What do you think?
Rate this book
Hanging Tobacco
Hanging Tobacco is the first book in the Parlor Game Mystery Series. Olivia Honeycutt solved the cold case murder of Sophie Mathews with the help of Sophie’s Ouija board. Now, Olivia and her Nashville detective boyfriend, Presley, tackle the twenty five year old mystery surrounding the death of Henry Meyer. The old man was found hanging from the neck in the rafters of his tobacco barn in Columbia, Tennessee. Was Henry intent on suicide? Or, was it murder? Uncovering the truth behind Henry’s death proves both challenging and life threatening. Not everyone in Columbia wants to know the truth. Olivia takes the Ouija board on the road.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2017
3 people want to read
About the author
Linda S. Browning
12 books9 followersLinda Browning’s writing talents took a backseat to salaried jobs for more than 42 years. She knows she has a lot of writing to make up for and the words, sentences, and paragraphs are falling from her head at an alarming pace. She lives with her husband of forty years. They share their Tennessee residence with a 32(+)-year-old amazon parrot and a 20-year-old finch.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 17, 2024
REREAD, November 13, 2024 -I enjoyed this look back into the past, and found I enjoyed the book more second-time-around, rated it 4 out of 5 this time. The opening, with the rant against morning people, hit my fancy this time more so than before, and ten years has also changed my perspective on simple entertainment. This was a hoot, both times I read it, but I value simplicity and simple entertaining distraction more than I did in my sixties... This is an author I will follow.
Series is reasonably priced and also on Kindle Unlimited
REVIEWED on November 13, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and B&N. Not available for review on BoobKub or Kobo.
I received a free electronic copy of this mystery novel from Netgalley and Linda S. Browning. Thank you for sharing your hard work with me! I loved the short story included in this novel. It was a special bonus. This is an excellent mood elevator and a fast read. I found it funny and a well-hidden mystery in that I didn't know the bad guy until fairly well into the book. Our protagonists are likable and well rounded and there are several choices of bad guys here that also have a few redeeming quirks. The Ouija board is a bit much but was also entertaining.
Reviewed July 4, 2017 at Goodreads, Netgalley, and AmazonSmile.
Series is reasonably priced and also on Kindle Unlimited
REVIEWED on November 13, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and B&N. Not available for review on BoobKub or Kobo.
I received a free electronic copy of this mystery novel from Netgalley and Linda S. Browning. Thank you for sharing your hard work with me! I loved the short story included in this novel. It was a special bonus. This is an excellent mood elevator and a fast read. I found it funny and a well-hidden mystery in that I didn't know the bad guy until fairly well into the book. Our protagonists are likable and well rounded and there are several choices of bad guys here that also have a few redeeming quirks. The Ouija board is a bit much but was also entertaining.
Reviewed July 4, 2017 at Goodreads, Netgalley, and AmazonSmile.
July 8, 2017
Kindle Unlimited
Picked this up because saw something about it in one of my newsletters and that it was asking for review readers, it's just that whichever company that is, was the one I had so much trouble with {files being protected, not being openable or just as bad not even being downloadable, and used to be computer tech so definitely not the issues on my side}, so picked it up since on ku because wanted to see what the story angle was.
The short story at the start seemed as if it was trying to be an intro, and that was fine but the main problem I had was with the rambling story telling style, which stuck things inbetween other events or conversations going on, causing me to have to go back to read things over again just to figure out what was going on or what was being referenced. The side things such as the one festival being mule day didn't seem to have much to do with anything, and while technically correct {an arabian female horse with a male donkey} the resulting {sterile} mule no matter how graceful would not have been able to breed as those are sterile so hardly see where someone would want an arabian horse to breed with that type of outcome, but also {again} it was interjected in to what all was going on, and making the actual plot get buried or having to be reread at first part then skipping to the rest of the conversation or whatever.
Besides that, things such as ''bated him'', no he was baited, otherwise it would be something about bated breath or whatever. I do not need a wiki on pinto beans, either. Why is the reporter talking about how bad the little car is on her boyfriend, when earlier she said he refused to ride in it at all. Actually, no; not all southerners refer to dinner and supper, many say lunch and dinner, many use both terms to mean the evening meal.Also no, pushing a plate does not mean one has had their 'fill', it could easily indicate that one has lost their appetite whether they feel full or not. What does borders of {not closed} doorways even supposed to mean? The 'joke' about 50 shades of grEy was lame anyway, because why would it be spelled grey -- Grey (British English) or gray American English, and it has nothing to do with anything except padding the story unnecessarily and just totally off topic and not advancing the story in any way in in regards to a grAy cat, and at any rate the grAy cat even if it did look different colors depending on the lighting is not only wrong in some ways but again totally nothing to do with the actual supposed story.
And, still, it's hard to figure out who is talking to who, or about what, and the whole thing is so jerky, back and forth, on and off the subject, totally confusing, and having to back up to reread/rehear parts is barely helping and totally aggravating. I'd really like to know, having had cats for years, how one 'drapes' a cat over your arm, and be walking/moving, because it's really not that possible. How can someone claim to be 'tone deaf to puns' after having made the one about 50 shades of grey/gray. At some later points she goes in to a long thing about someone making a pun, and how she never got puns {yet she had just used one, stupid as it was} not long before. Also, professionalism or lack thereof from a funeral director toward someone that never knew the deceased while in a professional building {police station} has nothing to do with what they would or would not say in the USUAL circumstances of an actual funeral, one that would have happend something years before. When did they get back to her house, and it AGAIN is very confusing to have Scott just popping back in to the story, more so because boom back at the house and he wasn't in the first part, then suddenly he was again, at least think it's mostly him talking about reactions because once again the story meanders off subject talking about the cat and other totally don't have anything to do with anything things. This is so confusing now back to trying to figure out who lives where and who is supposed to be in town that day and all that, badly needs continuity editing. 'on the decision to jeans and my canvas sneakers' Huh?
What in the world is the purpose of mentioning the trunk with a few emergency supplies, and specifically talking not about the shoes/flip flops but maxi pads with wings, omg way off topic much. When the bell started ringing and all sorts of noises started, how did she find herself on the storeroom floor, they were outside talking about cardboard boxes. For a supposed journalist, she's total crap at names. How can her ears still be ringing when she's hearing everything perfectly fine? All that time being checked out by the female paramedic, who said that the guy had nothing wrong with him but was being checked out by her partner, so all that time and everything yet when the female paramedic goes inside, the other paramedic is STILL checking out someone who was 'okay'? Again NO; the guy owning the cornfield said he was inside showering, and that the dog didn't go out to the field until he did, whe she started shouting, so it wasn't the dog nor did the guy start a tractor or thresher or anything because he was inside. What does 'shrapnel insured self even mean, since isured means covered by insurance, and she wasn't covered with shrapnel anyway. And you fear for your life, can't even figure out that an attacker's height versus yours has nothing to much to do with anything, keep talking about a gun which you don't even know how to shoot, then go on yet another side tirade about what a bummer it was not to have the cop boyfriend in your bed sleeping and otherwise when he was downstairs protecting the front and back doors...really?
Why is she back to talking about his parents and not wanting to visit them with him on his usual Sunday visit, when they'd already agreed to do it during the mule festival? The Big Boy's in Columbia, IF it was ever called that, has been a Shoney's for YEARS. Tell him to say hello, to the president, huh? You're in the middle of a murder investigation, you have already been shot at plus possibly another attack in the corn field, have been told to stay home by your policeman boyfriend, left a message that you were going to go out anyway, then don't answer or even look to see who is calling your cell, yeah whatever, so belivable, NOT. You still don't look at who called before, but then answer the phone when it starts ringing again? What the crap does Laura Croft/Angelina Jolie have to do with the difference between men and women, and what does that part have to do with anything in this story. When the dead guy was strung up, at least one of them went up top to mess with the rope, and the then boy now man did not have his eyes closed or ears covered the whole time would have felt the vibrations from someone else up there so how could he have seen or heard NOTHING. Yet again another {very bad} pun, that the character is not supposed to like to do or get, and it's the THIRD one. In Tennessee Liquor is not allowed to be sold on Sunday BUT beer is, so why would the store be closed, and more importantly why would the front door with the Closed sign not be locked. Again, liquor stores that sell beer are not closed on Sunday, they just can only sell beer. And another stupid pun. Then she whirls around, fast, while a guy with a twitchy trigger finger has a bun pointed at her? Then again she whips around, the gun still pointed straight at her, and the guy even more agitated. The back door has already been breeched, so the bad guy, somehow, get hold of the girl who has gone behind the counter again, then drags her to the front door, totally out in the open with plate glass windows across it all, and he's all concentrated on the front door but not the back door which has already been broken in? What was the point, besides once again padding the story ridiculously, did her acrylic nails have to do with anything, and why would she be crawling, and behind the counter again? 'blinked out' means like a light flickering or possible on the way to fainting, so should have been blanked out or passed out. When did she get cocked in the head with the gun? How does she equate getting her hair pulled badly with the guy who got shot in shoulder should have been killed? Who and how removed the contact lenses? What does 'ridden hard and abandoned on along a forgotten dirt road' even supposed to me, plus once again of dozens of time, nonsensical worthless filler. Once again, too, another bad pun from someone who constantly claimes doesn't make them, does make them, doesn't understand them so doesn't make them, then makes more.
By the way, went out of my way to try to not give away who did it and all, but contrary to the couple of reviews I read, uh hello, I knew almost from the beginning who did it, so that wasn't good either, to have to make myself finish a book already knew the ending to. Took 2 days to get through this drivel, and I am a natural speedreader, but that doesn't help when a book is so messed up and muddled that have to keep going back pages to see what the crap is going on.
Picked this up because saw something about it in one of my newsletters and that it was asking for review readers, it's just that whichever company that is, was the one I had so much trouble with {files being protected, not being openable or just as bad not even being downloadable, and used to be computer tech so definitely not the issues on my side}, so picked it up since on ku because wanted to see what the story angle was.
The short story at the start seemed as if it was trying to be an intro, and that was fine but the main problem I had was with the rambling story telling style, which stuck things inbetween other events or conversations going on, causing me to have to go back to read things over again just to figure out what was going on or what was being referenced. The side things such as the one festival being mule day didn't seem to have much to do with anything, and while technically correct {an arabian female horse with a male donkey} the resulting {sterile} mule no matter how graceful would not have been able to breed as those are sterile so hardly see where someone would want an arabian horse to breed with that type of outcome, but also {again} it was interjected in to what all was going on, and making the actual plot get buried or having to be reread at first part then skipping to the rest of the conversation or whatever.
Besides that, things such as ''bated him'', no he was baited, otherwise it would be something about bated breath or whatever. I do not need a wiki on pinto beans, either. Why is the reporter talking about how bad the little car is on her boyfriend, when earlier she said he refused to ride in it at all. Actually, no; not all southerners refer to dinner and supper, many say lunch and dinner, many use both terms to mean the evening meal.Also no, pushing a plate does not mean one has had their 'fill', it could easily indicate that one has lost their appetite whether they feel full or not. What does borders of {not closed} doorways even supposed to mean? The 'joke' about 50 shades of grEy was lame anyway, because why would it be spelled grey -- Grey (British English) or gray American English, and it has nothing to do with anything except padding the story unnecessarily and just totally off topic and not advancing the story in any way in in regards to a grAy cat, and at any rate the grAy cat even if it did look different colors depending on the lighting is not only wrong in some ways but again totally nothing to do with the actual supposed story.
And, still, it's hard to figure out who is talking to who, or about what, and the whole thing is so jerky, back and forth, on and off the subject, totally confusing, and having to back up to reread/rehear parts is barely helping and totally aggravating. I'd really like to know, having had cats for years, how one 'drapes' a cat over your arm, and be walking/moving, because it's really not that possible. How can someone claim to be 'tone deaf to puns' after having made the one about 50 shades of grey/gray. At some later points she goes in to a long thing about someone making a pun, and how she never got puns {yet she had just used one, stupid as it was} not long before. Also, professionalism or lack thereof from a funeral director toward someone that never knew the deceased while in a professional building {police station} has nothing to do with what they would or would not say in the USUAL circumstances of an actual funeral, one that would have happend something years before. When did they get back to her house, and it AGAIN is very confusing to have Scott just popping back in to the story, more so because boom back at the house and he wasn't in the first part, then suddenly he was again, at least think it's mostly him talking about reactions because once again the story meanders off subject talking about the cat and other totally don't have anything to do with anything things. This is so confusing now back to trying to figure out who lives where and who is supposed to be in town that day and all that, badly needs continuity editing. 'on the decision to jeans and my canvas sneakers' Huh?
What in the world is the purpose of mentioning the trunk with a few emergency supplies, and specifically talking not about the shoes/flip flops but maxi pads with wings, omg way off topic much. When the bell started ringing and all sorts of noises started, how did she find herself on the storeroom floor, they were outside talking about cardboard boxes. For a supposed journalist, she's total crap at names. How can her ears still be ringing when she's hearing everything perfectly fine? All that time being checked out by the female paramedic, who said that the guy had nothing wrong with him but was being checked out by her partner, so all that time and everything yet when the female paramedic goes inside, the other paramedic is STILL checking out someone who was 'okay'? Again NO; the guy owning the cornfield said he was inside showering, and that the dog didn't go out to the field until he did, whe she started shouting, so it wasn't the dog nor did the guy start a tractor or thresher or anything because he was inside. What does 'shrapnel insured self even mean, since isured means covered by insurance, and she wasn't covered with shrapnel anyway. And you fear for your life, can't even figure out that an attacker's height versus yours has nothing to much to do with anything, keep talking about a gun which you don't even know how to shoot, then go on yet another side tirade about what a bummer it was not to have the cop boyfriend in your bed sleeping and otherwise when he was downstairs protecting the front and back doors...really?
Why is she back to talking about his parents and not wanting to visit them with him on his usual Sunday visit, when they'd already agreed to do it during the mule festival? The Big Boy's in Columbia, IF it was ever called that, has been a Shoney's for YEARS. Tell him to say hello, to the president, huh? You're in the middle of a murder investigation, you have already been shot at plus possibly another attack in the corn field, have been told to stay home by your policeman boyfriend, left a message that you were going to go out anyway, then don't answer or even look to see who is calling your cell, yeah whatever, so belivable, NOT. You still don't look at who called before, but then answer the phone when it starts ringing again? What the crap does Laura Croft/Angelina Jolie have to do with the difference between men and women, and what does that part have to do with anything in this story. When the dead guy was strung up, at least one of them went up top to mess with the rope, and the then boy now man did not have his eyes closed or ears covered the whole time would have felt the vibrations from someone else up there so how could he have seen or heard NOTHING. Yet again another {very bad} pun, that the character is not supposed to like to do or get, and it's the THIRD one. In Tennessee Liquor is not allowed to be sold on Sunday BUT beer is, so why would the store be closed, and more importantly why would the front door with the Closed sign not be locked. Again, liquor stores that sell beer are not closed on Sunday, they just can only sell beer. And another stupid pun. Then she whirls around, fast, while a guy with a twitchy trigger finger has a bun pointed at her? Then again she whips around, the gun still pointed straight at her, and the guy even more agitated. The back door has already been breeched, so the bad guy, somehow, get hold of the girl who has gone behind the counter again, then drags her to the front door, totally out in the open with plate glass windows across it all, and he's all concentrated on the front door but not the back door which has already been broken in? What was the point, besides once again padding the story ridiculously, did her acrylic nails have to do with anything, and why would she be crawling, and behind the counter again? 'blinked out' means like a light flickering or possible on the way to fainting, so should have been blanked out or passed out. When did she get cocked in the head with the gun? How does she equate getting her hair pulled badly with the guy who got shot in shoulder should have been killed? Who and how removed the contact lenses? What does 'ridden hard and abandoned on along a forgotten dirt road' even supposed to me, plus once again of dozens of time, nonsensical worthless filler. Once again, too, another bad pun from someone who constantly claimes doesn't make them, does make them, doesn't understand them so doesn't make them, then makes more.
By the way, went out of my way to try to not give away who did it and all, but contrary to the couple of reviews I read, uh hello, I knew almost from the beginning who did it, so that wasn't good either, to have to make myself finish a book already knew the ending to. Took 2 days to get through this drivel, and I am a natural speedreader, but that doesn't help when a book is so messed up and muddled that have to keep going back pages to see what the crap is going on.
July 5, 2017
Hanging Tobacco: A Parlor Game Mystery by Linda S. Browning is a paranormal mystery about a young woman by the name of Olivia. She is a journalist who has gained some notoriety by solving a cold case murder of a little girl by the name of Sophia. Now Olivia has been asked to help look into another cold case about a man who was found deceased by his family in his tobacco barn. Something doesn't sit right and with there being two autopsy reports it seems like a good idea to check this one out. As Olivia begins to dig she runs into several problems. The barn where the death transpired was torn down and turned into real estate by a developer who really wanted the property back in the day. The case is well over 25 years old and everyone knows how that goes. She has to worry about re-opening old wounds but with some help she'll find the answers that she is looking for.
This is the first book that I have read by Linda S. Browning but I really enjoyed this novel. Right from the beginning it grabbed my attention and had me turning pages wanting to know what happens next. The mystery of this novel is really well done and I absolutely love it. I like that I got to figure out who the murderer was and that it wasn't something so obvious that you see it a mile away. This story is so artfully written and well done. Olivia has humor without overdoing it and she's a well balanced. Her skeptical boyfriend helps balance out the story until he himself experiences what Olivia herself experiences. The variety of characters that the author uses to bring this story to life are so well done and I enjoyed quite of few them immensely.
There really isn't anything that I don't like about this book. The Ouija board made me balk a little bit but the author keeps that very controlled so I can't say too much against it. I did not notice any editorial or proofreading errors so this was a very smooth and easy read for me.
I love paranormal stories and this book, with the mystery, was a very fun book. It focuses on the mystery and the story itself and doesn't get lost in the paranormal. The author touches on the paranormal when it is necessary and so keeps the story engaging to the utmost.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading more works by this author in the future. Job well done.
This is the first book that I have read by Linda S. Browning but I really enjoyed this novel. Right from the beginning it grabbed my attention and had me turning pages wanting to know what happens next. The mystery of this novel is really well done and I absolutely love it. I like that I got to figure out who the murderer was and that it wasn't something so obvious that you see it a mile away. This story is so artfully written and well done. Olivia has humor without overdoing it and she's a well balanced. Her skeptical boyfriend helps balance out the story until he himself experiences what Olivia herself experiences. The variety of characters that the author uses to bring this story to life are so well done and I enjoyed quite of few them immensely.
There really isn't anything that I don't like about this book. The Ouija board made me balk a little bit but the author keeps that very controlled so I can't say too much against it. I did not notice any editorial or proofreading errors so this was a very smooth and easy read for me.
I love paranormal stories and this book, with the mystery, was a very fun book. It focuses on the mystery and the story itself and doesn't get lost in the paranormal. The author touches on the paranormal when it is necessary and so keeps the story engaging to the utmost.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading more works by this author in the future. Job well done.
July 28, 2017
Olivia Honeycutt is an investigative journalist that purchased an Ouiji board on a whim. She learns that the prior owner was murdered and her case was never solved. While using the board Olivia connects with the ghost of the victim and proceeds to solve her case and get a little bit of fame.
Now Olivia has been asked to look into the death of Henry Meyer. Henry was found hanging in his tobacco barn but something sounds fishy. So Olivia gets out the Ouiji board and talks with a man at a barn. The more she talks to him the more she thinks he was murdered. But the more she digs the more she learns that someone wants to keep the truth hidden and won’t stop at hurting her to do so.
This is a good paranormal cozy mystery. After solving the first cold case, Olivia is eager to jump into Henry’s case. Of course she is going to have her hands full since the barn was torn down years earlier and conveniently turned into real estate from a developer that was eager to get his hands on it. But Olivia doggedly pursues the truth even when she becomes a target.
Overall this is a good little cozy mystery. It kept me involved and curious to see what was going to happen next. I’m interested in seeing what Linda S. Browning has in store for book two.
I received Hanging Tobacco from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours and the for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Now Olivia has been asked to look into the death of Henry Meyer. Henry was found hanging in his tobacco barn but something sounds fishy. So Olivia gets out the Ouiji board and talks with a man at a barn. The more she talks to him the more she thinks he was murdered. But the more she digs the more she learns that someone wants to keep the truth hidden and won’t stop at hurting her to do so.
This is a good paranormal cozy mystery. After solving the first cold case, Olivia is eager to jump into Henry’s case. Of course she is going to have her hands full since the barn was torn down years earlier and conveniently turned into real estate from a developer that was eager to get his hands on it. But Olivia doggedly pursues the truth even when she becomes a target.
Overall this is a good little cozy mystery. It kept me involved and curious to see what was going to happen next. I’m interested in seeing what Linda S. Browning has in store for book two.
I received Hanging Tobacco from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours and the for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
July 6, 2017
Very cool mystery! I liked this book. Olivia is an investigative reporter, and she keeps getting caught up in looking into mysterious deaths. When her detective boyfriend Presley asks her to find out something about a farmer's death that happened years ago, she jumps full force into looking into what happened. Since Liv used a Ouiji board once before and talked to a ghost to solve the last murder she investigated, she tried again. This time she saw an old barn before her with the farmer standing there. He talked to her, and she was convinced he was murdered. It was just a matter of finding who did it. It's a compelling way to solve a murder--talking to the spirit of the man killed. Anyway, it gets interesting and crazy when Olivia goes investigating and talking to people. She has some dangerous things happen to her. It's makes for a good, fast-paced story which is hard to put down. Suspenseful and sometimes funny, I recommend this book. I plan on keeping on reading this author, Linda S. Browning.
July 8, 2017
If you want a truly engaging cosy mystery this may be just the one for you...or should that be two as you get the prequel story as well. The stories are well written and engaging with a variety of carefully fleshed out characters that come alive on the page.
Not having anything better to do our heroine accompanies a friend yard-sailing and more out of a sense of nostalgia than anything she buys a ouja board. Finding out the original owner was murdered at fifteen and the case was never solved sets Olivia's journalistic juices racing especially when the young victim begins to converse with her through the board. Follow her interaction with the detective in charge as they solve her murder and then see the progression of their relationship when a friend of his asks them to look into a cold case of his.
Can you solve the murder before Olivia does?
Not having anything better to do our heroine accompanies a friend yard-sailing and more out of a sense of nostalgia than anything she buys a ouja board. Finding out the original owner was murdered at fifteen and the case was never solved sets Olivia's journalistic juices racing especially when the young victim begins to converse with her through the board. Follow her interaction with the detective in charge as they solve her murder and then see the progression of their relationship when a friend of his asks them to look into a cold case of his.
Can you solve the murder before Olivia does?
July 8, 2017
Hanging Tobacco is the first book I've read by this author. I enjoyed a lot about it but two things in particular: the fact that a main characters name is Olivia because that is my daughters name. I also loved the Ouija board aspect. I love "spooky" additions such as this while reading otherwise not horror genre books. The story is a well rounded one AND a quick read which is exactly what I was looking for. I didn't happen to notice any errors in grammar either which is a big plus for me! I would recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read while traveling or sunbathing.
February 13, 2018
Interesting
There are many paranormal cozy mysteries out there. Some have protagonists who are witches, some see ghosts. This one has ghosts but with a Ouija twist. I enjoyed the book despite occasional typos that I hope will get cleaned up in future editions.
There are many paranormal cozy mysteries out there. Some have protagonists who are witches, some see ghosts. This one has ghosts but with a Ouija twist. I enjoyed the book despite occasional typos that I hope will get cleaned up in future editions.
February 12, 2025
A wonderful book filled with amazing characters that help build an exciting and engaging world heavily inspired by local locations in Tennessee. With some of our colorful history mixed in to the details it’s a perfect way to spend your precious reading hours.
January 15, 2021
I obtained a free electronic ARC of this book via Netgalley, where I am auto approved b Bookbuzz.net to access books from their catalogues.
So, I will freely admit here and now I went on search for a free ARC of this book as, quite frankly, I heard of it, have been loving all the works I’ve read so far of the author Linda S Browning and I wanted to see what this new series was like before I bought it. Yes, I am indeed a cheapskate!
Was I disappointed? Heck no! It was almost as if her cosy crimes from the ‘Leslie & Belinda Tennessee Mysteries’ series merged with her love of the supernatural from ‘Pickett House’ and this was the end result. And, to me, it was yet another great story that looks to become a promising new series.
Oh, and please don’t think that my description of it being a bit of this and a bit of that makes it some sort of cookie cutter tales being chunked out for sale. Not at all! ‘Hanging Tobacco’ can be likened to Ms Browning’s earlier work… but it most definitely stands out as being its own person… so to speak. It is more a happy marriage of someone good at writing cosy crimes - as proven by one series - and who is good at writing about the supernatural - as proven by another of her books - has now hit the nail on the head by combing the two topics and her talents of weaving a good story and gone from there.
Does that make sense now? Yeah, no… I feel if I try again I am just going to make it even worse! ;-)
So, anyhow, ‘Hanging tobacco’ is a great little stand-alone cosy crime/ mystery. It does start with a short story that sparked the inspiration for the main story and I loved that. It was like a two for one deal and the short story was a brilliant way to set the scene and get the reader into the right mindset for the main book ahead. It was like a reading appetiser! :-D
From memory, Ms Browning did this with the first Leslie and Belinda book too. A short story teaser followed by the actual full book. Loved it there too. Maybe it’s being a writer myself… but I adore how one little short story can then inspire a whole book, if not series. It just adds that extra touch of love and proof of passion about the work. Or maybe that’s just how I see it?
‘Hanging Tobacco’ was well paced (ie: addictive and having me read well past my bed time) cosy crime with a touch of the supernatural to add a twist to the usual crime sleuthing in small town America. I also do love how Olivia is a reporter so has a reason to be interested in the case.
Sometimes cosy crimes just have the main character coming across as nosy rather than sleuthing as her job and links to the crimes are miles apart with no real connection. But Olivia and the other characters were set up well to cover any grey areas without going to the other extreme of having access to everything, knowing everything and being some misunderstood super cop (the other end of the cosy crime spectrum). No, the choice of characters, the setting and the reasons for why things went the way they did was well thought out and a good balance.
Due to this good balance there was just the right amount of padding to the story, the right level of red herrings and I have to admit I honestly didn’t decide on whodunit until just before the book itself told me! That is rare! And it wasn’t due to the story being so convoluted it confused me… it was because the story simply had that RIGHT BALANCE of everything to keep me guessing, keep me entertained and make me satisfied with how it all wrapped up and was finished.
I really do hope the series continues as I would be more than willing to grab copies and continue reading.
Would I recommend this book to others?
Uh, I think I already have in all that flowery prose of how good it was to read. ;-)
But for those who need the direct approach - yes I would. Lovers of a good American mystery/ cosy crime are going to really enjoy ‘Hanging tobacco’. For those worried there is too much supernatural in it to make it a true here and now cosy - don’t be worried, it’s fine. This is not a book on the supernatural that happens to include a cosy crime, this is a decent cosy crime book that just happens to have a touch of the supernatural to it. You will be fine, just buy, read it and enjoy!
Would I buy this book for myself?
Pretty sure I already answered this one too… but yes, yes I would. I follow Linda S. Browning on all the normal social media sites that allow me to be a fan and not deemed a stalker and will keep an eye out for any further books in this series and happily spend my money buying them!
In summary: A good author just created another great cosy crime/mystery series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
So, I will freely admit here and now I went on search for a free ARC of this book as, quite frankly, I heard of it, have been loving all the works I’ve read so far of the author Linda S Browning and I wanted to see what this new series was like before I bought it. Yes, I am indeed a cheapskate!
Was I disappointed? Heck no! It was almost as if her cosy crimes from the ‘Leslie & Belinda Tennessee Mysteries’ series merged with her love of the supernatural from ‘Pickett House’ and this was the end result. And, to me, it was yet another great story that looks to become a promising new series.
Oh, and please don’t think that my description of it being a bit of this and a bit of that makes it some sort of cookie cutter tales being chunked out for sale. Not at all! ‘Hanging Tobacco’ can be likened to Ms Browning’s earlier work… but it most definitely stands out as being its own person… so to speak. It is more a happy marriage of someone good at writing cosy crimes - as proven by one series - and who is good at writing about the supernatural - as proven by another of her books - has now hit the nail on the head by combing the two topics and her talents of weaving a good story and gone from there.
Does that make sense now? Yeah, no… I feel if I try again I am just going to make it even worse! ;-)
So, anyhow, ‘Hanging tobacco’ is a great little stand-alone cosy crime/ mystery. It does start with a short story that sparked the inspiration for the main story and I loved that. It was like a two for one deal and the short story was a brilliant way to set the scene and get the reader into the right mindset for the main book ahead. It was like a reading appetiser! :-D
From memory, Ms Browning did this with the first Leslie and Belinda book too. A short story teaser followed by the actual full book. Loved it there too. Maybe it’s being a writer myself… but I adore how one little short story can then inspire a whole book, if not series. It just adds that extra touch of love and proof of passion about the work. Or maybe that’s just how I see it?
‘Hanging Tobacco’ was well paced (ie: addictive and having me read well past my bed time) cosy crime with a touch of the supernatural to add a twist to the usual crime sleuthing in small town America. I also do love how Olivia is a reporter so has a reason to be interested in the case.
Sometimes cosy crimes just have the main character coming across as nosy rather than sleuthing as her job and links to the crimes are miles apart with no real connection. But Olivia and the other characters were set up well to cover any grey areas without going to the other extreme of having access to everything, knowing everything and being some misunderstood super cop (the other end of the cosy crime spectrum). No, the choice of characters, the setting and the reasons for why things went the way they did was well thought out and a good balance.
Due to this good balance there was just the right amount of padding to the story, the right level of red herrings and I have to admit I honestly didn’t decide on whodunit until just before the book itself told me! That is rare! And it wasn’t due to the story being so convoluted it confused me… it was because the story simply had that RIGHT BALANCE of everything to keep me guessing, keep me entertained and make me satisfied with how it all wrapped up and was finished.
I really do hope the series continues as I would be more than willing to grab copies and continue reading.
Would I recommend this book to others?
Uh, I think I already have in all that flowery prose of how good it was to read. ;-)
But for those who need the direct approach - yes I would. Lovers of a good American mystery/ cosy crime are going to really enjoy ‘Hanging tobacco’. For those worried there is too much supernatural in it to make it a true here and now cosy - don’t be worried, it’s fine. This is not a book on the supernatural that happens to include a cosy crime, this is a decent cosy crime book that just happens to have a touch of the supernatural to it. You will be fine, just buy, read it and enjoy!
Would I buy this book for myself?
Pretty sure I already answered this one too… but yes, yes I would. I follow Linda S. Browning on all the normal social media sites that allow me to be a fan and not deemed a stalker and will keep an eye out for any further books in this series and happily spend my money buying them!
In summary: A good author just created another great cosy crime/mystery series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
July 7, 2017
If it wasn't for the ouija board and a few minor details this would be a solid 5 star read. I had a hard time with the whole ouija board aspect of this game. But I'm also a firm believer that they shouldn't be used.
I felt the author did a great job with this story. Character development, storyline, suspense, plot, and the mystic of it all was well executed. I hate when I'm reading a mystery and figure it out early in the book. This book kept me guessing for a large portion of the book. It had me flipping pages as fast as I could.
If you are interested in an easy, sometimes funny, suspenseful mystery, definitely give this one a try. I'm glad I did. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
I felt the author did a great job with this story. Character development, storyline, suspense, plot, and the mystic of it all was well executed. I hate when I'm reading a mystery and figure it out early in the book. This book kept me guessing for a large portion of the book. It had me flipping pages as fast as I could.
If you are interested in an easy, sometimes funny, suspenseful mystery, definitely give this one a try. I'm glad I did. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews