Kay Charles's Blog

When I wrote the second Marti Mickkleson mystery, I cut out a bit where Marti blamed her current situation on the stress of the holidays. But I couldn’t help wondering what HAD happened on her first Christmas back in Bicklesburg. So, here we are:

Ghosts of Christmas Present, a holiday novella, takes place between the events of Ghosts in Glass Houses and Old Bones and New Ghosts, but it’s spoiler-free and can be read as a standalone.

It’s Marti’s first Christmas back in the semi-loving arms of her estranged family. What could go wrong?

Other than letting herself be goaded into promising to find the rarest doll on the planet to save her niece’s Christmas. When her only lead on a vintage Talky Tessie turns up dead, Harry Farkle, Bicklesburg’s beloved year-round Santa, is the prime suspect. She doesn’t believe it. Harry’s the only good memory she has of Christmases past. She’s determined to clear his name, but he’s no help. He’s gone missing.

At least there are cookies.

Available now on Amazon.

Includes holiday recipes from Mrs. Partridge and Grandma Bertie.

It’s Marti’s first Christmas back in the semi-loving arms of her estranged family. What could go wrong?

Other than letting herself be goaded into promising to find the rarest doll on the planet to save her niece’s Christmas. When her only lead on a vintage Talky Tessie turns up dead, Harry Farkle, Bicklesburg’s beloved year-round Santa, is the prime suspect. She doesn’t believe it. Harry’s the only good memory she has of Christmases past. She’s determined to clear his name, but he’s no help. He’s gone missing.

At least there are cookies.

Includes holiday recipes from Mrs. Partridge and Grandma Bertie.

NOTE: This short holiday novella takes place between the events of Ghosts in Glass Houses and Old Bones and New Ghosts, but it’s spoiler-free and can be read as a standalone.

Today’s the day! Old Bones and New Ghosts is out in the world!
Available for Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
Get the paperback here or from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Read a release day review at Sarah Can’t Stop Reading and find more early reviews on Goodreads.

“Readers will love returning to Bicklesburg and spending time with Marti Mickkleson and the quirky ghosts in Old Bones, New Ghosts!” Valerie Burns, author of Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

Marti Mickkleson and her ghostly Grandma Bertie are back!

With only one month to go until Marti meets the conditions of her late father’s will and gains control of her trust fund, she’s determined to be on her best behavior. No admitting that she can see ghosts and certainly no talking to the dead.

But her mother’s roped her into a new family project, her new office has a mysterious haunt, Grandma Bertie’s digging up mysteries from the past, her friend Dmitri’s barely speaking to her, and her sister’s life is falling apart. It’s enough to make a girl miss her days of flipping sort-of-beef patties on a Burger Buster grill.

Then things get really bad.

With both a cold case and a new murder on her hands, her “best behavior” won’t cut it. Protecting her family may cost her more than a trust fund. It may cost Marti her life—or the life of someone she loves.

Join Marti and Grandma Bertie in the follow-up to Ghosts in Glass Houses!

We’re two days away from launch, and I’m starting my first blog tour today, courtesy of Great Escapes Blog Tours! For my first stop, I answer the question “Why ghosts?” in a guest post at Jody Joy’s Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense blog.

Old Bones and New Ghosts has some early reviews on Goodreads, and you can find them here.

As a reminder, the Kindle edition of Old Bones and New Ghosts can be pre-ordered at Amazon, where Ghosts in Glass Houses, the first Marti Mickkleson Mystery, is half-price until the end of the month. You can find both on the Amazon Series page.

The paperback edition of Old Bones is available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble, with more retailers coming soon.

Old Bones and New Ghosts will be released on January 25th, but I’ll be touring for the next nine days. I hope you will follow along!

To start the year off, Ghosts in Glass Houses, the first book in my Marti Mickkleson series, is discounted to $1.99 for the month of January, and the second book, Old Bones and New Ghosts, is available for preorder! (I’m so excited!)

Kindle versions for both. Also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Find the series here.

Are you a NetGalley reviewer? Do you like Cozy Mysteries? Amateur Sleuths? Ghosts? Review ARCs of Old Bones and New Ghosts are available on NetGalley for a limited time! Find it here.

Releases for Kindle and in trade paperback on January 25, 2024.

Find the series on Amazon
On Goodreads

Update: Old Bones and New Ghosts will be released on January 25, 2025! Find the Marti Mickkleson series page at Amazon here.

Coming in January 2024, the new Marti Mickkleson Mystery!

“Readers will love returning to Bicklesburg and spending time with Marti Mickkleson and the quirky ghosts in Old Bones, New Ghosts!” Valerie Burns, author of Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

Marti Mickkleson and her ghostly Grandma Bertie are back!

With only one month to go until Marti meets the conditions of her late father’s will and gains control of her trust fund, she’s determined to be on her best behavior. No admitting that she can see ghosts and certainly no talking to the dead.

But her mother’s roped her into a new family project, her new office has a mysterious haunt, Grandma Bertie’s digging up mysteries from the past, her friend Dmitri’s barely speaking to her, and her sister’s life is falling apart. It’s enough to make a girl miss her days of flipping sort-of-beef patties on a Burger Buster grill.

Then things get really bad.

With both a cold case and a new murder on her hands, her “best behavior” won’t cut it. Protecting her family may cost her more than a trust fund. It may cost Marti her life—or the life of someone she loves.

Join Marti and Grandma Bertie in the follow-up to Ghosts in Glass Houses!

More info soon.

My evil twin wrote a New Year’s post. Unfortunately, she used up all my time (need to run off and celebrate a niece’s birthday), so I’ll just have to share her post rather than writing my own. She’s not very cozy, but she does knit!

Out with the Old, In with the New

Happy New Year everyone!

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