Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Book Review/Giveaway: Dead with the Wind by Miranda James


From the publisher: The New York Times bestselling author of Bless Her Dead Little Heart and the Cats in the Stacks mysteries brings back the Ducote sisters, two spry Southern sleuths.

An’gel and Dickce Ducote tend to stay put in Athena, Mississippi, but a wedding is a good reason to say a temporary farewell to Charlie Harris’s cat Diesel and go visit relatives. But while their stay in Louisiana is scorching hot, the atmosphere at the wedding is downright cold, with bride-to-be Sondra Delevan putting her trust fund above little things like love and loyalty.

When a violent storm supposedly sweeps Sondra off a balcony to her death, the sisters discover that many of the guests attending the wedding had major reasons to object to Sondra’s marriage. Now, it’s up to An’gel and Dickce to use their down-home instincts to expose dubious alibis, silver-plated secrets, and one relentless murderer who lives for “till death do us part.”


I have an admission to make - I typically pass on cozies that revolve around a wedding. They inevitably star an annoying bridezilla who ends up making me want to gag and I'm happy to see her either bumped off or arrested. That being said, since I've been so looking forward to the second Southern Ladies mystery, I put my prejudices aside, and I'm so glad that I did.

An'gel, Dickce, Benjy and their pets leave their beloved antebellum behind to attend the wedding of their cousin's daughter Sondra in St. Ignatiusville, Louisiana. Sondra is over-the-top crazy and more interested in getting her hands on her trust fund than anything, least of all her dimwitted husband-to-be. A bitter argument between Sondra and her grandmother over an antique wedding dress and a creepy housekeeper turns tragic when the older woman suffers an apparent heart attack. Then a violent storm arrives and while everyone is hunkered down, a killer strikes - when the storm passes Sondra is found dead on the ground beneath the balcony. Who used the storm as a cover for their dastardly deads - and what other secrets lurk behind the walls of the family's gentile southern mansion?

I loved this book and the cast of eccentric characters that An'gel and Dickce find themselves holed up with. I was completely and utterly stumped until the end, and loved how the ladies revealed the killer just like a pair of modern day Miss Marples.

This series is loaded with Southern style and I hope the Ducote sisters are solving murders until they're 100!

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, October 2nd for your chance to win a copy of Dead with the Wind. (US entries only, please.)

30 comments:

Jeanetta said...

Dead with the Wind sounds like a fun and exciting book! I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

skkorman said...

I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

FrangiePani said...

LOL, love the title, hope to get a chance to read this one :)
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

This sounds like a great book! We hope we win for Mommy!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Melissa! I am SO looking forward to reading this!

pilch92 said...

Sounds like a good read and the cover is adorable.

CBarton said...

I love Southern mysteries. The way talk, the sayings all leads to fun. A bride over a balcony is a new way to die. I really want to read this. Adding to my TBR section.

cmucha319 AT yahoo DOT com

Unknown said...

I love Dean James, aka Miranda James' books. He has a great way of writing that keeps the reader involved in the book. robeader53@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Do the animals get involved?
libbydodd at comcast dot net

traveler said...

This book sounds delightful and special. Thanks for this great giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

What an intriguing book and wonderful locale. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Cleopawtra said...

Another book to add to my need to read list. I love mysteries. So I hope I win this one. rose_red2(at)cinci(dot)rr(dot)com

Unknown said...

My local library carries Miranda James books!! I've got the one you featured on hold - its on order and there are 9 people ahead of me so it will be awhile. In the meantime, I put two other ones on hold and hopefully will pick them up soon. I can't wait to read them!!

Mama Cat said...

I haven't started reading this series yet, but absolutely plan to - Mudpie, you are welcome to pull my name to win! Love Miranda James' first series, just haven't been able to start this series yet :-) jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

Robin said...

This sounds like a great mystery! I'm glad that there are no annoying bridezillas. That drives me nuts too.
-Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

KellyP said...

I love the Miranda James books and am glad to see a new one. I am looking forward to reading this. Thank ou for having this contest! pfistersk@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Love her books. Look forward to reading it. sclickner@juno.com

northguy08 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
northguy08 said...

Fall - cool weather - warm fire and a new Miranda James mystery -- life is great. lbnorth@flash.net

holdenj said...

What a great post. I am looking forward to reading more about this delightful sounding southern ladies! Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

BeadedTail said...

Sounds like a fun and interesting book! We are curious as to what happened now! Love the cover too!

Anonymous said...

Gweat review bootyful. Sounds very innewestin'. Have a gweat day.

Luv ya'

Dezi and Lexi

Unknown said...

So glad you loved it! Such a funny title. And the kitty and pooch on the cover are adorable. I'm thinking of funny titles for more books in this series. LOL

laurathomas61@att.net

Cathy Keisha said...

Is that Summer on the cover?

oneponychick66 said...

Recently started reading this author and love her books. Will be reading this one!!!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com

bookwomen said...

I loved the first one and I am looking forword to visiting the Sisters again.

gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

Alicia said...

Yay! I'm ready for another in this series!
afarage at earthlink dot net

Diana P-S said...

Oh, I would so love to win this new book. I just love everything Miranda James writes. AND I love the Tortie Shorties and Mudpie. My Tortie is named Zelda and looks just like Mudpie!

Nancy said...

Looks good!

Anonymous said...

Mudpie, I linked you in this review of a book by Miranda James - the Cat in the Stacks mystery series I've started reading thanks to your excellent review of the above book. Thanks for the tipoff!!! Love, BobbieSue