Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett Book Review

Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett Book Review

The lowdown from Goodreads

Publication Date October 30, 2018

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 . . .

Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett Book Review

A cozy mystery set in the South with a strong matriarch? Heck, yes!

Prequels for the Win

Similar to Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke, Murder in Her Stocking revisits a beloved mystery series with a prequel. truth be told, I’m brand new to the Savannah Reid series. But, as soon as I saw the heartwarming holiday cover for Murder in Her Stocking, I was desperate to read it. Starting a new series is so exciting, If you love the characters and the setting, you know you’ll be in for a long road of beloved stories. Luckily for readers, the Granny Reid series is a winner.

Stella Reid

Stella is such an awesome character. First, she’s hilarious & keeps it REAL. She’s not putting on airs, trying to be someone else. When the going gets tough, she looks at the task at hand & figures out a way to get the job done.

While this is a cozy mystery, G.A. Mc Kevett doesn’t shy away from serious issues. For example, Stella is so involved with her grandkids because her son, a long haul truck driver, is basically absent from their lives. Their mother, who can often be found on a barstool, is not any better. Now, I usually like my cozies to be absent of anything too rough, but this storyline melts my heart. We all know people in a similar situation as Stella. I’m talking about the people who sign up to care for kids when they need it most. This is Stella Reid. if her grandkids need her, she’s there for each & every one of them. She will fight tooth & nail to make sure they get what they need.

Georgia Setting

Oh, I just love that this series is set in McGill, Georgia. This means the characters speak with a Southern dialect. YES! For me, this makes the story all the more real. G.A. McKevett throws some awesome sayings into the dialogue that will have you rolling with laughter.

In Murder in Her Stocking, Mc Kevett introduces us to a cast of characters I’m looking forward to learning more about. Well, there’s the sheriff & I may see some sparks flying between him & Granny. There’s Stella’s neighbor with troubles of her own. Undoubtedly, Mc Kevett will continue to explore the dynamic between Stella & her son & daughter-in-law as well. Basically, I’ve met these folks & I want to know more about them!

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book. I love starting a new series & I’m really excited about this one!

Check out my interview with the author, G.A. Mc Kevett aka Sonja Massie here.

Special thanks to G. A. McKevett & Kensington Books for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Let’s connect with books!  We have all of our reviews on Goodreads!

Really Into This a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: G. A. MC KEVETT

G.A. McKevett is the author of the acclaimed Savannah Reid mystery series. Also writing under the name Sonja Massie, she has authored over 60 books ranging from cozy mysteries to historical romances, to nonfiction works on the history of Ireland. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature. Irish by ancestry, she has lived in Toronto, Ireland and Los Angeles, but now resides in New York. Readers can visit her online at SonjaMassie.com.