Occupation: Haunted Bookshop Owner
Most people are haunted by something. Past mistakes. Missed opportunities. I’m haunted by those things, and one more—an actual ghost.
My name is Penelope Thornton-McClure. For decades, the locals here in Quindicott, Rhode Island, believed our shop was haunted. I never did. Then one dark night, I met him. Now he speaks to me at will—his will, not mine—blowing in and out of my head like a bracing zephyr. Take this morning. . .
“Don’t forget your backpack, Spencer!” I tell my son before he runs out the door.
And your switchblade and brass knuckles!
That gruff voice (the one in italics) belongs to Jack Shepard, a New York City private detective who was gunned down in this bookshop in 1949, a year (I often remind him) has long gone. . .
“Now, Jack,” I silently counsel, “my son is going to school. He isn’t skipping through a Bowery back alley or hopping a railway car. Boys don’t carry switchblades and brass knuckles anymore—and certainly not into zero-tolerance classrooms!”
Don’t be such a square Jane. Let the little piker have a blackjack, at least.
Despite our ongoing arguments, the dead man has brought some interesting perspective to my life. He’s also pushed me to assist him in a few criminal investigations—past and present—while showing me “the ropes of the PI game.” It’s been an education for me, and a boredom killer for Jack. . .
Hard luck for me to have my clock stopped in this cornpone town. Why, there isn’t a decent gin mill or racetrack in sight. Even worse, I’m stuck in this glorified library. Talk about dullsville!
“You know, Jack, with your attitude, you could have spent eternity in a far hotter place.”
You ain’t wrong, doll. I once lost my shirt in a Miami craps game.
With Spencer off to school, I head downstairs, where I find my Aunt Sadie has opened the shop—and she’s in a state.
“We mistakenly scheduled two reading groups to meet in the community events space tonight,” she frets. “The Cozying Up to a Cozy Club and the Tough Guy PI fans. The last time they shared a room, the cozy readers chided the hard-boiled group for bad language and passing around a flask of whiskey. Ugly words were exchanged.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll sort it out with a few phone calls,” I promise.
You should provide hard liquor to all your customers. A few shots of hooch will make those boring book talks a lot more interesting.
“Please, Jack, we’re not a tavern!”
At least let the tea sippers duke it out with the hard drinkers, winners take all. Nothing like a good boxing match. Care to make a wager?
“Really, Jack, what you propose would hardly be a fair fight.”
You’re right. Those cozy ladies got knitting needles, and they know how to use them.
After I restock the True Crime section, I hear Chief Ciders’ heavy boots clomping across our shop’s old floorboards—and Jack’s instant complaint in my head.
Well, if it isn’t the mug who put the “Keystone” in “Cops.” Is Ciders actually on the job? Guess the fish aren’t biting today.
“Quiet,” I tell the ghost and turn to the chief. “Welcome to Buy the Book. Are you here for anything in particular?”
“I understand you went back to Pine Tree Avenue yesterday,” Ciders barks. “What were you looking for, another dead body?”
“No. I was curious to learn more about the first body I found.”
“Let the professionals handle it,” he warns.
Professionals?! Jack cackles. Does that mean Chief Chucklehead is resigning?
As the day progresses, I advise a customer on the publication order of Raymond Chandler’s works, and sell six more copies of that hot new thriller, Shades of Leather.
By evening, things should have been quiet. Instead, I returned to work after dinner to hear loud laughter echoing through the store.
“I forgot to make those calls!” I confess to my aunt. “The cozy and hard-boiled groups are together in the community events space!”
“Relax,” Sadie says. “A touch of liquid refreshment settled everyone’s nerves.”
“The PI group brought more whiskey?”
“No.” Sadie winks. “One of the cozy ladies makes her own elderberry wine.”
I told you, sweetheart. Nothing like a little hooch to smooth ruffled feathers. I bet the dames drink the old farts under the table, too.
As I head up to bed, Jack suggests I continue looking into that suspicious death on Pine Tree Avenue—
Unless that Keystone Cop scared you off the case.
“Not much scares me anymore, Jack. After all, I live with a ghost.”
Jack’s deep chuckle sends a chilly breeze across my cheek. Then I feel his presence fading back into the fieldstone walls that have become his tomb.
I’ll see you in your dreams, baby.
You can read more about Penelope and Jack in Cleo Coyle’s brand new Haunted Bookshop Mystery: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller.
A big bestseller leads to small town trouble.
Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure didn’t believe in ghosts, until she was haunted by the hard-boiled spirit of 1940s private investigator Jack Shepard. Now Jack is back on the job, and Pen is eternally grateful. . .
After an elegant new customer has a breakdown in her shop, Penelope suspects there is something bogus behind the biggest bestseller of the year. This popular potboiler is so hot that folks in her tiny Rhode Island town are dying to read it–literally. First one customer turns up dead, followed by another mysterious fatality connected to the book, which Pen discovers is more than just fiction. Now, with the help of her gumshoe ghost, Pen must solve the real-life cold case behind the bogus bestseller before the killer closes the book on her.
“He is hardboiled in the tradition of Philip Marlowe, and she is a genteel Miss Marple; yet the two opposites make an explosive combination …” —Midwest Book Review
Purchase Link
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About the author
CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating fifteen years in print. Alice has worked as a journalist in Washington, DC, and New York, and has written young adult and children’s books as well as popular fiction for adults. A former magazine editor, Marc has authored espionage thrillers and nonfiction for adults and children. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together, including the beloved Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, now celebrating the publication of the first new entry in nearly ten years: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller. You can learn more about the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series at HauntedBookshopMystery.com.
Visit Cleo’s website at CoffeehouseMystery.com.
Sign up for Cleo’s free E-Newsletter (with recipes, fun info, and giveaways) by clicking here.
Friend or follow Cleo on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest and Jack (the ghost) on Facebook.
COMMENT TO WIN GIVEAWAY: Prizes include an autographed copy of Cleo Coyle’s new Haunted Bookshop Mystery: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller. A custom-designed, canvas “Jack is Back!” tote bag. And an autographed set of Cleo’s favorite glossy recipe cards. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends October 14, 2018. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I a have missed this series. Glad to see there is a new book. Looking forward to reading it.
Thank you for brining back an interesting tale especially with October here and Halloween around the corner. If I do not win I will get on the list to obtain a copy from the library.
Goodness gracious I have waited a very long time for this series to continue! 🙂
I loved the earlier books in the series and can’t wait for this newest one.
Oh my word, what a hoot Jack is! I have to do a re-read of the previous books so I am ready for this one.
Thank you for the contest.
I like stories with ghosts in them.
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
This series is wonderful and Jack is special. Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
Having this series, and fiesty ghost Jack back is such marvelous news. I was drawn to the previous books as I love reading books that are set in New England, especially my home state of CT. and the area of Newport, RI where I’ve spent many wonderful vacations and day trips.
Thank you to the authors for the wonderful stories they have crafted and using so much creativity as well as humor with truly intriguing characters.
Congratulations on the release of The Ghost and the Bogus Bookseller. This is such a thrill for the readers who love this series and your hard work to add to your other books is very much appreciated.
Wishing you the best of everything!
Cynthia
Captivating, intriguing and unique book which interests me greatly.Love this duo and what a great character Jack is.
Penelope and Jack sound like an entertaining duo❤
Love this post–I’m still giggling over the cozy mystery ladies meeting with the hard-boiled detective fans! I’ve just started the series and absolutely love Jack!
I have not read this series but am a fan of the author’s Coffee House mysteries. Loved the snippet shared in the post. Sounds like such fun reading. The polar opposite personalities of the main characters sound like a hoot.
I have had this book in my saved list on Amazon for several years now and was delighted to learn it was finally published! I am going to go back and re-read my other Haunted Bookshop books in anticipation of this new story!
Thanks for a chance to win a copy!!! And “Jack is Back!” is a great slogan.
Welcome back, Jack! Have missed you. Don’t pick on Pen too much!
I have heard so much about this series and after reading A Day in the Life of Penelope McClure, I really want to dive right in. Thanks, Dru Ann, for featuring Pen and The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller on your blog!
Penelope is living my dream life!! Your books are the PERFECT fall reads..they contain so many cozy elements and visuals, like a warm hug! Thank you so much for sharing Penelope’s magical world with your readers!
So happy to see this series starting up again. Thanks for the chance to win.
I have missed this series so much. I’m glad they have brought back. Thanks for the giveaway.
I haven’t read this series yet. Loved the exchange between Jack and Pen!
I read the previous books and loved them, especially the relationship between Penelope and Jack. Looking forward to this installment.
I haven’t read this series yet. Sounds like a fun read. Looking forward to reading the book.
So glad this fun series has returned!
So happy that Jack is back!
I love Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse mysteries. I haven’t read the Haunted Bookshop Mystery, but U can’t wait to start.
I’m so excited for this new Pen & Jack story!
Looks 👍 Great
Thank You for the chance 😊🍯🐝😊
Added to Wish List
Shared on Twitter 😍💞😘
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1044921917252210688
A new series for me – can’t wait!
I have not read this series by Cleo Coyle though have read all of her Coffeehouse series.
I love reading anything this author writes under any name. I just started this series and am up to date on the coffee house series!
Shared on Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1047468272248082433 😍🍯🐝
Shared on Twitter 😍
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1049178261295652864
Dropping in to thank you all for your kind comments! Our wonderful readers waited nearly ten years for a new Haunted Bookshop Mystery, and we’re thrilled (at long last) to get The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller into their hands. For those of you new to our series, you can easily jump in with this new book. It reads as a standalone. For those of you who have already fallen in love with Jack and Pen, thank you for your long-suffering patience. We’re already at work on our next book, and we hope you’ll keep in touch via our newsletter for the latest news on the publication date. You can subscribe to our free newsletter simply by sending a “Sign me up” email to CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com.
Cheers to all of you, and thanks especially to Dru for hosting us again at her wonderful, award-winning blog.
~ Cleo
Yay! The Ghost will return!
I’ve had this title on my wish list at Paperbackswap forever, with a note saying it had not been published. I can finally take the note out!
Excited about it!
So I’m trying to understand…is this a new series or a new book in the old series you used to write? I look forward to reading it either way. 😉
Looks like another awesome read!!!
I am so glad yall started this series back up….i sure have missed the ghost in the bookstore!!
I am so glad to see this series return! Thank you!
Looking forward to reading all the books in this series. Sounds like
intriguing reads.
Thank you so much for this chance at your giveaway.
Not Clare, but just as cozy:-)
I started this series a few years ago, and devoured all the books; I kept looking for The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller, but couldn’t find it! I’m so glad Jack and Penelope are back; I have missed them terribly!
I have read all of the Coffeehouse Mysteries and really enjoyed them.
I am looking forward to this series. I feel they will be equally as good as those I have read.
Thanks for the giveaway
Welcome back Jack, you have been missed,
I can’t wait to start reading this series – sounds like great fun!
My husband has been looking for this series for me in used bookstores. I’m looking forward to reading your new release!
It is so good to have Jack and Pen back, and with an excellent mystery as well! (Although I really would love to have gotten “a look” at those old photo albums). Welcome back. Thanks for a great read!
Have not read any of these books so thanks for a chance to win one. Sounds like a fun read.
Sounds like a very good hardboiled ghost-and-bookshop-owner mystery!
I so enjoyed this series and happy you have brought them back again. I’m also a fan of your coffeehouse mysteries. Thank you for giving us so many hours of great reading with your books.
I am so glad Jack has returned. It has been quite a long time. Good to see he hasn’t lost his gift of wise guy gab!
This is a new series for me. I like books with ghosts!
I’ve love to read this series. The cover is very pretty. “I know you’re not to judge a book by it’s cover.” ..lol
I have not read any of the Haunted Bookshop books but have really enjoyed the Coffeehouse mystery’s. The characters are so well done and their interactions are always interesting. Looking forward to hunting these books down and enjoying this series.
This series is entertaining and clever.
I was not even aware this series existed. I can’t wait to read these books! Thank you for this chance.
Thanks for sharing this fun insight! I’m so looking forward to reading The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Thanks for bringing Jack back! Love this series!
How fun–great giveaway! Can’t wait to read this. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
Finally! I’ve really missed Jack! I especially love how protective he is of Penelope. Very romantic! Thanks so much for giving us more of Jack. Keep up the good work.
I do like the coffee house mysteries but this is my favorite. I am almost through this book and am not disappointed. Please don’t wait another ten years. I am in my 70’s and want to read another!!!
Miss you Jack and Penelope! So glad you are back in our lives! 🙂
I would really like to win and read this book.
I really love forward to reading your series. I’ve read all your coffee shop series up to date.
Love, love, love this interview. I devoured the new book in a day. I’m encouraging my friends to read it now. It’s such a delightful mix of old and new.
Puts me in a bookshop kinda mood.
Like many others I have been a fan of this series and was disappointed to find that the promised next book was not coming out. Now I am cheering and avidly looking forward to this book and more in the future! Jack is back! This series approaches the mystery series and ghost genre in a new and exciting way. Keep up the great work and more books please!
Sounds like a book I must read! Thank you for doing the giveaway!
So glad to have a new book in this series!!!
I am so very glad this wonderful series is back! Love jack and his attitudes about everything! Can’t wait to read! Thank you for creating such wonderful books!
Welcome Back, Jack! Thanks for writing such great books! Can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
Sounds like a good read.
I am so glad to see a new book in this series. I love the haunted bookshop. I like these books better than the coffee house mysteries. The heroine in that series is a bit of a twit. Sorry, but she is.
I enjoy the hard-boiled mysteries of the past, so this sounds good. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thanks so much for the wonderful books and the fun contests!
Sounds fantastic and I love the cover. Thank you for the giveaway…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
So happy that this series has returned. I have enjoyed these books plus your coffeehouse mysteries. Thanks for giving us so many good reads.
Awesome book..
Looking forward to getting and reading. Sounds like such a great book by a great author.
I am excited to start your series of books. I love a great book and a great author . I definitely found them .
I admit to being a bit smitten with Jack : my favorite fictional character!!
I was so happy to see this famous ghost detective come “back to life” again!
I love both of your series and the few recipes I have tried were delicious. Thank you for all of your books, recipes and for the chance to win this great giveaway. I hope to see Jack and Pen and all the coffee house gang soon…
Love Jack’s new book. So glad he is back and I am looking forward to the next installment!
Welcome back Jack!
Welcome back Jack! Can’t wait to read the newbook!
Just started reading this series..love it. Looking forward to reading them all. Would live to win book & bag.
Thank you for bringing my favorite characters back to life! It feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime to listen in on Jack and Penelope…now I get to dive back into that little book noir world again
I absolutely love this series- I adore Jack and Pen!
Cheers~
Kelly
**** WINNER ****
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller; a custom-designed, canvas “Jack is Back!” tote bag, and an autographed set of Cleo’s favorite glossy recipe cards prize pack is Jean Hogan
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our winner, Jean Hogan! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to drop by and comment and thanks especially to Dru for helping us welcome Jack and Pen back.
Many of you have asked us if there will be more Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. YES, absolutely! Marc and I are already at work on Jack and Pen’s new case. If you’d like to keep in touch with us, we invite you to subscribe to our free e-newsletter. Simply write an email with a subject heading “Sign me up” and send it to CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com — We’ll keep you informed of our publishing dates while sharing a few tasty recipes and fun giveaways.
Cheers, everyone. Thanks again to Dru for her kind hospitality. May you always read with joy!
~ Cleo
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