Book Review - "Remnants of Murder"

“Remnants of Murder” by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

They say ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.’ True enough and Casey shows how spot on that is and how dangerous beauty can be in “Remnants of Murder.”

Tori Sinclair is relatively new to Sweet Briar, but is accepted in this small, quaint town. That is until she gets involved in a murder plot that she can’t just sew up and move on to another project. Part of a sewing group, Tori’s help is elicited by one of the members, Dixie, to help prove that a ninety-one-year-old man’s death—Clyde—was not from old age.

With the aid of Leona, Margaret Louise, Dixie, and a few of the other sewing members, Tori tries to prove what she knows is fact. But who wants to kill a ninety-one-year-old man and why? These are just a few of the questions Tori poses to others and that are posed to her. And it troubles her that someone may get away with murder if she doesn’t do something.

Many business owners are actually celebrating Clyde’s death. It seems, Clyde was the owner of a very valuable property that the town wants him to part with; at least, part of it so they can build a resort, thus bringing in more tourists to the town, which would equal more money for the businesses. But Clyde refused to sell any acre of the property. This angered a lot of people.

Setting her sights on the murder, Tori sets aside one of the most important people in her life, her fiancé, Milo and their upcoming nuptials. She ends up not only disappointing Milo time and time again but also manages to alienate some of her closest friends in Sweet Briar. Can she salvage her relationship with Milo while atoning for her mistakes made with friends? And can she solve the murder or will he or she remain free?

Suspects aplenty and quite entertaining!

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” 

Book Review - "The Thrill of the Haunt"

“The Thrill of the Haunt” by E.J. Copperman

Copperman brings us another Haunted Guesthouse Mystery in the series. When I saw it come in, I snatched it up, eager to read more of Alison (live guesthouse owner), Paul, and Maxie’s (dead guesthouse residents) latest excursions. Just as “Chance of a Ghost” did, “The Thrill of the Haunt” entertained and kept me reading (even when I should have been working—please don’t tell my boss).

Alison owns a guesthouse in which ghosts Paul and Maxie are stuck. Well, Paul is; Maxie finally found the ability to travel outside the house. Because Paul was a private investigator before he died, he has since enticed (coerced is more the word) Alison to aid him in investigating for those alive and well…dead.

In “The Thrill of the Haunt,” Alison is hired by Helen Boffice to track her husband David’s moves. Helen believes David is cheating on her. No, she doesn’t want to divorce him; she wants to make sure he is tied to her for life. Strange reasoning, but I’d be announcing Spoiler Alert! if I said more. But that’s not enough. Alison, among trying to entertain her guests who came for the ‘spook shows’ with the ghosts, is forced to investigate a homeless man’s death.

Running a haunted guesthouse and investigating crimes with two ghosts isn’t all Alison has to deal with. The one guy, Josh, who has been worthy of Alison’s desire for him to stick around is ready to bolt. Josh wants to know what Alison is keeping secret from him. Paul and Maxie want her to acknowledge to the world that they exist and go to lengthy extremes to accomplish this, and Allison’s supposed to be learning from her mother how to cook.

This book is filled with wit, hysteria (maybe that was my hysterical laughter there), and pure entertainment. If you like a good ghostly paranormal that will make your eyes water from laughing, this one is it.

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story”