Maureen Doherty and her golden retriever Finn have taken possession of a charming old inn—only to discover that it’s already possessed by tenants whose lease on life already ran out . . .
Maureen's career as a sportswear buyer hits a snag just before Halloween, when the department store declares bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Finn's lost his way as a guide dog after flunking his test for being too friendly and easily distracted. Sadly, only one of them can earn unemployment, so Maureen's facing a winter of discontent in Boston--when she realizes she can't afford her apartment.
Salvation comes when she receives a mysterious inheritance: an inn in Haven, Florida. A quaint, scenic town on the Gulf of Mexico hidden away from the theme parks, Maureen believes it's a good place to make a fresh start with a new business venture. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds a dead body on her property--and meets some of the inn's everlasting tenants in the form of ghosts who offer their otherworldly talents in order to help her solve the mystery...
I picked this one up for my Halloween Theme Read because I was already a fan of the author's Witch City series and because it combined Halloween with ghosts. This one was good, with an intriguing plot and who wouldn't love to inherit a haunted inn from someone they don't remember meeting? Maureen seemed like a likeable, practical and competent person, if a bit naïve. I liked the eccentric residents, especially the ghosts (Lorna is a hoot!)
While the plot was good, it was the police investigation that detracted from my enjoyment. With an unrealistic officer character and questionable police procedure, the inanity of their encounters had me flipping pages. I'm not looking for ultra-realistic law enforcement portrayal, just something that at least sounds like it could happen that way without making the officer look like Barney Fife with a bad attitude.
Overall, I liked this one but didn't love it. I'd be open to giving book 2 a try if there is one, but this one is just...okay.
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8 October, 2021:
Reviewed