Member Reviews
When Savannah learns of the death of Lucinda Faraday, a 90 year old former silver screen siren, she jumps at the chance to investigate especially since there is a reward for finding her killer. Lucinda was killed in her mansion, that has seen better days, by a pair of vintage stockings. She was strangled to death and.left to be found in garbage and some of her own memorabilia. What kind of person would have an axe to grind with such an old woman? Savannah soon learns that Lucinda was no sweetheart, one sordid secret after another pops up as she investigates. The list of people who hated Lucinda astounds Savannah but she knows she must work through each and every name to figure out who the murderer is. Follow along as Savannah visits the past to find some answers, can she out-maneuver a killer or will she end up in the headlines? This is a wonderful series with strong female characters, and exciting plots!
The moonlight magnolia gang are favorites and this is another great mystery with them.I recommend for any cozy mystery lovers.
I adore this series. Savannah Reid & crew make every story laugh out loud fun for me. I enjoy the differences, yet they work relationship of Savannah & her former partner and how with the help of the Magnolia agency crew they solve every case! 5 stars!!
Step into the world and be a detective right alongside the Magnolia Moonlight Agency. Savannah and her hubby step right into a murder that takes them by storm! A very famous actress is found murdered in her own mansion, but by whom? I have to admit, I really thought I had this one figured out, but I didn't by a long shot! Along with this mystery, Savannah and her hubby encounter a child who has been neglected by his mom. Will they rescue this little boy and solve the mystery? For fans of Lorna Barret and Laura Childs, this book won't disappoint!
Oh I love reading a Savannah Reid mystery.!! The tone McKevett writes them in makes you hear the southern accent and vernacular like you were eating Granny's dried chicken and drinking sweet tea right in their kitchen.
Savannah's latest adventure in helping hubby Dirk investigate a misguided mom who uses and sells drugs, carting her son Brody around with her, and subsequent arrest puts her son into Savannah and Dirk's home for foster care while the mom awaits trial. Meanwhile they get called to a homicide of a former celebrity diva turned hoarder whose death causes many complications in the investigation. Savannah tries to balance time between Brody and assisting in investigating the fallen celebrity's death. Of course much is this is done with the aid of Granny Reid, who makes the story richer. Savannah's family in all its chaos and busy-ness sounds like a family the reader would want to be caught up in, what fun!
Thank you to NetGalley and my favorite Kensington group for the chance to read an ARC of the story and to give my opinions on the latest installment.
It's hard to believe this is book 25 in the Savannah Reid series. Seems like yesterday i discovered Savannah and her private detective agency. Set in Southern California, Savannah is pulled into the case of a 90 year old actress found dead in her home. There is also a nice side story of Brody and his introduction into the series as a young boy who is being fostered by Dirk and Savannah. Could be read as a stand alone but readers familiar with the series will really enjoy. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Ok I am so mad I never read these series before!! Oh goodness! A mix of mystery/thriller, some humor, family and all the goodness, I loved this read, thank you Kensington books, and NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.
Ok so Savannah is a private investigator, her husband Dirk is a police officer, they are working together to solve the case of an older Hollywood star that was murdered, savannah was called to by a dear friend to help solve the case, so why not work together right? What a dynamic duo!! Well wait!! Not until the whole gang gets together to solve this case!
I really enjoyed this book.
I have read every book in this series. SAVANNAH and her entourage are like friends. I feel I have known them forever. I loved this latest installment. The plot has twist and turns and I laughed along the way. Please keep this books coming. I just love them.
Princess Fuzzypants here: Sometimes you have the good fortune to stumble across a series where you just like the characters. You find they are the kinds of people you would choose to know in real life. I have always found both the Savannah Reid and Granny Reid books to be just that sort. From their down home expressions that often hit the mark most eloquently to their big hearts not just for their family but for other, they are people worth your time. This is no exception.
Savannah and Dirk are called to the scene of a murder of an old Hollywood star. The victim has become a hoarder and when they enter her mansion, it is all anyone can do not to choke. She was elderly when she died but she lived a very steamy life before her obsession with stuff took over. It is clear that for whomever killed her, it was highly personal. Now it is their jobs to try and find out who it was and retrieve a very “hot” autobiography she had been writing.
At the same time, they are trying to help a young boy whose drug addled/dealing mother has abandoned him. The kid comes off hard boiled but once Savannah and Granny work their magic, the sweet kid underneath comes out. At the same time they are working on the murder, they are also trying to give him a family life and security that he has never known. It is both heartwarming and endearing. Which is one of the reasons I can recommend these books. They will have a good mystery but they also have heart. I can recommend the combination.
Five purrs and two paws up.
This one was my favorite out of this series. It had me laughing, crying and stumped! The story has twist and turns that makes it impossible to figure out the killer. You will meet a very special character that you will fall in love with. Savannah and The Moonlight Magnolia gang are once again helping the famous actor Ethan Malloy. He is needing help after a friend is murdered. All the while that is going on Savannah and Dirk take in a feisty little boy after Dirk arrested his mother. I am so excited for the next one!
#AndtheKillerIs #NetGalley
I absolutely loved this book! I have never read a Savannah Reid book that I didn’t like, but this one was amazing! The murder mystery was great, and I never suspected who the killer really was. I have always wanted Savannah and Dirk to have kids so it was awesome that they are getting to be foster parents to Brody!! I can’t wait to see what life has in store for them with a child in their lives. I also really like Ethan from the other book that he was in, and was so happy to see him back in this one. And I’m thrilled that he and Alma hit it off! I can’t wait for the next book!
Ok no secret by now, but I love this series of books!! Nothing makes my heart fill with joy much more than seeing a Savannah Reid book coming out. There is just something about this author and her characters that make you feel at home. Like you are part of the family. That hasn’t changed in any of the series, from book one. This series is also one that makes for amazing audible reads!!!
Keep up the series and great writing Ms. McKevett! You have a lifetime fan here!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.
The newest in the "A Savannah Reid Mystery" series comes And The Killer Is…, from Kensington Books. Savannah is at it again, another case, another murder only this time it's making Hollywood headlines.
Savannah Reid is one of my favorite characters, right after her granny. The characters in this series are welcome at my house anytime. I adore Granny, and all of the Reid kids, well… most of them. I was pleased to see that younger sister Alma makes an appearance in this latest in the long-running series. Even the victim in this book is likable, and the premise of an old Hollywood star is unique and highly enthralling. The setting is as always thought-provoking and described in enough detail that readers will be glad they aren't there.
Finding an old Hollywood actress dead in a hoarder's mansion is unique enough, but figuring out who killed her while sifting through all the trash is one of the hardest things Savannah has ever done. The fact that Savannah's husband is there from the start digging through the mountainous rubble helps. Suspects are varied, all with distinct personalities that are almost as difficult to figure out as the tonnage of garbage in the star's home. There are plenty of clues and red herrings to go through, and even though most readers will figure who the killer is before the unveiling, they will want to read to the very end to find out why.
This stunning addition is another wonderful book that puts old Hollywood front and center and keeps Savannah on her toes. And The Killer Is… will bring a tear to your eyes, which is not unusual in this series, mainly this is due to Granny. It is heartwarming, endearing, and ultimately a memorable who-dun-it that leaves readers wanting more. I am thrilled with this latest addition and looking forward to more editions.
And the Killer is...well, to start with, it's the 25th book in the series. I'm going to say this is the best one yet. Savannah Reid and the team that makes up the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency are drawn into a strange case when the strangled corpse of a 90 year old former silver screen star is found amidst the trash that fills her once glorious mansion. In her later years, Lucinda Faraday had become a major hoarder but who would want the elderly woman dead? Well, it turns out that she wasn't all that nice and the words secrets and sordid come to mind. Somebody wanted those secrets buried forever and Savannah may be getting in the way. But when it's a friend of Savannah's who wants answers, Savannah won't hesitate to investigate.
If that wasn't enough, she is on a stake out with her husband, Dirk, involving a drug bust when he arrests a young mother for drug possession and savannah and Dirk take custody of her son. One thing is certain about Savannah, she has a big heart.
From the great puzzle complete with the twists, turns and red herrings to the time I love spending with the friends and family and members of the agency, my favorite character - after Savannah, of course - is Granny Reid. I wish I had a grandmother like her.
If you are new to this series, don't worry, this works as a stand alone but be warned...if you enjoy your time spent with Savannah, Dirk, Granny Reid and the rest, be ready to play catch up. You will be in for some very well crafted mysteries. I already have a spot on my TBR list for #26.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I loved This book! I ended up going out and buying it because I had technical difficulties. I'm also a huge fan.
So If you haven't read Hide and Sneak you should because one of the main characters named Ethan Malloy is back. Along with my favorite character P.I Savannah Reid. She has another high profile case where its an old movie star tragically was it murdered? However since she had no real friends anymore it is hard to tell what happened. She was also a hoarder huge so its impossible to find any evidence at all if it wasn't tampered with. Dirk and Savannah go on a Drug house bust and they find a child waiting for his mother. Not the best thing in the world to find. Well in any case this child becomes very important to everything going on because there's a high profile case, a drug bust, and no killer insight. I loved this book! I was crying so much! ( Happy tears) also (Happy sad tears) That was my first experience getting Happy sad tears with a book. I highly recommend it.
AND THE KILLER IS… is the twenty-fifth book in G.A. McKevett’s “Savannah Reid” cozy mystery series. Although this book is part of a series, I believe it works well as a standalone as well, and that the author gives new readers enough background info on the main characters. In this installment, Savannah’s friend actor Ethan Malloy discovers the dead body of legendary actress Lucinda Faraday and asks her Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency to investigate. In addition to the murder, the secondary storyline involves a child Savannah and her husband encounter while he’s on duty. Both stories are intriguing and make for an entertaining and rich reading experience.
While the murder victim may be reminiscent, for readers, of classic movie stars like the late Lana Turner, the scene of the crime captures the imagination. Like Miss Havisham’s self-imposed prison, Lucinda Faraday’s home is both an architectural masterpiece and hoarder’s tragic nightmare. G.A. McKevett paints a picture of a complicated woman who lived a long and troubled life. You can’t help but feel sympathy for Lucinda since she met the end that she did. How she died isn’t immediately clear to Savannah and her crew and is almost as puzzling as the motive and the identity of the villain. As usual, finding the solution is a total team effort, with Savanah and her gruff-yet-old softie hubby Dirk leading the way. Although the main character and sleuth of this story is a PI, there’s nothing “hardboiled” about this series. Like the previous books in this mystery series, AND THE KILLER IS… is a character-driven story with fascinating characters – both good guys and bad guys – and intriguing mysteries to decipher.
AND THE KILLER IS… has sins from the past that play havoc with the present and determined detectives to save the day and avenge the dead. While some of the themes in a “Savannah Reid” mystery can be varying degrees of dark or tragic, like Lucinda’s past or her hoarding lifestyle, the members of the detective agency and their tightknit bond keeps these books firmly in cozy mystery territory. I eagerly await G.A. McKevett’s next “Savannah Reid” mystery.
G.A. McKevett continually surprises me with the depth of kindness and wisdom that is found in Savannah Reid. I always think the last book I read, in the series, was the best and then out comes the next book and it's better than the last! When Savannah takes on a case of a murdered senior movie star & assists Dirk with a drug- house stakeout, she doesn't realize how much her life & his will change.
The mystery kept me reading well into the night. Not only did I want to know "whodunit" but there were other matters I had to find out about. Granny, Tammy, Waycross, John and Ryan (The Magnolia team) played a role in solving the murder and I loved their interactions. Dirk was his usual cranky (but lovable) self and Savannah was her usual plain-spoken, tough & loving self. Cleo, Diamante and the Colonel all made the book even more fun and I need to get the recipe for Granny's "Three Layer Coconut Cake"!
I didn't want the book to end! Once again, I can't wait to see how the happenings in this book affect the next book...surely it won't be better than this one...don't bet on it!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.
I love Savannah Reid and The Magnolia Moonlight Detective Crew. This is book 25 and the stories are still fresh and engaging. The characters continue to evolve and grow and we learn new things about them in each and every book. I hope there are 25 more!
I have been reading G. A. McKevett's Savannah Reid mysteries since the very first book. And the Killer is . . . is the 25th book in the series. Some long running series get stale or redundant after so many books, but And the Killer Is . . . definitely does not fall into that category. It is always fun to catch up with the members of Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency and this latest installment does not disappoint.
In this mystery, Private Investigator, Savannah Reid, and her policeman husband, Dirk Coulter, are dealing with two important cases. The first centers around a drug deal arrest that involves a precocious little boy named Brody. The second case centers on a former screen siren, Lucinda Faraday, who has been found murdered in her dilapidated mansion. Ethan Malloy, whose tragic case Savannah solved back in Hide and Seek, was friends with the murdered actress. He hires Savannah to find justice for Lucinda. To make matters more complicated, Lucinda was a hoarder, which makes searching for evidence in her mansion tougher.
McKevett writes the colorful characters so well that they really come alive on the page. You can always count on Dr. Liu, Kenny, John and Ryan, Tammy, Granny Reid, and at least one or two of Savannah's siblings to make an appearance.
There is not a huge cast of characters as to whodunit, but the book still keeps you guessing until the end. One of the things I like about this series is that Savannah is not always a damsel in distress in the end. She always gets put in harm's way, but she is able to hold her own (with Dirk as her backup) against any killer that comes against her. Savannah takes the rough and touch times with the good times. Family comes first for her. And she does it all with her Southern attitude.
The only thing that I did not like was the title and the cover of the book. I did not think it was too reflective of what the mystery was truly about.
I received this book as an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
And the Killer Is... by G. A. McKevett is book twenty five in the A Savannah Reid Mystery. This is a great series but can be read as a stand alone.
During a stake out with her detective husband, Dirk, Savannah spots a child in a vehicle that is at the drug house they are watching. Getting the child quietly to safety proves the first adventure and brings back childhood memories for Savannah. The child's mother is arrested and the child goes home with Savannah for the night. Before she can get settle in, a former client shows help needing to hire her for an investigation into the murder of his dear friend, Lucinda Faraday. Faraday is ninety years old former movie star now, living in her mansion as a hoarder. Dirk and Savannah find her body in a pile of trash in a not so nice pose, strangled with a pair of silk nylons. Who hated Lucinda is what Savannah wants to know but once she starts questioning people, who didn't hate Lucinda.
There are plenty of suspects that have you guessing until the end, enjoyable characters and critters, a great side story, romance, love of family and humor.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.