Love and Murder in Savannah

The Southern Sleuth #1

by Harper Lin

While her mother’s only wish is to see her married, Becky Mackenzie just wants to sketch in the cemetery and talk to ghosts. Becky will admit she is attracted to the handsome Adam White, but he’s a northerner shunned by Savannah society—plus Becky’s man-eating cousin Fanny is sinking her claws in him just to spite her.

But Becky’s got bigger fish to fry when a man gets stabbed to death at her best friend Martha’s birthday party. Was this just a case of poker gone wrong, or were more sinister forces at play? Becky must use her gift of communicating with the spirits to find the killer before any of her friends get hurt.

Set in the Jazz Age of speakeasies and flappers in beautiful and gothic Savannah, Georgia, The Southern Sleuth series will charm your hats off.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Ebooks, Historical

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2019

About the author

Harper Lin is the 3x USA Today Bestselling Author of several popular cozy mystery series—8 and counting!

When she’s not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga class, hiking, and baking with friends and family. 


Be the first to hear about early bird discounts and new book releases by signing up for Harper's Newsletter: https://goo.gl/R7XmFR

www.harperlin.com

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flappers and Prohibition in the South

This was SO much more than your average "cozy" mystery. Set in Savannah, Georgia in 1922, it's a tale of a new generation of privileged ladies and gentlemen during the time of flappers, speakeasies and Prohibition.(Although there doesn't seem to be much prohibited here!)

I absolutely loved the setting, the characters,which felt so lifelike, and the supernatural which is woven throughout the story with the main character Becky being able to see spirits. Becky has such chutzpah and is glaringly different from her peers, having to deal with her Society Mother's aim to marry her off, which she steadfastly refuses.
Amidst the soirees, speakeasies and hooch there is, of course, a murder for our MC to solve. Shadowing her at every step is her cousin Fanny. Quite possibly one of the most annoying, snarky, devious, man-stealing, snotty characters anyone could have foisted on them. She So reminds me of Nelly in Little House On the Prairie. You could just slap her senseless!!

A wonderful historical, spectral, murder mystery series that I can't wait to read more about. Highly recommended.

[Peter Baran · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a lopsided fantasy cosy mystery where the lead can see the dead, but clearly only the dead who have minor fashion related grievances and not the dead that could tell her who committed the murder. Characterisation is fine, and it captures a touch of the prohibition south where the wealthy southerners had no rouble sourcing a dance or speak-easy. But - this weekend in particular - reading a book about a child of privilege, living on a working tobacco plantation without ever mentioning race sticks in the craw. A bit of light-hearted anti-Yankie joshing I can just about handle, but to present a smart young female lead who can see ghosts but cannot see the ghosts of the slaves or indentured workers, and to barely accept that this is where the wealth comes from? You can't set a cosy mystery where it isn't cosy, and so this is a crime novel where it is the crime.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paranormal cozy mystery set in 1920s Savannah that features much Roaring Twenties-like slang. Way, way too much. It was charming for a while, but got on my nerves soon enough - especially since the author used some phrases so repetitively that I found myself thinking "If someone's called 'a good egg' one more time, I'll scream". Lin also appears to have an excessive fondness for the word "smirk". Protagonist Becky spends so much time smirking, usually during conversation where smirking makes very little sense, that it made me want to smack her almost as much as insufferable cousin Fanny. Very little time is spent on the actual mystery. All in all, this was fun for a while, but I grew tired of it long before it ended.

[Darlene C Robold · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow, wordy, repetitive, a main character impossible to like. The slang never felt right, it was awkward. The main character needed to grow up, a lot. I started skimming 2/3 rods of the way through and was happy to get to the end. I will not read another in this series.

[Lottie Vandergaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I really liked the terms used in this story. My Dad was always saying the bees knees, the cats pajamas and others. He always lived in California but used these same sayings. Reading this was like he was telling the story.

[Bonnye Reed]

Author gift

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the time period this series was set in as well as the clean cut but still exciting story. I have read every book in this series and I can’t wait for more!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting. There was less sleuthing and more general story telling than anticipated, but I enjoyed it as a light read.

[Ksb Nh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very low-key cozy mystery with some supernatural thrown in. Light, entertaining reading. Fun.

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining young lady with a fun cast of friends in a charming setting.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like historical murder mysteries with an extra dose of spooky, you are in for a real treat! Murder in Savannah is set during Prohibition in the Savannah, Georgia area. A story of the prim and proper southerners who still avoid Yankees because of the War of Northern Aggression-that's the Civil War to you. Proper southern ladies of a certain age should be thinking of marriage and suitors, only Becky isn't. Isn't a proper southern young lady, and she isn't thinking of marriage. No, her thoughts are on dancing and drinking at the many clubs and speakeasies that have sprung up around Savannah. Her thoughts are on a handsome northerner who makes her heart beat faster than the southern boy who comes calling. And her thoughts are on the cemetery and the interesting "people" (ghosts) she has met there. Then things begin to change, starting with a murder.

This period murder is filled with the language and activities from the twenties. The murder seems to be forgotten by the police, but not Becky. What follows is exciting, sometimes bewildering, and frequently unexpected. A colorful story that will have you racing to the unexpected conclusion. This is the first in a new series, and won't disappoint you!

[Kim Mccarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Becky and her friends Martha and Teddy. Savannah has always been one of my favorite cities, but I wasn’t really sure what to expect from a book set in the 20’s – it’s not typically an era book that I would select, but I decided to give it a chance. I’m glad I did. I’m fascinated by Becky and her abilities. It’s a different sort of book, which makes it really nice. It is unlike any “ghost” story I’ve read (and I’ve read quite a few), and I think that makes it very good – it’s original. Thanks to this book, I’m now much more interested in the roaring twenties than I’ve ever been. This book does a great job of creating the era in a very believable manner. The characters are spot-on – they are fascinating, three-dimensional people, even the minor characters, like Hank. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series – I want to see if Becky and Adam finally get together, if she tells him about her abilities, if Martha and Teddy finally get together, if Becky and Cecilia become close. I have so many questions that I want answer to!

I received a preview copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

[Bonnie J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new series by one of my favorite authors. I typically do not care for reads that are not in the current time, but this was fun. In a time when your place in society depended on who would look down their nose at you, Becky is refreshingly different. Oh sure, she has the same worries that any 20 year old has, but she could care less if she walks barefoot through a field, sketches in a cemetery, crushes on a "Yankee" or finds frogs with the house staffs little boy. Becky was lucky enough to be born to wealthy Southern royalty, but she was also born with a gift of seeing and communicating with ghosts. This ability causes trouble at her friend Martha's 21st birthday party when Martha receives a ouija board as a gift. After a mysterious murder, strange things begin to happen to Becky and she is determined to find out what is going on. She, luckily, has help from her friends Teddy, Martha and Adam and a few psychics who seem to know when trouble is coming. The ending is not what you would expect. I would dfinitely read the next book in this series to see where it goes.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 in trhe Southern Belle mystery series.

The Jazz Age of speakeasies and flappers serve as the background for this
1922 mystery set in Savannah, Georgia with 20 year Becky Mackenzie still more tomboy than young lady, head strong, carefree and a big trial to her mother. While her mother’s only wish is to see her married to someone she approves of and settle down as women of their status in society are supposed to do, Becky just wants to sketch in the cemetery and talk to ghosts go to speakeasies to drink and dance with her friends.

It is a bit ironic that Becky's mother expresses concern that her tom boyish behavior will not get get her an acceptable husband when Becky and her set of friends are constantly visiting speakeasies late at night and drinking to excess which should be more of a concern.

All this changes when a man is murdered at Beck's best friends' birthday party and the visit of Becky's cousin, Fanny, who she despises. Fanny constantly demeans her, has to be the belle of the ball and flirts will all the males. Further complicating matters is Becky's growing attraction to Adam West, a northerner shunned by Savannah society. Instead,Becky must use her gift of communicating with the spirits to find the killer.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper Lin writes another cute, cozy murder mystery. The book is quirky. Becky likes to spend time in a graveyard and she can see ghosts. I liked how the book told about the history of Savannah and how society acted at the time. For example, the society people were not over the war between the north and the south in 1922. Speakeasies were real in this time of prohibition. Becky has strong friends in Mary and Teddy and a tattletale cousin, Fanny, that comes for a visit. Becky's mom needs to stop listening to all the gossip and think for herself but I suppose that is supposed to be part of the southern charm. Mom would not want to step out of line in Savannah society.

I did get a bit annoyed by all the clichés from the time. Becky and her friends were full of "Bees Knees" and "Good Eggs." I think this will be a good series and I look forward to more adventures with Becky, Mary, Teddy and maybe Adam White can join the trio.

Thank you Harper Lin for an ARC copy of this book.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A combination of some of my fave genres; historical fiction, cozy mystery with just a touch of paranormal romance!

Well Done Harper Lin! Love and Murder in Savannah is a fun romp through the 1920's, prohibition, and the South which has never quite got over the Civil War. Ms Lin's latest heroine , Becky , can see and communicate with the dead, a trait that is not quite a lady like skill. This ability a long with her tomboy attitude, and laid back approach to life, is enough to drive her Southern belle mother mad. That and the way that trouble seems to follow Becky where ever she goes! Becky and her best friends for life, romp through old Savannah, solving mysteries with the help of few friendly ghosts and some other quirky characters they meet along the way. Harper Lin as always has a way with words that makes you believe you are right There in Savannah with Becky and company. Overall, an very enjoyable read!

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca - sorry, Becky - can see the dead, something that sets her apart from her friends in the roaring twenties. Set in the period of the prohibition in America, Becky and her friends try to hit every speakeasy around Savannah. When during the birthday party of her best friend a murder happens, Becky is adamant to try and find the murderer, whilst at the same time trying to avoid dealing with her cousin Fanny, her matchmaking mother - and some shadier and more dangerous non-living persons than she is used to.
This was absolutely brillant - easy and flowing narration style (easy meant in a positive way), very likeable characters, and a reflection of the American South during the 1920ies that had me smiling from today's point of view. Oh and add to that a good plot, an interesting twist on seeing ghosts(?), and you end up with a book that you don't want to put down until the last word is read.
A very good start to a new series, and something I will definitely follow!

[Krystyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange storyline

A good read but it left you in the dark at the end. Okay the killer was caught but who is the hobo? When will her cousin get her comeuppance? I enjoyed it up to a point but I really felt sorry for the main character. Her parents are so easily swayed by the things her cousin spouts and no-one is there to teach her how to survive the gift she has. Plus for an independent personality she should have thought of some way to even the playing field.
Take a murder, a nasty conniving tittle-tattle, gypsies, ghosts, the strange hobo, another murder, her mother trying to turn her into her cousin and marry someone she's picked out and stir with a handsome Yankee. Will the killer be found? What does the hobo want from her? Can she fight back? How can she win against the sly remarks being made?

[Cyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. However, it was more on the supernatural and less on the sleuthing/mystery solving. In fact, the mystery of whodunnit seem to take a backseat. I did enjoy the main character’s supernatural abilities but that didn’t help her solve crimes. As a first book of the series, I would have expected more of that. Not sure how the rest of the series fares but I am intrigued and might pick this up again later when I run out of things to read.

I did enjoy the historical aspects of this book but not sure about the language. Too many repetition of the same phrases and words and felt forced (as if the author only knew a few phrases used during the time and recycled them throughout the book).

Finally, I’m a bit confused about the main character. She seem to be the life of the party and knew everyone who knew everyone and yet it sounded like she only had two friends?

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read but has some obvious flaws. MC has been able to see dead people all her life but still doesn't always remember that other people can't. Really? It's amazing she hasn't been locked up.
The dialogue uses lots of slang, supposedly in use in 1920s Savannah. This makes the MC sound more like a two-bit crook than a young lady from a privileged background. The slang might be right for the period but I doubt that it's right for the character.
No real sleuthing gets done by the MC or anybody else. The murderer is pretty obvious and obligingly confesses all at the end.
I've read a few Harper Lin books now. They all have unsatisfying conclusions.
3 stars means I finished it without pain but can't recommend it except as light reading.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luckily this was a freebie (or maybe 99 cents) - I managed to plow through to the end, although I was tempted to give it up a couple times and did indeed read other books at the same time. A while ago, I read and enjoyed Harper Lin's Wonder Cats series, but this was nowhere near the quality of those. A rather tiresome self-centered protagonist, only a few people nice enough (and interesting enough) to relate to, rather heavy attempts at "roaring 20s" slang and speakeasies, and some use of the paranormal which wasn't really fleshed out much. Presumably, it will be developed more as the series continues, but right now I don't plan to follow up on it.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars This book was chosen to fulfill a 2022 cozy mystery prompt to read a self published cozy mystery. This is the first in the Southern Sleuth mystery series. We are introduced to Rebecca “Becky” Mackenzie, young socialite in 1922 Savannah. Becky’s mother is focused on getting her daughter married by Becky is more interested in communing with spirits in the local cemetery. When a murder occurs at a birthday party to which she has been invited, Becky is up for the challenge of finding the killer. She finds she needs the help of her “spirit” friends to expose the killer though. This was a slow, plodding read for me.

[Linda Lundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC to read and review. After the book came out I also ordered it. This is going to be a really fun and interesting new series. I haven't really read any type of historical mysteries (not my thing) but I did really enjoy this one. We have a young woman who can speak with the dead and spends her time in some really fun and interesting ways. She has an amazing family and her friends are delightful. This story has just the right amount of mystery, intrigue, paranormal happenings and some really surprising new friendships. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the start, this book ticked so many of my happy reader boxes. Ghosts! 1920's! Flapper lifestyle! I knew I'd love it and I did. This story is the introduction to The Southern Sleuth series and takes its time revealing the major and minor players. Everyone gets a turn but it's done in an organic way and doesn't feel the least bit contrived.

The mystery unfolds itself. This is not a detective type of novel. There are, however, peculiar and sinister events aplenty that add to the smoke and mirrors and keeps one hooked and guessing.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becky is mostly a typical 1920s Southern Debutante in Savannah, Georgia. Perhaps, she's not a in a rush to marry. And perhaps she's having more fun going out to dives to dance and drink a bit. Oh, and one other thing; Becky has been talking to dead people ever since she was a little girl. There's a number of them in the cemetery near her house and she knows them all.

Except, someone is killed at a party and there's a very creepy fellow sneaking about, and Becky thinks he has something to do with it. Plus, there's the woman and her elderly mother who know quite a bit about Becky and want to talk to her.

A charming mystery with a supernatural touch.

[Patricia Lumpkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre. Poor portrayal of southerners. Poor character development. Way too much slang. No 'upper crust' southern girl, even a rebellious one, would have spoken in this fashion. Not much plot, and what plot there was got lost in all the slang. There was no sleuthing involved as the title would lead you to believe. Most of the book was taken up with repetitive accounts of partying in disreputable speakeasies. You finish the book thinking, 'is that it?' I certainly was not enticed to pay for the second book in the series.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a novel set in the 1920's for a reading challenge. I chose this novel because it intrigued me with the main character being able to talk to ghosts and then uses this ability to solve a murder. I liked Becky right away, although at first I thought she was much younger than she was. All of the characters are so well written that they were so likeable(even Cousin Fanny) and they are so easy to visualize. My favourite sentence of the story was "I’m not some rube who just fell off the turnip truck." I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read what happens next.

[Trish Goodgame · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars
An interesting cozy mystery set in the 1920s back in the days of prohibition, speakeasies and typical Southern attitudes.
Becky McKenzie is more interested in talking to her ghost friends and going dancing and drinking with her friends than being "married off" as her southern parents would like.
The author takes you on a journey of that era with all the colloquialisms and jargon of that time, which set the scene perfectly. A murder takes place and many strange events follow. The ending did seem to fall flat slightly though.

[Debbiebooknerdyoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 1st book in a new series!
I don't think I've ever read a book set back in the days of prohibition. I was surprised at how much fun it was to read this book.
Becky is a young lady that has a hard time being a proper young lady. She loves to dance to the beat of her own drum, and is fine with being a little different.
Loved the story.. it was the bees knees ;)
Well deserving of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

[M. White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever historical fiction

Love and Murder in Savannah is a clever paranormal cozy. The plot is well constructed and the characters are interesting and well developed. My only complaint was the heavy use of period slang. Just once I would have liked to see their evening activity called dancing rather than 'cutting a rug' every single time. Overall an interesting beginning, and I plan to read more.