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Puzzle Pieces
Presley DeGraff is a young woman on the run. With nothing but the clothes on her back, her escape from the ruthless manipulations of her former fiancé leaves her with little time to hide. There is only one person to whom she can turn, only one place she may be safe . . . Haggerty, Georgia, is known for its Southern hospitality and quirky inhabitants. For Presley, her Aunt Violet's home in the tiny town is a lifesaving haven. Her aunt, along with a cast of delightful friends and neighbors, warmly welcomes her. For the first time in so long, she feels hope a hope that hinges on hiding her past. But the dreams of solitude that she had envisioned quickly fade when a disturbing discovery is made in her aunt,s a human skeleton. At the first hint of crime, Haggerty's own amateur sleuth, Miss Eugenia, is on the case. Along with handsome Haggerty resident Mac and sprightly ninety-nine-year-old Loralee, Presley is quickly drawn into a mystery spanning generations of Haggerty's history. But when news coverage of the investigation digs up Presley's own secrets, it s up to her new friends to come to her aid, by whatever means necessary.
230 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2015
19 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Brannon Green
37 books313 followers"WELCOME!!!!!
If you're not familiar with my books, I write mystery-suspense novels. I am LDS (Mormon) and so are some of my characters, but I have loyal readers from many different faiths. My goal is to engage the reader in my books. I want to make them laugh and cry and worry and dread the end.
Most of my books are set in the fictional town of Haggerty, Georgia - which is loosely based on my grandparents' hometown of Headland, Alabama (the most wonderful place on earth). Each book has an ample supply of romance, suspense, Southern hospitality and even recipies!"
by Betsy Brannon Green on http://www.betsybrannongreen.net/
If you're not familiar with my books, I write mystery-suspense novels. I am LDS (Mormon) and so are some of my characters, but I have loyal readers from many different faiths. My goal is to engage the reader in my books. I want to make them laugh and cry and worry and dread the end.
Most of my books are set in the fictional town of Haggerty, Georgia - which is loosely based on my grandparents' hometown of Headland, Alabama (the most wonderful place on earth). Each book has an ample supply of romance, suspense, Southern hospitality and even recipies!"
by Betsy Brannon Green on http://www.betsybrannongreen.net/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 11, 2015
(4.5) I've been reading about the people of Haggerty for years now and I love every moment I get to spend there with these great, quirky characters! There are a few characters who seem to make appearances in most of the books and I've come to love these older women. They're so full of personality and although some are grumpy, all are busybodies, and some have health issues, they never fail to step in and show a newcomer some true, Southern hospitality.
The story begins with an interesting situation involving Presley and I wasn't quite sure at first if she was escaping from something bad or from the cops. A stunning beauty, Presley is very down-to-earth and likable. Her string of bad luck is almost laughable, but she does well to make the best of situations.
I loved getting to know Mac and his story. I love characters who are very real and humble and that's just how Mac comes across. He has every reason to have a big head, but with a mistake in his past, he's content to live a simple life. It's sad that second chances are hard to come by in this place--at least, some people aren't willing to let bygones be bygones.
I really do love this setting and the inhabitants who live there. Life seems much simpler and little things cause such drama, gossip, and mystery, with rumors running rampant. The mystery and suspense isn't overwhelming and too intense--it's a perfect mix of a cozy mystery with some elements of romance and gentle fun. I really hope this isn't the last we'll see of Haggerty.
Content: very mild religious elements; mild, clean romance; some moments of suspense, mystery, and talk of murder (non-graphic); no language. Clean!
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
The story begins with an interesting situation involving Presley and I wasn't quite sure at first if she was escaping from something bad or from the cops. A stunning beauty, Presley is very down-to-earth and likable. Her string of bad luck is almost laughable, but she does well to make the best of situations.
I loved getting to know Mac and his story. I love characters who are very real and humble and that's just how Mac comes across. He has every reason to have a big head, but with a mistake in his past, he's content to live a simple life. It's sad that second chances are hard to come by in this place--at least, some people aren't willing to let bygones be bygones.
I really do love this setting and the inhabitants who live there. Life seems much simpler and little things cause such drama, gossip, and mystery, with rumors running rampant. The mystery and suspense isn't overwhelming and too intense--it's a perfect mix of a cozy mystery with some elements of romance and gentle fun. I really hope this isn't the last we'll see of Haggerty.
Content: very mild religious elements; mild, clean romance; some moments of suspense, mystery, and talk of murder (non-graphic); no language. Clean!
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
November 19, 2015
This book has a very cryptic beginning. We know that Presley is scared and running from someone, but we have no idea who. She makes her way to her Aunt Violet's home in Haggerty, Georgia, where she is welcomed with open arms. Her Aunt Violet is the town's attorney and Presley is also an attorney. When her parents died a year ago, Violet invited her to come live and work with her. We slowly learn Presley's story of why she didn't come and what she's been dealing with during that time.
Presley makes some new friends, including the older women that make Haggerty a fun place to visit, Mac, the local tow truck driver, and Cecilia, the gorgeous beautician who is an outcast. As they become friends, Presley is able to open up about her life and enlists their help when the time comes. There's a secondary storyline which has to do with a human skeleton found in Violet's backyard. Presley feels compelled to find out what happened so she starts her own investigation.
It's been a while since I've visited Haggerty, Georgia, and it was fun to go back! Miss Eugenia is an amateur sleuth and has solved quite a few mysteries in her town. The characters are endearing and they don't always get along. Ms. Green has done a great job of creating a fictional town that feels authentic. I hope there will be more mysteries in Haggerty in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
Presley makes some new friends, including the older women that make Haggerty a fun place to visit, Mac, the local tow truck driver, and Cecilia, the gorgeous beautician who is an outcast. As they become friends, Presley is able to open up about her life and enlists their help when the time comes. There's a secondary storyline which has to do with a human skeleton found in Violet's backyard. Presley feels compelled to find out what happened so she starts her own investigation.
It's been a while since I've visited Haggerty, Georgia, and it was fun to go back! Miss Eugenia is an amateur sleuth and has solved quite a few mysteries in her town. The characters are endearing and they don't always get along. Ms. Green has done a great job of creating a fictional town that feels authentic. I hope there will be more mysteries in Haggerty in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
November 11, 2015
The book has an interesting start. A young woman, Presley, is escaping from a mental institution. There isn't a back story. You just know that her attorney is corrupt and that she has to hide.
She finds her way to Haggerty, Georgia where she is going to help out her Aunt with her law practice. She finds a haven and meets the people of the town. Mac, the repo guy has a special interest for her as she gets to know him and learn why he is also hiding out in the small town.
The book focuses on a murder mystery. A female skeleton is found in Aunt Violet's back yard. The discovery rocks the small town and leads to humorous speculation. Presley feels a kinship to the unknown woman and wants to help lay her and her story to rest. While discovering the woman's past, she lays bare her own. Healing is the focus of the book.
For me, I wanted to focus more on what brought Presley to Haggerty. Why was she institutionalized? Why does she need to hide from her attorney? That was one aspect of the book that kept me turning the pages. Her past came tumbling back to meet her quickly when the time came.
I loved how the main characters in the book interacted. They seemed to genuinely care about each other and were helpful while dealing with their own problems.
The book moved a little slowly at times, but overall I found it to be a fun book to read.
She finds her way to Haggerty, Georgia where she is going to help out her Aunt with her law practice. She finds a haven and meets the people of the town. Mac, the repo guy has a special interest for her as she gets to know him and learn why he is also hiding out in the small town.
The book focuses on a murder mystery. A female skeleton is found in Aunt Violet's back yard. The discovery rocks the small town and leads to humorous speculation. Presley feels a kinship to the unknown woman and wants to help lay her and her story to rest. While discovering the woman's past, she lays bare her own. Healing is the focus of the book.
For me, I wanted to focus more on what brought Presley to Haggerty. Why was she institutionalized? Why does she need to hide from her attorney? That was one aspect of the book that kept me turning the pages. Her past came tumbling back to meet her quickly when the time came.
I loved how the main characters in the book interacted. They seemed to genuinely care about each other and were helpful while dealing with their own problems.
The book moved a little slowly at times, but overall I found it to be a fun book to read.
November 13, 2015
This book started out with a well thought out and executed escape. It had me interested and excited about where this book was going. Then it just dropped off. Everything slowed down to a snail's pace and I was so frustrated! So my advice to anyone reading this book is expect a cozy mystery with a slow moving plot set in a small southern town.
I've read lots of other books by this author and many of them set with these same characters. The older women in this book have made appearances in the other Haggerty books so in a way it was like visiting with old friends. I really liked Mac.
Presley's story starts off with a bang and then fizzles as she gets to Haggerty. Her back story comes in little bits as she and the other residents get caught up in the mystery surrounding a human skeleton found in her aunt's backyard. Of course things pick up toward the end, the gaps are filled in and the whole story breaks loose, but it takes some patience to get there.
This book is a clean, cozy mystery. It is big on southern charm and quirky characters. Small towns know how to rally around their own and that is exactly what the characters in this book do. It has all sorts of feel good things going on.
I've read lots of other books by this author and many of them set with these same characters. The older women in this book have made appearances in the other Haggerty books so in a way it was like visiting with old friends. I really liked Mac.
Presley's story starts off with a bang and then fizzles as she gets to Haggerty. Her back story comes in little bits as she and the other residents get caught up in the mystery surrounding a human skeleton found in her aunt's backyard. Of course things pick up toward the end, the gaps are filled in and the whole story breaks loose, but it takes some patience to get there.
This book is a clean, cozy mystery. It is big on southern charm and quirky characters. Small towns know how to rally around their own and that is exactly what the characters in this book do. It has all sorts of feel good things going on.
December 25, 2015
Great read! Lots of puzzle pieces are put together in the right place from the memory loosing George ann finding calm in jigsaw puzzles , the mystery of the bones buried in aunt violet's backyard, and the puzzle pieces coming together Cecilia, the hair dresser, Patrick the I married priest, Mac and the mysterious piece of prestley.
May 14, 2025
I listened to this book on my way back and forth to work each day. It was entertaining and I didn't care if I missed the lights. Listened to it again and I was still entertained.
February 19, 2016
I am loving audio books more and more. I never seem to get a chance to sit down and read any more. It's so sad :(. BUT, give me an audio book and I can do all the things I need to do and still get to listen to a book!
I think I am going to do this review a little different. I don't think I can really review it the way I want to without giving too much away. It is such a fantastic story! It has wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. There are two stories going on in this book. One, is Presley's story, and the other is about an 80 year old murder. I feel I may be copying some of my favorite blogger's style, but that is not my intention. I just think I can give a better picture this way.
Here are just SOME of the wonderful characters in this book and why I like them.
1. Presely - She is the MC. Right off the bat her story grabs you. She is trying to escape an ex-boyfriend. She is in a hospital after an accident, that required a lot of facial reconstruction. She has a wonderful Dr. and an orderly who are helping her escape the hospital, to buy her time to get away. Presely, is kind, compassionate, scared, beautiful (inside and out), and educated woman. She was handed a bad deal and is trying to find a new life.
2. Aunt Violet - She is Presely's Aunt. She had offered Presely a place in her law practice after her parents were killed. She is such a great woman. She doesn't make much money in her practice because most of her work is pro bono. She is kind, loving, compassionate, and hard working. She is also always on oxygen. She is old, but such a wonderful woman.
3. Miss Eugenia - Now this woman is fantastic. This is the kind of old woman I want to be :). She has a little dog, that she loves and that goes with her every where. What I love most about her is her wit, and snarkyness...hehe She is so hard headed and fabulous. I loved her. She is fiercely loyal, and loves her home town of Haggerty.
4. Loralee - this woman is 100 years old. I think I liked her just for her age. I would love to know someone who has lived that long. Loralee has stories to tell about Haggerty, that brought this place to life for me. She is amazing. She is such a sweet, loving woman. The whole town seems to want to help take care of her.
5. Celia (sp????) - is the town's skank. In reality she is anything but. She has been dubbed this by marrying an old man, who died and left her all his money. There is so much more to her, but the town has turned their back on her. Her only friends are Aunt Violet, and her group of women and men that practically live at Aunt Violets house. She is beautiful, kind, and genuine. A very misunderstood woman. It's so sad. It is also one of the reasons I could never live in a small town. People don't forgive easy in small towns.
6. Mac - oh Mac. He is the town's tow man, the repo man. He is such a great guy. He is also on the bad side of most of the town of Haggerty. He played Pro-football for a time and was blamed for loosing the Superbowl for his team, and Haggerty seems to think he threw the game. Not many are willing to listen to the "real" story. He is so kind, compassionate (notice I say this about a lot of the characters. But they are!), hard working, strong, beautiful and fabulous. He is so yummy. I mean just yummy. He was immediately one of my favorite characters. Mac, and Presely seem to have an instant connection. Mac is snarky and fun loving.
7. Wyatt - Mac's cousin and also a lawyer. He is a nice guy, but he is one of those guys who doesn't want people to know how "good" he really is. He seems to be a forever bachelor, but there is so much more to him. He just doesn't let any one get close enough to see how wonderful he is. Except this wonderful group that comes out of Aunt Violets home :).
8. Preacher Pat - Is also Macs cousin. Pat is wonderful from the moment he is introduced in the book. Of course how could he not be? He's a preacher :). I feel for him. He feels he has to take care of every one in Haggerty because he is the Preacher. Who he really wants to take care of , he thinks he can't because of the town he lives in. People are not very forgiving in Haggerty.
Now the setting. Haggerty, Georgia, sounds like such a beautiful place. I know I could never live in a small town, but IF I had to Haggerty, Georgia doesn't sound like a bad place to live. I love how green everything is. I love how Loralee brings this place to life in her story telling. I could see the flowers, and the trees, the river, everything. It was just beautiful. The author did a wonderful job of putting me in this book. I loved it.
The only complaint I had about this book, was the narrator. It's a good thing the story pulled me right in, because this narrator is not my favorite. It makes me sad when such a great book doesn't have a narrator I like to listen to. She seems to narrate a lot of Covenant Communications books. I appreciate her doing the audio, I just wish I liked her voice more.
If you like stories about mystery, murder, seedy ex-boyfriends, friends, family, love, and small towns, you will like this book. My only suggestion is to get it in book form, not audio. I really loved this authors writing.
I think I am going to do this review a little different. I don't think I can really review it the way I want to without giving too much away. It is such a fantastic story! It has wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. There are two stories going on in this book. One, is Presley's story, and the other is about an 80 year old murder. I feel I may be copying some of my favorite blogger's style, but that is not my intention. I just think I can give a better picture this way.
Here are just SOME of the wonderful characters in this book and why I like them.
1. Presely - She is the MC. Right off the bat her story grabs you. She is trying to escape an ex-boyfriend. She is in a hospital after an accident, that required a lot of facial reconstruction. She has a wonderful Dr. and an orderly who are helping her escape the hospital, to buy her time to get away. Presely, is kind, compassionate, scared, beautiful (inside and out), and educated woman. She was handed a bad deal and is trying to find a new life.
2. Aunt Violet - She is Presely's Aunt. She had offered Presely a place in her law practice after her parents were killed. She is such a great woman. She doesn't make much money in her practice because most of her work is pro bono. She is kind, loving, compassionate, and hard working. She is also always on oxygen. She is old, but such a wonderful woman.
3. Miss Eugenia - Now this woman is fantastic. This is the kind of old woman I want to be :). She has a little dog, that she loves and that goes with her every where. What I love most about her is her wit, and snarkyness...hehe She is so hard headed and fabulous. I loved her. She is fiercely loyal, and loves her home town of Haggerty.
4. Loralee - this woman is 100 years old. I think I liked her just for her age. I would love to know someone who has lived that long. Loralee has stories to tell about Haggerty, that brought this place to life for me. She is amazing. She is such a sweet, loving woman. The whole town seems to want to help take care of her.
5. Celia (sp????) - is the town's skank. In reality she is anything but. She has been dubbed this by marrying an old man, who died and left her all his money. There is so much more to her, but the town has turned their back on her. Her only friends are Aunt Violet, and her group of women and men that practically live at Aunt Violets house. She is beautiful, kind, and genuine. A very misunderstood woman. It's so sad. It is also one of the reasons I could never live in a small town. People don't forgive easy in small towns.
6. Mac - oh Mac. He is the town's tow man, the repo man. He is such a great guy. He is also on the bad side of most of the town of Haggerty. He played Pro-football for a time and was blamed for loosing the Superbowl for his team, and Haggerty seems to think he threw the game. Not many are willing to listen to the "real" story. He is so kind, compassionate (notice I say this about a lot of the characters. But they are!), hard working, strong, beautiful and fabulous. He is so yummy. I mean just yummy. He was immediately one of my favorite characters. Mac, and Presely seem to have an instant connection. Mac is snarky and fun loving.
7. Wyatt - Mac's cousin and also a lawyer. He is a nice guy, but he is one of those guys who doesn't want people to know how "good" he really is. He seems to be a forever bachelor, but there is so much more to him. He just doesn't let any one get close enough to see how wonderful he is. Except this wonderful group that comes out of Aunt Violets home :).
8. Preacher Pat - Is also Macs cousin. Pat is wonderful from the moment he is introduced in the book. Of course how could he not be? He's a preacher :). I feel for him. He feels he has to take care of every one in Haggerty because he is the Preacher. Who he really wants to take care of , he thinks he can't because of the town he lives in. People are not very forgiving in Haggerty.
Now the setting. Haggerty, Georgia, sounds like such a beautiful place. I know I could never live in a small town, but IF I had to Haggerty, Georgia doesn't sound like a bad place to live. I love how green everything is. I love how Loralee brings this place to life in her story telling. I could see the flowers, and the trees, the river, everything. It was just beautiful. The author did a wonderful job of putting me in this book. I loved it.
The only complaint I had about this book, was the narrator. It's a good thing the story pulled me right in, because this narrator is not my favorite. It makes me sad when such a great book doesn't have a narrator I like to listen to. She seems to narrate a lot of Covenant Communications books. I appreciate her doing the audio, I just wish I liked her voice more.
If you like stories about mystery, murder, seedy ex-boyfriends, friends, family, love, and small towns, you will like this book. My only suggestion is to get it in book form, not audio. I really loved this authors writing.
February 6, 2016
I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Clean romance, mystery. Some Christian elements.
This was more of a 3.5 for me. This novel had 2 story lines running through the course of the novel. The first is Presley's mystery, and the other is an old, unsolved murder from 100 years prior. Presley is running from her past, and hides with her Aunt in a small town to get back on her feet and try to figure out a way to solve her problems. Presley, her Aunt, and of course Mac and the other characters in the small town of Haggerty were a fun read. Watching Presley figure out her way around in this small town with all it's myriad characters and quirks as the novel progressed was interesting and fun. The character, compassion, and kindness in the town, and in particular with the people her Aunt watches over as a small town lawyer made for wonderful composition. Really it was a nice sketch of small town life, neighbors, and trying to honestly figure out the mystery in the novel. There were a few editing mistakes in my Kindle version, which hopefully will be corrected soon, but overall a fun read. Presley and Mac's sweet romance came together slowly as they ran into each other, shared simple moments, worked on the mystery, and supporting Presley in her problems that she came to Haggerty to regroup and hide from.
The last part of the novel seemed to come together a little too forced/quickly, it seemed like a few too many things were quickly, and neatly tied together, but the character sketches were still fun, so I upped it to 4 stars. The 'cast' definitely made it worth the read.
Clean romance, mystery. Some Christian elements.
This was more of a 3.5 for me. This novel had 2 story lines running through the course of the novel. The first is Presley's mystery, and the other is an old, unsolved murder from 100 years prior. Presley is running from her past, and hides with her Aunt in a small town to get back on her feet and try to figure out a way to solve her problems. Presley, her Aunt, and of course Mac and the other characters in the small town of Haggerty were a fun read. Watching Presley figure out her way around in this small town with all it's myriad characters and quirks as the novel progressed was interesting and fun. The character, compassion, and kindness in the town, and in particular with the people her Aunt watches over as a small town lawyer made for wonderful composition. Really it was a nice sketch of small town life, neighbors, and trying to honestly figure out the mystery in the novel. There were a few editing mistakes in my Kindle version, which hopefully will be corrected soon, but overall a fun read. Presley and Mac's sweet romance came together slowly as they ran into each other, shared simple moments, worked on the mystery, and supporting Presley in her problems that she came to Haggerty to regroup and hide from.
The last part of the novel seemed to come together a little too forced/quickly, it seemed like a few too many things were quickly, and neatly tied together, but the character sketches were still fun, so I upped it to 4 stars. The 'cast' definitely made it worth the read.
March 22, 2016
I've been a longtime fan of Betsy Brannon Green's since Hearts in Hiding came out many years ago. That book introduced us to Miss Eugenia and the residents of Haggerty, Georgia. Now, here we are revisiting those same people and Miss Eugenia is embroiled in another murder mystery.
The book starts off with Presley DeGraff undertaking a daring escape from a mental hospital. It drew me right in and kept me turning pages to see why Preley was running and who she was running from. The pace slowed down after the initial escape and answers are drawn out through the entire book as Presley makes it to her aunt's house in Haggerty. There is definitely an eclectic cast of characters to greet Presley after she arrives, but nothing surprises her more than when Miss Eugenia's dog, Lady, finds a skeleton on her aunt's property. As the press descends on the murder scene, Presley knows her past won't stay a secret for long. But can she count on her new Haggerty friends to keep her safe? Or has she put them all in danger?
I loved how each of Ms. Green's books are true to the southern spirit and traditions. Miss Eugenia hasn't changed much, and her character is as colorful as ever. Presley was a nice addition to Haggerty and it was heartwarming to see how much she came to love everyone. Mac was a different sort of hero, a hard-working repo man that gets beat up a lot, and has a few secrets of his own. The romance in the story was subtle and understated, but had a good buildup. I definitely closed the book with a smile. This is an entertaining mystery that will leave you with all the feels of southern hospitality and charm.
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
The book starts off with Presley DeGraff undertaking a daring escape from a mental hospital. It drew me right in and kept me turning pages to see why Preley was running and who she was running from. The pace slowed down after the initial escape and answers are drawn out through the entire book as Presley makes it to her aunt's house in Haggerty. There is definitely an eclectic cast of characters to greet Presley after she arrives, but nothing surprises her more than when Miss Eugenia's dog, Lady, finds a skeleton on her aunt's property. As the press descends on the murder scene, Presley knows her past won't stay a secret for long. But can she count on her new Haggerty friends to keep her safe? Or has she put them all in danger?
I loved how each of Ms. Green's books are true to the southern spirit and traditions. Miss Eugenia hasn't changed much, and her character is as colorful as ever. Presley was a nice addition to Haggerty and it was heartwarming to see how much she came to love everyone. Mac was a different sort of hero, a hard-working repo man that gets beat up a lot, and has a few secrets of his own. The romance in the story was subtle and understated, but had a good buildup. I definitely closed the book with a smile. This is an entertaining mystery that will leave you with all the feels of southern hospitality and charm.
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
November 15, 2015
Anytime I get the chance to review a book from author Betsy Brannon Green, I take it! I love the characters that she has created in her Haggerty series. They are funny, real and like family. I feel like I'm going home when I get to read a new book about them.
This book starts out with a big mystery surrounding a young woman named Presley DeGraff who is on the run after escaping a mental institution. She goes to a safe place, the small town of Haggerty Georgia. Presley's Aunt Violet lives there and Presley hides out trying to start her life over again. The excitement starts with a murder mystery popping up after a skeleton is found in her aunt's back yard, a handsome local young man, Mac, who starts to steal Presley's heart, and her past coming back to haunt her and steal her newfound happiness, Puzzle Pieces is full of intrigue with some sweet romance.
As always when we visit Haggerty, the novel is full of a colorful cast of characters that are endearing, humorous and some downright annoying. One of my all time favorites is Miss Eugenia who's sleuthing skills help in solving the many mysteries surrounding Presley and her Aunt Violet. I enjoyed learning more about the new characters and it was truly fun to try and piece all of the pieces together. You can always expect a clever story line when reading a Haggerty Mystery Novel.
This book starts out with a big mystery surrounding a young woman named Presley DeGraff who is on the run after escaping a mental institution. She goes to a safe place, the small town of Haggerty Georgia. Presley's Aunt Violet lives there and Presley hides out trying to start her life over again. The excitement starts with a murder mystery popping up after a skeleton is found in her aunt's back yard, a handsome local young man, Mac, who starts to steal Presley's heart, and her past coming back to haunt her and steal her newfound happiness, Puzzle Pieces is full of intrigue with some sweet romance.
As always when we visit Haggerty, the novel is full of a colorful cast of characters that are endearing, humorous and some downright annoying. One of my all time favorites is Miss Eugenia who's sleuthing skills help in solving the many mysteries surrounding Presley and her Aunt Violet. I enjoyed learning more about the new characters and it was truly fun to try and piece all of the pieces together. You can always expect a clever story line when reading a Haggerty Mystery Novel.
October 6, 2017
This book felt like it was written in a hurry. The writing was very rushed and left gaping holes in the plot. I couldn’t buy the main character’s reason for a facial surgery. It was all very odd. I have read a Green book I loved so I don’t know what happened on this one.
January 23, 2016
The title certainly fits the story in many ways. The book starts off both confusing and thrilling in the middle of a hospital escape. We're not sure yet why this escape is taking place, only that it is and apparently involves a great deal of risk for the few people involved. Slowly, we get to know this escapee, who turns out to be our new main character, Presley. It isn't just her story that is focused on in this book though. There's also a rather lengthy history lesson resulting in a 80-year old murder being solved along with a continuing family secret that Presley now has to hold for the sake of her new potential family. Pretty much from the moment Presley sets foot in Haggerty, her fugitive status is put on hold for the Skeleton Murder(s), lengthy history lessons, George Ann's health problems, and budding romance she tries very hard to ignore. This reveals several "pieces" to the overall puzzle, but also brings the pace of the book down to about a snail's. The plus to all this is that we see many old characters from Haggerty who are now very familiar to anyone who's read Green's previous works. Haggerty, and its residents, never seem to be far from the action.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2015
Acclaimed LDS suspense author Betsy Brannon Green has written another entertaining mystery-thriller novel in her latest release Puzzle Pieces. This gripping and enjoyable story will have readers from page one as they anticipate what will happen next in this mystery novel. Although the storyline hooked me from the beginning, the back story of the main character, Presley, was not completely clear; moving forward throughout the novel though, I learned more details about the characters. I would recommend this novel to previous readers of Betsy, as well as readers that want to enjoy a clean, suspenseful and thrilling story.
Genre: suspense; mystery; thriller; romance; LDS; Christian
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication date: November 1, 2015
Number of pages: 309
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 4 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications.
Genre: suspense; mystery; thriller; romance; LDS; Christian
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication date: November 1, 2015
Number of pages: 309
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 4 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications.
January 22, 2016
It's been a while since I've read one of Betsy Brannon Green's Haggerty novels, and it felt a little like coming home! This was a fun story with a lot of interesting characters!
The book starts with Presley escaping from a mental institution and finding her way to Aunt Violet's in Haggerty. There are two main stories in this book: An 84-year-old skeleton is found in Aunt Violet's backyard, and Presley and Miss Eugenia can't resist investigating the case. We discover that Presley was escaping her scamming ex-fiance Tate Sheridan, and that situation has to be resolved before she can ever feel safe and move on.
Content: Very clean
Source: Borrowed book
The book starts with Presley escaping from a mental institution and finding her way to Aunt Violet's in Haggerty. There are two main stories in this book: An 84-year-old skeleton is found in Aunt Violet's backyard, and Presley and Miss Eugenia can't resist investigating the case. We discover that Presley was escaping her scamming ex-fiance Tate Sheridan, and that situation has to be resolved before she can ever feel safe and move on.
Content: Very clean
Source: Borrowed book
April 1, 2016
After reading a dense non-fiction book, I was in the mood for a good novel and this book fit the bill perfectly. I have always enjoyed Betsy Brannon Green's books, but had not read one for a while, so it was fun to get reacquainted with her colorful Southern characters. This was probably one of my favorite books of hers, a good clean mystery with some unexpected twists and turns. I would definitely recommend it!
May 4, 2016
I thought this book would take me longer to read, but it sucked me in from the beginning and I had to see what the outcome was! I loved Loralee, she is such a sweet old lady. Presley and Mac are easy to cheer for from the very beginning. I honestly haven't read all the Haggerty books, but this one was a great one with the characters that matter, but is able to be understood without prior knowledge of all the previous goings on. Such a great book!
October 26, 2016
Quite a bit of humor. I like how the characters are involved in each others lives and pull together to help each other out. They took Presley in and made her one of them. I liked that her and Mac's relationship developed slowly. I liked the mysteries and the southern living. A fun, clean read with lovable characters that I feel like I know personally after all this time. Not my absolute favorite by this author, but it was a nice escape and a good read. The author is very knowledgeable.
November 24, 2015
I love Betsy Brannon Green, and I was absolutely giddy to return to Haggarty and Miss Eugenia. The new characters are great, and the story line intriguing. Unfortunately, some key plot points revolve around Ms. Green's understanding of the law, and she didn't get it quite right. If you're not involved in the legal profession, you might not even notice, but I found it distracting. 3.5 stars
February 2, 2016
It was an enjoyable read but not as much as I was hoping it would be. There are the usual characters from Haggerty, GA, and some new ones, but I just didn't feel like I connected with them. The main character was hard to relate to as well. Certain "rules" she had really frustrated me and made her hard to relate to.
May 22, 2016
A great read. Presley has a secret, that's why she has come to Haggarty, Georgia. The characters in this book are a delight, which makes reading it so much fun. Your typical Southern hospitality, where everyone knows your business but still loves you. A very fun quick read. The characters are a delight, each one more quirky than the last.
July 11, 2022
So fun to go back to the town of Haggerty, Georgia! While there are many new characters in this story, there are some familiar faces too that I enjoyed "visiting" again. There are two storylines going on -- a mystery set in the past and a danger in the present (although that danger isn't explained very much until towards the end of the book). A fun story!
September 13, 2016
3.5 stars for this latest Haggerty novel. The mystery is not as straight forward as I thought it would be. The local characters were fun to "visit" since it has been a while! I would definitely suggest reading some of the other books in this related series together. You don't have to read them all, but I think everyone should start with "Hearts in Hiding"
February 4, 2016
Join Presley as she escapes from a mental hospital and a man who took all she had as she drives into the small town of Haggerty Georgia and discovers the secrets of a 100-year-old murder mystery--
YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE!
YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE!
February 24, 2016
Ahhh!! Wonderful as always Ms. Green. I love hearing about everyone's lives in Haggerty! LOVE the mystery and the giggly romance! Reading any of Betsy Brannon Green's books leaves you with a completely satisfied feeling. Thanks for letting me live in the world's you create.
April 5, 2016
Love the Haggarty novels! This is no exception. Presley's story is interesting, but most of the book focuses on her settling into Haggarty and the mystery of a skeleton found in the back yard. It moves somewhat slowly, then Presley's story picks up again.
June 7, 2016
This is definitely light summer-type reading, but still interesting. A couple of light mysteries to solve, a sweet group of people in a small Southern town, and a little romance to boot. Nothing offensive ever in Betsy Brannon Green's novels, and they are all pleasant reading.
September 18, 2016
It was alright. The first chapter was great and I was very intrigued, but the plot got bogged down by too many stories going on at once. The end ties it all together but it was pretty far-fetched and anti climatic.
January 14, 2016
While this didn't blow me away, I enjoyed the story. It has a sweet romance, and I loved going back to Haggerty and it's characters. Very mild mystery and a happy ending.
March 24, 2016
3.5 rounded up. It was fun to visit these characters again.
September 9, 2016
A very charming book with some good twists and fun characters.
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