My average day is just like the average day of most other fifth graders: I get up the morning, get ready for school, get some breakfast, get driven to school, spend the day there, then get driven home and cook dinner—okay, that part’s a little unusual, but I like it—and do homework, maybe watch some TV or do online stuff until I have to go to bed.
Typical.
All right, I left out a couple of things. First, my mom owns a guesthouse on the Jersey Shore, so we always have some very nice people visiting in the house and I have to make sure I’m on good behavior when they’re around, because like my mom says, they’re paying for the house we live in.
Second, my mom also has a private investigator license, and every once in a while we investigate a case together. She does most of the driving around and interviewing people and then we talk about it at night and I sort of interpret what a lot of the stuff they said to her meant.
There is one other thing I should tell you: The house is haunted, and I do see ghosts, especially the ones who live there.
I’ve always been able to see ghosts. It took a long time when I was little for my grandma, who also can see them, to explain to me that not everybody does. It was harder because my mom couldn’t see or hear the ghosts all around her until a few years ago when she got hit on the head and then all of a sudden she could.
My best friend Wendy (Mom calls her my BFF, and maybe she is, but nobody says that anymore) knows about the ghosts and can’t see them. She’s totally cool with them, which is one of the reasons I like her so much.
So Maxie and Paul, the ghosts in our house, are part of my day every day. Maxie is so much fun—she likes to be outrageous but she really is sweet and she cares about us, even if Mom doesn’t think so. Paul is serious, but he always knows what to do when we have a case, and he’s really warm and nice for a guy who got murdered three years ago.
Anyway, my day includes school, guests, ghosts and sometimes investigations. I love the cases, and Mom pretends she doesn’t but I think she really does. It’s so cool to think about who did what and why they did it. But when our friend Lt. McElone from the police department asked Mom to help with something, it got a little weird for a while.
Mom tells that story in a book called Inspector Specter. What she says is mostly true.
Melissa Kerby is featured in Inspector Specter, the sixth book in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series by E.J. Copperman, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Night of the Living Deed.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on December 29 for the chance to win a copy of INSPECTOR SPECTER. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Meet the author
E.J. Copperman is either someone’s pseudonym or the sick mind behind the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series, in which two resident ghosts help a single mom/innkeeper/private investigator solve crimes and entertain guests, or both. E.J. is a screenwriter, freelance reporter, teacher and bon vivant from New Jersey, if such a thing is possible. Visit E.J. at his website.
One of my favorite series. I always enjoy a visit to the Shore
I love this series, the characters are entertaining.
I love this series and since I also live at the Jersey Shore appreciate the familiar landmarks in the stories. Kuzlin at aol.com
I grew up on the Jersey Shore so I love this series a bit more maybe. Would love to read this new book
I enjoy this series, thank you for the chance to win the new one.
I love this series, but don’t have this one yet. Thanks for the chance to win.
E.J. Copperman is as smooth a writer as any that exists. The words slide off the page like butter, so easily you hardly know you’re reading. He or she is simply the best I know, and if critics knew what they were talking about — if they could write fiction, they wouldn’t be doing reviews — Copperman would be hailed for the genius craftsman he is. Styron and McCarthy think they’re poets. E.J. can WRITE! (If this doesn’t win me a free copy, I quit.)
Jack, you are too funny.
i have not read from this series yet, looks great 🙂
I would love to win a new book
Sounds like a great book! Thank you for the contest!
Thank you for the chance
Definitely will start from the beginning but in the meantime hope I win this sixth one in the series.
I have read other books by this author and have loved them all. Thanks for the introduction to this series. I will definitely be adding the titles to my book list. It sounds great!
Sounds quite delightful
I enjoy this series.
Love the title and love happy ghost stories!
I haven’t read this series so I would enjoy having a copy to try. Thanks for the chance.
Another new to me series, and I’m adding it to my tbr list now, this sounds like my kind of cozy.
Sounds like a great book
Love this series, thanks for the chance!
Sounds awesome, I can’t wait to read it 🙂
This sounds like such great fun. I have a grandson in the fifth grade and I can just imagine him in this situation. He would love it . This past summer he attended a five day class studying the work CSI employees do, trying to uncover ” who done it ” and had a blast. Thank you for the chance to win this
I love that the book has ghosts. Sounds like a great story. Thanks for having the giveaway.
A cute post from Melissa’s perspective.
I love EJ Cooperman and would love to try this series! If it is anything like Haunting Jordan it will be a great read!
Love this series-the characters just leap off the page!
Styron and McCarthy, Jack? I’m flattered, but maybe you’re engaging in JUST a bit of hyperbole…
I can’t even read Styron. He’s too fancy with all those big words, who the heck knows what he’s talking about. The critics hail him because they’re so proud of themselves for sticking it out, figuring what the story meant. You write so well the words almost disappear, Ace. That’s writing! Make it look easy — like Willie Mays playing center field. Do you know Jeff?
Wait! Is Samuel Hoening another pseudonym for Jeff Cohen? How many of him are there? Pardon me if I misunderstand this, but Samuel Hoenig does say, “I’m flattered…”.
Yes please, I love E.J.’s writing and would love to win a copy of his newest Haunted Guest House Mystery.
I’d love to be able to see ghosts—but I guess I can only read about them. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.fararell@gmail.com
Sounds good. Thanks for the chance to win.
I had not heard of this series before – it does sound promising 🙂
I’ve enjoyed reading about the ghosts and living residents of the guest house-I need to catch up.
Thanks to a wonderful friend, and you know who you are, I have this book, and I am truly looking forward to reading it soon. Have been a bit slowed down with reading due to family situations and health problems, but hoping like mad that 2015 will be much calmer and with much more time available to relax and read. Merry Christmas everyone.
Cynthia
Sounds so Good!!!
Love this series!
I have three books in the series so I’d like to win. Great title. I love paranormal elements in mysteries, especially ghosts.
Love this concept, and the Jersey shore!
How fun to get Melissa’s viewpoint! Having three adult children, I believe her point of view in thinking her mother doesn’t always get it right. My kids don’t think I get it right, either, a lot of the time.
I love this series! I would stay at the Inn in a heartbeat.
Sounds like another great entry in this wonderful series.
I love this series! Gets better and better!
From what I’ve read above, I’m inclined to agree that this one sounds a hoot. Certainly a different perspective, but very interesting characters.
I LOVE THIS SERIES FOR MANY REASONS, LOVE THE JERSEY SHORE, LOVE BOOKS ABOUT GHOSTS,AND LOVE MYSTERIES. I have this book, looking forward to reading it.
I love stories with ghosts! Thank you for the giveaway and Happy Holidays!
Looking forward to another in a great series.
This book looks so good
New author to me! Sounds great!
What a great concept. Inspector Spector
Love the cover
This series is a new one to me….would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for a chance.
I don’t believe I’ve ever read any of the Haunted Guesthouse mysteries by E.J. Copperman, but if the description of Melissa’s day runs through them all, then I need to start reading soon.
I haven’t read in this series so I’d love a chance to…Please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
This is a new series to me. Sounds great, I’d love to win 🙂
I love this series and would love to win Inspector Specter! I have had it on my wish list for ages. Can’t wait to see if Paul has advanced so he can leave the guesthouse.
Haven’t read this series. Sounds good tho so will have to look for them.
I can’t wait to read this
IF YOU GET DOWN HERE I HOPE I CAN WIN
Sounds like a great book
This is one of my very favorite series and I look forward to this new addition.
New Year New Cozies!!!!!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
contest is closed.