An Open Spook

A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery #4.5

by E.J. Copperman

Haunted guesthouse owner Alison Kerby may have only recently discovered her ability to communicate with ghosts, but for her mother Loretta, it’s been a lifelong gift. As Alison prepares her Jersey Shore guesthouse for what promises to be a huge storm, Loretta helps out by tackling a different issue when the winds blow in an unexpected visitor: the ghost of Sgt. Robert Elliot. His request? Help him find the POW bracelet from the Vietnam War that bears his name. But no sooner does Elliot make his appeal than he suddenly disappears, cutting off contact, and leaving Loretta to wonder...why here? Why now? And why the vanishing act?

The answers begin to materialize when Alison’s lone remaining guest shows up unwittingly holding a clue to the case—on his wrist. A coincidence? Hardly. And Loretta has good reason to believe that the sergeant’s spirit has a secret he’s yet to share. Something he’s been holding on to for more than forty years. Something he’s dying to put to rest

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Paranormal, Ghosts, Cozy, Fiction

87 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Open Spook A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery
By: E.J. Copperman
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
This story is about POW bracelets and ghosts. It's a short novel and first book by this author for me. I did not enjoy the narrator's voice at all! I am glad it was a short book!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light hearted quick read.

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy this series, even though this was a short it was still fun. Amanda Ronconi always does a fantastic job narrating.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's from the POV of Alison's mom.

[Star ☔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The haunted guesthouse loses power as a hurricane slams onto the Jersey Shore. The ghosts were abundant and trying to solve a case. The mystery was interesting and heart warming. The ghosts were fun. I loved them. I also enjoyed the storm backdrop. I will be checking out the other books in this series.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Open Spook by E.J. Copperman is a short novella in the Haunted Guesthouse series. Alison's mother Loretta is the narrator of the story where the ghost of a soldier killed in the Vietnam war is looking for a POW bracelet with his name to assist him to move on. An interesting fun short book.

[LilMisGrayBrisk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narration rating: 3/5

[Darcey Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy EJ Copperman’s style of writing! This had a new twist - writing from the mother’s POV. It had an interesting take on passing on. Great read!

[Imjussayin · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Open Spook: A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Book 4.5
2.5 stars
For the fullest enjoyment read in chronological order.

The Protagonist: The Haunted Guesthouse series is usually focused around Alison Kerby, the Guesthouse landlady. This story is narrated by her mother, Loretta, who is herself an interesting character.

The Plot:Sgt. Robert Elliot, a soldier, killed in the Vietnam war is looking for a POW bracelet with his name to assist him to pass on.

This book is an interesting novella. The story behind Sgt Elliot's Prisoner Of War bracelet is historically fascinating. It is a cosy little read. It is worth more than two stars but not three.

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Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one or reread ?: Yes

My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.

[Sue Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Open Spook is a novella by E.J. Copperman. It's the story of a Viet Nam soldier who was lost during the war. He is trying to get "to the other side". What happens during the book will remind those of us who were around during that era of what happened and will teach those who weren't a little about that era. It's not your normal mystery, but it is a good one. We got some insight into Loretta's life and got to know her husband somewhat. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

[Tango · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe it - a Haunted Guesthouse Mystery that didn't make me want to hose down my ears after listening. I've been listening to the series just to have free entertainment for my workouts and even for free it's working my last nerve at times because the characters, especially the female characters, are all stupid or irritating. However, I truly did like this one. Partly because the mystery involves a part of my childhood (Vietnam War and the POWs/MIAs) that remains vivid in my memory. And mostly because Alyson, the incredibly stupid, Maxie, the incredibly immature, and Melissa, the most incredibly unrealistic child of all time, all have very limited roles in the story. This little adventure is told from Loretta's POV and a MIA bracelet is pivotal to the mystery. Less danger, more mystery, and a slightly deeper, more emotional tale than normal for this series.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

A ghost comes back, looking for the POW bracelet that is holding him back from moving onto the other side with his also now dead fiancée, whom he recently reconnected with.

Apparently, the newest guest in the Guesthouse has the last remaining bracelet w/ the Sargent's name on it.

The book was actually a short story, and it is told from the main character's mother's point of view.... Which I found weird & didn't much like.

I also didn't like the abrupt switching of time going back to when the narrator originally bought her POW bracelet and the events that happened around her bracelet.

I felt as if the author just wrote something to appease those of us who hadn't heard from her in a while... Not a great or well written effort.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story in the Haunted Guesthouse series is told from Loretta's perspective. The Kirby household is visited by the ghost of a Vietnam War veteran who isn't very forthcoming with the reason for his visit, which sends the group on an investigation. It couldn't happen during a worse time, right in the middle of Superstorm Sandy, with everyone confined to the house and the power out. Loretta thinks back to her college years and the controversy of the Vietnam War, and starts telling the group the story about POW bracelets, why she still wears hers, and how she met Alison's father. Very sweet story with a nice mystery and historical lesson.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novella in the series told from Loretta's POV. Loretta is Alison's mom and has always been able to see ghosts, unlike Alison who couldn't see them until she was hit on the head.

A Vietnam veteran, Sgt Robert Elliott, visits Loretta and asks her to help him find the last POW bracelet that bears his name so that he can move on from this plane of existence. After making his request, he disappears.

It's fun to occasionally get a different POV than Alison's and this one was done well. It's not as much action as the other books and like the other novella in the series, no one actually dies in it, but it was still a fun read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a ghost story not written to scare the reader, but to look at what some believe happens to others when they die. It was a nice story about a deceased war veteran trying to get the last POW bracelet in his name. I guess the best way to describe the book is a cozy ghost story. A little mystery, good characters and a simple story. Worth the listen with a true fact addendum about the veteran.

[Andrea Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella telling the story of Alison Kerby's and her mother gift of seeing and talking to the dead. This ghost in the story of the ghost of Sgt. Robert Elliot from the Vietnam War being stuck on earth and not being able to move on. Alison and her mother find out that it has something to do about a POW bracelet. The story also tells about how a lot of people wore POW bracelets of missing soldiers and would keep wearing them until they came home.

[Jason Arbuckle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book 203 - EJ Copperman - An Open Spook

I wish I could find something good to say about this hauntingly awful short novella. Linked with WW2 bracelets and why someone hasn’t moved on to the other side after dying….is…quite embarrassingly bad in almost its whole premise.

A mother and daughter who not only can see ghosts but use them to ‘solve’ supernatural problems. The potential was there for something better but it is just deep story finished with a deep sigh.

Yawn…

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author decided to let Alison's mother be the narrator for this novella. An interesting choice--I found it fun to suddenly see Alison and the others from a different set of eyes.

But...only a little fun, in my opinion. Her mother didn't "come to life" as a character like I'd hoped she would, so she remained a bit bland and uninteresting. However, the mystery was spot on! So I enjoyed this almost as much as usual.

[Kav · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second novella in the Haunted Guesthouse Mystery which features a different perspective. This time the tale is told from Alison's mom's POV and is highly entertaining since she can see way more ghosts than her daughter can. This time murder isn't part of the case and I enjoyed the lighter mystery, though it was poignant in some places, sweet in others. Utterly charming.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short novella in the Haunted Guesthouse Mystery series. This short story is told from the point of view of Loretta, Alison's mother. It involves a Vietnam war Veteran seeking his POW bracelet. Loretta is familiar with the bracelets and that era in general, so she offers some great insight. Quick read with a satisfying ending.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun short story told during Hurricane Sandy from Lorretta’s point of view and is a nice addition to the series. It’s interesting and, as always, a bit humorous. If you’re a fan of the series I would recommend picking this up to fill out your Harbor Haven knowledge.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novella about events at the guest house during hurricane Sandy. A ghost shows up looking for a POW/MIA bracelet with his name on it so he can move on to the next plane. The house guest is wearing it! A good story, thankfully the guest house and all its inhabitants fared well.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is an audience for this book. I am not it. It was cozy on steroids that made me want to beat my head against the wall while listening to it. It’s really my fault though. I’m wrapping up my reading challenge and this was done in one afternoon.

[Lynette Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this humerous series on a haunted guesthouse. Being from Pennsylvania I enjoy the references to place in New Jersey and Pennslvania I've seen. This book in the series also referenced Hurricane Sandy which I experienced first hand.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. It's from the P.O.V of Alison's mom. It's not as good as the others so I'm happy it was short. If this had been the first book I read by this author I probably wouldn't have read any more.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. This short was narrated by the main character's mother and gave a nice different perspective. The Vietnam was was also treated with respect for those who went and those who protested.

[Jenell Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book. Loved the story and as always loved the characters. I am glad of the explaination of the bracelets because the Vietnam war was before my time, plus the link to explain everything at the end of the book was even better. Excited about the next book

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging mystery … and a lesson in compassion and respect about the military. (One may not agree with the politics, but one can still show support for the soldiers - the *people* who serve.)

I like the events in the addendum - quite a “meet-cute”. 😃

[Susan K-A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read anything else in this series, but I'm sure it would have ben more enjoyable if I had not just read this novella. It was OK, a quick story about a family that can see and speak to ghosts with an emphasis on the Vietnam war.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that these mini sequels are from a different POV which makes things a bit more interesting. I don't however like the repetition in giving the back story about every character in every single book in the series...