Still Life in Brunswick Stew 
A Cherry Tucker Mystery 2

A Night Owl Reviews Top Pick

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"DELIGHTFULLY SOUTHERN, SURPRISINGLY EDGY, AND DELICIOUSLY UNPREDICTABLE"

"Reinhart's country-fried mystery is as much fun as a ride on the Tilt-a-Whirl at a state fair. Readers who like a little small-town charm with their mysteries will enjoy Reinhart's series." —Denise Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River and Devereaux's Dime Store mysteries

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Cherry Tucker’s in a stew. Art commissions dried up after her nemesis became president of the Forks County Arts Council. Desperate and broke, Cherry and her friend, Eloise, spend a sultry summer weekend hawking their art at the Sidewinder Annual Brunswick Stew Cook-Off. When a bad case of food poisoning breaks out and Eloise dies, the police brush off her death as accidental. However, Cherry suspects someone spiked the stew and killed her friend. As Cherry calls on cook-off competitors, bitter rivals, and crooked judges, the police get steamed while the killer prepares to cook Cherry’s goose.

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Still Life in Brunswick Stew is a humorous Southern cozy mystery featuring sassy portrait artist Cherry Tucker as she investigates her friend's suspicious death at a small-town cook-off in nearby Sidewinder, Georgia. Blending small-town rivalries, quirky characters, and light romantic tension, this fast-paced mystery is perfect for fans of funny, character-driven whodunits with strong female leads.

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PERFECT FOR READERS WHO LOVE

Funny, cozy mysteries with a strong female lead

Romantic comedy mysteries with light suspense

Small-town Southern settings with quirky characters

Amateur sleuth stories with humor and heart

Fast-paced mysteries with a touch of romance

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FOR FANS OF FUNNY, ROMANTIC MYSTERIES LIKE:

Stephanie Plum series

Miss Fortune series

Kenni Lowry Mysteries

Body Movers series

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AND QUIRKY TV MYSTERY SERIES LIKE:

Elsbeth

Good Cop/Bad Cop

High Potential

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TROPES & THEMES

Amateur sleuth

Small-town mystery

Southern cozy mystery

Sassy female protagonist

Quirky cast of characters

Romantic subplot

Family drama

Underdog justice

Light suspense

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CHARACTER ARC

Cherry Tucker channels her loyalty and stubborn sense of justice into solving her friend Eloise's death, refusing to accept the official ruling of an accident. As she navigates cook-off politics, art-world rivalries, and her own money troubles, Cherry grows more confident in trusting her instincts and standing her ground, even when it puts her at odds with the people she loves.

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SETTING

Set in Cherry's hometown of Halo, Georgia, with the murder unfolding at the Sidewinder Annual Brunswick Stew Cook-Off in a nearby town, the story captures a "country-fried" Southern atmosphere filled with local rivalries, small-town gossip, and simmering secrets.

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SERIES INFO

Still Life in Brunswick Stew is Book 2 in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series, where each book delivers a complete mystery while building ongoing relationships, romantic tension, and character growth.

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FAQ

Is this a cozy mystery?

Yes, this is a humorous Southern cozy mystery with an amateur sleuth, but with a slightly edgier, sassier tone.

Is there romance?

Yes, there is a light romantic thread that develops across the series.

Do I need to read in order?

Each mystery stands alone, but reading in order enhances the character relationships and emotional arcs.

What makes this series unique?

A sassy portrait artist heroine, a country-fried Southern voice, and a strong focus on character growth alongside humor and mystery.