I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t be talking about the plot too much. However, this novel was a lot of fun. I loved the flashback moments used as context and setup, and the rest of the story was also fast-paced, interesting, and had real stakes.Additionally, the characters were unique. I wish I could have spent more time with Joseph and Pearl, but Charles and Mary were a delightfully quirky couple that I would enjoy seeing in future books. They worked well together, and watching them unravel the mystery was very satisfying. Their adventures, it seems, are only just beginning, and this reader, at least, cannot wait to see what happens next.One thing I really appreciated about this novel was that there were clear stakes. Every antagonistic felt like a real danger, and there were real and dangerous threats to our heroes. People got hurt. I worried that the characters were not going to be okay, and that made the moments of triumph even sweeter.The writing style is easy to follow and not overly complicated. I don’t mind a bit of flowery language, but in this case, it would have felt out of place. The author picked a tone and stuck to it. Overall, the tone of the novel was consistent. It reminded me of an adventure film set in the 40s, and I could not help but imagine the beautiful way it would translate to screen.This is was a solid first adventure in a series that promises to be full of Southern charm and adventure. The biggest downside is that it is so short, but it is the first book in a series, so more adventures are sure to follow!
I give this book 4 out of 5 gold coins.
Snarky Hope 