Gloria's Reviews > Murder in Her Stocking

Murder in Her Stocking is a great start to a new series that is an off shoot to the Samantha Reid series. I have not read the series but this story has gotten me interested in looking into it. As the story starts, Stella "Granny" Reid is spending time with her adult grandchildren and friends at Christmas time when she is thinking back to another Christmas thirty years ago in McGill, Georgia-a Christmas that was good but also had some sadness. I was drawn in from the beginning and laughing out loud at the dialect, witty conversation between Granny and her seven "grand-angels," all named for towns in Georgia where their mother had lived. Stella is the only responsible person in the children's life. Their father, Macon, Stella's son, is on the road all the time and never around to help with the children while their mother, Shirley, spends all of her time at the local tavern. Savannah is the oldest and is very mature for a twelve year old because she has to look after the others. Waycross is the only boy and second to the oldest. Savannah devours Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and plans to become a policewoman when she grows up.
She gets her chance at detective work when she and Stella along with Waycross hear a dying scream one night while taking care of some mischief that Waycross had gotten into. The local lady of the night, Priscilla Carr, has been injured and is dying when Stella reaches her after securing the kids at the sheriff's office. Many wives in the town have reason to kill Prissy but so do others-men who spent time with her. Besides the mystery of who killed Prissy, there is a secondary mystery when Bud, the abusive husband of Stella's friend Flo's, disappears after a big fight with Flo.
This story is rich with small town colorful characters who love to gossip and know each other's business but also show support in a time of need. Stella and her son's family are poor as dirt but she is rich in love and respect for others, especially with her grand-angels. When Christmas Day arrives, Stella and the children have a special day with friends and a few lovely surprises.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions stated are mine only.