This is an absolutely fantastic book. Second in a series, it picks up here the first one ended, with the same wonderful characters, beautiful setting, and exciting murder mystery. Kick back and enjoy this southern mystery. Georgia Peaches, southern Belle's, debutante cotillions, blackmail, murder, this cozy has it all. ( )

Nola Mae Harper has her hands full trying to get her new shop, Peachy Keen, up and running but she soon finds herself involved in events for the upcoming Peach cotillion. Because of events in her past, she missed her own cotillion and wasn't aware of how cutthroat the competition between local debutantes can be - literally cutthroat as mother of the one of the debutantes is found stabbed to death with a pair of scissors in her throat. Nola's friend Ginny is the top suspect so Nola, Ginny, and their friend Hattie set out to clear Ginny's name. Will they be able to catch the killer or will they too end up as victims?

“Rest in Peach” is the nicely done second book in Susan Furlong’s Georgia Peach cozy mystery series. I love Nola Mae - she is a nice complex character who was raised in Georgia yet is still bewildered by things like debutantes and cotillions. I love the way Furlong has developed Nola Mae’s character, giving readers glimpses into events that happened in her past and her previous job - this makes her a well-rounded character and a bit different from other cozy mystery heroines. I love the portrait of small-town life where gossip spreads like wildfire. The business of running a peach farm as well as a store centered around peach products is also well done - I am not a fan of peaches but wanted some by the time I finished reading this book! The mystery itself is well plotted with just the right amount of suspects, a few twists, and a bit of tension towards the end of the book that will have readers quickly turning the pages to see what happens next. Well done!

“Rest in Peach” is another good cozy mystery by Susan Furlong. ( )

Another great Cozy mystery. I love love love this series! Rest in Peach is book two in the Georgia Peach Mystery series. I knew after reading the first I wouldn't be able to put this down. Susan Furlong gets first place with the recipes at the end of the book. Reading about them during the mystery will make your mouth water.
The characters in these books are so real. Cays, Georgia is in a frenzy about the upcoming annual Peach Cotillion. Susan Furlong hits the nail on the head when she writes about the preparations for a southern tradition. It is like the Miss America pageant for a Southern Belle. The parents go overboard this time. This year Ginny and her daughter Emily are getting everything ready for the event. They show up at Hattie's shop to try on her dress and see what alterations need to be done. Things don't go as planned! Hattie made a mistake when she ordered only one dress for two girls. YIKES! Thank goodness Nola was there because Vivien Crenshaw and Ginny get into a verbal altercation over the dress. Vivien is a very obnoxious mother that plays the piano at church. Her daughter Tara is a spoiled young woman who won Peach Queen last year under questionable circumstances. Vivien has made plans to come back later for the final alterations when she ends up stabbed to death in Hattie's shop. Everyone jumps to conclusions and blame Ginny. Sheriff Maudy is only focused on Ginny. This is crazy! Nola, Hattie, and Ginny start their own investigation to get to the bottom of this brutal murder. "Gossip. The cause of so much destruction."
This book has you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. The suspense and intrigue have you reading the whole book in one setting. You have everything from lies, deceit, and blackmail. Will Nola and her brother Ray be able to help her friend Ginny stay out of jail??? You will be guessing the killer the whole time. ( )