Lowcountry Bookshop (A Liz Talbot Mystery)

I love this series! I was hooked when I read the first book and the subsequent ones have not disappointed. Susan Boyer takes you to the South Carolina Lowcountry and makes you want to move there. Her descriptions of Charleston and her fictional island of Stella Maris are wonderful, not to mention the restaurants and food. I'd love to have Liz's Mom cook for me! The mysteries in all the books keep you guessing - at least they did me - and she brings the characters to life so easily you feel like you know them. I highly recommend this book and all the others. Do we really have to wait a year for the next one?

I have read nearly all of the Lowcountry mysteries by Susan M. Boyer and this is the first one that has been a disappointment. In nearly every way the story fell flat.

Husband and wife team, Liz and Nate, are hired by an anonymous client to investigate a hit-and-run. The police are convinced they have the right suspect but Liz isn’t so sure and the investigation begins. And, so do my issues with this book.

Nate and Liz seem to have very few boundaries when it comes to their investigations. Breaking into homes, trespassing and eavesdropping are all considered acceptable in the quest for truth and that didn’t particularly set well with me. In addition, there are pages of information about exactly what streets they drive, where buildings are located in Charleston and even where they park their vehicles. General information like this, in small doses, is fine and can enrich a story. But, this much information isn’t necessary and it only detracts.

The family drama was just a little over the top for me as well. While I love quirky families, this time I found Liz’s family to be just a little too much. Her parents, in particular, display very juvenile behavior and her sister and fiancée are simply unnecessary additions.

Finally, I really missed Liz’s ghostly friend, Colleen. Her presence and contribution was minimal and I realize that her character is part of the reason this series has always “worked” for me. I hope she appears more in future books.

All in all, I can only give this book 3 stars and that may be a little too generous.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Lowcountry Bookshop (click on the link to get your copy) by Susan M. Boyer is book seven in Boyer’s Liz Talbot Mystery series and the first of her books that I’ve read. This series is all about Liz Talbot and her husband Nate who are private investigators who take on different cases. Liz is often given hints and challenges from her 18 years deceased friend, Colleen, now a ghost.

In this book, Liz takes on the case of Poppy Oliver, a mail delivery person, who appears to be wrongfully accused of hitting and killing a man during a terrible downpour. While the local police are of the mind that Poppy is guilty, Liz and Nate work to find the truth.

Here is where I feel that the story takes an implausible turn and gets very convoluted. There are a group of women making regular visits to a bookshop but not buying anything. Liz’s investigation leads her to what appears to be a woman fleeing an abusive man, snooping about in an extremely exclusive, invitation-only club, and a regular rendezvous in an expensive boutique hotel.

I really appreciated Boyer’s recognition of abused women and how some of the women in her story worked to help rescue and protect them. But, my favorite parts of the book were when they focused on Liz’s family at her parent’s house. Her family is hysterical and there was always something over-the-top going on.

I’m sure that regular readers of the Liz Talbot Mysteries will enjoy Lowcountry Bookshop. It was an easy read but one that didn’t really keep my interest as it’s not the usual type of book that I read. Generally, I prefer reading a series from the beginning so that I can feel invested in the characters.

Lowcountry Bookshop is Susan M. Boyer’s seventh book in her Liz Talbot Mystery series. A chance meeting in Charleston with Detective Sonny Ravenel and his prime suspect in a death caused by what may have been her car hitting the deceased is the first step in Liz and husband Nate Andrews investigation into what really happened when they are engaged by attorneys Eli Radcliffe and Fraser Rutledge on behalf of an unknown client.

The big questions plaguing Liz include why was Poppy Oliver being blamed and why were high powered attorneys involved? The answers involve battered women’s issues, upscale clubs, members of the Charleston elite, and long ago drug connections in a faraway place.

Again Susan M. Boyer has woven an intricate tale of intrigue and danger with engaging subplots and endearing characters. The background of her home on Stella Maris, her siblings, her parents, and the folks you have come to love on the island just add to the fun and adventure. I found this to be a great story interwoven with current social topics. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

When Liz Talbot and her husband Nate Andrews are called to the offices of Rutledge and Radcliffe, she really doesn’t want to go, as her relationship with Fraser Rutledge isn’t the best. But a chance meeting with Detective Sonny Ravenel changes that. He’s being stalked by a mail carrier named Poppy Oliver who insists she didn’t hit anyone with her car, but was trying to help him.

It is only because of her ghostly friend Colleen’s insistence that she meet with Rutledge that she does so. And when she finds out that he wants them to find out who actually hit Phillip Drayton - because he believes it wasn’t Poppy, that they agree to investigate. While they’re not ready to take Poppy off the suspect list just yet, they’re both almost positive she had nothing to do with it. But when Liz and Nate start looking for the truth, what they find is a network designed so well that it will take all their resources and wits to get to the heart of the matter before it’s too late to save Poppy from being wrongfully jailed for the crime.

Once Liz and Nate start their investigation it all seems straightforward - they're trying to find out if it was a hit-and-run, and Poppy was involved in the accident. But once they receive a report that states Mr. Drayton was also tased, pepper-sprayed and attacked with a mini-knife, then things start to get sticky. Because if it wasn't Poppy, who was filled with enough anger to kill this man? Poppy is insistent that his wife was a victim of domestic violence; his brother Daniel insists his widow Anne Frances had something to do with it; and there are just enough other suspects to make Liz and Nate's work difficult.

But during the investigation, they wonder what a bookstore has to do with it, or a limousine that comes and goes, or even a wealthy society matron that seems to be the key to it all. Liz and Nate will have to go deep and don disguises to find the truth and soon, because Sonny is ready to arrest Poppy and charge her with murder...

Once again Ms. Boyer has written a wonderful tale full of intrigue and secrets, one that involves an underground network designed to save those who are unable to save themselves. While it soon becomes apparent to Liz what is going on, it will take longer before she and Nate have the proof they need to conclude their investigation, as they must do so without innocent people being hurt.

But there is a bit of humor within the story as well. While Liz and Nate have their hands full with the investigation, Liz’s father doesn’t know how close he’s coming to being ejected from his own home. When he adds to his little menagerie of his dog and pot-bellied pig with a trio of pygmy goats, his wife has just about had it. And when those goats are not only defiling her home but those of her neighbors, she is close to a nervous breakdown. It does not help one whit that he has also hired a couple of inept men to help build a pool that they have no skill in doing. So Liz and Nate must do their best to keep her parents’ marriage on solid ground while treading lightly around it.

Weaving these two stories together - one serious and the other with levity - is no easy feat, but Ms. Boyer has managed to do so in an easy fashion. Her writing flows and the words come together on the page effortlessly; her characters are full-bodied and believable; they are lively people with their own personalities. Her description of the Charleston area is well-done; I would like to visit one day and dine at some of the restaurants. She never disappoints in her tales, and this one is no different.

I was fully engrossed in the details and descriptions, and actually felt sorry for Nate at one point (and those who read the story will know what I am talking about); and were even given to see that there might be something good on the horizon for Liz's brother Blake (if you are paying attention, you can figure it out as you go).

All in all, this is another captivating tale that will have you hooked from the very first sentence until the end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

The first I’ve read in this series but fear not, I didn’t have any difficulty in following along: Boyer provided enough background information and some lovely (if highly chaotic) family interactions to bring a sense of both Liz and Nate to the forefront. Add in the spirit of Liz’s childhood friend, prone to dropping in and sharing information that encourages Liz’s curiosity (and occasionally helps her work) and the story is full of the charm that one would expect from a story set in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nate and Liz have been hired by an “anonymous” client to investigate and discover the actual culprit in a hit and run that killed a prominent resident, his body found tasered, pepper-sprayed, and stabbed when hit by an unknown driver in the midst of a torrential downpour. The primary suspect is a mail carrier, Poppy, who came upon the body just after the accident, and with her old dented auto. The attorneys that have hired Nate and Liz to investigate aren’t their favorites, but when Colleen reinforces Poppy’s innocence, and they start to investigate, there are many suspects and little to no reason to eliminate any of them.

From the widow to the brother, a childhood friend who stalked the victim, a group of women that meet secretly in an old graveyard, and the ever-popular Ghosts of Charleston books that serve as a message center, the questions and suspects are never ending. Through multiple lines of inquiry, hours of following and tracking, and a few ‘costume changes’, the possible reasons for the death are exposed, also unearthing an ‘underground railroad’ of sorts, that spirits abused women out of danger to safety.

Oh the questions and twists are strong in this one! And, when the story starts to unfold and pieces come together, the struggle for both Liz and Nate come clear as there are several well intentioned people, acting for good reasons, who could find themselves in great trouble. With so many layers, levels, and a whole organization operating out of necessity in secret out in the open, the story was a read in one sitting romp that kept me engaged and interested. Liz and Nate, and particularly the constant tweaking her father does to her mother were adorable, and I’d love to see where they started to come out here. A favorite read for the characters, the laughter and the clever plotting of a story that really surprised in the end.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I have read nearly all of the Lowcountry mysteries by Susan M. Boyer and this is the first one that has been a disappointment. In nearly every way the story fell flat.

Husband and wife team, Liz and Nate, are hired by an anonymous client to investigate a hit-and-run. The police are convinced they have the right suspect but Liz isn’t so sure and the investigation begins. And, so do my issues with this book.

Nate and Liz seem to have very few boundaries when it comes to their investigations. Breaking into homes, trespassing and eavesdropping are all considered acceptable in the quest for truth and that didn’t particularly set well with me. In addition, there are pages of information about exactly what streets they drive, where buildings are located in Charleston and even where they park their vehicles. General information like this, in small doses, is fine and can enrich a story. But, this much information isn’t necessary and it only detracts.

The family drama was just a little over the top for me as well. While I love quirky families, this time I found Liz’s family to be just a little too much. Her parents, in particular, display very juvenile behavior and her sister and fiancée are simply unnecessary additions.

Finally, I really missed Liz’s ghostly friend, Colleen. Her presence and contribution was minimal and I realize that her character is part of the reason this series has always “worked” for me. I hope she appears more in future books.

All in all, I can only give this book 3 stars and that may be a little too generous.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

What can I say? I absolutely love this series and this book is a wonderful addition! Liz Talbot and her husband Nate are solving another murder mystery in Charleston, SC. I adore Liz's family and friends - her Momma and Daddy sure have a time of things. Her younger sister Merry hasn't left for her wedding trip yet and is involved, along with older brother, Blake, in the the family hijinks. (I love Liz's parents - I wish they were mine!) The theme, sadly, is a prevalent one that touches all social classes. Such a well detailed and researched storyline, plus all the tidbits of Charleston trivia and locations thrown in makes it so real! I feel like I'm there with Liz and Nate, in the thick of things. I really didn't want this book to end. This means a long wait until the next one! I loved it and strongly recommend it to mystery loving readers.

Lowcountry Bookshop (click on the link to get your copy) by Susan M. Boyer is book seven in Boyer’s Liz Talbot Mystery series and the first of her books that I’ve read. This series is all about Liz Talbot and her husband Nate who are private investigators who take on different cases. Liz is often given hints and challenges from her 18 years deceased friend, Colleen, now a ghost.

In this book, Liz takes on the case of Poppy Oliver, a mail delivery person, who appears to be wrongfully accused of hitting and killing a man during a terrible downpour. While the local police are of the mind that Poppy is guilty, Liz and Nate work to find the truth.

Here is where I feel that the story takes an implausible turn and gets very convoluted. There are a group of women making regular visits to a bookshop but not buying anything. Liz’s investigation leads her to what appears to be a woman fleeing an abusive man, snooping about in an extremely exclusive, invitation-only club, and a regular rendezvous in an expensive boutique hotel.

I really appreciated Boyer’s recognition of abused women and how some of the women in her story worked to help rescue and protect them. But, my favorite parts of the book were when they focused on Liz’s family at her parent’s house. Her family is hysterical and there was always something over-the-top going on.

I’m sure that regular readers of the Liz Talbot Mysteries will enjoy Lowcountry Bookshop. It was an easy read but one that didn’t really keep my interest as it’s not the usual type of book that I read. Generally, I prefer reading a series from the beginning so that I can feel invested in the characters.

The seventh book of Liz Talbot series shines as much as any book in the wonderful detective series. There are three things that readers are guaranteed from Susan M. Boyer; great caring characters, a fascinating mystery line, and the unexpected. Lowcountry Bookshop offers all three elements and much more. One of the extras that I enjoy is spending time with Liz’s family. Her father has such a talent for getting on her mother’s last nerve but that southern lady never forgets that she is a lady. The bone of contention this time is a trio of pygmy goats. While the tiny goats sound fun and adorable, Caroline and the neighbors don’t see the little marauders in quite that light.
The mystery for which Nate and Liz are hired seems pretty simple but their jobs never turn out that way so readers will not be surprised that the investigation quickly becomes complex. Sonny sees a popular local mail carrier as a suspect rather than just a witness to a hit-and-run that left the victim dead. Our friendly ghost assures Liz that the young woman is innocent but offers no additional help with the case. Although there were two 911 calls, no other witnesses step forward but a lawyer hires the team for an anonymous client. Our favorite PI team faces as tough a challenge at any they have dealt with before.
I received a copy of this ARC via NetGalley and I loved it just I have loved every book in this series.

Lowcountry Bookshop is Susan M. Boyer’s seventh book in her Liz Talbot Mystery series. A chance meeting in Charleston with Detective Sonny Ravenel and his prime suspect in a death caused by what may have been her car hitting the deceased is the first step in Liz and husband Nate Andrews investigation into what really happened when they are engaged by attorneys Eli Radcliffe and Fraser Rutledge on behalf of an unknown client.

The big questions plaguing Liz include why was Poppy Oliver being blamed and why were high powered attorneys involved? The answers involve battered women’s issues, upscale clubs, members of the Charleston elite, and long ago drug connections in a faraway place.

Again Susan M. Boyer has woven an intricate tale of intrigue and danger with engaging subplots and endearing characters. The background of her home on Stella Maris, her siblings, her parents, and the folks you have come to love on the island just add to the fun and adventure. I found this to be a great story interwoven with current social topics. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

When Liz Talbot and her husband Nate Andrews are called to the offices of Rutledge and Radcliffe, she really doesn’t want to go, as her relationship with Fraser Rutledge isn’t the best. But a chance meeting with Detective Sonny Ravenel changes that. He’s being stalked by a mail carrier named Poppy Oliver who insists she didn’t hit anyone with her car, but was trying to help him.

It is only because of her ghostly friend Colleen’s insistence that she meet with Rutledge that she does so. And when she finds out that he wants them to find out who actually hit Phillip Drayton - because he believes it wasn’t Poppy, that they agree to investigate. While they’re not ready to take Poppy off the suspect list just yet, they’re both almost positive she had nothing to do with it. But when Liz and Nate start looking for the truth, what they find is a network designed so well that it will take all their resources and wits to get to the heart of the matter before it’s too late to save Poppy from being wrongfully jailed for the crime.

Once Liz and Nate start their investigation it all seems straightforward - they're trying to find out if it was a hit-and-run, and Poppy was involved in the accident. But once they receive a report that states Mr. Drayton was also tased, pepper-sprayed and attacked with a mini-knife, then things start to get sticky. Because if it wasn't Poppy, who was filled with enough anger to kill this man? Poppy is insistent that his wife was a victim of domestic violence; his brother Daniel insists his widow Anne Frances had something to do with it; and there are just enough other suspects to make Liz and Nate's work difficult.

But during the investigation, they wonder what a bookstore has to do with it, or a limousine that comes and goes, or even a wealthy society matron that seems to be the key to it all. Liz and Nate will have to go deep and don disguises to find the truth and soon, because Sonny is ready to arrest Poppy and charge her with murder...

Once again Ms. Boyer has written a wonderful tale full of intrigue and secrets, one that involves an underground network designed to save those who are unable to save themselves. While it soon becomes apparent to Liz what is going on, it will take longer before she and Nate have the proof they need to conclude their investigation, as they must do so without innocent people being hurt.

But there is a bit of humor within the story as well. While Liz and Nate have their hands full with the investigation, Liz’s father doesn’t know how close he’s coming to being ejected from his own home. When he adds to his little menagerie of his dog and pot-bellied pig with a trio of pygmy goats, his wife has just about had it. And when those goats are not only defiling her home but those of her neighbors, she is close to a nervous breakdown. It does not help one whit that he has also hired a couple of inept men to help build a pool that they have no skill in doing. So Liz and Nate must do their best to keep her parents’ marriage on solid ground while treading lightly around it.

Weaving these two stories together - one serious and the other with levity - is no easy feat, but Ms. Boyer has managed to do so in an easy fashion. Her writing flows and the words come together on the page effortlessly; her characters are full-bodied and believable; they are lively people with their own personalities. Her description of the Charleston area is well-done; I would like to visit one day and dine at some of the restaurants. She never disappoints in her tales, and this one is no different.

I was fully engrossed in the details and descriptions, and actually felt sorry for Nate at one point (and those who read the story will know what I am talking about); and were even given to see that there might be something good on the horizon for Liz's brother Blake (if you are paying attention, you can figure it out as you go).

All in all, this is another captivating tale that will have you hooked from the very first sentence until the end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Lowcountry Bookshop is the seventh book in Susan Boyer’s Liz Talbot Mystery series. Ms. Boyer provided enough character background that this book can be read as a standalone. There is no gratuitous sex or violence, but there is a little more adult language than one usually finds in a cozy. This is an easy read and moves along at a relaxed but steady pace, providing readers with a well-crafted mystery, well-developed characters, Southern charm, humorous situations, and just a touch of paranormal. There are plenty of twists and turns and the reveal was surprising.

Liz Talbot and her husband, Nate Andrews, are private investigators and live in Stella Maris, South Carolina. Liz’s friend, Colleen, is a ghost and Liz and Nate are the only ones who can see and communicate with her. Colleen is the island’s guardian angel and her assignment is to prevent the population from growing, but she looks out for Liz and Nate and sometimes gets herself in trouble with her superiors. Liz’s family is a hoot and her dad, Frank, has a talent for getting on her mom, Carolyn’s, nerves. The problem this time is a trio of pygmy goats he acquired so the yard wouldn’t need to be mowed and her dad purchasing a swimming pool franchise and hiring two untrained people (Frank’s cousin, Ponder, and Ray Kennedy) and to run the company and install a pool in their back yard. Merry, Liz’s sister, and her fiancé, Joe Eaddy, are preparing for a three-week trip to Patagonia where they will be married, needless to say, Merry and Liz’s parents aren’t happy to be excluded from the ceremony. Liz also has a brother, Blake, who is the Chief of Police for a Charleston County town; their mother wishes he would find the right girl and settle down rather than dating so many women.

Rutledge and Ratcliff, a law firm, hire Nate and Liz on behalf of an undisclosed client to investigate a possible hit-and-run accident that killed Phillip Drayton in front of his home on a rainy night. Poppy Jayne Oliver, a mail carrier, finds the body and insists she didn’t hit him even though her car has front-end damage. Poppy has a special relationship with many of the people she delivers mail to and is convinced Mr. Drayton was abusing his wife, Anne Frances, but has no proof. His wife stands to inherit everything and Daniel John Drayton told Detective Sonny Ravenel that he believes Anne Frances had something to do with his older brother’s death. Colleen assures Liz that Poppy is innocent, but Liz and Nate need proof before the case can be solved. Liz and Nate are well organized and methodical in their investigations and leave no stone unturned as they research people’s backgrounds and question potential suspects.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The first I’ve read in this series but fear not, I didn’t have any difficulty in following along: Boyer provided enough background information and some lovely (if highly chaotic) family interactions to bring a sense of both Liz and Nate to the forefront. Add in the spirit of Liz’s childhood friend, prone to dropping in and sharing information that encourages Liz’s curiosity (and occasionally helps her work) and the story is full of the charm that one would expect from a story set in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nate and Liz have been hired by an “anonymous” client to investigate and discover the actual culprit in a hit and run that killed a prominent resident, his body found tasered, pepper-sprayed, and stabbed when hit by an unknown driver in the midst of a torrential downpour. The primary suspect is a mail carrier, Poppy, who came upon the body just after the accident, and with her old dented auto. The attorneys that have hired Nate and Liz to investigate aren’t their favorites, but when Colleen reinforces Poppy’s innocence, and they start to investigate, there are many suspects and little to no reason to eliminate any of them.

From the widow to the brother, a childhood friend who stalked the victim, a group of women that meet secretly in an old graveyard, and the ever-popular Ghosts of Charleston books that serve as a message center, the questions and suspects are never ending. Through multiple lines of inquiry, hours of following and tracking, and a few ‘costume changes’, the possible reasons for the death are exposed, also unearthing an ‘underground railroad’ of sorts, that spirits abused women out of danger to safety.

Oh the questions and twists are strong in this one! And, when the story starts to unfold and pieces come together, the struggle for both Liz and Nate come clear as there are several well intentioned people, acting for good reasons, who could find themselves in great trouble. With so many layers, levels, and a whole organization operating out of necessity in secret out in the open, the story was a read in one sitting romp that kept me engaged and interested. Liz and Nate, and particularly the constant tweaking her father does to her mother were adorable, and I’d love to see where they started to come out here. A favorite read for the characters, the laughter and the clever plotting of a story that really surprised in the end.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP, the seventh book in the popular Liz Talbot Mystery Series, is a delightful trip to Charleston, South Carolina, full of rich food, local color, bright characters, and a complex mystery to solve.

In this installment, we find private investigators Liz and Nate hired by an anonymous client through a law firm, tasked with proving mail carrier Poppy Oliver’s innocence. Poppy swears that she happened across Phillip Drayton’s body in the street in front of his house, but the police have other ideas since she was found at the scene with a suspicious dent in her car. What begins as a fact finding mission for a seemingly simple case soon becomes a complex mystery for our intrepid pair to solve. And, what does a local bookstore have to do with it all?

Boyer’s characters are what keep me coming back to this fun series. Liz and Nate are relatable, organized, and smart investigators. There are no bumbling amateurs here. Well developed and engaging, I can easily imagine that we would be friends in real life. Poppy is one of the gentlest suspects I have come across in a long while. Her heart is as big as the South, and, like the characters in the book, I want to take her under my wing and protect her. Liz’s family is a hoot, and I adore the laugh-out-loud scenes in which they appear. Oh my, pygmy goats! These light hearted bits really balance the heavier subject in the book.

The mystery starts out seemingly straight forward but quickly proves to be complicated. It kept me guessing for a good part of the book. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, including the victim’s brother and wife, a would-be stalker, a nurse, private club owner, and a socialite, among others. It is amazing how a random choice here and there can lead to someone’s demise. I enjoyed following along with Liz and Nate to solve the case (and tagging along on their fabulous dinner dates and family dinners).

LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP can easily be read as a standalone mystery, but I recommend the entire series to fans of cozy mysteries, especially to readers who enjoy a fantastic Southern setting, interesting characters, and a few laugh-out-loud moments.

I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley from the publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

One dark and extremely stormy Charleston night, a man is hit by a vehicle and killed crossing the street near his home. Who did it? Was it intentional? Was it a hit and run? Was it the woman who says she stopped to help the victim? The dent on the front of her car suggests it could go either way for her. Liz Talbot and her partner Nate are hired to find the answers to these questions and more in the seventh installment in the Liz Talbot Mystery series.

Liz and Nate are hired by a law firm to investigate. They won't tell her who hired them to look into it, but they do admit that it's because their client is worried about the woman who stopped to help the victim. Poppy is a sweet woman and seemingly wouldn't harm a fly. Could she possibly be responsible for this accident?

Several of the women under investigation frequent the same bookstore. Also several of them have a connection to a group of women helping abused women. Was the man killed an abuser?

More information comes out as Liz and Nate investigate. Colleen, their ghostly friend, plays only a very little role in this mystery encouraging them to stay on track and keep investigating. I like that she doesn't come out and provide all the answers for them.

Periods of serious investigation are punctuated by the more lighthearted escapades of Liz's family. Her daddy seems to try and one-up himself in his quest to disturb her mamma when he acquires some goats and a pool building business.

It's a private investigation procedural. It gets a little repetitive at times, but it all goes to advancing the plot.

Overall, I give this mystery 4 out of 5 stars. The mystery shows good imagination as the pieces come together. It's well-written and paced well. The end has a bit of a twist, but it works. And I really enjoyed the humorous family parts.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

I really enjoyed this adventure with PIs Liz and Nate. Once again they are back on the mainland, working in Charleston. They have been hired through a legal firm by an anonymous person, who wants the hit and run of a well to do Charleston gentleman thoroughly investigated. This person is sure that Poppy, the mail carrier, who is the number one suspect is innocent.

Once again, Nate and Liz work closely together to figure out the case. They are often in disguise in this story and their interactions are quite humorous. The Charleston Society Members are out in full force in this story, not only helping to solve it, but partying the night away at a very private club. Between the interviews they do, the surveillance from a B&B across the street and their partying to get close to the rich, they pick up clues that they must piece together in their usual way. This book also dealt with the important issues of abuse (spousal or relationship) and the dangers of living on an island with no bridge. Colleen was once again popping in and out. Now that Nate can see her, he gets a bit stressed out. She gives them hints and clues along the way, but from the start, she was adamant that Poppy was innocent. She was the major focus of the island and evacuation line in the story. Liz's family was hilarious in this book. I do not want to give anything away in that area, but suffice it to say that I have never seen Liz's mom so upset. If you love the south, enjoy a cozy or like to laugh at life and families, pick up the newest book in this series. You will love it. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Edelweiss.

I love the Liz Talbot Mystery Series! There’s always a well-plotted mystery with twists and turns and an ending I can never predict. The characters, both old and new, are well-developed and interesting. The backdrop for the books includes the island of Stella Maris and the city of Charleston, South Carolina. There are great descriptions of Charleston’s history, old homes, cemeteries , ghosts, and restaurants. Liz’s parents are always a hoot and provide comic relief.

In Lowcountry Bookshop, a hit and run driver kills Phillip Drayton, a wealthy resident of Charleston, during a major rainstorm at night. Poppy Oliver swears she just stopped her car to help the man in the middle of the street. But she soon becomes Detective Sonny Ravenel’s main suspect in Drayton’s death. An anonymous benefactor asks a law firm to hire investigators to prove Poppy’s innocence. The law firm retains Liz Talbot and her husband, Nate Andrews, to investigate. However, the law firm refuses to identify the benefactor and rules out interviewing the benefactor.
As Liz and Nate dig through the evidence, they find more questions than answers. Who is the benefactor? Did Phillip Drayton abuse his wife, Anne Frances, as Poppy suspects? Did Poppy really stop to help the man out of the goodness of her heart? Or did she conspire with Anne Francis to kill him? Did another person kill Phillip or was it all a terrible accident?

When Liz discovers that a Charleston bookstore is a popular destination for the Anne Francis and others involved in the case, she’s perplexed. Then Liz and Nate travel to all parts of Charleston, following a group of women who help the victims of domestic violence. They also track others who were connected to Phillip Drayton, trying to find evidence of another hit and run driver and the car used on that rainy night. Will they prove Poppy Oliver is innocent or are they in for a rude surprise?

Note: I received an advance copy of Lowcountry Bookshop from the publisher and voluntarily decided to leave a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henery Press for a digital galley of this novel.

Book number seven in the Liz Talbot Mystery series was another visit with the folks I've come to know in Stella Maris and Charleston, South Carolina. After reading one of these books I always have the strongest urge to fly to Charleston and eat in all the wonderful restaurants Liz goes to. But then I also want to be invited to Momma's house for either Wednesday dinner or Sunday lunch. Oh, well, I can dream. I also have this author to thank for getting me hooked on a particular soft drink her characters drink, but I'm not complaining about that.

Liz and her husband Nate have been hired by a Charleston attorney to investigate a case for a young woman who seems likely to be arrested for vehicular homicide. An anonymous client wants the case against Poppy Oliver fully investigated to keep her from being charged. According to Poppy she found the man dead in the road but the police aren't so sure about her just happening to find him. Especially when Poppy reveals that she thinks the man was abusing his wife and she wanted to help the woman.

The ghostly Colleen helps with this investigation by giving hints for Liz and Nate to follow. It's too bad Colleen can disappear into thin air just when Liz asks the hardest questions. Combining the sudden appearances by Colleen and the meetings in the haunted cemetery give this addition to the series a decided paranormal touch but not so much that it might ruin the story if you don't believe in those things. The close family ties keep the story warm and friendly even when the slightly over-the-top things keep happening to Liz's mother and father. The thought of what happened with the goats when they got into the house had me chuckling for a long time.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book is a series but may be read as a standalone. I am a mystery addict so I was so excited to start reading this recent addition to the series. Liz Talbot and her husband run a detective agency along with the help of her best friend who just happens to have died many years ago and is now a ghost! The subject of domestic violence is a main topic in this story, the author did a respectable job of writing about it. Liz’s mother continues to amuse with her over the top dramatics, maybe not so over the top since she has to deal with goats, a pig and a huge gaping hole in her backyard that is supposed to be swimming pool. Poppy, a mail carrier is under suspicion of a hit and run, an anonymous client has hired Liz’s agency to clear Poppy of this before it is to late and she gets charged formally. There is so much drama in this book that I zipped through this in one sitting. Liz and her husband work hard to find out who the mystery client is because that is the key to solving the murder. The victims brother was a colorful character and I would love to see him appear again in this series. I am attached to Liz’s family because they are so colorful and quirky. The setting of Charleston was described very accurately, I loved this setting. This story took quite an unexpected turn in the end, one that I did not see coming.

