Divorced mother Chantilly Adair didn’t take the job as the head of the Castleberry Georgia Historical Society because she thought it would be easy, in fact, she felt the exact opposite, and that suited her just fine. Desperate to get away from Birmingham and her ex-husband, she took her pre-teen son and high-tailed it straight to her childhood home in Castleberry, Georgia, and the echoes of her … her recently deceased parents.
A tumble down a flight of stairs and causing a bump on the head hasn’t hindered Chantilly from rehabbing the historical presence in town, but finding the dead body of the town’s BBQ king just days before the annual BBQ competition puts her right in the local detective’s hot seat.
When the spirit rumored to be haunting the dead man’s restaurant appears, Chantilly’s not sure which is worse, being accused of murder, or claiming a spirit might have had something to do with it.
Now Chantilly must save herself from a life behind bars or a stay in the psychiatric ward, and still get the competition going on time.
If you like Southern or paranormal cozy mysteries, you’ll love this first book in the Chantilly Adair Psychic Medium Cozy Mystery Series.
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A great start for a new paranormal cozy mystery series! After a concussion, Chantilly starts seeing ghosts…and her life will never be the same. The writing is fresh and skillful…a little bit spooky and a whole lot funny. The plot is tight and multi-layered, and the characters are well drawn and believable. It was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to future installments. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
This is a great new series by Carolyn…a definite page turner!! You’ll enjoy this series.
I have never read books by this author but I’m going to read more after reading this one. I loved it! It’s a fun book with funny inner monologue by the main character. Chantilly is a newly divorced mom who moves back into her childhood home with her teenage son. She falls down some stairs where she hits her head. And, she starts seeing a ghost. Citing a town celebration, a contestant is found dead by Chantilly. As she found the body and one of the last to see him alive, she is a suspect in his murder so she is determined to find the real killer. The ghost keeps appearing to Chantilly, giving her clues as to how she died but also to the recent murder. Of course, the good-looking detective wants her to let him do his job and find the killer. Her two older friends and one much younger friend want to help find the killer, too. The whole book is filled with likeable characters who I would like to meet. I am looking forward to reading about these characters and watch Chantilly’s psychic abilities grow through the next book which is “Ghosts are people, too” and it’s the next book I’m going to read. Good job, Ms. Aspenson!!
This is a great start to a new paranormal series. Chantilly I love that name moved back to town with her 12 year old son after her divorce. I would highly recommend.
I was given a copy for a honest review
This book was a delight to read. I loved everything about it. I haven’t read the Angela Panther series but am going to check them out. For those who know her, Angela makes an appearance in this book. I love Chantilly and really enjoyed her psychic development. It was nice to be in on that journey and I thought the author did well with her timing on the development of Chantilly’s ability. I enjoyed the mystery. I thought it was well done and it wasn’t until close to the end that I figured it out. There is quite a bit of humor in the story. I laughed out loud, possibly too hard, at some of the conversations.
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy Southern mysteries, humor and ghosts. I can’t wait to read more!
Chantilly is the head of the Gerogia Historical Society in the northern town of Castleberry. She loves her job and does it well. She moved back after her divorce and brought her 12 year old son with her.
After falling down the stairs at work she is starting to see and hear things that are not normal for her. When one of the BBQ contestants die she is on a mission to set the record staright for her and a ghost?
This was a fun story to read and a great start to a series. I loved Chantilly, Del, Thelma and Chantilly’s assistant Olivia. We also have a sexy detective that thinks dating is a big hassel for him.
The writing was superb you wanted to know what was going to happen. Was there really a ghost who killed Billy? We can’t forget her new friend Angela Panther who knows what she is doing and guiding Chantilly. You will be kept guessing up until the end at least I was. There are so many twists and turns.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I have to be honest and say until recently I hadn’t even hear of cozy mysteries and I’m not a paranormal fan, but I was asked if I’d read and review this one and I’m really glad I did.
It was a quick, easy read with wonderful characters, lighthearted humor, murder, a few twists/turns, and of course a ghost.
I am looking forward to more in this series.
I love finding (or being introduced) to new authors and genres.
I was given an arc for an honest review
Chantilly is the director of the historical society and a judge in the upcoming BBQ competition. Things have been really busy lately and she managed to fall down some stairs at work and bump her head. She’s doesn’t want to go see the doc because his office reminds her too much of her daddy passing away. When she starts seeing and hearing things when nobody is around she gets a little worried. Doc prescribes rest and maybe icing the bump on her head when she refused to have tests run. Pretty soon, she’s sure she’s seeing at least one ghost. Next thing you know, someone is murdered and Chantilly is a suspect. She and her friends look into it as much as they can even though the handsome police officer/coach doesn’t want her to. She has to do something before she ends up in jail or dead. This is a great cozy mystery. I really like the snark and outright laughs! That makes it my favorite kind of cozy. I definitely suggest trying it, especially if you like to laugh with cozy characters!
This story takes place in a quaint, Southern, small town full of mystery and intrigue. Chantilly’s two elderly friends Del and Thelma add delightful comic relief. Does Chantilly’s bump on her head cause hallucinations or a new gift for seeing ghosts? You’ll need to read it to find out! I highly recommend this book!
What a great little cozy!
This is a new to me author and I really really enjoyed the story. The characters were hilarious and the story line was was well developed. Think of it like Golden Girls meets Casper with a little Murder She Wrote and you have Chantilly and her gang!
Can’t wait to read the next in the series and to check out the rest of Carolyn’s books!
Sometimes life just keeps throwing you curve balls. Chantilly Adair has moved back to her hometown of Castleberry Georgia to start over after her divorce. After slipping on some stairs at work and banging her head she is seeing things, and now she found the towns most obnoxious citizen murdered. Chantilly is pegged as one of the prime suspects. As she works to clear her name, she comes to realize that her life will never be the same again. This is a fun beginning to a new paranormal cozy mystery series by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson.
I loved this book! The main characters were believable and sone of the other characters were hilarious. I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the story and those characters. I didn’t figure out who the murderer was until it was revealed. It was a definite surprise. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
A very entertaining and great ghost story.
Hey y’all, you gotta read this right quick!
I’m not from the South, I’m not even from the States, but even I could tell that this story oozes Southern Charm. And I loved it!
Ever since Chantilly unintentionally skipped the bottom half of the stairs and knocked her noggin up good, she’s been seeing and hearing things other people don’t. She also has blackouts. She chalks it up to exhaustion, but we, as readers, know it’s more than that! I loved that!!!
Bobby has serious anger issues and he’s making enemies left, right, and center. So when he’s found dead, there are plenty of suspects. Chantilly being one of them! So what else can she do but investigate? Without meaning to, Chantilly is actually confusing the police more than helping.
The book was well-written. Drawing me in. I laughed out loud a few times at Thelma. She and Del are a hoot. And I loved that Angela from the Angela Panther Mystery Series made an appearance. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal cozy murder mystery!
This book was a wonderful surprise. Chantilly gets some unexpected help from a couple of surprising places that made the story really exciting. A great group of characters form a wonderful group of supporting friends and allies also. Chantilly has to solve murders in the past and the present and there are lots of suspects and couldn’t wait to find out who did what. What a great start to an awesome new series. Looking forward to more of Chantilly’s adventures. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.