Lowcountry Boil by Susan M. Boyer

Reviewed by Jeanne

In her first adventure, Lowcountry Boil, private investigator Liz Talbot had returned to her childhood home of Stella Maris after the death of her grandmother.  The second book picks up with Liz accepting a case from a newcomer to town, a woman who is the doppelganger of Marilyn Monroe and the "Bombshell" of the title.  That’s not where the resemblance ends, either.  Calista was born fifty years to the day after Marilyn was born; she was baptized with the same birth name, Norma Jean Baker.  She married at sixteen just as Marilyn had, and to a man with the same name.  This isn’t coincidence:  Calista’s mother and adopted aunt are convinced she’s Marilyn’s reincarnation and helped arrange some of these events.  Finally Calista had enough and fled to make a life for herself—one that started with changing her name from Norma Jean to Calista.

Now the anniversary of Marilyn’s death is fast approaching, and Calista believes someone is out to see that she goes to an early grave too—especially after a friend of Calista’s is murdered and sleeping pills appear on Calilsta’s nightstand.

Is someone really out to do Calista in?  Or is this some sort of ploy? 

I hadn’t read Lowcountry Boil, but that didn’t deter me from the second book. Author Susan M. Boyer has done a good job with creating a lively series with a good sense of place and entertaining characters. Liz is a feisty fashionista and germaphobic  Southern Belle who knows her fashion designers as well as her firearms.  Coming back to Stella Maris has been good for her, as she tries to recover after the break-up of a bad marriage. Trouble is, she’s attracted to her former brother in law, Nate, and the feeling is mutual.  In fact, Nate has turned up to help with her investigations, much to the dismay of Michael, Liz’s high school crush.  Michael has gone through a break-up of his own, and he’s ready to settle down with Liz and raise a family. Michael also takes a dim view of Liz’s dangerous profession.

Others are much more supportive.  In addition to Nate, Liz has help from her brother who works in law enforcement, and a godmother with a touch of second sight. 

Then there’s Colleen, a former classmate of Liz’s who became former not by graduation but by suicide.  Now she’s become a sort of guardian spirit for Stella Maris, watching over the town and paying Liz an occasional visit.

 I hesitated about mentioning the supernatural elements for fear it would make people think this was a just escapade in which Our Heroine only solves the case via unearthly means.  On the contrary, most of the detecting is good old fashioned research with some slightly shady surveillance (okay, more than slightly shady, but they do it so well!) thrown in. The psychic hints are vague enough that they’re easy to ignore.  Ghostly Colleen is in the background for most of the book, but comes through twice for Liz although neither intervention was obvious to me at first.  However, I have to say that I find her to be one of the most intriguing characters.  On one level, she’s still the old high school friend but on another she’s a spirit with a mission—someone who is seeing a bigger picture than the humans around her.

Add to the mixture Liz’s parents, especially her father who knows just what buttons to push to get his little girl to come by and see him, the mandatory friendly diner and waitress, and a few other colorful characters make this a fun book that doesn’t stoop to slapstick.  There are a few steamy romantic moments, some nice lines I want to try to remember to use (“She has too many pots on the stove” instead of “too many irons in the fire”), and an interesting plot. I was also impressed by the references to various Marilyn Monroe biographies that Liz refers to as she tries to unravel the mystery.  In fact, she made the biographies sound enticing, so I may want to read those, too.  Kudos also to Boyer for a love triangle which is a good deal less contrived than some.

In short, Lowcountry Bombshell is an enjoyable mystery with an interesting premise and solid characters.  

Full Disclosure: I was sent a copy of the book in hopes I would review it.  This did not influence my review.

Win a copy of Lowcountry Bombshell!  If you would like to win, please leave a comment at the end of the review. The deadline is October 30, with a winner selected on Halloween! US entries only, please; I’m sorry to say the library budget doesn’t extend to international shipping.

