Is there such a thing ?? as Southern chic-lit -- Mystery ?? If anyone can give suggestions, I would be very thankful.

Ohh I also like them to be Funny !!! so there's a combo... Southern Chic-lit-- Mystery that's funny !!!

I've wracked my brains, and I think you can either have Southern Chick Lit, or Southern Mystery - at least from my bookshelf!  The Sandra Hill Cajun books and Pink Jinx are the closest I have.  Southern, funny, Chick Lit.  Pink Jinx may work though.

I'm still not sure what the definition of chick lit is (even after reading a couple threads about that question).  But maybe Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Series?  Dead Until Dark is the first in the series.  Main characters live in LA, the books are usually listed under mystery, and sometimes fantasy, or romance.  I would say the books are light reading with a bit of humor.

Try books by Lynn Abercrombie, a tough African/American cop Mechele Deakes tries to get out of the doghouse with her boss by solving a thrilling case (The Body Box).  Action and a little humor (mostly in the dialogue and how they tease each other) takes place in Atlanta

Patricia Sprinkle does a mystery series called "A Thoroughly Southern Mystery" in which the main character a woman, is a local magistrate and always finds herself trying to solve murders and other mysteries.

Laura Childs does a series that takes place in Charleston about a tea shop owner.  This is especially good in that there are always lots of interesting comments about teas, how to have tea parties, etc.  Of course Theo, the owner, always is able to mix in a little mystery with her tea.  Very good series.  She has also started a scrapbooking series that takes place, I believe, in Savannah.  I am not so fond of this series, but I know there are many others who love them.

Hope this helps!

Are the Bubbles books set in the south? I just got these and am waiting on the first one so I can start reading them..they were recommended in the chick lit forum I think but can't rmember if they're southern or not

The Bubbles books aren't southern - I thought of those too, but I think they're set in New Jersey. 

I think the reason they're so hard to find is that southern mysteries featuring female protagonists tend to be cozies, not chick lit.  The Lynn Abercormbie books sound like they fit though.

Try    Rumble on the Bayou  -  a female police chief who is very smart and has to deal with a male FBI agent from the north in a murder investigation and other such things as a drunk gator in someone's swimming pool. Lots of humor when you realize she is poking fun at the agent, yet a serious mystery.   

What about Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews? 

I admit I'm a little fuzzy about the chick-lit thing unless it's something I don't like and then some of them seem to be dropping into that category.  (Honestly, you can almost tell from the covers if they're aiming for that market.)

I just finished 4 books in a series and they're set in Houston,TX and the sleuth is in her 20's but they're the short kind of cozies so I'd say they're not much chick lit type but they are a series set in the south. leann sweeney's yellow rose mysteries.

Try the Southern Sisters mystery series.  They are great. About two older sisters who live in Birminham Ala. and happen to have dead bodies fall onto them.  There are about 6 books in the series.  I have read and reread them.

Try the "Strip" series by Nancy Bartholomew.   There are only 4 books in the series and unlikely to be any more:

• The Miracle Strip
• Drag Strip
• Film Strip
• Strip Poker

The setting for this series is Panama City, FL.   Some people don't consider that the South, but I've vacationed there many times and I certainly do.  They don't call it the Redneck Riviera for nothing LOL.   The main character is a stripper (Sierra Lavotini) with a heart of gold.   As with the Stephanie Plum series, the supporting characters are great, too.  Sierra lives in a trailer and has a chihauhau named Fluffy and senior citizen neighbor who is pretty crazy.  She also has an Italian family that manages to meddle in her life plenty despite the fact that they live in Illinois.

The writing isn't quite as good as Evanovich's, but I've really enjoyed the books I've read so far.  If you check out the reviews on Amazon, you'll see that many people compare them to the Plum series.

Fair warning, though, this series is now out of print.  It's fairly easy to find the first three books, but the last book was only printed in hardback and is harder to find.

