Cooking Spirits by Joanne Pence is the 15th book in the “Angie Amalfi” mystery series. Publisher: Quail Hill Publishing, April 2013

Culinary queen Angie Amalfi has put aside her gourmet utensils to concentrate on planning her upcoming wedding to San Francisco homicide detective Paavo Smith. What could possibly go wrong?

Instead of the answer to her heart’s dreams, she scrambles to deal with wedding planners with bizarre ideas, wedding dresses that don’t flatter, squabbling relatives with hurt feelings, a long-suffering groom, and worries over where she and Paavo will live after the wedding. But all of that pales when Angie finds the perfect house for them, except for one little problem–the house may be haunted.

Many years ago, the newlyweds who lived in the house were murdered, and the case was never solved. While Angie pursues what happened to the couple who now may be haunting the house, Paavo obsesses over his own case involving the murder of unlikely lovers. The trail leads to ghosts, murders, unhappy families, and enough obnoxious wedding buttinskis to fill a graveyard. But when eerie happenings turn deadly, Angie fears she may be spirited away for good!

I have missed this series and I’m so glad it’s back. Angie is still Angie getting herself involved in a murder case, bur this time not Paavo’s when she discovers the truth about the previous tenants. Setting out to find answers, the situations Angie finds herself in with the help of Connie and Stan was hilarious. Meanwhile, Paavo is working his case and the one thing I missed most is Angie’s involvement in his case. The author did a good job with both mysteries, keeping it fresh and entertaining. Most of Angie’s family made an appearance and it was a delight to see them. This was a great read and I can’t wait to read the next book which I hope is the anticipated wedding of the century.