Puzzled 4 Murder

 A Sophie Kimball Mystery Book 14

Author:    J.C. Eaton

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781966322016

Beyond The Page Publishing

216 Pages

$14.99; $5.99 Amazon

February 25, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's a blistering hot summer in Sun City West, and members of the retirement community are happy to escape into the air-conditioned bliss of the library to work on a mammoth forty-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.  But things begin heating up inside, too, when members clash with the domineering head of the puzzle committee over which puzzle to solve -- until someone settles the matter by killing her.  Now it's up to Sophie "Phee" Kimball to put all the pieces of the murder plot together and catch the culprit responsible.

Any number of the jigsaw afficionados could have wanted the victim out of the picture for her personality alone, but Phee suspects there was a more sinister motive behind the murder.  Then the chosen puzzle and the library itself are struck by one instance of sabotage after another, and Phee's convinced that someone is sending a menacing message.  But just as she unearths a telling clue and slots it into place, she finds herself in a race against time to finish the puzzle and solve the case -- before the killer goes to pieces and finishes her off too...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie "Phee" Kimball-Gregory is married to Marshall Gregory, who works for Nate's private investigator agency as one of the investigators.  Phee is their accountant, and unfortunately, her mother Harriet thinks that there are always murderers around the corner.  Also unfortunately, she's usually right, which puts Phee in the position of having to give her 'tasks' to do to keep her out of the murder investigation.

This time out, the Sun City West retirees are taking part in constructing a giant forty-thousand-piece puzzle, and the finished product is going to be in the Senior Living magazine.  But not everyone is happy about this: the puzzle that they're constructing is a last-minute replacement, since the three original choices no one wanted to do (seriously?  A snowstorm?)  This is an innocuous picture of an Arizona street...or is it?

It doesn't help that the body of one of the committee members is discovered in the library and Nate's firm is called in by the police to help investigate.  Or that Nate is contacted by a woman who claims another woman killed her husband twenty years ago and she knows who it is, but not where she is now.  Phee's task is to keep her mother away from both investigations, if possible...and it isn't...

Then when 'accidents' keep occurring at the library around the puzzle, and threatening messages are left, even Phee knows that something is off.  Someone does not want that puzzle completed, but why?  Harriet is determined that she and her friends finish it, because she's not giving up the chance to be in Senior Living.  At least she's not able to bring her Chiweenie Streetman to the library.  That's the best news Phee's heard in a long time.  The 'little prince' causes chaos, and Phee has enough of that right now.

But when a major clue is revealed on air, and something else is discovered, not only does it upend everything, it puts Phee right in the middle of it.  And not only does she not want to be, she wants to be as far away as possible...which isn't going to happen...

This is the fourteenth book in the series, and I have read them all.  I have also loved them all.  The author(s) have done a wonderful job in the character department.  Harriet and her friends are a riot, especially Herb and her loony Aunt Ina.  Poor Phee is the voice of reason -- that none of them listen to anyway.  

Things get going right from the beginning, and it seems there are two murders to solve, both of which get Phee drawn into.  In this book, I figured out most of it before the middle, but I love reading about Harriet and her antics, and Phee's attempts to rein her in, which make the book the most fun ever.

Reading this series makes you want to sit back and watch the action, because you know you don't want to be anywhere near the scary seniors, who think they're actual sleuths (they're not).  There's always something going on, and it is a great enjoyment to read.  The ending comes and it's way too soon; when we find the murderer the motives are given, and as old as time (as they all are everywhere).  It's a funny climax and I couldn't ask for more.  I look forward to the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Puzzled-Murder-J-C-Eaton-ebook/dp/B0DW13VXZQ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7333614691

More on J.C. Eaton's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/j-c-eaton/

Mervyn LeRoy Comes To Town

 Author:    Murray Pomerance/R. Barton Palmer

Genre:     Biography/Entertainment

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781978838383; 9781978838376

Rutgers University Press

276 Pages

$120.00; $39.95; $39.95 Amazon

May 13, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mervyn LeRoy Comes To Town is the first book devoted to the career of one of the director/producers who in the early years of sound cinema was instrumental in establishing the Hollywood model of production that would endure for more than half a century.  As a director and producer, LeRoy was responsible for turning out more than sixty feature films in a career that spanned five decades; as a studio executive, he contributed substantially to the success of the industry during the challenging period of the Depression and also in the period of realignment and readjustment that followed the end of World War II.  This book offers chapters devoted to individual films such as Little Caesar, Waterloo Bridge, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, Gypsy, and Quo Vadis.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