I have just been going thru a jag reading the southern mystery genre.  Here are a few titles: In Deep Voodoo by Stephanie Bond (murdered ex, Voodoo festival, herbal shop owner, sexy pi), Southern Fried by Cathey Pickens (lawyer returns home after fired to find herself in the small town craziness she wanted to leave, cases include man prentend to kill another for her - too bad the victim shows up at the scene of the crime very alive, environmental agents, body of woman missing 15 years found), A New Attitude by Charlotte Hughes (pastor's wife picks up pieces after he runs off with a waitress in their small town).
  I am reading Savannah Breeze right now - the author, Mary Kay Andrews is pretty good!

I agree about Mary Kay Andrews - she is good, and I'll have to try the first two you mentioned.  I found "A New Attitude" to be a little too churchy for me though.  I was surprised at that, since I've read other books by this author, and they weren't like that.

Have you read:  1)COLLEY, BARBARA Charlotte La Rue,almost 60 owns a cleaning service in New Orleans; location and occupation make for many mysterious situations.    2)EICHLER, SELMA -Desiree Shapiro - almost middle aged widow who inherits husband's  detective agency - not set in south, but hum,erous much of the time.   4.)Hess, Joan -  has 2 series, both set i Arkansas - the Maggody series and the Carol malloy series with a typical teen daughter and all the angst!        5.)Haine, Carolyn - a favorite for laughs - Sara Beth Delany, a DG - "Daddy's Girl" - set in the Mississippi delta; there's ghost in this one who "com es with the mansion";     6.)Kahn, Sharon - Rubt Rothman, a rabbi's widow who becomes a bagel shop co-owner; set in a small town south of Austin, TX; has one character you love to hat!     6ROBINSON, PATRICIA - Nary Sage Elliott - set in Charlston - another "DG"          7.) TROCHECK,kATHY HOGAN AKA Mary Kay Andrews, I think, - former Atlenta PO who now owns a cleaning service with her mother.Maybe not considerd humerous, but some of the continuing characters are hoots!

Please excuse! I'm a computer newbie. I mispelled Carolyn Haines name and also Patricia Robinson's character. It should be  Mary Sage Elliott. I didn't know how to edit the above. Sharon Kahn's main character is Ruby Rothman. I also misspelled her name. My, I see I made a lot of errors I didn't catch! Please forgive.    M'ann

Thanks Lynne about the nancy bartholomew books! I managed to get the 4 in that series and saw a few other books she wrote and ordered those as well while I was at it(had to resort to half.com for most since they werent' available here!) Instead of starting the series though I read one of her bombshell titles 'sophie's last stand' and really enjoyed it! I hope her other books are good too. I have so many books in my TBR pile that it's really hard to pick what comes next!

Just wanted to keep this thread going ......

Mary Kay Andrews ROCKS!!!!

If you like Savannah Blues/Breeze....check out Itty Bitty Lies.  I laughed until I cried!

Also, Hissy Fit is a riot, but if I remember correctly lighter on the mystery.

ANNE GEORGE - A SOUTHERN SISTERS MYSTERY SERIES

Try the Dixie Flanagan novels by Chris Rogers. The main character, Dixie, is a bounty hunter from Houston. There are 4 books in the series: Chill Factor, Rage Factor, B*tch Factor and Slice of Life. They have a little of everything, mystery, suspense, and light romance. My biggest complaint is that I had to wait too long between books, but they are all available now.

How about the Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs.  I'm not sure they qualify as Chic-Lit, but they're set in Charleston, SC.  I've read the first two in the series and enjoyed them mainly (I admit) because I live in the Charleston area.  They're not especially suspenseful, but have some humor and are nice cozy reads.

I am currently reading the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross. The back of the book states "that Miss Julia is a Southern spitfire of a certain age and has impeccable Southern charm and grace".  The author Ann B. Ross teaches at the University of NC in Asheville. I have read 3 books in the series so far with more coming.....fun and enjoyable reading!  :)Janette

I loved Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines