The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion: Haunted Bookshop Mystery

by: Alice Kimberly

Published by: Berkley Prime Crime

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

This delightful cozy mystery is number 5 in the Haunted Bookshop series by mystery author Cleo Coyle, writing as Alice Kimberly.

Penelope “Pen” McClure, a young widow and single mother, has returned to her quiet hometown of Quindicott, Rhode Island, and opened a bookstore with her aunt Sadie. The store, however, is haunted by the spectre (a ghost) of hard-boiled PI Jack Shepard, who was gunned down there in 1949. Pen can only hear him, and holds conversations with him; he can accompany her out of the bookgshop when she carries a special nickel. In her dreams they can interact, and she can see him.

When Pen is delivering some books to shut-in Timothea Todd who lives in a spooky Victorian mansion on Larchmont Avenue, she spies mailman acquaintance Seymour Tarnish fleeing, then discovers Miss Todd dead in her parlor. The rather thick-headed local police chief assumes Tarnish murdered her, but actually he regularly brought her lunch and discussed true crime books with the recluse. They were friends.

Tarnish’s possible motive becomes clear when they discover that Todd left all her books to Pen and her aunt, and the mansion to Tarnish! Jack helps Pen investigate the suspicious noises at the mansion, which scare off both Tarnish and Pen, and links to one of Jack’s old cases prove helpful to solving this somewhat paranormal mystery. But will Pen and Tarnish be able to stay safe from the decades-old evil permeating the area? Who is behind it? Todd’s estranged sister? The corporation who wants to buy the mansion for a bed and breakfast?

Pen is firmly entrenched in her community, and the friendships she has with the residents of Quindicott are a pleasure, as is her “bookstore.” I wish I could visit it! Her affection for Jack is real, and much safer than getting attached to a human who might be flawed or even die–like her husband who committed suicide. Jack is truly a knight in shining armor, there for Pen when she needs him, and delivers sage advice when needed.

Armchair Interviews says: A most delightful read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com