Be My Ghost

Be My Ghost is the debut of A Haunted Haven Mystery series set on the west coast of Florida (near St. Petersburg). I found Be My Ghost to be an appealing paranormal cozy mystery. There are some great characters and I love the setting. The author managed to strike the right balance between overly description and not enough detail. I liked our protagonist, Maureen Doherty. She is a smart, friendly woman who is a stylish dresser. Our resident spirit, Lorna Dubois is a delight. She is a fun-loving character who also loves fashion. The paranormal aspect is well-done and there is just the right amount of mystical. The whodunit is straightforward. This one can easily be resolved before the reveal (the who and why). I would have liked the mystery to be more of a challenge. I am hoping the author will up her game in the next A Haunted Haven Mystery. There is a fun cast of secondary characters in the story along with some cute animals. Maureen has a Golden Retriever named Finn and she inherited two cats named Bogie and Bacall. The town is pet friendly with other shopkeepers owning cats and allowing Finn to enter their premises. Since Haven seems full of interesting ghosts, I am sure there will be plenty of paranormal fun in Maureen’s future. There are some recipes at the end of the book for items featured in Be My Ghost. Be My Ghost is a hauntingly good time with a fashionista spirit, a player piano, a contemptuous manager, a gone ghost hunter, a troubled bartender, a determined deputy, and a bewildering inheritance.

cozy-mystery, inheritance, greed, ghosts, Florida, innkeeper, murder, murder-investigation, restoration, senior-citizens, cats, dog, amateur-sleuth***** Maureen inherits an inn in Haven, Florida just as her career in Boston as a retail buyer comes to an end after ten years with the closing of the department store she has worked for since college. This venture is a new one for her and there is little actual money involved as the place has turned into a money sink. And the manager resents her. But a resident ghost likes her. Say what? Yup, the place is said to be haunted by the ghosts of former visitors. But the problem right now is that Maureen is the chief suspect in the murder of a ghost hunter who was poisoned the same day that she arrived! Let the sleuthing begin! It's a marvelous story with clear and interesting characters, plot twists, red herrings, and more. Loved it! I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!