There’s a killer in the picture . . . Celeste Cabot has a flair for painting—and a touch of paranormal talent too. She’s just arrived to sell her artwork at a big craft fair in North Carolina, complete with rides, games, and deep-fried everything. But the sunny landscape takes on a darker hue when her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, leads her to the riverbank—and to a body that was definitely not part of … her design. With help from a handsome fellow artist, Celeste sets out to draw the brazen killer onto her canvas. She’ll need to balance the victim’s past, a suspected love triangle, and a long-ago accident—and also consult with a medium and a spirit—to try to paint a murderous fiend into a corner . . . Includes tips and recipes! Praise for Rose Pressey and the Haunted Vintage Mysteries “An amusing paranormal cozy, filled with quirky characters and fashion, along with a few ghosts.” —Library Journal “A delightful protagonist, intriguing twists, and a fashionista ghost combine in a hauntingly fun tale.” —Carolyn Hart “Snappy dialogue and well-drawn characters in a lovely small-town setting.” —Jenn McKinlay Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com
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Celeste Cabot is an artist in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. She has remodeled a small travel trailer so that she and her adorable Chihuahua, Van Gogh, can travel to craft fairs and sell her paintings. She has a unique psychic ability and can summon ghosts through her paintings. In this second installment of the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series, Celeste has arrived at a big craft fair in North Carolina. But the fun-filled day, complete with rides, games, and deep-fried everything, turns into a nightmare when Van Gogh leads her to a body by the river. With the help of a ghost, a medium, and Detective Caleb, Celeste is determined to catch the killer.
This is a fun and lighthearted paranormal cozy, with a unique setting and quirky characters. The author’s writing style is easy, engaging, and filled with humor. I found Celeste to be a likable main character, however, I would like to see her be more responsible in her sleuthing. I really enjoyed her interactions with her family. I am very intrigued by her father’s ability to sense ghosts and would love to see the author explore this storyline in the future. The ghost Ama was also a very enjoyable character, and I was very sad to see her go. I know many readers dislike this trope, but I personally love a good love triangle and look forward to seeing what’s in store for Celeste and her two love interests. Although, I think it’s pretty obvious who she’s going to choose. The murder mystery was intriguing, with enough suspects and twists and turns to keep you guessing. I was unable to figure out who the culprit was, so the reveal came as a complete surprise to me.
Overall, this was a very light, enjoyable mystery and I eagerly await the third book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua” is the 2nd instalment in the A Haunted Craft Fair series. I have always been a big fan of Rose Pressey from her “Mystic Cafe” series and “A Haunted Vintage Mystery” series. Her new series A Haunted Craft Fair is just as much fun to read.
There’s a killer in the picture . . .
Celeste Cabot has a flair for painting—and a touch of paranormal talent too. She’s just arrived to sell her artwork at a big craft fair in North Carolina, complete with rides, games, and deep-fried everything. But the sunny landscape takes on a darker hue when her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, leads her to the riverbank—and to a body that was definitely not part of her design.
With help from a handsome fellow artist, Celeste sets out to draw the brazen killer onto her canvas. She’ll need to balance the victim’s past, a suspected love triangle, and a long-ago accident—and also consult with a medium and a spirit—to try to paint a murderous fiend into a corner . . .
Includes tips and recipes!
I like Celeste she is fun and who wouldn’t love Van the Chihuahua! Plus we can’t forget her family now there’s a hoot and a half. Once again I was drawn in from the very beginning. We visit with Madame Gerard, the medium again and both Caleb and Pierce are on the scene to solve the murder and via for Celeste. (I do hope the love triangle is resolved in book 3)
The mystery was well written with plenty of twists and turns and had a steady pace. I suspected but didn’t fully figure out whodunit until it was revealed at the end.
I’m looking forward to the 3rd instalment MURDER CAN HAUNT YOUR HANDIWORK !
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all my friends who love a bit of paranormal in their cozies and any fan of Rose Pressey.
I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Celeste Cabot is an artist whose paintings often take on a paranormal twist. While attending a weeklong craft fair in a nearby North Carolina town, Celeste comes across a young women’s body. She then decides to do some sleuthing on her own.
I enjoyed this book which is second in the series although I do think that the first book was better. The characters are great and I did like the relationships in this quick, fun read. However, there were some typos and grammatical errors as well as an episode that was repeated. I do love Rose Pressey’s books though and look forward to the next one in this series. I recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order to get the most out of things and a real feel for the characters.
Celeste travels to a craft fair in nearby North Carolina. This is a big fair complete with rides and games. Celeste is still getting used to the idea that she has a unique psychic ability and can see ghosts and even call for them through her paintings. She hopes to put this new ability aside and enjoy the beautiful landscape around her. The bright sunny atmosphere quickly turns dark when her chihuahua, Van Gogh, leads her to a dead body. With the help of a few ghosts and her paintings, Celeste sets out to find the murderer.
This is a fun and entertaining paranormal cozy mystery. The characters are likable and have quirky personalities. Celeste’s psychic abilities are unique which helps to smoothly move the plot of the mystery along at a steady pace. There are several twists and turns to help keep the reader guessing at whodunit. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua is the second book in the new paranormal series written by Rose Pressey and published by Kensington Books.
I truly enjoyed the first book in this series. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the second. As paranormal books go, it just didn’t have the main ingredients to hold my full attention. The main character seems to have become less intelligent and far too careless. She doesn’t grasp the need to be cautious when dealing with possible murder suspects and runs headlong into danger at every given turn. There is a feel of childishness to all the characters, but Celeste is the worst out of all. Neither the suspects nor the investigators are mature, and this gives the entire book the feel of being written for tweens instead of adults.
The premise of this second book is very similar to the first. Celeste comes across a body while working a craft fair; a ghost shows up out of a painting, and regardless of advice and warnings, she and the ghost go around asking, no demanding, answers to questions they have no right to ask. Ama, the ghost takes center stage in this paranormal story. She is not a good influence on Celeste and gets her into more danger. The suspects are blasé, to say the least, the motive quickly found out and the culprit, almost known from the beginning.
Come on, Rose, I know you are a far better writer than this book proves, I’ve read your other series! There was an excellent start to this series, and I hoped it would grow with the second book, but instead, it reads as if it is the first attempt by someone who has no idea what the story is about. I am a connoisseur of paranormal and witch based cozies. I could happily spend all my waking hours devouring each one, and let there be no doubt that I search high and low for new writers and books that fit into my favorite topic, and when I find one I read it several times to get a good feel for the characters and plots. Most of the time, I am happy with the result and encourage others to read the books as well. However, this series has disappointed me with this new edition, and I fear it will not improve with the third book. I am hoping that I am proven wrong, and the third book will be everything Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua was not.
Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua is the second story in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series and is full of everything I enjoy most about Paranormal Cozy Mysteries – quirky main characters, the touch of the supernatural, fun sidekicks/love interests… and murder most foul with lots of twists and turns.
Celeste is on the road in her pink truck and trailer headed to a last-minute entry into a well-known craft fair. She’s determined to have her paintings sell and save her from working in the diner (although she loves her aunt she’d rather paint), and who knows what kind of adventure she may find this time around. Drawing ghosts into and through her paintings is a rather new thing but it’s also fascinating with unexpected results for both her and the ghosts. Along with her pup Van (Gogh), Celeste is about to stumble upon – or be lead to by Van – yet another murder scene that will take her down a path of danger that, as always, she’s going to ignore.
I enjoyed Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua, it’s full of surprises, a few red herrings, and is moving toward a possible love triangle (which probably won’t last long before a choice is made). In any Paranormal Cozy Mystery, I’m along for the ride and the experience so I wasn’t trying to figure out whodunit. Celeste, as a character, can be frustrating since she’d never, ever get away with half the things she inserts herself into in a true crime scene – but as a Jessica Fletcher wannabe, she’s fun if flighty. I had fun with this one, and that’s the entire point. If you love Paranormal Cozy Mysteries then give this series a try, you may find a new favorite series.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Celeste is on the road again with her chihuahua, Van (Gogh) in her pink trailer, destination North Carolina. Still setting her sights on making a living selling her oil paintings so she won’t have to work in her aunt’s diner, she travels from craft fair to craft fair. Along for the ride? Ghosts who find their way into her paintings and dead bodies. Yes, Celeste is a medium, both a ghost magnet and a dead body magnet. At least her life isn’t boring. Now if she could just be a little less reckless when trying to find the killer, that would be nice. Still, she does figure it all out in the end and this is a cozy, after all, complete with ghosts. The normal rules of behavior can be bent.
At this craft fair there is a lot of entertainment to be enjoyed, from rides to a load of food to taste. Taking a break, Celeste heads for the river bank to set up her easel and paint the landscape. Van has something to add – he discovers a body. From there on the mystery evolves and the twists and turns kept me guessing to the last page. This series has a bit of everything that makes for a great break from reality – murder, a puzzle, ghosts, a bit of romance and a main character who charges into an investigation that puts her into danger that could have been avoided. Standard and a very enjoyable read. Plus, it works fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.