Dru’s Short Musing:
Like fine wine, this series gets better with each book written.
This is such a fun book with its comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author intended. The pacing is on par with how well this book was written. In Maureen’s latest exploits a local author is murdered and to win back visitors to Haven House, with help from friends and her *in-house ghosts*, it’s all hands-on deck as they try to find the killer hiding in plain sight. The author did a great job with setting the stage where anything is possible. The suspect pool was sufficient, and I liked how one by one, the uncovered clues narrowed down the list until one person was left standing holding the proverbial weapon. With visually descriptive narrative, the setting comes alive with engaging dialogue and a friendly atmosphere putting me in the middle of all the non-stop action. I enjoyed The Spirit Moves and I look forward to the next adventures with Maureen and her friends.
Series Name: A Haunted Haven Mystery | Book 4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 27, 2025
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Book Synopsis:
Innkeeper Maureen Doherty is well aware that no one—when asked why they come to Florida—says, “For the ghosts.” But her historic Haven House Inn has spirits to spare, and just when she thinks she’s met every ghost in town—a new one pops up to help solve a murder. Or so it seems . . .
When the body of “how-to” book writer Terry Holiday is found by Aster Paterson in her flower garden, the townspeople of Haven are shocked. But they’re even more surprised when the beloved bookshop owner insists that the spirit of her late husband Peter Paterson led her to the grim discovery. Only Aster seems unsurprised—she’s been baking his favorite shortbread cookies every day, hoping to lure his ghost back home . . .
Even Maureen is a little skeptical—until Peter’s ghost appears in the bookshop window for all to see. Haven’s hard-headed realist cop Frank Hubbard is determined to unveil whatever trickery led to the apparition, as he suspects the answer to who killed Terry Holiday may be connected to the illusion.
If Maureen’s learned anything since she moved from New England and inherited her haunted inn, it’s that 1) ghosts are real (at least some of them), and 2) so are murderers. She doesn’t need a how-to manual to solve a murder; she’s done it before. But with suspects ranging from a mystery writers group to a ghostwriter who just checked in at the inn, she will need a little help from her spirited sleuths . . .
FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the author.