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Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #12
Dread and Buried
Dead men tell no tales.
Until they meet ghost hunter Verity Long.
Verity Long is proud to say she gets along with just about anybody—dead or alive. But she’s put to the test when her well-meaning boyfriend and her sweet-as-pie sister con her into a remote island “double date” weekend with her sister’s new flame and Verity’s long-time nemesis, Alec Duranja.
Her plans to avoid the uptight police officer go up in smoke when the four of them team up for a weekend treasure hunt competition based on the island’s legendary pirate past. And it doesn’t take long for Verity and her team to discover more than game clues. Someone is using the game to dig up real pirate gold...and they’re willing to kill to keep it.
There’s no escaping the island or the game. And when the killer targets someone Verity loves, she realizes she’s the only one who can uncover the truth behind the legend. She must stay one step ahead of the dangers of the island and two steps ahead of Frankie’s new ghostly pirate buddies—all in a race against time to solve a centuries-old puzzle and take down a real live killer before he strikes again.
Until they meet ghost hunter Verity Long.
Verity Long is proud to say she gets along with just about anybody—dead or alive. But she’s put to the test when her well-meaning boyfriend and her sweet-as-pie sister con her into a remote island “double date” weekend with her sister’s new flame and Verity’s long-time nemesis, Alec Duranja.
Her plans to avoid the uptight police officer go up in smoke when the four of them team up for a weekend treasure hunt competition based on the island’s legendary pirate past. And it doesn’t take long for Verity and her team to discover more than game clues. Someone is using the game to dig up real pirate gold...and they’re willing to kill to keep it.
There’s no escaping the island or the game. And when the killer targets someone Verity loves, she realizes she’s the only one who can uncover the truth behind the legend. She must stay one step ahead of the dangers of the island and two steps ahead of Frankie’s new ghostly pirate buddies—all in a race against time to solve a centuries-old puzzle and take down a real live killer before he strikes again.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2023
230 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Angie Fox
64 books2,722 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books.
Angie is best known for her SOUTHERN SPIRITS™ mysteries, and for her ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER books.
Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com.
Angie is best known for her SOUTHERN SPIRITS™ mysteries, and for her ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER books.
Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
April 17, 2023
Dread and Buried by Angie Fox
Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series #12. Paranormal. Can be read as a stand-alone but better if at least the first few in the series are read for character background.
Verity and Ellis agree to a treasure hunt weekend adventure for Melody’s birthday. Melody’s boyfriend, Alec Duranja, will team up with Melody, which makes it a bit like a couples weekend. Verity has promised herself and Melody that she will be nice and respect his position as a team member, though it goes against everything she feels about the man. But for Melody, Verity will learn to hold her tongue. Verity has also brought along her resident ghost, Frank. He may bring an advantage to the treasure hunting on the little island that’s said to be haunted by pirates.
What do you get when you mix a ghost from the gangster era with pirates? A taxidermy parrot that clips to the shoulder, swashbuckling chatter, drinking and probably a duel or two. And a mystery killer that doesn’t want someone else to find the treasure.
While this specific book doesn’t take place in Sugarland, Verity takes her charm and southern wit along for the ride and she will need all the patience she can manage trying to get along with Duranja.
Another fun ghost adventure. It’s amusing, and a bit scary, when the ghosts acknowledge the living.
Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series #12. Paranormal. Can be read as a stand-alone but better if at least the first few in the series are read for character background.
Verity and Ellis agree to a treasure hunt weekend adventure for Melody’s birthday. Melody’s boyfriend, Alec Duranja, will team up with Melody, which makes it a bit like a couples weekend. Verity has promised herself and Melody that she will be nice and respect his position as a team member, though it goes against everything she feels about the man. But for Melody, Verity will learn to hold her tongue. Verity has also brought along her resident ghost, Frank. He may bring an advantage to the treasure hunting on the little island that’s said to be haunted by pirates.
What do you get when you mix a ghost from the gangster era with pirates? A taxidermy parrot that clips to the shoulder, swashbuckling chatter, drinking and probably a duel or two. And a mystery killer that doesn’t want someone else to find the treasure.
While this specific book doesn’t take place in Sugarland, Verity takes her charm and southern wit along for the ride and she will need all the patience she can manage trying to get along with Duranja.
Another fun ghost adventure. It’s amusing, and a bit scary, when the ghosts acknowledge the living.
April 25, 2023
I read the blurb for this book on NetGalley and I am grinning from ear to ear. I. Can't. Wait! There is nothing I like better than a good Treasure Hunt Mystery! Take elements from "Survivor", "Amazing Race", and "Pirates of the Caribbean" and what do you have??? An absolutely wonderful tale, that's what! This story is non-stop action and adventure from beginning to end.
Verity Long is on a romantic weekend with her main squeeze, Ellis. Just one, okay one of many, problem - Sister Melody and her boyfriend Alec Duranja (Verity's arch nemesis) are along too. To say that Verity and Duranja don't get along would be the understatement of the century. But, Melody is in love and wants her love and her sister to get along. This weekend is a gift from Verity and Melody's parents and is touted as a visit to real, haunted pirate island. The island owner is trying to drum up business and is hosting a weekend long treasure hunt with the prize being an antique medallion worth $10,000. Verity could use the money and so could Duranja, but working as a team together may prove a little difficult.
Phantom Island was the home of the legendary pirate Rebel Bill Brown, and his lost treasure. But it soon becomes clear that one, or more, of the treasure hunters this weekend are not playing by the rules and have a different treasure in mind other than the $10,000 prize. Verity will need all the help she can get from Frankie and his ghostly pirate cohorts to stay ahead of the human predator and the ghostly ones too.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Verity Long is on a romantic weekend with her main squeeze, Ellis. Just one, okay one of many, problem - Sister Melody and her boyfriend Alec Duranja (Verity's arch nemesis) are along too. To say that Verity and Duranja don't get along would be the understatement of the century. But, Melody is in love and wants her love and her sister to get along. This weekend is a gift from Verity and Melody's parents and is touted as a visit to real, haunted pirate island. The island owner is trying to drum up business and is hosting a weekend long treasure hunt with the prize being an antique medallion worth $10,000. Verity could use the money and so could Duranja, but working as a team together may prove a little difficult.
Phantom Island was the home of the legendary pirate Rebel Bill Brown, and his lost treasure. But it soon becomes clear that one, or more, of the treasure hunters this weekend are not playing by the rules and have a different treasure in mind other than the $10,000 prize. Verity will need all the help she can get from Frankie and his ghostly pirate cohorts to stay ahead of the human predator and the ghostly ones too.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
June 26, 2023
This series is quite a hoot.
I'm not someone who buys the books on release day, but I always get around to them and I always love them.
Great characters, fun stories...12 books and I still love the Verity and the gang.
I'm not someone who buys the books on release day, but I always get around to them and I always love them.
Great characters, fun stories...12 books and I still love the Verity and the gang.
April 11, 2023
If you were a fan of the Goonies than this book is for you . Verity dearly loves her sister Melody and will do anything for her and yes that includes spending a weekend away on a double date with Officer Alec aka her nemesis ! Yes the man who makes Veritys life unbearable at times has the hots for her sweet sister but as it involves a treasure hunt surely they won’t have to spend too much time together ? Well as a team of four that does mean they are pushed together but when “accidents “ start happening and it’s clearly every man for himself Verity needs to keep her wits about her but the island is haunted and as the only one who can see the ghosts Verity finds danger just about everywhere she goes !
This series is delightfully entertaining although I have to point out that this time there’s barely any scenes with resident ghost Frankie who usually manages to make this reader chuckle. Also the cuteness factor of Veritys pet skunk is missing meaning that the entirety of this story revolves around the human antics and foul play with just a twist of ghostly going’s on. Don’t misunderstand me the haunting and just why the spirits remain is a huge part of how this wraps up , it just had a different feel. My favourite parts had to be how Verity reacts to the man she privately thinks of as Robocop as I do love a bit of snark. This certainly had me eagerly turning the pages and helped while away the afternoon so yes I certainly do recommend this story.
This voluntary take is of a copy that I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This series is delightfully entertaining although I have to point out that this time there’s barely any scenes with resident ghost Frankie who usually manages to make this reader chuckle. Also the cuteness factor of Veritys pet skunk is missing meaning that the entirety of this story revolves around the human antics and foul play with just a twist of ghostly going’s on. Don’t misunderstand me the haunting and just why the spirits remain is a huge part of how this wraps up , it just had a different feel. My favourite parts had to be how Verity reacts to the man she privately thinks of as Robocop as I do love a bit of snark. This certainly had me eagerly turning the pages and helped while away the afternoon so yes I certainly do recommend this story.
This voluntary take is of a copy that I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
June 29, 2023
What could be more fun than Verity, Frankie, and the gang meeting ghost pirates and participating in a treasure hunt? I dove in with enthusiasm to this latest of a sassy fun series that entertains and delights each time.
Dread and Buried is book twelve of the Southern Ghost Hunter series. Most books work well as standalone mysteries, but the last few have contained strong ties to earlier books making them work better knowing how matters came to be. In Dread and Buried, the focus is on Verity learning to look with acceptance on her sister’s relationship with Verity’s long-time nemesis, Detective Alex Duranja. Duranja thinks she’s loo loo when it comes to the ghosts and gets in his way on murder cases and she doesn’t think much of him for her sister, either.
For her birthday, Melanie takes matters into her own hands and plans a double date to an island known for pirate history to participate as one team in a treasure hunt game. She and Ellis decide that close proximity will give Verity and Duranja a chance to get over the past. Plus, they would all like to win.
There are three other teams of people who have strong skills to bring to the hunt, but from the get-go, someone is working to sabotage the teams or the whole pirate-themed getaway. With the aid of Frankie’s ghostly power, Verity also learns that the ghosts of the island are not happy they are there. Slowly, the danger increases and Verity, Ellis, Melanie, and Alec realize that the treasure might prove to be a real one and someone wants it badly enough to kill.
At first, I was not into Verity and Alec Duranja sniping at each other like two siblings, but as the treasure hunt and ghostly mysteries kicked into gear, I was pulled more into the story. I did end up enjoy seeing if Verity and Alec could get past their issues. There were some good surprise twists in both mysteries.
Always a good time with this series and Dread and Buried was no exception. I can heartily recommend this series for those who love paranormal cozy mysteries.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About June 22nd.
Dread and Buried is book twelve of the Southern Ghost Hunter series. Most books work well as standalone mysteries, but the last few have contained strong ties to earlier books making them work better knowing how matters came to be. In Dread and Buried, the focus is on Verity learning to look with acceptance on her sister’s relationship with Verity’s long-time nemesis, Detective Alex Duranja. Duranja thinks she’s loo loo when it comes to the ghosts and gets in his way on murder cases and she doesn’t think much of him for her sister, either.
For her birthday, Melanie takes matters into her own hands and plans a double date to an island known for pirate history to participate as one team in a treasure hunt game. She and Ellis decide that close proximity will give Verity and Duranja a chance to get over the past. Plus, they would all like to win.
There are three other teams of people who have strong skills to bring to the hunt, but from the get-go, someone is working to sabotage the teams or the whole pirate-themed getaway. With the aid of Frankie’s ghostly power, Verity also learns that the ghosts of the island are not happy they are there. Slowly, the danger increases and Verity, Ellis, Melanie, and Alec realize that the treasure might prove to be a real one and someone wants it badly enough to kill.
At first, I was not into Verity and Alec Duranja sniping at each other like two siblings, but as the treasure hunt and ghostly mysteries kicked into gear, I was pulled more into the story. I did end up enjoy seeing if Verity and Alec could get past their issues. There were some good surprise twists in both mysteries.
Always a good time with this series and Dread and Buried was no exception. I can heartily recommend this series for those who love paranormal cozy mysteries.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About June 22nd.
May 2, 2023
I have yet to read anything by Angie Fox that has not been amazingly well written. All of her books are funny, thoughtful, charming, adorable, full of adventure, and romance. This one was no different. I absolutely loved the idea of going to a haunted pirate island for a birthday party. This sounds exactly like something I would want to experience in the future, if I were ever to get brave enough lol.
Verity and Melody are two of my most favorite characters in a lot of the book series that I read. They mesh so well together, lucky that they're sisters and each other's best friends. I like how the two can play off of each other. They almost always seem to know what the other is thinking, or even feeling.
The only drawbacks of this book that I could see was to be stuck on any kind of island with Alec. He has not been one of my favorite characters. However, that being said, the guy has finally grown on me. I was able to see some hidden depths to him that allowed me to understand why Melody has fallen so fast and so hard for this guy. Because believe me, I couldn't see it before. He has always been rude, taciturn, hardheaded, callous, stubborn, and (to me at least) egotistical.
No matter how I have felt about him, however, he is a great partner for Ellis. The two seem to mesh well together and have a guy's understanding that helps with their policeman's intuition. Ellis is such a great match for Verity and now that I have seen the proverbial light about Alec, I am seriously rooting for a double wedding. (Well, triple if somehow Frankie could marry his gal in the afterlife.) Wouldn't Lucy be adorable as a flower girl? I know I would love to see that lol.
I love all of the artifacts and the history behind the island. And it really kept me guessing. And that twist towards the end! Angie, you're sneaky and I love it lol. This series is chock full of comfort food for the heart and soul.
I absolutely recommend this book and every other book in the series. You will wonder why you haven't read these books before! One of my absolute favorite cozy series to read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and to Angie Fox for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.
Verity and Melody are two of my most favorite characters in a lot of the book series that I read. They mesh so well together, lucky that they're sisters and each other's best friends. I like how the two can play off of each other. They almost always seem to know what the other is thinking, or even feeling.
The only drawbacks of this book that I could see was to be stuck on any kind of island with Alec. He has not been one of my favorite characters. However, that being said, the guy has finally grown on me. I was able to see some hidden depths to him that allowed me to understand why Melody has fallen so fast and so hard for this guy. Because believe me, I couldn't see it before. He has always been rude, taciturn, hardheaded, callous, stubborn, and (to me at least) egotistical.
No matter how I have felt about him, however, he is a great partner for Ellis. The two seem to mesh well together and have a guy's understanding that helps with their policeman's intuition. Ellis is such a great match for Verity and now that I have seen the proverbial light about Alec, I am seriously rooting for a double wedding. (Well, triple if somehow Frankie could marry his gal in the afterlife.) Wouldn't Lucy be adorable as a flower girl? I know I would love to see that lol.
I love all of the artifacts and the history behind the island. And it really kept me guessing. And that twist towards the end! Angie, you're sneaky and I love it lol. This series is chock full of comfort food for the heart and soul.
I absolutely recommend this book and every other book in the series. You will wonder why you haven't read these books before! One of my absolute favorite cozy series to read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and to Angie Fox for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.
May 9, 2023
#DreadandBuried #NetGalley is another exciting book in this quirky cozy mystery series.
Verify is going on a double date, but its not one she's thrilled about, since one of them is her nemesis.
Catching up with Verify is always fun, you never know what is gonna happen, which really is the best part of these books.
I would love to hang out with her, maybe not her ghost friend, but definitely with Verity.
There's nothing better than a wonderful, colorful character and an adorable pet skunk.
I highly recommend this series to all readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Verify is going on a double date, but its not one she's thrilled about, since one of them is her nemesis.
Catching up with Verify is always fun, you never know what is gonna happen, which really is the best part of these books.
I would love to hang out with her, maybe not her ghost friend, but definitely with Verity.
There's nothing better than a wonderful, colorful character and an adorable pet skunk.
I highly recommend this series to all readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
May 31, 2024
Giving this 4 stars when compared to other books in the same category. This is a fun series and I love reading about the adventures of Verity and friends. Also, who wouldn't want a pet skunk?!
July 7, 2023
Dread and Buried is book 12 in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series. I love this series and the audiobooks are an automatic buy for me on release day. The setting and story were fun in this one, but it is not one of my favorites of the series. It had a slow start but then it picked up. I struggled with this book because it felt like Alec Duranja was the star of the book because his dislike of Verity and his disbelief in her abilities to interact with ghosts took center stage. He was a dick toward Verity for 75% of the book and it was just over the top. It also didn’t make sense to me that Melody would be so in love with Alec when he flat out says Verity is crazy, constantly blames her for the crimes in the past books, and is just flat out mean to her. Melody loves Verity, believes in her, and knows that Verity interacts with ghosts, so the fact that she is so in love with a man who doesn’t is weird. The majority of this book is the living humans on a scavenger hunt and they mostly interacted with each other. I missed the team work between Verity and Frankie and I also missed seeing Lucy in this book. I really liked the epilogue. It was cute. The narration was great as always. Overall, I give Dread and Buried 2.75 stars.
April 20, 2023
The treasure hunt, the ghosts’ stories, and the mysterious murder were all done supremely well. It had me at the edge of my seat and I couldn’t put it down.
Verity, Ellis, Melody, and Duranja are on a pirate island participating in a treasure hunt adventure for Melody’s birthday. Duranja still doesn’t believe Verity can see ghosts and thinks that she is a liability, and Verity thinks he is uptight and unpleasant. For Melody’s sake, they reluctantly agree to a truce, that they don’t exactly stick to. The game is on, but it soon becomes clear that there is more afoot than fictional missing pirate booty.
Do you remember that scene in The Incredibles where the family is in the van, dropped from a rocket, Mr. Incredible makes a very fast and impressive parking maneuver, and Dash yells, “Let’s do that again!”? Well, this adventure felt like that. Fast, furious, and fantastic.
Let me start by saying I absolutely love Ellis. He is super supportive and when Verity goes into “ghost mode”, he doesn’t ask unnecessary questions, he just stands ready to help. Verity and Duranja are at each other’s throats, which was a lot of fun to read, but it got even better when they were forced to work together and acknowledge that maybe the other person isn’t that bad. For all of Duranja’s faults, he is an excellent detective and he treats Melody like a queen. Verity and Frankie are the stars, as usual, and Verity helps ghosts who are stuck and solves the mystery in her usual, adorable, bumbling way. Frankie expanded his horizons to become an honorary pirate for a little while.
I can highly recommend this book and the entire series if you like ghosts, mysteries, and adventure written in a more light-hearted tone. This book can be read on its own, but I think reading the series in order will make more sense. The characters and their relationships change and grow over time and you don’t want to miss that.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 14, 2023
I totally understand that Frankie is a beloved character. I find him frustratingly rude so I was pleased that his role in this story was, for the most part, minimal (I know my opinion is in the minority, but it is what it is) and that I got to get to know some of the characters that we usually only see snippets of.
To celebrate her sister's birthday, Verity agrees to go on a weekend double date with her sister and her boyfriend, Alec, though the two of them definitely don't get along. Tasked with finding a "treasure" and winning $10,000, they must all work together to not only try to win the prize, but also find out who is behind all the mysterious happenings going on during the treasure hunt.
This installment read a bit differently than the other ones; everyone felt more grown up. It felt more like a mystery with a paranormal twist rather than a paranormal book with a mystery twist and I loved it!
To celebrate her sister's birthday, Verity agrees to go on a weekend double date with her sister and her boyfriend, Alec, though the two of them definitely don't get along. Tasked with finding a "treasure" and winning $10,000, they must all work together to not only try to win the prize, but also find out who is behind all the mysterious happenings going on during the treasure hunt.
This installment read a bit differently than the other ones; everyone felt more grown up. It felt more like a mystery with a paranormal twist rather than a paranormal book with a mystery twist and I loved it!
March 6, 2024
OMG..... I loved this book so much. I mean, I already knew I would because I've loved the whole series so far but the added extras of a treasure hunt, deadly competition, pirates.... oh wow. Brilliant! I absolutely flew through this book. The series is so easy to read, the characters are loveable and you just want everything to work out ok for everyone. I've got to say though, even though I knew what decision Verity was going to make at the end, because it was a classic Verity response, I was desperately hoping she would make a different one. Maybe I'm turning into Frankie!!!
However, despite loving the change in scenery I am looking forward to heading back to Sugarland in the next book.... hopefully.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion
However, despite loving the change in scenery I am looking forward to heading back to Sugarland in the next book.... hopefully.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion
April 18, 2023
Dread and Buried by Angie Fox.
Dead men tell no tales.
Until they meet ghost hunter Verity Long.
Verity Long is proud to say she gets along with just about anybody—dead or alive. But she’s put to the test when her well-meaning boyfriend and her sweet-as-pie sister con her into a remote island “double date” weekend with her sister’s new flame and Verity’s long-time nemesis, Alec Duranja.
I did enjoy this book. Love Verity character and Frankie the spirit. 5*.
Dead men tell no tales.
Until they meet ghost hunter Verity Long.
Verity Long is proud to say she gets along with just about anybody—dead or alive. But she’s put to the test when her well-meaning boyfriend and her sweet-as-pie sister con her into a remote island “double date” weekend with her sister’s new flame and Verity’s long-time nemesis, Alec Duranja.
I did enjoy this book. Love Verity character and Frankie the spirit. 5*.
January 3, 2024
I like this series it is a fun easy read
August 18, 2024
This was a fun book to read. Very different, more ghosts than live folks and exciting. It also had a sweet romantic ending. I highly recommend this book and this series. 5*****
May 9, 2023
Can't wait for the next one
I love the Southern Ghost Hunter no Mysteries and this one along with a great pirate yarn was an awesome addition to the series.
I love the Southern Ghost Hunter no Mysteries and this one along with a great pirate yarn was an awesome addition to the series.
August 20, 2023
Verity is expecting nice romantic moments with Ellis, but before she knows it, She's thrown into another dangerous adventure where she is running from ghostly killers, while hunting a real-life baddie.
Sounds like a typical Southern Ghost Hunter book, right?
Well, I'm leaving out a few key ingredients that make this book, on the one hand, an old school Verity Long but, on the other, a book that needed to happen to prevent an annoyed readership.
Alec Duranja hasn't just been a thorn in Verity's side, but one in mine as well. I truly loathed the guy, and thought he was a little too over the top in his disregard for her, knowing a friend & partner on the force ( Ellis) trusted her, and Verity solving several crimes no less. He became somewhat of a caricature.
What's more, Malory lost some major "cute sister points" when she actually started a relationship with him. Dating the dude who considers your big sis, the one with whom you have a strong bond, a crazy, attention seeking murderer you're going to throw in jail one day... Really Malory? It felt a bit too out of character. Weird.
I understand the introduction of Duranja. Or 'A' Duranja. Seeing as Ellis is 100% on her side it isn't strange to have a police officer in Sugarland who doesn't trust Verity, as she's always at scenes of crimes, and talks to thin air in the eyes of others. I can even understand an author wanting to create some extra tension - with Ellis' momma being a tad less hateful nowadays, which had to be coming one day - in the story.
But...I can't imagine I was the only one with the feelings I described above.
And thus Angie Fox decided - whether influenced by public opinion, or just being the good writer she is - that something needed to change, and has Malory inviting Verity and Ellis to a weekend hotelling on an island for her birthday. Surprise! Not only is it a double date with serious boyfriend Alec Duranja, but they're going to reside on, and hunting for treasure on Phantom Island, the former residence and hiding place of Pirate Captain Bill, his bride and his hoard.
Of course, the simple hunt for hidden doublouns against others to win a 10K cheque from the hotel owner soon turns dangerous as it becomes obvious some of the other Hunters aren't out to win the cheque, but find Pirate Bill's treasure hoard.
When Ellis and Malory end up hurt it is Verity who needs to team up with Duranja to find the perpetrators - and we can all guess that a Pirate island is full of the ghosts he thinks she's making up!
The book felt a bit like one of those in-betweens. Not an information dump to further a series arc, for example, but in this case a very necessary cease fire to make sure Verity can go back to her old school Ghost Hunter days without a police officer slash almost brother-in-law breathing down her neck.
Angie Fox manages to create this cease fire without readers thinking "Aaah, come on!". We all know Verity is quite forgiving, and a loving person to begin with, and their working together amidst betrayal, Frankie's antics - more of that later - and the resident ghosts is done well and believable. In that regard the book is surely well written and any new characters involved I could envision easily and enjoy to like or dislike - whether they're alive or spooks. The mystery was fun - though a bit too weak on the whodunit as I figured that out way too fast. I'm used to better work from Fox.
Because the book focuses so much on Malory's - and in a lesser way Ellis's - wish for her sister and boyfriend to get along, Dread and Buried does miss something of the usual lightness, cuteness and crazy antics we normally find ourselves in. It also really delve in to, nor pick up any of the new, or older plot points from previous books (like her granny). With regular characters missing the spotlight and no real furthering of the series arc* it almost had the feeling of a larger novella, say a #11.5, instead of the 12th installment.
Frankie can be incredibly frustrating at times, but he's also comic relief and a great cause for strife and trouble, ones Verity often needs to fix with a deadline and (ghostly) gun against her head. His role is quite small in Dread and Buried, and I've missed the wayward gangster here. But - fair is fair - he still manages to create trouble for her when he ís there, so I guess that definitely rings true as a SGH title eh? One big surprise for us Frankie lovers: his journey from criminal to good guy in order to move on takes an unexpected step into the right direction, and at very opportune moments (* the one, small, exception).
If you don't care for romantic moments, you might not care Ellis is barely present at all in the majority of pages in Dread and Buried. However, his steady, loving personality is what Verity often needs when things go crazy. Not to mention, they make a great team in dangerous situations. Suddenly she needs to put her safety in the hands of a man who considers her only slightly above 'crazy axe murderer'.
Despite missing both Ellis and Frankie, and the spark they give the SGH novels in general, it wasn't all bad that our resident Ghost Hunter had to rely on a different officer of the law. Due to the way everything was written, it worked out well. The Duranja-Verity team up gave the story, the mystery, a bit of extra oomph and scariness - and it needed that.
I mean, Verity against Pirate ghosts with a partner who can't see them, nor believes in them.... yeah, picture thàt! I had hoped Duranja had had to fight or dodge some breathing challenged characters himself, actually feeling the danger - as we've seen Ellis do in the past - and I consider it somewhat of a missed chance he doesn't. But what he does experience obviously makes him wonder if he was completely wrong about Verity.
Dread and Buried is definitely a good book - I read it in a day and wanted more Angie Fox after it - that needed to be written to get the nasty Duranja-taste out of readers' mouths. That does mean, however, this particular Southern Ghost Hunter novel has a different flavour.
Whether you really appreciate the aroma of it, and offer a Michelin star (or 5) is subjective, of course. For me it's an "amazing to try once, but please back to my regular menu" kind of deal. Yes, I did like this book, not taking my disappointment by the reveal of the whodunit into account. As all SGH novels I read through it as if I needed to catch the last bus home: really fast, without breaks. Fox only slows down the pace for the funny and sweet moments that are always present. The rest of the time your brain is running, fighting and trying to solve mysteries like a maniac.
In that regard Dread and Buried is like all her other great books. But...I guess when an author has made you thoroughly dislike a character and really love others, a major dose of the first and tiny sprinklings of the latter just leaves it short of a perfect bookworm's meal.
Southern Ghost Hunter fans still can't miss out, though!
Four stars.
Sounds like a typical Southern Ghost Hunter book, right?
Well, I'm leaving out a few key ingredients that make this book, on the one hand, an old school Verity Long but, on the other, a book that needed to happen to prevent an annoyed readership.
Alec Duranja hasn't just been a thorn in Verity's side, but one in mine as well. I truly loathed the guy, and thought he was a little too over the top in his disregard for her, knowing a friend & partner on the force ( Ellis) trusted her, and Verity solving several crimes no less. He became somewhat of a caricature.
What's more, Malory lost some major "cute sister points" when she actually started a relationship with him. Dating the dude who considers your big sis, the one with whom you have a strong bond, a crazy, attention seeking murderer you're going to throw in jail one day... Really Malory? It felt a bit too out of character. Weird.
I understand the introduction of Duranja. Or 'A' Duranja. Seeing as Ellis is 100% on her side it isn't strange to have a police officer in Sugarland who doesn't trust Verity, as she's always at scenes of crimes, and talks to thin air in the eyes of others. I can even understand an author wanting to create some extra tension - with Ellis' momma being a tad less hateful nowadays, which had to be coming one day - in the story.
But...I can't imagine I was the only one with the feelings I described above.
And thus Angie Fox decided - whether influenced by public opinion, or just being the good writer she is - that something needed to change, and has Malory inviting Verity and Ellis to a weekend hotelling on an island for her birthday. Surprise! Not only is it a double date with serious boyfriend Alec Duranja, but they're going to reside on, and hunting for treasure on Phantom Island, the former residence and hiding place of Pirate Captain Bill, his bride and his hoard.
Of course, the simple hunt for hidden doublouns against others to win a 10K cheque from the hotel owner soon turns dangerous as it becomes obvious some of the other Hunters aren't out to win the cheque, but find Pirate Bill's treasure hoard.
When Ellis and Malory end up hurt it is Verity who needs to team up with Duranja to find the perpetrators - and we can all guess that a Pirate island is full of the ghosts he thinks she's making up!
The book felt a bit like one of those in-betweens. Not an information dump to further a series arc, for example, but in this case a very necessary cease fire to make sure Verity can go back to her old school Ghost Hunter days without a police officer slash almost brother-in-law breathing down her neck.
Angie Fox manages to create this cease fire without readers thinking "Aaah, come on!". We all know Verity is quite forgiving, and a loving person to begin with, and their working together amidst betrayal, Frankie's antics - more of that later - and the resident ghosts is done well and believable. In that regard the book is surely well written and any new characters involved I could envision easily and enjoy to like or dislike - whether they're alive or spooks. The mystery was fun - though a bit too weak on the whodunit as I figured that out way too fast. I'm used to better work from Fox.
Because the book focuses so much on Malory's - and in a lesser way Ellis's - wish for her sister and boyfriend to get along, Dread and Buried does miss something of the usual lightness, cuteness and crazy antics we normally find ourselves in. It also really delve in to, nor pick up any of the new, or older plot points from previous books (like her granny). With regular characters missing the spotlight and no real furthering of the series arc* it almost had the feeling of a larger novella, say a #11.5, instead of the 12th installment.
Frankie can be incredibly frustrating at times, but he's also comic relief and a great cause for strife and trouble, ones Verity often needs to fix with a deadline and (ghostly) gun against her head. His role is quite small in Dread and Buried, and I've missed the wayward gangster here. But - fair is fair - he still manages to create trouble for her when he ís there, so I guess that definitely rings true as a SGH title eh? One big surprise for us Frankie lovers: his journey from criminal to good guy in order to move on takes an unexpected step into the right direction, and at very opportune moments (* the one, small, exception).
If you don't care for romantic moments, you might not care Ellis is barely present at all in the majority of pages in Dread and Buried. However, his steady, loving personality is what Verity often needs when things go crazy. Not to mention, they make a great team in dangerous situations. Suddenly she needs to put her safety in the hands of a man who considers her only slightly above 'crazy axe murderer'.
Despite missing both Ellis and Frankie, and the spark they give the SGH novels in general, it wasn't all bad that our resident Ghost Hunter had to rely on a different officer of the law. Due to the way everything was written, it worked out well. The Duranja-Verity team up gave the story, the mystery, a bit of extra oomph and scariness - and it needed that.
I mean, Verity against Pirate ghosts with a partner who can't see them, nor believes in them.... yeah, picture thàt! I had hoped Duranja had had to fight or dodge some breathing challenged characters himself, actually feeling the danger - as we've seen Ellis do in the past - and I consider it somewhat of a missed chance he doesn't. But what he does experience obviously makes him wonder if he was completely wrong about Verity.
Dread and Buried is definitely a good book - I read it in a day and wanted more Angie Fox after it - that needed to be written to get the nasty Duranja-taste out of readers' mouths. That does mean, however, this particular Southern Ghost Hunter novel has a different flavour.
Whether you really appreciate the aroma of it, and offer a Michelin star (or 5) is subjective, of course. For me it's an "amazing to try once, but please back to my regular menu" kind of deal. Yes, I did like this book, not taking my disappointment by the reveal of the whodunit into account. As all SGH novels I read through it as if I needed to catch the last bus home: really fast, without breaks. Fox only slows down the pace for the funny and sweet moments that are always present. The rest of the time your brain is running, fighting and trying to solve mysteries like a maniac.
In that regard Dread and Buried is like all her other great books. But...I guess when an author has made you thoroughly dislike a character and really love others, a major dose of the first and tiny sprinklings of the latter just leaves it short of a perfect bookworm's meal.
Southern Ghost Hunter fans still can't miss out, though!
Four stars.
May 4, 2023
Great as always!
In this instalment we get to know more about characters that we just have a glimpse but we have gotten to love through out each book.
This one could be read as a stand-alone, and hopefully a whole new series with Melody and maybe a pirate ghost.
Couldn’t put it down from beginning to end.
Would recommend it to any fans of cozy mysteries.
Note: I received an arc for review purposes and an honest and unbiased opinion
In this instalment we get to know more about characters that we just have a glimpse but we have gotten to love through out each book.
This one could be read as a stand-alone, and hopefully a whole new series with Melody and maybe a pirate ghost.
Couldn’t put it down from beginning to end.
Would recommend it to any fans of cozy mysteries.
Note: I received an arc for review purposes and an honest and unbiased opinion
April 25, 2024
Verity is such a doormat. She has not grown throughout this series! Same old, same old. Ghosts, everyone thinks she’s nuts, walk all over her and she keeps being her cheery self. This series used to be silly and quirky, now it just aggravates me.
July 7, 2023
This book takes the four main characters out of their normal small Southern town and into a totally different setting, which is always a smart thing to do in a long-running series. Verity is less than thrilled when her adored sister, Melody inexplicably falls for Alec Duranja, who regards her talent as an attention-seeking menace. Or simply deranged. He simply won’t accept that she can see and communicate with ghosts, despite her evident success in solving crimes.
This time around, everyone is out of their comfort zone. A former actor has inherited a tiny island, purported to have been a pirate hideout years ago – and the place is pretty much a living museum, stuffed full of valuable artefacts that Pirate Bill is using in a real treasure hunt. Melody has arranged for the four of them – Alec, Verity and her long-time boyfriend Ellis to take part as her birthday treat to herself. Of course, what she’s really trying to do is heal the rift between Alec and Verity on the grounds that if they just spend time in each other’s company, they’ll see how much they have in common… I enjoyed this dynamic, which added an extra emotional twist to the inevitable murder mystery. Verity is struggling to control her sense of hurt at seeing her sister being so cosy with a man she regards as an enemy and it leads to some amusing interchanges. Though not too much so as to overshadow the ongoing mystery.
The pirate tale of buried treasure, star-crossed lovers and ongoing vengeance unfolds with lots of atmosphere and is vividly told. I always enjoy these stories because Verity is such an engaging, likeable character. While the ornery ghost she accidentally trapped, Frankie, is sufficiently grumpy and awkward to prevent it all becoming too sweet. In fact – there is a really grisly story at the heart of this one that had me a bit shocked at the ferocity of the ongoing vengeance. However, as is the case in these sorts of cosy mysteries, all is put right and the denouement sorts out the villains from those who have been unjustly punished. As for Verity and Alec – does Melody’s ploy work? Well… that would be telling! Highly recommended for fans of cosy murder mysteries – though my firm advice is to go back to the first book to get the best from this entertaining series, even if dipping into this one wouldn’t leave you floundering. While I obtained an arc of Dread and Buried from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
This time around, everyone is out of their comfort zone. A former actor has inherited a tiny island, purported to have been a pirate hideout years ago – and the place is pretty much a living museum, stuffed full of valuable artefacts that Pirate Bill is using in a real treasure hunt. Melody has arranged for the four of them – Alec, Verity and her long-time boyfriend Ellis to take part as her birthday treat to herself. Of course, what she’s really trying to do is heal the rift between Alec and Verity on the grounds that if they just spend time in each other’s company, they’ll see how much they have in common… I enjoyed this dynamic, which added an extra emotional twist to the inevitable murder mystery. Verity is struggling to control her sense of hurt at seeing her sister being so cosy with a man she regards as an enemy and it leads to some amusing interchanges. Though not too much so as to overshadow the ongoing mystery.
The pirate tale of buried treasure, star-crossed lovers and ongoing vengeance unfolds with lots of atmosphere and is vividly told. I always enjoy these stories because Verity is such an engaging, likeable character. While the ornery ghost she accidentally trapped, Frankie, is sufficiently grumpy and awkward to prevent it all becoming too sweet. In fact – there is a really grisly story at the heart of this one that had me a bit shocked at the ferocity of the ongoing vengeance. However, as is the case in these sorts of cosy mysteries, all is put right and the denouement sorts out the villains from those who have been unjustly punished. As for Verity and Alec – does Melody’s ploy work? Well… that would be telling! Highly recommended for fans of cosy murder mysteries – though my firm advice is to go back to the first book to get the best from this entertaining series, even if dipping into this one wouldn’t leave you floundering. While I obtained an arc of Dread and Buried from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
April 18, 2023
A fun, suspenseful read with an intriguing mystery and great characters.
I was excited to dive into Angie Fox’s 12th and latest installment in her Southern Ghost Hunter Series. Dread and Buried takes Verity Long, her boyfriend, Ellis, sister, Melody, and Melody’s significant other to an island for a birthday celebration with an eccentric host and quirky contestants.
I’ve enjoyed the periodic settings outside of the series’ usual Sugarland, Tennessee, and this story is no different. Fox created the perfect backdrop to a dangerous hunt for rumored pirate treasure long buried on the island. Between the sprawling home of host “Pirate” Bill, to the cliffs, overhangs, and caves, that hold secrets of the contest becomes more about staying alive than finding riches.
Character development has consistently been one of Fox’s many strengths. Underlying the main storyline is the struggle between protagonist, Verity, and her sister’s new love, Alec Duranja. Duranja has been somewhat of a nemesis to her, but Verity reluctantly searches for some common ground with him for Melody’s sake. It adds an element to the story that’s very relatable. I was invested in how that would play out, and I wasn’t disappointed. Verity’s pet skunk, Lucy, didn’t make this trip, but Frankie is along for the ride and getting into all kinds of trouble, as usual.
The overall story is well-crafted. This particular book has a mystery within a mystery and keeps you on your toes until the final page. Even though there is a lot going on and almost every character has an underlying motive, it’s a quick read with an easy, flowing style.
I also want to mention, within many of the books in this series is an additional storyline about long-lost love and relationships left unexplored. This is one of my favorite parts and the resolution in this installment was one of best.
The genre of this series is hard to pin down. There’s an obvious mystery at the heart, but there’s also a splash of paranormal, a sprinkle of suspense, and the perfect dash of romance. The books are interesting, exciting, funny, and a bit suspenseful. I highly recommend this installment, as well as the series, to any reader, particularly those who love cozy mysteries with attention grabbing storylines and memorable characters.
I was excited to dive into Angie Fox’s 12th and latest installment in her Southern Ghost Hunter Series. Dread and Buried takes Verity Long, her boyfriend, Ellis, sister, Melody, and Melody’s significant other to an island for a birthday celebration with an eccentric host and quirky contestants.
I’ve enjoyed the periodic settings outside of the series’ usual Sugarland, Tennessee, and this story is no different. Fox created the perfect backdrop to a dangerous hunt for rumored pirate treasure long buried on the island. Between the sprawling home of host “Pirate” Bill, to the cliffs, overhangs, and caves, that hold secrets of the contest becomes more about staying alive than finding riches.
Character development has consistently been one of Fox’s many strengths. Underlying the main storyline is the struggle between protagonist, Verity, and her sister’s new love, Alec Duranja. Duranja has been somewhat of a nemesis to her, but Verity reluctantly searches for some common ground with him for Melody’s sake. It adds an element to the story that’s very relatable. I was invested in how that would play out, and I wasn’t disappointed. Verity’s pet skunk, Lucy, didn’t make this trip, but Frankie is along for the ride and getting into all kinds of trouble, as usual.
The overall story is well-crafted. This particular book has a mystery within a mystery and keeps you on your toes until the final page. Even though there is a lot going on and almost every character has an underlying motive, it’s a quick read with an easy, flowing style.
I also want to mention, within many of the books in this series is an additional storyline about long-lost love and relationships left unexplored. This is one of my favorite parts and the resolution in this installment was one of best.
The genre of this series is hard to pin down. There’s an obvious mystery at the heart, but there’s also a splash of paranormal, a sprinkle of suspense, and the perfect dash of romance. The books are interesting, exciting, funny, and a bit suspenseful. I highly recommend this installment, as well as the series, to any reader, particularly those who love cozy mysteries with attention grabbing storylines and memorable characters.
May 8, 2023
Pearl and Frankie Save the Day!
Verity is in a pickle while "tuned in" yet again. Verity's sister Melody plans a special birthday celebration for herself and includes her boyfriend Alec Duranja - who is also Verity's nemesis - Verity and Verity's boyfriend Ellis. They all stay on an island to partake in a treasure hunt. Of course it's just the thing Verity's gangster ghost, Frankie wants to participate in, so she brings him along also.
Alec is the only person in their group of four that doesn't believe Verity is a legit ghost hunter and can see spirits when Frankie turns on his powers allowing Verity to see the ghostly plane. However, Verity can always see Frankie, but she's the only one.
There are three other teams playing the game in search of the treasure. When accidents start happening that deem the island as unsafe, it is Verity and her team that begin to wonder if the accidents are intentional and actually sabotage. Frankie tunes Verity into the spirit realm and she's all of a sudden in more danger than sabotage by humans - she must duel to the death with various ghost pirates.
Will she escape or end up remaining on the island as invisible to all for centuries to come? Will Verity and Alec become friends? And will the team of four win the contest that allows Alec to give Melody what she so desperately wants?
Another great story by Fox! Always such a great adventure and I believe this series is the first ghost-type of books I've ever read. I'm so glad I found this paranormal world.
I do have one question after finishing this read and that is, what did Melody think of her gift from Alec? It wasn't mentioned and it is a huge deal. Guess we'll find out when book 13 is released "Death at the Drive-in". I already preordered mine!
Excerpt from the end of this book: “The next book brings us back to Sugarland and straight into the heart of the isolated, abandoned part of town near Maisie’s house—the one you all keep asking me about. Yes, there’s a reason why nobody goes there anymore and of course, it involves juicy secrets, 1950s ghosts, and Elvis. Death at the Drive-In releases on March 19, 2024!”
My next read is by Kathi Daley - Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Time Will Tell.
This is another wonderful series.
Verity is in a pickle while "tuned in" yet again. Verity's sister Melody plans a special birthday celebration for herself and includes her boyfriend Alec Duranja - who is also Verity's nemesis - Verity and Verity's boyfriend Ellis. They all stay on an island to partake in a treasure hunt. Of course it's just the thing Verity's gangster ghost, Frankie wants to participate in, so she brings him along also.
Alec is the only person in their group of four that doesn't believe Verity is a legit ghost hunter and can see spirits when Frankie turns on his powers allowing Verity to see the ghostly plane. However, Verity can always see Frankie, but she's the only one.
There are three other teams playing the game in search of the treasure. When accidents start happening that deem the island as unsafe, it is Verity and her team that begin to wonder if the accidents are intentional and actually sabotage. Frankie tunes Verity into the spirit realm and she's all of a sudden in more danger than sabotage by humans - she must duel to the death with various ghost pirates.
Will she escape or end up remaining on the island as invisible to all for centuries to come? Will Verity and Alec become friends? And will the team of four win the contest that allows Alec to give Melody what she so desperately wants?
Another great story by Fox! Always such a great adventure and I believe this series is the first ghost-type of books I've ever read. I'm so glad I found this paranormal world.
I do have one question after finishing this read and that is, what did Melody think of her gift from Alec? It wasn't mentioned and it is a huge deal. Guess we'll find out when book 13 is released "Death at the Drive-in". I already preordered mine!
Excerpt from the end of this book: “The next book brings us back to Sugarland and straight into the heart of the isolated, abandoned part of town near Maisie’s house—the one you all keep asking me about. Yes, there’s a reason why nobody goes there anymore and of course, it involves juicy secrets, 1950s ghosts, and Elvis. Death at the Drive-In releases on March 19, 2024!”
My next read is by Kathi Daley - Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Time Will Tell.
This is another wonderful series.
May 3, 2023
Dread and Buried is the twelfth novel in Angie Fox’s Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series. Ghost hunter Verity Long and her boyfriend lawman Ellis Wydell are accompanying her sister Melody and her boyfriend and the bane of Verity’s existence, detective Alec Duranja, on a special birthday weekend for Melody. While Melody and Ellis both support and believe in Verity’s special abilities, Alec does nothing but belittle and try to catch her doing something wrong. It is Melody’s biggest birthday wish to bridge the gap between her sister and boyfriend and has set this weekend on Phantom Island to accomplish this goal.
Phantom Island is the site of long ago pirate Rebel Bill Brown and his gang. A descendant of the pirate is continuing the family inn and holding treasure hunts as part of the weekend stay. With a $10,000 prize at stake, there are three other groups in competition with Verity’s group. First are the twins from a treasure hunting reality show, Zara and Zadie Williams. Also, mystery writer Rick Stone and his wife, Mindy, a retired coroner, form a team with the final team being a single person, Professor Fielding, who has studied the island and the legends of the treasure that lies hidden.
On the evening of their arrival, Verity’s ghostly companion Frankie the German tunes her in to the ghostly plane before taking off on his own. And there is much to see. As they delve into the hunt the evening they arrive, Verity makes contact with a powerful ghost on a rock bridge they must cross to get to their next clue. This brings Verity front and center to solving the happenings of centuries ago. But with things that occur on their quest, the group is thrown into a current day mystery of who is trying to harm them when a forced rockslide injures Melody and Ellis, leaving the hunt up to Verity and Alec with surprising results.
This is another fun romp into Verity’s ghostly adventures. With great characters, interesting surroundings, and the license to create imagined worlds, Ms. Fox has provided her readers with an interesting and fun read. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
Phantom Island is the site of long ago pirate Rebel Bill Brown and his gang. A descendant of the pirate is continuing the family inn and holding treasure hunts as part of the weekend stay. With a $10,000 prize at stake, there are three other groups in competition with Verity’s group. First are the twins from a treasure hunting reality show, Zara and Zadie Williams. Also, mystery writer Rick Stone and his wife, Mindy, a retired coroner, form a team with the final team being a single person, Professor Fielding, who has studied the island and the legends of the treasure that lies hidden.
On the evening of their arrival, Verity’s ghostly companion Frankie the German tunes her in to the ghostly plane before taking off on his own. And there is much to see. As they delve into the hunt the evening they arrive, Verity makes contact with a powerful ghost on a rock bridge they must cross to get to their next clue. This brings Verity front and center to solving the happenings of centuries ago. But with things that occur on their quest, the group is thrown into a current day mystery of who is trying to harm them when a forced rockslide injures Melody and Ellis, leaving the hunt up to Verity and Alec with surprising results.
This is another fun romp into Verity’s ghostly adventures. With great characters, interesting surroundings, and the license to create imagined worlds, Ms. Fox has provided her readers with an interesting and fun read. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
April 7, 2023
Ghost hunter Verity Long wants a ghost-free vacation. She dreads the double date weekend her sister planned on a remote, and possibly haunted, island. Verity has no other choice but to tolerate her nemesis, her sister’s new boyfriend, on this trip. Their weekend getaway takes a dangerous turn when someone tries to eliminate the competition in the treasure hunt event. Verity has her hands full with ghostly pirates and a century-old mystery. Can Verity and Alec find common ground on their weekend adventure? Or will this ghostly mystery be too much for Verity to handle?
I am glad that Verity is facing her next great challenge: Alec Duranja. In the last book, GIVE UP THE GHOST, she and Virginia Wydell, her other nemesis, finally come to terms with their thorny rivalry. Now Verity needs to bury the hatchet with Duranja! I understand why Verity has such a difficult time accepting Melody and Alec’s relationship. Melody is the one constant person she can depend on, so Verity cannot help but fear that Alec’s skepticism will turn Melody against her.
Duranja surprised me in a good way. He reminds me of Ellis at the start of the series. Ellis too was skeptical about Verity and her ability. However, his opinion changed once he observed Verity at work. I think Alec will be the same way. I admire him for trying at the end.
DREAD AND BURIED is the twelfth book in Angie Fox’s fun paranormal romance series, SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read this series in proper order. Each book shows Verity’s struggles and accomplishments in her ghost hunting. They also reveal the start of her rocky relationship with Alec Duranja – her boyfriend’s coworker and friend and her sister’s boyfriend.
I noticed that Frankie did not play a huge role in this story. He mostly cropped up here or there throughout the book. I missed his gangster witticisms and larger-than-life presence. I adore how Ellis purposely mentions Frankie and Verity’s ability around Alec. He wants to put an end to Verity and Alec’s animosity towards each other.
I am glad that Verity is facing her next great challenge: Alec Duranja. In the last book, GIVE UP THE GHOST, she and Virginia Wydell, her other nemesis, finally come to terms with their thorny rivalry. Now Verity needs to bury the hatchet with Duranja! I understand why Verity has such a difficult time accepting Melody and Alec’s relationship. Melody is the one constant person she can depend on, so Verity cannot help but fear that Alec’s skepticism will turn Melody against her.
Duranja surprised me in a good way. He reminds me of Ellis at the start of the series. Ellis too was skeptical about Verity and her ability. However, his opinion changed once he observed Verity at work. I think Alec will be the same way. I admire him for trying at the end.
DREAD AND BURIED is the twelfth book in Angie Fox’s fun paranormal romance series, SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read this series in proper order. Each book shows Verity’s struggles and accomplishments in her ghost hunting. They also reveal the start of her rocky relationship with Alec Duranja – her boyfriend’s coworker and friend and her sister’s boyfriend.
I noticed that Frankie did not play a huge role in this story. He mostly cropped up here or there throughout the book. I missed his gangster witticisms and larger-than-life presence. I adore how Ellis purposely mentions Frankie and Verity’s ability around Alec. He wants to put an end to Verity and Alec’s animosity towards each other.
March 26, 2025
This series has my heart. I only have a couple left after this one before I am all caught up. I certainly hope we get more! Well...maybe...I have a couple more so maybe it will wrap up nicely?
Okay so we continue with our gang Verity and Frankie. Verity has dealt with her sister's new flame...Alec Duranja....but now she is conned to a double date holiday where HE will be. Verity and Alec have been at odds since their first meeting, so her goal is to avoid him as much as possible, but now they are involved in a treasure hunt competition based on the island's pirate past. There is no escaping so they will have to play nice. However, there is a contestant who is using the game to find the real pirate gold and they are willing to hurt someone....or worse....kill for it. The four will need to work together to get out alive and maybe win some big cash.
I loved the shake up on setting for this one. It was nice getting away from Sugarland and reading about a nice warm island. *sighs in sad-Michigander-trying-to-ignore-the-cold-weather* I also have a soft spot for pirates so I was giddy that Verity gets to chat with some long-dead pirates!! When I was a youth I LOVED pirates so I can't help but feel nostalgic.
This was fun. The mystery was entertaining. At first it just seems like it would be a harmless treasure hunt, but things get dicey when "accidents" keep happening. There are a few contestants who seem to be itching for that gold.
Bless Frankie. Love him so much. Sadly we didn't see TOO much of him in this one, but he did have another character growth. I'm so proud of him.
Loved Pearl LOL.
What I liked most with this book is that it Verity and Alec are forced to interact and maybe, just maybe become friends. We'll see what happens in the next book.
The narrator is perfection as always. The pirate voices all sounded similar but still a good job there.
5 stars from me. Read this series. It is a gem. But you need to read book 1.
- Favorite Character(s): Pearl!!!!!!!
- Least Favorite Character(s): The twins
Okay so we continue with our gang Verity and Frankie. Verity has dealt with her sister's new flame...Alec Duranja....but now she is conned to a double date holiday where HE will be. Verity and Alec have been at odds since their first meeting, so her goal is to avoid him as much as possible, but now they are involved in a treasure hunt competition based on the island's pirate past. There is no escaping so they will have to play nice. However, there is a contestant who is using the game to find the real pirate gold and they are willing to hurt someone....or worse....kill for it. The four will need to work together to get out alive and maybe win some big cash.
I loved the shake up on setting for this one. It was nice getting away from Sugarland and reading about a nice warm island. *sighs in sad-Michigander-trying-to-ignore-the-cold-weather* I also have a soft spot for pirates so I was giddy that Verity gets to chat with some long-dead pirates!! When I was a youth I LOVED pirates so I can't help but feel nostalgic.
This was fun. The mystery was entertaining. At first it just seems like it would be a harmless treasure hunt, but things get dicey when "accidents" keep happening. There are a few contestants who seem to be itching for that gold.
Bless Frankie. Love him so much. Sadly we didn't see TOO much of him in this one, but he did have another character growth. I'm so proud of him.
Loved Pearl LOL.
What I liked most with this book is that it Verity and Alec are forced to interact and maybe, just maybe become friends. We'll see what happens in the next book.
The narrator is perfection as always. The pirate voices all sounded similar but still a good job there.
5 stars from me. Read this series. It is a gem. But you need to read book 1.
- Favorite Character(s): Pearl!!!!!!!
- Least Favorite Character(s): The twins
April 12, 2023
Dread and Buried by Angie Fox is an amusing paranormal mystery. I laughed often while reading about Verity and Frankie’s latest adventure. I felt for Verity. Verity loves her sister, Melody. Melody’s birthday wish, though, was hard one for Verity to agree to. Verity and Ellis were invited (like she could refuse) on a weekend double date to a remote island (Phantom Island) with Melody and her boyfriend (Verity’s nemesis), Alec Duranja. The weekend gets off to a rough start when Verity runs late after forgetting Lucy’s favorite toy. Melody waits until they are on Phantom Island to inform them the weekend is a treasure hunt, and they are competing against three other teams. One team is particularly ruthless. The foursome soon discovers that someone is searching for more than the games prize. Verity believes the island’s legend about buried treasure could be true. She will need to keep her wits about her to stay ahead of the bad guys as well as Frankie and his new pirate chums. I quickly devoured Dread and Buried. Verity Long is a great character and so is Frankie. I did miss Lucy in this book. She is staying with a friend while Verity is away. Frankie was not as present in this story. He popped up now and then when Verity called for him. I missed his witty repartee. Alec Duranja is a character that grows on you. Melody sees a different side of Duranja (who knew the man owned a dog), and she wants Verity to get to know him. I thought the books she gifted Verity and Duranja were hilarious. The mystery is fun. While I found it easy to solve, my mother only solved part of it before the reveal (my mother could not wait to get her hands on this book). I did find it odd that Melody would date someone who shows such antagonism towards Verity especially considering how accepting and supportive Melody is of Verity’s gift. Dread and Buried is the twelfth book in A Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this delightful series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and Verity’s journey (her struggles and triumphs). One of my favorite lines from Dread and Buried is when Frankie says, “Is that a pirate ship in the distance? he demanded, giddy as a goat in clover.” Another is when Verity says, “There was something about a mystery that always puts a spring in my step.” Dread and Buried is an entertaining tale with an isolated island, an infuriating nemesis, a thrilling treasure hunt, sweet skunk earrings, troublesome twin contenders, bothersome books, an unforeseen find, a frustrating Frankie, a precious parrot, and a vexed Verity.
April 24, 2023
Dread and Buried is the twelfth book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series. When Verity Long, ghost hunter, goes to a ghostly pirate island to take part in a treasure hunt as part of her sisters birthday weekend, she finds herself tangled up in another ghostly investigation. Along for the trip is Melody’s, Verity’s sister, boyfriend and Verity’s nemesis, Alex Duranja. Will the two be able to overcome their differences in order to help their team win the treasure hunt or will their strong dislike for each other get in the way?
I have loved every book in this series and have been excitedly waiting for this book to come out. It was definitely worth the wait! Instead of taking place in Sugarland, TN like most books in this series, we get to visit a ghostly pirate island with Verity and company and I think this change of scenery added the perfect mix up to this series. I loved everything about this book, from the characters to the ghosts to the treasure hunt angle. I’ve always enjoyed the back and forth battle between Verity and Duranja in this series, but I loved the take on their relationship in this book and seeing how Duranja’s relationship with Melody forced them to have to work together for the good of the team. This was an interesting angle of this book and I really enjoyed seeing the character dynamics.
Another great element of this book was the treasure hunt and the ghost pirates. This is the perfect mix up for Verity and I loved seeing her and Frankie, her gangster ghost, interact in this different environment. As always with this series, this book had me captured from the very first page and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Verity in the next book! I highly recommend this book and this entire series!
Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!
I have loved every book in this series and have been excitedly waiting for this book to come out. It was definitely worth the wait! Instead of taking place in Sugarland, TN like most books in this series, we get to visit a ghostly pirate island with Verity and company and I think this change of scenery added the perfect mix up to this series. I loved everything about this book, from the characters to the ghosts to the treasure hunt angle. I’ve always enjoyed the back and forth battle between Verity and Duranja in this series, but I loved the take on their relationship in this book and seeing how Duranja’s relationship with Melody forced them to have to work together for the good of the team. This was an interesting angle of this book and I really enjoyed seeing the character dynamics.
Another great element of this book was the treasure hunt and the ghost pirates. This is the perfect mix up for Verity and I loved seeing her and Frankie, her gangster ghost, interact in this different environment. As always with this series, this book had me captured from the very first page and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Verity in the next book! I highly recommend this book and this entire series!
Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!
February 22, 2024
I have read several of the prior books in this series and "Dread and Buried" was much like the stories that proceeded it. Verity Long is a southern ghost hunter with her own tied to her spirit through whom she can sometimes see and interact with the spirit world as a whole. Previous books had her solving all sorts of mysteries with the help of the ghost world. In this book, she has joined her boyfriend Ellis, her sister Melody, and Melody's boyfriend, Duranja - the latter of whom is also Verity's nemesis - for a treasure hunting weekend on what turns out to be a haunted island.
This book is a quick read and very much a cozy mystery. A female protagonist, her sidekick(s), a mystery, a hint of romance. Verity and Ellis are solid but not necessarily passionate. Melody and Duranja seem to still be in early days, yet he is planning to propose, a notion Verity detests. Once in the treasure hunt, a seeming mystery develops which Verity is determined to solve, while still having her eyes trained on the $10,000 prize for winning the treasure hunt.
This is not the most enthralling entry to this series. The mystery/murder plot is super slow to get going and a bit nonsensical. Verity spends an inordinate amount of time complaining about Duranja and his relationship with her sister. Ellis is kind of just a flat character as is Melody. In any other book genre, I would have expected Verity and Duranja to hook up. The mystery plot solution has an obvious conclusion.
I would recommend reading other books in the series as you might otherwise feel a little lost in this one. I rate it 2.5 stars, rounding up to three because I know this is not the most shining example of Angie Fox's work. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.
This book is a quick read and very much a cozy mystery. A female protagonist, her sidekick(s), a mystery, a hint of romance. Verity and Ellis are solid but not necessarily passionate. Melody and Duranja seem to still be in early days, yet he is planning to propose, a notion Verity detests. Once in the treasure hunt, a seeming mystery develops which Verity is determined to solve, while still having her eyes trained on the $10,000 prize for winning the treasure hunt.
This is not the most enthralling entry to this series. The mystery/murder plot is super slow to get going and a bit nonsensical. Verity spends an inordinate amount of time complaining about Duranja and his relationship with her sister. Ellis is kind of just a flat character as is Melody. In any other book genre, I would have expected Verity and Duranja to hook up. The mystery plot solution has an obvious conclusion.
I would recommend reading other books in the series as you might otherwise feel a little lost in this one. I rate it 2.5 stars, rounding up to three because I know this is not the most shining example of Angie Fox's work. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.
April 10, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️
"Just because they call it Phantom Island, doesn't mean it's haunted." - Ellis
Dread and Buried is the 12th book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, a cozy mystery series. I’ve read three or four of the earlier books, so it didn't take long for me to jump right into this latest adventure.
Verity, ghost hunter extraordinaire, was the same character I remembered her to be. She was full of spirit (pun intended), animated, and fully unable to resist sinking into a good mystery, even when things got dicey. Her boyfriend Ellis, as always, was right by her side and ready to guard her against anything she couldn't handle.
I really loved the setting on the mysterious Phantom Island, you know something spooky was going on based just on its description. The pirate game was the icing on the cake, giving us twists and turns along with some shady characters who would do almost anything to find the treasure first.
Verity's sister Melody dating Alec Duranja, Verity's nemesis, was an easy way to cause drama. Considering how supportive and accepting Melody has always been of her sister's ability, it was hard to believe she would date someone who was closed-minded to the point of calling Verity crazy.
Fabricated tension aside, this book was entertaining and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I encourage anyone new to the series to start with the first book, Southern Spirits, to start at the beginning of Verity’s journey into the world of ghosts.
My full review at: https://www.ratherbookish.com/post/dr...
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Spice: 🌶️
"Just because they call it Phantom Island, doesn't mean it's haunted." - Ellis
Dread and Buried is the 12th book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, a cozy mystery series. I’ve read three or four of the earlier books, so it didn't take long for me to jump right into this latest adventure.
Verity, ghost hunter extraordinaire, was the same character I remembered her to be. She was full of spirit (pun intended), animated, and fully unable to resist sinking into a good mystery, even when things got dicey. Her boyfriend Ellis, as always, was right by her side and ready to guard her against anything she couldn't handle.
I really loved the setting on the mysterious Phantom Island, you know something spooky was going on based just on its description. The pirate game was the icing on the cake, giving us twists and turns along with some shady characters who would do almost anything to find the treasure first.
Verity's sister Melody dating Alec Duranja, Verity's nemesis, was an easy way to cause drama. Considering how supportive and accepting Melody has always been of her sister's ability, it was hard to believe she would date someone who was closed-minded to the point of calling Verity crazy.
Fabricated tension aside, this book was entertaining and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I encourage anyone new to the series to start with the first book, Southern Spirits, to start at the beginning of Verity’s journey into the world of ghosts.
My full review at: https://www.ratherbookish.com/post/dr...
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 13, 2023
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In book 12 of the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery Series, Verity Long takes her ghost hunting abilities away from her hometown of Sugarland, Tennessee. Verity's sister Melody plans a birthday weekend double-date on Phantom Island, for a treasure hunt. Melody confides in Verity that if their team wins then Melody's boyfriend Alec Duranja (who Verity can't stand) is planning to take his portion of the winnings and buy Melody an engagement ring. When they discover that someone is using the game as a cover to dig up real pirate gold...and they’re willing to kill to keep it, the stakes become even higher. As the killer sets their sights on Verity, and Frankie's pirate ghost buddies he has befriended keep wanting to duel her, Verity has to learn to trust Duranja and work with him if she is going to make it out of this weekend alive.
I love this series. These books are so much fun. Although I do enjoy the ones in Sugarland the best, because I love reading about Verity's pet skunk, Lucy, and she wasn't really in this book except for a brief mention at the very beginning. I really enjoy how spunky and down-to-earth Verity is, and her relationship with her ghost buddy Frankie. This storyline read a lot like something from Amazing Race. There was a lot more action and adventure than there usually is in her books. I loved how Verity was able to resolve things for some of the ghosts that were stuck on the island. Her ghostly interactions are always entertaining. If you enjoy a cozy paranormal mystery, then you should check this out. Don't worry if you haven't read the previous books. They are all written as a stand-alone, so you won't be lost.
In book 12 of the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery Series, Verity Long takes her ghost hunting abilities away from her hometown of Sugarland, Tennessee. Verity's sister Melody plans a birthday weekend double-date on Phantom Island, for a treasure hunt. Melody confides in Verity that if their team wins then Melody's boyfriend Alec Duranja (who Verity can't stand) is planning to take his portion of the winnings and buy Melody an engagement ring. When they discover that someone is using the game as a cover to dig up real pirate gold...and they’re willing to kill to keep it, the stakes become even higher. As the killer sets their sights on Verity, and Frankie's pirate ghost buddies he has befriended keep wanting to duel her, Verity has to learn to trust Duranja and work with him if she is going to make it out of this weekend alive.
I love this series. These books are so much fun. Although I do enjoy the ones in Sugarland the best, because I love reading about Verity's pet skunk, Lucy, and she wasn't really in this book except for a brief mention at the very beginning. I really enjoy how spunky and down-to-earth Verity is, and her relationship with her ghost buddy Frankie. This storyline read a lot like something from Amazing Race. There was a lot more action and adventure than there usually is in her books. I loved how Verity was able to resolve things for some of the ghosts that were stuck on the island. Her ghostly interactions are always entertaining. If you enjoy a cozy paranormal mystery, then you should check this out. Don't worry if you haven't read the previous books. They are all written as a stand-alone, so you won't be lost.
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