Savannah Blues

Weezie and Bebe Mysteries #1

by Mary Andrews

Landing a catch like Talmadge Evans III got Eloise "Weezie" Foley a big house in Savannah's historic district. Divorcing him got her booted into the carriage house in the backyard. Tal, meanwhile, lives with his girlfriend, elegant Caroline DeSantos, in the mansion Weezie lovingly restored. For Weezie, letting her dog piddle on Caroline's prize camellias isn't payback enough.

Now Weezie, and antiques "picker," is trying to make a killing at a big estate sale while dealing with loopy relatives, a hunky ex-boyfriend who's the hottest chef in town, and the Tal-Caroline "situation." Dirty deals are simmering all around her, just as Weezie discovers how very delicious love can be—the second time around.

About the
Mary Kay Andrews is a former antiques "picker" herself and a former journalist who covered the famous trial that was the subject of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She lives in Atlanta, GA.

Genres: Mystery, Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Southern, Humor, Audiobook

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things that triggers my geek button is when an author writes about legal issues but doesn't bother to do any real research first.

I particularly hate the "clause in the Will" plot that pops up in romance.

(Yeah. You know who I'm talking to Rachel Gibson!)

But this author, Mary Kay Andrews, actually gets the legal mumbo jumbo right. In fact, she writes the crazy whodunit theme very well and she is witty to boot! Her characters are colorful, the romance is hot, her dialogue is smart and the descriptions of Savannah are intriguing. You can practically hear the southern accents dripping off the pages. I was hooked after reading HISSY FIT and now I am breezing through Ms. Andrew's backlist.

The plot summary given by the author describes this book much better than I ever could ...

"Landing a catch like Talmadge Evans III got Eloise "Weezie" Foley a jewel of a town house in Savannahs historic district. Divorcing Tat got her exited to the backyard carriage house, where she has launched a spite-fest with Tal's new fiancée, the elegant Caroline DeSantos.
An antiques picker, Weezie combs Savannah's steamy back alleys and garage sales for treasures when she's not dealing with her loopy relatives or her hunky ex-boyfriend. But an unauthorized sneak preview at a sale lands Weezie smack in the middle of magnolia-scented murder, mayhem . . . and more. Dirty deals simmer all around her—just as her relationship with the hottest chef in town heats up and she finds out how delicious love can be the second time around."

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably a 3-star book, but I actually liked it enough to give it four.

In fairness, I should say that there were a few things working in this book’s favor independent of its objective quality. One was timing – I’ve had a run of heavy non-fiction books, some of which were highly depressing, and was craving something light and undemanding. The resulting contrast effect between this book and the others I’ve been reading probably made me more forgiving than I otherwise would be. The other was the reader on this audiobook. Aside from her charming southern accent, her wry inflections sounded exactly the way I would have expected the heroine to sound and successfully increased the book’s humor quotient.

With that said, I actually enjoyed this book more than I expected to. Eloise (“Weezie” – what is WITH these Southern nicknames? Skeeter? Weezie? Tater?) Foley, newly divorced and living in back of her ex-husband and his new fiancée (she refused to leave their property and was awarded the carriage house in back in the divorce settlement), is scraping together an income as a free-lance antiques collector (a.k.a. garbage picker) and dessert baker for her friend Bebe’s new restaurant. When the book opens, Weezie is in an entertaining perpetual “spite fight” with her ex’s fiancée, who is suitably bitchy without being too over-the-top. Later, when the fiancée comes up murdered by a gun with Weezie’s fingerprints on it and Weezie is found at the scene, Weezie’s life is thrown into a tailspin. Weezie is further discombobulated by a budding romance with Bebe’s new chef, who happens to be someone Weezie dated in high school and turns out to be far better-looking and more suave than Weezie remembers.

This book did have some of the hallmark chick lit clichés which tend to annoy me. The chef-boyfriend is gorgeous, generous, caring, socially adept, and magically interested in the same things Weezie is (typical guy interests like decorating his home and cooking). He passionately pursues the reluctant Weezie who is attracted to him but feels gun-shy after her divorce. To make the chef-boyfriend complete, he comes with a dark and mysterious past which later proves to be a red herring that merely makes him more sympathetic (beneath the tough exterior lies a poor, wounded man who can only be soothed by the attentions of our heroine). His perfection is occasionally marred by contrived misunderstandings between the two of them which appear to be thrown in just to increase the tension, and that’s about as complex as the relationship gets.

I also have to go on a little rant here about sex scenes. I know this is at least partially influenced by my religious background, but I’m just not a fan of these play-by-plays that make me feel like I’m right there in the bedroom with the happy couple. It’s worse on an audiobook when you can’t just scan the page for where it ends. When reviews of the book include adjectives like “hot” or “spicy,” I know I’m in for it, and this book had plenty of hot and spicy. I read a wide range of books. I have yet to read a detailed sex scene that actually enhances the story. Note to authors: remember the movie “Psycho,” where you see the woman’s face screaming and blood pooling at the shower drain but not the actual step-by-step mechanics of the killing? Much more effective, in my opinion. Enough said.

Mystery fans reading this book may be disappointed by the fact that the mystery itself is, at best, a subplot. In addition to the romance and the mystery there were several side stories going on at once, some of which were pretty superfluous. Weezie’s lawyer uncle, whose viewpoint was included for no apparent reason other than to have someone constantly reminding us how great he thinks Weezie is, had a whole subplot around his homosexuality – nothing graphic, but nothing that particularly enhanced the story either. Weezie’s mother’s closet alcoholism and its worsening, a pretty serious issue in my opinion, seemed out of place in a story which was ostensibly intended to be light and entertaining.

For all its various plots, though, I would actually describe this book as largely character-driven. The characters themselves could be fun to read about, although they tended to be over-the-top at times. I did like Weezie, who was slightly less Mary Sue-ish than the usual chick lit heroine. Weezie’s antique-collecting exploits also offered an interesting angle. It’s an unusual pastime and as a determined antique collector, Weezie didn’t hesitate to resort to all kinds of original tactics to snag her deals. I also enjoyed the depiction of Savannah as a gossipy southern town with its own social norms.

In the final analysis, while I suspect that I may have rated this lower had I read it at a different time or not listened to it on audio, I did enjoy the experience and will therefore err on the side of generosity.

[Jennifer M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very enjoyable Southern yarn. I liked the characters and the mystery. The romance was there but not over the top or too much. I will definitely revisit Weezie and Bebe.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful and entertaining "listen".. I wanted something Southern for my drive and I absolutely loved this one. My only mistake was not borrowing the next one in the series for my drive back! The book had everything: mystery, love, betrayal, friendship, secrets, and revenge. I am somewhat new to audiobooks and the narrator was excellent, with her lowcountry southern accent to capture the essence of the book.

[Tex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned. Too many racist and derogatory references for comfort. I’m sure (I hope) the author didn’t realize how it might feel. Just too much for me at this moment in history. The main character could be a fun gal to watch, but I can’t get through the references.

[Taylor (BiblioTay) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've owned this book for a couple months now. I picked it up at my library's used book sale. I'm fairly certain I've read at least one book by Mary Kay Andrews and since moving to Savannah I've enjoyed picking up books set in the city. While this was a mystery and technically what I'd call a “cozy mystery” the main character, Weezie, never once had the thought to be an armature detective or that she could solve the murder before the police. Nope. She wanted nothing to do with it. That alone made this book stand out to me. The romance of the story seemed lacking, maybe it was just because they were pretty wishy-washy and only kind sorta made up at the end. From reading the synopsis of the next book it's more about BeBe. While this was a neat quick read I doubt I'll pick up the next one.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't written a real review in a while: I've just been posting stars. But I have something to say about this book. The general reviews of it are mostly good.

This is a DNF for me. I made it to page 19, to which there had already been three outdated, insensitive, and problematic terms the narrator had used in reference to a Black man, Jewish people, and a gay man.

I understand that the story is set in Savannah, and one of the terms was written while the main character judged her parents and neighbors for being racist against Jewish people. But it was also wholly unnecessary to the plot at that moment. It could have never been mentioned and the plot would have been the same.

But when you only get to page 19, and you've already thought "oh no, that doesn't hold up" three times, I have to sit and examine my TBR on my bookshelf. I don't have time to sit and piece out the author's intention every time a problematic word or description is used. This book is 20 years old, and it just isn't worth it.

[Evan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was pretty terrible to be honest. First, it like says it's a mystery and it's just totally not. Second, the main character's boyfriend is THE WORST. He actually comes off kinda rapey and irrational and it honestly worries me that the author thought she should write a character like this for the romantic interest. Third, it also concerns me that a book set in the south only features like super white people. There is not a single non-white person is this entire book, hmmmmm I wonder why. The worst part is I actually paid for this book and I can't return it because Amazon has decided I return too many books and won't let me anymore. But other than that it was great.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah Blues is a good « cozy mystery ». It revolves around Eloise « Weezie », who is newly divorced. There are 3 story plots, and they kept me on my toes and guessing to the end.

I’ve read recent Mary Kay Andrews novels and enjoyed them.
It was fun to go back and read one of Mary Kay Andrews earlier novels.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sassy women’s fiction. I laughed out loud constantly! It was enjoyable reading.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will go to amazing lengths to find the perfect audio book. I listen when I am driving for work and I usually want something light, humorous and with a bit of mystery. Sometimes I will listen for awhile to something and then decide it takes too much concentration and I have to quit.

Savannah Blues was perfect. It took me awhile to get into the story, but once I accepted the premises that Mary Kay Andrews was going with, I was hooked.

Weezie Foley is a picker. She knows what antiques people will buy and she will go to great lengths to find what people want. She will even go to funerals to check out the possibilities. This is where this book starts - Weezie and her uncle visit a prospective estate sale where she finds the perfect antique.

This book is not for hard core mystery readers. There are other important elements of the story that they might find distracting. But if you like Savannah; learning a bit about antiques and want romance in your books - this is the one for you.

[Lori Baldi · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the book was readable and I did not have any trouble going back to it night after night, I found it to be poorly written. Maybe I'm getting jaded but I don't think so. I've enjoyed other books with simple plotlines and 1 dimensional characters. The book is presented as the story of a woman who has huge problems and needs to contend with her incredibly awful family. I didin't see that at all. Weezie (and what a really stupid name by the way) had very normal issue to deal with, newly divorced, no romantic social life, limited funds to work with, a job that she gets no credit for completing competently. So what? Welcome to everyone else's world. Her family problems? A mother who is alcoholic, a loving, patient father & a loving, caring uncle who happens to be gay & in the closet. I've seen much worse.

[Jes Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. Andrews creates a great setting with a lot of fun characters. I probably would have stopped reading the book if it wasn't for this. I like books where I learn something about a hobby/career I didn't know much about. But her plot jumped all over the place and I struggled with some of the plots because they seemed a little close minded. I couldn't tell if it was the charcters "voice" or the authors, but it didn't work for me. It is a testament to her writing that I kept reading even though I wasn't fond of the main characters choices. I am not sure how to classify this book, it read like a romance, had some mystery elements, also chick lit. I have heard Savannah Breeze is much better, so will give that a shot because I really did like the world she created in Savannah.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I picked this book, I was aware that I was reading a southern fiction novel. However, after a few references to ethnicity and race that I didn't enjoy reading, I initially decided to continue on with what I hoped would be a fun, lighthearted book. But I refuse to read one more page when a character stated that he wasn't "swishy" or "queer" and that his new date was "not some faggy little boy-toy". My mouth literally fell open and I was shocked. Surely there is a way to write a book with a setting in the south without racist and homophobic undertones. I don't think there is such a thing as taking those things "too seriously". It's not funny.

[Michelle ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Callahan Garrity series by Mary Kay Andrews. The style and characters reminded me of Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum. It took a few minutes to get into this new series (New to me), but I warmed up pretty quickly to it. There are still the quirky characters and the funny adventures although it seems a bit more serious than the other books I’ve read by her. Looking forward to the next one.

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I won't be reading any more books by this author. I love Southern literature, and I was pleasantly surprised to find this book was a Southern mystery, which was fun. But the character names bothered me (Weezie? Bebe? Gag.) and the story/character development wasn't good enough to offset the content I felt to be inappropriate. I HATED the way it ended too.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews is set in Savannah, Georgia, and centers on a woman trying to rebuild her life while juggling work, family, and complicated relationships. The story has plenty of Southern charm, humor, and heart, with the Savannah setting adding warmth and personality. It’s a light, enjoyable read with quirky characters and just enough drama to keep things interesting — especially if you like feel-good stories with a Southern backdrop.

[Carly Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I am a sucker for southern chick lit and this one kept me entertained.

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weezie= dishonest, selfish, and self-absorbed... everyone did favors, etc., for her, while she really did nothing for them in return.
Bebe was constantly there for her with help/shelter/advice/groceries/clothes/other needs, but Weezie makes her pay the "$50 profit" she would make on a cheesecake when she wanted to cut into it? All of the things Bebe did for her, but she mentions that.. and accepted the money from her.... then proceeds to help her eat it... of course. Weezie couldn't even share a cake when Bebe had just helped her out of jail, took her in when needed, and brought groceries, etc.? Just one example of why I could not bring myself to like the main character.
The story was mildly entertaining, but I kept getting annoyed by too many things to give it more than 2 stars.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every now and then, I indulge in a secret "chick lit" session. I was sorely disappointed in my most recent choice. I was looking forward to a good story about a strong Southern woman who is in a bad spot, but comes out on top. That plot was there for me, but I could have done without the distracting side story about her uncle. His story deserved its own book. The main mystery about the murdered girlfriend was left by the wayside, and at the very end, a new mystery about forged antiques appeared and was swiftly resolved. Throw in the alcoholic mother and the boyfriend with the "mysterious" past, and I got a little exasperated. Too many twists that popped up and died down, and reappeared again. Not nearly as good as I had hoped, but a cute story in the end.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two-thirds were good. The last third kind of dragged.

It was pretty good - a lot of interesting characters. It’s a mystery with a chick lit feel. Someone is murdered early in the story which gets solved by the end. Weezie’s plan/hope is to buy a cabinet from an estate sale which she will sell for a large profit to allow her to start her own antiques store. There are delays/problems/questions regarding the cabinet which are resolved at the end.

There is an on and off romance for Weezie and Daniel a chef.

The ending was too fast. I wanted to see more of the romantic relationship. It was technically happy, but I didn’t feel good enough at the end.

One chapter was Weezie first person, the next chapter was third person. I didn’t like the switching. It was jarring. I would have preferred everything 3rd person.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st and 3rd person. Story length: 499 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words. Sexual content: one sex scene, no details shown. Setting: current day Georgia. Copyright: 2002. Genre: chick lit mystery with romance.

[Christine Ceresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on vacation with girlfriends on Tybee Island when we stumbled upon a lovely shop, Seaside Sisters, and Mary Kay Andrews was there signing books. Although I heard of her, I never read her books. After chatting with her for a bit I was delighted to purchase and have her sign a small collection for me. Not my usual psychological thriller, but a delightful and enjoyable read.

[Another · Rating 2 out of 5]

hated Daniel. I predict Weezie and Daniel break up rather quickly. He is defensive, easy to anger, and altogether unappealing.

Weezie was rather silly. And whole alcoholic mother storyline was just strange. Felt like it was just thrown in haphazardly.

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy southern fiction and this was a fun, light easy summer read. A little romance with humor and mystery thrown in as well.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antique picking mystery. Very fun read. Cute start to a new series.

[Megan Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book but felt like the story took forever! It could have been wrapped up in 250/300 pages.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit from the start that I am a big Mary Kay Andrews fan! I faithfully follow the weekly Friends & Fiction episodes, of which she is one of four co-founders and I have thoroughly enjoyed her four most recent books since I've been following her. But my friend Jan told me that I also had to read her Weezie and Bebe series, of which Savannah Blues is the first. I'm so glad I did! The thing that most impresses me about MKA books is that they have a bit of everything I love--a mystery, some romance and also lots of witty humor. If you haven't tried an MKA book yet, you're in for a treat!

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in ebook and listened to the audio. It was such a delight. Admitedly, it's kind of slow, with too long descriptions of food and the Beaulie mansion, the furniture and all that was inside. There's a murder, that I thought was the best part but the author didn't focus too much on investigating it. We mostly follow Weezie, looking for antiques to resell.
There's a bit of romance, too.
And some laugh out loud moments. Everything Southern is such a delight for me to read about. The women characters were so funny.
But my favorite character was James, Weezie's uncle, who was a Catholic priest and gave up on priesthood to be a lawyer. I loved this guy.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah Blues
By: Mary Kay Andrews
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The start to a fun series about Weezie. I started with the last one and this is book 1 of 4.

Weezie is living in a historical home in Savannah and after a divorce her life she is in the carriage house. She was the one who restored the home so you can imagine how disappointed she was.

She is a “picker” looking for the best antiques. Another cute novel filled with comedy, mystery, friendship and betrayal. Will be reading number 2 soon. ❓ Have you read this series?

#savannahblues, #marykayandrews, #mystery, #friendsandfiction, #harperpaperbacks, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50

[Emily Hilderbrand Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters! Can’t wait to start book 2
Also love it was all Savannah.