Quinn Bellandini and her sister, Delilah run their family B&B in Savannah, GA, with the help of their semi-retired grandfather. Both in their thirties, they are happily living in the charming Southern city of their birth. Quinn's world is turned upside down, however, when an old neighbor and classmate moves back to town. Quinn has held on to a grudge against Tucker since their high school days and is not happy to see him return. Sister Delilah thinks they are a perfect match and wants to play matchmaker. Another friend of Quinn's, Drew, owns a neighboring restaurant with his brother, Jason. When Quinn stops by the restaurant late one evening to clear up a misunderstanding, she finds Jason dead on the kitchen floor with a knife in his back, life gets complicated. The restaurant is in trouble and has been a bone of contention between the brothers. Drew is the logical suspect, and as the person who found the body, Quinn is a person of interest, too. Quinn is a loyal friend but a reluctant sleuth, and she springs into action.

Southern Discomfort is a promising beginning to a new cozy series for Caroline Fardig. I would have liked more background to Quinn's friendship with Drew. Even though she was a person of interest and was warned off by the police, she was willing to put herself in danger for him. There wasn't much mystery as to the killer even for a sleuth as inept as Quinn, even with a little help from the family ghost and Delilah. I enjoyed the characters and setting and look forward to the next in the series. I hope that we see more of Delilah in future books.

Thanks to Net Galley and Alibi for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.


RATING- 3 Stars

A delightful cozy with Quinn, an amateur sleuth, who, with her sister and grandfather, runs a B&B.
She wants to clear her friend Drew's name and her own from the accusation of murdering Drew's brother. The process is highly entertaining and not to be missed.

Quinn Bellandini runs her grandfather’s B&B along with her older sister, Delilah. It’s located in Savannah, Georgia and the perfect tourist spot. Quinn, her sister and their grandfather love the B&B and have quite a peaceful life. Then, tragedy strikes. Quinn visits her friend Drew’s restaurant and finds his brother murdered.

Although Quinn is shocked by the murder, she’s even more shocked when she finds out she and Drew are the prime suspects. Drew’s brother was nasty, but not nasty enough to be the victim of a murder. Drew convinces Quinn that the police aren’t looking beyond them for suspects, so they should investigate the case themselves.

Quinn finds herself in some dangerous situations. Not to mention that a former neighbor moves back to town and seems very interested in her. She, on the other hand, not so much. She has bad memories from their childhood that she just can’t let go of.

This is a brand new series from a favorite author. Caroline Fardiq has another cozy mystery series, the Java Jive Mysteries. This series is called the Southern B&B Mysteries. It’s off to a solid start.

The characters are well developed, although I might have liked Quinn’s sister, Delilah, even more than Quinn, our amateur sleuth of the series. Together, they make a great detective team. Neither woman gives up easily.

There are many aspects to this book - mystery, romance and even a little bit of the paranormal. It’s a fast-paced story with a surprising ending. I didn’t figure it out until Quinn did at the end. I’m looking forward to another visit to Savannah and the B&B.

This a cute cozy! This is a book that you have to read other books first or you get lost.

I love cozy mysteries and Southern Discomfort is a wonderful debut for a new series with lots of southern charm, relatable characters, family drama, humorous moments, and a good mystery that quickly became a page turner with twists, turns and surprises. I want to be friends with sisters Delilah and Quinn Bellandini who run their B&B with their grandfather Sal in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. They put on their sleuthing caps when Quinn's friend Drew is arrested for murdering his brother and Quinn is "a person of interest".

This is a must-read for those who enjoy well-crafted mysteries where you feel like you are in the middle of the action and can't put the book down as you enjoy a southern getaway and a charming whodunit. I can't wait to see what's in store next for the Bellandini sisters in book two of the Southern B & B Mystery series.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review. I liked the book so much, I purchased a copy for my keeper library.

This is a solid mystery with likable characters. It is similar to many other cozy mysteries and will be liked by those who enjoy mysteries.

I just loved this cozy mystery!!! This was a fantastic start to an enjoyable series that many will love! I love stories that are based in the south.! Living in Charleston, SC, I am an hour from Savannah and have visited often! I love the descriptions of the setting in this story, the fun characters and steady paced plot! When I read the Java Jive series, I just knew this would become an instant favorite! Caroline Fardig is an author that should not be missed!
I want to thank the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC I exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views expressed are my own.

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT by Caroline Fardig
The First Southern B&B Mystery

Quinn enjoys visiting her friend Drew at his restaurant, despite his surly chef brother, Jason, and the venomous looks and nasty comments Jason's wife always gives her. But when she pays a late night visit to clear the air over a misunderstanding, she finds the kitchen a disaster and the chef dead on the floor. When she and Drew are named prime suspects, Drew convinces her to help him find the real killer. But when Drew's arrested, Quinn is on her own and the more she investigates, the less forthcoming Drew becomes. Between running the B&B with her sister and grandpa, making music with her band, and dealing with the neighbor who made high school hell for her sister, Quinn is determined to stand by her friend, and she won't stop asking questions until she uncovers the truth.

I found the start of SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT a bit slow, but once it hit its stride it was off and running. I appreciate how Quinn grew as the story progressed. While naive and a bit too wimpy, she was also a bit narrow minded and stubborn. Yet as the story progressed Quinn discovered Sassy Quinn and was able to dish out what she needed to dish out. She also slowly began to open her mind, not only to Tucker and the truths of the past, but to Uncle Frank as well. As for Uncle Frank...I think he's my favorite character. What's Savannah without its ghosts and Uncle Frank is the perfect addition to Bellandini's B&B.

The first Southern B&B mystery is as sweet as the tea served with Quinn's scones. It combines Southern hospitality with murder while underscoring manners, loyalty, family, and dogged determination.

While this was a pretty good start to a new series for me it lacked in a few key areas. The first being that it wasn’t sure what type of cozy mystery it wanted to be. There was a baking/cooking line, a paranormal line, a B&B line and a romance line. I felt like the book could have been better if it had picked one of these and stuck with it. For instance I really enjoyed the little bits about a ghost and I think that would have been a good direction but instead we just g small tidbits of that thrown in. Overall the writing was good and the plot moved along pretty well. The mystery itself was a little meh. There were a ton of suspects and though I didn’t guess who it was I felt like the motive was weak. Hopefully the author focuses the next book a little more because it has a lot of potential!

Southern Discomfort by Caroline Fardig is the first book in the Southern B&B Mystery series. Quinn and her sister, Delilah, run their grandfather's bed and breakfast in Savannah, Georgia. She is happy with her life even if it lacks excitement. That all changes when she stops by her friend Drew's restaurant and finds his brother murdered. Drew is the main suspect, and the investigating officers hint that Quinn may be as well. Quinn and soon Delilah begin investigating. I love that Quinn is a good southern woman always trying to be polite. This book also offers a hint of a ghost which is a southern touch. This is a good start to a series. Some of the parts drag just a bit, but the characters have room to grow as this series progresses.

Carol Fardig is a new author for me. I love cozy mysteries. Her story is set in my favorite city Savannah. Quinn runs a quiet B and B. She loves the laid back existence. However, during a visit to her friend's restaurant, she stumbles on his brother's murder. When she becomes a suspect, Quinn decides to do some digging on her own. She must find the killer or possibly lose her freedom.

I liked the setting and the story behind the mystery. I like Quinn and the characters within the story. I do feel that I would like a little more background into their pasts. The story line was well written. I look forward to the next installment. I look forward to meeting Uncle Frank more in the coming books. I received a copy through Netgalley. I wrote this review strictly on my own.

A delightful new offering by Caroline Fardig. Southern Discomfort is the first in a series called "A Southern B&B Mystery"

The story is set in Savannah, always a favorite setting of mine since it is so close to my home. The characters are pretty believable and it I find it true that an amazing number of people in the South do not move away from where they went to high school. And if they do move, they come back. So Quinn, Delilah, and Tucker being old school friends rings true to me.

Quinn and her sister Delilah work in the family's B&B along with their grandfather. Just down the street is a restaurant named "Green" which is the last name of the owners. Drew and Quinn are friends, but his brother Jason is much harder to warm up to. In fact, when he is murdered (and Quinn stumbles on the crime scene) there is no shortage of suspects although it is Drew who the police immediately suspect and arrest.

Quinn and Delilah set out to clear Drew's name. Along the way there are "helps" from deceased Uncle Frank who speaks to Delilah and grandfather. Quinn is a skeptic. The ghost is the only part of the story that I could have done without. I'm not sure that he added anything to the story and I'm certain Ms Fardig would have written an enjoable story without him.

The characters are nicely developed as the reader goes through the book. Everything isn't revealed at once, but the reader gets to know the characters as slowly, just as one would learn about friends in real life. The investigations are perfectly plausible. I just wonder how many hours are in the days that Quinn and Delilah have as they seem to cram a lot into the day!

I look forward to more in this series.

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generosity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generosity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

This book was slightly different from other cozies I have read in that the main character, Quinn, is a thoroughly reluctant detective. She's not naturally meddlesome, nor is she confident in her ability to solve crimes. Rather, she gets involved in solving a murder only because the victim is her best friend's brother, and when her friend is then arrested for the crime, she is left with a half-finished investigation. Her reticence about doing any detecting, along with her dependence on her older sister during the early part of the book make Quinn feel really relatable and the events of the story feel more plausible. I enjoyed feeling like I could easily put myself in Quinn's shoes, and her position as an unwilling heroine made me want to root for her success and her safety.

Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed the supernatural elements of the story. Throughout the book, members of Quinn's family talk about seeing the ghost of her deceased uncle, and speaking with him, but Quinn is skeptical. Since Quinn wasn't 100% sure the ghost was real, I found it easier to accept him as part of the family, and though there is a "deus ex ghost" moment when the killer is finally revealed, it didn't bother me as much as it might have if the ghost had been obviously real to Quinn from the start.

The bed and breakfast itself didn't have a lot to do with this particular mystery, which was focused more on the local restaurant scene, but it was still a vibrant setting and one I'll look forward to visiting again. It was also interesting to see Quinn perform with her all-female band, especially when they sang such songs as Hole's "Celebrity Skin" which I remember really liking in high school. I hope there will be more from them in future books as well.

Quinn Bellandini discovers the murdered body of a local restaurant owner. She’s friends with Drew, the brother of the dead man. Drew is arrested for the murder but Quinn believes that he is innocent, so she launches her own investigation with the help of her sister Delilah. I found Quinn to be a rather irritating character. She’s portrayed as a ‘sweet southern bell’ who’s in her early thirties but comes across as very immature and judgmental. She continues to hold a grudge against a former neighbor for incidents that happened in high school and only grudgingly speaks to him. Actually many of the characters display that same immaturity. For me to truly enjoy a book, I want to feel a connection with the lead characters. Unfortunately that connection was lacking and I generally felt only irritation toward them. I kept thinking, ‘grow up already!’

Southern Discomfort
A Southern B&B Mystery, Book #1
Caroline Fardig
5 Stars


Synopsis:

Southern hospitality meets deadly deception in the start of a charming new mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of the Java Jive novels.

Quinn Bellandini loves her life in Savannah, Georgia, where she runs her grandfather’s B&B with her sister, Delilah. From baking fresh scones and serving up grits every morning to ensuring the guests see the best of their historic city, Quinn can’t imagine doing anything else—even if it means dealing with nuisances like the occasional malfunctioning commode. But when Quinn drops by the local restaurant owned by her friend Drew Green, and stumbles upon a murder, her whole world comes crashing down.

Drew’s brother was always a little surly, but Quinn can’t imagine that someone disliked the prickly chef enough to kill him. The police, on the other hand, don’t believe that Quinn was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Before her guests can even digest the next morning’s gourmet breakfast, Quinn learns that she and Drew are suspects.

Drew thinks they should do some investigating of their own. Quinn is pretty sure she’s better suited to playing hostess than amateur sleuth. But with Delilah as her cynical sidekick, Quinn starts looking for the real killer—before she gets put away faster than you can say “sugar.” (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really liked the relationship between Quinn and Delilah. The sisters are very close and would do anything for each other. They are also very close to Papa Sal, their grandfather. They are a close knit family and do a good job of running their bed and breakfast. And I cannot forget to mention the ghost of Uncle Frank. When someone is murdered and Quinn’s best friend, Drew, is accused of the murder, Quinn and Delilah will do whatever it takes to find the culprit.

I really enjoyed the setting of this story. I thought the setting of a bed and breakfast in Savannah, Georgia, was very special. I felt like I was right there, watching the magic show happening and smelling the delicious foods that they were serving.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I felt that the author defined the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery was was well written and was carried on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and the mystery was not an easy one to solve.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With engaging characters, a fantastic setting, a great mystery and lots of laughs, this book is definitely on you do not to miss.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing Group-Alibi, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Southern Discomfort is a very good murder mystery with a well crafted plot and characters. I enjoyed the Savannah, Ga setting and the author’s writing. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Quinn, Delilah and Papa Sal are wonderful characters. The story had great twists and turns that I did not see coming. I will definitely be back to visit and will also recommend this book to others!

A great start. This series promises to be full of suspense and some Southern Charm.
Being a bit of a cover junkie I have to say I loved this cover.
Is was intrigued with the pitcher filled with ? and skeleton.
I loved the cover and was pulled into the story.

The story/plot is set in Savannah at the B&B where Quinn works with her grandfather and her sister Delilah. All is going well until
Quinn stumble onto a murder and then become a suspects put
Quinn in the right place to sleuthing out the answers.
The story is full of twists and turns and suspects. Leaving the reader wondering just 'Who Dun It'.
I enjoyed the characters and the story.
If your a fan of Cozy Mysteries and Sweet Tea you will want to grab a glass and get a copy and while the hours away trying to figure out just Who Did It.

I received a complimentary copy

This was such a fun start to a new series! Set in Savannah, GA, Bellandini sisters Delilah and Quinn run the family B&B along with their grandfather, Papa Sal. When their friend Drew's brother Jason is killed in their friends' family restaurant and is arrested for the murder, Quinn can't leave it alone especially since she thinks the police suspect her as well.

Two heads are usually better than one so Delilah gets involved in the investigation as well, along with trying to match make between Quinn and their old but now new neighbor, Tucker. Can they find the real killer before Drew and possibly Quinn are both sent up the river for good?

I really enjoyed all these great main characters! Papa Sal is just the kind of grandpa anyone would want even though he does take advice from his dead brother Frank's ghost, or so he says he sees him. I loved how when push came to shove, Delilah had her younger sister's back and dug into the investigation with her. They would tease each other good-naturedly but always were looking out for each other.

I feel like we got to know the characters with just the right amount of backstory and information, definitely not an overload. Delilah and Quinn were people I would want to be friends with. Quinn playing in bar band gigs on the side was an interesting touch, not really something expected out of a B&B part owner.

It was fun how clues that Delilah said came from Uncle Frank gave actually worked out--I'm hoping we see, er I mean hear more from him in future books. I was happy to see things develop smoothly between Tucker and Delilah--it'll be interesting to see what kinds of adventures these people get into next!

A great start to a new series.
Well developed characters bestowed with charm, wittiness, and southern good manners.
Love how the story evolves with a list of suspects that keeps on growing till the very end.