“A spooktacular holiday tale, with lots of tricks and treats and an intriguing cast of characters.” Goodreads Reviewer Sean and Sara McKinley are excited about the haunted house they’ve set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser, but things take a ghoulish turn when the reporter covering their story is found dead. With the media keeping mum about how she died, Sara’s curiosity is piqued, and she … died, Sara’s curiosity is piqued, and she convinces Sean to take on the investigation.
With the police actively investigating and with no clear indication that the woman was murdered, the McKinleys will need to take a cloak-and-dagger approach if they’re going to carve out the truth. As they troll for leads and work through the skeletons in the reporter’s closet, they unearth a few suspects. If they’re able to narrow them down fast enough, there might even be time for a little trick-or-treating.
McKinley Mysteries are short & sweet just like that coffee you crave. Savor the perfect blend of romance, humor, and murder with zero additives such as foul language, graphic violence or sex. These international bestselling cozies are bound to hit the spot and keep you coming back for more. This is an addiction you can afford to have. Get started today.
Readers love Halloween is Murder:
“A well written mystery with fun for the Halloween days.”
“It’s got an ending I didn’t expect. Highly recommend.”
“Another fast-paced and fun book by Carolyn Arnold.”
“A great story, quick read.”
“A fun, old-fashioned murder mystery.”
“I love fun, cozy, mystery books and this book totally fits the bill!”
“There are some very comedic sequences.”
“I would recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers.”
“Another Wow book from Carolyn Arnold!”
more
When Sara McKinley gets it into her head that something is not right and she wants to investigate,
people have a difficult time telling her NO. In this Halloween adventure, involving the sudden death of a young TV reporter who is about to move on to a better opportunity, Sean McKinley has a tougher time than usual reigning Sara in. They both want justice to be served, even after retiring from the official police force.
I like the collection of characters Carolyn Arnold has brought together for the McKinley’s not-for-profit P.I. firm. The admirable rivalry between youngin tech genius Adam and seasoned former police sergeant Jimmy shows how it is possible to respect each other while still trying to outshine the “competition.” It seems everyone is always trying to impress Sara, who adds as much to the team efforts as any one of the guys.
A backdrop to the murder investigation is the McKinley’s desire to promote a Haunted House for charity. This is how they first meet the victim, reporter Chloe Parsons and her cameraman, Jackson. It also allows us to be charmed by young Mia and gives the P.I’s plausible excuses to walk into the different tv stations and ask questions. They are skating a thin line this time because the official investigation is not yet closed. Can they solve the murder before they tick off the wrong person?
So far this is my favorite of the Murder series by Carolyn Arnold.
Halloween Is Murder – a review by Rosemary Kenny
Carolyn Arnold’s heart-warming cozy mystery, Halloween Is Murder, stars the engaging PI couple Sara and Sean McKinley.
They run the Pay It Forward Detective Agency and are now plunged in at the deep end of a murder, (or is it?) investigation, that the police seem determined to dismiss, as either death by natural causes, or suicide.
In a touching blend of Hart to Hart and Murder She Wrote, Carolyn Arnold sets the dynamic duo on the path to the truth and gives their charitable (and timely, seasonally-speaking!), not-for-profit Halloween enterprise a boost too!
Read Halloween Is Murder, by Queen of Cozies, Carolyn Arnold, Book 11 in her wonderful McKinley. Mysteries: Short and Sweet Cozies series today – you’re guaranteed to love it!
—4.5 Stars—
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Another successful book from Carolyn Arnold!
I love fun, cozy, mystery books and this book totally fits the bill!
I had so much fun playing along, trying to solve the crime with the McKinley’s!
This book revolves around Sara and Sean McKinley, their PI Firm, and their team of investigators. Sara and Sean are interviewed by reporter Chloe Parsons about the haunted house they set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser. While the whole crew is at home waiting to watch their interview on TV it is announced that Chloe, the reported who interviewed them has died and their interview is not aired. Everyone is in complete shock, especially Sara who wants to go investigate Chloe’s death. However, Sean is resistant and thinks they should wait and see what the police turn up. Unfortunately, the police and medical examiner seem to be leaning towards Chloe dying of natural causes! Sara is outraged and is dead set on proving it was murder! Sara is finally able to convince Sean to partake in the search to prove Chloe was murdered and to find her killer. This is not an easy feat and Sara and Sean encounter many obstacles along the way. But the McKinley’s and their team are on the case and they’re going to find the truth and bring Chloe justice.
I really liked the main characters – Sean and Sara McKinley! They were well developed, likable, and genuine. They had great chemistry and really played well off each other. They pushed and pulled each other’s buttons, but also helped and supported each other – like a real married couple!
I enjoyed the supporting cast for the most part – the PI firm team. I think if I had read the other books in this series I might have had a better, stronger connection or relationship with them. Don’t get me wrong they were fine – but easily forgettable characters.
The pace of this book is fast to steady. It keeps you fully engaged and entertained to the last page!
I felt that some of the passages were a bit wordy, which detracted from the story and the pace. But overall it was an excellent read!
This book is book eleven in the McKinley Mysteries Book Series. I had not read any of the books in this series before reading this book and I had no problems following this story and did not get lost or confused. So, this book can absolutely be read as a standalone book.
Although this book has a strong seasonal Halloween background it can absolutely be enjoyed year-round! I happened to have read it around Halloween, but I could totally see myself enjoying it in February as well!
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a fun, exciting, cozy, mystery book!
Carolyn Arnold has become one of my favorite authors for her ability to write accurate and authentic police procedural scenes while still keeping her creative flair of adding mystery, intrigue, and suspense to every page!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
This is book 11 in the McKinley Mysteries, and I have only read the short novella intro to this series The Day Job is Murder, so it is clear that a lot has happened since that book! That said it can be read as a stand alone.
Sean & Sarah are now Private Investigators and married, and they are all dressed up in Halloween costumes ready to take part in a news segment to help promote their Haunted House, which is seeing all proceeds going to charity and having no set admission charge. The reporter and cameraman from Your Source arrive to record the segment and it’s clear that the reporter Chloe would rather get this over and done with as soon as possible.
Once it all over they all carry on about their day until it’s time for the segment to air on TV, with Sean, Sarah a few other gathered around the TV to watch they get a shock to discover that their piece won’t be aired due to a death in the Your Source family – Chloe!
The McKinley’s are not only disappointed but shocked to say the least, considering they were all together several hours ago. How can a young, seemingly healthy woman just suddenly die a few hours later?
That is what they end up investigating at the request of Chloe’s twin sister who believes that her sister was murdered and did not die of natural causes like the police are thinking. I had no idea who it could have been right up to the end, with such a narrow suspect pool I still didn’t guess who it could have been, but there was a moment of clarity where I thought ah ha! I have it, and was right. Carolyn did a great job as keeping you guessing as to who it was though.
A great cozy mystery set around Halloween, I look forward to more from the McKinley’s.
Christmas is Murder by Carolyn Arnold is the seventh book in the Mckinley Mysteries series. It was an entertaining and easy to read cozy mystery. This is the second book from the series I am reading and I have no regrets. I am looking forward to reading the remaining books.
Sean and Sara McKinley, fresh from their honeymoon in Europe, is looking forward to sharing their first Christmas as a married couple. Then their neighbours, whom they never had time to, know on a deeper level, died in a house fire on Christmas Eve. Fuelled by the guilt of not taking the time to know her neighbours she decides to investigate the circumstances behind their deaths. She is convinced they were murdered and with Sean by her side; she is determined to prove her theory at all cost. Was it an accident or did someone deliberately set the fire?
I found the mystery engaging. I was keen to discover if Sara was correct in her suspicions. The lovely couple employed a variety of methods to help in solving the case. Some of these methods found them crossing the lines of legality. There were funny moments, which had me laughing aloud. I especially enjoyed the scene where they found themselves cornered by an angry Rottweiler.
I loved how the author incorporated the Christmas theme throughout the story. There was no doubt that this was a Christmas story.
Conclusion/Recommendation.
Christmas is Murder is a light, fun and fluffy read. If you are a reader who loves mysteries that are gritty and intense then this book not for you. However, if you are looking for something light and fun, then it is the perfect book.
Loved it
It certainly was easier to conduct a murder investigation when they were part of the police force…simply flash a badge and get information. But now that they are running their own private firm, it takes a little more effort and subtlety to gain the same information. In this case, they first have to start by convincing the police and everyone involved that there actually was a murder committed. Because when the reporter writing a story about their fabulous Haunted House fundraiser is later found dead in her bed, apparently of natural causes, they are asked by the reporter’s own sister to prove it was murder. And even Sean isn’t convinced it was anything other than a sad death. Can Sara convince him to take on this case? I enjoyed the story and the interactions between Sara and Sean, as well as with their associates, Jimmy and Adam. I also liked how the characters pointed out their difficulties pursuing the investigation without their official badges. This was the first book I have read by this author, but I will definitely follow this series in the future. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this advance reading copy of this book.