Sour Grapes (A Savannah Reid Mystery) [Hardcover]

Mckevett G A (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Savannah Reid Mystery | Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Just when feisty, full-figured Savannah Reid's life seems calm and peaceful, her spoiled, egocentric baby sister comes knocking. Atlanta is determined to become a star, and the Miss Gold Coast Beauty Pageant is her first step. Savannah's alarmed at Atlanta's growing obsession with her appearance. She blames it on the beauty pageant . . . where the competition has become so fierce that someone's been driven to murder.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Savannah Reid, the Georgia-bred, California-based sleuth, is back in a delicious addition to the series (Sugar and Spite, etc.). Food-loving, witty and down-to-earth, Reid is no typical fey Southern belle. After using her keen detective skills to help capture a gang that's been terrorizing fast-food joints, Reid looks forward to what she assumes will be a tranquil assignment as a security guard at the Miss Goldcoast beauty pageant. The surprise arrival of her spoiled youngest sister, Atlanta, who has flown to California to be a contestant in the pageant, and the subsequent disappearance of Atlanta's obnoxious roommate, Barbara Matthews, make things anything but tranquil. When Matthews is found dead and the evidence points to murder, the cushy job Reid envisioned becomes a fast-paced murder investigation, during which she exposes the self-destructive eating habits of many of the contestants and the often hard-to-believe dirty tricks the girls will play to win. When a second victim turns up, Reid doesn't rest until the truth is revealed in a heart-stopping, cleverly crafted ending. The change of McKevett's usual venue to the Villa Rosa Winery on California's Gold Coast lends freshness, while a bright, eye-catching jacket design should hook browsers. Fans will welcome back Reid's familiar, somewhat stereotypical "family" of characters and will enjoy the new additions. Of its kind, this cozy is as crisp and sparkling as Villa Rosa's best white zinfandel. (Feb. 14)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575666324
• ISBN-13: 978-1575666327
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,089,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored over fifty published works, including the highly popular and critically acclaimed SAVANNAH REID MYSTERIES under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Sonja's novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. 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, Sonja has authored two non-fiction books on the history of Ireland: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE and IRISH PRIDE: 101 REASONS TO BE PROUD YOU'RE IRISH. Both books impart detailed knowledge of the complex and controversial Irish story with a light hand and plenty of humor. Her Irish novels include: DREAM CARVER, CAROUSEL, DAUGHTER OF IRELAND and the bestselling FAR AND AWAY - the novelization of the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

On nationwide tours, Sonja lectures to published and "pre-published" authors in her workshop, "The Novel Approach," a seminar which covers such topics as: story structure, characterization, plotting, pacing, and marketing manuscripts.

Sonja has taught numerous courses at university and adult continuing education facilities including: general fiction, historical research, and mystery writing. She was managing editor at "Single Living" magazine and has functioned as a manuscript doctor and storyline editor for major publishers. Earlier in her career, she was a prolific ghostwriter, authoring both fictional and non-fictional books for celebrities and professionals.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, she now resides in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Snappy dialogue moves story along smartly, March 5, 2001

By 

Barbara O'Neill - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sour Grapes (A Savannah Reid Mystery) (Hardcover)

In this, the sixth of the Savannah Reid mystery series, we find Savannah with double trouble: find the person who is killing off beauty pageant contestants and help her younger sister, Atlanta, understand that no pageant is worth starving oneself for. Of the two, solving the murder mystery may turn out to be the easiest.

Once again, Savannah is joined by Tammy, Ryan Stone, John Gibson and Dirk Coulter (aka Fart Face) as the investigation turns up an abundance of suspects in the first murder and virtually none in the second. Many people wished Barbie Matthews but which one acted on that wish? As nasty as the murders are, Savannah is faced with an even more worrisome problem: it seems sister Atlanta will stop at nothing to attain what she believes is beauty perfection.

With a flair for snappy dialogue and a story that moves along smartly [and intelligently], the author again gives the reader a book to sink one's teeth into and from the blurb on the dustcover, a 7th Savannah Reid mystery is in the works.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sour Grapes, February 9, 2001

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sour Grapes (A Savannah Reid Mystery) (Hardcover)

Be prepared to have sudden cravings for burgers, fires and onion rings while reading this delightful mystery! Savannah Reid, private detective extraodinaire is back and her latest outing involves providing security at the Miss Gold Coast Beauty Pageant. Savanah believes that this job will be smooth sailing -- afterall all she has to do is make sure that the contestants refrain from pulling each other's hair out over a can of hair spray. As usual things do not work out according to her expectations. To begin her kid sister, Atlanta, appears to be a participant in the pageant and she also seems to have lost alot of weight -- perhaps too much weight. Savannah is concerned for Atlanta's health, but even as she promises herself to do something about Atlanta, the most obnoxious contestant turns up dead. Who would want to kill a beauty contest participant? Savannah delves into the ins and outs of pageant life, hoping to nab a killer before he or she can strike again, and to keep Atlanta from harm.

This series featuring Savannah Reid, a southern transplant now living and working in California, is a lot of fun. And this is mostly because of the principal character -- Savannah. She's funny, compassionate, warm and really feisty. Her tongue in cheek asides, whether she's commenting about beauty pageants or certain characters -- friends or suspects -- are what really makes this series work. And while it was rather easy to figure out who the murderer was in this particular mystery, I enjoyed the novel nonetheless mainly because of Savannah's quick witted quips. An enjoyable read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Can't get enough of Savanah, April 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sour Grapes (A Savannah Reid Mystery) (Hardcover)

In one of my next lives I want to be Savanah! She has the best friends a woman can have (you can keep her sister, though) As usual she is fast thinking and even faster talking in this book. It took me a long time to figure it out too. G.A. McKevett needs to learn to write books faster. Savanah is an addiciton which needs to be catered to! IF you like likable, "real" women then you will love Savanah Reid........and oh, Granny Reid! How I wish I had her for MY Granny!