There aren't many series left I look forward to, but this one is always satisfying. Lowcountry Bookshop wasn't the strongest of the bunch, but still an enjoyable way to escape.

Liz and Nate are hired by an anonymous client, through their attorney, to prove a local mail carrier (Poppy) innocent of a hit and run perpetrated during a massive rainstorm. This construct felt, for much of the book, forced, as though Boyer couldn't make it work any other way, but by the end, the anonymity makes complete sense and adds an additional layer of complexity to the plot. By the end, it's only the revealed guilty party that doesn't really mesh with the story; as a lover of mysteries I have come to expect all aspects of the mystery to share context, but as Boyer writes it, it's likely a lot more realistic. There's a plot twist but too many aspects of it are telegraphed early to be shocking.

Where the book shines is with any scene involving Liz's family. Hand to god, I wish the Talbots were both real and part of my life. I rarely laugh so hard as I do when I'm reading about what Liz's daddy is currently up to.

The only really true let down in the book was sloppy editing; in the past Henery Press could be counted on for solid editing and proofing but lately standards have slipped. Hopefully it's just a temporary indication of a growing business, and I still look forward to the the next Liz Talbot book. ( )

Oh I am annoyed I bought this. What a lackluster book. I used to really enjoy the "Liz Talbot" mysteries, but geez, the last three have been a bunch of well that happened. I think I was ultimately dissatisfied by the main mystery (how did a man end up in the middle of the road hit by a car) and then we still have the never ending nonsense with Liz and her dreams about the end of Stella Maris. Colleen is not in this one that much (not complaining) but she really doesn't add much to the book. The reveal at what went on I guessed at pretty early since that was the only explanation that made sense. I also felt frustrated because there doesn't seem to be any calling out on the people who are responsible for someone's death.

"Lowcountry Bookshop" has Liz and Nate hired by a mysterious client to keep a local mailwoman from being arrested for a hit and run. The mailwoman (Poppy) found a man she knows on her route dead in the middle of the road during a rain storm. Poppy didn't like him, and she claims he beat his wife. Though the police don't have enough evidence to charge Poppy yet, there doesn't seem to be another explanation. Liz and Nate investigate and find out about a hidden Charleston they knew nothing about.

Liz is still dealing with the fallout from her dreams about the end of Stella Maris and Nate dying. She dreams of two children who cannot possibly be hers and left a widow. Trying to work through that while also investigating a hit and run accident is a lot of her to do. Liz and Nate still make excellent partners and I love how they work together.

I have to say though when we get Colleen's terrible explanation behind Liz and her dream I don't get why Liz didn't go off on her. It made very little sense and I have to say that Colleen and her whole guardian angel of Stella Maris thing is wearing very thin with me. At first this was pretty cool, but it got a bit samey. I think Boyer did a smart thing with do to Colleen and her sticking her nose in with Liz and Nate has her sidelined from interfering with their investigations. However, doing that has made her not necessary to the story.

Liz is also dealing with her sister about to leave to get married and that also didn't ring very true. I wish we had a wedding to look forward to or something. Liz's whole family felt a bit flat in this one. I feel sad saying this, but even Liz and her crazy family were not enough to get me to enjoy this one. It just didn't ring true and felt very fake (the ghosts, pig, etc. was too much).

The secondary characters: Poppy, and some women with ties to a bookstore didn't really work. I liked the idea behind what the women were doing, but have to say that they actions were problematic.

The writing was typical Boyer. I hope you like hearing about delicious food, restaurants, clothing, and homes/rooms. The flow was okay, though I think that the book just didn't come together very well.

And as I said above, I didn't like the resolution since it left a stink on a good man and I didn't believe at all the why behind everything. I felt like we needed one more scene, or maybe more with the police to discuss what happened next. Instead that was left twisting in the wind. ( )

Once again Susan Boyer gives us a great mystery and characters I've grown to love reading about. I absolutely will get to Stella Maris one of these days but I feel like I've been there many times thru her stories! ( )

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Review Of
LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP A Liz Talbot Mystery by Susan M. Boyer

This book is a series but may be read as a standalone. I am a mystery addict so I was so excited to start reading this recent addition to the series. Liz Talbot and her husband run a detective agency along with the help of her best friend who just happens to have died many years ago and is now a ghost! The subject of domestic violence is a main topic in this story, the author did a respectable job of writing about it. Liz's mother continues to amuse with her over the top dramatics, maybe not so over the top since she has to deal with goats, a pig and a huge gaping hole in her backyard that is supposed to be swimming pool. Poppy, a mail carrier is under suspicion of a hit and run, an anonymous client has hired Liz's agency to clear Poppy of this before it is to late and she gets charged formally. There is so much drama in this book that I zipped through this in one sitting. Liz and her husband work hard to find out who the mystery client is because that is the key to solving the murder. The victims brother was a colorful character and I would love to see him appear again in this series. I am attached to Liz's family because they are so colorful and quirky. The setting of Charleston was described very accurately, I loved this setting. This story took quite an unexpected turn in the end, one that I did not see coming.

This is a very enjoyable book, well written, quirky but lovable characters and an A mystery. I look forward to the next book in this series!

This review was originally posted on My Fiction Obsession ( )

I really enjoyed this adventure with PIs Liz and Nate. Once again they are back on the mainland, working in Charleston. They have been hired through a legal firm by an anonymous person, who wants the hit and run of a well to do Charleston gentleman thoroughly investigated. This person is sure that Poppy, the mail carrier, who is the number one suspect is innocent.

Once again, Nate and Liz work closely together to figure out the case. They are often in disguise in this story and their interactions are quite humorous. The Charleston Society Members are out in full force in this story, not only helping to solve it, but partying the night away at a very private club. Between the interviews they do, the surveillance from a B&B across the street and their partying to get close to the rich, they pick up clues that they must piece together in their usual way. This book also dealt with the important issues of abuse (spousal or relationship) and the dangers of living on an island with no bridge. Colleen was once again popping in and out. Now that Nate can see her, he gets a bit stressed out. She gives them hints and clues along the way, but from the start, she was adamant that Poppy was innocent. She was the major focus of the island and evacuation line in the story. Liz's family was hilarious in this book. I do not want to give anything away in that area, but suffice it to say that I have never seen Liz's mom so upset. If you love the south, enjoy a cozy or like to laugh at life and families, pick up the newest book in this series. You will love it. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Edelweiss. ( )