Genre: Mystery/Paranormal
Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496731371
Kensington Publishing
320 Pages
$15.99; $9.99 Amazon
October 25, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Christmas lights on palm trees and Santa hats on plastic pink flamingoes are far from the snowy landscape Maureen and her beloved golden retriever, Finn, are used to. But Maureen is determined to make this a holiday to remember -- which means finding a way to promote Haven House on a shoestring. Fortunately, Haven's vintage movie theater, the Paramount, has come up with a great "Twelve Days of Christmas" idea. They'll feature an impressive list of the best classic Christmas movies ever made -- shown by one-time movie actor-turned-projectionist Decklin Monroe.
But nobody bothered to tell Maureen that the Paramount is haunted by the ghost of a man who was murdered a few years back. Haven's top cop Frank Hubbard doesn't believe in ghosts but, believing that Decklin Monroe was somehow involved, he wants a reluctant Maureen's help.
That plan is derailed when, on the first day of the festival, a fresh murder victim is found at the theater. Now Maureen has to defend her staff and guests, while trying to keep her high-spirited resident ghosts out of the picture -- before they have company for the holidays...
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Maureen Doherty lost her job and didn't no where to turn when she'd found that she'd inherited Haven House in Florida. The inn is old, and needs plenty of work, but has a lack of funds due to the mismanagement of the previous manager. But Maureen knows how to plan, and she's hoping to figure out a way to save it.
Then comes Decklin Monroe, an old actor who is now a projectionist of old two-reel movies at the Paramount, a theater also in need of repairs. Maureen has come up with an idea: have a dinner and a movie night. Purchase theater tickets, and include a dinner at the hotel's restaurant, giving them some proceeds -- which are better than none. But Decklin's story of a murder in the theater, and the ghost who haunts it, bothers Maureen, even though she doesn't let it interfere with her idea.
But at the first showing, there is another murder, and now people are wondering who killed this person, and police officer Frank Hubbard is none too happy with Maureen right now, but still needs her help in finding the killer. With a full house on board for Christmas, a ghost haunting her suite, and a murder to solve, it will be a wonder if Maureen can actually find a killer...
This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it quite as much as I did the first. Ms. Perry weaves a story well, and it was full of plenty of goings-on and a few ghosts to boot. Watching her try to keep the Haven House and keep it running is worth it, and her staff is fiercely loyal to her and the old inn as well. What I found humorous was the fact that Finn loves to be read to -- books about dogs, of course!
But who killed the latest victim? I had my own insights, and I read a lot of mysteries, so I had the culprit halfway through the book. I just didn't know how. That was all explained carefully, believably, and capably. This series is a delightful entry to the cozy genre, and the characters are becoming more defined, which I know will continue with each book.
The ending does have a nice epilogue, and it ties everything together in a brightly colored Christmas bow, and gives us something to look forward to in the next in the series. There are also a few yummy recipes in the back. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy 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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