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A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery #4
Chance of a Ghost
Alison Kerby's guesthouse is haunted all year round. Surviving the dead of winter, though? That's a spooky proposition. "
"Even with a blizzard bearing down on New Jersey, Alison can count on at least two guests--Paul and Maxie, the stubborn ghosts who share her shore town inn. Then there's her widowed mother, who hasn't just been seeing ghosts, she's been secretly dating Alison's father. But when he stands her up three times in a row, something's wrong. Is he a lost soul...or a missing apparition?
Their only lead is an overdramatic spirit--stage name Lawrence Laurentz--who doesn't take direction well and won't talk until they find his killer. Alison will reluctantly play the part of PI, but when the clues take a sinister turn, the writing is on the If Alison can't keep a level head, this will be her father's final act--and maybe her own.
"Even with a blizzard bearing down on New Jersey, Alison can count on at least two guests--Paul and Maxie, the stubborn ghosts who share her shore town inn. Then there's her widowed mother, who hasn't just been seeing ghosts, she's been secretly dating Alison's father. But when he stands her up three times in a row, something's wrong. Is he a lost soul...or a missing apparition?
Their only lead is an overdramatic spirit--stage name Lawrence Laurentz--who doesn't take direction well and won't talk until they find his killer. Alison will reluctantly play the part of PI, but when the clues take a sinister turn, the writing is on the If Alison can't keep a level head, this will be her father's final act--and maybe her own.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2013
56 people are currently reading
1045 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
June 23, 2015
It would be too easy to spoil E.J. Copperman’s fourth book to feature single mom Alison Kerby, single mom and owner of a Jersey Shore guesthouse, and the many ghosts in her life. So I will tread gently here. Allison’s mother, Loretta Kerby, who also sees ghosts, gets a request from a deceased pal who believes that his death, attributed to natural causes, was actually a murder. The ghost, the supercilious and shifty Lawrence Lawrence, believes a toaster in his bath did him in.
At the same time, Alison’s dad, who had been visiting Loretta every Tuesday since his death five years ago. But Jack Kerby has suddenly gone AWOL. Lawrence Lawrence claims he can track down Jack Kerby — but only if Alison investigates Lawrence’s death.
Needless to say, matters complicate quickly, and Alison turns a bit whiny in the middle. However, the perpetrator caught me completely by surprise, and Copperman played entirely fair, giving up every clue a reader would need. I loved the ending and the characters enough to give the book four stars despite some unbelievable motivations along the way. Definitely worth a stop at the Seahaven guesthouse for this tale.
At the same time, Alison’s dad, who had been visiting Loretta every Tuesday since his death five years ago. But Jack Kerby has suddenly gone AWOL. Lawrence Lawrence claims he can track down Jack Kerby — but only if Alison investigates Lawrence’s death.
Needless to say, matters complicate quickly, and Alison turns a bit whiny in the middle. However, the perpetrator caught me completely by surprise, and Copperman played entirely fair, giving up every clue a reader would need. I loved the ending and the characters enough to give the book four stars despite some unbelievable motivations along the way. Definitely worth a stop at the Seahaven guesthouse for this tale.
August 31, 2019
I love this feel good series, the characters are fun and the plot is always enjoyable without being too corny.
October 13, 2025
This was a lot of fun. I like Allison and her family and the resident ghosts. The mystery was good and I enjoyed the additional ghosts that came with it. It’s so much fun that she had a case from a ghost which includes some creative thinking to explain it to people who can’t see the ghosts. I liked the addition of her dad and Josh and hope they will both be back.
September 12, 2016
Chance of a Ghost by E.J. Copperman is the 4th book in the Haunted Guesthouse Mystery series. Alison's fathers ghost goes missing and Alison is asked by another ghost to investigate his murder in return for helping to locate her father. I love this series and this book is no exception. Lots of funny moments as Alison investigates a senior theatre group at her mother retirement village. A very entertaining fun book.
May 23, 2023
The snowy one was perfect for the season. I’m happy that even snow took some part in the story.
I like the characters more and more, the development is slow yet steady. Alison and her family are adorable, I really enjoyed parts with her mother and daughter. And Maxie is a kind type of sass, I love it so much. I think in this book my favorite character is indeed Maxie.
The mystery became more mature and captivating, with more ghosts and more complex cases. After how it all resolved with Alison's father, I want to read more, eager to learn how their relations are going to grow.
🍓🍓🍓🍓 (4/5)
I like the characters more and more, the development is slow yet steady. Alison and her family are adorable, I really enjoyed parts with her mother and daughter. And Maxie is a kind type of sass, I love it so much. I think in this book my favorite character is indeed Maxie.
The mystery became more mature and captivating, with more ghosts and more complex cases. After how it all resolved with Alison's father, I want to read more, eager to learn how their relations are going to grow.
🍓🍓🍓🍓 (4/5)
April 30, 2022
I love this series. The more absurd the better. This one has geriatric theater "impresarios" performing updated versions of plays they have really no business updating. There's also some stuff about Alison's dad, but I did see that coming, and honestly, it's also accompanied by a cape wearing ghost and the revelation that a sinister writing on the wall was , so I think it wasn't as effective as it was supposed to be. Or not. Whatever, I love this series.
January 20, 2023
Really about a 3.7. I had read one of these a couple of years ago and liked it well enough, but was confused by who was dead and who was alive. This is a much earlier book in the series and the only two regular ghosts are Maxie and Paul, though Our Heroine is able to see them all about. By the end of the story, at least one new regular ghost has shown up. Decent plot, entertaining; Maxie the smart mouthed ghost gets a bit much at times, which I remembered from the other book. I may pick up some more along the way.
February 6, 2013
Alison Kerby returns in the fourth Haunted Guesthouse Mystery series by E.J. Copperman. Alison, a single mother in her late thirties, runs a guesthouse in her childhood hometown of Harbor Haven, on the Jersey Shore, inhabited by her and her precocious ten-year-old daughter, as well as Maxie Malone, Alison’s resident Internet expert, and Paul, an English/Canadian professor turned detective, both of whom have lived there since before their deaths. It would seem that Alison and her daughter, as well as her mother, are the only ones who can see the ghosts.
At Paul’s urging, Alison had obtained a private-investigator’s license, and her services as such are sought by her mother’s own ghostly friend, who wants Alison to find out who killed him. While his death six months previously was deemed to have been of natural causes, he is convinced he was murdered. The investigation morphs into a search for the ghost of Alison’s father, who died five years ago, but whose ghost has been strangely absent of late. She is aided in her efforts by her mother, her daughter, her best friend Jeannie, and her present [living] houseguest, who is a retired cop and delighted at the opportunity to do what he did best, and misses a lot, as well as by Paul and Maxie [who Alison refers to as her two “non-breathing squatters”].
As with every book in the series, this newest entry contains the same unbeatable combination: a terrific plot and great if quirky humor [if you like that sort of thing – and I do!!]. I particularly loved the line about the heating system in Alison’s ancient Volvo, which was “roughly as efficient as the United States Congress, which is to say it made a lot of noise but got very little done.” The protagonist’s slightly bemused attitude toward the apparent fact that ghosts actually exist, and that some people could see/hear them, seems perfectly reasonable. This book, as were the earlier entries in the series, is thoroughly delightful, and highly recommended.
At Paul’s urging, Alison had obtained a private-investigator’s license, and her services as such are sought by her mother’s own ghostly friend, who wants Alison to find out who killed him. While his death six months previously was deemed to have been of natural causes, he is convinced he was murdered. The investigation morphs into a search for the ghost of Alison’s father, who died five years ago, but whose ghost has been strangely absent of late. She is aided in her efforts by her mother, her daughter, her best friend Jeannie, and her present [living] houseguest, who is a retired cop and delighted at the opportunity to do what he did best, and misses a lot, as well as by Paul and Maxie [who Alison refers to as her two “non-breathing squatters”].
As with every book in the series, this newest entry contains the same unbeatable combination: a terrific plot and great if quirky humor [if you like that sort of thing – and I do!!]. I particularly loved the line about the heating system in Alison’s ancient Volvo, which was “roughly as efficient as the United States Congress, which is to say it made a lot of noise but got very little done.” The protagonist’s slightly bemused attitude toward the apparent fact that ghosts actually exist, and that some people could see/hear them, seems perfectly reasonable. This book, as were the earlier entries in the series, is thoroughly delightful, and highly recommended.
December 22, 2017
Alison's (living) mother asks her to help a dramatic ghost of her acquaintance figure out who killed him.
April 5, 2021
Couldn't get past the derogatory remarks about the trans character.
February 22, 2013
Chance of a Ghost, the fourth book in E.J. Copperman’s Haunted Guest House Mystery series, has been rated number one on the list of “Best Books to Read While You’re Snowed in and Curled up Next to a Fire.” Of course, that list was compiled entirely by me and only includes this one book (not to mention I was neither by a fireplace nor snowed in when I read it), but still, I know what I’m talking about.
You, sush!
I’ve been a fan of the series and couldn’t wait for this book to come out (except I forgot it was coming out until I was like randomly, “Oh, hey, I wonder if that’s out yet?” and it was and I was all “OH MY GOD! AAAAHH! READ READ READ NOW NOW NOW!).
Sometimes when it’s been a while between books, it takes me a while to get acclimated to the characters and plot. But not with Chance of a Ghost. Nope. Even with few “remember when…” recaps on events that happened in past books, I just felt at home with Allison and her crew (daughter, Melissa, and resident ghosts, Maxi and Paul) and had no problem catching up. Some of that, also, is because each of the books is kind of a standalone mystery – a separate case, if you will.
The cases, while they’re not airtight concoctions of detective genius, are interesting and full of twists and turns (and laughs). I love how Copperman scatters so many little clues around that seem to have no connection, but they end up fitting together. And, actually, that’s the reason that I have to say this is my favorite in the series so far.
In Chance of a Ghost, Allison Kirby, guesthouse owner and part-time (reluctant) private detective whose clients consist mostly of the already dead looking to find out what or who made them that way, is asked to investigate the possible murder of her mother’s ghost visitor, a former “thespian,” Lawrence Laurentz. Although the autopsy record states Lawrence died of “natural causes” (a heart problem), he insists he was electrocuted by an invisible assailant who chucked a toaster in his tub.
It would be easy for Allison to shrug off the self-centered drama king’s story as the product of his own melodramatic imagination, but Lawrence has leverage. He claims to know how to find the ghost of Allison’s father (who, until recently, had been having weekly visits with her mother, but hadn’t shown up for a few weeks), but will only help bring him back if Allison solves his “murder.”
To solve this case, Allison must deal with an angry six-foot-tall transvestite, a Viagra-smuggling ring, and endure a horrific performance of Peter Pan (a New Old Thespian’s production) where Wendy is a senior citizen trying to convince Peter it’s cool to grow old and Neverland is, I quote, “a place where everyone is on Medicare.”
And, yet, this somehow all ties into a murder of the “actor” and the disappearance of her already-deceased father? You can see why I was more than half way through the book before I could even venture a guess as to who the killer was – and I was in the dark until the very end about where her father was (or why he disappeared).
A lot of what I loved about Chance of a Ghost, however, were things I’ve loved about all the books.
For starters, Allison is just a great character. I love her! I mean, really, if I were a lesbian polygamist and either one of those types of marriages were legal in New Jersey (come on Chris Christie!) I would totally marry her. Okay, maybe not really. She is so funny – witty and sarcastic (and has some great one liners). She’s a great mother, even though she questions herself when she lets Melissa help out on a murder investigation and can’t cook to save her life. She’s a savvy businesswoman (fixing up her 100-year-old home and working a deal with the ghosts in her house to land a contract with a supernaturally-minded senior citizens tour group).
The supporting characters are hilarious and totally come alive on the page – well, for some, as alive as a dead character can be. Her daughter, Melissa, is so mature and provides an interesting “voice of reason” at times. Paul is somewhat less developed (in my opinion), but I enjoy his passion for solving the case. Loudmouthed, somewhat temperamental Maxi – in her jean miniskirts and sarcastic screened t-shirts – is easily the most colorful character (I happened to be reading this book while my husband was watching The Sopranos and now Maxi has officially taken on the most obnoxiously perfect accent!).
This would’ve been a five-out-of-five star review, except one little thing kind of nagged at me.
Well, two things (both of which are spoilers so I’m going to hide them):
But, other than those couple nits, I loved the book and can’t wait for the next one!
November 6, 2019
Things are kind of quiet at the guesthouse, it is the winter season and snow is on the way. Alison only has one couple staying with her, and turns out it is a good thing she does. The husband is a retired (bored) cop and he is only too happy to help her investigate her new case. Lawrence Laurantz is her new ghostly client. He swears he was electrocuted when someone threw a toaster in his bath tub and he wants to know who did it. Add to that, Alison's ghostly father has been missing his weekly visits with her mom, and the search is on...in both cases!
March 9, 2020
I like this series, but it's really cheesy, and the sarcasm gets a bit annoying because there's just way too much of it. Makes the protagonist look bitter. Unfortunately the supporting cast isn't really likeable either because they're either complete assholes, (Maxie) or total bores, (Paul, Tony, and Jeanie) Yawn. Hopefully bringing in Josh will spice things up.
September 12, 2022
Allison has just got to get over herself at some point and remember that she agreed to the arrangement with the ghosts. The sniping between her and Maxine Ivan be tiresome 🙄. The mystery of why her father disappeared was lame. The second mystery was good, however the resolution as to why the theatre guy/ghost was murdered.. come on!!!!!
Read
June 20, 2024These books are fun, and the author is witty-- some of the lines make me chuckle.
March 4, 2013
"Chance of a Ghost" is the fourth book in author E.J. Cooperman's Haunted Guesthouse series. Guesthouse owner Alison Kerby is faced with a ghostly client in the form of a man stage-named Lawrence Laurentz who claims he did not die of a cardiac arrhythmia as it claims on his death certificate. In fact, Lawrence claims he was murdered by an invisible attacker who dropped a toaster into the bathtub with him while he was bathing. Not a lot for Alison to go on, but with the tantalizing bait of saving her own dead father, she finds herself compelled to take the case.
Alison's father died five years ago and has been visiting her mother, Loretta, weekly ever since. The revelation is painful for Alison who, admittedly, is new to the whole seeing ghosts thing, but can't understand why her father wouldn't come see her now that the possibility existed. Loretta gets worried when her husband fails - for three weeks in a row - to show up for their Tuesday "dates." Lawrence claims that he is being held against his will and he, Lawrence, is the only one who can communicate with Alison's father wherever he is. And so Alison gets to work trying to solve the case.
Her suspect list includes:
+Penny Fields, Lawrence's boss at the theater where he worked.
+Tyra Carter, a former co-worker of Lawrence's at the theater who claims that Lawrence was
responsible for her losing her job there.
+Frances Walters, a co-worker from the theater and also the woman who introduced Lawrence to
the theatrical group The New Old Thespians, of which he was asked to leave by . . .
+Jerry Rasmussen, the director of the Thespians.
At the same time, Alison starts receiving messages about her father and his own death - that things were not as she and her mother thought. As the so-called clues add up to not much of anything, Alison is faced with the possibility that finding Lawrence's "murderer" - and freeing her trapped father - just isn't going to happen.
This might have been my favorite of the Haunted Guesthouse mysteries so far. I love Cooperman's writing - it's witty, sharp, funny, and sarcastic - and, let's face it: Cooperman can certain spin a mysterious yarn. And, because I've visited the New Jersey shore on several occasions, the books are always peppered with a little bit of reminiscences for me, as well. Great read; I'm looking forward to the next book!
Alison's father died five years ago and has been visiting her mother, Loretta, weekly ever since. The revelation is painful for Alison who, admittedly, is new to the whole seeing ghosts thing, but can't understand why her father wouldn't come see her now that the possibility existed. Loretta gets worried when her husband fails - for three weeks in a row - to show up for their Tuesday "dates." Lawrence claims that he is being held against his will and he, Lawrence, is the only one who can communicate with Alison's father wherever he is. And so Alison gets to work trying to solve the case.
Her suspect list includes:
+Penny Fields, Lawrence's boss at the theater where he worked.
+Tyra Carter, a former co-worker of Lawrence's at the theater who claims that Lawrence was
responsible for her losing her job there.
+Frances Walters, a co-worker from the theater and also the woman who introduced Lawrence to
the theatrical group The New Old Thespians, of which he was asked to leave by . . .
+Jerry Rasmussen, the director of the Thespians.
At the same time, Alison starts receiving messages about her father and his own death - that things were not as she and her mother thought. As the so-called clues add up to not much of anything, Alison is faced with the possibility that finding Lawrence's "murderer" - and freeing her trapped father - just isn't going to happen.
This might have been my favorite of the Haunted Guesthouse mysteries so far. I love Cooperman's writing - it's witty, sharp, funny, and sarcastic - and, let's face it: Cooperman can certain spin a mysterious yarn. And, because I've visited the New Jersey shore on several occasions, the books are always peppered with a little bit of reminiscences for me, as well. Great read; I'm looking forward to the next book!
February 19, 2013
Chance of a Ghost
By E.J. Cooperman
E.J. Cooperman is yet again entertaining readers with a tale of ghostly investigations. Alison Kerby is an owner of a guesthouse. But not all her guests are alive or even guests. She has two resident ghosts, Maxie and Paul, who mostly annoy her.
Besides running a guesthouse, Alison also acts as a private investigator. Maxie—who’s great with research—and Paul—an investigator when he was alive—jump in and aid with her cases.
Alison has two guests this time around, and they don’t know about Maxie and Paul and Alison has a tough time keeping her resident non-humans a secret. Her mother has a secret and Alison has to find out what it is. But when she does, she almost wishes she was kept in the dark.
Her father comes every Tuesday to visit her mother. No, they’re not divorced. Her father died five years ago. What makes Alison angry is the fact that her father has not come to visit her or her daughter Melissa. But her ghostly father goes missing before she can confront him and in his place appears Laurence Laurentz, who insists he was murdered and wants Alison to find out who killed him. If she does, he will bring her father back. Her dead father is kidnapped?
Alison runs around investigating Laurence’s death. She needs to see her father again, even if she is mad at him for not visiting her. Can something bad happen to a ghost? Could Laurence hurt her father even though he’s already dead? Her investigation leads her to a senior citizen group called the New Old Thespians who put on plays. Her guests now become involved—they still don’t know about her ghostly help—and try to help Alison figure out who killed Laurence.
This is a great paranormal cozy. It’s thoroughly entertaining and you’ll be happy you picked this book up. Thumbs up to Cooperman.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “One Major Mistake”
By E.J. Cooperman
E.J. Cooperman is yet again entertaining readers with a tale of ghostly investigations. Alison Kerby is an owner of a guesthouse. But not all her guests are alive or even guests. She has two resident ghosts, Maxie and Paul, who mostly annoy her.
Besides running a guesthouse, Alison also acts as a private investigator. Maxie—who’s great with research—and Paul—an investigator when he was alive—jump in and aid with her cases.
Alison has two guests this time around, and they don’t know about Maxie and Paul and Alison has a tough time keeping her resident non-humans a secret. Her mother has a secret and Alison has to find out what it is. But when she does, she almost wishes she was kept in the dark.
Her father comes every Tuesday to visit her mother. No, they’re not divorced. Her father died five years ago. What makes Alison angry is the fact that her father has not come to visit her or her daughter Melissa. But her ghostly father goes missing before she can confront him and in his place appears Laurence Laurentz, who insists he was murdered and wants Alison to find out who killed him. If she does, he will bring her father back. Her dead father is kidnapped?
Alison runs around investigating Laurence’s death. She needs to see her father again, even if she is mad at him for not visiting her. Can something bad happen to a ghost? Could Laurence hurt her father even though he’s already dead? Her investigation leads her to a senior citizen group called the New Old Thespians who put on plays. Her guests now become involved—they still don’t know about her ghostly help—and try to help Alison figure out who killed Laurence.
This is a great paranormal cozy. It’s thoroughly entertaining and you’ll be happy you picked this book up. Thumbs up to Cooperman.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “One Major Mistake”
January 5, 2021
The abundance of unappealing characters in this book make for an unsatisfactory storyline. The book seemed to serve as only a backdrop to introduce a potential love interest for Allison and to give an explanation why Allison’s father had never made himself visible to her in the 5yrs since his death. I’m still wondering who let the author run with the reasoning of why the father was too embarrassed to see Allison. The book maybe should have rated 3 stars but I docked one for that more than disappointing explanation.
It’s very hard to finish a book, much less care about its ending, when none of the introduced characters are likeable. Each is written with the annoying parts of their personalities so exaggerated it was hard to envision them as more than cartoon caricatures. If you’re wondering, Lawrence Laurentz became a version of Darkwing Duck in my mind’s eye. Not sure if that says more about me or the book.
It’s very hard to finish a book, much less care about its ending, when none of the introduced characters are likeable. Each is written with the annoying parts of their personalities so exaggerated it was hard to envision them as more than cartoon caricatures. If you’re wondering, Lawrence Laurentz became a version of Darkwing Duck in my mind’s eye. Not sure if that says more about me or the book.
October 21, 2016
To say I finished Chance of a Ghost with a dry eye would be an outright lie. This book, oh my gosh, one of the best I have read. Funny, emotional, fantastic, heartwarming, mysterious and paranormal cozy I absolutely loved. E.J. Copperman writes a fantastic series about a single mom, who is amazing with tools, has a Victorian guest house at the beach, which is haunted and fantastic. In this the fourth book in the series, main character Alison is hard at work solving a mysterious death of one of her mothers neighbors. Alison is a full time mom, guest house operator/owner and sometimes PI who with the help of a few friendly ghosts solves some pretty fantastic mysteries! I love this series and my library for stocking it!
February 12, 2013
In Copperman’s paranormal mystery novel, Alison, her mother, and her daughter all see ghosts—it runs in the family. But her widowed mother has been secretly dating one: Alison’s deceased father. But when he stops coming by it leads to the question: Is he a lost soul now or just MIA?
The only lead comes in the form of the dramatic deceased spirit of a stage actor who wants Alison to find her murderer in return for him finding her father. Alison reluctantly pulls out her P.I. license and starts nosing around only to find the clues turning more sinister at each turn.
Entertaining, funny, and totally charming. Another great installment to the, A Haunting Guesthouse Mystery.
The only lead comes in the form of the dramatic deceased spirit of a stage actor who wants Alison to find her murderer in return for him finding her father. Alison reluctantly pulls out her P.I. license and starts nosing around only to find the clues turning more sinister at each turn.
Entertaining, funny, and totally charming. Another great installment to the, A Haunting Guesthouse Mystery.
December 30, 2023
I was really hoping the horrific -isms of 3.5 in this series would be left behind getting back to full length novels in the series, but this one's got a case of transphobia, aided by racism. It just cannot keep harping on the fact that one of the characters is a (Black, or at least that's the impression it gives) transwoman and used to be a man and is known for violence and intimidation. Literally every single time the character is mentioned it repeats all that information. As a trans person it made me roll my eyes really hard. Other than that it's an okay installment, but it loses a lot for it.
February 12, 2013
Allison Kerby is surprised and hurt to learn her dead father is visiting her mother, but not her daughter or herself. her case in this story is to learn who and why a man was killed in bath tub by being electrocuted. Allison enlists the help of her two resident ghosts, her guests and her daughter to solve the mystery and reveal the killer before any one gets hurt. Allison is quite funny in this story, making you laugh out loud with her sarcasm. Her new love interest, from her childhood makes his first appearance in this story. It's a quick read and worth the time
February 16, 2013
I'm giving the latest Haunted Guesthouse mystery 3 stars. Good suspense and storytelling kept me interested for most of the book but when Alison took off for the final showdown I just shook my head with disappointment. I also found the author's habit of interrupting her sentences with Alison's comments very distracting. While I liked Alison and her irreverent comments on everything, better sentence construction would have gone a long way toward producing a more satisfying story.
February 7, 2013
E.J Copperman's book Chance of a Ghost is about a haunted guesthouse. Allison already knew she had two ghosts, but when one starts haunting her mother to get help proving he was murdered, she is up to her eyeballs in ghosts. If you enjoy ghosts, and senior citizens, you'll enjoy this one.
February 19, 2013
Really like this series! It has a great seaside setting, fun characters, great plots and some resident ghosts with attitude. This outing lets us know alot more about the back stories and promises some satisfying future developments.
July 30, 2015
An average cozy mystery in a series that is quickly growing stale without character development. 2 Stars
Read this review and more on The Library Lass Book Talk Blog.
Read this review and more on The Library Lass Book Talk Blog.
August 4, 2013
Alison Kerby is back in the fourth Haunted Guesthouse Mystery. It is winter and another ghost has requested Alison's help. He wants to know who killed him. Fun if you are into paranormal/cozy reads.
December 11, 2022
Standard addition to the series but it gets weirdly transphobic in the middle, even for being written in 2013. Odd and unnecessary.
January 23, 2025
I enjoyed the story but it's getting a low rating for the unnecessary derogatory comments about the trans character - why????
January 2, 2023
There is a chance you might enjoy this book, I certainly did. This is another funny instalment in this supernatural mystery. I just love the characters and they are the reason I keep returning to this series. At book four we know the characters so well and even the grumpy Ghost Maxie is mellowing and coming around to helping with the investigation more, so it was good that the author shakes it up with the introduction of a few more characters to help, both living and dead. I love the way the ghosts get involved with the mystery and of course amateur sleuth in training. The mystery was actually good too, it was a lot of fun the way it got tied up but I am not sure I would have guessed the killer. The storm was a nice touch and added to the drama and fun.On to the next book to see how things have changed for our reluctant Amateur Sleuth/ guesthouse owner.
Alison know something is bothering her mother but it is only after her mother eventually confided in her that she knows how serious. Her mother has talked to her dead husband every Tuesday since his death but he has missed the last couple and she is worried. Another ghost who has been visiting her claims he knows why he has stopped coming but will only tell them if Alison finds his killer. The police think it was natural causes. Is the over the top ghost right? he was part of a theatre group and saw himself as the star of the show so is he once again being overdramatic? With a blizzard on the way and guests staying at the guesthouse looking for a good time, can Alison find a killer and her father?
I like the narrator. She helps bring the living and the dead come to life.
Alison know something is bothering her mother but it is only after her mother eventually confided in her that she knows how serious. Her mother has talked to her dead husband every Tuesday since his death but he has missed the last couple and she is worried. Another ghost who has been visiting her claims he knows why he has stopped coming but will only tell them if Alison finds his killer. The police think it was natural causes. Is the over the top ghost right? he was part of a theatre group and saw himself as the star of the show so is he once again being overdramatic? With a blizzard on the way and guests staying at the guesthouse looking for a good time, can Alison find a killer and her father?
I like the narrator. She helps bring the living and the dead come to life.
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