This is a very enjoyable book, well written, quirky but lovable characters and an A+ mystery. I look forward to the next book in this series!

Thanks to Netgalley and Henery Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Well done again, Susan M. Boyer. As a fan of many mystery series, I tend to approach the newest in a loved series with a mixture of excitement and a bit of trepidation. Will it hold up? Will the author provide a great addition to the series, or will this new one disappoint? Happily, Ms. Boyer did not disappoint, and this was a fine addition (#7) to the Lowcountry series. As usual I came away longing to revisit Charleston, visit the sites Liz visits, eat where Liz and Nate and friends eat, hit the SC beach for a long walk, and go back in time for meals with my grandmothers, who cooked like Liz’s mama does.
In this installment, Liz and Nate are settling in to their marriage. They’re partnering well in their PI business. They’re surrounded by friends and family (and a guardian spirit) who are interesting and engaging. Their case this time around has the added mystery of not even knowing who their actual client is when they’re first hired by the client’s attorney, as he’s been sworn to secrecy. But that secret and more are revealed as they work through the steps to solve the mystery of who ran down a prominent Charleston resident in a hit & run on a dark & stormy night.
If Stella Maris were a real place, I’d be making a reservation to vacation there. Instead, I’ll anxiously await the next installment of the adventures of Liz Talbot and friends.

In Lowcountry Bookshop, Susan M. Boyer outdoes her last cozy mystery which I thought was good. In this book Liz Talbot and her husband Nate, both private investigators, are hired anonymously through an attorney to prove the innocence of a very sweet mail carrier who stopped at the scene of a hit and run. The plot is very complex and involves a group of women who try to help victims of domestic violence.

Watching Liz and Nate go about their business of investigating the crime and the people involved is very interesting. They have tools, disguises, and methods that they use to pursue the truth regardless of where it leads them.

In the middle of some pretty intense scenarios, there is a little comic relief as Liz’s family deals with a situation involving a Bassett hound, a pig with a broken leg, three escape artist goats, and a backyard dug in preparation for a swimming pool. As you can imagine, “Mamma ain’t happy” and everyone knows it.

Set in the Charlestown area of South Carolina, Lowcountry Bookshop features heat, humidity, and Southern charm. This mystery will keep you on your toes as you follow its complexities and guess who did it and why—right up until the end.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

LowCountry Bookshop is the latest (7th) in the Liz Talbot LowCountry Southern mystery series set in fictional coastal Stella Maris, near Charleston. PI’s Liz & her husband Nate are hired by a Charleston attorney to prove Poppy, a mail carrier who’s quite attached to several people on her mail route, was not the driver of a vehicle which “hit & run”. A local businessman died when a vehicle hit him near his driveway during a blinding rainstorm. Poppy called 911 to report finding the body, so was immediately considered by the police as the most likely perp! The attorney’s client paying for this investigation remains anonymous to Liz & Nate, which is unsettling to them since they might find information which could hurt their unknown client? It’s a complex case which takes many twists and turns before concluding.

This book reveals the love & caring in Liz & Nate’s marriage & includes many zany antics by Liz’s family! Colleen, the paranormal character, makes appearances, though I think is less involved in solving this mystery than in prior books. I feel like I’m a close friend of the Talbot family as I read each Liz Talbot book!!

I laughed, teared up & thoroughly enjoyed this book, so highly recommend! Susan Boyer is THE BEST Southern coastal cozy mystery writer, hooking her readers with interesting characters, intriguing plots with twists & turns & lots of authentic Southern coastal charm! If you’ve not read other books in this series you’ll still understand & love this mystery, but will immediately want to read the entire series from the beginning! I’m a big fan of the series, so thrilled to receive ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I had never read any of Ms Boyer’s Lowcountry series of cozies until I received this ARC from NetGallery. Apparently, we share a love of Charleston, and are even almost neighbors in SC, so I was quite pleased to get the chance to read her. And support a local artist at the same time.

Although It is the seventh in her series, it read to me like a stand-alone, and I didn’t feel at all lost by starting at the end. The characters are well defined and mostly likable. The story is very well paced with sufficient red herrings to keep you interested. At one point I felt there might be too many characters (OK, suspects), but eventually they all sorted themselves out. There’s a slight touch of the paranormal, a friendly spirit that pops in and out. I suspect that in other novels, her presence is more central to the story. Here she provides some of the humor and the odd bit of guidance to the sleuthing couple, and her mind-reading capabilities come in handy.

The subject matter (domestic violence) may be uncomfortable for some. It is not graphic nor is there language or descriptions that step outside the norm for cozies. I was sort of disappointed that it really WASN’T about a bookstore itself, though there is a bookstore as an important venue in the story.

Her descriptions of Charleston and her wry humor were very appealing and I’ll certainly want to read more of the series. I think most cozy readers would enjoy this.

My thanks to NetGallery, Henery Press and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 Stars

I love the Liz Talbot "Lowcountry" cozy mysteries. Liz and Nate are the perfect couple/investigative partners. Her disguises crack me up. I wonder how there is room in her car for her with all the stuff she carries around with her. Ha!! It simply amazes me how she always gets away with them.

In this, the 7th book of the series, it focuses on a bookshop that holds a secret. A secret so big, not even the owners know what it is. This secret plays a very important part in the book. A part that is very interesting in the way things are done. I admire this secret tremendously. (There's a spoiler for you or is it an enticement? Ha!!)

This book starts out with a hit and run accident and the mail carrier is the "usual suspect" as she is found at the scene and just happens to have a dent in the front of her car. Of course, what actually happened in this accident is discovered near the end of the book and no one, ever, could guess it.

An excellent series that I thoroughly enjoy and can't wait for the next one!

Thanks to Henery Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. While there is a paranormal twist to the books (and that is something I generally do not care for), the charm of the relationship between the real and paranormal is a fun one to read.

Liz Talbot and her husband Nate are private investigators. They have been hired to prove someone innocent of killing an individual. There is a twist in the hiring and it sets up a more full-blown investigation than usual.

The paranormal part of this story is on back burner and more hard-hitting investigation takes over. I really appreciated reading how an investigation would take place. The ways of changing ones look and how to take photographs without seeming to be doing so.

The plot flowed and the characters were great. I must admit a soft spot for Liz’s mother. She a real Southern lady and puts up with enormous amounts of misbehavior before putting her foot down.

I am already looking forward to reading the next book in this series and have to settle in the for the long wait.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

In Susan Boyer’s Lowcountry series, Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews are private investigators from Stella Maris, South Carolina. In this seventh book, they are hired by a local lawyer they have worked with before. A man was left for dead in the streets after being hit by a car during a torrential storm. The police were called, and they are determined that Poppy, the neighborhood mail carrier found at the scene, is the guilty party. She maintains she just came upon the accident. Liz and Nate must prove her innocence. They are starting with no evidence, since the rain destroyed any that may have normally been left at the scene.

My favorite thing about this series is that the investigators are actually that. They aren’t bakers or dancers or stay at home moms begged to save a friend from jail time. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s just that Liz and Nate are intelligent. And good at what they do. And I enjoy being taken through their thought processes and being a part of the discovery team. Between that, the beach setting, and the close knit family members, it’s a great combination. There’s a reason that many books in this series have won

I just adore this series. All the stories are light and funny and such great mysteries. This one is no different. Liz has been pulled into a murder because she is positive Poppy is innocent. There is no way, in Liz's mind, that Poppy ran over and killed Phillip Drayton. Now, to find out exactly what happened and who is responsible.
Let's start with the some of the characters in this story. I love Colleen. She is a ghost...yes you heard me....a ghost. You cannot have a story set in Charleston without a ghost. The city is rampant with them. She helps Liz with her work! As a matter of fact, Liz can hardly solve a mystery without her. Then there is Nate. Nate is Liz's hot husband. Not only is he a stud...he is a southern gentleman to boot! He is soooo dreamy. Then, there are Liz's parents. These two crack me up, especially about the goats...you need to read this book...just for the goats.
The characters make this book. The mystery is a little thin in this one. But...I really read it for the great characters. Need a good series...pick these up. So funny and entertaining!
I received this novel from Edelweiss for a honest review.

Susan Boyer has another hit on her hands with Lowcountry Bookshop. It is like returning to old friends. The books are set in the charming areas of Stella Maris and Charleston, which is a treat with its shops and Restaurants. The Characters are likeable and you can read this book without having read the others.

Poppy Oliver found herself in trouble after reporting a hit and run. Someone decided to hire Liz Talbot and her Partner Nate to prove her innocence. There were two calls made that night to report the incident one from the victims phone and one from a burner phone. Why was Phillip Drayton-the Victim, outside during a storm and why had some kind of pepper spray been used on him? As the Partners investigate it becomes obvious a lot of answers are needed to solve this mystery. Colleen, a ghostly friend, who appears to just a few people might help.

This book flows with a nice juicy mystery. Prepare to put your feet up and spend the evening because this one grabs hold and doesn't let go. I really liked it. So I am giving it five stars.

My thanks to Henery Press and Netgalley

I was so happy to see Liz and Nate return. As always, Susan M. Boyer’s books are infused with local culture and food! I am not sure what I love the most about her books. Is it the mystery, the historical setting, or the dining?

Susan M. Boyer does it again with Lowcountry Bookshop. This book addresses a topic that is all too common in our society and it hit close to home. I loved her spin on it. I won’t go any further because I don’t want to give anything specific away.

I’ve learned to pace myself, otherwise I would finish these books in one setting. Giving myself a “Liz break” every hour or two helped get me work done and spread the book out over a couple of days.

