Murder on a Bad Hair Day

by Anne George

Last night I finished the second in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. I love reading about these bubbly sisters who are just a few years older than me and who get themselves involved in things over their heads. Even though I figured out the mystery before the end, there were certain things that kept me wondering if I was right.

Choose this series for the light-hearted fun, the southern insights into Birmingham talk, sights, and food. Be prepared to laugh out loud at Mouse and Sister's relationship. You may even find yourself reaching for some tissue once or twice. I love these books and will be looking for the 3rd in the series.

Here's a bit about southern culture:

"Grandmother Alice, who lived in Montgomery, and from whom Mary Alice inherited her size, was a formidable disciplinarian. We were taught very early that there were three things the women in our family never were. First was tacky. Wearing patent leather shoes after five was an example of this. Then there was common. This included smoking on the street and not writing thank-you notes within a week. Finally, there was common as pig tracks. God forbid. Grandmother caught Mary Alice cutting her toenails on the front porch, a common as pig tracks offense."

Here's a statement that I've read in both books in one form or another. It must be a southern saying.

"I cut my eyes around at her."

I remember as a 7-th grader in Lincoln, NE learning about the pencil test. In this book Mary

Alice slams on the brake and Patricia Anne gets a tight squeeze from the seat belt.
"Did you hurt yourself ?" Mary Alice asked. "Let's just say I'll never pass the pencil test again." I was referring to the pencil-stuck-beneath-the-breast test. If the breast is firm and perky, the pencil will fall. Needless to say, only the very young or flat-chested will try it.

(I wonder why they had us do that silly test?!)


Good news: Finishing this book completes my Southern Reading Challenge. Just in the nick of time, since tomorrow is the deadline. I'm going to run over to Maggie's and let her know. YiPPeE!