I keep forgetting that "cozy" mysteries also seem to be romance novels. The whole "her face flamed red as she noticed the muscles rippling across his chest" thing makes me want to puke. This one was a little different in that the guy also got palpitations when he saw the girl. Not sure that helps. As to the mystery, it seemed a bit slapped together. ( )

Bodies are found in the cellar of a Southern plantation that's recently been sold to a Northerner who plans to renovate it. The plot takes some twists and turns, and I didn't suspect the real killer until the author revealed it--well, actually, there were two killers. The story held my interest. I did not read the first book in the series. Overall, I wasn't lost, but there were times that I did get the feeling that a reader was expected to know some detail to something that had happened in book 1. ( )

really good mystery about an old southern plantation house with secrets and murder. Some romance - which is nice but not very hot but still good. Great story and had me riveted for the last half of the book. ( )

I was really looking forward to this second installment, but it didn't really live up to the standards of Tin God in my opinion. Double thumbs up for the historical mystery and Cage/Dani romance, but no go for the murder mystery. The killer's motive just wasn't believable for me. I felt the killer wasn't warranted and that that particular part of the plot line just didn't make sense. Why was the killer so dang helpful? And why did the killer feel they needed to share any information at any time? It just didn't add up.

All in all, loved the history and still love Cage and Dani. Plus, I'm still looking forward to digging into the next one... ( )

Stacy Green’s Skeleton’s Key may be second in a series, but it stands alone as a pleasing southern romantic mystery. The scenery’s evocatively described. Southern heat oppresses. Beautiful houses enthrall. Smooth writing offers a taste of skilled storytelling. And the characters have enjoyably different points of view, from Southern gentleman Cage to Yankee Dani. Luckily they have an equal desire to do right by the old house they’re restoring, and by its dead. Meanwhile an enjoyable romance, nicely low-key and genuine, ensues.

The dialog is convincing and easy to hear, with minimal swearing and pleasingly different cadences between characters. Beautiful touches of history and culture (and even forensics) weave naturally into the novel, and the author has a deft hand with backstory and timing. North-South contrasts are convincingly-drawn, with an underlying sense of real events adding verisimilitude. Characters are neither perfect, nor perfectly flawed. And this South is real; real people suffered in the past; and real goodness exists, both now and then, waiting to be found.

Meanwhile there’s a mystery to be solved, and the solution is nicely plausible as well as convincingly dangerous, making this a truly enjoyable romantic mystery suspense.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I really enjoyed it. ( )