Author: Traci Wilton
Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496733047
Kensington Publishing
336 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
August 24, 2021
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It's B&B owner Charlene Morris's second Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, and one she won't soon forget when a self-proclaimed vampire is murdered...
Charlene's bed and breakfast is fully booked with guests wanting to experience Salem's wildest holiday -- especially the annual Witch Ball, held at the historic Hawthorne Hotel. At the dance, actual witch and winery owner Brandy Flint has her back up over her daughter Serenity's new beau -- it's bad enough he's a decade older, he also claims to be a vampire from Romania.
As for Charlene, with handsome ghost Dr. Jack Strathmore haunting her B&B, she has developed an open mind regarding the supernatural. But her mind is blown when the clock strikes midnight, the lights flare and dim, and the vampire vanishes -- leaving behind only his cape and a wooden stake with a thick red substance on the sharp tip. The next morning, a naked man washes up on the shore with a hole punched through his chest, and Detective Sam Holden has a homicide on his hands. Now Charlene and Jack must put their heads together to find out who staged the trick to stake a vampire...
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Charlene Morris is a widow who owns a Victorian B&B in Salem, Massachusetts. The former owner is Dr. Jack Strathmore, a ghost who haunts the B&B and has become Charlene's friend and companion. Unfortunately, the only other living thing who knows about Jack is Charlene's cat, Silva. So she's naturally discreet when talking with him so as not to have people think she's less-than-sane.
But on this night she's one of the judges at the annual Halloween costume ball at the Hawthorne Hotel, and as she's watching the people, she sees her friend Brandy, a powerful witch of the Flint family, who also owns the winery that supplies the B&B with their own brand, staring out to the patio. Brandy isn't happy that her daughter Serenity has taken up with a man who's at least two decades older, and he's insisting he's a vampire. Brandy knows they don't exist, and wants him out of the picture. Charlene secretly agrees, but knows that Brandy will have to handle it her way.
But then there are altercations with the self-named vampire, Alaric, that get heated with threats, including one from Serenity. Before anything can blow up, however, just before the costume judging begins, Alaric states that he is going to show everyone he is a vampire, then disappears when the lights go out and isn't seen again.
When a body washes up on the beach the next morning, it's discovered to be Alaric, and now Detective Sam Holden has a homicide on his hands. But who is the killer? Brandy? Serenity? One of Alaric's followers? Or Orpheus -- who followed Alaric from New Orleans for his own reasons? Brandy wants her daughter cleared, and asks Charlene to investigate. Now Charlene is stuck in the middle of another murder investigation, a fully packed B&B full of guests, and trying to stay out of the crosshairs of a deputy who doesn't like her. Will she find the killer or be the next victim?...
This is the fifth book in the series and I have read every one of them, savoring the plot right down to its conclusion. I will admit I'm a sucker for books with ghosts in them, and have many series in my book collection. When this series came out, I thought great -- another one for the shelves. But I've become attached to Charlene and Jack, and even some of the secondary characters.
I love the fact that the books are progressing as the series grows. Charlene is growing closer to Jack (which I do love), and wish he could find a way to eventually return to earth. (Ah, well); and then Avery, her teenage employee, is coming into her own and looking up to Charlene as a role model, which is nice. I also like the rest of the characters, but am withholding judgment on the deputy, only because I abhor the "evil nemesis" in a book. However, I will state that she's not in it enough to ruin the book for me, but this is all my own opinion.
The plot is definitely interesting -- a group of people move from New Orleans and all proclaim to want to be (or are) vampires; something Brandy insists doesn't exist. So why are they interested in Serenity? And is there more to the story that neither Sam nor Charlene are learning? But when Charlene becomes interested in a book written by a local author on the the history of Salem and its secrets, she becomes more interested in what's really going on...
I would love to reveal more about this book, but I won't, since it's the discovering it on your own that is the best part. When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it comes as a complete surprise, which is a good thing. There are clues hidden throughout, but done so well as to keep us focused on other areas. This is an entrancing book, and a wonderful addition to the series. Highly recommended.
More on Traci Wilton's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/traci-wilton/
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