Bubba Done It

Dreamwalker #2

by Maggie Toussaint

Amateur sleuth and dreamwalker Baxley Powell is called in on a stabbing case. She arrives in time to hear the dying man whisper, “Bubba done it.”

Four men named Bubba in Sinclair County, Ga., have close ties to the victim, including her goofball brother-in-law, Bubba Powell.

She dreamwalks for answers, but the dead guy can’t talk to her. Baxley sleuths among the living. The suspects include a down-on-his-luck fisherman, a crackhead evangelist, a politically-connected investor, and her brother-in-law, the former sweetheart of the new widow.

The more Baxley digs, the more the Bubbas start to unravel. Worse, her brother-in-law’s definitely more than friendly with the new widow.

Between petsitting, landscaping, and dreamwalking, Baxley’s got her hands full solving this case.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal

308 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2015

About the author

A scientist by training, a romanticist at heart, Maggie Toussaint loves to solve puzzles. Whether it’s the puzzle of a relationship or a who-dun-it, she tackles them all with equal aplomb and wonder. Maggie writes romantic suspense, contemporary romance , and science fiction for Muddle House Publishing, cozy mystery for Camel Press, Henery Press, and Muddle House.

She has five published romantic suspense novels: House of Lies (won the 2006 Readers Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense), No Second Chance (won 2 cover awards), Seeing Red (LASR book of the week), Muddy Waters ( Beacon finalist), Hot Water (EPIC finalist, cover art winner), and Rough Water.

Her mystery titles include In For A Penny, On the Nickel, Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Dime If I Know, No Quarter, Gone and Done It, Bubba Done It, Doggone It, Dadgummit, Confound It, Dreamed It, All Done With It, Seas the Day, Spawning Suspicion, and Shrimply Dead. She also wrote a romantic mystery novella series, The Lindsey & Ike Mysteries.

Her next release, SNUFFED OUT, is tentatively scheduled for January 2023 under the pen name of Valona Jones.

Her works blend mystery and romance, often with a dash of humor.

She's a member of Southeast Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime, and Guppies. She was awarded the WRW Magic Crystal Award in 2004. She also won Silver Falchion Awards, the National Readers Choice Award and the EPIC ebook Award. She's been a finalist for Georgia Author of the Year three times.

Visit her at www.maggietoussaint.com

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!
This is a great book; this is the second book in the Dreamwalker series by Maggie Toussaint. Baxley Powell is a dreamwalker and helps the police solve murders. When she gets a ride with the sheriff, they get a call to help with a stabbing. When she gets there the victims whispers “Bubba Done It” before he dies. For some reason she can’t talk to the victim when she dream walks so she has to use her amateur sleuthing skills to find the killer. This book is very entertaining with some southern charm. If you are looking for a great mystery that will leave you guessing until the end then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this author.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[R J Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last thing Baxley Powell expected when she caught a ride with Sheriff Wayne Thompson was to be dispatched to the scene of a murder. Arriving just in time to catch the dying words of Morgan Gilroy, he declared ‘Bubba Done it’. The trouble is, there are a lot of Bubbas in Sinclair County, Georgia, and it seems like all of them have a grudge against the banker, but is that grudge enough to cause them to commit murder?
Baxley is the county Dreamwalker. When she uses her talents to reach out to Morgan’s spirit, she instead encounters Rose, an angry spirit that prevents Morgan from telling Baxley who killed him. In exchange for a ‘favor’, Rose agrees to let Morgan tell what he knows. Making deals with the spirits of the dead, can cause a whole world of trouble. But Baxley is desperate. She wants to get to the bottom of the murder. Especially when one of the Bubba’s is her Brother-in-law. Baxley and her late husband, Roland have spent years trying to protect Bubba Powell from one harebrained scheme after another. And this time he just might have crossed the line.
Two years earlier, Roland Powell was declared dead by the Army, but no body was ever found. He was a Special Ops soldier deployed overseas when he went missing. But the Army has yet to release his insurance money. This has caused Baxley to find work as a part-time pet walker, part-time landscaper, and occasional police consultant, where she uses her dreamwalking skills to communicate with the dead in hopes of discovering who killed them.
To add to the already volatile situation, Baxley’s Father, the county’s ex-dreamwalker, and current coroner, performs his own dreamwalk. And while he is in the spirit world, he looks for Roland. In the process, he goes beyond where he can safely travel. It takes the intervention of his daughter and another of the local Bubba’s, Bubba Paxton, to bring him back.
Things turn more dangerous when someone begins to threaten Baxley. But getting to the bottom of the murder seems the only way to keep everyone safe. She can’t shake to feeling that someone is watching her.
But it isn’t until she turns her attention June, the long missing daughter of Morgan’s brother, Ritchie Gilroy, and friend of Larissa, Baxley’s daughter, that things begin to fall into place.
‘Bubba Done It’ is steeped in small town Southern drama, with a side order of the paranormal. Maggie Toussaint keeps the readers on the edge of their seats as she spins a tale of intrigue.

[Larena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary, Mystery


Sinclair County, Georgia


Baxley Powell is a consultant for the police where her dreamwalking talent for talking to the dead helps solve murders. It also makes her pet-sitting and landscaping businesses take a back seat.

While Baxley is riding with the sheriff a stabbing call comes in via a 911 call. When they arrive at the scene they find the knife is still in the victim’s chest. The victim is the bank president and with his last breath he whispers “Bubba done it.”

Sinclair County, Georgia, unfortunately is full of Bubbas, four of them. Each one also has ties to the victim. Baxley dreamwalks only to find that the dead banker is forbidden to talk to her. Now Baxley must search among the living. The top suspects are a crack-head evangelist, a politically-connected investor, a down-on-his-luck fisherman and even worse Baxley’s brother-in-law who was also the high school sweetheart of the dead man’s ex-wife.

Baxley finds more connections between each suspect and the victim as she digs for answers. With Baxley’s brother-in-law keeping company with the victim’s ex he also manages to raise suspicions about his involvement.

Baxley need to find the killer because if she doesn’t her brother-in-law could go to jail which would let the real killer to get away with it.


This is a fun mystery that keeps taking turns that will have readers guessing just who is behind the murder and why they did it. While readers could read this as a standalone it would be greatly enhanced if they read the first book before this one. Just as readers think they have it figured out another clue comes to light that will have them wondering if they are on the right track or not. The story doesn’t let up until the very end. This is series that will have mystery readers wanting to read the books and eagerly awaiting the next one. The characters are well written and add a lot to the story. This is one series definitely worth checking out.


Received a review copy

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In this follow up to Gone and Done It we find Baxley with her hands full and way too many Bubbas that could be tied up in a recent murder. The sheriff tries to take the easy route by arresting each of them with very little proof which drives Baxley to do a little investigating of her own. Her daydreaming doesn’t help much as the victim is unable to talk, so she has to start asking questions putting herself in danger.

I really like Baxley. A strong woman dealing with life the best she can. In addition to dreamwalking and consulting with the local police she does landscaping and pet sitting to provide for herself and her daughter. He husband has been declared dead by the military but all his benefits are tied up in red tape. There are even some indicators that he may not be dead.

All of the characters, Baxley, her daughter, her parents, the Bubbas and more are very well written. Sheriff Wayne drives me a bit crazy. I picture him as a Barney Fife from Mayberry, only with more power. He bumbles around this case looking for a quick, easy solution without trying to see the big picture. Just because the dying man whispered, “Bubba done it” doesn’t mean you arrest the first Bubba you see. The South is full of Bubbas. He even pulls one of the out of the hospital having medical tests done just because his name is Bubba. He is more of an arrest first, ask questions later kind of guy. Thank God for Baxley and her butting in, I mean consulting, on the case.

Baxley and her family’s gifts of dreamwalking, crystal powering and ESP connections really flow easily throughout the story. The reader just knows this is their way and it is very natural. I do have to say it was just a little hard to read so soon after losing my son.

This case is tied up by the last page but we still have questions. Is Baxley’s husband alive? and if he is why hasn’t he come home? Does Baxley’s daughter have dreamwalking abilities too? Just how do Baxley’s parents make ends meet? I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out more about this great cast of characters.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baxley Powell is a single mom with an adolescent daughter, a landscaping business, a pet-sitting business and an inherited ability to talk to dead people. She uses that ability in job no. 3, part-time police consultant.

She’s riding with the sheriff when a 911 call comes in about a stabbing. They arrive on the scene in time to hear the victim’s last words: “Bubba done it.” There are four men in town named Bubba who have close ties to the dead guy, including Baxley’s brother-in-law. Baxley can’t get to the dead man in the spirit world, so she is forced to work among the living to find out who did him in. She really hopes the guilty party isn’t her brother-in-law.

I find Baxley fascinating – she’s a down-to-earth person who just happens to have this odd ability to speak to the dead and help them and the living move on with their lives. But she does this while working three jobs, taking care of her young daughter, and mourning the loss of her soldier husband. There’s a lot going on with Baxley in this book – she can’t reach her husband in the spirit world, which makes her think that despite what the government is telling her, he’s not dead; and her daughter seems to be talking to dead people too.

I received an ARC from the author with the understanding I would do an honest review. I can honestly say I enjoy this series because the characters are all well-developed, the plots interesting and the paranormal elements are woven into the stories in a plausible way. I want to spend more time with Baxley and the other residents (living and otherwise) in Sinclair County, Georgia.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific book, I loved it! Baxley Powell,a part-timej dog walker – landscape artist and the town dreamwalker, is called out to a stabbing. She arrives just in time to hear the victim call out “Bubba done it” with his dying breath. Baxley attempts to dreamwalk in an effort to contact the victim but is unable to locate him. With four guys named Bubba living in town, the sheriff thinks it will be an easy open and shut case especially since he believes the culprit is none other than Baxley’s brother-in-law. The more Baxley digs into the lives of the other Bubbas, more information comes to ight to make them each look guilty. Baxley has her hands full trying to unravel this mystery.

Maggie Toussaint has written a smart, funny, and deftly written nppl. The story will quickly grab your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. There are plenty of twists and surprises along the way so you’ll be kept guessing until the end. The characters are likable and relatable; people you care what happens to them. This is the second book in the series and can be read as a stand-alone (I haven’t read the first book yet and didn’t feel lost at all). A very entertaining, engaging story, I highly recommend it!

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baxley Powell has a special talent. She's able to dreamwalk. The sheriff uses her ability to track down killers. Will she be able to find out which Bubba killed the banker, Morgan Gilroy? I liked Baxley. She's a single mom who is determined to make sure her daughter grows up in a safe and stable home even though her job is unique. There are so many unanswered questions she needs to find answers to. What happened to her daughter's best friend? Her desire for closure makes her the killer's target. Who in this small town could have done it? The setting and the well written characters pulled me into this story. I was intrigued by the paranormal element. When she encounters dangerous spirits on her dreamwalk, I was intrigued by how powerful Rose Kingsley was. Will she continue to plague Baxley? The small town setting was perfect. It added to the drama. The interaction between the characters provided more suspects. There were so many that I didn't know until the end who the culprit was. I'm enjoying this series (A Dreamwalker Mystery). Margaret Toussaint writing kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for the next book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a dying banker says that someone nicknamed Bubba stabbed him, he unleashes the sheriff’s investigation into a number of townsfolk all of whom share the same moniker. What makes the lawman’s task more difficult is that each person has a viable motive. Wayne turns for help to the local Dreamwalker. But when Baxley tries to contact the dead guy in the great beyond, she runs into a dark entity that threatens to pull her into the void forever. Complicating matters are the victim’s niece who is missing and her boat that was found abandoned in the marsh. What has happened to the young girl? As Baxley gets closer to the truth, she receives threatening messages and acts of vandalism that are meant to discourage her. But she persists on pursuing justice regardless of her own peril. It’s a pleasure to see Baxley’s paranormal powers expanding. This unique element adds to the story’s mystique. With its cast of quirky characters, Southern setting, and psychic sleuth, Bubba Done It will keep you guessing until the end.

[Karla Brandenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the title fool you into believing this is a redneck hick type of book.

Set in Georgia, Baxley Powell is a probably widow trying to raise her daughter without marketable skills. But she does have the gift passed through to her from her father - she can talk to the dead. As a dog walker, landscaper, she freelances with the sheriff (an old would-be boyfriend from high school) when someone is murdered. The hope is that the dead man will tell her who killed him, but "dreamwalking" on the other side isn't quite that cut and dried.

Baxley's impatience to solve the murder intersects with a young girl's disappearance, her daughter's best friend. Along the journey, she discovers her daughter has inherited some sensitivity of her own. And is Baxley's husband really dead? We ride the roller coaster of Baxley's emotions as she struggles to protect her daughter, to keep herself safe, and to cope with the other distractions of everyday life. Filled with suspense, this well written book keeps you guessing all the way to the end which Bubba Done It.

[Yaritza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was invigorating. Couldn't put the book down from the very beginning. This book was well written, with a great plot and mystery. As I read I kept on trying to figure out all the possibilities of who killed Morgan and what exactly happen to June? What kept this story going was that every single Bubba that were suspects all had dealings with Morgan and they all wanted him dead. Morgan was a wealthy man who didn't think of anyone's feelings but himself. I loved that Baxley is a independent women who can go to the spirit world and be able to see what had occurred at a death scene. She was able to solve the case on her own even though she was warned to stay away from the case. I was very shocked to have known that Morgan's brother was his killer. He definitely was filled with sorrow, pain and anger to have killed him. Hoping to read another book with Baxley. Great read you don't want to miss it.

[Vicki Highley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to receive this book for a honest review and I wasn't disappointed. I had read the first book in the series and had really enjoyed it. Baxley Powell is a Dreamwalker, who consults with the local sheriff department. When someone dies in a suspicious manner Baxley will Dreamwalker to find the victim and find out what happen. However, this time the victim is still alive and whispers Bubba Done it. You would think that would be simple but not in Georgia and when you have a brother-in-law named Bubba, who comes under suspicion and a victim who refuses to talk to her on her dream walks. So Baxley decides to help solve the mystery. The book has interesting characters especially Baxley counter culture parents I loved her relationship with them and the frustration she has with them. Baxley would like to just raise her 10 year old daughter and work with plants and animals. If you love paranormal with a mystery or a good mystery with paranormal this the book for you.

[Cecelia Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baxley is a dreamwalker. She can crossover and talk to the dead. She has taken over the job of dreamwalker with the Sheriff's Department from her Father. The Sheriff takes her to the scene of a 911 call. Morgan is dying from stab wounds and he whispers "Bubba Done It.". Sinclair County, Ga has more than it's fair share of Bubbas. Which Bubba done it?
Baxley is a single mother raising her daughter after the death of her husband in the military. She struggles with her finances, her parents, and her daughter. This is a typical small town where everyone knows you and your family. It is a wonderful way to live but presents challenges too!
I like books with an element of paranormal and this one delivers. It is full of twists and turns. The ending was a total surprise. Curl up in you favorite reading chair and enjoy the journey Maggie Toussaint takes you on.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As bank president, Morgan Giltoy, lay dying he whispers, "Bubba done it" and Baxley hears him. Immediately she thinks of her brother-in-law, but no he wouldn't have done it. If not him them who? In Sinclair County, GA there are a few. Baxley's dream walking skills will be tested as she seeks to find which "Bubba Done It". This is an exceptional journey into the Paranormal. Maggie Toussaint has a flair for writing well written books with moments of humor, high suspense and guessing which "bubba Done It" until the end. I highly recommend any book written by Ms. Toussaint. She never disappoints her readers.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan Giltoy the Bank President lay dying he whispered "Bubba done it" Baxley hears him. She immediately thinks of her Brother- In - law. But he wouldn't have done it. In Sinclair County GA. There are a few men named Bubba. Baxley is a Dream Walker her skills will be put to the test as she tries to find out which Bubba done it? A fantastic journey into the paranormal there are moments of humor, suspense and trying to guess which Bubba done it until the very end..

