The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle
Series Name: Haunted Bookshop #7
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 4, 2021
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Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and her gumshoe ghost team up to solve the stunning mystery at the heart of a madwoman’s self-portrait in this all new installment from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

While gathering a collection of vintage book cover paintings for a special event in her quaint Rhode Island bookshop, Penelope discovers a spooky portrait of a beautiful woman, one who supposedly went mad, according to town gossip. Seymour, the local mailman, falls in love with the haunting image and buys the picture, refusing to part with it, even as fatal accidents befall those around it. Is the canvas cursed? Or is something more sinister at work?

For answers, Pen turns to an otherworldly source: Jack Shepard, PI. Back in the 1940s, Jack cracked a case of a killer cover artist, and (to Pen’s relief) his spirit is willing to help her solve this mystery, even if he and his license did expire decades ago.

Dru’s Short Musing:
This was an enjoyable book that once I opened the book, I could not put it down. This is such a captivating mystery that I wanted to know every little detail, which I knew would point me to the person responsible. The writing style was easy to follow along with the comfortable tone and the pacing, which was on par with how well this story was being told. The author did a great job of co-mingling the past and the present making me believe that all things are possible. The fine line between history and present exists even if it helped solve a crime. Jack is a perfect match for Pen and I adore the relationship between them. The mystery was well-executed with the necessary items: a solidly wicked plot, a list of suspects, a slathering of clues, and a terrific cast of characters, that kept me immersed from beginning to end.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.