Genre:

Glory Martine has inherited her uncle's Florida souvenir shop, one stuffed with collectibles, mementos of times gone by--and ghosts--who, like her customers, refuse to let go of the past. But things take an even more unexpected turn when a local football hero dies far too suddenly and suspiciously. Now, Glory has to uncover the truth before someone makes her history...

Review

Glory Martine enjoys running “Southern Treasures”, a shop that is part souvenir stand, part antique store. She inherited the store and a talking parrot named Bluebeard from her great-uncle Louis. On a road trip to search for unique “treasures” to sell in her store, she ends up going with her best friend Karen to the scene of a car accident. Karen is a reporter for the local radio station and must cover the tragic death of the high school football star for her show. Glory, already shaken by witnessing the aftermath of the accident, is shocked when Bluebird declares, “It wasn’t an accident.” There have been some strange things going on in her shop and this very human statement from Bluebird has really upset Glory. It sounds crazy, but Glory is starting to think the spirit of her uncle is communicating with her through Bluebeard. Glory is determined to solve the mystery of football hero Kevin’s death, as well as unknown questions about Louis and his possible “visits” to the shop.

Murder Buys a T-shirt is a wonderful book that had me captivated from the beginning. I love the Northern Florida setting in general as well as the uniqueness of Glory’s shop. In addition, Glory has a diverse group of friends who are there for each other like family. Toward the end, there is a possibility of a love interest, but I appreciate the way this is starting slow, and nothing is rushed. Less enjoyable is Glory’s cousin, Peter, who owns part of the shop with her. He isn’t involved in running the shop but is quick to call Glory with lame schemes to make more money. He is as annoying to me as he is to Glory and I’m grateful his part in the book is limited.

There is much humor in the book and the events occurring in the lives of the characters are entertaining. However, the book is realistic, Glory’s life isn’t perfect and you get to see both the good and the bad of small town life. The mystery itself is interesting and sad in its realism. Glory and her friends make good investigators and the book is fast-paced and fun to read. There are also recipes at the end of the book, and while this may not seem to fit with the theme of the book, Glory and her friends get together each week to share traditional Southern cooking, so the recipes are an appropriate addition to the book, as well as being very appetizing!

The main mystery is solved with the help of Glory and her friends. However, there are a lot of stories left to tell, so hopefully there will be a new installment soon. Enough things are left unanswered at the end of the book to leave the reader hoping for a sequel, but not so many that the main plot is left unresolved. Readers who enjoy Ellery Adams or Lila Dare will want to take a little trip to Keyhole Bay, Florida and enjoy the “southern treasures” found in Murder Buys a T-shirt.

Reviewed by Christine

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