I did receive this book as an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. That being said, I signed up to be a reviewer because I have always enjoyed Susan M. Boyer's books and the main character, Liz Talbot, in particular. I am a busy mom who loves to read, but I wouldn't waste my valuable time reading and reviewing books that aren't high quality and really enjoyable.

I am looking forward to more Liz and Nate adventures!

I’ve really enjoyed the Liz Talbot Lowcountry books, and would consistently give them 4 or 5 stars. I didn’t grow up in the South, but now live there, so I can relate to the verbiage used and the Southern mindset. Unfortunately, this addition to the series just didn’t do it for me. I’m not familiar with Charleston, so using ALL the street names and the directions taken when Liz was following someone got very tedious. They seemed to go on and on and on. I’m sure it’s fun for for someone familiar with the area, since they could easily picture where Liz was in the city as she was tailing someone, but after awhile, I just wanted it to end. The ending was sort of anticlimactic for me as well. It really didn’t have much punch, and I could see who Blake’s date would be for the family pool party coming a mile away. I will probably continue to read more books in the series, unless the next one is as meh as this one was for me.

I received a copy from the publisher.
This is the seventh in the Lowcountry series, and they just keep getting better.
Liz Talbot, a private investigator and her husband Nate, are hired by a mysterious client to look into a hit and run incident. It looks like just a tragic accident, but is it? Are there deeper implications? Was the victim's spouse abusive? Is Poppy, the young bystander, as innocent as she seems, or is there something more sinister going on? What is the connection to a local bookshop?
While dealing with the details of the case, Liz also comtends with the pop-in visits from her best friend Colleen, dead for decades, and the ongoing drama at her folks', this time involving a pool and varied livestock. Can she keep up with it all while discovering if there was a murder, who is guilty of what and who hired them?
Well-written, with wonderful descriptions of the Lowcountry and plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing, this is yet another winner from Ms. Boyer.

I finished my advance copy of Lowcountry Bookshop, Liz Talbot book #7 on May 10. I don't know how Ms. Boyer keeps it so fresh but she does. I was afraid going into #7 I might get a little antsy since I have read the previous six. I was late coming to her books, so I read through all six in a short period of time. I love Liz Talbot. It started with the first book and just kept going. I feel like I know her personally and could meet her for lunch. Ms. Boyer brings her to life in each book and with each book keeps you interested in the current plot. I find that amazing because most authors of series jump from one character to another character in their series. She has kept Liz front and center and again, fresh along with her family and friend dynamics - and most of all Collen!

I won't give away the plot, but Liz and Nate take on a case that weaves in and out of several dynamics around an accident, domestic abuse, and Momma's house. Lots of heart in this book. Do yourself a favor and put on your must read list!

This one might just be the best one yet! Liz Talbot, Private Investigator, and her partner, Nate, are involved once again solving a murder, and trying to prove to the police that they have the wrong suspect in mind. Liz and Nate spend considerable time in Charleston, SC, working on a case, that takes them to wonderful restaurants, historical sites - including a beautiful cemetery, fun shops, and an interesting bookshop, that all exist in Charleston. Even the menus at the restaurants are authentic. Susan Boyer has done an amazing job weaving the story in such a way that keeps you guessing until the end. The fictional island of Stella Maris, is a place that you might want to live...residents include Liz’s hunky, police chief brother, her close sister, and her quirky and fun parents, that all bring humor to the story that will have you laughing out loud. Liz’s departed, best friend from high school, brings an added dimension to the story, as a guardian spirit, whose assignment is to protect the island.

I received an advance, digital copy for my honest review from Netgalley, but have also purchased the book for my own collection. These books are all so well written, and the stories and characters so great, that I love having each one of them and rereading them from time to time. I cannot wait until the next one is published!

Liz and Nate are drawn into another mystery – this time in Charleston. A man has been killed in what may or may not have been an accident. The suspects keep coming while Liz and Nate are having a hard time eliminating anyone from their list. So which was it, accident or murder?
I LOVED this novel – this series, by far, is one of my favorites! I loved that we were able to witness the love between Liz and Nate – they were so sweet and tuned into each other. Liz’s family is a hoot. I think we can all see a little bit of our family in them. The descriptions of the flowers, the food, and the locations are wonderful and make me want to visit (even if just by the internet) all of the gorgeous places featured in this novel.
I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and Susan Boyer never disappoints. My only regret is finishing the book and the time it takes for the next one to come out!!

This is the seventh in the series and is totally readable as a standalone. The setting is Stella Maris and Charleston, South Carolina. This story revolves around domestic violence and the shelters for the victims involved. The suspects seem to have the same bookstore as their common denominator.

I always enjoy Ms Boyer’s trips to the south. The southern politeness and manners are so refreshing to me, as I was raised in New Jersey and New York. Things progress at a slower pace in South Carolina and that can be a good thing. I felt the mystery was well-crafted and well-written. As always, I enjoy Liz’s parents and neighbors. The sense of community and looking out for one another puts a smile on my face. I look forward to the next installment. I highly recommend this book.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from Henery Press via Netgalley and these are my own opinions.

The Liz Talbot Mystery series takes place in Charleston, SC and an imaginary island right outside of town called Stella Maris. Boyer's description of Charleston and the Lowcountry's setting, personalities, dialect, and way of life is so authentic that I think I would love this series just for that. Thankfully, there is much more.

Liz and her husband Nate are private investigators. In Lowcountry Bookshop, as in the previous novels, their investigations bring them in contact with colorful characters, history, and situations. Their extended family is hilarious and genuine. I feel like I know and love them all.

For the first 6 books I listened to the audio version and I must say that in my mind the narrator, Loretta Rawlins, IS Liz Talbot. Even reading the Kindle version this time, it was her voice in my head.

I will be looking forward to the next installment!

A wonderful mixture of noir crime investigation, family dysfunction and topical issues with gentle humor to lighten the mix. The characters are well developed and relatable, both those living and not quite. Liz and Nate are called upon to investiage a vehicular death, was it hit and run or a designed accident? Besides the requisite changing of appearances to follow suspects unnoticed, this dynamic duo must tread carefully the line of pretending to be people they are not, to get information.
Colleen seems not to be as helpful as Liz hopes and believes she could be.

If you like character driven adventure reads or well disguised crime motives, this series has something for everyone. Each book can be read as a stand alone but the series gets better and better as it progresses.

I accepted a copy of this book to review but the rating and opinions are my own

Number 7 is an outstanding episode in this series. It covers domestic violence and the shelters for the victims involved. Liz Talbot has been hired by an attorney to protect Poppy Oliver from arrest by the Charleston police as the hit and run driver that killed a man. He refused to inform Liz and Nate Andrews, her partner who hired him. Poppy was at the scene of the accident and called for help. The police feel that she hit the victim and is afraid to admit it. Her vehicle has a front dent. There is strong evidence that women are in abusive situations.Who hired the attorney and why is Liz and Nate's concern? Where are the two phones that the police review about the accident? What does the BOOKSHOP have to die in the accident? Of course, Colleen is there.
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Disclosure: Many thanks to Henery Press for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a great book; this is the seventh book in the Liz Talbot mystery series written by Susan Boyer. This book can be read as a standalone book, but once you read this one you will want to go back and read the other books. This is one of my favorite series. Liz Talbot and her husband Nate have been hired by a local lawyer to prove that Poppy Oliver did not murder a local man. Their investigation leads them in many directions. All of our favorite characters are back.This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

The Liz Talbot Mystery series is one of my all-time favorite series, and Liz Talbot is one of my favorite heroines. I avidly await the release of these books each year. Susan Boyer is one of my favorite authors, and Henery Press is a wonderful publishing company full of talented authors. The fictitious island of Stella Maris and the beautiful town of Charleston are wonderful settings for this series. Liz and the gang are a quirky, fun cast of characters, and their antics are sometimes serious, sometimes funny. Lowcountry Bookshop definitely did not disappoint. It had some very serious moments, and very serious subject matter, but there were also some funny moments, as well. I love these books!!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author for an honest review. I have read every book in this series.

LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP by author Susan M. Boyer is another delightful PI mystery with Liz Talbot and her partner Nate Andrews. I enjoy this series so much! On a rainy night, a series of unfortunate events happen and a man is hit by a white SUV and left to die. The reasons for him being in the street during the downpour are part of the mystery. We meet Poppy Oliver who is found going through Phillip Drayton's pockets in search of a phone as the police and paramedics reach the scene of the accident. She also has a dent in the front of her vehicle, could she be the person responsible for his death? It seems there are too many suspects and not enough answers before the mystery is solved.
The scene at dinner with Liz's parents just cracked me up! It is so funny.

I have loved this series since reading the first book and always look forward to a new addition. This is the 7th installment of the series and I am happy to say the characters and stories have not gotten stale. Liz and Nate are a delightful couple but her family steals the show. Hopefully we will see even more from them in future books.
The only reason I gave this a 4.5 rather than 5 star review is because I think you need to read earlier books in the series. There are so many characters included now it would be hard to keep up without background. Ms. Boyer does a good job explaining how everyone fits but reading the earlier books is much better (and a lot more fun). This book moves at a fast pace and you don't want to put it down. The perfect book for reading at the beach!
All the books in this series make you want to pack the car and head to Charleston. If you are lucky enough to know Charleston you feel right at home and can follow Liz as she goes from place to place. Take note of the wonderful restaurants and try them if you visit.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC. I had already preordered a copy as I love this series but the advanced copy was a wonderful gift.

Liz and Nate are back in the 7th installment of the Lowcountry mystery series. They are hired by a mystery client through a prominent attorney to prove the innocence of Poppy, a mail carrier, accused of hitting and killing a local businessman with her car. But who is the mystery client, how does victim’s widow factor in, and is the local bookstore a rendezvous point for something nefarious?

As the mystery progresses, we meet a colorful cast of characters, some of which are old favorites like guardian angel/teen ghost Colleen. We get to know Liz’s quirky family a bit better, as her father brings home three additions to the family menagerie and has the backyard bulldozed for a pool. Her mother’s food and family gatherings draw us in and remind us why we love these characters so much.

Not only did I join Liz and Nate in walking through the streets of Charleston to the downtown graveyard and in visiting an exclusive club in an old plantation, I swear I could feel the rumble of the ferry and my hair curling in the humidity. You won’t regret picking this book up for a magical visit to the Lowcountry.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review

Another great Liz Talbot mystery. The author weaves a very interesting mystery. Was it accidental or was it murder? It was amazing reading and following the clues and trying to guess how it all came to be. Domestic abuse and the women who try to help those being abused. How does this all figure in.
Nate and Liz are hired to investigate a hit and run by a mysterious person. Nate and Liz set to work and the more they investigate the more complicated it gets. Of course you throw in three goats, a pig, and a swimming pool and well you have to read it to see how it all fits together.

It's a wonderful book to read and a real page turner. I really enjoyed it and can not wait to read the next adventure for Liz and Nate.
The publisher provided me with an advanced copy of this book. I'm voluntarily sharing my thoughts this review.

Susan Boyer does it again with a great new Liz Talbot mystery. If you love quirky southern families and beautiful settings along with a great mystery plot, this series is for you! Susan makes you love her characters - they're easy to get to know and love and hard to let go when the book ends. I enjoy this series so much and this latest installment is just as wonderful as the other books in the series. Liz Talbot is a smart woman and approaches her cases with thorough examination. Her partner, Nate, is wonderful as well. While I love Liz and Nate, her family and her ghostly advisor add great flavor and it all comes together to provide a great read! I look forward to more books in this series. As soon as finish one, I'm anxious for the next. I highly recommend Susan and Liz to you!

I recently won Lowcountry Bookshop, a Liz Talbott mystery, in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you Goodreads, Henry Press and Susan M Boyer for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Not having previously read any of the Liz Talbott Mysteries, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t need much of a backstory to keep up with the characters or settings. Susan M Boyer has written a clever and witty little mystery. Although I am not from the south; I am Californian, I enjoyed the southern setting and giggled at some of the situations that Liz and the other characters found themselves.

After reading this booked I shopped for the previous books in the series but had difficulty finding them. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

This seventh book in the series was one of the best reads I have had in awhile. Charleston PI Liz Talbot and her husband, Nate have been hired to prove a local innocent in the death of a well to do local. The list of suspects keeps growing and it’s not easy to cross any of them off. Liz and Nate go undercover to get to the truth and things aren’t quite what they seem.

With her family, their whacky pets, and a cast of locals this story kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m going to have to spend some quality time with Liz catching up on the first six books in the series! ABSOLUTELY love the last paragraph. It’s been a long time where I have smiled at the last few words in any story.

All of Susan's Liz Talbot books are amazing! I love the lowcountry setting and everything is always authentic. Having waited anxiously for the next book to come out I was not disappointed. I love Liz's family and look forward to the interesting twists and turns they add to each story. The mystery was a new take on things and kept it interesting to the end. Get your copy ASAP and if you haven't read the other books in the series you should be sure to read them as well. The story builds and many of the characters follow thru from the first book. Each one is wonderful on it's own but having read them all I look forward to seeing what part they will have in the current story.

This is Book #7 in the Lowcountry Series. I have loved all of them and look forward to the next in the series. Susan M. Boyer incorporates Southern Lowcountry flair in her stories, making Charleston, SC sound like a wonderful, enchanting place with delightful characters. There appears to be trouble afoot with a cute little mysterious bookshop, and it might be involved in an accident.. Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews, Private Investigators, are partners in work as well as personally. They try to untangle this mystery, as it gets more and more involved and complicated. I highly recommend to those who like a cozy mystery with SC shine. A great read!

This is book 7 in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone. Liz, her sister Merry and her Ghost, Colleen are having breakfast when they first meet Poppy. She is being accused of a hit and run accident that killed a man. She claims innocence but the police are pretty sure her car was the one that hit the man. As Liz and Nate and Colleen investigate they uncover a movement for abused women and the murder seems to be connected. I like Liz and her ghost but the story is getting a little bland. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What an incredible addition to this series! We get follow Liz as she investigates what may be a hit and run murder or it could be something else. Her P.I. duo is hired through some odd means and the questions just keep piling up from there. Of course these all lead to a conclusion that I really did not see coming which is always nice. I love the addition of the guardian spirit as this provides a nice added element to this series which really gives it some flair. If you are looking for a good suspenseful murder mystery book/series then I highly recommend that you try this one. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.

I loved going back to Stella Maris and spending time with my friends! Liz and Nate have a mystery to solve that is intriguing. The family, mainly Daddy and Momma, also competes for Liz’s attention. This book kept my attention all the way. I laughed out loud a time or two and was heart broken in another spot. A new romance may be brewing, too. All in all, I was sorry for the book to end. I can’t wait for my next visit with Liz! This is book number seven in the series and each one is enjoyable alone but reading them all makes you feel like you own a beach house on Stella Maris! I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I love this series - and Lowcountry Bookshop did not disappoint! It's got Murder, mystery, interesting characters, and comic relief (who doesn't love goats!). The story takes place in Stella Maris, a fictional island near Charleston, SC and in and around Charleston, SC. Susan M. Boyer does a great job at describing the locations and situations that Liz and Nate, her husband, and their family and friends, new and old, find themselves in. Liz and Nate are private investigators. Lowcountry Bookshop centers around their most recent case. They are hired by a local attorney, representing an anonymous client. Their objective is to vindicate Poppy Oliver, a mail carrier whose is suspected of killing an abusive husband in a hit and run. The story follows Liz and Nate while they work to prove Poppy is innocent. The story pulls you in and you feel like you are there with them. (Oh, and I would love to be a fly on the wall during one of Liz's family dinners at her mom's house! Lol! Although - be warned - if you are a fan of Southern food, you may not want to read this book if you're hungry, because your mouth will water reading about Liz's mom's home cooked meals!)

The publisher provided me with an advance copy of this book. I'm voluntarily sharing my thoughts here!

I love Susan Buyer's books and Low Country Bookshop is no exception. I was given an advance of this book in exchange for a fair review. This is the seventh in the Luz Talbot mysteries, but it can stand alone. I have read the others and so this story was like catching up with old friends. The quirky, sometimes laugh out loud funny antics of Liz's family keep the story moving while the puzzle of whether or not Poppy is an innocent bystander kept me guessing. I enjoy Liz Talbot as a character because she is a strong thinking woman. The southern flavor adds to the atmosphere. In all an enjoyable read.

I love spending time with Liz Talbot and her crazy family, and this story does not disappoint. When Liz and Nate are hired by an attorney representing an anonymous third party to find the person who ran down an accused domestic abuser, there is no shortage of suspects. Along the way, they discover secret messages being passed in a local bookstore, witness suspicious activities all over Charleston, and have a few run-ins with baby goats. This book kept me turning the pages late into the night. And just when you think it’s over, it’s not! It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

* I was provided an Advance Readers Copy of this book by the publisher but the review is strictly my own opinion.

I was sad when I read the very last word of Lowcountry Bookshop. Not because it had a sad ending, but because there weren't any more pages to read! I love the Liz Talbot series! I've never visited that part of the country, but I feel as if I am there every time I read one of Susan M. Boyer's Liz Talbot books. It makes me wish I were right out there on a porch with a big ol' glass of sweet tea. The ghostly appearances of Colleen is such a fun touch. I'm hoping there will be many more installments in the lives of these characters. They say and do some crazy things! I just purely love Liz's mamma! If you want something to read that will make you wish you didn't have to put the book down - this book will do the trick. Whether you have read all the previous books in the series or just getting started, I highly recommend Lowcountry Bookshop. It's entertaining as well as thought provoking at times, and sometimes just downright hilarious! Get you a copy of this book, a frosty glass of iced tea, and sit a spell. Enjoy a trip to Stella Maris, and have a great time getting to know Liz, Nate, and their family and friends (and all the animals too)!!

I was very pleased and excited to receive a copy of this book from the author and am sharing my own thoughts and recommendations.

Lowcountry Bookshop in spite of the murder investigation, is just plain good fun, and with all the amazing details and little bits of info only a local would know of Charleston SC, you can’t help being drawn in.
The two leads, Liz and Nate, are local Investigators and are so cute and perfect for each other. In spite of some of the craziness that is going on at Liz’s family home, they are able to solve another case.
Hired by an attorney representing a client who wants to remain anonymous, Liz and Nate investigate an accident that happens on a rainy night. The person being accused, Poppy, appears to be too well liked and kind to be involved. What could her motive be? How does a local Lowcountry Bookshop fit in?
As with all Susan Boyer books, I was left entertained, smiling from ear to ear and anxiously awaiting her next book.

This series is delicious!! And this latest book in the series does not disappoint! Susan’s descriptions of places, things, and most of all the good southern cooking and hospitality make you wish you were in the south! Great mystery too!! Was it an accident or was it murder?! A hit and run on a rainy night! Keeps you guessing right up to the end and the side stories of Liz’s family are humerous and heartwarming!! If you haven’t read this series you really need to!! You can read this as a stand alone but you really should read all 7 books of this series! You will not want to miss getting to know any of Stella Maris’ delightful residents!!

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan Boyer is the latest in the Liz Talbot Mystery Series.

Graveyards, goats, and southern gentry keep Liz and Nate occupied while trying to solve a hit and run. While this mystery has humor and twists, it also visits domestic abuse. Boyer delivers yet another winner in this delightful series.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

A body in the street with wounds that don't match the supposed cause of death. A downpour that washed away evidence. And a lot of people acting VERY strangely. This was another fun read from Susan Boyer! She makes me want to be back in Charleston every time I read her books. While I would have liked to have spent more time with my old Stella Maris friends (Moon Unit, where are you?), I can't wait to learn more about Poppy. This book is coming out just in time for beach season - take it with you and enjoy!

*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Susan M. Boyer has captivated me with her enchanting Lowcountry series featuring Liz Talbot, private investigator. I love books that are set in the south as I, too, am a southerner – only I live in Southern California. The allure of the deep relationships, long-standing family traditions, and the beautiful countryside are all part of the southern charm that keeps me reading and longing to know more about this part of the country and its warm-hearted people.

Liz Talbot and her husband Nate Andrews are a great team in uncovering truths and stories in their beautiful Stella Maris, SC. And, Liz’s friend and now Guardian Spirit Colleen is also on the scene – sometimes helping and sometimes adding to Liz and Nate’s confusion, but always adding levity and humor to situations where neither of those seems possible.

Sometimes I read when I am beyond exhausted, but with Lowcountry Bookshop, I soon realized I needed to be alert to navigate the twists and turns with the characters as well as the roadways. This is a story that goes in several directions and the characters are complex and fascinating. And, nothing is exactly as it first seems to be.

Liz and Nate are called to a most unusual meeting with a prominent law firm to investigate what might just be a traffic accident. The client of the firm is elusive and the name is not shared with Liz and Nate. But, they are asked to investigate the recent hit and run death of a local citizen. It was pouring down rain and visibility was obscured. Maybe it was just an accident. When the police arrive on the scene, Poppy Oliver, the local postal carrier appears to be trying to help the victim. Did Poppy hit him? Was it an accident or something more sinister? Poppy is loved by all and seems to really know the people in the neighborhood where she delivers the mail.

Interspersed throughout the story, Liz’s somewhat crazy and borderline dysfunctional family is brought into the plot. They bring a dose of reality because we all have a Talbot or two in our own family dynamics!

In their usual thorough methodical way, Liz and Nate begin their investigation and begin to uncover some disturbing information about the man who was run over and his wife. There is a tie-in to the mysterious client and a network of women in Poppy’s neighborhood who all seem to visit a local bookshop regularly. Why? Liz and Nate discover some interesting truths about the women, who are involved in a much larger network of women helping women escape domestic violence. The more Liz and Nate learn, the more they wonder if they solve the mystery of the dead man in the street, will justice be served.

Lowcountry Bookshop provides a glimpse at a complex network of good women supporting and helping women in dire need of help.

Reviewed by Maureen S.

A great summer beach read. This is #7 in the Liz Talbot Lowcountry mystery series. Each book keeps getting better and better. This was very well written. There were so many twists and turns as Liz and Nate try to investigate who's really at fault for a tragic accident during a rain storm that's flooded the streets of Charleston. I love the little hint of the romance between Liz and Nate. And the craziness that is Liz's family. There was laughter and a few tears as well as the suspense. Way to go Susan. Keep this great series coming.

Received an ARC from the author/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely love this series. Susan M. Boyer definitely knows how to write an entertaining and exciting book. Liz and Hate and all the rest of the gang are like coming home to a family reunion. A hit and run on a bleak, rainy evening throws into motion a more troublesome tale, Liz and Hate must figure out what is really going on. Excitement, hilarity, adventure, and intrigue........all will be found in Lowcountry Bookshop. Enjoy reading!!!!

What begins as an apparently simple hit-and-run case (not that the circumstances in which Liz and Nate enter the case are so simple) quickly morphs into something far more complicated. Most of this story takes place in Charleston (one almost needs a street map of the city to follow the action), but we do visit Stella Maris long enough to see what antics Liz' father is up to (involving a pig, three goats and a large hole in the backyard). Another excellent entry in the Lowcountry series.

The newest case starts out as an investigation into a hit and run accident. While researching possible perpetrators, Liz Talbot and her husband/partner, Nate Andrews (with all the finesse and humor of Nick and Nora), uncover a group of women who help victims of domestic violence. The plot is seasoned with Southern charm, amusing family dinners, interesting pets, and amazing wardrobe changes. Move it to the top of your TBR list and get ready to enjoy an entertaining summer reading experience.

I’ve enjoyed this series immensely. Lowcountry Bookshop is an entertaining read, full of the same good writing and interesting characters. The reader is able to see growth in the characters from book to book in this series. Some humor is thrown in, as well. Liz’s family is a hoot. While cozy mysteries might not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you enjoy them I encourage you to read this book. It is easy reading fun. I received an ARC and I am writing this review voluntarily.

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan Boyer, finds our heroine, Liz Talbot, working on a hit-and-run whodunit! Fans of the seven-book series will be happy to catch up with Liz, Nate, the Talbot family, and the Stella Maris community. Newcomers to the series will not feel left out and lost if this is the first book in the series they are reading. Boyer does a great job of giving the reader enough prior knowledge of characters and events that they are in the loop but does not spend too much time on this so that series regulars are bored. Lowcountry Bookshop offers readers a quick paced mystery peppered with laughs. Boyer does an excellent job of weaving the lives of the island inhabitants in with the mystery and propels both forward effortlessly. Her familiarity with the Charleston setting lends itself to lingo and locations in a manner that seems sincere and knowledgeable. I am an avid fan of the Liz Talbot series! I anxiously await new titles and finish them far too fast once they are released! Lowcountry Bookshop is an excellent addition to the series and for fans of the mystery genre. Those looking for a beach read, a cozy mystery, or even a supernatural book will also enjoy Lowcountry Bookshop!

M. McCabe Rentz
The publisher provided me with an advance copy of this book. I'm voluntarily sharing my thoughts here.

M. McCabe Rentz

This time Boyer chose a particularly timely topic on which to focus the mystery. The topic of spousal abuse makes this a candidate for intense discussion by any book group. On the other hand, every time I think the family antics can’t get any funnier they do. I also have a sense of coming home for a visit with lovable family members. Thanks to Henery Press and NetGalley for providing access to the electronic ARC in return for an honest review.

Susan Boyer does it again with another good mystery with interesting characters. The plot moves along smoothly and the mystery resolved is timely and informative. Most of this book occurs in downtown Charleston with a trip or two to Kiawah and finishes back at Stella Maris. Well done! BZ! Am getting a copy for my mother too!I was provided an ARC of this book by Henery Press and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

First let me say that my bags are packed and I’m ready to move to Stella Maris and live with Liz’s family! Second, this book hooked me from the start and wouldn’t let go! Liz and Nate with the help of everyone’s favorite spirit, Colleen, do it again. This time they get caught up with some of the elite in Charleston and get to experience some of the “secret” clubs in the city. The cutest PI couple never fails to entertain and intrigue readers at the same time. Susan Boyer brings to everyone the beauty of Low Country living and the beauty and history of Charleston. I’m ready to move and work for Nate and Liz as an assistant or maid or whatever they need. A pure joy to read and this is my honest review of a truly wonderful book!

This is a deeper cozy mystery than normal. Filled with southern charm, the story touches on domestic violence and will leave you eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

This is only the third book I have read in the series, so I am still learning the relationships of all the characters.
I am looking forward to catching up with this series.

I volunteered to read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I was given an ARC to preview. I LOVED it!! It might be my favorite Liz Talbot mystery yet!! It was exciting and mysterious! This book had you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end! I tried playing detective along with Liz to figure out who the perpetrator was, but I couldn’t!! Once again, Susan has riveted my attention! I have shared all the other Liz Talbot books with my friends and family!! They can’t wait to read this one!! Susan, keep writing about Liz Talbot and all her mysteries because I absolutely enjoy them!!

I am a fan of this series. All the regular characters are endearing...Liz, Nate, Sonny, Blake, Merry, Joe, Liz’s parents and their menagerie, but especially the spirit, Colleen! All that said, I found this one a little more convoluted with many more characters that made it a touch confusing. In the end, Ms. Boyer brought it together with a twist that was both welcome, yet sad at the same time.
Liked it, didn’t love it!

I have read all Liz Talbot mysteries and I love them all. This one is no different. The characters are so well developed you will feel that you know them personally. The town of Stella Maris is so real you will feel like you have been dropped right in the middle of the action. This book is full of mystery and intrigue you will read every word and hope for the next installment. I loved this story. Well done!

Loved it!! If you are looking for a surprising, fun and action then you have found a great read in Lowcountry Bookshop!

Ms. Boyer has an amazing way of developing her characters that makes you feel like they are part of your family and of course Liz Talbot's family is quite the handful to say the least. And then you have Colleen who is Liz's high school best friend who happens to be a spirit now and loves to pop in and meddle in Liz and Nate's business.

Lowcountry Bookshop has a way of taking you through downtown Charleston and to some of the most delightful historical places and making you feeling like you are on a tour with Liz as she is trying to solve her latest mystery/case. Bookshop has Liz and Nate working on a case of a murder and who did it and who didn't do it. It takes you for a ride right up to the very end and then a little bit more!

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters in this book are a quirky family that you can't help but wish you could be part of. Private investigators Nate and Liz take us on mystery ride that is funny and entertaining and but also deals with a serious social problem in a thoughtful manner. You will laugh, you will cry, you will enjoy the twisty, turny whodunit this book will take you on. A lighthearted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Seventh in a series but can easily stand on it's own.

Another great adventure for Liz and Nate. This time they are busy proving Polly, a postal worker, did not commit a hit and run. There are lots of twists and turns, family dinners and crazy new pets - goats - added to the mix! They begin to realize that the bookshop is the place where abused women can get the help they need. Interesting plot and a great read!

I discovered the Low Country Series awhile ago and fell in love with the characters and charm of town. I’m truly loved this book. It kept me guessing and just when I thought I had it figured out, something else came along and had me second guessing. I definitely recommend this book (the entire series actually) if you are looking for a great read full of mystery and a few laughs too.

