A Temporary Ghost

Georgia Lee Maxwell Mysteries #2

by Mickey Friedman

The SECOND novel in the Georgia Lee Maxwell series.

"[Michaela Thompson] has given us a fresh new heroine in Georgia Lee Maxwell . . . She is a delight, a bright and funny lady with a breezy narrative voice." -Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

"Georgia, bright and kooky, is an engaging narrator and her adventures come thick and fast." -(London) Times Literary Supplement (about the British edition)

"Witty, thoroughly enjoyable crime novel." -Jewish Gazette

A GHOST-WRITING GIG IN PROVENCE--SHE'S LIVING THE DREAM! UNTIL THE KILLING STARTS...

In journalist Georgia Lee Maxwell's second adventure, she leaves her new home in Paris for Provence, where she's been offered a lucrative ghost-writing job. But her co-author, suspected murderess Vivien Howard, the widow of a wealthy New York financier, seems strangely uninterested in writing her memoir Vivian was widely believed to have murdered her husband but was never charged with the crime, and now she promises to tell all.

Amid the beauties of Provence, settled in, a charming renovated farmhouse, Georgia Lee finds a household full of ill-feeling, not to mention suspicious characters -- Vivien's handsome artist lover, Ross; her neurotic daughter, Blanche; and Pedro Ruiz, a mysterious housekeeper who has accompanied them from New York.

Frustrated by Vivien's lack of cooperation and unnerved by threatening letters, Georgia Lee soon realizes that she has become a player in a more dangerous game than she could have imagined. And then there's another murder.

When Georgia Lee transplanted herself from Florida to Paris in Magic Mirror, Publishers Weekly applauded: "The debut of Georgia Lee Maxwell is an all-around delight. . . a brisk and witty book full of sharply unexpected events and packed with wonderfully robust characters."

As in Magic Mirror, Michaela Thompson's ability to bring alive a locale shines here. The writing is crisp, the protagonist witty, and the mystery is twisty. A great choice for armchair travelers! Also for fans of Cara Black, Michael Bond, and of course, the great Georges Simenon. Admirers of Hank Phillippi Ryan and the HBO show THE NEWSROOM will love the journalistic background.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, France, Cozy Mystery

183 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Books are now republished under the name of Michaela Thompson.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Temporary Ghost by Mickey Friedman is a Georgia Lee Maxwell Mystery published in 1990. This is as short mystery novel about a writer that agrees to become a ghostwriter for a woman accused of killing her husband. No charges were ever brought against her or her lover. But, the public still believes she is guilty.
Georgia meets Vivien and is told right off that if she didn't desperately need the money she would not be doing this book. At every turn she avoids working on the book. This gives Georgia plenty of time to get to know Vivien's lover, Ross and Vivien's two adult children.
Another murder makes Georgia realize she has to find out the truth before another tragedy occurs.

This is a pretty predictable mystery. I guessed right away who the murderer was, but it still wasn't a bad little mystery to escape into on your lunch break. Overall a C.

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started too slowly. Took me awhile to even figure out that the narrator was a woman (didn't realize it was a Gerogia Lee Maxwell series). Maybe the slowness of it evoked her 'slow southern style'? Once she got to the celebrity client's home in Provence where she was supposed to be ghost writing Vivien's side of the story in her husband's murder it moved a little more quickly; but then Georgia Lee decided to have a roll in the hay with her client's boyfriend. Really? A few surprises and plot twists that kept it interesting. The story wasn't the best but appreciated the decent writing and excellent proofreading/editing.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series, and I found it to be equally good as the first as a light thriller. It's easy to read, the protagonist is engaging, and the story moves along at a good pace. You won't lose sleep or have nightmares, but you will get involved in the story and the characters as you try to figure out who done it.

I would recommend starting with the first book in the series (Magic Mirror) to get a more fully developed description of Georgia Lee Maxwell. Also, there is more self-deprecating wit and humour in the first one

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Georgia Lee Maxwell Mystery, Bk. 2, EBk-M, Kindle, @ 1989, Read 5/6/21. Fiction, Mystery.
A Paris Journalist gets a job in Provence , to ghost write a book. The subject of the book wants to set the record straight. She was accused of murdering her husband, but wasn't charged as there wasn't enough evidence to convict her. Lots of twists, and a decent who-dun-it! 3☆'s = Good.

[Una Tiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if the lure of living in the country in France is the lure for me. There were few twists, almost as though they were an after thought or suggestion of early readers. Mon dieu.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story by this author. The cast of characters was easy to keep track of, but their constant stream of lies made it difficult to determine what was actually the truth. This was also Georgia Lee's problem, too. She took the assignment of being the ghost writer for a woman who wanted her story told so people would stop thinking of her as a murderess. Georgia Lee thought this would be interesting, plus give her some time to enjoy the south of France. Little did she suspect that her enjoyment would be fleeting.

Everyone who had been at all involved in the murder case - that is by being at the location before or after the event - was now staying at a rented house where the interview was to take place for Georgia Lee to develop her story. However, she quickly finds out that several people don't want her to write this story, some even threatening her with bodily harm. So it it no surprise when she finds her life in danger. It is nerve-wracking to see the dangers and the risks Georgia Lee keeps taking. Of course she survives, but not without numerous bumps, bruises and scrapes. What an adventure!

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated murder

This storyline takes place in France. GeorgiaLee is hired to be a ghost writer for wealthy New Yorker who is a suspected murderess. Although Vivian has not been convicted of murder, she is the prime suspect and is living under the cloud of suspicion.

Vivian and her entourage relocate temporarily in France and she hires Georgia Lee to ghost write her side of the story.

There are so many suspects in this storyline we keep jumping back and forth as to whom actually killed Vivians husband. Poor Georgia Lee gets herself involved in trying to figure it out. She’s actually supposed to be telling Vivian’s side of the story. But it’s not that easy. Too many people are telling conflicting stories. There is her new husband, boyfriend, son, daughter, and an artist friend. There is also the cook, but she only speaks French.

I found the plot interesting and the subjects well defined. I really had no idea who was the actual killer was. Maybe you’ll figure it out.

[Nira Ramachandran · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Temporary Ghost" follows Georgia Lee Maxwell, erstwhile social editor of a Florida newspaper, now settled in Paris, with newly acquired fame as an investigative reporter, to Provence. Georgia receives an offer to ghostwrite a real-life murder, one that has never been solved. Vivien, the widow of the late Carey Howard, who was brutally murdered in New York, now lives in Provence with her family. She invites Georgia to join the party at their farmhouse, Mas Rose and work on their joint project. Who can resist Provence or lucrative offers? But even before setting off, Georgia receives a number of anonymous letters warning her off. Not easily frightened, our heroine soon finds herself at Avignon with Ross Santee, Vivien’s artist lover, meeting her train. Vivien, daughter Blanche, Ross and Vivien’s ex- housekeeper Pedro Ruiz, along with French housekeeper Marcelle- all live in the converted farmhouse. Provence is every bit as sunny and bursting with flowers, as expected. But Vivien doesn’t appear too keen to work on the book; Blanche unlike most twenty-year-old girls, spends all her time listening to Troubadour songs and working on the poetry of that genre. Slowly, Georgia begins to piece together the murder of Carey Howard, through conversations with the family, and their varied reactions. She also finds herself drawn to the attractive Ross. Then an accident occurs, a life is lost and once again Georgia is swept into a murder investigation.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgia Lee has been invited to ghostwrite a book for a woman who is suspected of murdering her husband. While the woman, her lover, her daughter and her butler are renting a house in Provence, Georgia travels from Paris to stay with them. Upon arrival she immediately notices the tension among the members of the party. However, that's not the only thing amiss because before leaving Paris she received an anonymous threatening letter and she finds another one waiting for her in Provence. Soon there are threats and a suspicious death, and Georgia hopes she can identify the murderer before more deaths occur.

It's not a tremendously complex mystery, but it's light read and the location and food are fun.

[Alan Colclough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do like Michaela Thompson's writing - this is the second in the Georgia Lee Maxwell mysteries and is in my opinion better than the first. Set in Provence, Georgia Lee is attempting to Ghost write the book of a suspected murderess, even though she has been cleared of the murder. Georgia Lee can't help herself and begins to piece things together and then there is another murder... can she finish the book before the killer turns on her......

[Melinda Agnew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book until she slept with him. Why, oh WHY does there have to be senseless sex in every book? Can't the hero or heroin ever do the right thing and leave someone else's man alone? No good. I have to mark down for that. She already knew he was a loser and cheat, but had to go there anyway.

[Ruby · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK.

I like the story is set in France, but hate how predictable the plot is. I wanted to like the story a lot, but honestly felt that it dragged on and places, and Wise more than a little dry. The ending is full of twists and turns, and it made overly complicated. It’s worth a try, but honestly this book was not for me.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second I have read in this series

Liking the series so far. Humorous at times, well thought out crimes, and thank God Georgia Lee doesn't make stupid mistakes. She shows pretty good judgment.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than Book 1. The characters and the story line felt real. At times you could almost believe that you were there with Georgia Lee, viewing the landscape, walking through the market place, feeling her scraped knees. A cold case that warmed up and sizzled.

[Karen Kepner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost writer?

Cute story with good story line and crazy characters. Love the descriptions of Provence, France. Mystery was developed well, with almost all of the characters seeming capable of murder.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was the setting. I've always been interested in the Provence area of France. Ms. Friedman described it very well. The mystery itself was full of tension and red herrings galore. I had no idea of the solution, but enjoyed getting there.

[dianne]

A very good story of lies, betrayal and murder. It isn't easy to ghost write someone's tell all novel. Especially when the person who wants to prove she is innocent won't tell the truth. I enjoyed this book and trying to solve the mystery.

[bex · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 star

not really anything wrong with it, but it felt very blah. never got into it. characters seemed flat. 2.5* .

[Ruth Caves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lies

Beautiful settings, lies and murder in the air, but the overpowering hopelessness and dreary why bother attitudes left me wishing for the story to end already.

[Mary E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story

I was kind of surprised by the ending but it made sense. I liked the story but it didn't hold my interest the way some other books did.

[Judy Davey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second installment in the series...extra fun because it takes place in France.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[River · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story

[Beverly Kee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting who done it!

Keeps you wondering who was the killer! Not a romance with a happy ending, but a very good mystery! Enjoyed it!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrillerp

This story had so many twists and turns. You think you have it figured out and then another clue comes into play.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really lame. Characters under developed. Plot was thin.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Good story that was easy to follow. A few twists to keep the reader's interest were a good way to keep you guessing. I would recommend it.

[claudia ruddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This is a clever mystery with a snarky heroine and witty dialogue. The French countryside is depicted vividly . A good escape.

[Pam Joslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected but a good light read.

[Patricia Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read, very entertaining.