Local Host Co-Chair Liz Wells wanted to share some details about a Birmingham author. I think one or more of this author's books would be a good Christmas gift idea!
Anne Carroll George was a Birmingham author who received the Agatha Award for her mystery series about two Southern sisters, and she was a former Alabama State Poet Laureate. She was nominated for a Pulitzer for her non-fiction writing. Anne George was a featured author at the Birmingham Public Library’s “Alabama Bound” forum featuring Alabama authors. I had the pleasure of being her escort when she came to the Library for the event. Anne George was intelligent, funny, articulate, and a kind individual. The world is a poorer place without her. She died in 2001. She is best known for her Southern Sisters Mysteries about two sisters in their sixties who manage to get themselves involved in one murder after another. The books are light reading, with humorous sketches of Patricia Anne, know to family as “Mouse”, and her sister, Mary Alice, know as Sister. Mouse, the retired school teacher, is a petite reserved person while Mary Alice, aka Sister, is tall, rich, impulsive and many times married.
The first book in the series was, Murder On A Girl’s Night Out, 1996. Mary Alice buys a local dance bar and takes Mouse out to see it. Patricia Ann finds the country-western bar not as bad as she had thought it would be but that was before the previous owner was found murdered there the next day. The character development is well done and the dialogue entertaining. You do not have to be a native Alabamian to enjoy the book as the descriptive narrative is excellent.
The next book is, Murder on A Bad Hair Day, was also published in 1996. Anne George writes about Vulcan, the largest cast iron statue made, who stands “mooning” the city of Homewood as he stands atop Red Mountain. Many local landmarks are mentioned or described in her books. This time out the two sisters find themselves involved in two murders. The first murder is of a young owner of an art gallery where the sisters had been to an art show. Patricia Ann and Mary Alice pair up with Detective Bo Peep (yes, what a name for a detective) to solve the crimes.
The third book in the Southern Sisters series is titled Murder Runs in the Family. In this book Patricia Ann’s daughter gets married and one of the guests is a genealogist who quickly becomes a “new” friend of the sisters. The genealogist supposedly jumps out a window of the local courthouse committing suicide only it is really a murder. Once again the dialogue and the characters are just too funny. It is thoroughly entertaining.
Anne George’s fourth book was Murder Makes Waves, 1997 is set in Destin, Florida where the sisters have gone to the beach. Mary Alice is seeking her fourth husband while Patricia Ann just wants to relax. While at the beach the ladies meet an old friend, Millicent, who manages condominiums and then Millicent gets murdered. As usual you get a great description of the area and a lot of eccentric characters. The plot is not bad although it has a weak ending, but still the humor abounds.
The fifth book was titled, Murder Gets A Life, 1998. This time out it is the son of Mary Alice, Ray, who has met and married Sunshine Dabbs of Locust Fork, Alabama. Mary Alice thinks that she and her sister, Mouse, need to meet the family of the bride and that is when they find their first corpse. The characters, as usual, are quirky, and entertaining. George’s books are guaranteed to make you laugh.
Murder Shoots the Bull published in 199 is the sixth book in the series and it is just as funny and amusing as the previous books. In this book the next-door neighbor is suspected of killing his “girlfriend”, then of poising his first wife, and to add insult to injury his house burns down. Mitzi, Arthur’s wife, does not believe he is a murderer, nor do the sisters. Mary Alice hits the president of the bank on the head with her umbrella, which lands the sisters in jail. A must read.
Murder Carries a Torch, 2000 is the seventh book written about the sisters’ exploits. Patricia Anne and Mary Alice have just returned from Poland when their cousin, Luke comes to them seeking help. Virginia Luke’s wife, of forty years has run off with another man and he wants them to help him find her. They trace the runaways to Mount Chandler where they find two dead people but not Virginia or Monk. The local Sheriff and Sister are attracted to one another, which adds to the zany story plot. The sisters get involved with snake-handling holy rollers this time which adds to the cast of characters and the plot. This is another fun filled “murder” book.
Sadly this is the last book written by Anne Carroll George. Murder Boogies with Elvis, published in 2001. Mary Alice decides to marry Sheriff Virgil Stuckey and they plan to announce this to his children after a benefit that is taking place at the Alabama Theatre. There are 29 Elvis impersonators at the Alabama and wouldn’t you know one of them falls down dead at Sister’s feet. The dead man is not an Elvis impersonator at all he is a Russian ballet dancer who was in America on a cultural exchange program, so what is he doing in Birmingham, Alabama. Then the murder weapon is found in Patricia Anne’s purse. This is a truly funny series and would make a great film series. The characters are all well developed and quirky, and the dialogue is just right.
Go to the web site and read about Anne Carroll George. She was a true Southern Lady.
http://www.annegeorge.com/index2.htm
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