Note: I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

Another great addition to the Liz Talbot series! Full of mystery and lots of twists and turns but willl still make you laugh. Love the characters each one you grow with in each book of the series. I can picture myself walking in Charleston seeing the places that are described so you feel like a part of the story and a part of Liz's family. Definitely recommend this series although you don't have to read them in order you will see the development of each character in the books by starting from the beginning and reading them in order. By the time you are done you will feel like you belong with the family and will be ready for the next book to come out so you can see what happens next.

Once again Susan has created a narrative that pulls you in and vividly creates the world around you. You get to be a silent partner in the investigation while Liz and Nate(the main characters) work through the information and suspects. There were some twists and turns I did not expect in the conclusion of the book and I wish a little more details/backstory was developed but it didn't take away from the intriguing read. I love the "characters" on Stella Maris and wish they had spent some more time there but I understand the plot led them to less island time. Can't wait for the next book to see what case they take on.

Having read the previous books is not necessary to enjoy Lowcountry Bookshop.

With each Lowcountry Liz Talbot Mystery, Susan's characters evolve, have more depth and the plot gets more complex and page turner-y. My only complaint about this book? It ended and now I have to wait for the next one in the series. A cozy mystery with a touch of the paranormal, a strong female lead with a dashing and respectful partner, a family who is loud and a tad bit crazy the Liz Talbot series has a whole lot of heart, and enough complexity you won’t guess who did it. Great to take when you’re on vacation, at the beach or if you want to escape for a bit. I did receive an advanced reader's copy of this book; I am posting this review on my own and for no exchange of goods.

Another fantastic book in a phenomenal series. The characters deal with real situations, and I like that things aren't sugarcoated. Ms. Boyer is a master storyteller. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book and this series.

Love Private Investigator Liz Talbot as she delves into a mystery to find the truth. Liz, her husband Nate and dear friend Colleen go to great lengths to help an innocent Postal worker who is the #1 suspect in a hit and run. The authors description of the Charleston SC area makes you feel like you are right there with everyone. Liz's family adds just the right amount of humor to keep things moving in this page turner. Just when you think everything has been concluded there is another situation that needs resolution. You will find it very difficult to put Low country Bookshop down. Susan Boyer has crafted another great story.

Susan Boyer’s Low Country Bookstore brings all of the favorite characters back together and introduces you to some new ones. You get that same warm and happy feeling like when your family and friends come together for a 4th of July picnic. The island, the ferry, the Hampton Inn and Charleston are all there to create another plot twisting mystery. Liz and Nate hone their skills to identify the true hit and run killer of a prominent Charleston resident. If there is a downside to this series, it is having to wait a year for the next book.

I have devoured every volume in the Liz Talbot series, and have loved each book more than the last. The latest in the series, "Lowcountry Bookshop", is my favorite yet. I was born and raised in South Carolina, and Susan Boyer captures the essence of a loving southern family in all of its glorious dysfunction perfectly while delivering a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. The Lowcountry series perfectly melds mystery, humor, and family drama. My only question is - Has Susan Boyer been spying on my family dinners???

Susan has done it again! I think this is the best one of the series. The plot twist and turns kept me guessing as to who did it. Love the characters and their interactions together as a family. A must read!!

Book 7 and it keeps getting better and better.
There has been a lot of rain in Charleston recently, an accident occurred when Phillip Drayton was run over and the driver left the scene of the accident. So, when PI Liz Talbot and husband and partner Nate Andrews are called to the law office of Ruthledge and Radcliffe they find they have a new client Poppy Oliver, a mail carrier who came upon the scene of the accident and is not being considered a person of interest in the accident of Mr. Drayton. The only thing is who hired them is to remain unknown. The only down side is they will be investigating a case that Sonny Ravenel has been assigned by the Charleston Police Department. Having worked with Sonny before they will share information to solve the mystery.
While Liz and Nate investigate in the sub stories are Merry (Liz’s sister) and her fiancé Joe who are planning a wedding adventure in Patagonia and the family is not invited. Or what about her parents, Mom cooking up a storm and Dad digging up the back yard and build a pool, goats roaming the area and neighbors flower beds, along with Kinky the potbellied pig and Chumley the basset hound.
The investigation takes Liz and Nate to a bookstore and reading material that appears to be very interesting to many, how does this figure into the mystery, well come along as Ms. Boyer takes you back to the familiar characters in her previous books and introduces some new. This also touches on a subject of abuse that we sometimes fail to see while also showing you sides of Liz that you haven’t known before.

What can I say? I absolutely love this series and this book is a wonderful addition! Liz Talbot and her husband Nate are solving another murder mystery in Charleston, SC. I adore Liz's family and friends - her Momma and Daddy sure have a time of things. Her younger sister Merry hasn't left for her wedding trip yet and is involved, along with older brother, Blake, in the the family hijinks. (I love Liz's parents - I wish they were mine!) The theme, sadly, is a prevalent one that touches all social classes. Such a well detailed and researched storyline, plus all the tidbits of Charleston trivia and locations thrown in makes it so real! I feel like I'm there with Liz and Nate, in the thick of things. I really didn't want this book to end. This means a long wait until the next one! I loved it and strongly recommend it to mystery loving readers.

The seventh book of Liz Talbot series shines as much as any book in the wonderful detective series. There are three things that readers are guaranteed from Susan M. Boyer; great caring characters, a fascinating mystery line, and the unexpected. Lowcountry Bookshop offers all three elements and much more. One of the extras that I enjoy is spending time with Liz’s family. Her father has such a talent for getting on her mother’s last nerve but that southern lady never forgets that she is a lady. The bone of contention this time is a trio of pygmy goats. While the tiny goats sound fun and adorable, Caroline and the neighbors don’t see the little marauders in quite that light.
The mystery for which Nate and Liz are hired seems pretty simple but their jobs never turn out that way so readers will not be surprised that the investigation quickly becomes complex. Sonny sees a popular local mail carrier as a suspect rather than just a witness to a hit-and-run that left the victim dead. Our friendly ghost assures Liz that the young woman is innocent but offers no additional help with the case. Although there were two 911 calls, no other witnesses step forward but a lawyer hires the team for an anonymous client. Our favorite PI team faces as tough a challenge at any they have dealt with before.
I received a copy of this ARC via NetGalley and I loved it just I have loved every book in this series.

Lowcountry Bookshop is the seventh book in Susan Boyer’s Liz Talbot Mystery series. Ms. Boyer provided enough character background that this book can be read as a standalone. There is no gratuitous sex or violence, but there is a little more adult language than one usually finds in a cozy. This is an easy read and moves along at a relaxed but steady pace, providing readers with a well-crafted mystery, well-developed characters, Southern charm, humorous situations, and just a touch of paranormal. There are plenty of twists and turns and the reveal was surprising.

Liz Talbot and her husband, Nate Andrews, are private investigators and live in Stella Maris, South Carolina. Liz’s friend, Colleen, is a ghost and Liz and Nate are the only ones who can see and communicate with her. Colleen is the island’s guardian angel and her assignment is to prevent the population from growing, but she looks out for Liz and Nate and sometimes gets herself in trouble with her superiors. Liz’s family is a hoot and her dad, Frank, has a talent for getting on her mom, Carolyn’s, nerves. The problem this time is a trio of pygmy goats he acquired so the yard wouldn’t need to be mowed and her dad purchasing a swimming pool franchise and hiring two untrained people (Frank’s cousin, Ponder, and Ray Kennedy) and to run the company and install a pool in their back yard. Merry, Liz’s sister, and her fiancé, Joe Eaddy, are preparing for a three-week trip to Patagonia where they will be married, needless to say, Merry and Liz’s parents aren’t happy to be excluded from the ceremony. Liz also has a brother, Blake, who is the Chief of Police for a Charleston County town; their mother wishes he would find the right girl and settle down rather than dating so many women.

Rutledge and Ratcliff, a law firm, hire Nate and Liz on behalf of an undisclosed client to investigate a possible hit-and-run accident that killed Phillip Drayton in front of his home on a rainy night. Poppy Jayne Oliver, a mail carrier, finds the body and insists she didn’t hit him even though her car has front-end damage. Poppy has a special relationship with many of the people she delivers mail to and is convinced Mr. Drayton was abusing his wife, Anne Frances, but has no proof. His wife stands to inherit everything and Daniel John Drayton told Detective Sonny Ravenel that he believes Anne Frances had something to do with his older brother’s death. Colleen assures Liz that Poppy is innocent, but Liz and Nate need proof before the case can be solved. Liz and Nate are well organized and methodical in their investigations and leave no stone unturned as they research people’s backgrounds and question potential suspects.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

LOWCOUNTRY BOOKSHOP by author Susan M. Boyer is another delightful PI mystery with Liz Talbot and her partner Nate Andrews. I enjoy this series so much! On a rainy night, a series of unfortunate events happen and a man is hit by a white SUV and left to die. The reasons for him being in the street during the downpour are part of the mystery. We meet Poppy Oliver who is found going through Phillip Drayton's pockets in search of a phone as the police and paramedics reach the scene of the accident. She also has a dent in the front of her vehicle, could she be the person responsible for his death? It seems there are too many suspects and not enough answers before the mystery is solved.
The scene at dinner with Liz's parents just cracked me up! It is so funny.

Another great adventure for Liz and Nate. This time they are busy proving Polly, a postal worker, did not commit a hit and run. There are lots of twists and turns, family dinners and crazy new pets - goats - added to the mix! They begin to realize that the bookshop is the place where abused women can get the help they need. Interesting plot and a great read!

I really enjoyed reading Lowcountry Bookshop. Not only did I appreciate the twists in the end, but the characters I enjoyed were not at risk but we’re able to figure out more details then I could’ve imagined.

I have enjoyed some of the other Lowcountry books. This one seems padded with filler. Many street turn by turns not of any interest to the story, perhaps to take up space.
The ending was unsatisfying.
I wasn't expecting great literature but hoping for a fun read while traveling. This one disappoints