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Mountain Shadow Mysteries #2
Dead to Rights: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Welcome to the sleepy town of Mountain Shadow, where there’s a medium to maintain your haunted elevator and a cozy coffee shop just around the corner…
Caroline McCrithers is ready for a fresh start. After losing her fiancé and her job back in Chicago, she’s determined to fulfill her ghostly aunt’s dying wish and restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand. The trouble is, it’s the most haunted hotel in Colorado, and Caroline is flat broke. A gang of hard-to-impress old ladies stands between her and a hefty grant to restore the hotel. Caroline is determined to win them over — even if it means volunteering for “piddle patrol” at the town’s annual dog show. But when Caroline stumbles upon the dead body of her most outspoken detractor, she becomes the lead suspect in the case. It’s only the affection of Mountain Shadow PD’s finest — Officer Handsome — that keeps Caroline out of handcuffs, but the clock is ticking for her to identify the real killer and clear her name. Can she solve the case and secure the funds to restore her beloved hotel, or is her new life in Mountain Shadow destined to end in disaster? If you love twisty mysteries, small-town hijinks, and charmingly haunted hotels, you’ll love Dead to Rights.
Caroline McCrithers is ready for a fresh start. After losing her fiancé and her job back in Chicago, she’s determined to fulfill her ghostly aunt’s dying wish and restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand. The trouble is, it’s the most haunted hotel in Colorado, and Caroline is flat broke. A gang of hard-to-impress old ladies stands between her and a hefty grant to restore the hotel. Caroline is determined to win them over — even if it means volunteering for “piddle patrol” at the town’s annual dog show. But when Caroline stumbles upon the dead body of her most outspoken detractor, she becomes the lead suspect in the case. It’s only the affection of Mountain Shadow PD’s finest — Officer Handsome — that keeps Caroline out of handcuffs, but the clock is ticking for her to identify the real killer and clear her name. Can she solve the case and secure the funds to restore her beloved hotel, or is her new life in Mountain Shadow destined to end in disaster? If you love twisty mysteries, small-town hijinks, and charmingly haunted hotels, you’ll love Dead to Rights.
- GenresMysteryParanormal
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2023
About the author
Tarah Benner
40 books357 followersTarah Benner is the author of more than 25 books, including Witches of Mountain Shadow, Mountain Shadow Mysteries, The Fringe, the Elderon Chronicles, the Lawless Saga, and more.
She lives and writes in sunny Colorado with her two dogs, a cat, a toddler, and her beloved partner in crime. When she’s not writing, she enjoys breakfast, hiking, yoga, and martial arts.
She lives and writes in sunny Colorado with her two dogs, a cat, a toddler, and her beloved partner in crime. When she’s not writing, she enjoys breakfast, hiking, yoga, and martial arts.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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May 18, 2023Just finished the first draft of Dead to Rights, which will be out August 15, 2023.
You can preorder your copy now!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5C1GHGN
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C5C1GHGN
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C5C1GHGN
Get it direct from the author: https://tarahbenner.com/products/preo...
You can preorder your copy now!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5C1GHGN
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C5C1GHGN
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C5C1GHGN
Get it direct from the author: https://tarahbenner.com/products/preo...
February 15, 2024
Book 2
Well I'm really getting into this author I think the second book was better than the 1st book And now they got me hooked to book 3Great characters and really great story
Well I'm really getting into this author I think the second book was better than the 1st book And now they got me hooked to book 3Great characters and really great story
April 17, 2026
The murder mystery was really good. All the suspense and climax; everything was perfectly carried out. The paranormal part of the series is entertaining.
October 13, 2025
Ghostly fun
This book is full of ghostly fun, and Murder! Interesting mystery, quirky characters and their pets keep this little town hopping.
This book is full of ghostly fun, and Murder! Interesting mystery, quirky characters and their pets keep this little town hopping.
August 16, 2023
Who Killed Doris Ashcroft ?? . . .
My favorite addition to all books is humor (and ghosts), and this one does it so very well! Caroline McCrithers is back in Mountain Shadow ready to start over. She didn’t have luck in Chicago, but her great-aunt Lucille’s dying wish was for her to restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand Hotel. She first needs to figure out how to fund the renovation. There is a half-million-dollar grant available, the Main Street revitalization grant awarded by the Historical Society every three years, but it will take some effort on her part to acquire it.
Finding the dead body of the prickly woman, Doris Ashcroft, draped face-down across a full tub of water for the dog wash -- the woman who did not want her to get the funds -- has put Caroline right in the spotlight to become the prime suspect. Officer Will Hamby kept her out of jail for now, but warned her they needed to find some evidence quickly or she would be arrested for this one. She must find the real killer to clear her name, and hopefully to acquire the grant to renovate the hotel. A plan to make the killer think Caroline has been arrested for the crime may cause him or her to make a mistake. Can she set a trap to find the killer? Will she get help from her ghostly friends?
My favorite addition to all books is humor (and ghosts), and this one does it so very well! Caroline McCrithers is back in Mountain Shadow ready to start over. She didn’t have luck in Chicago, but her great-aunt Lucille’s dying wish was for her to restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand Hotel. She first needs to figure out how to fund the renovation. There is a half-million-dollar grant available, the Main Street revitalization grant awarded by the Historical Society every three years, but it will take some effort on her part to acquire it.
Finding the dead body of the prickly woman, Doris Ashcroft, draped face-down across a full tub of water for the dog wash -- the woman who did not want her to get the funds -- has put Caroline right in the spotlight to become the prime suspect. Officer Will Hamby kept her out of jail for now, but warned her they needed to find some evidence quickly or she would be arrested for this one. She must find the real killer to clear her name, and hopefully to acquire the grant to renovate the hotel. A plan to make the killer think Caroline has been arrested for the crime may cause him or her to make a mistake. Can she set a trap to find the killer? Will she get help from her ghostly friends?
April 18, 2026
This book has an interesting premise. Hoeer, it is so overloaded with the main character investigating the murder mysteries on her own and often interfering with the local law-enforcement. I'm over that plot devise.
Amazon synopsis:
Caroline McCrithers is ready for a fresh start. After losing her fiancé and her job back in Chicago, she’s determined to fulfill her ghostly aunt’s dying wish and restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand. The trouble is, it’s the most haunted hotel in Colorado, and Caroline is flat broke.
A gang of hard-to-impress old ladies stands between her and a hefty grant to restore the hotel. Caroline is determined to win them over — even if it means volunteering for “piddle patrol” at the town’s annual dog show. But when Caroline stumbles upon the dead body of her most outspoken detractor, she becomes the lead suspect in the case.
It’s only the affection of Mountain Shadow PD’s finest — Officer Handsome — that keeps Caroline out of handcuffs, but the clock is ticking for her to identify the real killer and clear her name. Can she solve the case and secure the funds to restore her beloved hotel, or is her new life in Mountain Shadow destined to end in disaster?
Amazon synopsis:
Caroline McCrithers is ready for a fresh start. After losing her fiancé and her job back in Chicago, she’s determined to fulfill her ghostly aunt’s dying wish and restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand. The trouble is, it’s the most haunted hotel in Colorado, and Caroline is flat broke.
A gang of hard-to-impress old ladies stands between her and a hefty grant to restore the hotel. Caroline is determined to win them over — even if it means volunteering for “piddle patrol” at the town’s annual dog show. But when Caroline stumbles upon the dead body of her most outspoken detractor, she becomes the lead suspect in the case.
It’s only the affection of Mountain Shadow PD’s finest — Officer Handsome — that keeps Caroline out of handcuffs, but the clock is ticking for her to identify the real killer and clear her name. Can she solve the case and secure the funds to restore her beloved hotel, or is her new life in Mountain Shadow destined to end in disaster?
September 5, 2023
This book was so much fun to read. It was one of those that flowed from the very start and just kept going.
Caroline is back in her home town having inherited an hotel from her Aunt Lucille. Add in the hunky town sheriff, Officer Will Hamby, the muscled tattooed bartender, Gideon Brewer, a slew of charismatic resident ghosts, her idiosyncratic grandmother, Ginger and a psychic cat, Desmond and this story takes off running. Despite the fact that the hotel is in shocking disrepair Caroline luckily has the help of her Aunt Lucille, who whilst dead is definitely not departed.
Caroline has her hands full trying to get the hotel habitable and avoid being accused of the murder of one of her foremost opponents to reopening the hotel.
A thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced, delightful story. The writing style is a joy to read and I can't wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Caroline is back in her home town having inherited an hotel from her Aunt Lucille. Add in the hunky town sheriff, Officer Will Hamby, the muscled tattooed bartender, Gideon Brewer, a slew of charismatic resident ghosts, her idiosyncratic grandmother, Ginger and a psychic cat, Desmond and this story takes off running. Despite the fact that the hotel is in shocking disrepair Caroline luckily has the help of her Aunt Lucille, who whilst dead is definitely not departed.
Caroline has her hands full trying to get the hotel habitable and avoid being accused of the murder of one of her foremost opponents to reopening the hotel.
A thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced, delightful story. The writing style is a joy to read and I can't wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2023
This has been an awesome series so far. I love the setting, the characters, the ghost, all of it. I read the first book and this one did not disappoint. If you haven't you really should before you start this one, but not necessarily needed. I recently found this Author and so glad I did. I was sad to see it end but hope there will be more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2023
Well written second book!
Sometimes, I love a first-in-series and then the second is just a let down, like the author ran out or something. But this! This was really good! I couldn’t put it down! The lighthearted tone kept me entertained. A fun book to read! Sweet and sassy, the perfect mix. I highly recommend this book!
Sometimes, I love a first-in-series and then the second is just a let down, like the author ran out or something. But this! This was really good! I couldn’t put it down! The lighthearted tone kept me entertained. A fun book to read! Sweet and sassy, the perfect mix. I highly recommend this book!
September 3, 2023
This is book two in this fun little town. She is able to save herself from being blamed for a murder and even from being a victim of a murder all while seeing ghosts, oh and she might be a witch but that is still to be determined, and she gets the grant and the investor for her hotel she is restoring. I am enjoying this series and the humor.
August 13, 2023
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how determined Caroline was to clear her name and that she succeeded. She also solves one mystery at her hotel and starts getting funding to restore it.
August 26, 2023
This second installment of MSM was well written and kept me coming back for more thanks to the entertaining characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 11, 2023
Cosy murder mystery
A paranormal Cosy murder mystery. Seeing ghosts isn’t as fun as you’d expect. The heroine gets into on sticky situation after another but manages to solve the mystery. Characters are developing in this second book of the series
A paranormal Cosy murder mystery. Seeing ghosts isn’t as fun as you’d expect. The heroine gets into on sticky situation after another but manages to solve the mystery. Characters are developing in this second book of the series
December 12, 2023
Murder Mystery and Ghosts too!
This book was a murder mystery with some colorful characters. There were also several ghosts to be dealt with. Oh, and the crumbling old hotel to be renovated. I look forward to the next book.
This book was a murder mystery with some colorful characters. There were also several ghosts to be dealt with. Oh, and the crumbling old hotel to be renovated. I look forward to the next book.
March 17, 2024
Accused
Things are looking up for Caroline. She applies for a grant from the town that would put a nice dent in the renovation costs. But a murder definitely slows the decision to nearly a full stop. Especially as Caroline is the prime suspect!
Things are looking up for Caroline. She applies for a grant from the town that would put a nice dent in the renovation costs. But a murder definitely slows the decision to nearly a full stop. Especially as Caroline is the prime suspect!
August 18, 2023
It's like a Disney ride, with no queues! Short and fun, making you want to go back for more.
These characters are so sweet. Kind of makes me think of the Adam's Family TV show crossed with Bridget Jones, with a slightly dark but entertaining tale and idiosyncratic characters.
It is surprising that the non-magical inhabitants of Mountain Shadow are not worried or skeptical about all the deaths surrounding this family, but disregarding that aspect, you will have a pleasant read.
These characters are so sweet. Kind of makes me think of the Adam's Family TV show crossed with Bridget Jones, with a slightly dark but entertaining tale and idiosyncratic characters.
It is surprising that the non-magical inhabitants of Mountain Shadow are not worried or skeptical about all the deaths surrounding this family, but disregarding that aspect, you will have a pleasant read.
December 10, 2023
Who killed Doris Ashcroft and why??? The past never really goes away, does it??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
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December 15, 2023Just love the books
July 19, 2025
fast paced, ghostly fun
If you like cozy mysteries, this one follows the formula to a T. Fast paced, red herrings, ghosts, and a dog show to top it off. A quick, fun read.
If you like cozy mysteries, this one follows the formula to a T. Fast paced, red herrings, ghosts, and a dog show to top it off. A quick, fun read.
December 7, 2025
Old fashioned detective work.
Caroline is framed for another murder. New characters are introduced and with the help of Aunt Lucille justice is finally served.
Caroline is framed for another murder. New characters are introduced and with the help of Aunt Lucille justice is finally served.
December 15, 2023
Restoring the old Grand into a fine hotel would take a lot of money, money which Caroline did not have, but a grant from the town committee would certainly help get things started. And Caroline had a great pitch that she was sure would work, or at least give her project a chance. That was until Doris decided to shoot it down - which gives Caroline a perfect motive for murder....
Interesting and fun, Tarah Benner has crafted a really good and enjoyable read. I am looking forward to seeing how the refurb goes and also if Caroline embraces and develops any other supernatural abilities that she may have - after all, not everyone can see ghosts!
Interesting and fun, Tarah Benner has crafted a really good and enjoyable read. I am looking forward to seeing how the refurb goes and also if Caroline embraces and develops any other supernatural abilities that she may have - after all, not everyone can see ghosts!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews