Author: Carol J. Perry
Genre: Mystery/Paranormal
Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496731357
Kensington Publishing
288 Pages
$13.99; $8.27 Amazon
August 31, 2021
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Maureen Doherty and her golden retriever Finn have taken possession of a charming old inn -- only to discover that it's already possessed by tenants whose lease on life already ran out...
Maureen's career as a clothing buyer hits a snag just before Halloween, when the department store declares bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Finn's lost his way as a guide dog after flunking his test for being too friendly and easily distracted. Sadly, only one of them can get unemployment, so Maureen's facing ar winter of discontent in Boston -- when she realizes she can't afford her apartment.
Salvation comes when she receives a mysterious inheritance: an inn in Haven, Florida. A quaint, scenic town on the Gulf of Mexico hidden away from the theme parks. Maureen believes it's a good place to make a fresh start with a new business venture. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds a dead body on her property -- and meets some of the inn's everlasting tenants in the form of ghosts who offer their otherworldly talents in order to help her solve the mystery...
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Maureen Doherty loses her job as a clothing buyer in an upscale department store in Boston when the store closes. But then she receives an odd letter from a legal firm in Haven, Florida, stating that she's inherited an old inn and the remaining fortune of the late tenant. Packing up her things and her golden retriever, Finn, she heads for the sunny south to start a new life.
But when she arrives she finds the fortune isn't all that much; the inn is in need of a lot of work; several elderly people live on site in return for working there, and the manager seems to have nothing but disdain for her -- taking over the previous owner's office and giving Maureen room 27 -- which is reputed to be haunted by a nasty spirit.
After barely settling in she finds the body of a reputed ghost hunter on her front porch, and it seems he's been poisoned -- shortly after having a drink in the hotel's bar. Now the police are on her tail, wondering if Lorna or one of her employees could be the murderer. Could things get any worse?
Apparently so. She gets another big surprise when she finds that her own suite is haunted by a B startlet from Hollywood's Golden Era - Lorna DuBois. After proclaiming she doesn't believe in ghosts, she finds herself talking to Lorna and asking her advice. Between talking to a ghost and being a suspect on the police's radar for murder, Maureen's in a pickle, and if she can't find a murderer, her stay in Florida isn't going to be pleasant -- from the inside of a jail...
This is the first book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. I love books with ghosts (friendly) and I loved the plot in this one. It was a lot of fun to read, and the fact that Maureen goes through a lot of changes and seems to accept them shows me that she's able to give in situations and not afraid to take risks. She's a lovely person, and her dog is quite a character, too.
The elderly tenants are a hoot, but they in turn know what they're doing and who to talk to and whom not to. Gert is the funniest, but the others have their value also. I do like Ted quite a bit, he's open to new things and hopefully, will become Maureen's permanent partner-in-crime, if you know what I mean. Both romantically and in sleuthing.
I was able to follow the mystery easily and pretty much knew who the murderer was, and the reason behind it wasn't difficult to figure out; but I read a lot of mysteries so I'm always on the lookout for those things anyway.
When the ending comes it was done nicely and with everything falling into place right where it's supposed to. Again, I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series soon. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Carol J. Perry's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/carol-j-perry/
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