Murder Boogies with Elvis [Hardcover]

Anne George (Author)

Book Description

Series: Southern Sisters Mysteries | Publication Date: July 24, 2001

The Southland's most mismatched set of siblings -- flamboyant Mary Alice and prim and proper Patricia Anne -- are back and ready to boogie in a King-sized story of hip-shaking mayhem and murder most tacky.

At an age when most women are slowing down, oversized, over-the-top Mary Alice a.k.a. "Sister" -- is always on the lookout for the next good time...and the next husband. Now Sheriff Virgil Stuckey is in line to become Sister's Mister Number Four, which has practical Patricia Anne's level head filling to the brim with a million and one prewedding details. But first there is another important occasion the sisters are looking forward to attending: a gala benefit to raise money for restoring one of Birmingham's unnatural wonders, a towering metal monument to the god Vulcan lately fallen into disrepair.

The grand finale is thirty sequined Elvis impersonators high kicking in unison. Enjoying the show from the front row, Patricia Anne and Mary Alice are in the line of fire when one of the dancing Kings keels over dead right into the bandstand. It seems this Elvis clone, one Griffin Mooncloth, has not only left the building ... he's left this life!

At first the sisters figure that the cause of death was a massive heart attack induced by one too many pelvic gyrations. But the unfortunate Mooncloth's very dramatic demise is soon discovered to be the result of a switchblade knife plunged into his back. The plot thickens when the murder weapon is discovered in Patricia Anne's very sensible purse. The perennially law-abiding "Mouse" is understandably all shook up -- and mortified to find herself the prime suspect in this bizarre case of Elvis elimination. And with Mary Alice's well-coiffed head in a sunflower-yellow-and-magenta cloud over her impending nuptials, Patricia Anne's the one who will have to get herself out of very hot water indeed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Y'all want lots of good laughs with a grisly murder and some clever detecting thrown in? Join the sexagenarian southern sisters, Mary Alice, a six-footer, and Patricia Anne, a size-six petite. In their eighth adventure from Agatha-winner George (Murder on a Girls' Night Out; Murder on a Bad Hair Day; etc.), Mary Alice, survivor of three marriages, is about to wed her fourth husband, Virgil Stukey, sheriff of Alabama's St. Clair County. At a benefit at a restored theater, a chorus line of Elvis impersonators performs in white jumpsuits; 30 Elvises boogie to the footlights and acknowledge the applause, but only 29 withdraw. One pitches headfirst into the pit, landing only a few feet from the sisters, who have come to cheer for Virgil and his brother-in-law, both Elvis impersonators who just happen to have been on either side of the dead "pitcher." Several days later Patricia Anne, rummaging in her purse, finds a large, rusty switchblade, which turns out to be the murder weapon. She goes to jail. The complications in this delectable tale are legion. The dialogue is so true and natural that it could go straight to stage or film. Inspired name choices include the sisters Dawn, Day and Dusk, as well as a lad called Pukey Lukey (because he's subject to motion sickness). If you're not already a fan, you'll want to find the earlier books, especially since the author died in March. Angels are laughing with her now for the joy she gave so many. Agent, Ruth Cohen.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The statuesque Mary Alice and the small but sharp Patricia Anne, sixtysomething sisters from Birmingham, Alabama, have their last adventure together: author Anne George died in March. Mary Alice (aka Sister) is planning to marry her fourth husband, a Norman Schwarzkopf look-alike named Virgil, and Patricia Anne (aka Mouse) is keenly awaiting her daughter Haley's return from abroad and the birth of her grandchild. The ties of food, pets, and family and the ambience of the city of Birmingham figure prominently in a swirl of events--the line of Elvis impersonators at a benefit arranged by one of Virgil's relatives hides a murder when one of the would-be Presleys falls dead nearly into Mouse's lap. Meanwhile, one of Sister's daughters is getting serious about pregnancy if not marriage; a friend's three daughters, Dawn, Day, and Dusk, have some odd ties to the deceased Elvis; and Mouse does some affectionate musing about the joys of a decades-long marriage. Farewell, Ms. George, and thanks for all the sweet tea. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 243 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers; 1st edition (July 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060198702
• ISBN-13: 978-0060198701
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anne George (c.____ - 2001) was the Agatha Award-winning author of the Southern Sisters mystery series which culminate in Murder Boogies with Elvis, publishing in August 2001. Like Patricia Anne, she was a happily married former school teacher living in Birmingham, Alabama. Ms. George was also a former Alabama State Poet and a regular contributor to literary publications. During her lifetime she was nominated for several awards, including the Pulitzer. Being a true lady of the Old South, her date of birth will forever be a mystery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe this will be the last, August 7, 2001

By 

Gwendolyn Chapman (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder Boogies with Elvis (Hardcover)

I am a huge fan of Anne Carroll George. I love all of her books. "Murder Boogies with Elvis" is a wonderful continuation of her previous books. Her books are one continuing story of Patricia Anne, Mary Alice, Fred, Woofer - I could name them all but anyone who has read any of her books knows all of the characters by name, too. Unfortunately, the story is ending with this book. I am so sad that this is the last book. I want to "watch" Debbie's twin girls and Brother grow; I want to know about the birth of Joanna, Haley's baby; I want to know if Haley will let Patricia Anne keep Muffin when she and Philip return from Warsaw; I want to know about the next murder that Patricia Anne and Mary Alice will investigate. There are so many quirky characters whose lives make her books so interesting. It is very sad that Ms. George's life was cut short. I miss her, but at least we have the few books she wrote to keep us company.

This book is a must read for all fans of Ms. George. Her writing from one book to the next is so consistent - she never skips anything from one book to the next.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Did she know this would be her last?, January 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder Boogies with Elvis (Hardcover)

I loved this book. What made reading it poignant is that I knew this would be the last time I spent with these characters. Mouse, Aunt Sister, Fred, Woofer, Bubba on his heating pad ... what a delight this series has been! And this last installment was a joy, too. The mystery itself was okay. To be absolutely fair and honest, we weren't given that many real clues as to the villain's identity -- and usually I consider that something of a cheat. Still, I never read these mysteries simply to see how the crime is solved. I enjoyed these books -- and this one -- for the imagination and care that went into developing the setting, the characters and the dialog. Who but Ms. George could have combined a line of high-kicking Elvises and the missed-but-not-forgotten bare-butted Vulcan statue into the same stew? I was moved as I read the very last pages, for they seemed to be more final and included more closure than her previous efforts. She tied up the loose ends in both Sister's and Mouse's lives. I wonder if she knew this book would be her last. I join the other reviewers on this board who have said how much they will miss this series.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We'll miss you, girls!, August 4, 2001

By 

Karen Vincent "spikeyv" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Murder Boogies with Elvis (Hardcover)

As always, I looked forward to the next installment of the Southern Sisters mysteries. When I discovered that Mrs. George had recently passed away, I broke down and sobbed. I felt it was not only the loss of a great talent, but the loss of a friend as well. After reading her first book, I had written her a fan letter because I, too, had an Aunt Sister. She not only graciously answered my letter, but sent me her home address so it wouldn't take so long for my letters to reach her through the book company and later sent me her e-mail address. We corresponded after each book and when my dog passed away, she wrote me a letter that I will always treasure. All of her books are wonderful and this one doesn't disappoint. Patricia Ann and Mary Alice are up to it again trying to solve the murder of an Elvis impersonator. If you have never read any of her books, start with the first one and read them all. I plan to read them all again. Thank you, Mrs. George. You will be missed.