Roses are Red, Violet is Dead

Abby Spector Ghost Mystery #2

by Morgan Spellman

Romance isn’t dead—but someone is. And her spirit isn’t moving on easily.

When a series of hauntings threatens to turn romantic evenings into full-on nightmares at a charming Connecticut Bed and Breakfast, the manager turns to their cousin, Abby, for help. Eager to grow her budding paranormal investigation agency, Abby takes on the seemingly straightforward vanquish the ghost of Violet Lovelace, a young waitress who died in a 1975 fire. Abby is confident she can wrap up the hauntings in 24 hours, leaving plenty of time for her romantic plans with her girlfriend. What could go wrong?

As Abby and her bookish best friend, Lucas, investigate increasingly peculiar hauntings, they discover Violet isn’t the only oddity roaming the halls. An eccentric old man and a cynical young woman have stuck around well beyond their lifetimes, and the current staff are hiding secrets of their own. Spooky messages are appearing on mirrors and walls—including a chilling accusation of murder.

With someone threatening to repeat past tragedy, Abby and Lucas must discover who is behind the sinister messages and stop the culprit before a deadly encore.

Abby Spector returns for another heartwarming ghost mystery in this delightful, cozy, and hilarious sequel to Say I Boo.

Genres: Lesbian, Queer, Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, LGBT, Adult

Paperback

First published January 30, 2024

About the author

Morgan Spellman grew up in North Carolina, where he listened to too many ghost stories and stayed up late to sneak episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As a trans man, he writes heartwarming stories inspired by the fantasy adventures and charming cozy mysteries he devoured in early adulthood, with more LGBTQ+ characters front and center. When he's not writing, reading, or working his day job, you’ll likely find him playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading his wife’s fan fiction, or binge-watching murder mysteries with his cats.

Reviews

[Kristi Langli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based on an ARC given to me by the author, this is an honest review not tained by the fact that Morgan is my Lucas. Or I'm his Abby. BBF at least!

This is the sequel to Say I Boo, which again follows Abby and Lucas on another ghost hunt.
This book is more relaxed than the first book, and continues to show character growth. The very real and strange feelings of both love and grief are almost like a main character as well. While more relaxed, it's also more serious in the themes and the conclusion, so it's mixed. In a good way.

It's a fun book, and a good read, I recommend it with my whole valentine heart!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valentine’s Day just got spooky. If you haven’t read the first book in this series, you need to both figuratively and literally to follow this book. I LOVED Say I Boo. So I was so very excited to read this, plus…the cover looks amazing AND it has an adorable dog. I was also excited to see Abby and Lucas at it once again. Roses Are Red, Violet Is Dead takes place at a haunted hotel ran by Abby’s cousin Sam. Abby who started her own paranormal investigation business grabs Lucas and heads over to the hotel. The hotel isn’t at all what Abby and Lucas had expected and once again Abby is a little reckless, but passionate. While investigating, she is also having to grapple with her conflicting memories and feelings about what happened to Chelsea, as well as what is at stake for her throughout the story. Time sure does fly when you’re dead. This book is single POV, with a sapphic subplot.

Morgan maintains the mystery inc vibes and pop culture references. It is a cozy mystery at its core and I really enjoyed this book, too. The character’s are diverse, interesting, sassy and loveable in their own ways. Sam is also non binary, and I loved that they were a character that was important to the storyline. Lucas hasn’t changed a bit and I love that his quirks and mannerisms carried over into this book. The ghosts once again were varied, interesting and very spicy. I once again found the ending to have surprises that I didn’t see coming. Some characters also make a surprise appearance and I loved the way it was able to overlap the way that it did. This series is a classic whodunnit done very well and I really hope we get more…no need more.

I received a free copy of this book from Morgan and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Yves V.H. [Slow reading] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mixture of fun and mystery. I consumed it in just one day, which was very rare for me lately, so I could definitely say that it is very entertaining and engaging that it got my 'short-attention-span brain' to focus on just reading.

I love the characters although I am a little bothered that Abby couldn't move on from Chelsea while she's dating someone (I don't really have an idea of their past since I didn't get to read the first book, so this part, I assure you, didn't affect my rating. I was just simply bothered) which is just fine since I don't think that is the focus of the books but the mysteries. The other characters were fun as well.

The pacing is also okay and the author's style of writing is the style I really like (direct to the point and a light read).

💎 Thank you, author, for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and witty book! I supported the first as a friend of the author and therefore happily accepted an ARC of the second. This book, to me, was even more fun than the first. With more pop-nerd-culture references and endearing banter, this book showcased even more of Morgan’s writing potential. Her scene-building also shone out even more this time as well, with detailed and picturesque depictions that brought the Bed and Breakfast to life. Aside from a few typos and repetitive thoughts (like Mina’s nutty aroma), I think as a reader, this was a great sequel to the first novel. As a friend, I couldn’t be more proud! Congrats Morgan and hope there will be even more to come!

[Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for this arc in exchange for a review 😊

I have enjoyed reading this so so so much. It's a super easy and quick read, and it was funny and cute at times and so entertaining and I was so intrigued! It's been one of those books that I don't even realise I am reading because I am so enthralled and immersed I lose track of time. This is a great follow-up to Say I Boo, so if you haven't read neither yet I really recommend doing so, even if this one can be read alone. Roses are Red, Violet is Dead has the same cozy but slightly spooky vibes that I loved in the first book, whilst expanding more on Lucas and Abby's friendship and Abby and Mina's romantic relationship. I love seeing Abby getting more and more confident and comfortable and open to this new relationship. I would have loved to see more of the ghosts in this bed and breakfast because I think they were very interesting characters, but well, things happened! I think Morgan Spellman's writing style has also gotten better and I love how she plants little hints and clues here and there and mentions many little things that you don't think much of until you've reached the end and think "oh my god, so THIS is what was going on here!".

I'd 100% recommend reading this if you're in the mood for a cozy mystery. It has all the fun thrill of the ghost hunting and investigating shenanigans, but also has cute relationships and great queer rep and manages to feel lighthearted even when dealing with heavy, deep emotions like grief.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Morgan Spellman’s debut novel, Say I Boo - the first of the Abby Spector Mystery series - and was very excited to read this next ghostly adventure which did not disappoint! Abby is a quirky, amateur paranormal investigator who will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and have you rolling your eyes at the same time. She flies by the seat of her pants and always ends up in wacky shenanigans due to not thinking things through - all part of her charm! Roses are Red, Violet is Dead is a fun, cozy mystery in the vein of Scooby Doo. And there was even an adorable dog in the story too! The mysteries abound, the ghosts are lurking around every corner, and something sinister is afoot at the Bed & Breakfast. Everyone is a suspect, dead or alive, and Abby will stop at nothing to solve the mystery and help these ghosts with their unfinished business.

It took me a little bit longer to get into the story this time, but about 1/3 of the way in things started to pick up and I didn’t want to put it down! I had multiple suspicions about who the culprit (or culprits) were while reading. Spellman does a wonderful job of pointing the light in multiple directions to keep you guessing right up to the end as the various pieces start falling into place. And the farther into the story you get, the more spooky and mysterious things start to happen. The book is full of witty banter, pop culture references, and queer rep - including a sapphic romance subplot, a prominent non-binary side character (Sam, Abby’s cousin), and even ghostly queer rep, too!

Abby was a tad frustrating at times with her hyperfixation on things, but she continues to grow through this story and it was great seeing the changes in her at the end. I love her and Mina’s relationship and I was very excited to see more of that in book two. I loved the connection they formed in Say I Boo and couldn’t wait for more of their story!

If you love Scooby Doo, whodunit mysteries, quirky characters, ghost stories, and queerness - you should definitely check out this series!

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest and voluntary review.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian Jewish FMC, Non-binary and queer SCs, Black SC

📝Tropes/Themes: Cozy Mystery, Sapphic Romance Subplot, Ghosts, Whodunit, Paranormal Investigator, Best Friend Duo

⚠️TW/CW: grief, mention of death, mention of homophobia, fire, car accident (minor), kidnapping/confinement (brief)

[christy - pr0bablyreadingsmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a fast, adorable, mysterious, cozy read. it gave big scooby doo vibes but with a lot more lgbtq rep. i love abby and mina, i love lucas, i love the adventures and ghosts. charles was my favorite ghost of the three. every time i thought i had the mystery figured out, i was wrong. loooved this. thanks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

five ghost hunting stars

[Karelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pas absolument mauvais, mais juste tellement médiocre et peu mémorable... J'ai aussi spotté la personne coupable au tout début.

[Emily Thouless · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect little ghost mystery for valentines day ❤️

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes place around Valentine's Day at an old fashion hotel that is being haunted. Abby is off to solve her first hired case as a paranormal investigator!

This is the second book in the series. Technically, you could start with this one if you wanted, but I read the first one before this one and absolutely loved both! To preface, I do not like ghost stories and have a hard time getting into paranormal investigations. However, I had no problems with the Abby Spector series because it's truly cozy 😁 The mechanics of the ghost seem authentic and the mysteries are fun to follow. I really couldn't put it down until I knew the answer to the mystery.

Check this book out if you're new to ghost stories or like a cozy book to snuggle up with! 5/5 stars!

I received an ARC copy from the author and it was my pleasure to review this great read!

[Krys · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone needs to change up their Valentine plans, I definitely recommend staying in to read this cozy sapphic mystery around Valentine's Day. Such an easy and lighthearted read.

The character dynamics were simply chaotic and funny. I appreciated the slow evolution of Abby and Mina's relationship as Abby continues to deal with her grief. Though at some point in the story, everyone just needed to sit down and communicate and talk about their thoughts and feelings. I look forward for what comes next for these characters and how their relationships with one another grow along with their adventures.

[Jessica Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🏨👻❤️🌹🔥

Abby and Lucas are hired by Abby's cousin to investigate a haunted bed and breakfast. By day they disguise themselves as staff members, and by night they try to find the ghost that is leaving haunted messages on bathroom mirrors and creepy death reminders of what happened there forty-nine years ago, on Valentine's Day.

Mina, Abby's girlfriend joins them and helps the haunt, and soon the three of them try and hunt for the ghost, but the story doesn't seem to fit and things get more sinister by the minutes. Violet is the main suspect, but she seems to be lost as to why she is still there, considering all she knew that it was an accidental fire that killed her all those years ago.

This book is a feel-good spooky but not scary sub-romance book. I highly enjoyed it, and it's great to read a novel where romance isn't the main subject but is still a key part of the character's development. I feel for Abby and her grief of losing her first girlfriend, and you can see how it made her feel about Mina, and how guilty it makes her feel, but at the same time she is growing and learning to love and move on. I loved the characters through out the book, each having their own quirks. Lucas is a big scary cat, but I love that he's there to help his best friend, even though he hates it. I loved that Mina was willing to help, and was so open with Abby. She has her past too, and it will be good to see how they continue to the next book. Sam and Cupid (the dog) were great too.

The plot was great, had some gasp-out-loud moments, and was at the edge of my seat in a few chapters. Really well-written, and easy to read.

Thanks to the author, Morgan Spellman for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntary.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked the cozy-Scooby-Doo vibes of Say I Boo, you won’t be disappointed. One of my critiques of book one is that it read like a YA adventure but with older characters. That’s true here as well, but either the style has grown on me or Abby’s narrative voice got stronger. Probably both. Maybe this is the cozy mystery genre as a whole, but this book reads like YA for adults—the characters are old enough to have adult concerns while still engaging in a story that sidesteps anything too serious or dark.

The characters we love are back, but with a whole new setting and mystery. IMO, the emotional core of the story remains the strongest aspect of this series, with Abby trying to contend with metaphorical ghosts even as she confronts literal specters (haha). Overall, a good follow-up to book one with a nice mix of action, humor, and emotion. I received this book as an ARC after enjoying Say I Boo.

Side note: This is largely incidental to the story, but there is a nonbinary character in here, and it got me thinking once again about how fiction is the perfect place for people who aren’t used to neutral pronouns to get more comfortable with them. Irl, I am close to several people who are constantly trying to guess someone’s “real” gender (“not that it matters, I just want to know”) but in fiction you can’t look at someone and try to evaluate them like that. And in this case, the character’s physicality is barely described and their nonbinariness is LITERALLY NEVER MENTIONED. I extra appreciate the casual rep here. Pretty sure the author uses a mix of pronouns, too. 🥰

[Miss J · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Roses and red, violet is dead, does not fit into my usual genre of books and so I want to just acknowledge that in relation to its star rating.

This books is really well written, I love the way Morgan writes, and can only describe it as comfortable and cosy. Morgan built a little world within the book, her world building and descriptive skills meant that i was really able to imagine what was happening and create the characters in my mind. The characters within the story are all diverse, and I have the say I find recently that many books throw in a 'diverse' character and it feels unauthentic but that was not a problem here. All of the characters felt like every day people, their characters felt full and developed and everybody served a purpose throughout the story.

I found that towards the middle of the story I got a little lost, and had to push myself to read through but then by the 60% mark is really picked up again for me. The first part of the book felt much more light hearted and fun but then in the second half it started to feel heavy and darker, but I would not describe this book as heavy and dark.

If you enjoy murder mystery, ghost type stories I really do believe you would enjoy this. I found myself trying to piece together all the pieces along the way, and enjoyed every twist and turn it was only towards the very end of the book I felt like I had a grasps on 'who did it'. The ending felt like it was paced really well and I was left feeling satisfied with what had happened.

[Aleira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roses are Red, Violet is Dead is a paranormal mystery set in a Connecticut bed & breakfast around Valentine’s Day. It’s spooky, but not scary. There’s even a cute dog and LGBT rep! And isn't this cover so beautiful?!

Abby, the main character, is learning to experience grief and joy at the same time, which can be quite difficult. I really appreciated her personal growth during this lighthearted mystery.

This was such a fun read and while it's set around Valentine’s Day, you could definitely read it at any time throughout the year and if you aren't a big fan of Valentine's Day, it isn't suffocating!

A lot of reviews have compared it to Scooby Doo, but I’d like to raise a comparison to Nancy Drew. There’s a few scenes in particular that solidified that comparison for me, but overall the cozy paranormal vibes just fit!

Thank you to Morgan Spellman for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[MrOlivesbooknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Romance isn’t dead, but someone is.

- Abby and Lucas are back and this time they are officially paranormal investigators
- A diverse, cozy mystery with Supernatural, Scooby-doo, and Clue vibes
- A cute sapphic romance
- A Valentine’s themed mystery with an adorable dog named Cupid
- Dealing with and overcoming grief
- The rock-paper-scissors reference left me with a massive smile because it immediately made me think of Supernatural

I’m sad that I won’t be reading about Lucas and Abby for a while. I can’t wait for their next ghost adventure.

Yes if:
- You enjoy cozy ghostly mysteries
- You enjoy banter, puns, and witty humor
- You like Supernatural and Scooby-doo

No if:
- You don’t enjoy technology in books
- You don’t enjoy ghost stories

I received an Arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[R Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

N4.5 stars. Absolutely stunning!

Everything I loved so much about the first - the humour, depth of relationships, cosy vibes, and realistic character flaws - carried across, and more.

The characters are a standout element for me, each one existing in their own right, and none felt like they existed simply to further the MC's arc but each was wholly relevant. I loved the addition of a fairly major nonbinary character who didn't get misgendered once (even by the older folk).

By far my favourite slow-burn sapphic relationship and I can't wait to watch them grow further in the next book. Their communication and honesty (even if it does come a tad late at times) makes me so happy and I love how healthy they are together 😭❤️

Huge thanks to the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun, paranormal mystery is a great follow-up to Say I Boo! 

Abby and Lucas head to the bed and breakfast Abby's cousin Sam works at to stop a ghost bothering the guests. As Valentine's Day gets closer, so too does the anniversary of a grisly death at the B&B. Is the victim's ghost still haunting the place? 

Abby is fun, if a little reckless. Lucas is a great side character, and I love the further relationship development between Abby and Mina. The mystery is set up pretty well too, even if I guessed the ending early on. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to read a Sapphic paranormal cozy mystery. 

Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy!

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. You don't need to read the first to follow along but I would. I liked this one so much more than the first.
Abby has opened a paranormal investigation agency and has been contacted by her cousin to help with ghosts at a Bed and Breakfast where she works. So Abby and Lucas try to unravel the mystery before it gets out of hand.
The book was fun. I liked how things would snowball in funny ways. The romance between Mina and Abby played more of a role in this book but not too much which I liked.
I would recommend this book and hope for another in the series. It had a Hana-Barbara cartoon feel to me. Which I loved.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hailey Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE

4.5 stars rounded up.

I read this almost entirely in one sitting while I waited for my car to get a new cooling fan. It was really good! I’m kind of out of steam for a full review, but I loved Abby’s continuing adventure. It’s nice to see how all of the characters and relationships continue to evolve. I liked Lucas more in this book than the first one lol.

I did want more ghost stuff! I know there’s a reason for it (that I won’t spoil) but still. It had less drama than the first one, more drama than the third, but all around was still cozy and mysterious.

[Farren Benvenuti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I love the author’s writing, and thoroughly enjoyed this book! I think I actually liked this one even better than the first one. I love Mina and Sam (and Cupid, obviously), the ghosts were fun, and the main characters have depth. This was a very fast-paced, easy read with a lot of twists and turns. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun, cozy mystery!

[Yveline Garnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan has a way with big emotions, without having to hit you over the head with a shovel. There’s a positivity and optimism interwoven with sadness that not many can balance this well.

The idea of ghosts in a whodunnit works just as well as in the previous story, which you don’t have to read to understand this one, but it’s a great read, so do it anyway.

I read this in one day because I could not put it down, and also I had to know if I was right (I was! Hah!)

[Sarah | Sarahs.all.booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just too cute!
Ghosts hunters. Sapphic subplot. Literally perfect.

I won’t lie, I chose this one 100% for the cover— and I finished this book in just one day! I absolutely loved the characters and storyline. I didn’t realize that this was actually the second book— so I plan to read the first to get the full effect of the characters. This was a cozy mystery with some definite Scooby Doo vibes. So, so cute and super fun!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel for me was no where near as good as the first. In this book Abby was supper annoying with previous things like constantly to the point it was infuriating at times. The story overall was still good and I do like the series a whole. I would like to see Abby, Lucas and Mina go on more paranormal investigations in the future.

[Heather Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc. I couldn’t put it down! It had adventure and ghosts! I loved it!

[Callie K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, featuring ghost hunting and mystery with a side of Valentines romance 💕

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I desperately want to take Abby to be evaluated for ADHD.

[Robin Clairvaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerie, Quirky, and Charming

Starting a business is never easy, especially when you’re a paranormal investigator who has limited experience, a reluctant business partner, and a personal life complicated by a new girlfriend and old heartaches. But none of that stops Abby Spector from taking on a job investigating the ghostly former resident that seems to be sabotaging the Valentine’s Day festivities at a bed and breakfast.

Roses are Red, Violet is dead is an entertaining, funny, and engaging follow up to Say I Boo, the first book in the Abby Spector Ghost Mystery series. The bed and breakfast setting with its over-the-top Valentine’s Day theme and unusual cast of characters (living and dead) is fun and immersive, and the ghostly mystery that Abby, Lucas, and Mina scramble to solve is cunning and full of surprises. As a main character, Abby continues to shine, delight, and occasionally frustrate as she investigates suspects on both sides of the Great Beyond while attempting to juggle her case, her friendship with Lucas, and her budding romance with Mina—all while narrowly avoiding becoming a victim. The complexities of work/life balance for a still inexperienced ghost hunter make for a riveting and charming tale that’s difficult to put down or forget.

If you enjoy an eerie mystery with quirky characters and more than a few laughs, you’ll love Roses are Red, Violet is Dead.