What do you think?
Rate this book
A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery #1
Night of the Living Deed
Home repair meets haunted happenings in the first charming, hilarious Haunted Guest House Mystery! Newly divorced Alison Kerby wants a second chance for herself and her nine-year-old daughter, so she’s returned to her home town on the Jersey Shore to transform a fixer-upper into a charming—and hopefully profitable—guest house. But when a bump on the head leaves her seeing not only stars but spirits, Alison realizes the real challenge she’s facing is out of this world. The two residing ghosts are Maxie Malone, the foul-tempered former owner of the house (who has definite opinions about Alison’s design plans), and Paul Harrison, a private eye who’d been working for Maxie—both died in the house on the same night. The official cause of death was suicide, but the ghosts insist they were murdered, and they need Alison to find out who killed them—or the next ghost in the guest house will be Alison herself...
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2010
239 people are currently reading
5803 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Copperman
34 books839 followersLibrarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author
Jeff Cohen
E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.
Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.
E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.
Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
August 26, 2024
The first book in a paranormal cosy series.
Alison Kerby, post divorce and with a nine year old daughter to support, invests all her money in a large, old house on the Jersey shore. She intends to redecorate it herself and open a guest house. However she does not take into account the two current residents - ghosts of two people who died there in the quite recent past. Her attempts to help them cross over cause all kinds of chaos.
The book is humorous, not spooky and the characters are mostly fun. I thought the inclusion of Alison's mother and father provided a great plus to the story in different ways. It was an entertaining read and I will probably read book 2.
Alison Kerby, post divorce and with a nine year old daughter to support, invests all her money in a large, old house on the Jersey shore. She intends to redecorate it herself and open a guest house. However she does not take into account the two current residents - ghosts of two people who died there in the quite recent past. Her attempts to help them cross over cause all kinds of chaos.
The book is humorous, not spooky and the characters are mostly fun. I thought the inclusion of Alison's mother and father provided a great plus to the story in different ways. It was an entertaining read and I will probably read book 2.
January 2, 2015
The pun-filled title notwithstanding, E.J. Copperman’s first novel in this series deals not with zombies but ghosts. Single mom Alison Kerby (not Kirby) buys a dilapidated Victorian mansion on the Jersey Shore to turn into a guesthouse but gets more than she bargained for in the purchase: The house comes with two demanding ghosts. Private investigator Paul Harrison and over-the-top Maxie Malone were killed a year ago, and they can’t cross over until they find out who killed them. For that, they want Alison to find out for them. Naturally enough, Alison doesn’t want to tangle with a proven double-murderer, but she ends up doing so because … well, because otherwise there wouldn’t be a book, much less a series, would there?
With a very likeable heroine, Night of the Living Deed proves cute enough, sort of reminiscent of early Stephanie Plum before the slapstick and lust became too thick and the mystery plots became too thin. The novel suffers a bit from predictability, and Alison’s too-wise-for-her-age 9-year-old wisecracking daughter Melissa, Alison’s Pollyanna-ish mother, and her wacky friends seem plucked from a lackluster TV sitcom. Despite some flaws, E.J. Copperman (a nom de plume for screenwriter and mystery writer Jeffrey Cohen) manages to include a clever mystery and enough funny quips and scenes to redeem the novel for all but the most demanding readers. I’ll definitely be back for the sequel, An Uninvited Ghost.
With a very likeable heroine, Night of the Living Deed proves cute enough, sort of reminiscent of early Stephanie Plum before the slapstick and lust became too thick and the mystery plots became too thin. The novel suffers a bit from predictability, and Alison’s too-wise-for-her-age 9-year-old wisecracking daughter Melissa, Alison’s Pollyanna-ish mother, and her wacky friends seem plucked from a lackluster TV sitcom. Despite some flaws, E.J. Copperman (a nom de plume for screenwriter and mystery writer Jeffrey Cohen) manages to include a clever mystery and enough funny quips and scenes to redeem the novel for all but the most demanding readers. I’ll definitely be back for the sequel, An Uninvited Ghost.
November 13, 2015
This is a good, cozy series made up of a single mother, trying to refurbish an old home, a sassy daughter, an eclectic, clingy grandmother and of course a couple of wacky ghosts. It had just the right amount of enticing mystery and likable characters to keep me wanting to pick it back up. This is definitely a light paranormal that can be a bit far fetched but that is all part of the fun. I did read book two in the series before this one and it was interesting enough to make me want to start the series from the beginning.
As always Amanda Ronconi's voices added to the enjoyable humor that kept this fast pace whodunit engaging and lively.
As always Amanda Ronconi's voices added to the enjoyable humor that kept this fast pace whodunit engaging and lively.
March 13, 2019
2.5 stars. This book took me a month to get through! 😳 😡 It had a lot of basic ingredients for an enjoyable read but it just didn't come together for me. I literally fell asleep reading it on more than one occasion. After a while, I figured this out and started reading it deliberately when I couldn't get to sleep.
So disappointing because I have been on the hunt for a good series set in New Jersey. I love Harlan Coben books but I was hoping for one of these cozy mystery series as Coben's books are intense.
I'm not the biggest fan of ghosts in mg stories for some reason and these were pretty awful. Paul was almost cardboard bland and Maxie was annoying as all get out. Our heroine was TSTL (as the kids say). Her 9 year old and her kooky mom repeatedly show themselves to be intelligent. Ugh.
I don't even know where to start on this convoluted story. By the time we reach the conclusion I'd long since stopped caring.
So disappointing because I have been on the hunt for a good series set in New Jersey. I love Harlan Coben books but I was hoping for one of these cozy mystery series as Coben's books are intense.
I'm not the biggest fan of ghosts in mg stories for some reason and these were pretty awful. Paul was almost cardboard bland and Maxie was annoying as all get out. Our heroine was TSTL (as the kids say). Her 9 year old and her kooky mom repeatedly show themselves to be intelligent. Ugh.
I don't even know where to start on this convoluted story. By the time we reach the conclusion I'd long since stopped caring.
February 24, 2020
3 - 3.5 stars
I listened to this one on a recent car trip. I prefer mysteries instead of music when traveling distances by car. I was entertained - it was fun. I'm not a huge fan of the reader/narrator/performance. She did grow on me. Nice set up for a series. I didn't think I would continue after this book, but now I am interested in book 2. I like the ghosts - who were murdered in the house that Alison bought after her divorce. Her intentions to turn the house into a guest house to support herself and her daughter, Melissa, is somewhat interrupted by the appearance of ghosts who want their murder solved.
I listened to this one on a recent car trip. I prefer mysteries instead of music when traveling distances by car. I was entertained - it was fun. I'm not a huge fan of the reader/narrator/performance. She did grow on me. Nice set up for a series. I didn't think I would continue after this book, but now I am interested in book 2. I like the ghosts - who were murdered in the house that Alison bought after her divorce. Her intentions to turn the house into a guest house to support herself and her daughter, Melissa, is somewhat interrupted by the appearance of ghosts who want their murder solved.
August 4, 2012
2 1/2 Stars
This cozy mystery by E.J. Copperman is the first in the Haunted Guesthouse series. Recently divorced single mother Allison Kerby has bought a huge Victorian home in need of some work. She hopes to renovate the home, turn it into a guesthouse, and earn her living on the Jersey Shore. There's one small flaw in her plan. The ghosts of the previous owner, Maxie, and a private detective, Paul, haunt the home and insist Allison find out who killed them.
The concept of the books is great. The characters are likable and quirky. Allison endeared herself to me with her home renovation skills that she learned from her father -- I remember "helping" my dad by handing him nails for wallboard when I was three. She also has a sense of humor that reminds me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. The ghostly private detective is just the kind of guy you want Allison to meet and fall in love with, well, if he wasn't so dead. A touching climax almost makes up for the missteps in the mystery.
My main problems with this book had to do with grammar and sentence structure. Awkward run-on sentences topped eighty words and often included lots of parenthetical phrases (like this one) that didn't seem to add much (well, I guess they added a little) to the meaning of the sentence and served most often to confuse (is it just me or is this sentence getting a little hard to follow?) the reader. The plot chugged along toward the end without lagging, but without any real sense of urgency either. There were plenty of suspects, but I was disappointed by the eventual suspect to perpetrator ratio. (You'll see.) Half of Allison's "investigation" into her ghosts' deaths feels like filler and I often wondered what she thought she could learn by snooping in certain places. In the end, nothing. The snooping was only used by the author to get the character from A to B in the story, and not in a well-motivated way.
I know cozies don't have to be terribly realistic in the police procedure department but even I have watched enough "The First 48" to know that if someone is a suspect or important witness, they wouldn't be allowed to have a pizza party with their friends while her nine-year-old daughter argues with the detective during an interrogation/questioning. And speaking of the police, the author gave the police detective a name that had to be phonetically spelled out for the reader. I found the name really distracting and ended up calling her something else. Also, the Medical Examiner in the book needs to be fired because his initial autopsy was grossly negligent. But if it hadn't been, the story wouldn't have worked. Bad writer!
Overall, the book was charming, but like Allison's old Victorian, the prose in E.J. Copperman's book could use some renovation.
This cozy mystery by E.J. Copperman is the first in the Haunted Guesthouse series. Recently divorced single mother Allison Kerby has bought a huge Victorian home in need of some work. She hopes to renovate the home, turn it into a guesthouse, and earn her living on the Jersey Shore. There's one small flaw in her plan. The ghosts of the previous owner, Maxie, and a private detective, Paul, haunt the home and insist Allison find out who killed them.
The concept of the books is great. The characters are likable and quirky. Allison endeared herself to me with her home renovation skills that she learned from her father -- I remember "helping" my dad by handing him nails for wallboard when I was three. She also has a sense of humor that reminds me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. The ghostly private detective is just the kind of guy you want Allison to meet and fall in love with, well, if he wasn't so dead. A touching climax almost makes up for the missteps in the mystery.
My main problems with this book had to do with grammar and sentence structure. Awkward run-on sentences topped eighty words and often included lots of parenthetical phrases (like this one) that didn't seem to add much (well, I guess they added a little) to the meaning of the sentence and served most often to confuse (is it just me or is this sentence getting a little hard to follow?) the reader. The plot chugged along toward the end without lagging, but without any real sense of urgency either. There were plenty of suspects, but I was disappointed by the eventual suspect to perpetrator ratio. (You'll see.) Half of Allison's "investigation" into her ghosts' deaths feels like filler and I often wondered what she thought she could learn by snooping in certain places. In the end, nothing. The snooping was only used by the author to get the character from A to B in the story, and not in a well-motivated way.
I know cozies don't have to be terribly realistic in the police procedure department but even I have watched enough "The First 48" to know that if someone is a suspect or important witness, they wouldn't be allowed to have a pizza party with their friends while her nine-year-old daughter argues with the detective during an interrogation/questioning. And speaking of the police, the author gave the police detective a name that had to be phonetically spelled out for the reader. I found the name really distracting and ended up calling her something else. Also, the Medical Examiner in the book needs to be fired because his initial autopsy was grossly negligent. But if it hadn't been, the story wouldn't have worked. Bad writer!
Overall, the book was charming, but like Allison's old Victorian, the prose in E.J. Copperman's book could use some renovation.
June 19, 2016
Alison Kerby is newly divorced and moves back to her hometown in New Jersey to transform a 100-year old beachfront home into a guesthouse. Just as she starts her DIY project, she gets struck on the head by a falling can of joint compound. When she comes to, she doesn't just see the mess on the floor, but the spirits of two people who died in the house. The spirits beg her to help them find otu who killed them. Alison is reluctant to get involved. The safety of her 9-year old daughter is much more important than helping two dead people. But, when she starts getting death threats just like the former owner did before she died, Alison realizes she needs to help the ghosts before she becomes the killer's next victim.
This book is a great mix of humor and murder mystery. The main character is a hoot! She is smart, determined, and sassy. The two ghosts are wonderful characters as well. Moxie, the former owner of the house, is temperamental and prone to destroying things to get her point across. A former private investigator hired by Moxie, Paul sends Alison on investigative missions because, as a ghost, he can't leave the property.
I loved this book! Solid 4 out of 5 stars! The story was great. The cover art was fantastic! I am definitely going to be reading more of this series! There are 7 books in this series so far. The 8th book will be released in December of this year. E.J. Copperman is a pseudonym for author Jeff Cohen.
This book is a great mix of humor and murder mystery. The main character is a hoot! She is smart, determined, and sassy. The two ghosts are wonderful characters as well. Moxie, the former owner of the house, is temperamental and prone to destroying things to get her point across. A former private investigator hired by Moxie, Paul sends Alison on investigative missions because, as a ghost, he can't leave the property.
I loved this book! Solid 4 out of 5 stars! The story was great. The cover art was fantastic! I am definitely going to be reading more of this series! There are 7 books in this series so far. The 8th book will be released in December of this year. E.J. Copperman is a pseudonym for author Jeff Cohen.
September 14, 2021
5 STARS I really enjoyed this one. It's been sitting on my bookshelves for ages and I finally picked it up. Once I started I couldn't put it down. It's HILARIOUS. The heroine/sleuth is relatable and has the best sense of humor, and the mystery associated was clever. I honestly can't say enough good things about it. I can't wait to read more in the series.
November 9, 2023
Who am I? All I wanna do is read Cozy paranormal mysteries.👻💀
August 29, 2018
The most exciting stories in the world are about spiritual encounters and aged houses.... with secrets for discovery! I know it's no author's responsibility for books to be what we expected. "Night Of The Living Deed" was not but grading cannot be based on that. Here are my two cents on what it IS. I'm a 'save the best for last' person and since a full-on ghost story has been hard to find since the 1990s, I savoured this modern 'Haunted Guesthouse' series, by collecting it and holding it in queue.
It is not spooky. Perhaps gothic mysteries achieve that best. I didn't mind that Alison quickly saw and spoke with spectres but there was no intoxicating moment of wonder. The allure of a hidden artefact came late and I definitely didn't anticipate a protagonist full of jokes. But an inaugural novel is always about getting used to a new character. I have to say: the humour is unexpectedly hilarious and remarkably well-executed. I was frequently winded by hearty giggling. If not the mystical environment I sought after, realistic dialogue and jarring wit are complimented with exceptional writing.
There are numerous side remarks but not as excess literary fillers. Everything ‘Alison’ does ties into multiple plots and they are very well-devised. Not being a parent, I was unsure I'd invest in a Mom with a grade-schooler but quickly liked her and Melissa. Grandma grows interesting too and develops beyond a cliché parental figure that calls by phone. The proof of an excellent book is in the interest level of the pudding. You want everyone to succeed and are absorbed enough in the storylines to follow along quickly. It is one hour after closing the final page and I am already convinced I am going to devour everything E.J Copperman releases.
It is not spooky. Perhaps gothic mysteries achieve that best. I didn't mind that Alison quickly saw and spoke with spectres but there was no intoxicating moment of wonder. The allure of a hidden artefact came late and I definitely didn't anticipate a protagonist full of jokes. But an inaugural novel is always about getting used to a new character. I have to say: the humour is unexpectedly hilarious and remarkably well-executed. I was frequently winded by hearty giggling. If not the mystical environment I sought after, realistic dialogue and jarring wit are complimented with exceptional writing.
There are numerous side remarks but not as excess literary fillers. Everything ‘Alison’ does ties into multiple plots and they are very well-devised. Not being a parent, I was unsure I'd invest in a Mom with a grade-schooler but quickly liked her and Melissa. Grandma grows interesting too and develops beyond a cliché parental figure that calls by phone. The proof of an excellent book is in the interest level of the pudding. You want everyone to succeed and are absorbed enough in the storylines to follow along quickly. It is one hour after closing the final page and I am already convinced I am going to devour everything E.J Copperman releases.
December 5, 2013
This is not a scary ghost or zombie story. It is a mystery with a witty, funny main character. I loved her snarky attitude, her poignant evaluations of life and her self reliant nature. I have to admit that about 3/4 of the way through the book, I got a little tired of the wit wrapped around pretty much everything she said, but I got over it because by then I was so interested to see "who did it." There were some really humorous remarks that I wanted to write down and memorize so I could say them at opportune times.
The mystery aspect was fast paced. I couldn't put the book down. I was trying to cook dinner one handed so I could keep reading. After dinner I propped the book on the window sill and tried to keep reading while I washed dishes. I hope the library will not notice the water warbling on every page through that part of the book! It had just the right amount of correct clues mixed with misleading hints to keep me guessing. I will definitely find the next one and read it.
The mystery aspect was fast paced. I couldn't put the book down. I was trying to cook dinner one handed so I could keep reading. After dinner I propped the book on the window sill and tried to keep reading while I washed dishes. I hope the library will not notice the water warbling on every page through that part of the book! It had just the right amount of correct clues mixed with misleading hints to keep me guessing. I will definitely find the next one and read it.
June 22, 2010
I love this book! It was fun and humorous as well as a wonderful character study. Of course, I've enjoyed everything that E.J.'s alter-ego has written so it wasn't much of a surprise.
Alison Kerby has purchased a house and is working to renovate the seven (!) bedroom house into a guesthouse. She's a pretty fair carpenter and "handywoman" who is doing most of the work herself. She is trying to build a new life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter. When she is hit on the head by a bucket she suddenly finds that she can see and talk to ghosts. These ghosts are trapped in her house because they were killed there. Paul, the male ghost, talks her into helping him solve the murders. Murder and hilarity ensue.
I can't wait for the next in the series, this is a lot of fun and I'm not the biggest fan of the paranormal craze. If you haven't gotten a copy of this one, do yourself a favor and run out (or use the Internet) to get a copy!
Alison Kerby has purchased a house and is working to renovate the seven (!) bedroom house into a guesthouse. She's a pretty fair carpenter and "handywoman" who is doing most of the work herself. She is trying to build a new life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter. When she is hit on the head by a bucket she suddenly finds that she can see and talk to ghosts. These ghosts are trapped in her house because they were killed there. Paul, the male ghost, talks her into helping him solve the murders. Murder and hilarity ensue.
I can't wait for the next in the series, this is a lot of fun and I'm not the biggest fan of the paranormal craze. If you haven't gotten a copy of this one, do yourself a favor and run out (or use the Internet) to get a copy!
June 29, 2021
This was book 1 in a new series too me. Alison Kerby has brought an old Victorian house, she plans on turning into a guesthouse. Alison hopes that this will provide an income for her and her eight-year-old daughter. During the reconstruction, a bucket of plasters falls off a ladder and smashed her head. She sees two strangers as she begins to recover. After the hospital visit, Alison still sees the intruders in her house, both are ghosts. One is Paul Harrison a private investigator the woman is Maxie Moline, the last owner of the house. Paul wants Alison to find their murderer. This was a pretty good book and this was my first time reading this author and my first time listening to this narrator. I am looking forward to listening to the next book in this series.
October 21, 2016
Audiobook
Enjoyable audiobook about a house with ghosts and what people have tried to do to obtain this house. No romance. Loved the mom. I'm not sure about Paul. Ended up liking Maxie. I would recommend this audiobook.
Enjoyable audiobook about a house with ghosts and what people have tried to do to obtain this house. No romance. Loved the mom. I'm not sure about Paul. Ended up liking Maxie. I would recommend this audiobook.
April 19, 2020
I really liked this book and I loved the characters. The ghosts were really great characters. I love grumpy old Maxie and PI Paul. I also just Alison and her daughter. The cop I could do without. She really played a nothing role except to tell Alison she should let them protect her and she was messing everything up. The story line kept me guessing till the end and I am so glad that the history teacher is history. Alison should have a great hot guy.
March 10, 2021
I found this while browsing Audible Plus for titles narrated by Amanda Ronconi. The premise was cute so I figured I'd give it a try. For the most part I enjoyed the book. The MC, Alison, was really handy and I loved the way the renovations were sprinkled into the story. I also liked the secondary characters - including the ghosts. What I struggled with was the whole murder/mystery stuff. Alison made some dumbass decisions and rushed into danger on more than one occasion. I also struggled with the way the procedural stuff was handled. For example, Alison was caught standing over a dead body after she broke into an office. The cops held her for questioning for about a couple hours and then let her go. Things like that happened more than once, which kind of pulled me out of the story.
Still, when I was able to set my disbelief aside, I enjoyed this light-hearted romp. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series.
3.5/5
Still, when I was able to set my disbelief aside, I enjoyed this light-hearted romp. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series.
3.5/5
March 21, 2016
I’m very late in reading this one, but I finally got around to it and I’m so glad I did. This book reminds me so much of the old Ghost and Mrs. Muir TV series, but with a pair of ghosts instead of just one. Alison Kerby and her daughter have the difficult task of dealing with both of them.
There is humor laced throughout this book. The dialogue is witty and had me “laughing out loud” quite often. I especially enjoyed the conversations between Alison and the female ghost, Maxie. Alison sure had her hands full with Maxie, especially since the ghost finds nothing wrong with flirting with the living.
I devoured this book in just a couple of days. It’s an enjoyable mystery filled with laughter, strong characters and a clever storyline. It's the perfect mix of paranormal and mystery to make a unique cozy mystery series. Now, it’s time for me to read the backlist.
There is humor laced throughout this book. The dialogue is witty and had me “laughing out loud” quite often. I especially enjoyed the conversations between Alison and the female ghost, Maxie. Alison sure had her hands full with Maxie, especially since the ghost finds nothing wrong with flirting with the living.
I devoured this book in just a couple of days. It’s an enjoyable mystery filled with laughter, strong characters and a clever storyline. It's the perfect mix of paranormal and mystery to make a unique cozy mystery series. Now, it’s time for me to read the backlist.
December 9, 2011
Alison Kerby and her daughter, Melissa, are starting their post-divorce life by renovating an old house on the New Jersey shore. But progress is stalled by the presence of two ghosts, Maxie and Paul who were murdered in the house. They want Alison to solve their murders, and when Alison starts getting threats, she tries to do just that.
This book is a great start to the series. Alison is just snarky enough and Melissa is a charning character. The mystery is very good. The ghosts and other characters are fun too. I am looking forward to the next book.
This book is a great start to the series. Alison is just snarky enough and Melissa is a charning character. The mystery is very good. The ghosts and other characters are fun too. I am looking forward to the next book.
April 4, 2023
I'm calling it. I really, really wanted to like this since I love Amanda Ronconi and I think in other hands I'd have given up long ago. I'm going to put this into two parts: what I liked and what I didn't. If you have seen my reading progress notes you can guess what will be in the second part.
What I liked: Amanda Ronconi does an amazing job as narrator. She's a talented woman with a gift for voices. It's why she's able to bring Molly Harper's works to life. I also liked the basic mystery here and I kept reading/listening enough until I learned "whodunnit" and the info about the MacGuffin (no spoilers on this end since it's one of the things I liked about the work and don't want to ruin that for others). I also more or less liked the police officer, one of the few characters I did like in this book.
What I didn't like. Hoo boy. Buckle up.
I really didn't like the ghost characters. Part of the issue here is that they just weren't portrayed as very nice or likeable characters, despite the author telling us that we should like them.
Paul was narrow sighted and didn't seem to care about anyone or anything, as long as the case got solved. I mean, there's a scene where
Then there's Maxie. From the start she is hostile to Alison. Hostile because she's there. Hostile because she's alive. Hostile because Alison doesn't want to immediately investigate the murder. The only person she's actually nice to is the daughter, but we don't really see any of that because it's all done off camera since we only see what Alison sees. If we're supposed to sympathize with her, then we actually need scenes of her being sympathetic, as opposed to just people telling us that Maxie is having a hard time.
Then there's her sexual assault of Tony. From the moment she saw him, Maxie starts acting like the animated horn dog. All she needed was an "awooga" horn and her tongue rolling out. However it's made clear from the start that even if he knew she existed (in ghost form) that he would not reciprocate because he was a very happily married man. Alison even tells Maxie this. But does Maxie care? Nope. All that she cares about is Maxie. So at one point in the book she gives Tony a very passionate kiss. I wouldn't be surprised if tongue was involved, given how it's described as a super passionate kiss. It was generally played off for humor and while Alison is upset, it's repeatedly stated that Maxie is oh so upset that Tony didn't enjoy or appreciate the kiss. So we're supposed to feel sorry that the man she sexually harassed and assaulted didn't appreciate her unwanted advances (that up to that point he was unaware of).
Now, here's the thing: if Maxie was "Max" and Tony was "Antonia", this scene would have likely been written far, FAR more different. "Max" would have been scolded up and down for his unwanted romantic/sexual advances. Especially if he made the comment "When I kiss them, they STAY kissed", something Maxie herself says. Something else to take into consideration here is that the book also apparently mentions sexual harassment earlier in the book, as it's where Alison got her payout - she had been sexually harassed by her boss. Yet at no point does Alison (or the author) mention that sexual harassment against men is also bad.
Why does this make me so heated? Because this is just another example of the trope "It's OK if it's female on male". It's a gross, disgusting trope that needs to die a terrible death and go away. I'm aware that this was written in 2010, before #METOO became a thing and before more candid discussions of sexual assault were made. But it's also not like it was written back in the 80s or 90s, when stuff like that was frequently played for humor. Now, I'm aware this is fiction. That it's unlikely to make someone make light of sexual harassment and assault against men. But the thing is, men already have a hard time being taken seriously when they report rape, harassment, and assault. It does seem to happen less frequently, but keep in mind that just as women are blown off or ridiculed by police, so are men, which is why they too are less likely to report assault to the police. It's not the author's job to raise awareness on this exactly, but I do think she and others need to do better.
Plus the whole reason the scene happens? To show to Tony and his wife that ghosts exist. However there are a ton of other ways this could have been accomplished. It didn't need harassment/assault to occur to prove it.
Maybe the series gets better. Maybe at some point we're given actual reasons to like Maxie rather than the author telling us (via the main character) that we should feel back for her and that she's not a terrible person. Maybe the author even realizes that she handled this poorly and goes back and calls out Maxie for sexually harassing and assaulting Tony. But I'm not going to read future books to see if this is ever revealed. I refuse to read a book where sexual harassment (some may debate the kiss being assault) is played for humor, especially if earlier in the book there's mention that the female lead experienced it herself. And when she expresses any displeasure she's told to lighten up and how sad Maxie is and how the lead is "mean" for not treating a horrible garbage person nicely. I'm aware that the loss of a single reader isn't going to make the author lose any sleep, but I have to at least say my piece.
It's just a shame, as the mystery was pretty decent.
What I liked: Amanda Ronconi does an amazing job as narrator. She's a talented woman with a gift for voices. It's why she's able to bring Molly Harper's works to life. I also liked the basic mystery here and I kept reading/listening enough until I learned "whodunnit" and the info about the MacGuffin (no spoilers on this end since it's one of the things I liked about the work and don't want to ruin that for others). I also more or less liked the police officer, one of the few characters I did like in this book.
What I didn't like. Hoo boy. Buckle up.
I really didn't like the ghost characters. Part of the issue here is that they just weren't portrayed as very nice or likeable characters, despite the author telling us that we should like them.
Paul was narrow sighted and didn't seem to care about anyone or anything, as long as the case got solved. I mean, there's a scene where
Then there's Maxie. From the start she is hostile to Alison. Hostile because she's there. Hostile because she's alive. Hostile because Alison doesn't want to immediately investigate the murder. The only person she's actually nice to is the daughter, but we don't really see any of that because it's all done off camera since we only see what Alison sees. If we're supposed to sympathize with her, then we actually need scenes of her being sympathetic, as opposed to just people telling us that Maxie is having a hard time.
Then there's her sexual assault of Tony. From the moment she saw him, Maxie starts acting like the animated horn dog. All she needed was an "awooga" horn and her tongue rolling out. However it's made clear from the start that even if he knew she existed (in ghost form) that he would not reciprocate because he was a very happily married man. Alison even tells Maxie this. But does Maxie care? Nope. All that she cares about is Maxie. So at one point in the book she gives Tony a very passionate kiss. I wouldn't be surprised if tongue was involved, given how it's described as a super passionate kiss. It was generally played off for humor and while Alison is upset, it's repeatedly stated that Maxie is oh so upset that Tony didn't enjoy or appreciate the kiss. So we're supposed to feel sorry that the man she sexually harassed and assaulted didn't appreciate her unwanted advances (that up to that point he was unaware of).
Now, here's the thing: if Maxie was "Max" and Tony was "Antonia", this scene would have likely been written far, FAR more different. "Max" would have been scolded up and down for his unwanted romantic/sexual advances. Especially if he made the comment "When I kiss them, they STAY kissed", something Maxie herself says. Something else to take into consideration here is that the book also apparently mentions sexual harassment earlier in the book, as it's where Alison got her payout - she had been sexually harassed by her boss. Yet at no point does Alison (or the author) mention that sexual harassment against men is also bad.
Why does this make me so heated? Because this is just another example of the trope "It's OK if it's female on male". It's a gross, disgusting trope that needs to die a terrible death and go away. I'm aware that this was written in 2010, before #METOO became a thing and before more candid discussions of sexual assault were made. But it's also not like it was written back in the 80s or 90s, when stuff like that was frequently played for humor. Now, I'm aware this is fiction. That it's unlikely to make someone make light of sexual harassment and assault against men. But the thing is, men already have a hard time being taken seriously when they report rape, harassment, and assault. It does seem to happen less frequently, but keep in mind that just as women are blown off or ridiculed by police, so are men, which is why they too are less likely to report assault to the police. It's not the author's job to raise awareness on this exactly, but I do think she and others need to do better.
Plus the whole reason the scene happens? To show to Tony and his wife that ghosts exist. However there are a ton of other ways this could have been accomplished. It didn't need harassment/assault to occur to prove it.
Maybe the series gets better. Maybe at some point we're given actual reasons to like Maxie rather than the author telling us (via the main character) that we should feel back for her and that she's not a terrible person. Maybe the author even realizes that she handled this poorly and goes back and calls out Maxie for sexually harassing and assaulting Tony. But I'm not going to read future books to see if this is ever revealed. I refuse to read a book where sexual harassment (some may debate the kiss being assault) is played for humor, especially if earlier in the book there's mention that the female lead experienced it herself. And when she expresses any displeasure she's told to lighten up and how sad Maxie is and how the lead is "mean" for not treating a horrible garbage person nicely. I'm aware that the loss of a single reader isn't going to make the author lose any sleep, but I have to at least say my piece.
It's just a shame, as the mystery was pretty decent.
October 16, 2020
Single mom Alison Kerby has returned to her New Jersey hometown with a dream -- to open a successful guesthouse on the New Jersey shore. But she's got a problem. Her new house is already occupied by two ghosts, who refuse to leave her alone until she solves their murder.
Alison's "the ghosts made me do it" alibi is a good one, and provides the explanation often missing in books about amateur sleuths - namely, why are they trying to do the job of the police? Alison's family is hilarious, and her ghosts are entertaining. Plus, the 'deed' in question is actually an intriguing mystery. A great start to a cozy mystery series.
Alison's "the ghosts made me do it" alibi is a good one, and provides the explanation often missing in books about amateur sleuths - namely, why are they trying to do the job of the police? Alison's family is hilarious, and her ghosts are entertaining. Plus, the 'deed' in question is actually an intriguing mystery. A great start to a cozy mystery series.
August 29, 2017
While very well-written, I just have trouble connecting with the paranormal cozy genre. This in no way reflects on the author and I have really enjoyed the first two installments in his cinematic series written under Jeffrey Cohen. Just me. Highly recommend for those who do..
January 7, 2018
Great first book in the series! I really liked the characters and Jersey shore setting. The mystery was good and kept me guessing. Now that Alison’s haunted guesthouse is ready to open for business I look forward to seeing what happens next.
October 29, 2010
Great start to a new series!
Meet Alison Kerby, new homeowner to a fixer-upper guest house, and her daughter Melissa. Alison's renovations get turned upside down when a pair of ghosts decide to drop a bucket of copound on her head. Now Alison and see and hear the ghostly duo, and they insist she help them find out their killer. What she discovers is that theres a valuable hidden artifact inside the house, and theres someone in town that would kill to get it.
This book was awesome!!! Do not be fooled by the spooky cover and errie title. This is definitely a cozy mystery. No blood, guts or gore here, just good old fashioned ghostly fun. I especially loved the home renovation aspect as this type of activity tends to stir up ghosts in general. The ghosts, Maxie and Paul were great characters. Maxie was histerical with her antics. Paul guides Alison on her sleuthing and she finds herself in some sticky situations. I am usually pretty good at guessing the murderer in these type of cozy mysteries. But 3 cheeers for this author as I was stumped up until the final reveal. Thank heavens the reveal wasnt too complicated. The clues were sprinkled all throughout the book, and I found myself slapping my own forehead at the end for having not been able to figure it out! LOL
This is definetely a series I plan to continue, and am looking forward to the next book!
Meet Alison Kerby, new homeowner to a fixer-upper guest house, and her daughter Melissa. Alison's renovations get turned upside down when a pair of ghosts decide to drop a bucket of copound on her head. Now Alison and see and hear the ghostly duo, and they insist she help them find out their killer. What she discovers is that theres a valuable hidden artifact inside the house, and theres someone in town that would kill to get it.
This book was awesome!!! Do not be fooled by the spooky cover and errie title. This is definitely a cozy mystery. No blood, guts or gore here, just good old fashioned ghostly fun. I especially loved the home renovation aspect as this type of activity tends to stir up ghosts in general. The ghosts, Maxie and Paul were great characters. Maxie was histerical with her antics. Paul guides Alison on her sleuthing and she finds herself in some sticky situations. I am usually pretty good at guessing the murderer in these type of cozy mysteries. But 3 cheeers for this author as I was stumped up until the final reveal. Thank heavens the reveal wasnt too complicated. The clues were sprinkled all throughout the book, and I found myself slapping my own forehead at the end for having not been able to figure it out! LOL
This is definetely a series I plan to continue, and am looking forward to the next book!
January 3, 2019
This book is basically likable, but it didn't completely grip me. I liked the heroine, Alison Kerby, but she never really felt three-dimensional to me as a reader. Her two ghostly companions had potential and they did (ironically) come to life a little bit more, and I suspect their characters may well be explored more deeply in successive books in this series.
As this novel opens, Alison is newly divorced and has used a settlement to buy a historic home on the Jersey Shore that she plans to open as a guesthouse. She has the skills to take on the home improvement projects, but her unexpected roommates keep throwing a wrench into things. As it turns out, the previous owner of the home and a private investigator that she had hired both died under suspicious circumstances. Now their ghosts haunt the home and they want Alison to solve the mystery of their murder.
Following the mystery through the twists and turns of small-town politics is interesting enough. However, as I mentioned above, I just never felt fully invested in the story. The tone of the book is light and somewhat humorous, so if you enjoy a light cozy with a touch of the supernatural, this one might work for you. I'd probably pick up something like this as a bit of a comfort read, but I have to admit that I likely wouldn't find it entirely memorable.
As this novel opens, Alison is newly divorced and has used a settlement to buy a historic home on the Jersey Shore that she plans to open as a guesthouse. She has the skills to take on the home improvement projects, but her unexpected roommates keep throwing a wrench into things. As it turns out, the previous owner of the home and a private investigator that she had hired both died under suspicious circumstances. Now their ghosts haunt the home and they want Alison to solve the mystery of their murder.
Following the mystery through the twists and turns of small-town politics is interesting enough. However, as I mentioned above, I just never felt fully invested in the story. The tone of the book is light and somewhat humorous, so if you enjoy a light cozy with a touch of the supernatural, this one might work for you. I'd probably pick up something like this as a bit of a comfort read, but I have to admit that I likely wouldn't find it entirely memorable.
April 4, 2021
Maybe two and a half stars, but extra credit because the author spelled "trouper" correctly in "She was a real trouper." I was told that this book is just silly, and I should have listened. Ghosts are haunting a large mansion on the Jersey shore, but what they can and can't do seemed pretty ad hoc. A great deal of lighthearted humor that didn't make me laugh. Death threats directed at the pleasant narrator, but no real sense of urgency--it reminded me of the voice-over narration by the smart alecky girl in The Opposite of Sex: "Did you think he killed me just then? I'm the narrator. Try to keep up." And several loose ends were left untied.
February 20, 2022
3.5
This was a surprise find on Audible Plus. I'm not really into ghost stories so I wasn't sure if I'd like Night of the Living Deed given that two of the secondary characters are, well, ghosts, but...surprise...I quite enjoyed the read. Loved Alison's snark, her precocious pre-teen daughter and a bevy of secondary characters bent on helping or hindering her. It's not the typical heartwarming cozy read -- too much sardonic wit and it's a little bit edgy, including some coarse language (not excessive, but it is there.) Still, I'm intrigued enough to continue with the second book to see if this series could be a fit for me.
This was a surprise find on Audible Plus. I'm not really into ghost stories so I wasn't sure if I'd like Night of the Living Deed given that two of the secondary characters are, well, ghosts, but...surprise...I quite enjoyed the read. Loved Alison's snark, her precocious pre-teen daughter and a bevy of secondary characters bent on helping or hindering her. It's not the typical heartwarming cozy read -- too much sardonic wit and it's a little bit edgy, including some coarse language (not excessive, but it is there.) Still, I'm intrigued enough to continue with the second book to see if this series could be a fit for me.
August 28, 2021
Cute cozy mystery. I'm hoping in future stories the main character will be a little less oblivious and less "everyone hates me" - these are not great personality traits.
And why didn't anyone follow up on the one definite clue they had? Someone got a library card in the main character's name - nobody ever even thought about trying to figure that out???
And why didn't anyone follow up on the one definite clue they had? Someone got a library card in the main character's name - nobody ever even thought about trying to figure that out???
November 16, 2022
Sloppy writing with discrepancies, contradictions, and plot holes the size of old Victorian mansions. Coupled with the annoying voice and remarkably uninteresting plot and characters and I'm not sure why I finished reading it.
February 1, 2017
The book seemed to run a little long but I enjoyed it. The humor was great!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews