Bless Her Dead Little Heart

When An’gel and Dickce Ducote agree to babysit Charlie Harris’s Maine Coon Cat Díesel, they think he is the only visitor they will have. Much to the dismay, their sorority sister Rosabelle Sultan shows up at their door for an extended visit. They have known Rosabelle for years and know she has always been a bit of a drama queen so An’gel and Dickce don't quite believe her at first when she says someone in her family is trying to kill her. But when her family also shows up at the Ducote’s and the bodies begin to pile up, Angel and Dixie know Rosabelle is right - there is a killer on the loose.

“Bless Her Dead Little Heart” is the delightfully done first book in Maranda James’ Southern Ladies cozy mystery series. I admit I show more was a bit wary of this spinoff series from the Cat in the Stacks cozy mystery series - I like Charlie and Diesel - but I quickly got caught up An’gel and Dickce’s adventures and was sorry when the book ended (and can't wait for the next book in the series). An’gel and Dickce are delightful characters- in their eighties but young at heart and in spirit. Their relationship is wonderfully portrayed - they love each other but they fight as only sisters can fight. Rosabelle’s family is full of memorable characters (for better or worse) and adds plenty of suspects for the eventual murders. The mystery itself as well plotted with plenty of twists and turns and an unexpected resolution to the case.

“Bless Her Dead Little Heart” is another nicely done cozy mystery by Miranda James. show less

The Ducote sisters are surprised by a sorority sister, Rosabelle, who just shows up in their doorstep, wanting help. Though they have had no contact with her for years, they invite her stay. She claims that someone in her family is trying to murder her. It’s not long before the whole dysfunctional family shows up, wanting to stay there, too. And then the fun really starts, if you can call murder fun. This is a wonderful start to this highly entertaining series. We meet Diesel the cat, and though he has a minor role in this story, he will go on to star in his own series. There are only four mysteries in this series, and I wish there were more. The Ducote sisters are a delight, and the books, filled with southern charm, are wonderful.

Miranda James is really Dean James and he seems to write under several female names with several series - although none of the series seems to be very long. This is the Southern Ladies series - something new and a spinoff from the Cat in the Stacks series starring Charlie Harris and his large maine coon cat, Diesel. Harris is on vacation and left Diesel with the Ducote sisters, An'gel and Dickce who are single and in their 80s with a very nice large house. They have figured into some of the earlier cat in the stack books. An old sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan, shows up unexpectedly at their doorstep claiming her family is trying to kill her. Rosebelle is on her 3rd husband a wealthy Italian man. Her first two husbands seem to have show more left her money and her children live with her and are on allowances. While the sisters are willing to take her in, they recall her being extremely self-centered and selfish. Not long after Rosebelle shows up, her family comes knocking and the sisters have a houseful of people, many of whom are rude, angry and not well behaved. Rosebelle's son's wife dies in a fall down the steps that seems to be murder. The deputy, Kanesha Berry, is in charge of the investigation and would like to keep everyone under one roof. Then Rosebelles daughter, Maudine, a particularly offensive woman is found dead of a heart attack surrounded by rubber spiders. She had a deep fear of spiders. Dickce and a younger member of the family, Bengy, find a cat and dog apparently left by the side of the road. Benjys mother was married to Wade, Rosebelle's son and Wade doesn't seem to like Bengy and probably won't bother with Benjy with his mother now dead. Dickce likes him and he likes Diesel. Two more woman die including Rosebelle and it is found that her other daughter, Bernice, was the killer. However, once Bernice is found out by her daughter Juanita smothered her in shock or to avoid her mother going to prison. I think that Diesel will go home when Harris returns and the new cat and dog will be adopted by the sisters and Benjy will be on hand to help out in future mysteries. show less

What a fun book this was! Two sisters in their 80's living alone in a huge house and liking very much the "alone" part. Their old friend shows up on the front porch seeking a place to hide from her family who is trying to kill her (??). Within the next few hours, her entire family also knocks in varying groups. Is there a killer among them? And where, for Heaven's sake are they going to put them all!?

A good plot, great characters and the ending was very well done. A great beach book! (Now, I just have to find a beach!!)

New York Times bestselling author Miranda James returns to Athena, Mississippi, with an all-new mystery featuring Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote, two snoopy sisters who are always ready to lend a helping hand. But when a stressed socialite brings murder right to their doorstep, even they have trouble maintaining their Southern hospitality…

With the Mississippi sun beating down, An’gel and Dickce are taking a break to cool off and pet sit their friend Charlie Harris’s cat, Diesel, when their former sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan, shows up at their door unexpectedly, with her ne’er-do-well adult children not far behind.

Rosabelle’s selfish offspring are desperate to discover what’s in her will, and it soon becomes clear show more that one of them would kill to get their hands on the inheritance. Suddenly caught up in a deadly tangle of duplicitous suspects and deep-fried motives, it will take all of the sisters’ Southern charm to catch a decidedly ill-mannered killer… Southern Ladies #1 show less

Rosabelle, college sorority sister of the Ducote sisters, shows up at their home claiming her relative's are trying to kill her and asking to stay. But shortly after her arrival her son and his family, her 2 step-daughters and their 2 kids also arrive. Then before dinner the daughter-in-law slips on the stairs and falls to her death. It's not an accident and soon we have a mystery to solve. I like the Ducote's and their practical attitude in helping the local detective solve the case. They are the epitome of Southern ladies. The plot, however, was a little too contrived. This series is tied to James' Cat in the Stacks series by having the sisters babysitting Diesel, the Maine coon cat. Not thrilled with the cat.

Bless Her Dead Little Heart is the first book in the A Southern Ladies Mystery series.

If the first book is any sign, then this series will be a very entertaining one. Readers first had a chance to read about the Ducote sisters in Out of Circulation, fourth book in the Cat In The Stacks Mystery series by James.

Just as An'gel and Dickce, who are cat sitting Diesel, Charlie Harris' cat. As they are beginning to settle in with their houseguest, Rosabelle Sultan, a former sorority sister who they haven't seen in 15years, comes to their door. She ask the sisters if she can stay a few days, as someone in her family is trying to kill her. Rosabelle has always been one to exaggerate things and they figure this is just another one of those times. show more But soon the whole family begins to arrive, Rosabelle's two daughters, her son and his wife, two grandsons and a granddaughter. Rosabelle is soon accusing everyone of trying to kill here for her money, the children are in turn making their case that mom is mentally unstable and needs to be committed to a mental health facility. Then, when Marla, the daughter in law slips on water on the marble stair case and falls, breaking her neck, the sisters begin to wonder if she was the intended victim or Rosabelle. So they begin to watch everyones action and report their information to Kanesha the deputy in charge of the investigation.

The sisters are a very fun and interesting couple of ladies. They try and not hurt each others feeling, but are more than willing to share with the reader, their feelings. Clementine, their housekeeper/cook is delight and very flexible with the large influx of guests.

A very fun read and I highly recommend it, especially to the fans of Diesel. Looking forward to the next book. show less