Solving a murder way too close to home, Alison Kerby can’t catch a break.If Alison Kerby really wanted peace and quiet, she never should have opened the Haunted Guesthouse. The Jersey Shore lodge’s latest polter-guest is Richard Harrison, the recently murdered brother of long-time resident ghost PI Paul Harrison.Alas, a beyond-the-grave brotherly reunion is nowhere in the foreseeable … the foreseeable future—phantasmal Paul left the guesthouse months ago for parts unknown, and for all her ghost-whispering prowess, Alison has no idea how to find him. And she’s going to need Paul, because Richard’s isn’t the only murder still unsolved.
Richard, a lawyer in life, tells Alison that he had been working the case of a woman accused of murdering her stepfather. When Richard got too close to the truth, he was permanently silenced. Now, as Alison searches for Paul, she gets a creeping sensation that the murderer doesn’t appreciate her snooping around. If she doesn’t succeed in her hunt, she has the feeling that she’ll be the next to haunt the house.
Raise your spirits with The Hostess With the Ghostess, the latest installment of Barry Award-winning author E. J. Copperman’s national bestselling Haunted Guesthouse mysteries.
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I enjoy seeing how authors create their story realities and then play within those self-imposed boundaries.
This series is a case in point.
Cooperman has established that ghosts exist and can interact with the living, some of whom can see and hear them while others cannot.
Each book offers an opportunity for new situations for him to figure out how things work within his world.
This is a good read with interesting characters and a good mystery to solve.
“The Hostess with the Ghostess” earns 5/5 Spooky Scenarios…Murderously Fun!
Ok, are you a newbie like me? Yes? Well, don’t shy away from this ninth book even though it is well into E.J. Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse series. A few pages in enough background and character connections are revisited to effectively set up the story. Four years ago, Alison Kerby and her daughter Melissa returned to Harbor Haven, New Jersey, for a fresh post-divorce start. During renovations of the Victorian she hoped to turn into a guesthouse, Alison suffered a blow to the head that sent her life into an unexpected direction…she can see and hear ghosts, a skill she discovers is typical for the women in her family. We continue with an agreement struck between Alison and her first two ghosts, Paul Harrison and Maxie Malone. In exchange for helping to popularize her inn with a “haunting” experience for her guests, Alison agreed to become a licensed private investigator and set about uncovering details behind these two and other’s untimely demise. I love the premise and the quirky personalities of all the characters, and I am somewhat finicky about the paranormal in my cozies—no juvenile hocus-pocus for me. Copperman has spent several books developing a fascinating relationship between Alison and her more non-corporeal friends, clever banter and description, endearing dynamics between family and friends, and clever mysteries…it all works very well.
In “The Hostess with the Ghostess,” Richard Harrison, brother of the gone AWOL resident ghost Paul, unexpectedly appears…yes, a recent murder victim! Alison has difficulty finding Paul to help uncover what happened to his brother. I mean how do you go about tracking down a wayward ghost? But, she does discover that Richard, a criminal defense attorney, may have gotten too close, murderously close, as he looked into details surrounding his client Cassidy Van Doren, a young woman accused of murdering her stepfather. Now, he needs Alison and her ghostly sidekicks to help find out what happened to him as well as saving the young woman. Totally engaging! Well developed characters! Witty humor! Nail biting! Delightful fun! You’ll be inspired and eager to read more from the series…
The Hostess with the Ghostess by E.J. Copperman is the ninth book in A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery series. Alison Kerby owns the Haunted Guesthouse in Harbor Haven, New Jersey. The spook shows have lost their luster since Paul Harrison departed to see the world, so Alison has assembled the group to see how to improve them. They are talking when a new ghost arrives and introduces himself as Richard Harrison, Paul’s brother. He is looking for his PI brother because he needs his assistance. Richard was a criminal defense attorney defending Cassidy Van Doren who was accused of murdering her stepfather. It seems that Richard had stumbled upon something that would clear Cassidy of the crime, and Richard was silenced before he could reveal it. Alison, with the help of her ghostly sidekicks, sets out to find Paul as well as who framed Cassidy and murdered Richard. Someone, though, is not happy with Alison’s inquiries and attempts to derail her investigation. Where is Paul and will Alison be able to find him? Can Alison find the murderer so Richard can move on or will she become the killer’s next victim?
The Hostess with the Ghostess is the ninth book in the A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery series, and I suggest reading the books in order. Otherwise, the numerous characters can be confusing (at least for the first several chapters). The author does provide the details on how Alison along with her mother and daughter came to see ghosts. Other details include her purchase of the guesthouse and her recent marriage (hubby has a minor role in book). The first half of the book felt very circular (like I was on a merry-go-round). The same details are gone over again and again (lots of speculation and reiteration). The plot failed to move forward (and my attention started wandering because I was bored). Several times I wanted to give up on the book (but I persevered). Progress is made in the second half of the story. The mystery plays out slowly with clues provided as Alison discovers them or someone remembers to impart an important detail. One little tidbit gives away the identity of the killer. I am glad that Alison is more open to detective work (finally), but she needs to work on her questioning technique. Alison alienates people with the way she asks questions. I like the relationship between Alison and her daughter. Melissa is my favorite character, and I hope she will have a bigger role in the future. There is humor in the story thanks to the ghosts and their various antics. The Hostess with the Ghostess is a light-hearted cozy mystery with quirky characters (alive and dead), a mystery and zany humor that will appeal to many readers.
Things are never quiet for long at the Haunted Guesthouse. Right as Alison Kerby finally gets some peace, long-time deceased Paul Harrison’s recently murdered brother, Richard, shows up looking for the ghostly detective. Paul left for parts unknown months ago, and Alison doesn’t know how to find him. She’s going to need to because Richard’s isn’t the only murder still left unsolved.
As she searches for Paul, Alison discovers that Richard, who was a lawyer, was working a case for a woman accused of murdering her stepfather. It quickly becomes clear that Richard was getting too close to the truth and was forcibly kept quiet. Now as Alison continues her investigation, she gets a creeping sensation that the murderer doesn’t appreciate her snooping around. If she doesn’t stop, she’ll be next victim.
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Series: A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery – Book 9
Author: E. J. Copperman http://www.ejcopperman.com/
Genre: Paranormal/Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books http://www.crookedlanebooks.com/
The Hostess With the Ghostess is an unusual mystery. Many of the main characters are dead, and most of those that are living cannot only see ghosts but can talk to them as well. Even the characters that can’t see or talk to the ghost have a valuable part to play in solving not one, but two murders.
Alison is a great detective, but a reluctant one. She doesn’t want to admit that she actually enjoys solving crimes with the dead detective, Paul. When Paul’s older brother, Richard shows up unannounced and dead, she finds herself once again jumping into a murder investigation and in desperate need of Paul coming to her rescue. With the help of several ghosts, her teenage daughter, mother, and father and her husband, she sets out to solve Richards murder and the one that got him killed.
Mr. Copperman has created a fast-paced story with original characters and a wonderful plot. The story has many twists and turns, none bigger than the ending. A cast of characters who are dead is unusual and keeps the reader on edge throughout the pages. Book nine in the “A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery” is a great addition to the series and will keep readers entertained for hours.
The Hostess With the Ghostess is a fun story. However, this is not a standalone book, and it will be helpful for readers to read the previous books in the series to get a good idea of who each character is and the part they play overall. This book and series are highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good who-done-it and likes their characters dead and alive, and their stories with twists they didn’t expect.