The Mint Julep Murders by Angie Fox Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #8
Published by Audible on July 2, 2019
Genres: Paranormal, Cozy Mystery
Length: 7 hours, 41 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
For Southern girl Verity Long, friendship means sitting down to stories and sweet tea on the front porch. For her gangster ghost housemate, it means dragging Verity out to a remote haunted asylum during a raging thunderstorm to do a favor for a long-dead mob boss.
But Verity is always ready to help out a friend, even one as eternally eccentric as Frankie. And in the case of Mint Julep Manor, the stakes are too high to refuse. The criminally insane mob boss holds a secret to Frankie’s past, one that might set Frankie free. Do the favor—survive the favor—and they might change Frankie’s afterlife for good. Fail, and they might never leave the asylum.
A locked room-style mystery in a haunted insane asylum, a gangster ghost other than Frankie, and more hair-raising mystery than Verity can shake a stick at made The Mint Julep Murders another sensational installment in Angie Fox’s Southern Ghost Hunter series of paranormal cozy mysteries.
The Mint Julep Murders is the eighth in the series. It can be listened to standalone, but there are mentions of previous events that are better understood when read in order.
The Mint Julep Murders begin as many of Verity and Frankie’s adventures when Verity, Frankie and Ellis head to an old insane asylum that has been bought and turned into an entertainment venue for those who want to explore and stay in a genuinely haunted locale for an expensive, exotic trip. With the owner’s permission, they arrive for their own purpose- meet with a ghost gangster who sent word that he’ll give them the answer to who murdered Frankie in exchange for a favor.
On arrival, they discover their simple meet up goes all to hash when the owner, Barbara, has a married couple who have come to stay the night, the rains have flooded the only bridge out, the power gets knocked out, the owner is murdered and the strongest ghost in the asylum has locked them all in until they solve the murder. Meanwhile, Ellis is injured, Frankie has his own criminal hijinks going on, the asylum ghosts are as disturbed/disturbing in death as in life, and Verity is less confident by the minute that any of them are getting out alive.
The historical context of this latest is the often brutal and horrendous treatment of asylum patients from ice water baths, electrical shock therapy, lobotomies, and, of course, the sad, but true reasons that perfectly sane people were put away into places like this. The set up of the therapies and exam rooms and treatment of the patients made a chilling ghostly setting for Verity’s latest.
Verity got cocky in this one. She got more lucky than right and she could see why Ellis and even Frankie thought her new “vocation” of helping ghosts was dangerous and even deadly. She even gets mad when she overhears Ellis’ concerns. But, she ends up in a tight spot and no help in sight and realizes maybe Ellis has a point.
It was fun with a bit of extra thrill and chill as Verity stumbled and bumbled her way to the truth. That big reveal at the end is a great teaser for making me ready to snack up the next book and see where things go next.
The Mint Julep Murders was a rush and had some hair-raising moments. Paranormal Cozy Mystery fans really need to tag this series for their reading stacks.
Narration:
Tavia Gilbert is the voice of the series and there is no one I’d rather hear voicing these characters and stories I love. Wise-cracking Frankie, sweet and good Verity, and solid and loyal Ellis among all the guest characters.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Tavia Gilbert
Tavia Gilbert (SAG-AFTRA) is an award-winning narrator with more than 150 audiobooks under her belt. Contemporary and literary fiction, biography and memoir, fantasy, romance, children’s literature, science, religion…Tavia’s range of genres is a direct result of her intuitive interpretation, clever diction and pacing, and sensitivity to each author’s or publisher’s needs.
Classically trained in voice and theater, Tavia attended the University of Washington and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Original Works in Acting from Cornish College of the Arts. She has been singing in choirs since she was 12 years old and has been working full time as a voice actor since 2006.
Tavia is also a producer with nine years experience. After moving to Portland, Maine in 2001, she studied audio documentary production at the Salt Institute. With 11 years of paralegal experience, Tavia has a clear understanding and appreciation for the business side of her world, including contractual language and legal strategy. Her creative eye, vivid personality, and experience and contacts help her cast the highest caliber of artists, including actors, musicians, videographers, and other talent. Her clients hire her again and again, recognizing her exceptional work and the advantage they have in someone with both a creative and business mind.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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This sounds super cute! 😀
I have a blast with this series.
Someday I’ll read more of these but probably ebook.
This was the series that really got me into paranormal cozy mysteries. Enjoy, when you get the chance. 🙂
I like Angie Fox, I’ve read a few of her books and enjoyed them. This sounds like one would enjoy as well.
Oh yeah, spooky asylum and ghosts for you. 🙂
Good thing she was lucky! Great review Sophia!
I agree. She got mad at her friends for cautioning her and being worried and then they were right. School of hard knocks, LOL!
Yes… Carole loves this series, too. I am certain I will love it… when I finally get to it!
Another one to anticipate. 🙂
This looks so fun and I love Tavia Gilbert as a narrator. I need to hunt down the earlier books in the series.
Yes! They are a blast, Katherine. The first book is usually free on Amazon Kindle so you can try it out.
I’m in love with this series!! 😀 😀
Same here! I’m all caught up in ebook and I’m re-visiting and almost caught up on audio. 🙂
Sounds like a good story! Glad you are enjoying this series. Great review!
Yes! I’m having a good time with these, Lisa.
I love this series!
I was so glad I got offered the audio of book five for review and then I had to get to the earlier books and keep going. Love Verity and Frankie (and Ellis). 🙂