pet, skunk, situational-humor, urban-fantasy, paranormal, series, friendship, gangsters, verbal-humor, law-enforcement, vacation, family, ghosts, cozy-mystery, ghost-hunting, competition, treasure-hunt, treasure*****

Not an unbiased review because I absolutely love the real star of this series--Lucille Desiree Long AKA Lucy, Verity's pet skunk!
It's Verity's sister Melody's birthday and Melody’s boyfriend (the offensive) Deputy Duranja has made arrangements for Verity, her boyfriend Ellis (Duranja's boss), Melody and himself participate in a weekend treasure hunt on an island haunted by pirates. Duranja doesn't believe in ghosts or Verity's ability to see and converse with ghosts, but he does believe that their group can win the competition and the money to buy Melody an engagement ring. There are a lot of scary parts to even out all the hilarity that makes this another entertaining fun read!
I'm not sure about stand-alone quality since I am addicted to this series, but I think that it should do.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Moose Island Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Now I just have to wait to get the audio! ( )

Dread and Buried by Angie Fox is an amusing paranormal mystery. I laughed often while reading about Verity and Frankie’s latest adventure. I felt for Verity. Verity loves her sister, Melody. Melody’s birthday wish, though, was hard one for Verity to agree to. Verity and Ellis were invited (like she could refuse) on a weekend double date to a remote island (Phantom Island) with Melody and her boyfriend (Verity’s nemesis), Alec Duranja. The weekend gets off to a rough start when Verity runs late after forgetting Lucy’s favorite toy. Melody waits until they are on Phantom Island to inform them the weekend is a treasure hunt, and they are competing against three other teams. One team is particularly ruthless. The foursome soon discovers that someone is searching for more than the games prize. Verity believes the island’s legend about buried treasure could be true. She will need to keep her wits about her to stay ahead of the bad guys as well as Frankie and his new pirate chums. I quickly devoured Dread and Buried. Verity Long is a great character and so is Frankie. I did miss Lucy in this book. She is staying with a friend while Verity is away. Frankie was not as present in this story. He popped up now and then when Verity called for him. I missed his witty repartee. Alec Duranja is a character that grows on you. Melody sees a different side of Duranja (who knew the man owned a dog), and she wants Verity to get to know him. I thought the books she gifted Verity and Duranja were hilarious. The mystery is fun. While I found it easy to solve, my mother only solved part of it before the reveal (my mother could not wait to get her hands on this book). I did find it odd that Melody would date someone who shows such antagonism towards Verity especially considering how accepting and supportive Melody is of Verity’s gift. Dread and Buried is the twelfth book in A Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this delightful series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and Verity’s journey (her struggles and triumphs). One of my favorite lines from Dread and Buried is when Frankie says, “Is that a pirate ship in the distance? he demanded, giddy as a goat in clover.” Another is when Verity says, “There was something about a mystery that always puts a spring in my step.” Dread and Buried is an entertaining tale with an isolated island, an infuriating nemesis, a thrilling treasure hunt, sweet skunk earrings, troublesome twin contenders, bothersome books, an unforeseen find, a frustrating Frankie, a precious parrot, and a vexed Verity. ( )

Dread and Buried by Angie Fox
Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series #12. Paranormal. Can be read as a stand-alone but better if at least the first few in the series are read for character background.
Verity and Ellis agree to a treasure hunt weekend adventure for Melody’s birthday. Melody’s boyfriend, Alec Duranja, will team up with Melody, which makes it a bit like a couples weekend. Verity has promised herself and Melody that she will be nice and respect his position as a team member, though it goes against everything she feels about the man. But for Melody, Verity will learn to hold her tongue. Verity has also brought along her resident ghost, Frank. He may bring an advantage to the treasure hunting on the little island that’s said to be haunted by pirates.

What do you get when you mix a ghost from the gangster era with pirates? A taxidermy parrot that clips to the shoulder, swashbuckling chatter, drinking and probably a duel or two. And a mystery killer that doesn’t want someone else to find the treasure.
While this specific book doesn’t take place in Sugarland, Verity takes her charm and southern wit along for the ride and she will need all the patience she can manage trying to get along with Duranja.
Another fun ghost adventure. It’s amusing, and a bit scary, when the ghosts acknowledge the living. ( )