Elvis and the Grateful Dead

A Southern Cousins Mystery #2

by Peggy Webb

When the first Elvis impersonator is found slumped over his piano, a heart attack seems the likely suspect. But when a second keels over mid-swagger at Callie Valentine Jones's party, suspicious minds begin to wonder if something foul is afoot. Because everyone knows two dead Elvis impersonators add up to only one murder.

As it turns out, Callie's cousin Lovie--a 190-pound bombshell who's had more lovers than the King had hit records--turns out to be suspect #1. Callie knows she's innocent but to prove it, she and Lovie will have to find out who the real killer is. It's a mystery fit for a King, and with a little help from Callie's hunk-a-burnin' love ex Jack, and her talented hound dog Elvis--who's convinced he's the true reincarnation of the King--Callie and Lovie are determined to have the killer singing Jailhouse Rock. But they need to move fast and be ready for the killer's next move, because their chance may be now. . .or never!

"Another crazy, fast-paced mystery sure to leave cozy fans chuckling and waiting for the next adventure." -- Booklist

"Webb's sly sense of humor and neatly plotted mystery is laugh-out-loud hilarious."
-- Romantic Times

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Humor, Crime

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 24, 2009

About the author

Peggy Webb. USA Today Bestseller, is the author of more than 100 novels. Her thrillers and literary novels have topped Amazon charts. A former adjunct instructor of writing at Mississippi State University, Millions of her novels have sold around the world in more than 25 languages. Peggy is the most prolific writer her home state of Mississippi has ever produced, and she is considered one of the most beloved and iconic authors in the business. Pat Conroy calls her literary work "astonishing," Kathie Fong Yoneda labels it "brilliant," and readers consider her books "Must Reads." Peggy's has won numerous awards, including many Reviewer's Choice, the Maggie, a Waldenbooks Award for #1 Bestseller of the Year, several Word Weaving Award of Excellence, and the prestigious Pioneer Award for creating the subgenre of romantic comedy. One of her novels was submitted for a Pulitzer. Peggy also writes under the pen names, Anna Michaels and Elaine Hussey.

Peggy is an accomplished pianist and singer, and has graced the stage of her local community theater in roles such as M'lynn in Steel Magnolias (played by Sally Field in the movie), and the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. She composed the blues lyrics she credited to her characters in two of her books, including her latest thriller series from Bookouture, the Logan Sisters. She passed her love of music to her family. Her son plays guitar and harmonica, her daughter and two granddaughters sing, her youngest grandson plays piano, and her grandson David Webb made the gorgeous photographs that appear through her new, state-of-the-art website. For her latest news, visit her website at peggywebb.com, stop by her blog to leave a note, and contact her with any questions. She appreciates her fans and loves hearing what you think.



Series:
* Westmoreland Diaries
* A Southern Cousins Mystery

Reviews

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a complete blast to read and I honestly don't know why I read so long to read book two considering I really enjoyed book one as well. Callie and her cousin/best friend Lovie have a southern knack for finding themselves smack dab in the middle of murder mysteries and this time around, all the drama and fun takes place during an Elvis festival in their hometown. All of a sudden, an Elvis impersonator ends up dead and then two...and then three...you get the point. To make matters worse, Lovie, who catered most of the food for the event, is the prime suspect.

The characters in this book really are hilarious. Callie seems to be the most stable other than her Uncle Charlie and even saying that, she manages to find herself in loads of sticky situations. Lovie is hilarious and only has one thing on her mind and being a murder suspect isn't it. Finally, Callie's husband who deeply cares about her even though they are separated is still always showing up at the right time. I wish Callie would open her eyes regarding Jack, but with new town vet Champ now in the picture, I'm not sure it will even happen. The mystery wasn't too easy to figure out and at the end, the motive for the murders was so ludicrous yet so plausible.

Finally we come to Elvis, and yes, he deserves his own paragraph. Callie's basset Elvis is a main character in this series and he adds so much color commentary to the books that one can't help but adore him. At first I thought Elvis just felt he was the actual Elvis reincarnated, but after this book, I think he IS actually supposed to be reincarnated Elvis. Elvis is a joy and throughout the book there are chapters called "Elvis' Thoughts On....." where he discussed what is going on from a dog's point of view. They were clearly my favorite.

If you love cozy mysteries and if you enjoy books with southern wit and charm, you have to give this series a try. I'm just grateful one of my local libraries has the rest of the series (6 in all) because I don't plan on waiting another 2 years before picking the next one up.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, fast read. I was more prepared for the formatting of this book so I enjoyed it more. I was surprised that the killer was one of the little old ladies, and her reasoning was absolutely bonkers; she thought she was the former sweetheart of Elvis and the dead impersonators were an insult to his memory! The chemist impersonator killing the competition so he could win would have made more sense. Still, this was interesting and had just enough slap stick to keep it light. I like the vet and really want things to work out with him. The secrets about Jack and his job are not good enough for me to want them to get back together; he needs to come clean or cut all ties. I'm interested in reading more in this series.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Elvis impersonators wind up dead and Callie's cousin and best friend Lovie is the #1 suspect! The two cousins set out to find the real killer, and by their side is Callie's basset hound who swears he is the reincarnation of Elvis Presley! The "Southern Cousins" cozy mystery series is a lot of fun! Great stories and characters, plus a little romance thrown in. And how can you go wrong with Elvis?

[Brenda Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I thought when I found this book that it was time for something a bit lighter. . .a mystery with amusement, and this was exactly that. Again, I began with the second in a series and would have preferred to begin at the beginning, but some passages had me laughing out loud, so thanks for the lighter moments. Besides, I do love Basset Hounds.

[Penny Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

First one of this series that I read, and I really enjoyed it. Elvis, the hound dog, is the king! Definitely going to read thevtest of this series. Thank you, thank you very much.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all the characters in this series. A truly fun read.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the dog on the cover but could NOT
get into this writing style, characters or plot.
DNF

[Sandy Lipinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as funny, still a great read.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute mind fluff. Dog reincarnation of Elvis investigates mysteries.

[Lynette Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so hard reading this book!

[Jacquie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reading was funny but I personally didn’t care for the character of the dog being a reincarnated Elvis.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

all I know about Elvis comes from mystery books and lilo and stitc

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series.

Each book keeps getting better and better.
I’m looking so forward to see what adventures Callie and Elvis, the dog, get into next.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the Southern Cousins Mystery series. Callie Valentine Jones owns Hair.net, the local beauty salon and has set up a hairdressing tent at the Elvis Festival in Tupelo, Mississippi. Callie's Uncle Charlie is heading up the committee in charge of finding the next best Elvis impersonator.

When the first Elvis impersonator dies while playing the piano, Callie's cousin and best friend Lovie becomes the number one suspect. When the second Elvis impersonator drops dead after dancing with Callie's mom Ruby Nell, the Valentine family rallies together to find the killer and save the Valentine name.

For those who aren't familiar with this series, Callie's loveable basset hound, Elvis thinks he is the actual singer reincarnate. Alternating chapters in the book are narrated by Elvis, who keeps you entertained with his view on Callie and soon to be ex husband Jack's romance, his own romance with French poodle Ann Margaret, and of course his take on catching the killer.

In addition to the mystery, Callie finds herself still conflicted on her feelings for ex Jack and is pleasantly surprised to meet the handsome Luke Champion, Veterinarian when Elvis has a little mishap. (I really hope this isn't going to be another love triangle in the upcoming installments). Lovie is desperately trying to get her love interest, Rocky to take the next step but he is too busy planning for his next archaeological dig. Ruby Nell and best friend Fayrene have taken up dancing lessons much to the dismay of Uncle Charlie. Uncle Charlie has his hands full with new assistant, Bobby Huckabee who swears he is a psychic.

A fun, quick read but definitely not your typical cozy. This series definitely takes a little getting used to.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Elvis and the Dearly Departed I was eager to read the next book in the series and I got it for my kindle straight away.

Elvis and the Grateful Dead continues just after where Elvis and Dearly Departed left off and Callie and Lovie look set to end up in the middle of another murder investigation when during the Tupelo Elvis Impersonator competition an impersonator dies. Well one could of been natural causes but 2, that would be murder right?

I enjoyed this book but not as much as Elvis and the Dearly Departed. I loved the development of Callie's character, especially the developments with her and Jack but my love for the characters of Lovie and Ruby Nell decreased. I felt that they were just a little too annoying as they didn't get their own way. I also was left wondering about where their characters were at the end of the novel.

One of my favourite parts of the novel is the mini chapters which are told from the perspective of Elvis, Callie's basset hound, they are humorous and a great insight into the other characters, but unfortunately did not tell me enough about what was going on with Ruby Nell and the secrets she was keeping.

If you enjoyed the previous novel I am sure you will enjoy this one and I am still looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

All in all I am going to give this book a 3.5 out of 5.

[CC. Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not my usual type of book so I feel my review might be skewed. Usually, I like mysteries that a bit more hard-hitting, ones that focus on actual crimes solved by detectives or police. I also very much dislike books that try too hard to be "southern". For those reasons, I am scoring this book pretty low.

Callie is a hairdresser living in Tupelo, Mississippi, during an Elvis festival. As part of that festival, she is the hairdresser for the impersonators. Her sidekick is a basset-hound named Elvis who has his own chapters where he explains he is actually the reincarnated "King". During the festival, someone is killing off the impersonators and Callie takes it upon herself to solve the crime along with her "hot under the sequined collar" cousin. Mixed in is a very mixed-up relationship with her ex-husband who is apparently some sort of mobster. And, then there's her mother, the town kook.

There's a lot going on in this book, a bit too much for everything to get neatly solved by the end. Everyone is such a unique character that everyone comes off as a bit fake. There's never a sense this is more than a silly fiction story. Really, though, I was lost when the dog started talking. That's never a good thing. Never. And, don't even get me started with the fakey southern charm. It's just okay and a series I most certainly won't be reading more of.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvis lives! Elvis, the basset hound, that is. He is not only "nothin' but a hound dog," but the actual reincarnation of The King, and the narrator of this romping, charming series. He is assisted in his narration by Callie Valentine, who fondly imagines she is his owner, but Elvis knows who runs things. Callie's family runs a funeral business in Tupelo, best known as the birthplace of Elvis' first incarnation. Each year, Tupelo hosts a festival with a contest for Elvis impersonators. It's a big honor to win, but someone seems to be trying to rig the competition by knocking off the contestants, literally. Callie and her big, beautiful(190 lbs.) cousin Lovie are racing time to find the true killer before Lovie gets slung in jail. Just as in their first adventure, Elvis and the Dearly Departed, the girls have a big bunch of odd-ball encounters, falling out of trees and hot air balloons and narrowly escaping being poisoned. At the same time, Callie has to deal with police tape in her garden and mysterious goins on with her soon-to-be ex, that "hunka burnin' love," Jack. Will Lovie spend her days in the slammer? Will Callie find happiness with that hottie, Jack? When will the next in the series come out? I can't wait!

[David Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

Elvis and the Grateful Dead (A Southern Cousins Mystery, #2) by Peggy Webb (Kensington 2009)(Fiction - Mystery): words simply fail me. I am appalled that the author thought it cute to write a novel about a talking basset hound. I am agog that she was able to find a publisher for this drivel. I am aghast that the author would so debase her southern heritage as to parody it thusly. I have never been accused of taking a highbrow approach to humor nor have I been accused of being thin-skinned or unable to laugh at myself. However, I recognize when someone has publicly embarrassed herself. Shame on you Peggy Webb, and shame on you Kensington Publishing. That sound we all just heard? That was the real Elvis rolling over in his grave. My rating 1/10, finished 1/25/14.

[Bonnie McHenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, let's begin with the fact that I was able to figure out the "who done it" pretty early in the book. Put that aside and you have lots of hilarious situations Callie and Lovie subject themselves to all in solving the murders. You also still have a sense of family commitment and bonding along with the continually bantering that exist between Callie and Lovie, Callie and Ruby Nell (her mom) and Callie and her soon to be ex hubby Jack! Elvis the dog keeps me totally entertained with his outside opinions about murder, family and everyone's love life, including his own. Throw in a new "possible" love interest for Callie, who we met in the 1st book as Elvis' vet, and you have some relationship tensions. Fun to read and to see at the end, if you are right about the murderer!

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvis (the bassett hound reincarnation of the King) is having trouble with his human mom and the rest of her family. Ruby Nell and Charlie are fighting. Lovie is having trouble getting the love of her life to move past first base and Callie and Jack are still fighting over Elvis in the divorce settlement. Callie is looking around to possibly start dating and Jack is determined she won't.
Callie and family and neighbors are working the Elvis Festival in Tupelo, with Callie doing the impersonators' hair and Lovie doing the catering for the Elvis Fan Club in Mooreville. Then the impersonators begin to die.....and Lovie is chief suspect because they are poisoned and Lovie has a past with several of them. Callie is desperate to prove her innocent.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrator Callie and the rest of the eccentric Valentine family are helping out at the annual festival in Tupelo when the Elvis impersonators start dying. Callie's beloved cousin Lovie seems to be the leading suspects, so with one successful investigation under their belts, the two women decide that they will find the murderer. Both have love troubles, too--Callie with her irresistible soon-to-be ex-husband Jack (he's determined not to let the divorce go through). Unknowingly, they have the help of Callie's bassett hound, who gets his own chapters, and who is the reincarnation of a certain popular singer...

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim, not really expecting much. But in the end I really enjoyed it! Callie and her cousin are helping out at the state fair's Elvis impersonator competition. When the impersonators start dropping like flies and Callie's cousin (who catered the event) comes under suspicion everyone rallies to clear her name. My favorite part of the book was Callie's basset hound Elvis, who think he really is THE Elvis, reincarnated. Every 3rd chapter is told from his point of view- it was fun to read his commentary and to also get a different point of view of the situation (since hes a dog and listens in on certain things that Callie can't). All in all a really cute, fun read.

[Kim Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit...when I started these books, I just wasn't sure I would stick with them. But I fell in love with all the characters page by page. I bought this book quickly, for the most part, because my mother asked for it and, since she was going to be spending time recovering from pretty major surgey, I obliged. The Grateful Dead sealed my love affair with the Southern Cousins mysteries. I am hooked. Memphis Mambo is on my wish list just waiting for me to click buy. As a Southerner myself, I love reading about the South :) Thanks, Ms. Webb, for such delightful characters. I know my Mom thanks you as well.

[moxieBK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is #2 in the Southern Cousins Mystery Novel series.

The best part about this book is the Elvis zingers that are thrown about and Elvis, the dog. He steals the scene EVERY time he shows up. What a ham!

Callie and Lovie are back for more shenanigans (along with the ex, Jack,) as Lovie is prime suspect #1 in this whodunit of two dead Elvis impersonators.

If you are a fan of Karen Cantwell's "Barbara Marr's Mysteries" or Gemma Halliday's "High Heeled Mysteries," I think you'll feel right a home with this series.

Not as strong as the first two, but still a nice breezy read. These stories don't take themselves too seriously. And that's the once part about them

Three stars.

[Crystal Chm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the pace of this book and the characters. The murder plot was a little on the thin side but the side plots were very entertaining. I originally thought that the chapters by the dog, Elvis, would be cheesy, but they were some of my favorite chapters.

Reading the first book in the series is definitely recommended, though I believe this 2nd book is better than the first. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the near future.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

As stated in other reviews of this book, not as funny as the first, but an ok read. Its light, is humerous, its an easy read. Its not deep, its not thought provoking, its not going to stay on your mind. But its entertaining and a fast read. There are more in the series that are written but not out yet, I plan on continuing the series.

[Rexanna Ipock-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one even more than the first book in the series. Elvis is a basset hound who believes he is the reincarnation of Elvis Presley. He is as charming as the singer. This is a good book to read anytime you want to try and figure who did it and be amused by the host of characters that could have! Enjoy the chase.

[Kristi, A Book Fanatic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book!! I rate it a solid 3.5 stars ... Callie's family are fun to read about, and the reincarnated Elvis Presley as Elvis, the Bassett hound, adds lots of charm to this series. Another thing that I loved was reading about places that I easily recognized around the Tupelo, Mississippi area. Fans of cozy mysteries will greatly enjoy this series!!

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute cozy mystery. It helps that one of the main characters is a Basset Hound named Elvis. I love a book that makes me laugh. There is no shortage of that in this book. This is the second book in the series. If there is a third, I am sure I will read it!

[Norma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this one - that says a lot. Read about 3 or 4 chapters and found I didn't care, and really didn't want to be privy to the thoughts of Elvis, the bassett hound. Not every chapter was narrated by the dog - it alternated between the owner and the dog.