Customer Reviews

What Are You Wearing to Die? (Thoroughly Southern Mysteries, No. 10)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Patricia Sprinkle's characters are refreshing, innovative and very real to life. The settings are intriguing, and indeed, thoroughly southern. The plots pull you into her story, then you're off on a quest to discover with Maclaren "Who Dunnit".

Patricia Sprinkle's Thoroughly Southern series just keeps getting better and better. Her characters are people we know and love, her rich, intriguing story lines resonate with the sense of mischief so treasured by readers of this type mystery. Ms. Sprinkle's sense of humor gives a light human touch to the necessary rough scenes that are, after all, the blood and bones of the good mystery, often keeping her readers from taking themselves and/or life too seriously. Thank you, Patricia! This one is a five-handcuff winner!

What Are You Wearing To Die? is the latest book in the Thoroughly Southern Mystery series. I believe it is the best yet. It kept me engrossed from beginning to end. I love Mac and Joe Riddley and the others from Hopemore. More please!

Dear Mac,
Congratulations! You have nailed it again. How many notches on your hoe does this case make? Ten, I believe. And trust me, I have followed everyone of your endeavors.
What struck me about the circumstances of this mystery and the conditions which you endured to solve it was your mature attitude. Being handcuffed to the desk (twice!)and surviving... I don't want to spoil it for your fans who haven't read it yet. We who know Joe Riddley understand how concerned he is about you, although his attempt to protect you from yourself this time almost back-fired. Your mature attitude rooted your story in reality and kept it from being, oh, how shall I say it, dull? You are just telling it like it is. It is not like this was FICTION for goodness sake.
I am concerned as the ending left me hanging. You made it sound like your "Reichenbach Falls"! I hope WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TO DIE? is not your final solution. I await number 11.
Sincerely,
Your fond fan in Atlanta

Hopemore, Georgia has its share of vicious crimes; usually Magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough is in the middle of the investigation to the horror and fear of her spouse Joe Riddle. This time when someone dies, Joe handcuffs her leg to her desk in Yarbrough Feed Sed and Nursery. A car went over the bypass bridge with Star Knight inside. At first the police think it is an accident until when they bring the vehicle up; the victim was beaten to death with broken bones and black and blue marks everywhere.

Star had her life together when she was pregnant but she became addicted again to crystal meth. The Sheriff knows there is a lab in the area, but can't locate it. Star's father Trevor demands custody of his grandson and they later learn Star was going tothe DEA to inform them who was running the lab with plans of going straight. MacLaren and others believes the meth lab operatives killed Star to prevent her from ratting them out. When another death linked to Star occurs, MacLaren tries to find the killer who ran the meth house, but the murderer remains free with plans to murder the nosy magistrate who ruined his business.

This is a poignant character driven police procedural that makes the case that amoral people can live in the open yet hidden anywhere even a pristine small town. Joe's handcuffing his wife shows how much he cares and worries about her investigating activities, but unless he plans to do this 24/7, his scheme is doomed to fail as MacLaren's soul is to uncover the truth. The inquiry is fun to follow, but it is the meth lab in a small town Georgia that makes this cozy feel real.

Harriet Klausner

Great as usual!! I hope she finds a way to keep this series going!

This was the first book that I have read by this author, and plan to go back and read the others of this series. In reading the reviews by others let me just say to the person who was upset by the handcuff scenario that this book is a work of FICTION. As with other mystery series if there were as many murders in small towns as written in these books, no one would want to live in small towns.
Since I have started this series with the newest book first, it almost sounds likes Ms. Sprinkle is ending the series with this book. I hope not as she is a very good writer, and I enjoyed reading about Mac and her family and friends

I love these books. Mac and Joe Ridley are positively wonderful. They are cute and funny. They show that couples can go through a lot and still love each other and stay together. I hope she writes more soon!!

No stars or four? Patricia Sprinkle's work was described as 'humorous'but it's Charlie Chaplin-style humour-with-pathos, which I hate. There is some good witty dialogue mixed with some very implausible situations, eg husband tying narrator to desk to keep her out of trouble, and scenes like 'who'll tell little 4-year-old Bradley that he doesn't have a mummy any more'. Not for me, but well written if you like this style.

This was my first Patricia Sprinkle cozy--and it won't be my last. I loved the judge and found her husband to be another great character! Loved that the heroine, while smart and tough, is also capable of getting testy and therefore real, and downright silly. Sprinkle has an amazing gift for bringing her minor characters into 3 vivid dimensions. Her brief description of little loudmouth, Natalie was so good and true that I could absolutely SEE that character and hear her whiny little GA voice. That is talent! If you like characters and a reasonably strong plot, well, here ya go,