Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse

This is the 2nd in the Marygene Brown mystery series. Marygene has returned to Peace Cove Island recently and life has been going well after a little hectic start (clearing her sister of murder charges in book 1) and she co-owns and runs the Peach dinner with her sister Jena Lynn. Marygene decides to go for a skinny dip in the ocean as she has not slept well from having a fight with her on and off again boyfriend from high school Alex. As she is swimming, she feels something hit her and as a wave takes them both under, she realizes it was a dead body who is burnt and they both washed up on the beach. When the police arrive, her father the Sheriff is not too happy to find out she has been skinny dipping and involved with another dead body. Alex a deputy is not talking to her and Javier the new deputy is rude and dismissive, and she takes an instant dislike to him (or does she?) He Mama who is deceased also appears and Marygene knows the Island spirits want her to solve this crime. Marygene is going to put investigating on hold as the Peach Diner is catering and event held by one of her best friends Yvonne who is an interior designer and showcasing her latest house with Coastal Magazine hopefully to do a feature. While in the wine cellar with her brother Sam, they find another body burnt just as the one on the beach. Yvonne is crushed as the event is ended abruptly and thinks this will ruin her career. Betsy is Alex’s cousin and her best friend and worker at the diner, and she is always willing to help Marygene in sleuthing. The murder investigation is in an interesting one and the characters are so fun. Almost everyone around Marygene knows her Mama is still around and “popping” in on her and that others also indicate they have seen or know of spirits from family members. I think Aunt Vi is a great addition and I love how Mama shows up when she can, and they are building a relationship they did not have in life and are getting closer. This is a story that sucks you in and I really enjoyed. Highly recommend.

What a wonderful addition to this series. I absolutely loved every bit of this story. Pacing is perfect and so is the plot to story development. Marygene is getting really better at solving mysteries, eh. Of course, compliments to her mama but Marygene is the best amateur sleuth!
A case from two decades ago comes to haunt the islanders. Marygene learns a lot of her mama's past. Marygene ends up finding not one but two charred corpses and the victims are related in more than one way. The autopsy results are shocking.
Marygene doesn't take her killer's threat well. She has nothing to fear though, for mama's by her side.

I absolutely recommend this marvellously written cozy mystery.

Once I opened Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse on my kindle, I knew I would have to read it all in one sitting.
Kate Young fills the pages with laugh out loud moments, family drama, and a great murder investigation.
This is the second book in this series, but it can be read as a stand alone.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and I am looking forward to reading more in this series.