Carole's Monday. Dead and Breakfast

 

Author: Kate Kingsbury

Narrator: Tavia Gilbert

Title: Dead and Breakfast

(Merry Ghost Inn #1)

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, & fiction    

Format: Audiobook

Published: January 10th 2017

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Melanie West is getting her life back on track after a messy divorce when her grandmother, Liza Harris, asks her to open a B&B with her. Together, Liza and Melanie purchase a purportedly haunted mansion on the Oregon coast and jump right into clearing out the cobwebs. But while attempting to remove wallpaper in an upstairs bedroom, the new B&B owners stumble upon a very real skeleton in their closet.

The police suspect the skeleton is that of the wife of the previous owner of the B&B, but no one in town seems to want to say much about her. As the inn owners try to juggle renovations with their own amateur investigations, their grand opening looms closer and closer--and a friendly ghost in their walls starts playing tricks. But it all comes crashing to a halt when a new body is found stabbed to death on the beach below the inn--the victim chillingly close in resemblance to Melanie herself.

It seems someone doesn't appreciate newcomers prying into the small town's past, and now it's up to Melanie and Liza to get to the bottom of these murders to save their business...and their lives.

Review:

This kept popping up as a recommendation for me so I caved and played this. 

We follow Melanie and her grandmother, Liza, who team up and open a B&B. They purchase a reported haunted mansion on the Oregon coast. While clearing out the cobwebs and attempting to remove some wallpaper they discover a very real skeleton in the closet. The police suspect the skeleton is that of the wife of the previous owner, but no one in town wants to say much about her. Things get worse when someone is murdered at the beach near the inn and the victim, oddly, resembles Melanie quite a bit.

Awwww this was fun. I adored Melanie and Liza. I also loved that puppers that they saved. What a great team. 

I loved the blend of the mystery and supernatural. It was fun. The ghost was a character in on its own. A creepy character...but he/she was fun. We think it is a boy, but we do not know anything about this ghost. Liza thinks it's a boy. She even gave this ghost a name. Cute! I hope we learn more about this ghost in the future. I feel like the ghost should've had a bigger role BUT maybe he/she will in future books. 

OOOOO that mystery was good. Totally didn't see that coming! The ended was great!!! BUUUUT it all makes sense thinking back on it. It was right there darnit. So good. OOOOO so good. 

There is a mini love interest for both Melanie and Granny Liza. It made me smile, but I was happy it didn't take over the plot. Curious to see if they end up getting together. That would be cute! Esp the cop. He was hot ;)

The narrator was a lot of fun. Her voices were great and fit really well.

Overall, what a great way to start September/Fall! A fun cozy mystery for fall. I can't wait to read/listen to more. Curious to see them solve more mysteries, learn/see more of the ghost, and maybe Melanie and Liza will find love! I'll give it 4 stars. 

 

Challenge(s):
- #51 for Audiobook challenge