 

Nevermore Historical Fiction Picks

Historical fiction has remained popular, and some Nevermore members had some books to recommend.  Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is the widely acclaimed novel about Thomas Cromwell, advisor to King Henry VIII.  Henry is desperate for a male heir, afraid that England will sink into war again without a clear line of succession.  He wants to end his marriage and marry Anne Boleyn, and Thomas may be just the man to help him do it. Mantel’s equally brilliant sequel, Bring Up the Bodies, picks up the story just as Henry is growing tired of Anne and the political intrigue and conspiracies flourish.

James McBride’s novel  Miracle at St. Anna is set in Italy during World War II when four black soldiers befriend a small boy who has become mute after some terrible trauma. They become cut off from the rest of their division and are trapped in a mountain village as winter sets in and the enemy is on the move. The book is loosely based on a true incident. McBride is best known for his nonfiction book, The Color of Water:  A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother.

Another blend of historical fact and fiction is found in The Empty Glass by J. I. Baker, in which  deputy coroner Ben Fitzgerald is called to investigate the death of Marilyn Monroe.  From the start, he isn’t convinced that the narrative of accidental suicide he’s been given is the correct one, and that a number of powerful entities are out to cover up a murder.  Readers were divided about this book, which skips about in time a bit, but those who like noir fiction felt it was well done. Our reviewer loved it!

Freeman by Leonard Pitts, Jr. takes place right after the Civil War has ended. Sam, a former slave, returns from Philadelphia to Mississippi in search of his wife, Tilda, determined to find her no matter the risk.  Prudence, a white woman from Boston, is going to Mississippi to set up a school for blacks.  Pitts’ book has been praised for its strong characters, emotional depth, and for its sensitive and perceptive evocation of an era.

New Biographies of Celebrated American Women

Sylvia Plath is the subject of two new biographies, both by male authors.  American Isis:  The Life and Art of Sylvia Plath by Carl Rollyson uses some newly accessible files from Ted Hughes’ archives to present a fresh look at the poet.  Rollyson is a professor of journalism and has a particular interest in American popular culture, so his emphasis is on how pop culture influenced Plath and how in turn she has been turned into an icon. Readers looking for an analysis of Plath’s work may be disappointed.

Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted by Andrew Wilson examines Plath's early life, the loss of her father, her relationship with her mother, and her school years to show the foundations of Plath's writing.  It's an interesting and very readable look at how in this case biography shaped art. Wilson draws on material from Plath's mother as well as interviews with friends and relatives.  As one review noted, this is a book that will appeal to people who enjoy a good biography even if they are not familiar with the subject. 

Nancy:  The Story of Lady Astor by Adrian Fort is a new biography of the brash, outspoken  American woman who made her mark in the UK. Born in Danville, Virginia, she went abroad after a bad marriage ended in divorce.  Her wit and beauty quickly won her a place in society as well as a new husband: the very wealthy Waldorf Astor. She ran for the House of Commons and became the first female in MP, exerting an influence on both the political and social scenes. 

In My Beloved World, Sonia Sotomayor tells the inspirational story of how the child of immigrant parents overcame numerous disadvantages to become the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Sotomayor’s father was an alcoholic who died when she was nine years old, one year after she was diagnosed as being diabetic, but she still describes a life made rich by family.  She was encouraged to reach for her dreams, despite the many obstacles that should have deterred her.  Sotomayor’s writing is good reflection of her intelligence and vivacious personality.

The first female Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, is no stranger to the best seller lists, either. She’s the author of The Majesty of the Law, which discusses the way the American Supreme Court has evolved over the years and presents some of her own experiences as a justice.  In Lazy B, she told of her early life growing up on a cattle ranch in Arizona.  It’s a fascinating look at a vanishing way of life, well told with humor and grace.  O’Connor’s newest book just came out this year:  Out of Order is a brief but informative history of the Supreme Court, including some information on justices and important  cases. 

In Marilyn: the Passion and the Paradox, Lois Banner brings to the public new details of the star’s life, fifty years after Monroe’s death.  A well-known scholar, Banner explores Marilyn’s childhood, sexuality, and premature death, paying particular attention to the political and social landscape of the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Topping out at over 500 pages, this new biography also includes sections of black and white and color photographs.  Fans of Marilyn Monroe will likely enjoy this volume.