Book ~ "Skeleton's Key" (2013) Stacy Green

From Goodreads ~ Cage Foster can’t catch a break. The discovery of a dusty skeleton in the antebellum home he’s caring for is bad enough. But the unearthing of two fresh bodies, buried during his tenure at Ironwood Plantation, may land Cage on Mississippi’s death row. Even worse, the one person certain of his innocence is a pushy Yankee newcomer, a woman who talks too fast and still believes in the romance of the Old South.

 A specialist in historical renovation, Dani Evans intends to restore Ironwood to its former glory while she rebuilds her life after the death of her mother. Death, hidden treasure and falling in love with a murder suspect were not part of the plan. The lure of the infamous Ironwood treasure cache convinces Dani the skeleton is the key to unraveling the legend, and that the treasure itself is the motive for the murders.

Cage is certain an old grudge is setting him up for murder but the evidence against him is mounting and time is running out. Dani believes she can find the truth before Cage is arrested but her search for answers will uncover a descent into madness that should have stayed buried.

After the death of her mother, Dani pursues their dream of buying and restoring a plantation and moves from Indianapolis to Mississippi when she purchases Ironwood Plantation.  As a specialist in historical renovation, she luckily lands a job nearby.  Cage is a local cop who had been hired to be the caretaker of the plantation ... he gets his back up when a Yankee has bought his beloved plantation.

A skeleton is discovered in the basement and days later, two fresh corpses are found nearby.  Cage, as the caretaker, is a suspect.  Dani gets to know Cage, believes in his innocence and works with him and his friends to prove it.  Does it have something to do with the rumoured hidden room which may still have treasures from the owners during the Civil War?  Or does it have something to do with the big bad developers who wanted to buy Ironwood and demolish it so they can build a resort?

This is the third book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style and thought it flowed well.  The language isn't offensive (just a couple "sh!ts").  The ending had an interesting twist and I was satisfied with it.

I liked the characters.  It was fun to read the contrasts between Dani (a "Yankee") and Cage (a "Southern gentleman").  When the story begins, Cage is still heartbroken that Jaymee chose Nick (Cage's dead sister's widower) over him so that causes some initial conflict.  Of course, Dani doesn't know the history between them and they don't want to talk about.  There are lots of supporting characters who are involved in what's going on ... you don't know who is innocent 'til the end.

Though it is the sequel to Tin God, it also works well as a stand alone.  There are references to the happenings in the Tin God but doesn't give them away.  Characters brought back from Tin God are Cage, Jaymee and Nick.  There will be a final sequel ... it will be interesting to see who is in it and I look forward to reading it.

I received a copy of this ebook from the author at no charge in exchange for my honest review.