Have you ever been house hunting? It’s very stressful, trying to find the perfect forever home. I know my real estate agent, Poppy Spencer, is getting frustrated with me, as is my fiancé, Luke Surmanski, but I do believe my determination has finally paid off.

I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Emily Garland, and I’m the co-owner of the Glass Dolphin antiques shop. My business partner is Arabella Carpenter, and I suspect she’s not too happy with me right now.

In my defense, I fully intended to be at the Glass Dolphin’s very first Appraisal Day, at least until Poppy called me late last night. After nearly a decade of being rented out, the old Hadley house is finally on the market.

I hesitated at first. Rumor has it the house is haunted, the spirit of Esther Harriet Hadley unable to rest until her husband, Martin’s, killer or killers were brought to justice. But then I read the description on the agent’s website:

Location, location, location! This rustic four-bedroom, two-bathroom Victorian charmer on desirable Walnut Street includes a generous garden for your green thumb and a high-ceilinged lower level with loads of potential. Put your own stamp on this one. Motivated vendor.

Now, I’ve seen enough houses to know that “rustic charmer” translates to “needs serious renovations,” whereas the “generous garden for your green thumb” means an overgrown, weed-infested plot of land, and the “lower level with loads of potential” was realtor speak for an unfinished basement. But the Walnut Street location was absolutely perfect—a ten-minute walk to the Glass Dolphin, and a short drive to reach the main road to Lakeside for Luke’s business. “Buy the worst house on the best street,” Poppy had said, and this house certainly qualified.

Prospects and possibilities, that’s what a house was supposed to be, not just four walls, a roof, and a place to sleep, am I right? Besides, it not as if I believe in ghosts. 

Which leaves just one more problem. Miles Pemberton. You know, the Pemberton on Property guy? Wears his hard hat like a fashion statement? Seems Pemberton is interested in buying the old Hadley house for his reality TV show. I’m not sure Luke and I can compete with network money.

Well, I’ll worry about that later. Right now I’ve got a house to inspect. Something tells me this is going to be “the one.”

Where There’s A Will, the third book in the “Glass Dolphin” cozy mystery series, released on November 10, 2020.

Emily Garland is getting married and looking for the perfect forever home. When the old, and some say haunted, Hadley house comes up for sale, she’s convinced it’s “the one.” The house is also perfect for reality TV star Miles Pemberton and his new series, House Haunters. Emily will fight for her dream home, but Pemberton’s pockets are deeper than Emily’s, and he’ll stretch the rules to get what he wants.

While Pemberton racks up enemies all around Lount’s Landing, Arabella Carpenter, Emily’s partner at the Glass Dolphin antiques shop, has been hired to appraise the contents of the estate, along with her ex-husband, Levon. Could the feuding beneficiaries decide there’s a conflict of interest? Could Pemberton?

Things get even more complicated when Arabella and Levon discover another will hidden inside the house, and with it, a decades-old secret. Can the property stay on the market? And if so, who will make the winning offer: Emily or Miles Pemberton?

Purchase Link

About the author
A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the author of two mystery series: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including The Best Laid Plans and Heartbreaks & Half-truths, which she also edited.

Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors. Find her at judypenzsheluk.com.

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