Rest in Peach
Georgia Peach Mystery #2
Author: Susan Furlong
ISBN13: 9780425278567
Author website: http://www.susanfurlong.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis: 
In the refreshing new Georgia Peach Mystery from the author of Peaches and Scream, an upcoming debutante ball turns into the pits when a juicy murder scandalizes a small town.
The annual Peach Cotillion, Cays Mill, Georgia’s biggest event, is fast approaching and Nola Mae Harper is just as excited as the rest of the town—even though she’s busy juggling both the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her new shop, Peachy Keen. But she never expected that plans for the cotillion would end up in the pits because of the cutthroat competition between local debutantes.
When Vivien Crenshaw, insufferable church organist and despised mother of the town’s spoiled-rotten Peach Queen, is stabbed to death, the police turn to Nola’s friend Ginny as prime suspect. Apparently the two had fought over a one-of-a-kind cotillion gown. As Nola steps in to prove Ginny’s innocence she soon finds herself picking through a bushel of suspects, twice as many motives, and at the mercy of a killer all too keen on killing again.
INCLUDES RECIPES!
Review:
Rest in Peach, Susan Furlong’s second installment in her peachy series “Georgia Peach Mystery” is as tantalizing as the first. Heading back to Cays Mill, Georgia is again fun and entertaining. As southerner myself, I judge books set in or near my neck of the woods a bit harsher than others. Some authors can pull off the southern charm with the correct amount of bite and some cannot come close. Susan Furlong hits it right on the head. And let me tell you, we southern women take pride in our ways and wisdoms. The characters have the ways about them that feel right for the setting. And speaking of setting – it is wonderful, with the author’s vivid writing style the reader can visualize the town, the farms, the orchard, everything. When I read “…I basked in the feel of the warm sun on my shoulders and inhaled the familiar smell of fresh cut grass mixed with the tanginess of ripening peaches”, I too could smell that heady mix.
As Rest in Peach begins, Nola Mae Harper and her friends are busy and excited due to the upcoming annual Peach Cotillion. Nola Mae also is getting her new store, Peachy Keen, ready to open. Now I hear tell these Cotillions are pretty important to young southern girls and even more important to some of their mothers. Nola’s dear friend Ginny is fit to be tied when her daughter’s dress is commandeered by Vivian Crenshaw for her daughter who happens to be the Peach Queen. Ginny does not hide her anger, so when wicked Vivian winds up dead at the very same dress shop they argued, she moves to the top of the suspect list. Nola soon finds out that there was no shortage of people who had motives to kill the dead woman. Ginny insists they find out who was really behind the murder. Motives run the gambit but the real one is a true shocker.
Nola is a superb main character, with warts and all, she is real and strong and loves her family. I love her parents too. Her friends are fun and well developed and have their own lives. A few side stories help propel the book to a greater level. The mystery is well written, enjoyable and suspenseful. Although I did have some of it figured out before Nola, her process of discerning the truth was entertaining and intriguing. I was happy to see that what threatened to be a love triangle settled itself out. Action and amusement are high in this read without a doubt.
Even if you did not read the first in this wonderful series, you will have no trouble thoroughly enjoying Rest in Peach. In all honestly I had forgotten some of the characters from the first one and had no trouble getting caught up thanks to the author’s great writing. (The forgetfulness had nothing to do with the first book, it was just me). If you enjoy a wonderfully written cozy with stellar characters, a good bit of humor, a touch of sarcasm, and a suspenseful mystery (or any of those things) this is the ticket. If you enjoy a bit of southern charm with your cozy, you cannot do much better than Rest in Peach. If you do not know if you like southern charm, then bless your sweet little heart, you need to give it a try. And don’t forget to read the first in this series as well.
