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Not Quite Dead A Lowcountry Mystery Lowcountry Mysteries Lyla Payne Books

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Not Quite Dead A Lowcountry Mystery Lowcountry Mysteries Lyla Payne Books

I had never heard of Lyla Payne or read many "ghost" stories before I picked up this book. I can safely say that after reading Not Quite Dead, that I'll definitely be reading more of Lyla Payne's work. She has a beautiful way with words that draws you in and keeps you on your toes as you fly through the story she's telling. The setting of South Carolina really drew me in as a fan of Charleston and Savannah. I felt like I was Heron Creek with Graciela the entire time, and I loved it!

This book was filled with so much win. There were all these different elements that the author was able to tie together seamlessly. It made the story and characters relatable and enjoyable. The build of suspense over the course of the story was engaging, as well. I'll admit; I'm a huge wuss when it comes to scary things. Lyla Payne was able to handle the presence of the paranormal without shying me away from the story. I was left intrigued instead of frightened.

I know this is a ghost story, so I sound crazy. But this book feels authentic. The sayings that the characters use are ones that I've heard growing up in the south. Seeing "crap on a cracker" left me laughing uncontrollably and remembering whenever I heard my grandmother and her sisters say it whenever I was a child around them. The connection between Graciela and her Gramps had me in tears. I can relate to their relationship so much, and there were several moments during the book that I shed a tear over the beauty of it. There is even a smidgen of romance tucked in between the rest of the story, and I enjoyed it immensely.

If you grew up in the south and you like to reminiscence as you read, you will simply adore Not Quite Dead. If you didn't have the privilege of growing up south of the Mason Dixon line, read this and find out what you missed out on! This story was so beautiful, and I'm glad to have stumbled upon it. I cannot recommend it enough.


Tags : Amazon.com: Not Quite Dead (A Lowcountry Mystery) (Lowcountry Mysteries) (9781497319936): Lyla Payne: Books,Lyla Payne,Not Quite Dead (A Lowcountry Mystery) (Lowcountry Mysteries),CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,1497319935,Crime & mystery,Fiction,Fiction - Mystery Detective,Fiction Mystery & Detective Women Sleuths,Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths,MysterySuspense

Not Quite Dead A Lowcountry Mystery Lowcountry Mysteries Lyla Payne Books Reviews

The plot leans more heavily toward dumb than just unbelievable. And there problems with editing and grammar, which is tiresome. None of the main characters' actions make sense in the context of their backstories. But worst of all was the unappealing main character! She is insecure, has drinking problems, a crass vocabulary and is averse to proper hygiene such as showering and washing her clothes. Although she repeatedly describes herself as filthy, sweaty and stinky we are supposed to believe a handsome, successful, well-dressed man from an important family is instantly and consistently attracted to her! Riiiiiight.
Although gumbo isn't a dish indigenous to South Carolina's coastal 'Low Country', it makes a fair analogy for this novel. It's a spicy melange into which almost any reader can find entree, whether their tastes run toward mystery and suspense, the paranormal, romance, or Southern gothic genres. There's a little bit of all those things, served up in just the right measure.

The plot starts out with the laconic slowness of the Carolina coast's midday heat and humidity but the tension builds steadily to a satisfying crescendo. The characters are, for the most part, three-dimensional, sympathetic and well crafted. Some were better developed than others, but one is left with the feeling that perhaps those characters who got short shrift in 'Not Quite Dead' may get their day in the sun in a subsequent novel. The only vaguely dissatisfying aspect of the of the novel was the conclusion, which seemed a little perfunctory or even abrupt. It almost felt as though Ms. Payne was feeling a little tired of the project, ready to hit 'save' and move on to something else. Despite the slightly flawed ending, I do look forward to reading other installments in the series.
***WARNING CONTAINS SPOILERS***

To begin with, even though this book is marketed as a mystery, it's actually a supernatural romance. It has some minor mystery elements in it regarding the history and genealogy of a pirate ghost, but the supernatural and romance elements are by far the more important parts of the book.

I found Graciela, the main character, to be interesting and three-dimensional, with a strong backstory and relatable, pleasant personality. I liked how she cared so much for her family and friends. Her sarcasm is a little over the top in places, but I thought her personal journey from a painful broken engagement back to rebuilding lost ties with her family and friends was well done. Beau, the love interest, was amusing and attractive, although he spent so much time chasing Graci that I wondered why the city was paying him to be mayor. Graci's cousin and close friend were distinct individuals, Gramps was adorable, and even the grouchy aunt felt authentic. The pacing and conflict were good, keeping me turning the pages.

Perhaps that's why the inconsistencies, plot holes, and racist character depictions felt so out of place in comparison.

Graci and Beau feel romantically inclined in the oddest parts of the story. Gramps, your closest relative, is dying in the hospital? Let's make out on the bed next to him. Your pregnant cousin and her unborn baby are in mortal danger from her abusive husband? Let's pause for an intimate kiss outside their mansion. I think this behavior kept from really connecting with the characters like I could have otherwise because it seemed so unrealistic.

Throughout the story, Beau is described as a police officer who quickly rose to the position of mayor, but when the conflict with one of Graci's old male friends/rivals is revealed, Beau's referred to as the lawyer who prosecuted the old friend's sister. It's a pivotal point of backstory for Beau, and I was thoroughly confused. Was he a policeman who became a lawyer first, and then the mayor? That seems like a lot for guy who's not quite 30 years old.

The dangling plot thread that bothered me the most was why Beau never called the police when Graci and her friend are kidnapped. The story casts suspicion on Beau (actually saying the only reason he wouldn't call the police was if he was in on the kidnapping or somehow fooled by the kidnapper) and then...nothing. The story moves on without ever resolving the question, and Graci's relationship with Mr. Mayor never falters.

Above all, I was disturbed by the implied and overt racism throughout the book. Graci says outright that black women make her uncomfortable because they remind her of voodoo priestesses. The primary black characters are evil voodoo witches, cursing people and trying to kill babies. Mrs. LaBadie thoroughly confused me, going from a grouchy but aging grandmother to a mind-reading ninja witch who's strong enough to overpower two women in their mid-twenties.

The resolution to the curse felt unbelievable and incomplete, and the book ends in a cliff-hanger, which I didn't love. I won't be reading the second book, mostly because of the awkward racism in the first and the sample for book two, which jumps straight to sex on page one.
I had never heard of Lyla Payne or read many "ghost" stories before I picked up this book. I can safely say that after reading Not Quite Dead, that I'll definitely be reading more of Lyla Payne's work. She has a beautiful way with words that draws you in and keeps you on your toes as you fly through the story she's telling. The setting of South Carolina really drew me in as a fan of Charleston and Savannah. I felt like I was Heron Creek with Graciela the entire time, and I loved it!

This book was filled with so much win. There were all these different elements that the author was able to tie together seamlessly. It made the story and characters relatable and enjoyable. The build of suspense over the course of the story was engaging, as well. I'll admit; I'm a huge wuss when it comes to scary things. Lyla Payne was able to handle the presence of the paranormal without shying me away from the story. I was left intrigued instead of frightened.

I know this is a ghost story, so I sound crazy. But this book feels authentic. The sayings that the characters use are ones that I've heard growing up in the south. Seeing "crap on a cracker" left me laughing uncontrollably and remembering whenever I heard my grandmother and her sisters say it whenever I was a child around them. The connection between Graciela and her Gramps had me in tears. I can relate to their relationship so much, and there were several moments during the book that I shed a tear over the beauty of it. There is even a smidgen of romance tucked in between the rest of the story, and I enjoyed it immensely.

If you grew up in the south and you like to reminiscence as you read, you will simply adore Not Quite Dead. If you didn't have the privilege of growing up south of the Mason Dixon line, read this and find out what you missed out on! This story was so beautiful, and I'm glad to have stumbled upon it. I cannot recommend it enough.