First off, I will tell you that I love classic films.  I own thousands of them, and don't even watch today's movies.  It was the old Hollywood that turned out true actors and actresses, producers and directors.  The studios were the main crux of it all, and they wielded their power.  It was then that movies defined what Hollywood was, and my fascination with it has never waned.

Saying that, I was excited to read this book.  Since I already own Mervyn LeRoy's biography, I wanted to see what the author(s) could contribute to this wonderful director.  They do not parse all of his films; they choose carefully the best of them, and proceed to examine each part, showing us what LeRoy filmed.  Like all people, we watch films for entertainment, and never even think of what is behind each scene or actor's motions.

I, however, love to watch the actors as their face shows what is going on behind it.  In most cases, you can see the change in emotion as they go through different situations, and no one is more powerful at this than the late actor Paul Muni.  He has a face that shows what he is thinking, and you will find this in LeRoy's film I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang.  This film was controversial when it was made (1932); but the authors are able to examine the film from all angles, and dissect it for the layperson who wishes to know more of LeRoy's intentions.  It was definitely interesting to see the film from a different perspective, and I will watch it again with this in mind.

The reason I chose this film is the fact that it is the picture on the cover of this book, with Mr. Muni front and center.  He was a wonderful actor, but made too few films, in my opinion.  However, back to Mr. LeRoy: he was a wonderful director, and began as an actor, but fortunately, his career went in a different direction.  He started out like gangbusters (a trite phrase, I know, but appropriate), and made films that today people may not have seen, but should.  One, Playing Around, is one of my favorites.  I don't know if it was deliberate, but the last scene is actually my favorite.  Chester Morris is superb in his role, and LeRoy made a great film.  Unfortunately, it is not one of the ones that is featured, but when you read the book, I do hope that you make the effort to see LeRoy's films.

If you start with one, make it Little Caesar with the great Edward G. Robinson.  Given the material and LeRoy's directing skills, the two make a magnificent film.  The authors break the film down for you, and in the end, you want to watch the film again.  

Since reading this book, I myself have checked the airwaves to see if any are airing, and have recently pulled up one from my own catalog.  Seeing LeRoy through new eyes was definitely a huge plus for me.  All in all, I think that anyone interested in the Golden Age of Hollywood would be interested in this book.

To add, the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I must tell you that there are spoilers in the book.  While they do a very nice job of making us see things through LeRoy's eyes, they also give away the ending of each movie they write about.  I caution you this so that you can see the movie before reading the book; and please, do yourself a favor and do both.  Recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss, but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Mervyn-LeRoy-Comes-Murray-Pomerance/dp/1978838387/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7309267296

More on The Authors:    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/33501.Murray_Pomerance

                                        https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28118.R_Barton_Palmer

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg

A Domestic  Diva Mystery Book 18

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN:    9781496743459

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$27.00; $12.99 Amazon

May 27, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stylish brunches are all the rage this autumn in Old Town Alexandria, and everyone's posting their parties on social media.  But while Domestic Diva Sophie Winston juggles her event-filled calendar, she's approached by local designer Mitzi Lawson -- who is afraid someone is following her.  The very next day Mitzi loses her best friend and business partner, Denise.  The two were renovating a generations-old house where Denise died unexpectedly, and Mitzi fears that it wasn't a medical condition to blame, but murder.

It could just be the shock talking, but Sophie agrees to help Mitzi involve the police.  Then she receives a panicked phone call from Mitzi, and when she rushes to the old house, Mitzi is nowhere to be found.  Now Sophie's appetite for investigation is piqued even more than her appetite for eggs Benedict and mimosas.

Could Denise's death be connected to her viper's nest of in-laws or the house she was working on which her husband just inherited?  What of the self-proclaimed etiquette expert with some improper secrets, or the scheming mistress?  Or does the old house harbor secrets of its own?  There's a generous buffet of suspects to keep the Diva scrambling for an answer...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Domestic Diva Sophie Winston is awaiting autumn, when two events cloud the atmosphere: first, her "frenemy" Natasha wants to hold a brunch at her home (which Natasha has always coveted) and insists that Sophie must be there, as it is to be filmed, and the person who is putting it on the air won't do it unless Sophie appears.  Feeling strong-armed by Natasha, she nevertheless agrees, but only on her terms.  

Then an interior decorator named Mitzi Lawson wants to meet with Sophie at a house she and her business partner Denise are renovating, Sophie is curious enough about it to agree.  But when Sophie arrives at the house, she finds the body of Denise, and figures out soon enough that Denise was murdered.  Things escalate when no one can find Mitzi, and Denise's wealthy relatives ask Sophie to investigate, since they know of her reputation for solving mysteries.

Reluctantly, she agrees.  Which might be a mistake, since when there is another encounter with the unknown killer, Sophie could very well be the second -- or third person to die...

This is the 18th book in the series and I have to say that I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Sophie grow and stand up to Natasha (which she did not do in book #1).  She's finally come into her own, happy with her life, friends with her ex-husband (and I am sure they are both still extremely fond of each other), and spends her off-time solving the occasional murder.  That's a full life, and more than I want in my own.  (I'm happy to watch and read about murders, but no thank you, very much).

Sophie has a lot going on here, with trying out recipes for brunch, dodging the figurative bullet, and trying to figure out who wanted Denise dead.  But things aren't as easy as sifting through suspects to find out who the murderer is.  There is a lot more detail, and when some of it comes to light, you think you have the right answer.  But it doesn't end there, and it takes a strange turn that is completely unexpected to decipher why the murder happened, and who the killer ultimately is.

In the end, this was another lively mystery by Ms. Davis that tells a story and shows us how everything comes together tightly in the end.  I thoroughly enjoyed the tale; the characters, and all the little quirks between them to come to a delightful end.  There are also some yummy recipes at the back (which I want to try).  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Poaches-Domestic-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B0DFRXP333/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7262905384

More on Krista Davis's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/krista-davis/

Sealed With a Hiss

 A Mrs. Murphy Mystery Book 33

Author:    Rita Mae Brown

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9780593874080

Bantam

240 Pages

$30.00; $13.99 Amazon

April 22. 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a decades-forgotten car bobs to the surface of a local creek, with a body still in the driver's seat, it's up to Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her beloved cats and dogs to save the say, in this latest mystery from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author, Sneaky Pie Brown.

Spring is in full bloom, and everything is blossoming just right for Harry in Crozet, Virginia.  Restorations to the long-shutted segregated school are nearly complete, and the school will be renamed to commemorate an important community member.  To honor the former students, Harry and her friends are hard at work planning a reunion.  It's a big affair, and the crew spends their days hanging plaques at the gym, arranging food, and writing speeches.

But the fifteen acres behind the school are enticing for more than just a school reunion.  One realtor soon reveals plans to buy the land and build over it -- unless the crew can find a way to stop the sale. 

In their search to prevent the purchase, they come across something unexpected: a dead body, which might not be the first to show up this season.  With a little aid from Tee Tucker the corgi and Irish Wolfhound Pirate, as well as feline sleuths Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, Harry just might have a chance at solving this mystery and preventing the land purchase once and for all.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

'Harry' Harristeen and her friends have just finished renovating the old segregated school, which has stood vacant for decades, and their hard work is finally rewarded.  Now they're going to open the school to visitors (and hopefully, donors) to help keep it in shape and as a historic and cultural reminder.  But then a real estate agent approaches them with a tasty offer of cash if they will agree to sell the land behind the school for a residential development.  He even promises to keep the school and grounds as it, and that the development will be good for both residents and the town of Crozet.

But something doesn't sit right with the offer, and Harry's instincts are telling her to turn it down.  Even when done, the agent still pushes, but no one understands why.  It doesn't help that Harry and her friend Lucas have found an old car at the bottom of a lake, and its owner is still inside, albeit a skeleton at this time.

But there are no clues to why the person was there -- until it's found he was murdered.  Now Harry wants to find out why...if she can keep from becoming another victim...

This is the thirty-third book in the series, and I have been captivated by it for years.  I'm not going to lie; I do miss the historical elements from the Colonial times which once were in every book; but I also realize not everyone is like myself and enjoys the past mingled with the present.  Ah, well....

However, it doesn't change the fact that Ms. Brown (and Sneaky Pie) are very talented writers.  She brings you into the story, and while she is telling it, you feel like you are part of the conversation.  Perhaps eavesdropping on those she has with Susan or Cooper...but I enjoy it just the same.  While Harry is voicing her thoughts, we progress along with the action, and even her husband Fair has a good part in this one as well.

Not to mention our favorite animals: Tucker, Pirate, Mrs. Murphy, and, of course, Pewter.  They have their own say in the story, and their own actions which prove to be just as valuable.  We understand that while they like their treats, they are extremely loyal to their people, and would do anything for Harry.

When we begin to understand that this murder is more than just about a land development, it comes almost too late for Harry; but we know that as intelligent as she is, she is also just as resourceful, and has help that we find comes from an unexpected new ally.  

The reason for the murder is rather sad, and a bit paranoiac, but nonetheless it is a murder.  Harry does what she needs to survive; and all ends just as it should.  The mystery is firm, well-written, and kept me reading throughout the story.  I highly recommend this and look forward to the next in the series.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Sealed-Hiss-Mrs-Murphy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D9XWF7YZ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7211464009

More on Rita Mae Brown's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/rita-mae-brown/

Christmas Mittens Murder

 Anthology

Authors:    Lee Hollis/Lynn Cahoon/Maddie Day

Genre:       Mystery/Christmas

Hardcover; Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496744241; 9781496744258

Kensington Cozies

400 Pages

$19.30; $8.99; $1.99 Amazon

October 22, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crisp Christmas weather is made for mittens -- and some mittens are made for murder...

DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER by LEE HOLLIS

The church's annual Christmas bazaar is an unqualified success until the local jeweler realizes a valuable diamond ring has been stolen.  Food writer Hayley Powell joins the search but discovers something shocking -- the dead body of a local knitter with a homemade mitten stuffed in her mouth...

TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS by LYNN CAHOON

Magic Springs, Idaho, is decked out in its sparkling holiday best, but Mia Malone is almost too busy to notice.  Taking a second job at the Lodge to save Mia's Morsels doesn't leave her much time for festivities -- until she finds a dead body near one red mitten in the snow...

MURDEROUS MITTENS by MADDIE DAY

A quiet Christmas in Colinas, California, at her twin sister's charming B&B is exactly what CeCe Barton needs during the holiday hustle of Los Angeles.  But the morning after a lovely evening at the local wine bar, CeCe learns that the bar's proprietor, who sells mittens in her spare time, has been found dead...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed this first mystery.  Lee Hollis, whom I will admit that I didn't care much for the first book in this series, has turned into a delightful author that I will read time and time again.  I love the Hayley Powell series, and this short story gives us another Christmas with Hayley and her husband, Bruce.  But it is Hayley who takes the spotlight, when she is roped into providing a pricey gift basket for the church bazaar by the local pastor.  It seems her friends, Mona and Liddy, along with her brother, have been tapped as well.  But there is discontent among the church ladies who knit and crochet gifts, as theirs aren't as popular, and they're blaming everyone else but themselves.  Fights ensue.  Then a valuable diamond ring is stolen, and everyone is a suspect.  When Hayley is finally allowed to leave, she finds the body of one of the knitters, with a mitten shoved in her mouth.  Now Hayley is tasked once again with helping the police to find a killer...

This was a delightful story, and kept me riveted enough to read it in one sitting.  I enjoy Hayley and her friends, and the strong bonds they have.  Hayley is stumped with this murder, and when she finally figures out who the killer might actually be, it could cost her her life...

Two Christmas Mittens:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐  Full disclosure: I read Ms. Cahoon's Tourist Trap Mysteries, and love them all.  Unfortunately, I am not one to read fantasy, such as those with vampires, werewolves, or witches.  So this is the first I have read of hers that have to deal with such.  But, I love her other books, so was willing to give it a chance.  I was pleasantly surprised, and am happy that I did so.

Mia Malone is a caterer who also happens to be a witch, although she doesn't embrace it as much as others.  When she and her friends find a dead body with a mitten nearby, no one thinks anything of it, until the mitten causes someone to fall into a coma, and will die if Mia and her witchy friends can't find a cure.  Her grandmother can keep the woman alive for a time, but until then, they need to find a key item to endeavor a cure.  Finding herself in strange situations, it isn't until she starts to put the pieces together that she's able to find the truth of the murder and who killed the person...

This was a very good mystery, even with its paranormal elements.  I enjoyed the story, and everything that it entailed, including the above.  I enjoyed it so much that I might actually delve into more of these mysteries.  The ending was done well, and story intriguing, and worth it all.

Murderous Mittens:  ⭐⭐⭐When CeCe Barton visits her twin sister Allie in Colinas, California, for a relaxing Christmas at Allie's B&B, it isn't going to be one.  She meets a woman at a winery one night and by the next day the woman has been found murdered.  Now she's involved in solving the murder along with a new friend named Cam who has some experience in solving mysteries herself...

I have read several of Ms. Day's books in the past and enjoyed most of them.  But now I will have to do something I hate to do: which is speak of the way books have turned since before.  This book is definitely 'politically correct,' and I read to get away from everyday learnings, not have them thrust upon me in books, which is why I couldn't give this more than three stars.  There was more than a story in this, there were things that didn't need to be in there to get the story across.

I will say that I was surprised by the ending, which is always a good thing.  It also introduces us to a new character, CeCe Barton, who is beginning her own series, and one of my earlier favorites, Cam, who had her own series of organic gardening (very good mystery series).  It was like meeting an old friend and a new.  A decent story for the most part, and worth reading anyway.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mittens-Murder-Lee-Hollis/dp/149674425X/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7100217703

More on Lee Hollis's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/lee-hollis/

More on Lynn Cahoon's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/lynn-cahoon/

More on Maddie Day's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/maddie-day/

A Corpse Among the Carolers

A Food Blogger Mystery Book 7

Author:    Debra Sennefelder

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781960511928

Beyond The Page Publishing

225 Pages

$15.99; $5.99 Amazon

October 8, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words "Ho-ho-homicide"...

Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive.  But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other's company.  This year's caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who'd volunteered to play Santa, a knife plunged into his back.

With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless.  It doesn't take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim's bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money.  Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters.  But as she closes in on the killer, they're determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Hope Early has a good life.  She's finally happy with her boyfriend Ethan and his two daughters, and she's looking forward to a large family and friends Christmas celebration.  This holiday season is starting out well...for a while.  But then she overhears an argument between her 'Santa', Mitty, and Ralph, a friend, which ends up with Ralph pushing Mitty.  All because Ralph believes Mitty, the owner of an antique shop, sold him a bogus lamp.  While Mitty denies it, there's no denying that there's a problem to be solved.  Along with shopping, Hope can't help but overhear Mitty's ex-wife and new wife having their own argument, and does what she can to stop it.  

But there's more going on behind the scenes, especially when Hope is out caroling with her sister, Ethan, his daughters, and others -- and she discovers a dead body.  Again.  Now, while the lead detective, Sam, tells her to stay away, the main suspect's family asks her to help.  How is she supposed to say no to friends?  But will she be able to solve a murder, get her Christmas together, and do everything else on her agenda before it all comes to a crashing halt?...

I have to say that if I had to do everything Hope does, I'd be a wreck.  Plus, I just don't have that kind of energy anymore (alas!).  It's fun to read about it, but it tires me out just thinking about it!  She's a whirlwind of energy, and quite a brilliant sleuth, to boot.

She's trying hard to make this a perfect Christmas, but things keep getting in the way.  Things like murder and deception.  Angry ex-wives (more than one).  Not to mention that Hope is having little accidents -- and one big one that almost sidelines her permanently.  But that's all I will say about that.

She does her best to pick up clues with the help of her best friend Drew, who's a reporter.  Who has his own problems that have nothing to do with murder.  In fact, there's a couple of very funny scenes that surround the man.  It's all worth reading.

Without giving anything else away, I will say that this is a delightful Christmas mystery that you can try and find the clues yourself.  They are there, but not easy to decipher.  When the ending comes and the murderer is discovered, it comes as a surprise, which it should do.  And leaves us wanting to read the next in the series.  A very nice book for a holiday evening.  Recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Among-Carolers-Debra-Sennefelder-ebook/dp/B0D6G64B46/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7076851130

More on Debra Sennefelder's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/debra-sennefelder/

The Spirit Moves

 A Haunted Haven Mystery Book 4

Author:    Carol J. Perry

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Trade Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496743626

Kensington Cozies

240 Pages

$17.95; $9.99 Amazon

May 27, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When the body of "how-to" book writer Terry Holiday is found by Aster Paterson in her flower garden, the townspeople of Haven are shocked.  But they're even more surprised when the beloved bookshop owner insists that the spirit of her late husband Peter led her to the grim discovery.  Only Aster seems unsurprised -- she's been baking his favorite shortbread cookies every day, hoping to lure his ghost back home...

Even Maureen is a little skeptical -- until Peter's ghost appears in the bookshop window for all to see.  Haven's hard-headed realist cop Frank Hubbard is determined to unveil whatever trickery led to the apparition, as he suspects the answer to who killed Terry Holiday may be connected to the illusion.

If Maureen's learned anything since she moved from New England and inherited her haunted inn, it's that 1) ghosts are real (at least some of them), and 2) so are murderers.  She doesn't need a how-to manual to solve a murder; she's done it before.  But with suspects ranging from a mystery writers group to a ghostwriter who just checked in at the inn, she will need a little help from her spirited sleuths...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Maureen inherited her Florida (haunted) inn from a woman named Penelope, someone she'd never met.  Now settled in with the crew who came with the inn, she's more than involved with Ted, the head chef.  The two are moving forward with their romance, which is pleasing her other employees.

She's also looking for ways to make the inn more profitable, as she's barely making ends meet right now.  While visiting her friend Aster, who owns the local bookshop, she sees that a group of mystery writers are meeting and she finds their remarks about an author who writers 'how-to' books are not flattering.  Curious, she purchases his latest book and sees that it is certainly useful, and learns that this particular book was more than likely written by a ghostwriter.  But when the author, Terry Holiday, is supposed to arrive for a signing at the bookshop, he never shows up.

Later, Aster finds his body in the flower garden behind her shop, and tells everyone that the ghost of her husband Peter told her it was there.  Detective Frank Hubbard thinks Peter's appearance is a trick, and now Aster is a suspect, along with everyone who knew Terry.  With the bookshop a crime scene, Aster moves to the hotel with her cat, Earl Gardner...and the spirit of Peter, supposedly.  The writers' group is now meeting at the inn, and a couple of other guests show up, along with a man who claims to be a ghostwriter, but is charming everyone around him.

With a murderer on the loose, people are cancelling reservations.  No one knows who to trust, and even Frank is asking Maureen for help on this case.  What is going on?  Can she solve a crime while still trying to find time to spend with Ted?  It seems as if she'll need the help of her ghostly roommate Lorna, and Lorna's beau, a late Scotland Yard detective named Reggie.  But how will she explain it all to Frank, who doesn't believe in ghosts?...

This is the fourth book in the series and I have read them all.  I have also loved them all.  To tell the truth, I do love books with 'friendly' spirits, and especially learning about their backgrounds as well.  I love the relationship between them and Maureen, and it adds to the attraction of the book.  Along with her dog, Finn, who has a lively time with the ghosts  as well.

Maureen's efforts are not unrewarded, but she has a lot of people to sift through -- the guests at the hotel, and the writers' group -- she refuses to believe that gentle Aster could be a murderer, even if Frank isn't quite convinced.  The clues that she finds are intriguing, and it isn't easy deciphering them, but I love a challenge.

I will not give anything else away, and hope that I didn't give too much (basically, I expanded on what the blurb states, so there's that), but I will say that the ending left me as stunned as it did Maureen.  I was hoping for a different outcome, but murderers have their own ideas, and it's never reasonable nor logical.  It was a tad humorous, though.  I look forward to the next in the series and highly recommend this book.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Moves-Haunted-Haven-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DFS48CKN/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7062557852

More on Carol J. Perry's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/carol-j-perry/