Murder Gets A Life (A Souther Sisters Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Anne George (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999 | Series: Southern Sisters Mysteries

Patricia Anne can't imagine why Mary Alice is in such an uproar over her son Ray's new bride. Sunshine Dabbs is Ucute as can be," even if she is a bit unconventional, which should hardly come as a shock to Mary Alicc given that she's the one who raised her boy. But with all her motherly instincts, Mary Alice is sure that this sweet little blonde Barbie doll--who met her son in Bora Bora after she won the trip on Wheel of Fortune--thinks she's found herself a fortune in Ray's hefty wallet.

The sisters can't wait to get a look at Sunshine's family, and quite a look it turns out to be. As soon as Meemaw Turkett invites Mary Alice and Patricia Anne into her cozy trailer on the family compound they stumble over a corpse, and Meemaw's best hog butchering knife is stuck in its chest. Meemaw, a Cabbage Patch look-alike and Sunshine's grandmother, guardian, and the family matriarch is shocked to pieces and immediately summons the family to her trailer. Pawpaw, a lovable bearded grump has his own trailer, and their grown kids each enjoy a private home-away-from-home on the five-trailer compound.

The discovery of the mysterious body brings in Mary Alice's nemesis, good ol' boy Sheriff Reuse, who, she knows from her experience at the Skoot 'n' Boot, is nothing but trouble. Within minutes, the compound is strewn with a weird collection of friends, neighbors and relatives. There's Meemaw's spooky channeler, ready to give guidance as needed; Sunshine's jilted boyfriend skulking around; a bunch of dogs ready to attack...and Kerrigan, Sunshine's mostly absentee mama, who stars in the kind of video flicks that might even shock Mary Alice.

Patricia Anne can't imagine why Mary Alice is in such an uproar over her son Ray's new bride. Sunshine Dabbs is Ucute as can be," even if she is a bit unconventional, which should hardly come as a shock to Mary Alicc given that she's the one who raised her boy. But with all her motherly instincts, Mary Alice is sure that this sweet little blonde Barbie doll--who met her son in Bora Bora after she won the trip on Wheel of Fortune--thinks she's found herself a fortune in Ray's hefty wallet.

The sisters can't wait to get a look at Sunshine's family, and quite a look it turns out to be. As soon as Meemaw Turkett invites Mary Alice and Patricia Anne into her cozy trailer on the family compound they stumble over a corpse, and Meemaw's best hog butchering knife is stuck in its chest. Meemaw, a Cabbage Patch look-alike and Sunshine's grandmother, guardian, and the family matriarch is shocked to pieces and immediately summons the family to her trailer. Pawpaw, a lovable bearded grump has his own trailer, and their grown kids each enjoy a private home-away-from-home on the five-trailer compound.

The discovery of the mysterious body brings in Mary Alice's nemesis, good ol' boy Sheriff Reuse, who, she knows from her experience at the Skoot 'n' Boot, is nothing but trouble. Within minutes, the compound is strewn with a weird collection of friends, neighbors and relatives. There's Meemaw's spooky channeler, ready to give guidance as needed; Sunshine's jilted boyfriend skulking around; a bunch of dogs ready to attack...and Kerrigan, Sunshine's mostly absentee mama, who stars in the kind of video flicks that might even shock Mary Alice.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Those effervescent sisters from Birmingham, big Patricia Anne and little Mary Alice, strike again (following Murder Makes Waves, LJ 7/97). While snooping into the backwoods background of Patricia's son's intended, they discover a dead body in the family trailer. Great fun!
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Those Alabama sistersMary Alice (Sister) Crane, unattached after three marriages, and Patricia Anne (Mouse) Hollowell, happily married to Fredare again involved in murder and misery, this time very close to home (Murder Makes Waves, etc.). Sister's son Ray, who leads diving expeditions off his boat in Bora Bora, has married Sunshine Dabbs, of the Turkett clan in Locust Fork, not far from his mother's home. Sunshine won the trip to Bora Bora on Wheel of Fortune and has now returned home, soon to be followed by Ray and his boat co-worker Buck Owens. The sisters, sneakily checking out Sunshine's background, find her family's encampment of trailers and, in the one belonging to Grandma Meemaw, stumble over the body of a man stabbed to death. Meanwhile, Sunshine has vanished, leaving behind a bloody nightgown. The corpse is of one Dudley Cross, who dressed up as an Indian chief and cadged change at the entrance to Crystal Caverns. Sunshine's mother Kerrigan is a porn star; her grandfather Pawpaw has his own trailer, as do her brothers Howard and Eddie. While a heat wave sizzles and Sheriff Reuse flounders about, there's a phone call from Sunshine, followed by occasional sightings. Not until the sisters are kidnaped does a powerful murder motive surface, and their mettle is once again tested to the max. The plot rambles off-focus for much of the time and limps to its less-than-riveting conclusion, but characters and conversation are the thing here, and the author manages to keep both robustly entertaining. Fresh and funny. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Avon (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380793660
• ISBN-13: 978-0380793662
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,169 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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Side-splitting - can't miss it!, August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder Gets A Life (A Souther Sisters Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Anne George has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Not only are her mysteries top notch, but the antics of Patricia Anne and Sister remind me so much of my grandmother and aunt. The dialogue is peppered with southern wit and charm. This is by far the funniest and most intricately plotted of all Anne George's books so far. It kept me in stitches the entire time. In fact, my boyfriend, who reads only science fiction became so interested with the bits and pieces of humor that I would read to him, that I had to read the book twice! Once to myself and once outloud to him. We both laughed until we cried. He especially enjoyed my rendition of the story, since I am from the south. His quote was "you make it sound so funny with your accent, that it wouldn't be the same if I read it myself". But as much as I enjoyed it, I would read it again!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another delight, February 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder Gets A Life (A Souther Sisters Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is absolutely my favorite series of mysteries! I've read every available letter of the Milhone/alphabet series. I've been chilled and thrilled by Scarpetta and Lucy. I'm a fan of VI Warshawsky's and Amanda Pepper's. But NONE of those series is as consistently delightful as these mysteries crafted by Ms. George! She has a special sense of her characters, their place and their time. The dialog is unique, fresh and funny. The plots -- while not too violent or hair-raising -- are designed to keep us guessing. And the characters feel like old friends. I have a few quibbles with this book (more about what happened to some of the characters after it ended would have been appreciated). But by and large, this was one of the most pleasant light reads I've enjoyed in a long time. (And I enjoy the artwork on the cover of her paperbacks, too.)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Curious George reviews Anne's Book!, July 27, 1999

By 

Joni George ([e-mail]) (Flushing, MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder Gets A Life (A Souther Sisters Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I got hooked on Anne George's books because my sister-in-law introduced them to me while visiting family in Alabama (that's where my husband is from!). After making the yearly trips to visit family for almost 18 years, I felt I was somewhat familiar with the state and have come to love my visits there. I enjoy the way Anne sprinkles alot about her state in these books! While reading I can say "I've been there, I've seen that!" or "I know someone who talks exactly that way!" I found myself laughing out loud while reading, making the rest of my family very curious! I picked up my sister-in-law's book "MURDER GETS A LIFE" and didn't put it down til I was done with it. Then I beat it to the mall to pick up another one!(Murder Runs in the Family) Such a fun author and such surprise endings! These books truly are great summertime reading! I can't wait to get another one! Thanks, Anne! PS: I love your last name! Hmm, I wonder if we're related!