Postcards From Stella Maris

Susan M. Boyer has finally written a book that gives a little more insight into the background of Liz Talbot, the main character of her award-winning The Liz Talbot Mystery Series. I have been a fan of Boyer’s writing since I read her first book, Lowcountry Boil, back in 2012. This series is loaded with mischief, mayhem, murder, and enough hilarity that will keep you entertained from the first word to the last in every single installment. Postcards From Stella Maris is delightful because I like learning the background of a beloved character, Colleen, and seeing Liz’s brother, Blake, the police chief, disarm a tense situation without breaking a sweat, getting an inside look at the relationship between Liz’s parents, and learning how Liz approaches the delicate situation of staking out a friend. My favorite chapter is “Highlights & Hotlead” and has to do with an overzealous Mom who misunderstands a phone conversation she hears between her high school son and some unknown party. The part she “thinks” she understands is that she is going to be a grandmother! She goes to the local beauty shop, with her shotgun in hand, and proceeds with her brand of interrogation of the young, high school girls – much to the shock and dismay of all the other women in the building. The explanation is spectacular! It is Boyer doing what she does best – providing you with comedic relief that will have you laughing until you cry! Then she picks up the storyline and continues right on. My other favorite part is when Liz is helping her Mom prepare for Thanksgiving. Her Mom has cooked everything you could want, then doubled it, then tripled it. She has multiple refrigerators & they are bursting at the seams. It is late the night before but she still “thinks we might need another dessert”. Oh, how I can relate! This sounds just like my Sweet Mother! She was exactly the same way! We always had those same conversations at Thanksgiving! My favorite quote: “Before she would let Daddy retire, Mamma insisted that he find something to occupy his time besides sandpapering her nerves all day.” This will be the story of my life with my husband! I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author/publisher. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.