Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett is the first book in the new A Granny Reid Mystery series. This is actually a prequel series to her successful Savannah Reid series. This series goes back to the 1980s when Stella, Granny Reid, is taking care of her grandchildren as her no-good son isn't around and her daughter-in-law is drinking and carousing instead of being home looking after her seven children. Those kids mean the world to her, and she will do whatever she can to keep them safe and make them happy.

The children are fun, normal kids who are not bad, but do make some inappropriate decisions. When Stella, and two of the kids are out fixing a mistake made by Waycross, they hear a scream. When going to investigate Stella finds Prissy Carr in the alley behind the tavern, dying. She sends the kids to the sheriff's office and she stays with Prissy hearing her dying words. She feels bad about the murder, even though most of the women in town are rather happy that their husbands will no longer be stepping out with Prissy. With so many not caring about the death, Stella is determined not to let someone get away with murder.

This is an introduction to a new series, as well as a prequel to another, so this book seems to spend more time on the family and their situation than on the actual mystery and sleuthing. That being said, I did enjoy the southern setting, expressions and situations. This story takes place during the recession of the 80s so there is a lot of financial issues as well, but the town comes together to make sure the kids have a wonderful Christmas. I loved the expressions used by Stella and the kids.

"You don't have the sense God gave liverwurst, and your heart's nothin' but a thumpin' gizzard."

"When that child has a mind to, she clams up tighter than a bullfrog's keister in a bucket of ice water."

This is a book that although this is a mystery to solve, is also about a family dealing with financial issues, a dysfunctional mother, a loving grandmother who wants to help, and a town that sticks together to help one another. I will read the next book in this series to see if the mystery becomes the central part of the story or just a back story to the family situation. If you enjoy a book with a down home southern feel, some humour, family angst and a mystery, then this series will be for you. I listened to this book and enjoyed the author's narration, especially with the southern drawl, although many of the voices sounded the same.

This is my introduction to the author and a new series entry intended as a prequel to the well-established Savannah Reid series. As such, this functions well as a standalone, although it took me a few chapters to get into the unique writing style. Very folksy; had me thinking it was not so much a cozy as literary fiction and slow southern, small town, down-home style of McGill, Georgia, at that.

Not so sure it is as much mystery as it is the story of the Reid family. Strong characterizations--Granny is bigger than life. Granny Reid, is the self-proclaimed caretaker of her seven grandchildren, her grand-angels. And Savannah (who will grow up to be second generation sleuth), the oldest at twelve, has had to grow up very quickly due to the fact that her absentee trucking father is on the road--most of the time and their mother occupies her bar stool--daily--and almost exclusively.

The story starts with Stella Reid (better known as Granny Reid) holding her great-grandchild at a Christmas gathering. She begins musing thirty years previous to more tumultuous times and a whole other Christmas. The artfully laid out plot is heavy with clichéd sayings and little glimmers of Granny's wisdom bestowed with love and guidance to the little ones. Heaven knows they get none from their mother, Shirley.

There is a murder and Granny takes on some sleuthing, along with Sheriff Gilford, though I loved that the sleuthing doesn't control the story--the Reid family does.

It's a sweet story told in slow, cozy style. It is, however, well paced, keeping the reader engaged. I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley for this book tour and greatly appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Recommended as a great Christmas season entry to your TBR. This narrative will captivate cozy readers, literary fiction readers, and those who enjoy the work of women sleuths.

G.A. McKevett is a wonderful author who never disappoints when it comes to her books. I have thoroughly enjoyed her books about Savannah and the Magnolia Agency, a detective/P.I. business. Dirk, Savannahs husband who is a police officer and all the quirky characters including Granny Reed. Excellent read, thoroughly thought out, once again a stellar job by G.A. McKevett. Just a wonderful read from page one.

Murder in Her Stocking is the first Granny Reid mystery, and it’s the first book I’ve read by G.A. McKevett. I loved the uniqueness of this cozy mystery. This story is set in the 80s and visits Stella Reid and her grandchildren during the Christmas season. There’s been a murder and Stella is trying to help the sheriff solve it. In addition to that, she is dealing with her daughter-in-law Shirley mistreating her seven children. There was a great deal of character and story development taking place outside of the mystery. This read a lot like an inspirational/women’s fiction featuring a mystery. Murder in Her Stocking dealt with heavier issues than you would typically find in a cozy and made for a solid story.

The story is tender and full of Christmas magic. Being set in Georgia, there was plenty of Southern sayings and some had me laughing out loud. I am looking forward to visiting with Granny Reid and her grand-angels again.

A great start to a new series with one of the favorite characters from the Savannah Reid novels, Granny Reid!

Review of MURDER IN HER STOCKING
by G. A. McKevett

Murder is not what one usually asks for at Christmastide (I don't imagine anybody's ever requested that from Santa), but family, friends, life, love, and friendship are what most want at this season, as well as throughout the year. Author G. A. McKevett delivers a little of the former, and heapin' helpins' of the latter group, in MURDER IN HER STOCKING (a Granny Reid Mystery). Stella Reid is something special, a grandma we all could wish to have, or to have had, and she's a dang good amateur sleuth as well.

Looking back a few decades, to a difficult time, we discover how Granny Reid became responsible for raising seven children. This is a heart felt story of taking responsibility, of loving family so strongly you will do whatever it takes to assure them the best life possible. This is also a tale of forgiveness and hope. There is danger and mystery, and a few laugh out loud moments.

A story of a town and a family that makes a lasting impact. Maybe be a Christmas miracle or two.

This is a debut series for this author who also writes the "Savannah Reid" series. This debut has all the right elements for a great cozy mystery with a added dash of humor and murder.. I highly recommend this debut series and look forward to reading the next in series.
Stella "Granny" Reid is spending time with her adult grandchildren and friends at Christmas time when she is thinking of another Christmas thirty years ago. The book goes back 30 years when a murder occurred . The author did a great job of placing the reader back in time.
One night they hear a scream and find out that a local woman has been murdered . The victim was unliked by most wives in town as she was a professional escort. Stella was a savvy detective and had done a good job of beginning to piece together what happened ..

This story is fun to read and has great supporting characters. Stella is a strong character who is funny and adds much to the story . I enjoyed the sleuth and found it a good whodunit. Well done to the author. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

Loved it! The tears are still flowing. Lots of love. Several surprises. Not sure if I have read her Savannah Reid books, but I will be looking for them. The southern sass is a hoot. I am eager to read more.

I have enjoyed the series of mysteries involving Savannah Reid and was eager to read this prequel spin off series with Granny Reid. I was not disappointed. It's 30 years ago and Stella, Granny Reid is taking care of her seven grandchildren, Savannah being the oldest, at a very mature twelve years old. Their mother falls way short in the parenting department and their father is on the road most of the time.
It's Christmas and Granny Reid is thinking back to that past Christmas when murder joined the season, the victim being the local lady of the evening, Prissy Carr. It was just happenstance that Granny Reid was out that night with Savannah and her brother on another family matter when she heard a woman scream. When she goes to investigate, she finds Prissy dying in an alley. Granny Reid is bound and determined to solve the mystery before Christmas.
While I have read the series of Savannah's stories and knew the characters, I can see that a reader new to G.A. McKevett's books might be a bit out of the loop but not enough to lessen their reading pleasure too much. In fact, it might very well get them to go read the rest of the books. This mystery came across to me as setting the stage for more Granny Reid mysteries and that there would be a faster pace in future mysteries. I'll be ready to read the next one as soon as it comes out.

Murder in Her Stocking is a great start to a new series that is an off shoot to the Samantha Reid series. I have not read the series but this story has gotten me interested in looking into it. As the story starts, Stella "Granny" Reid is spending time with her adult grandchildren and friends at Christmas time when she is thinking back to another Christmas thirty years ago in McGill, Georgia-a Christmas that was good but also had some sadness. I was drawn in from the beginning and laughing out loud at the dialect, witty conversation between Granny and her seven "grand-angels," all named for towns in Georgia where their mother had lived. Stella is the only responsible person in the children's life. Their father, Macon, Stella's son, is on the road all the time and never around to help with the children while their mother, Shirley, spends all of her time at the local tavern. Savannah is the oldest and is very mature for a twelve year old because she has to look after the others. Waycross is the only boy and second to the oldest. Savannah devours Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and plans to become a policewoman when she grows up.
She gets her chance at detective work when she and Stella along with Waycross hear a dying scream one night while taking care of some mischief that Waycross had gotten into. The local lady of the night, Priscilla Carr, has been injured and is dying when Stella reaches her after securing the kids at the sheriff's office. Many wives in the town have reason to kill Prissy but so do others-men who spent time with her. Besides the mystery of who killed Prissy, there is a secondary mystery when Bud, the abusive husband of Stella's friend Flo's, disappears after a big fight with Flo.
This story is rich with small town colorful characters who love to gossip and know each other's business but also show support in a time of need. Stella and her son's family are poor as dirt but she is rich in love and respect for others, especially with her grand-angels. When Christmas Day arrives, Stella and the children have a special day with friends and a few lovely surprises.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions stated are mine only.

Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett is the 1st book in A Granny Reid Mystery series, and I really enjoyed it. First of all I love the Savannah Reid Mystery series, so I was excited to read this book, and I was not disappointed. This book goes back in time to tell how Granny Reid was awarded custody of Savannah and her 6 siblings. When a women is found dead in an alley, Granny with help from Savannah go sleuthing. I loved this book and strongly recommend anyone who likes cozy mystery, especially Savannah Reid series. I look forward to the next book in this series.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Murder in Her Stocking by G. A. McKevett is the first installment in Granny Reid Mystery series that takes us back some thirty years ago.

We met Granny Reid in Moonlight Magnolia Agency series but this is the one that features her as a main characters. Back then she was Stella, lived back in the country and helped raise her seven grandchildren.
Times were tough, people mostly kind and friendly but murderers still struck.
When local notorious lady dies literally in Stella's arms she can't help but ask around to see who could do murder.
Interesting and engaging plot, but a great part of the book is about her family and hardships, which only made me like her more.
It was nice to be taken back so we can find out more about the family history and their roots and lovely to meet some of the friends from back home.
I liked the characters, they are so real and each of them comes with their own set of problems. I love how kind and wise Stella is. She is one of the nicest characters.
The story is well told and absorbing and I highly recommend it.

Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett is the first book in the new A Granny Reid Mystery series. This series however seems to be a prequel spin off series to the author’s long running Savannah Reid series featuring Savannah’s grandmother Stella Reid.

Stella Reid is a grandmother to seven young children who’s mother isn’t the best role model ever often choosing to go out and drink than watch her kids leaving Stella to pick up the slack. Stella is not one to back down to anyone or any challenge though and those kids mean the world to her.

When Stella is out one night though she hears a scream and when going to investigate she finds Prissy Carr in the alley behind the tavern. With the help of her grandkids Stella knows a murderer is on the loose and she’ll do whatever it takes to find them before Christmas.

Again I have accidentally stumbled into a series that while this is the beginning it’s also a spin off leaving me the feeling that I was missing something or other when I started reading. For me that feeling that things weren’t introduced as new to readers leaves me a bit disconnected to a story.

Stella “Granny” Reid also seemed to be doing a lot more interacting with the kids than solving a murder, which makes sense when her granddaughter will become a sleuth herself one day, but that also seemed to slow this down a bit. I think fans of the original series will probably love this one but not being familiar with it myself it was just an OK read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

In this first book we are introduced to characters we are familiar with but are taken back thirty years to when they were kids and Granny was much younger. It's Christmas time in McGill, Georgia and the Reid children are staying with their Granny Reid while their mother is off partying. When the local nativity scene is vandalized and people are upset Granny has a feeling she already knows who the culprit is but not why he did it. Knowing that the vandalism must be fixed she comes up with a solution that should make everything better. While in the midst of fixing the nativity a scream rings out into the night. Granny immediately sends two of her grandkids for help while she checks out the situation. She comes across a young woman, Prissy, who is at deaths door. Prissy is known as the town whore and has no problem sleeping with married men. The list of suspects starts out small but when Granny realizes just how many married men the young woman has been with it seems never ending. Follow along as Granny tries to figure out who the killer is and at the same time keep her grandkids safe from a neglectful mother. Will she be able to find a killer? Will her grandkids pay for her wanting to take care of them? Dive in and answer these questions and more.
What a great start to what I hope is a long running series filled with characters I already love!

I really enjoyed this cosy, Christmas book but it wasn't too focused on the murder aspect, rather on the Reid family. I haven't read any other G. A. McKevett books and at the beginning I felt that this would have really helped as it seemed to dive right in with the McGill town and characters without giving too much background and then ultimately ended up being very much focused on them.

The author set the Christmas scene very well I thought and the overall setting - there was plenty of Southern references.

Whilst I did enjoy Stella 'Granny' Reid and the overall plot of the book the murder mystery part was definitely lacking and was easy to solve - a murder mystery which lacked mystery! The book was not focused much on the murder mystery and I felt this played second to the overall plot of the Reid family.

I didn't realize this was a prequel series to the Savannah Reid series, which I've never read. It felt as though I should have known these characters right away and I didn't, so I don't know if that's why I never connected or really cared for any of them. It took me about halfway through to enjoy the book. Before that I didn't want to pick it back up when I set it down. It's more focused on Stella Reid and her seven grandkids who are poor Southerners with hearts of gold living in a small town where everyone gossips.. ugh, I have that here, I don't want to read about it too. The mystery itself was good. I guess that's why I enjoyed the last half, we were getting closer to solving the murder. And closer to the book ending. I'm glad it's over. It wasn't for me.

This is a wonderful book and I hope it's a start of a new series. I never read anything by Ms McKevett and this was a wonderful discovery.
This more complex than the average cozy and there's a strong component of women's fiction.
The characters are fantastic and well developed, the writer is a wonderful storytelling and this book can be funny and moving at same time.
It's a wonderful Christmas tale full of hope and love.
The mystery was good, it kept me guessing till the end.
I hope this is the start of a new series because this one was so good. I will surely read Savanna Reid series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Murder in Her Stocking
By: G. A. McKevett
Kensington Books
5 Stars

Murder in Her Stocking takes place about 30 years ago in the small southern town of McGill, Georgia. The story centers around Stella Reid and her seven grandchildren. One night while out with two of her grandchildren, Stella hears the most dreadful cry coming from the alley behind the local tavern. Stella sends her grandkids to the police station, and she rushes to the alley to see if she can help. There she finds the town’s “bad girl,” Prissy Carr, dying. She takes Prissy into her arms and comforts her during her final minutes. By the time the sheriff arrives, Prissy is dead. While not everyone in McGill thinks she is worth the effort, the sheriff and Stella know they need to solve the mystery of her death.

Life doesn’t stop though just because there is a murder to solve. Stella must also deal with her daughter-in-law, the town drunk, in order to ensure her grandkids are being properly cared for. Stella also comforts one of her closest friends who is going through a difficult time in her marriage. She must also deal with her changing feelings for the local sheriff and his for hers.

This story does a great job of taking you back in time and setting the scene for this Christmas mystery. It also does a great job of creating memorable, unique characters. This book is so much more than just a cozy mystery. It’s also about heartbreak, love, family, and the value of true friends. It touched me in a way that other cozy mysteries simply haven’t. I found myself laughing at the funny parts, and crying through the tough times, and wishing I could help. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys mysteries, Christmas mysteries, or especially stories that help to teach the true meaning of Christmas

I’ve seen from other reviewers that this book is a prequel to the Savannah Reid mystery series. I’ve not read that series yet, but I was still able to throughly enjoy this book. I’m looking forward to reading through the Savannah Reid series, and I hope to see more from the Granny Reid series.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #MurderInHerStocking

No Christmas, no matter how bright the tree, fragrant the food, bountiful the gifts,
or merry the fellowship, would ever be as sweet, as soul satisfying,
as that one had been more than thirty years ago….
G. A. McKevett, Murder In Her Stocking, (Kindle Loc. 66)

As the Moonlight Magnolia Agency revisits old memories on Christmas Eve, Granny Reid takes the reins back thirty years to the 1980s—back when she went by Stella, everyone’s hair was bigger, and sweaters were colorful disasters. But murder never went out of style . . .

Christmas has arrived in sleepy McGill, Georgia, but holiday cheer can’t keep temperamental Stella Reid from swinging a rolling pin at anyone who crosses her bad side—and this season, there are plenty. First an anonymous grinch vandalizes a celebrated nativity display. Far worse, the scandalous Prissy Carr is found dead in an alley behind a tavern. With police puzzled over the murder, Stella decides to stir the local gossip pot for clues on the culprit’s identity . . .

Turns out Prissy held a prominent spot on the naughty list, and suspects pile up like presents on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, the more progress Stella makes, the more fears she must confront. With a neighbor in peril and the futures of her beloved grandchildren at risk, Stella must somehow set everything straight and bring a cunning criminal to justice before December 25th . . .
Amazon.com

The first book in the Savannah Reid mystery series, Just Desserts, popped into the market in 1995. Written by prolific writer Sonja Massie under the pseudonym, G. A. McKevett, the twenty-third in the series, Hide and Sneak, was released in April 2018. To say the least, the series has been a hit for the author and Kensington Press.

Murder In Her Stocking is the first Granny Reid mystery, which will be released on October 30, 2018, and appears to be a spinoff of the Savannah Reid mystery series. It is presented as a memory flashback of Granny Reid, who is attending a family Christmas gathering at Savannah’s California residence in the present time. I’m so glad that it appears to be the first of its own series because I have so many questions about what happens after this book ends.

In Murder In Her Stocking, Granny (Stella) Reid tells the story of her favorite Christmas throwing the reader back in time to the 1980s and back to their hometown in Georgia, when Savannah was twelve-years-old. Savannah is the oldest of her many siblings and must help Granny solve a mystery. But in doing so, the family solves a larger problem. It’s a true Christmas story that focuses on the fundamental elements of life. I enjoyed the story very much.

Please welcome G.A. (Sonja) McKevett to WWK. E. B. Davis

Does every town no matter how small have a resident pervert?
Unfortunately, there are probably more sexual predators per capita, in both tiny towns and major cities, than we want to believe. Though I doubt most are as easily identified as McGill’s resident pervert. Shall we say, Elmer lacks…um…subtlety?

Did you grow up in a small Southern town?
I did. And in northern towns and western towns and eastern towns. My father didn’t believe in paying his income taxes and participated in somewhat shady schemes that brought him to the attention of various states’ attorney generals. The result was a rather nomadic existence for the family. It wasn’t unusual for me to come home from school, find the car packed with our belongings, and be told we were moving on. It was an adventure. And an education.

I remember mercurochrome, but what is Merthiolate?
Both mercurochrome and Merthiolate (pronounced mah-THIGH-late by us Southerners) contain mercury, are red, and sting like the dickens when applied. Seriously! Back in the day, we hid our skinned knees and elbows from well-meaning parents for fear of a treatment. It was applied with a little glass wand that was attached to the inside of the bottle cap. My folks would smear it on the boo-boo and then immediately start blowing like crazy on the wound to take away part of the sting. I hear Merthiolate was used during surgeries at one time. (I’m guessing the surgeons didn’t blow on their patients’ incisions.)

Stella is known for her sleuthing. Describe for our readers the cases she’s solved in McGill prior to this story?
Being nosy by nature and an astute observer of human nature, Stella has always been able to figure out “who done it,” sometimes, even before they do it. But she gained her reputation as the town’s prime sleuth after she uncovered the villain who vandalized Miss Abigail’s flower garden on the evening before the County Rose Competition. She also figured out the miscreant baker who laced the brownies at the church social with Ex-lax. And it was she who identified the teenage hoodlums who had placed numerous outhouses (not their own) on top of barns (also not their own) on homecoming night.

All in all, crime-prone McGilllians worried more about Stella exposing their misdeeds than Sheriff Gilford.


Was it unusual for a white Southern lady in her fifties to have a black woman as a close friend? How did Stella and Elsie Dingle form such a friendship?
Yes, such a close, mixed-race friendship would have been unusual, but not unheard of. In the small town’s one church, attendees would have opportunities to get to know one another in meaningful ways, share their commonalities, celebrate each other’s joyful experiences, and offer support during life’s trials.

But Stella and Elsie share a dark, childhood connection that will be revealed in the second book of the series, which I’m writing now, Murder in the Corn Maze. Sorry. I can’t tell you much about that at the moment.

Florence Bagley is Stella’s closest neighbor and an unlikely friend since Florence is one of the wealthiest women in town, but they’ve known each other their entire lives. Do small towns make such friendships possible or does Florence’s affluence get in the way of their friendship?
It isn’t Florence’s affluence that hurts her relationship with Stella, and the other citizens of McGill. It’s Florence’s need to constantly talk about it. She isn’t as cruel as she is thoughtless and uninformed. Never having been poor herself, she doesn’t realize how painful it can be to have one’s poverty pointed out. She’s never felt indebted to anyone and doesn’t understand what a heavy burden “gratitude” can be.

It seemed to me that Florence would have more legal/financial power against her abusive husband, Bud, than she realized. Community property, joint bank accounts, etc. Was she totally naïve or totally powerless?
Sadly, then as now, legal intervention and financial assets don’t always translate into “power” for victims of domestic violence. She could have a fortune in the bank in her own name, but if her husband beats her because she forgot to buy his favorite beer, she has to wonder what he would do if she withdrew that fortune and tried to use it to escape him. Even if local law enforcement is enlightened and understanding of her plight, and even if she can get to a phone and call for help, it could take them five, ten, thirty minutes to arrive. A great deal of damage can be inflicted in literally one minute during an attack. And who knows that better than one who has been attacked over and over again?

Tragically, wealthy, intelligent, resourceful victims of domestic violence are hurt, maimed, even killed just like the poor, less privileged among us. Domestic violence knows no boundaries: social, financial, educational, religious, gender, age, race, sexual orientation, or any other human “classification” imaginable.

Stella has quite the reputation along with her cast-iron skillet. Was her attack on Florence’s husband an emotional response or a cold-blooded one?
Stella’s reputation is mostly based on the exaggeration of her “attack” on Bud, thanks to the town’s highly imaginative gossip mill. The frying pan whacking she gave Bud, was two smacks, not exactly the “Stella Reid Skillet Massacre” that became part of McGill folklore.

That fateful Sunday, Florence had come running to Stella’s house to escape a beating-in-progress at the hands of her husband. Stella had just finished cleaning her 14-inch cast iron skillet, when Flo charged into her kitchen, nose bleeding, terrified, and looking to her for protection. Stella called the sheriff, but before he could arrive, an enraged Bud broke down Stella’s back door, intent on fetching his disobedient wife and taking her back home to finish the job he’d started.

Was Stella emotional when she smacked him twice with the skillet and changed his mind? No doubt. I’m sure her heart was pounding as she defended her friend, her home, and herself from a vicious bully. Was it cold-blooded? I don’t believe so. I think it was instinctive and incredibly brave.

Waycross has a heavy burden being the only male child. The only father figure he ever knew was his late grandfather, Stella’s late husband, Arthur Reid. Does Waycross have the ability to talk with his dead grandfather?
I believe, with his own sweet, childlike faith, Waycross hears his grandfather and communicates with him. How much if it is “real” and how much is based on the stories Waycross has heard about his remarkable ancestor…I’ll leave that up to the reader. And Waycross.

In this story, there are seven grandchildren. But in later Savannah books, there are nine children. Are there “oh, no, not again” issues that will occur in subsequent books?
Oh yes. There will be a couple more. Shirley’s so fertile that if she walks by a peach tree, it bursts into bloom.

When Stella finds the town hussy dying in an alley behind a bar, Stella shows her nothing but respect. Is Stella’s faith the reason she withholds judgment or does she understand that circumstances often draw good people to make bad choices?
I suspect it’s a combination of both. Stella takes her faith to heart and, as best she can, tries to follow its precepts in her daily life, not just inside the church walls on Sunday morning. She has also seen many good people make bad choices and bad people perform virtuous acts, so she at least tries to withhold judgement. Regularly, she reminds herself that it’s hard enough for her to understand why she, herself, does what she does. How can she truly know another person’s heart?

If Stella’s daughter-in-law, Shirley, doesn’t want to mother her own children—why doesn’t she give custody to Stella?
We all have to look in the mirror from time to time, and we want to like the person we see there. We humans can rationalize almost anything to excuse the man or woman looking back. Shirley has done a lot of rationalizing, so she’s good at it. She has convinced herself that she’s a pretty great mom, considering what a lousy hand Life has dealt her. She figures, any “minor” shortcomings she might have as a mother are due to other people’s downfalls, not her own.
To surrender her children to Stella would be to admit her own weaknesses and acknowledge Stella’s strengths. Plus, it’s a control issue. She would never give up her control over her children to any woman, let alone one she hates.

“Most things that are worth doin’ at all are worth doin’ well.”
Savannah paused in her fudge cutting and looked at Stella, confused.
“I thought the first part of the saying was ‘Anything that’s worth doing at all.’”
“That’s for overly persnickety folks. The truth is, there’s a lot that’s not worth doing
at all, let alone worth doing well.” (Kindle Loc. 3205)

Why does Stella point out that distinction for Savannah?
Having once been young and a perfectionist, Stella has learned over the years that her time and energy aren’t limitless, as she once thought. She has come to realize that some things must be left undone, or done with only minimal time and energy, so that one can address what’s most important. Not everything is worth the resources required to do it “well.” Sometimes, “good enough” will suffice. And some things can simply be set aside.

What’s next for Stella and the kids?
As I mentioned before, in this next book, Stella confronts some unresolved issues from her own childhood. Even though most of the grandchildren will, thankfully, be too young to understand what happened all those years ago, the mature-for-her-age Savannah will. And for readers of the Savannah Reid Mysteries, it will illuminate some aspects of the adult Savannah’s character.

In closing, I’d like to thank you for your interest in this new series and for the opportunity to connect with you and your readers. I wish you well and thank you for all you do for those of us who love this genre.