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Thoroughly Southern #3
Who Invited the Dead Man?
A Thoroughly Southern Mystery #3
Sixty-something-year-old MacLaren Yarbrough has celebrated enough birthdays in her lifetime to think she's seen it all. But this year, at a birthday gala hosted in honor of her husband Joe Riddley, a mysterious murder is about to shake up the party.
With a man lying dead in her house with a bullet in his head, MacLaren must track down the killer and clear her family name before the authorities wrap up their own investigation—all the while managing Yarbrough's Feed, Seed, and Nursery, tackling her newfound duties as the town magistrate, and caring for a spouse suffering from severe brain trauma.
In a race against the clock, MacLaren must use her sweet-talk sleuthing to unravel the secrets of Hopemore, Georgia, because in a town with no strangers, a homicide is the strangest it gets.
Sixty-something-year-old MacLaren Yarbrough has celebrated enough birthdays in her lifetime to think she's seen it all. But this year, at a birthday gala hosted in honor of her husband Joe Riddley, a mysterious murder is about to shake up the party.
With a man lying dead in her house with a bullet in his head, MacLaren must track down the killer and clear her family name before the authorities wrap up their own investigation—all the while managing Yarbrough's Feed, Seed, and Nursery, tackling her newfound duties as the town magistrate, and caring for a spouse suffering from severe brain trauma.
In a race against the clock, MacLaren must use her sweet-talk sleuthing to unravel the secrets of Hopemore, Georgia, because in a town with no strangers, a homicide is the strangest it gets.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
17 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Sprinkle
47 books94 followersAka Patricia Houck Sprinkle.
When I met and married Bob, he looked over our budget and demanded, "Why don’t you write a mystery to pay for all the ones you buy?" I immediately knew I wanted to put a body in a building where I’d once worked. However, being over-endowed with the Protestant ethic, I wrote "important" things first and only wrote the mystery in my spare time, so my first mystery, Murder at Markham (reissued by Silver Dagger in 2001), took thirteen years to complete. It took even longer for me to learn that any writing which gives me pleasure is important, whether fiction or non-fiction.
Since 1988 I have written twenty mysteries, four novels, and five non-fiction books. I am grateful to my readers and editors for letting me do what I enjoy most in the world. Bob has concluded that writing is not a profession, it's an obsession--my favorite vacation is to go to a place where somebody else fixes my meals and where I can write more than I do at home, without interruptions. Thanks, if you are one of the readers who keeps my fingers on the keys. I enjoy spending time with you at conferences, book clubs, and signing events.
When I met and married Bob, he looked over our budget and demanded, "Why don’t you write a mystery to pay for all the ones you buy?" I immediately knew I wanted to put a body in a building where I’d once worked. However, being over-endowed with the Protestant ethic, I wrote "important" things first and only wrote the mystery in my spare time, so my first mystery, Murder at Markham (reissued by Silver Dagger in 2001), took thirteen years to complete. It took even longer for me to learn that any writing which gives me pleasure is important, whether fiction or non-fiction.
Since 1988 I have written twenty mysteries, four novels, and five non-fiction books. I am grateful to my readers and editors for letting me do what I enjoy most in the world. Bob has concluded that writing is not a profession, it's an obsession--my favorite vacation is to go to a place where somebody else fixes my meals and where I can write more than I do at home, without interruptions. Thanks, if you are one of the readers who keeps my fingers on the keys. I enjoy spending time with you at conferences, book clubs, and signing events.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 29, 2014
Fun southern mystery series
August 31, 2021
Reads more like a Victorian novel, than the flavor of the south in my own opinion. Same type of humor and logic. Seems like most of the characters suffer from dementia but was a fun read. The main person exemplified a sacrificing caregiver, and problem solver very accurately. Bit of a twist at the end.
March 25, 2024
What a charming and fun town of interesting characters. The mystery was well plotted, and even though I had my suspicions early on, I was surprised and delighted at how the mystery was resolved. All the clues were there. And the extra mini mystery that was revealed at the end was well done too. I will be going back to the beginning of the series to read more.
March 30, 2022
I love Patricia Sprinkle. Her stories are funny and still full of life's highs and lows. I read the first two books in this series when they first came out and then lost track of her publishings. I'm so glad I ran across these again.
