Together in one collection – the first three books in the Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Series.Arrivals and ArrestsFenella Woods has only met a few people during the twenty-four hours she’s been in Douglas, the capital city of the Isle of Man. She’s shocked when she discovers one of them dead in an alley behind her apartment building. Struggling to adapt to her new life in a foreign country seems easy … foreign country seems easy compared to coping with finding herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
Nearly fifty and newly single, Fenella meets a handsome police inspector, a dashing new neighbor, and a sophisticated businessman, all of whom have her questioning her determination to remain unattached.
Having a ghost for a roommate and a kitten as an uninvited houseguest has her questioning her decision to start a new life on the small island in the Irish Sea after all.
Boats and Bad Guys
Fenella Woods is excited to be taking the ferry across the Irish Sea to England so that she can begin her research. When she finds a dead body in her cabin, she has to change her plans.
The police seem convinced that the killer is one of the other passengers who had a cabin reserved for the journey. Fenella meets a group of suspects that includes a wealthy couple, an older man and his much younger wife, and a retired and incredibly nosy woman.
Finding herself caught up in the middle of another murder investigation isn’t pleasant for Fenella. This time Fenella is determined not to take any advice from her dead aunt who continues to occupy the luxury apartment that used to be her home. Her kitten, Katie, isn’t much help either, as she seems determined to cause as much mischief as she possibly can.
While Fenella wants to help Inspector Robinson find the killer before he or she strikes again, things certainly aren’t going the way she’d expected when she started her new life on the Isle of Man.
Cars and Cold Cases
Fenella Woods is nervous but eager to start driving lessons on the Isle of Man. Having never driven a manual transmission before, she quickly finds herself struggling with having to change gears with her left hand while sitting on what feels like the wrong side of the car and driving on what seems to be the wrong side of the road.
Her friendship with CID Inspector Daniel Robinson is less stressful. He’s going through some cold cases and he asks her to share her thoughts. Daniel seems to think that she’ll have a different perspective on the investigations because she doesn’t know any of the people involved. He’s surprised to find that the first case he mentions, a missing person from thirty years earlier, involves Fenella’s new driving instructor.
Fenella’s aunt Mona, who is either a ghost or a figment of Fenella’s imagination, has her own ideas about both the missing person and an unconnected thirty-year-old murder investigation that Daniel is also reopening. And of course, she’s eager for Fenella to get involved in both cases.
Fenella isn’t sure she’s ready to try to deal with driving lessons, two cold cases, one nosy aunt, a kitten who needs surgery, and three different men who all appeal to her in very different ways. She knew her life was going to change when she moved to the Isle of Man, but she wasn’t anticipating quite this much excitement.
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I read the first one. It’s just too much. The typical “inherit a house and money, move, suddenly men are falling all over themselves drooling over the previously uninteresting-to-men mc.” I suppose it’s different in that there’s 3 men instead of the more common 2.
Also, she stumbles on to two murders, in this previously non-murder-ridden town. Amazing how many murders follow these mc’s about, innit?
What really got me was the ridiculousness of the mc. We’re told she’s a college prof, in British history, and yet she’s never gone to the UK. What? She moves to the Isle of Man and has done NO research on it. If there’s one thing you can be sure of, a researcher will research. But this woman not only doesn’t, after she arrives she doesn’t turn on her computer for days. Doesn’t think to look up hours for places. I dunno. Just not at all what an educated, theoretically curious-minded person would do.
I had hopes for her as an “older” woman, but her obsession with make up and hair dying was off-putting. There was no maturity or life-insight to balance her shallowness.
Obligatory cute cat, but srsly? The cat shrugs? I’d like to see that in real life. And I don’t know what the water is being put in, (a thimble maybe?) but the mc is filling that kitten’s water dish multiple times a day. Ditto the kibble. Either the cat is a total chonk, or it’s spilling/scattering everything.
The obligatory ghost is okay (the obligatory “make-over” comes through the ghost-aunt leaving behind an expensive glamorous collection of clothes that just happen to fit the mc as if made for her. Oka-ay ….)
And really – when did she buy the coffee maker? We’ve been given an almost minute-by-minute accounting of her days, and she’s moaned about not being able to carry heavy things when walking. Yet somehow she loads up in cat food. And somehow, magically manages to buy a coffee maker in an out-of-time wormhole.
And why is walking such a huge deal here? She acts as if a couple blocks walking is impossible — except when it’s not. Couldn’t figure her out at all.
Continuity issues — one moment they’re all talking around a car in the garage, and the next sentence they’ve somehow arrived at the pub and ordered drinks.
I did finish it — inertia mostly. I won’t be reading the rest.
This has been a very addictive series. A little jealous of Fenella :-). Very entertaining characters.
I enjoyed the first three books so much I ordered the next 3 as well. Have not gotten to them yet. The first three came together in one set and I read them one right after another. I have so many books from Bookbub that that never hold my attention past the first couple of chapters, but these are exceptional. Its funny how some authors make their characters so relatable that you care about them right off. I highly recommend this series, great cozy reading!!
Easy reading. A bit repetitive. Sweet characters.
I found the books to be mundane. Slow reading with haphazard plot.
I got this as a freebie and stopped reading after the first book. It just didn’t catch my interest. The former boyfriend who continues to call doesn’t seem to fit in at all.
I love reading about the Isle of Man, and the ghostly feature is charming!
These mysteries set in the Isle of Man, are truly cozy! Not the typical formula of young red-haired self-employed woman getting involved in murder(s). Yes there is a woman who finds a body… or two… or more… and there is some low-key romance, but there’s a ghost! And mostly people over 40. Quite enjoyable.
A very charming series that feels “old school”. Our mid-aged heroine, Fenella, was born on the Isle but raised in US. Inheriting her Aunt’s estate she moves to Douglas to write her novel but finds that she has a knack for finding dead bodies. Xarissa has a fabulous knack of bringing you into her characters conversations while suggesting the surroundings. This skill allows the reader’s imagination to fill in all the blanks. Absolutely charming, clean, interesting, funny, page-turning tales that show awkward restarts in life can bring joy and friendship. Loved it.
Interesting and fun read.
It’s hard to find original ways for the heroine to “find a body” let alone two dead bodies. Great book, great follow up reads. The flow is natural and I enjoyed the interesting asides about the location.
Have really enjoyed this series. It has been fun to discover the Isle of Man with Fenella and her friends. Aunt Mona has helped make a big change in Fenella’s life.
I enjoyed it
Good cozy set.
Good story in Book 1, 2 and 3 build on book 1. Mona is funny, Katie is typical. Enjoyed the first three.
Great Author.Really enjoyed the books.Will read more from this author.
Great characters and good story line.
Not as good as the reviews led me to believe.
I enjoy Diana Xarissa’s books that take place on the Isle of Man. I have been there and can picture where she is talking about.
Wonderful mystery series! Steady flowing pace, Educational because Isle of Man! Comforting friendships, lovable characters, including a supportive ghost Auntie, and an adorable kitten.