Savannah Blues

December 24, 2001
This delightfully breezy, richly atmospheric debut by a former journalist who covered Savannah's infamous Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
murder trials fails to generate much suspense, but it derives its charm from an encyclopedic trove of lore about antiquities and dishy gossip, Southern style. Divorced from blue-blood architect Talmadge Evans III, but still living in a carriage house in the backyard of their restored mansion, Eloise "Weezie" Foley suffers the indignity of having her ex's sexy fiancée, Caroline DeSantos, living in the main house Weezie restored herself. As a "picker," Weezie earns her living foraging for discarded treasures in Dumpsters and at estate sales. When she discovers Caroline's corpse in a historic manor house, Weezie is the prime suspect in her murder. To compound her quandary, Weezie's attorney—her closeted Uncle James, an ex-Catholic priest—is having an illicit affair with a man from the DA's office. Factor in her on-again, off-again romance with old high school flame Daniel Stipanek, counterfeit antiques and her mom's alcoholism, and the plucky heroine has enough problems to drive at least three novels. Unfortunately, the suspense gets lost somewhere among the antiques and Weezie's attempts to consummate her romance with Daniel. But even a denouement that comes way too soon and a junk bin of distractions won't keep readers away. 8-city author tour. (Feb. 20)Forecasts:This appealing effort should do well enough on its own, but if booksellers and publicists play up the
Midnight connection, it could soar.

When Eloise "Weezie" Foley's husband, Talmadge Evans III, divorces her, he's awarded their gorgeous historic Savannah home, which she decorated. Weezie ends up with the carriage house in the back garden. Susan Ericksen gives a warm and charming glow to Weezie's spunky personality. As Weezie continues her antique business on a shoestring, Tal's beautiful and perfectly groomed girlfriend moves into the big house, making the situation more tense than ever. A twist of fate finds Weezie smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation and falling in love at the same time. Ericksen superbly balances suspense with sexual tension and emotional overload with brainy humor. B.J.P. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine


Here's a book you can't wait to press on your friends, especially if they need cheering up. Delicious characters frolic through dreadful circumstances, keeping the chocolate and the lipstick handy. Susan Ericksen is sublime. She drawls, slurs, mopes, groans, and thrills to the narrative. The book springs to life through her expert interpretations of even the minor characters. Many of our favorite interests are rolled into one book: delicious food, antique-hunting, swell clothes, and handsome men for beautiful protagonists. Weezie Foley has to contend with her divorce, her mother's drinking, her new boyfriend, and a murder charge . . . all while BeBe, her best friend, is egging her on to more outrageous adventures. Ericksen's narration certainly will cure the blues. B.H.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine