Never say never. My grandmother used to tell me that when I was in high school and the nuns had their annual Vocation Day. I came home three years running with a colorful brochure about how wonderful the convent was. I’d show it to the family and say “Never” and toss it in the trash.

So what did I end up doing? Entered the convent right out of high school.

You’d think I learned my lesson.

Skip ahead thirteen years. Driscoll Investigations is always busy. So busy sometimes I’ve considered finding a bigger office and hiring a minion for Sidney and Zane, my multi-talented staff.

Everyone knows the rule for a successful business is “don’t turn away work.” But there are limits. We don’t take divorce cases anymore. I have a standing objection to angry, drunk spouses invading the office with violence on their minds.

Then came Stone’s Throw Bed & Breakfast with its staged haunting and loopy hired psychic. Because of that case, DI acquired a ghost hunting reputation. The phone’s been ringing off the hook and my email is overflowing.

New clients; yay?

No. No Ouija Boards. No ghost hunting. No exorcisms.

Are you waiting for the shoe to drop? It was a big shoe. A size 23 in the form of a wisp of a woman who thinks her house is haunted.

Never, I said.

Until her eccentric cousin showed up and said the real trouble was the woman’s business partners: They were trying to force her out of her business. Oh, and maybe the house really was haunted. On top of that, the woman’s housekeeper followed the cousin to our door, insisting the only way to win the woman’s confidence was to go along with the haunting idea.

So now we’re Driscoll Investigations, Ghost Breakers. I’m learning Tarot and my brother-in-law the priest is schooling me in exorcism. I’m having fun with EVP and EMP apps on my phone.

Because it’s all in fun. Ghosts don’t really exist. Never have.

Right?

You can read more about Giulia in The Clock Strikes Nun, the fourth book in the “Giulia Driscoll” mystery series.

When terrified Elaine Patrick knocks on Driscoll Investigations’ door and insists her house is haunted, Giulia Driscoll’s first response is “we don’t handle ghosts.” When Elaine’s housekeeper and crackpot filthy rich cousin descend on Giulia and demand she find out who’s trying to steal sweet, fragile Elaine’s family business out from under her, that’s a different story. They want DI to provide Tarot readings, ghost hunting sessions, and even an exorcism.

Ghost hunting? There are apps for that. Tarot readings? Experts in the skill are right across the street. Exorcisms? Having a priest for a brother-in-law comes in handy. Giulia plunges into a crash course in all things supernatural, convinced everything happening to Elaine is stagecraft.

Except when it isn’t. Giulia’s about to discover a new dimension to sleuthing, if she can survive attempted murder long enough to see through the web of lies around her client.

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About the author
Baker of brownies and tormenter of characters, Alice Loweecey recently celebrated her thirtieth year outside the convent. She grew up watching Hammer horror films and Scooby-Doo mysteries, which explains a whole lot. When she’s not creating trouble for her sleuth Giulia Driscoll or inspiring nightmares as her alter-ego Kate Morgan, she can be found growing her own vegetables (in summer) and cooking with them (the rest of the year).

All comments are welcomed.