Author: Traci Wilton
Genre: Mystery/Paranormal
Digital Book
ASIN #: B0CZGPZQMJ
Kensington Cozies
304 Pages
$8.54 Amazon
December24, 2024
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Cupid's taking aim at Charlene Morris's historic Salem B&B, which is brimming with models for a contentious photo shoot, but his arrow goes astray when someone is murdered on Valentine's Day...
A full house is nothing new to Charlene and her ghostly friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, but this Valentine's Day, their Salem, Massachusetts inn isn't filled with romantic couples. Instead, every room is booked by formerly famous photographer Dane Stallone, for a Cupid-themed calendar he hopes will jumpstart his sagging career. Though Charlene's hands are full with a dozen gorgeous models, Dane is the only diva -- pitching fits, making unreasonable demands, and generally being a mood killer...until a real killer strikes and puts the whole shoot on ice.
With more suspects than a jumbo box of chocolates, Charlene, Jack, and Detective Sam Holden race to find the one person filled with murderous intent...
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Charlene Morris moved from Chicago to Salem after her husband's sudden death, and bought the large mansion that is now her beloved B&B. It also came with the ghost of the former owner, Dr. Jack Strathmore, whom Charlene has grown very fond of. Only Charlene and her cat Silva can see and hear Jack, which makes her careful when others are around.
She's currently hosting twelve models from around the world and their photographer, Dane Stallone, for a photo shoot that must be done by March 1st, and it is nearly Valentine's Day. However, Dane is acting like a real diva, with nearly unreasonable demands of both the models and Charlene and her staff. While she doesn't like the man, she helps him anyway just to get it over with an him out of her house.
But then a murder occurs, and Charlene is stuck with everyone when the police -- namely newly promoted Detective Jimenez -- tells her no one can leave until she finds the killer. Suddenly tempers flare and arguments break out, but Charlene is determined to make the best of it and hope the remaining guests will, also.
Then there's the problem of Sam, who can't get involved in the case but still wants to see Charlene, and her "daughter" Avery is due home from school for a few days. With so much going on, will she be able to find time to gather clues to solve the case, or will this finally put an end to her sleuthing altogether?...
This is the ninth book in the series and I have read and loved them all. This one was a bit more complicated, as you have a lot more suspects, and they're all gathered in one place. Keeping the names straight was easy enough, but then you have to keep the countries straight as well. Not as easy, but doable.
I loved how the mystery was laid out, and even the fact that each of the people at the B&B had secrets of their own that they wanted to keep hidden. But it's not as simple as it seems when they must involve Brandy Flint, a powerful witch and owner of Flint winery, and Charlene's friend. It all seems so complicated for Charlene, who asks Jack for help.
Through a twisty tale that interweaves mystery, loss, and intrigue, we are given new insights and danger abounds; and wait to see how it all turns out. It is indeed a delicious mix of a tale, and while the ending is very good, I have to say that I am Team Jack (yes, I know he's a ghost, but such a delightful one); so Charlene has that to deal with as well (which is no spoiler as it's been in previous books).
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Another fine tale from Ms. Wilton, and the ending alone is worth reading the entire book (but don't peek!). Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Traci Wilton's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/traci-wilton/
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