Ewes and Eulogies

Sadie Sexton Hoochville Mystery #5

by Ramey James

It’s Halloween in Hoochville, and it’s a two-for-one deal at the Shady Grove Cemetery. Unfortunately there was only a reservation for one.

When a dead body is discovered in the freshly prepared grave of a prominent Hoochville community leader during the weeklong Harvest Festival celebration, the unexpected death is ruled a suicide. But Sadie and her friends think otherwise. It’s all tricks and no treats this year as Juniper, the dead woman’s niece, appears to be targeted as the next victim.

Sadie’s as busy as a one-armed paper hanger, trying to prove Ginny’s suicide was really a murder while keeping her niece safe, all while navigating her first Harvest Festival celebration in Hoochville in over a decade. Can she survive Punkin’ Chunkin’, the Buckshot Blast, and the Haunted Fluff-n-Stuff long enough to crack the case?

"Nothing beats small towns for good friends, good times, and secrets. You’ll get all of them in the Sadie Sexton Hoochville Mysteries. Come join the fun." ~Jana DeLeon, New York Times Bestselling author.

“Sadie and her crew are hysterical, adventurous, and get into some crazy shenanigans... Fans of Jana DeLeon and Angie Fox will find this series as addictive as theirs. The southern references are comical, and the age range for the cast of characters make this likable for all generations. Can't wait for the next adventure!!!!” ~ Goodreads Reviewer

· Multi-generational cozy murder mystery
· Quirky Southern small-town shenanigans
· Ride-or-die female friendships
· Adorable pets and cozy crafts

Ewes and Eulogies is a craft and hobby cozy mystery full of humor, friendship, beloved pets, and found family. Join Sadie Sexton as she takes over her grandmother’s yarn shop and reluctantly becomes an amateur sleuth, determined to defend her loved ones and neighbors against false murder charges in her small Southern hometown of Hoochville, Tennessee.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2025

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book you are going to love.
It has humor mystery and all the other things that make for
a great murder mystery.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small towns generally struggle for space but since when do they double up on graves?

Sadie and the gang come across a fresh corpse when they attend the funeral of a beloved former politician. At the behest of his cousin Sadie undertakes the investigation into just how Ginny ended up in Booger's grave.

Is it political shenanigans? Family Feuds? Or some other unknown motivation. Who knew small town life was so fraught with tension?

Once again, Charmaine is frosty with everyone but Elvis. Sadie's slow burn romance with sheriff is once again causing him problems when her investigation tangles with his. Add in Halloween hijinks and another murder and poor Sadie starts to worry if she'll ever uncover the culprit.

A strong cast of female characters, from all walks of life and age brackets. A diverse small town and a gossip grapevine that moves at warp speed. Clem and Dot are brilliantly supportive secondary characters, but this Scot is a bit worried at the thought of these elderly women packing pew-pews!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hootchville seems like a super fun and slightly unhunged place to celebrate Halloween. The town is gearing up for their annual week-long celebration, and whoops, at a funeral they find a body in the grave of the dearly departed. Rather than spending the week going to the town Halloween events with her friends and her beau Reed, Sadie and crew are again trying to solve a murder.

As usual hilarity and hijinks abound while Sadie and her friends have what seems like the best Halloween celebration ever. Her new romance with her old flame Reed is great and I want to see where it goes in future books, and see where Sadie's life takes her as she's coming up on the year her grandmother's will stated she must run the yarn shop with her sister Charmayne.

I hope the next book isn't the final one in the series, but if it is, I look forward to the wild ride the girls and town of Hootchville will take us readers on!

[Janet Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved going back to Hoochville! Everything about this series has been great and this book is no different. There is so much to love about the series not the least of which is the relationships between Sadie and her friends. I'm give or take Sadie's age and having friends like that, especially when you had left your hometown for years and returned after the death of your grandmother to find your friendships were as strong as they were when you left. When there is a murder and the police look at it as a suicide, it is up to Sadie and her friends to find the murderer. After all, finding murderers is something that they are so good at!

Once again I am left waiting to a few months but the next book, but I've already pre-ordered it!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know exactly what I’m getting when I read this author duo, especially since this is book five. LOL! Sadie is such a fun character, and I’m hoping in the next book we get to see what her decision is about staying in Hoochville or going back to New York City. In this latest, though, she’s at a funeral when another dead body is found in the grave, and of course, from then on Sadie and her friends try and solve this newest case as they don’t believe it is a suicide as has been determined. Since it’s Halloween in the story, there’s even more hilarious shenanigans than normal with pumpkins guts, pie-eating contests, and costume wearing. A fun addition to a cute series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it but that is no surprise. The authors have a way of pulling you into the story and not letting go until you are done the book. I did put it down because life gets in the way sometimes but I picked it up and finished it the next day.

Well written and I loved the storyline. Book number 5 happens to take place during Halloween and of course there is another dead body. I don't like giving away the story when I am doing a review because that ruins the book for others. Let me just say that Sadie and the girls have their jobs cut out for them this time.

The characters are a wonderful bunch of women and I laughed while reading Clem and Dot. What I wouldn't give to have a couple of female friends like them. They are a hoot!

Highly recommend this series if you like cozy mysteries and you like to laugh. A great combination for anyone!

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ewes and Eulogies is a very twisted, fascinating, small town, cozy mystery! I love this line from the blurb: ". . . it’s a two-for-one deal at the Shady Grove Cemetery." I love Sadie, her girlfriends, Dot and Clem (I want to be them when I grown up!), boyfriend Reed and more. These authors create the best characters. I rather expect that Ginny's niece Junie will be added to the recurring character list. Leave plenty of time for this one or you won't get much sleep. Between the suicide that needs to be proved a murder and all the Harvest Festival events you are in for a wild ride! I am eager to read the next adventure.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ewes and Eulogies: by Ramey James 5 stars pub 11/21/25

She was honoring a friend's husband at the funeral when a shocking thing happened. Yep you guessed it--another dead body. The location is even more shocking. You will have to read to get all the information.

The hilarity with this group of women is amazing. They are determined to find the killer. Since the police think is suicide they are done. She sheriff is in love with Sadie so all is not done.

Be ready laugh a lot, to share her friend's sorrow, danger, and watch while their group joins the town's festival and gets in danger trying to solve it.

[Heather Huth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween Hijinks and Mystery

Who doesn't love a good murder mystery with some Halloween themed fair activities and reckless 4H presentations? Sadie, Clem and Dot are on the case to solve who killed Ginny. Along with Sadie's friends showing up in fabulous costumes, Charmayne acting nice (waiting for that shoe to drop!), and a budding romance with Sherriff Hawkins who could be bored? The murder case has as many twists and turns as a corn maze. Great read and looking forward to the next mystery!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cosy murder mystery with a side of fibre arts. I love the characters, the town and the sleuthing. Sadie’s a great character but not a static one, there’s a natural character growth which means that she’s not egotistically throwing herself into every crime in the town, instead she is drawn in by others. Her burgeoning relationship with Reed is lovely and the camaraderie is great.

I won’t spoil any of the mystery but suffice to say it wasn’t obviously to predict.

Highly recommended.

[SuperMommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable latest installment of Sadie Sexton mysteries! this latest starts out with a dead body in the grave on top of the planned burial body. Of course Sadie and her friends have to investigate! And Dot and Clem showcase their feistiness through the story. Most unexpected was how Char had many moments of acting like a true sister and not always snapping at Sadie. Hope to see more of that in future novels!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's never a dull moment in Hoochville! Another great Ramey James book that has you wondering who did it and why, while laughing at the antics that befalls Sadie and her friends. The relationships are awesome and the storyline was great! Always looking forward to saying hi to Elvis :) While this is a standalone book, you would be missing out on a lot of great scenes if you didn't start from the beginning.

[Audrey Krofchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are such fun reads! They just suck you in from the beginning. And it keeps you wondering who did it the whole time. I always try and guess and usually do not figure it out, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for another one. Sadie and her friends are hilarious and will keep you laughing majority of the book.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to say this is my absolute favourite Sadie story so far. I loved the Halloween setting, the mystery was just amazing, the descriptive writing especially of the haunted house was amazing. I truly loved everything about this book and I love visiting hoochville a lot all the characters just work and I’m hoping Junie becomes a regular.
Congrats to the authors on another riveting story.

[Calley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read! This duo must drink, or wear diapers while writing. Yet another fun murder mystery in this small town of crocheters. I personally hate spoilers so won’t give you any - just let you know that book 5 is as good or better than 1-4. I adore these characters and can’t wait to read the finale!

[Celeste Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Sadie masterpiece! I love this little town and all of the characters. The week long Halloween festivities and the amazing costumes from Dot and Clem made this a great story for this time of year. And who know that Charmayne could even be nice to her sister and friends? I can't wait to read the next one!!

[Nancy Fholer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I love Sadie and her many adventures with her two older sidekicks. There is romance and mystery.. I love the murder mystery aspect of all this authors books. I highly recommend this author and series. I think that the only thing that could improve this series is knitting and crocheting patterns included in the books.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great addition to this series. I was quickly drawn in and kept turning the pages. There was s humor, great characters, an intriguing story, and so much more. A great story and a great series.

[Fraxinus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this story and how the characters have evolved, from Sadie's relationship with a certain sheriff, to her relationship with her sister, which was been such a journey! I am also a sucker for older women, who get stuff done and couldn't care less what you think of them on the way. I am definitely team Sophia on the Golden Girls!

This story was a fun read, filled with friendships and fun! I love how Ms. James writes the characters you didn't know you needed in your life. I can't wait to see were she takes us next!