by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

Stella Reid…Stella May Reid…Granny. She lives in the tiny town of McGill, Georgia, has been a widow for a few years, and took on the role as caregiver for her eight grandchildren who range from an infant to a newly teenaged. Her son is often an absentee father since as a truck driver he is frequently on the road, and his wife, unfortunately, resides in prison for neglect and endangerment, so it’s up to Granny Reid to offer the six girls and two boys a happy home, an eager ear, and a loving smile. She’s somewhat restrained to show much in the way of PDA (public displays of affection) with Sheriff Manny Gilford, but she’s his biggest fan, friend since elementary school, and frequent confidant in the area of police investigations. Except not today.

Stella decided not to bother him or the police when told her young grandson Waycross ran away from school. All of her grandangels have run away a time or two when life gets a bit trying, but they don’t stray too far; they each have a specific activity or destination where they find enough peace and solitude to regain some strength. Waycross’s sanctuary is the local cemetery, specifically the grave of his grandfather Arthur Reid. He was very young when Arthur died in a tragic tractor accident, and Granny is surprised to find him butt up against the stone marker having an in-depth, yet one-way, conversation with his late grandfather. Granny overhears much to explain today’s incident, and when she approaches, Waycross is in a brighter mood, especially since he discovers he and his grandfather shared the same hair color. But, Waycross makes a few comments that have her wondering how much of a one-way conversation it really was. Well, time to head home…A scream stops Granny and her grandson in their tracks.

Murder Most Grave Earns 5/5 Family Crypts…Engaging & Clever Cozy!
Mr. Stanley Horton is the landscaper, yet all know that includes completing the chore of digging the graves for the dearly departed’s last repose. Stella and Waycross freeze as Mr. Horton comes running toward them, gasping for air, and finally finding his way to say, “Dead…man. Crypt.” Shocked, he heads toward his car and sets off to notify the police; Surprised, Stella grabs Waycross quickly heading home to safety. For Stella, though, staying home is a conundrum. She has eight charges to protect, but her curiosity is in full-gear. After arranging for her best friend Elsie Dingle to stay with her troop, she heads back to the cemetery where she finds Sheriff Gilford and his crew at the gruesome scene at the base of the Patterson crypt. The body is identified as Dexter Corbin arguably the meanest man in town with plenty of victims in the wake of his threats and illegal activities. It’s obvious he has been murdered.

The crime scene was suspicious pointing to someone the victim knew and premeditated means and opportunity, and with Dexter’s history among the residents, there will be a long list of suspects. As a team, the sheriff and Stella have had positive success uncovering perpetrators of murder and mayhem and bringing justice to the victim’s families, but in the midst of an election, with the opposition candidate Deputy Faber pointing out all of Sheriff Gilford’s flaws and failures, doing everything by the book is important. Can they find the killer even if the man killed was deplorable? Can they do their best work when scrutiny of their methods is political?

Brilliant Fun! G.A. McKevett has set her delightful story during the election year of 1988 when Bush and Dukakis vied for the White House and 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, back stabbing, and oneupmanship by Deputy Faber. The small town gossip line is an important investigative tool slowly revealing what he said, what she said, what bruises are noticed, 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, and she fills the banter with seemingly accurate dialect abbreviated with apostrophes along with many southern idioms and phrases to describe feelings, predicaments, and perspectives. 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 intuitive skills later to be useful, but also shows some of her typical, yet disappointing to her grandma and the sheriff, teenager behaviors. Real fun. Engaging drama. Satisfying closure. Don’t miss this gem!

Granny Reid Mystery
Murder in Her Stocking (2018)
Murder in the Corn Maze (2019)
Murder at Mabel’s Motel (2021)
Murder Most Grave (2022)

Be a Big G.A. McKevett Fan!
G.A. McKevett also pens the Savannah Reid Mysteries
Amazon Author Page: G.A. McKevett

To enter to win a copy of Murder Most Grave, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “grave,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 11, 2022. US only, and must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. REMEMBER THAT THINGS TAKE LONGER TO SHIP THAN IN THE PAST. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying year 2 of retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband of 26+ years.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.