[Judy Pflueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this murder mystery. It had a bit of humor in it and left out the gore. It keeps the reader guessing and trying to figure who is the guilty party. As the murder victim took his last breath, he said, "Bubba done it." There are quite a few Bubbas in the county and each of them had a motive. There are some twists and you will want to read the book all the way through.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual and interesting story. I don't usually lcare for this type of story but it held my interest without going overboard on the "dreamwalker" aspect. No way did I guess the ending.

[Cyndy Aleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for RT Book Reviews June 2015 issue: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/bubba-done-it

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those good paranormal books that are hard to put down. A good main character with grit and kickass attitude.

[Keller Adcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Can't wait for the next one.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good book! Baxley is trying to build up her landscaping and pet sitting businesses, but murder, bodies and spirits keep getting in her way. I like how she is getting more confidence with her dreamwalking experiences...and now that she's a consultant for the local police department, she's getting more chances. The only drawback is she has to spend more time with Wayne..the cop with no sexual bounderies. While trying to help find a murderer she is getting closer to things from her past. How did her daughter's best friend really die? ,and some how it's connected to the murder she is helping with now. I like how Baxley's daughter,Larissa is wanting to develop and strengthen her skills in becoming a dreamwalker as well. There are secrets that come out about the suspects as the story goes on. And we also get to meet Rose, the vengeful spirit .. I'm hoping she will be in the next book so we can find out about her mysterious past. Will she become a helper on the other side for Baxley, or ??? Great suspenseful book that I highly recommend.

[Gayle Nastasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubbas, Bubbas everywhere

But which Bubba done it?

Maggie Toussaint's Dreamwalking sleuth, Baxley Powell, finds herself mixed up in a dangerous dilemma when a wealthy local man is found brutally stabbed.

His final words inform Baxley and the sheriff that "Bubba done it." That would seem like an easy case to solve, but for the fact that there are quite a few Bubbas in their town.

And all of them had good reason to hate the victim!

Baxley has plenty of opportunity to use the psychic gift that allows her to visit the realm of the dead as she attempts to unravel the mystery while keeping herself and her young daughter safe.

Bubba Done It is a delightful tale that will keep the reader page-turning way past their bedtime!

[Elizabeth Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment in this series.
The characters are interesting and, this time, the sheriff actually shows some better qualities. (But he's still a blatant womanizer!)
The puzzling mystery of the murder(s) is solved through Baxley's hard work.
But what's up with her missing husband? And who is the watcher in the woods? And what is Rose?

[Danny Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bubba Done It, Whoever Bubba Is….

The plot pulls every Bubba in. The Bubbas are characters, and all those characters are distinctive. As are the characters who aren’t Bubbas. It’s an entertaining story with entertaining characters. A fun read. The second in a series, and I look forward to the third!

[Pat Dupuy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Which Bubba?

Two mysteries get solved in this tale. The mysteries in her own life still trouble Baxley. Can she dreamwalk without running into demons? Is her husband alive or dead? Those issues remain to be resolved. I will be reading this series until I know the answers.

[LK Hunsaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Maggie Toussaint's cozy mysteries, but the Dreamwalker series is my favorite of the bunch. I've read them out of order, but it doesn't matter. I am saving the last one for the end, and I'm sure I'll be sorry it's the end.

[Cherie Waggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely different. Would like to see a little more confidence in the lead.

[Talindana · Rating 5 out of 5]

That is absolutely one of the best books on my shelf!

[Jane Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bubba Done It is a really good book, y'all. It's the second book in the Dreamwalker Mystery series, following Gone and Done It (reviewed on my blog). Both books star Baxley Powell. In Bubba Done It, she is beginning her new position as psychic police consultant, and has embraced her new role as County Dreamwalker.

The action of Bubba Done It gets going immediately. The dying man's declaration of his killer, "Bubba done it," occurs at the end of chapter one. Since one of the possible Bubbas is her brother-in-law, Baxley decides to investigate the different Bubbas so she can clear Bubba Powell's name. The more she searches, the more dirt she discovers about the Bubbas — all four of them. Which Bubba done it? READ THE BOOK!

There is a secondary mystery — the niece of the murder victim disappeared nine months ago, in an apparent boating accident. The girl, June, was best friends with Baxley's ten year old daughter Larissa. What happened to June? Is it related to her uncle's death? READ THE BOOK!

There is also some lively entertainment, when Author Maggie Toussaint writes about the funeral for the murder victim. Would you believe a food fight? At the reception following the funeral? And of course, one of the Bubbas is at the center of it! Want to know more? READ THE BOOK!

Baxley narrates Bubba Done It and, with her great sense of humor and snark, makes this a very fun read. It was a very quick read too, because I just had to find out which Bubba done it. I was surprised by whodunit, and loved the ending.

I really enjoyed Bubba Done It, and recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries everywhere, especially those who like a touch of paranormal added in. Bubba Done It has earned a rating of Four Stars!

Note: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of Bubba Done It.

Originally published on my blog Jane Reads.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won a copy of this ebook from the author in a contest. However, I have read other works by Ms. Toussaint and would have read it without having won it.

How many Bubba's can you fit in the fishbowl? Okay, how many can live in one town? If it's a town created by Maggie Toussaint, the answer is Plenty! The main character Baxley and the sheriff both know that Bubba Done It. Yup, he murdered Morgan, who breathed out those words with his dying breath. The problem is, there are a bunch or Bubba's who could have done it. They all have motive because Morgan, the local banker, was a nasty man who cared for money more than people.

Baxley must figure out which Bubba done it because the local sheriff has Baxley's brother-in-law in his sights and she wants to protect her family. With her growing paranormal powers, Baxley become overconfident and gets herself into trouble in the real world and the spirit world. She gets herself into a mess of trouble, again. Her best friend Charlotte, along with her daughter Larissa, figure prominently in the story, and Ms. Toussaint makes you care for each character as if they were real. Along with the characters we met in the first book, Gone and Done It, we meet some new characters and whole lot of Bubbas before we learn who did what, to whom, and when.

It's a treat to try to figure things out because just when we think we've got it, Ms. Toussaint throws in a twist that leaves us scratching our head once again. An unresolved mystery from the first book still leaves us with no answer in this one, so we know there's another story around the corner. She wouldn't leave us hanging indefinitely.

Bubba Done It is another southern treat from Maggie Toussaint.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ubba Done It is a book that held my attention from beginning to end. It's an exciting who-dun- it with a paranormal twist which is actually blended very well into the plot. It really just seemed like a realistic part of who Baxley is and I felt like it enhances the storyline. The southern setting is a wonderful setting for the story, after all the victim's dying words are Bubba Done It and where else but the south are you gonna find more Bubba's than you can shake a stick at! Ms. Toussaint not only brings her characters to life with rich, vivid detail but also brings the setting to life as well. I really enjoy the character of Baxley, she is easy to like, as a single mom she is very easy to relate to. Truly a mystery that kept me guessing. While this book is the second in the Dreamwalker Mystery series I feel like the author provides enough background information that it can be read as a stand alone. I haven't read the first book and had no problems diving right into this story. I am a huge fan of Charlaine Harris and Ms. Toussaint's writing is right on par with hers. After reading Bubba Done It I find myself wanting to read everything this author has written.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.