing this avenue of the investigation involving Southern high society is far preferable to Liz than that of Shelby’s possible affair, as it places Liz’s police officer friend Sonny Ravenel directly in her path.

Floating, literally, at times, in the background is Coleen, Liz’s long-dead teenaged friend who returned from Beyond to serve as Guardian for their island home of Stella Maris. Colleen’s infrequent and somewhat annoying appearances coincide with her mission to protect Liz, who as a member of the town council is similarly invested in Stella Maris’s fate. An inopportune corporal manifestation guilts Coleen into being helpful and acting as a spy within the bookclub, boosting Liz’s impressive detective skills.

Despite Coleen’s ghostly presence, the focus falls on Liz’s practical investigation and legwork within the Charleston community. Liz and her new husband are an effective private detective duo, conducting background checks and break-ins, teaming up against another shady PI, and shadowing suspects. Liz maintains her wit and humor as she navigates through the Southern social elite, tested only by her own policeman brother and his infuriating discreteness. In the close-knit Stella Maris community, their parents are not hesitant with their opinions concerning their children’s careers or personal lives, but this is entirely based on love and affection.

Liz’s love of Stella Maris always resides in the background, and her fears for its future could play a strong role in the next installment. Entertaining readers with an unpredictable plot and a heroine who is as quick-witted as she is intelligent, this fifth in the Liz Talbot Mystery series stands out with its blend of professional private investigators and dash of the paranormal.

This book was published by Henery Press. To learn more about their books check out their website: henerypress.com.

To enter to win a copy of Lowcountry Book Club, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “lowcountry,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 13, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.

Click on this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Lowcountry Book Club

You can also use this link to purchase this book. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).