Fall has come to Mississippi, and An'gel and Dickce Ducote are in Natchez at the B & B of Mary Turner Catlin, the granddaughter of an old friend. Mary Turner and Henry Howard, live in Cliffwood, one of the beautiful antebellum homes for which Natchez is famous.

Strange things have been going on in the house for many years. The French Room, in particular, has become the focal point for spooky sensations. An’gel and Dickce suspect the ghostly goings-on are caused by the living and not the dead. When Mary’s cousin, several times removed is found dead in the French Room, An'gel and Dickce must scrutinize the haunted family history to catch a killer.
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Series: A Southern Ladies Mystery - Book 4
Author: Miranda James
Genre: Paranormal/Ghost Cozy
Publisher: Berkley

Fixing to Die is a great addition to the “A Southern Ladies Mystery” series. It is intriguing and filled with great locations, characters and the odd ghost or two, sort of. Ms. James has crafted a thrilling who-done-it with plenty of clues to direct the reader to the killer's identity.

This series is a delightful way to introduce characters that are not the average age for most cozies. An’gel and Dickce are not young by any means but are filled with a sense of adventure, a zest for life, and experiences that younger characters cannot convey. Sisters who argue as most siblings do, they still manage to work together, live together and care about each other. They will always have each other’s back, even when they do not agree on the issues.

Mary and her husband live in a charming old house filled with history and family antiques. But they come from different worlds and at times do not understand the other’s needs, or obsessions. It isn’t surprising that they differ on the cause of the odd things happening in their very old B&B, and enlist the Ducote sisters to help straighten things out.

Most of the suspects are easily distrustful without being too overt. It is easy to take a dislike to them and therefore jump to the conclusion that they are killers, one and all. The twists and turns are scattered throughout the story and have the reader jumping from one suspect to another seamlessly. There is no single clue that will lead the reader to the killer; they will need to adjust their perceptions as they read through to find the right suspect.

Natchez Mississippi is set on the Mississippi River. It is a wonderful old city known for antebellum mansions. These mansions predate the civil war such as Stanton Hall or Longwood. This makes for an ideal location and setting for this series. The history and possibly haunted mansion is a definite draw and will encourage readers to explore the city and history of this magical place.

This series including Fixing to Die are wonderful journeys through the old south with plenty of southern charm. There are colorful characters and beautiful old homes. This book is highly recommended to anyone who likes a story that will leave them smiling and looking forward to the next addition.


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Fixing to Die by Miranda James is the fourth book in A Southern Ladies Mystery series. An’gel and Dickce Ducote have received a letter from Mary Turner Catlin about strange happening at her home, Cliffwood in Natchez, Mississippi. Mary Turner is at a loss and needs their help. The sisters along with their ward, Bengy (and the pets) pack up and head to Natchez (with Bengy driving so they make it without any speeding tickets and get to enjoy the scenery). Mary Turner was not kidding about the odd things occurring around the house—doors closing on their own, items moving around a room, cold spots, and strange shadows. Is there a ghost at Cliffwood or is someone trying to get the Catlin’s out of their home? The Ducote’s are just getting settled when a psychic shows up at the door saying she was drawn by a spirit who needs her help. But she is not the only unwanted guest. Two cousins and their lawyer descend on Cliffwood and insist upon staying for a few days (just what they need during their vacation time). The next day Nathan Gable (one of the cousins) is found dead in his bed with a frightened expression on his face. Did one of their unexpected guests kill Nathan or was it the spirit haunting Cliffwood? An’gel and Dickce want answers and set out to reveal the truth.

Fixing to Die has some lively characters and a beautiful old home for the setting (I would love to live in it). Miranda James did a wonderful job at portraying the accent of people who live in the South along with their characteristics. The story contains some nice writing, but it lacked an ease. I thought Fixing to Die was a slow starter. The murder did not occur until the 48% mark. The murder mystery was straightforward and the majority of readers will identify the perpetrator long before the reveal (it can be deciphered before Henry Howard finds Nathan’s cold body). The “hauntings” and who is behind them is equally unpuzzling. There was little investigation by the sisters. They never looked at the body or checked out the crime scene. Most sleuths would rush to check out both before the police arrive (the body would give them vital clues). An’gel and Dickce asked questions, examined walls (for secret passageways), and endlessly speculated what could have happened. The story is lacking in action and ending was anticlimactic. The author also left some threads dangling at the end of Fixing to Die. My rating for Fixing to Die is 3.5 out of 5 stars. I would not recommend starting with Fixing to Die. I have read the other books in A Southern Ladies Mystery series, and I felt a little lost in the beginning. I liked what was called the Nancy Drew effect (made me laugh). Who doesn’t want to find a secret passageway? ( )

Fixing To Die is the fourth book in the A Southern Ladies Mystery series.

I love this series and am so happy that the Ducote sisters were able to get their own series. The Ducote sisters have been on this earth for 80 some years and even though their steps might have slowed, their mental faculties remain as sharp as ever. They are a feisty two-some and they may have disagreements from time to time but they are quickly worked out and are always watching out for each other. And to keep an eye on them is their ward, Benjy. Benjy will soon be enrolling at Athena College, but he will be close to continue to help out around Riverhill and watch over Dickcee and An’gel.

An’gel, Dickcee and Benjy are headed for Natchez after getting a call Mary Turner Catlin, granddaughter of an old-time friend. She has been experiencing strange happenings in her house and one room in particular. Shortly after the Ducote sisters arrive an unexpected guest arrives, Primrose Pace a psychic, claiming that a spirit had requested her presence at Cliffwood. Then bickering distant cousins, Serenity and Nathan arrive. Serenity is there to try to convince her brother Nathan to give some of her trust fund that he controls. Nathan is there to look for a will he claims to exists giving him the valuable furniture that is in the French Room. The next morning when Nathan doesn’t show up for breakfast Mary Turner husband, Henry Howard, goes to his room to find Nathan has been murdered in his bed.

The Ducote sisters, of course, love a good mystery and with Benjy’s help they set off to see if they can sleuth out another murderer. They can’t find too much information on Pace and they are questioning whether she is for real. They need to look into Serenity to how far she would go to get her money. Serenity’s lawyer also seems to be awfully nervous. Also, they will be looking at Mary Turner cook to learn how far she would go to protect Mary Turner’s home. In addition, they need to learn whether the house is indeed haunted.

Another well-plotted and exciting story with a well-developed and believable cast of characters.

I definitely will be watching for the next adventure of Miss Dickcee and Miss An’gel. ( )