Southern Bred and Dead by Angie Fox [Review]

Southern Bred and Dead (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #9) by Angie Fox
Format: ebook
Source: provided through Netgalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 24, 2020

Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries
1. Southern Spirits
1.5. A Ghostly Gift
2. The Skeleton in the Closet
2.5. Ghost of a Chance
3. The Haunted Heist
4. Deader Homes and Gardens
4.5. Dog Gone Ghost
5. Sweet Tea and Spirits
6. Murder on the Sugarland Express
7. Pecan Pies and Dead Guys
8. The Mint Julep Murders
8.5. The Ghost of Christmas Past
9. Southern Bred and Dead - Kindle
10. The Haunted Homecoming
11. Give Up the Ghost
12. Dread and Buried
13. Death at the Drive-In

Angie Fox
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

A haunted church. A ghastly death. Can Verity clear up the case before she’s buried way over her head?

Verity Long would really like a day off. Between uncovering the culprit who capped her gangster ghost housemate and dodging the bomb her boyfriend just dropped on their relationship, her spiritual calling has gotten complicated. But when she steps out for a little fun at a church fundraiser, she has another mystery on her hands when a family friend plunges from the bell tower.

With her pet skunk and a spectral mobster buddy in tow, Verity charges back into the world of furious phantoms. But as she follows a shocking trail of clues through a dangerous speakeasy, a possessed movie theatre, and a spooky mob safehouse, she could end up sleeping with the ghostly fishes.

Can Verity lay everything to rest before a mysterious murderer reads her last rites? 

Thoughts on Southern Bred and Dead: Our illustrious Southern ghost hunter is dealing with a few things this time around. Isn't she always, though? I mean, the lady stumbles over dead bodies with alarming regularity. Which makes sense given she's tapped into the ghostly world, but...you know what? It's her thing. She's embraced it. She's taken it and run with it and she's not about to give up her new calling.

Unfortunately, this particular calling is not sitting well with Ellis right now. He's having a bit of an emotional falling apart (it's tiny. You'll barely notice!) after the last few times Verity has thrown herself headlong into danger on behalf of her ghostly friends. Which means, he and Verity are sort of butting heads over things that have never been an issue with them before. The fact that it's Beau (BEAU!) who had to step in and give some much needed advice to get them back on track is at once horrifying and hilarious. I mean, BEAU.

Beyond the relationship woes, Verity is trying to unravel the mystery of a family friend's death, why there are so many ghosts hanging around the old church, AND trying to help Frankie find some familial closure. Plus, she's a world class avoider at times, so I'm sure you can imagine how all this leads to some tense times between her and Ellis.

Family drama on a couple of levels, ghosts and gangsters and speakeasies (OH MY!), and old secrets that don't want to stay buried. Sometimes literally. Verity and her crew (both those who are living and those who aren't) are always a fun ride and things just keep getting crazier for them.