June 23, 2017
Great southern mystery author and series
October 4, 2019
Sprinkle is one of my favorite Christian mystery writers.
October 10, 2019
Looks like I found another series to read. I like how Patricia Sprinkle, the author, sprinkles clues in the book. I plan on reading more by her.
February 18, 2021
I enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and characters in this small southern town mystery! In fact I'd like to read more of this author's books.
February 24, 2021
Predictable cozy mystery. Nice way to spend an afternoon.
August 23, 2021
This was a huge step up from book 2. Great story, characters, drama.
March 3, 2014
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
January 4, 2009
First I have read of this author, who apparently has a series of cosy mysteries set in a small Georgia town. Not bad. There is some very insightful depiction of how folks move into their twilight elder years.
From the Publisher
Whether handling customer calls at the Yarbrough's Seed, Feed, and Nursery or close calls while solving crimes, sixty-something Southerner MacLaren Yarbrough knows how to charm her way through anything.
When a local man is found murdered at her husband's birthday gala, MacLaren sweet-talks clues out of affluent matriarchs, shady drifters, and even a disgruntled parrot to uncover the roots of the crime.
From the Publisher
Whether handling customer calls at the Yarbrough's Seed, Feed, and Nursery or close calls while solving crimes, sixty-something Southerner MacLaren Yarbrough knows how to charm her way through anything.
When a local man is found murdered at her husband's birthday gala, MacLaren sweet-talks clues out of affluent matriarchs, shady drifters, and even a disgruntled parrot to uncover the roots of the crime.
July 5, 2009
PROTAGONIST: Judge MacLaren Yarbrough
SETTING: Georgia
SERIES: 3 of 10
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Not my normal fare at all, as I am a reader of hardboiled/noir. This was lighter without a lot of the silliness that I associate with an amateur sleuth kind of book. I really liked how the author portrayed the strain of living with a person with a head injury, didn't color it pretty at all. Overall, the book was predictable and average.
SETTING: Georgia
SERIES: 3 of 10
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Not my normal fare at all, as I am a reader of hardboiled/noir. This was lighter without a lot of the silliness that I associate with an amateur sleuth kind of book. I really liked how the author portrayed the strain of living with a person with a head injury, didn't color it pretty at all. Overall, the book was predictable and average.
October 27, 2007
A very good book,well written,keeps your interest from the beginning to the end,has lots of humor and at the same time a good story line. It brings the small town southern culture right into your living room.
November 27, 2007
I really enjoyed this series. My only complaint is that I can figure out whodunnit in almost all the books. But that's secondary to the enjoyment I get out of reading the books. This one I spotted as soon as the murderer appeared in the book, but there are always lots of other twists in there.
May 27, 2008
I didn't like this book too much. The author's style is the same. I mean with this and her other books it always goes along a format, someone gets murdered and the main character solves it. It is SO boring
September 3, 2011
Just finished this easy-to-read mystery. I'll definitely pick up another by this author. I like books set in the south, and the extra problems with her recovering husband were unexpected, but made it seem real.
November 8, 2007
Lighthearted Mystery Series about a sweet-ol', little southern Lady...
June 26, 2008
"I heard her laugh aloud as I approached them - a sound as seldom heard in Hopemore as a discouraging word back home on the range."
February 6, 2015
This is the 3rd book in the series and love how MacLaren solves the the murder at her husbands birthday gala.
March 31, 2016
No as good as some of the others. I thought at times the author was demeaning to people in the South. The simplicity of it made it boring and hard to read.
September 7, 2016
This is another series that has unusual twists and likeable characters. This is one of the early titles in the 'Thoroughly Southern Series'. Many in the series are available for download.
March 19, 2013
A good 'wholesome, small town, feel good' mystery series.
February 22, 2014
Fun, heartwarming characters and a good mystery!
February 16, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, I liked the story (even though I could figure out who dun it), and l actually liked the flow of the protagonist's narrative.
January 3, 2025
Good mystery. I love a Southern story. Oh, those Southern names - LaFayette (man), Pooh (woman), Meriweather, Joe Riddley.
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May 1, 2018I’m loving re-reading this series!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews