Sue Jan and Lovita put on their big girl boots to solve a new crop of mysteries as their town gains a new antique and resale shop run by creepy twin sisters, a yummy frozen custard stand owned and operated by a quirky old man, and a trio of criminals operating under the town’s radar. With all that going on, a very pregnant Sue Jan is running for public office and the town’s ancient sewerage system is starting to act up. Between all the calamitous clues and chill bumps, the two women come to a startling conclusion—the Little Town of Wachita is in a mess of trouble.
This series is so much fun, I almost forget that there was sinister death involved. The characters in this book are over the top and so entertaining. They are the reason I keep coming back and this book certainly didn't disappoint. In fact, there was so much going on with the various characters that I was almost more interested in their personal lives and development than the mystery itself. No matter how over the top and silly sometimes the character seem, Sue Jan and Lovita are so adept at reading a situation and solving mysteries even when they just happen to stumble into them. The ending had me both happy and a little sad because I am not ready to say goodbye.
Oh man, how I love these two and their craziness while solving mysteries. I will definitely be sad to see them go as it looks like they will be taking a break for a while. The narration for this series has been awesome (from the third book on) and I hope to find more narrated by her in the future.
I did enjoyed this book however I felt it concentrated on the characters more than the mystery. I do like strong central and well developed characters as they are the back bone to a good story but not at the expense of the mystery, there was to much differing over should Sue Jan run for mayor and why her husband was unhappy, which was covered in the last book. It also covered all the previous cases so if you are new to the series I wouldn't start with this book because you know the out come for all the other books. Other than that I enjoyed it and it was still as funny as the previous books. The are characters are fun and I do like them a lot. The mystery was good and it did keep you guessing with the twists the story took, you just had to find it. The small town of Wichita is growing with new shops and enterprises opening up on a daily bases. New business mean more people are moving to the once small town and not all of them have good intentions. Which is why as well as campaigning to take over the roll of Mayor from her husband Sue Jan finds herself investigating an attempted murder. With the help from her best friend and business partner Lavita, the forensic ladies are helping to solve a cold which is connected to the attack on the custard stand owner. With Sue Jan about to give birth the ladies have a right stink on there hands. Can they clean up Wachita and finally get justice for a grieving man or have they finally taken on too much? I really like the narrator, somehow she gives each character there very own voice, which brings the story to life.
Audiobook: I was entertained by book 7 of the "Until the Fat Ladies Sing" series. The town of Wachita was growing with the addition of new businesses and people. All these changes have caused new challenges and mysteries for Lovita and Sue Jan to solve. I liked the characters, Sue Jan and Lovita, and their friends and family. I admired their friendship and their interactions with others. I enjoyed the mystery. There were some amusing moments and occasions of witty dialogue included in the tale. Michelle Babb's narration was skillful, and her performance added to my enjoyment of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
Custard’s Last Stand: An Until the Fat Ladies Sing Mystery was another great read by Linda P. Kozar. Sue Jan and Lolita wind up solving new mysteries that happen in their town. The town also gained a new antique shop, a frozen custard stand and new criminals that are targeting the town. Sue Jan decides to run for public office right as the towns septic system starts acting up. I really enjoyed this read by Linda P. Kozar and can’t wait to read more by the author. Michelle Babb did a great job of narrating this audiobook.
Another crazy who-done-it by Ms. Kozar delightfully narrated by Michelle Babb. These characters are zany. I love their shenanigans and their ability to solve mysteries. These books are worth a listen.
Yet another great listen. I just escape into another world when listening to a Michelle babb narrated book and this one was no different. These two ladies are incredible how much can happen to them and their attitude is unbelievable. I would challenge you to read or listen to this story and not smile.
I was given a free copy by the narrator but the review is entirely my own.
( Format : Audiobook ) "Three gallons of crazy in a two litre bucket." The seventh and probably the last of the Until the Fat Ladies Sing, series, and, like it's predecessors, can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, although knowing the past stories will enhance the pleasure.gleened. Set in a small Texas town, the books revolve around the antics of two larger than life ladies, Lavita, who tells the tale from her personal lerspective, and her best friend, Sue Jan, now married to the mayor. Together, they own the local beauty store, Crown of Glory, but recently their attentions had been more focused on their growing families, their self involved 'ambassadorial' greetings and generally nosing around on their investigations: they view themselves as the town's sleuths. And a lot is going on in Wachita in Custard's Last Stand - the opening of a Piggly Wiggly, a new frozen custard stand, strange and sinister twins, attempted murder and a death, a giant balloon baby, a birth, a pregnancy, an explosion of noxious fumes, a new mayoral candidate and Sue Jan finally finds her family. It is, if anything, even more action packed and comedic than usual.
The Fat Lady series has well developed characters, and in particular, those of the two main protagonists strut their way off the pages with all of their fears, hopes and prejudices. And they are funny, sometimes deliberately with each other, sometimes by virtue of their personalities and interactions. Like the whole town, they are a colourful couple, indulging in silly puns and language jokes, including great expressions ('Even a blind pig finds a truffle now and then', and, 'I'm only helpless when my nails are drying.') - simply delicious and great fun, even if the characters themselves are not necessarily overly sympathetic. The narration by Michelle Babb is, as always, superb.. Each character is clearly and very appropriately voiced, but Lovita, who tells the story in the first person, and best friend, Sue Jan, are especially well performed, greatly adding to the overall enjoyment.
This is an all inclusive, laugh a minute, cozy mystery thriller and fully recommended for a few hours of clean fun in a small but proud Texas town. There are even three recipes for the adventurous to try at the end of the book. I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy by the rights holder, at my request. Thank you so much. Go, buy, enjoy. After all, as Sue Jan would say, 'The pen is mightier than the word. "
A fun, fast paced cozy mystery. Lots of humour and twists to keep the reader turning the pages. It's a shame I have only started at book 7 and not read from the start, but I will go back to Book 1 and see what I have missed.
This series is a total blast, and this book is no exception. These two forensic females in the little town of Wachita do not let any stone unturned when they are investigating a case. Life seemed calm for the past months, but a new man arrives in town with his frozen custard stand, and an attempt is made on his life. Sue Jan and Lovita are thinking about retiring and taking care of their families, but they can’t just leave this mystery unresolved.
I had lots of fun listening to this book. Sue Jan’s wit at talking is sharper than ever before, and the two ladies get in more complicated and more awkward situations, even visiting the morgue of a funerary home. The story is intriguing, and the two women do not know who the murderer is until the end.
This book also focuses on the personal life of Sue Jan and Lovita, their careers, their family, and their dreams. I like the fact that we get to know them better in each book, and that all characters are very picturesque and unique. It is like meeting a bunch of old friends among which one can be honest and spontaneous.
Narrating a book like this is not an easy feature, but Michelle Babb did it complete justice, spurting words at the speed of light with a checky tone when interpreting Sue Jan but being reflexive and cautious when interpreting Lovita. There is an inherent sense of humor in these books, and Babb knows how to transmit it to the listener in a casual and candid way, like she is been doing this all her life.
It saddens me that this could be the end of this fantastic series, as I had a very good time and many laughs with these two forensic females. I hope they will find time in their busy lives to investigate another murder.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Custard’s Last Stand by Linda P. Kozar, the seventh and final entry in Until The Fat Ladies Sing Mystery series, does a fine and entertaining job of wrapping up with the series. Almost overfilled with puns, especially towards the book’s beginning, it is a fun, sometimes even funny, lightweight mystery bringing back Wachita, Texas’ own Sue Jan and Lovita, the bodacious owners of a beauty salon, part time sleuths and now full time wives and mothers. To say the two are busy is a gross understatement. One of the strengths of the book is how the two main characters evolve and come to realize their personal limitations and how the realities of their current lives will impact their futures.
Ms Kozar does a fine job of capturing the essence of small town Texas where everyone knows one another and going to church on Sunday is common. The hefty dose of Christianity including blessings, prayers, and referrals to church and Jesus may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The humor of the book is fun for everyone, even if it does go a little over the top with puns.
The narration by Michelle Babb is outstanding. The voices of each character is clear but the ones of Lovita, who narrates, and Sue Jan are especially well done and in perfect character.
I recommend this book for anyone in the mood for a fun mystery to entertain them and make them smile. While this is the seventh book in the series, it is a standalone, though the reader may enjoy going back and listening to previous installments. Three stars.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.
Sue Jan and Lovita befriend a quirky elderly gentleman who has recently moved to Wachita and opened a frozen custard stand. When he is nearly killed outside the ladies' beauty shop they decide they have to help the police solve this attempted murder. The is no shortage of suspects and the town has problems of its own. Can the ladies solve the mystery and how will the current events change their lives?
This book is a fun read. The main characters, Sue Jan and Lovita, are big bodacious females with large quirky personalities. They are resourceful and likable. The town of Wachita is full of small-town charm but seems to always have strange events happening. There are plenty of plot twists to keep the reader engaged in the story until the end. The storyline is well developed and moves at a quick pace.
I listened to the audio version of the book. Narrator Michelle Babb brings San Jan, Lovita, and the rest of the cast of characters to life. She does a wonderful job of giving each character’s personality. She has great comedic timing and narrates the dialogue with ease.
I recommend this book to fans of humorous cozy mysteries.
I listened to the audio version of this book. This series is just hilarious! It is so full of one liners that it's hard to even take them all in. The part where the mortician and Sue Jan square off coming up with inventive names for death is my favorite: "weed inspector, bought a pine condo, the way of all flesh, examine the radishes, kicked the oxygen habit", etc... Sue Jan and Lovita describe themselves as two bodacious feminine forensics and in Custard's Last Stand there are several mysteries they are trying to solve. Sue Jan is extremely pregnant and getting ready to take over the mayoral position from her husband. Lovita is her partner in a business and in crime fighting. They are a hoot! I really think that describes them the best. The story was great and the narration suited it perfectly. If you love cozy mysteries and humor, you really need to give them a try! It appears that this will be the last book of their shenanigans. So sad. I was given a complimentary copy of this audio book. All thoughts are my own.
An Until The Fat Ladies Sing Mystery book 7 Lovita and Sue Jan are at it again solving crazy mysteries. Sue Jan decides to run for mayor and Lovita is thinking of selling the Crown of Glory and babies aplenty making life busy. A new grocery store comes to town and the ladies meet newcomer Clayborn Custard has an amazing custard stand and ends up in a hospital after passing out and almost getting taken out at the same time. Lovita and Sue Jan plan on finding out who is trying to hurt their new friend, especially after several more attempts are taken against Clayborn’s life. Also the town of Watchita is having some very stinky problems that Sue Jan is going to have to take care and capture a crazy maniac and their partners.
I was given an audio version of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Narrator Michelle Babb is an amazing story teller and she makes the characters come to life in such a way that you feel you know them personally.
Small town, Southern humor. Fun to listen to, (I had an audible copy of the book) I love the crazy puns and often chuckled out loud. With quirky, colorful characters, small town gossip, romance, politics, and countrified family moving into town, Custard's Last Stand has a lot to keep the reader's attention. Lovita and Sue Jan, (heavily prego!) best friends for forever, once again are on the case of mysterious happenings in Wachita. Even though part of a series this book the book can definitely be a read as a stand alone book. Michelle Babb does a good job of narrating, giving each of the characters their own voice and accent. With twists and turns, mystery and mayhem Linda Kozar has given readers an amusing story with good, clean humor that entertains well. It sounded like the big, bodacious beauties might be wrapping up their private investigating...I sure hope not. I have loved reading this series.
Custard's Last Stand Until the Fat Ladies Sing, Book 7 By: Linda Kozar
I really enjoyed the lovely ladies of Wachita, oh and the guys are pretty great too. The lady detectives that call themselves forensic females are back at work after a new man to town is almost killed. The gals are chasing clues to find the bad guys or girls. We get lots of hints and twists as they charge ahead. There are some surprises in this book that will make the listener sit back and say, "Oh, I didn't see that coming!" An enjoyable listen. I will hope for more of these adventures in the future!!!
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Michelle Babb gives each of these characters voice, and helps their personality shine through.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Hard to focus on the mystery with all the one-liners and verbal slapstick going on! Not a criticism! The two besties live in small town Texas and always have the most *interesting* adventures. The publisher's blurb covers a lot so I don't have to. Loved it! Narrator Michelle Babb certainly makes everything bounce along, but I really don't know how she can do this performance without cracking up!