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San Amaro Investigations #0.5
A Haunting at Midwinter
A paranormal PI. A cop who doesn’t believe in ghosts. And one very pissed off poltergeist.
What a way to ring in the New Year.
Parker Ferro is San Amaro’s top magical private investigator. It helps that he’s the only supernatural investigator in the city. When a client hires him to take care of a nasty ghost infestation, he doesn’t expect to get stuck in the haunted house with an attractive police officer who’s looking to arrest someone.
Now Parker just needs to get them both to safety, exorcise the ghost, and solve a mystery, before the officer decides to arrest him.
A Haunting at Midwinter is a 17,000 word urban fantasy short with a HFN ending.
A Haunting at Midwinter is a prequel to the San Amaro Investigations series. It occurs a few months before the main series and was previously released as a newsletter short. No new content has been added to this edition.
What a way to ring in the New Year.
Parker Ferro is San Amaro’s top magical private investigator. It helps that he’s the only supernatural investigator in the city. When a client hires him to take care of a nasty ghost infestation, he doesn’t expect to get stuck in the haunted house with an attractive police officer who’s looking to arrest someone.
Now Parker just needs to get them both to safety, exorcise the ghost, and solve a mystery, before the officer decides to arrest him.
A Haunting at Midwinter is a 17,000 word urban fantasy short with a HFN ending.
A Haunting at Midwinter is a prequel to the San Amaro Investigations series. It occurs a few months before the main series and was previously released as a newsletter short. No new content has been added to this edition.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2021
49 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Kai Butler
25 books562 followersKai has been reading and writing romance novels since she was a teenager. She lives in California with her two children and her very supportive husband.
She writes M/M romance with an emphasis on HEAs and all the feels. Her current series are San Amaro Investigations and the Imperial Space Regency Novels. She likes dashing heroes and couples with banter.
She writes M/M romance with an emphasis on HEAs and all the feels. Her current series are San Amaro Investigations and the Imperial Space Regency Novels. She likes dashing heroes and couples with banter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 21, 2024
So now I've caved, I've been putting off this series for a while because at some point I said to myself, it has to wait now, I can't start another series.
So much for that plan.
And hey, surprise surprise, I like it. So yeah, this is going on the list of series I need to read in their entirety at some point, hopefully soon, cough cough.
What do we have here ... it's a little ghost story that narrates a first meeting of Parker and King. It's an opening or an introduction to the magical world, for lack of a better word.
If I had known that alchemy was a topic here, I would have read this earlier ...
Anyway, I'm quite curious now. This short story is by no means a masterpiece, but it managed to get me hooked.
If the stupid hot cop got killed because he was as stupidly adherent to alchemy philosophy as he was to law, I was going to be annoyed. He was the first guy I’d gotten a ping from in a while, and I didn’t want to end our flirtation with death and dismemberment. 🤗🤗🤗
So much for that plan.
And hey, surprise surprise, I like it. So yeah, this is going on the list of series I need to read in their entirety at some point, hopefully soon, cough cough.
What do we have here ... it's a little ghost story that narrates a first meeting of Parker and King. It's an opening or an introduction to the magical world, for lack of a better word.
If I had known that alchemy was a topic here, I would have read this earlier ...
Anyway, I'm quite curious now. This short story is by no means a masterpiece, but it managed to get me hooked.
If the stupid hot cop got killed because he was as stupidly adherent to alchemy philosophy as he was to law, I was going to be annoyed. He was the first guy I’d gotten a ping from in a while, and I didn’t want to end our flirtation with death and dismemberment. 🤗🤗🤗
August 6, 2025
I was reading Wormwood Summer and was surprised to see the romance go from 0 to 100. Then I remembered there are novellas where the main characters first met, so I decided to read them first.
This one is about their first meeting. It was short, but their chemistry is palpable from the start. I’m glad I decided to read this first. It’s a good intro to the couple.
Action-packed, with enough different elements without being overwhelming. It triggers curiosity and my need to know more.
This one is about their first meeting. It was short, but their chemistry is palpable from the start. I’m glad I decided to read this first. It’s a good intro to the couple.
Action-packed, with enough different elements without being overwhelming. It triggers curiosity and my need to know more.
June 29, 2021
Enjoyable. Not quite enough actual story to warrant a higher rating, though. Looks like the rest of the series is on KU, though, so I'll be continuting.
June 3, 2021
NOTE: You can get this prequel for free by signing up for Butler's newsletter here https://www.kaibutler.com/about.
I'm getting WAY too excited for this series. As I've already mentioned in my review of Wormwood Summer, this series has all the classic UF tropes and cliches that I adore. You can imagine that I lapped up this prequel short story about how Parker and Nick meet.
I like that Butler treats her readers as intelligent beings. She teases us with background information but leaves a lot of details for us to fill in by ourselves, and I like how she uses that device to pique our interest and also foreshadow events to come. In this story, we get a better understanding of the extent to which Parker tries to hide his fae magic. I didn't get that same sense when reading the first book. We also get a glimpse of Nick as a "regular" cop before he becomes the detective we meet in the first book.
Overall, this prequel is action-packed and provides us with new angles on our MCs to be a worthwhile addition. Definitely a must-read for anybody following the San Amaro Investigations series.
I'm getting WAY too excited for this series. As I've already mentioned in my review of Wormwood Summer, this series has all the classic UF tropes and cliches that I adore. You can imagine that I lapped up this prequel short story about how Parker and Nick meet.
I like that Butler treats her readers as intelligent beings. She teases us with background information but leaves a lot of details for us to fill in by ourselves, and I like how she uses that device to pique our interest and also foreshadow events to come. In this story, we get a better understanding of the extent to which Parker tries to hide his fae magic. I didn't get that same sense when reading the first book. We also get a glimpse of Nick as a "regular" cop before he becomes the detective we meet in the first book.
Overall, this prequel is action-packed and provides us with new angles on our MCs to be a worthwhile addition. Definitely a must-read for anybody following the San Amaro Investigations series.
June 10, 2022
As a short introduction to a series this was definitely pretty good. It introduced the two MCs, showed their first encounter and therefore some of their history and made me generally curious about the whole series. So I guess you could say it was the perfect appetizer and 4 stars is a very good rating for me to give to a short.
August 8, 2021
This author is new to me but she won't be for long. There was just enough action and info to suck me into the series. The biggest questions being just what the hell is Parker and how much does King really know?
dnf
January 21, 2022DNF @ 25%. By this point, the MC has already sighed 3 times and rolled his eyes 3 times. And no, he's not a 12-year old. He's supposedly an adult, and on the job. I'm bailing out before he escalates to flouncing and hair-flipping.
New-to-me-author #24 of 2021 is a one-and-done.
New-to-me-author #24 of 2021 is a one-and-done.
November 23, 2024
A HAUNTING AT MIDWINTER was a great intro to the SAN AMARO INVESTIGATIONS series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more! I was especially thrilled to learn that this is a world where everyone knows about magic; I love when books make the paranormal elements commonplace instead of hidden.
Parker is a paranormal PI and his voice was really enjoyable and a touch irreverent. Since this is just an introduction the romance is only getting started but Parker and Nick had great chemistry and I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop.
Parker is a paranormal PI and his voice was really enjoyable and a touch irreverent. Since this is just an introduction the romance is only getting started but Parker and Nick had great chemistry and I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop.
August 28, 2021
Not loving the cop lust-interest, but interesting enough that I'll read more in the series.
I have some later ones but I think not book 1, oh well.
I have some later ones but I think not book 1, oh well.
November 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Purely because it's a short story but I really enjoy the plot and the magic system. Plus, the protagonist is fun!
Purely because it's a short story but I really enjoy the plot and the magic system. Plus, the protagonist is fun!
November 12, 2025
A Haunting at Midwinter is an intro short story to the San Amaro Investigation series. The series is a paranormal mm romance full of fae, werewolves, vampires, dragons, witches, alchemists, sentient rocks, and plants. The book is fast-paced, exciting, and full of magic. The book is full of snark and mystery and very well written. Overall a really great book and I can't wait to read more of the series.
October 28, 2024
A wonderful little novella that allows us to spend some more time with Parker and Nick and learn some of their history at the same time! I think this novella is best read after reading the entire series. Having the entire future of the characters in mind makes this novella a truly enjoyable walk down memory lane. I honestly had forgotten just how much I adore Parker's voice. It's so glorious. Sure, this is only 65 pages, but so much fun to read to just spend time in the universe with characters I've come to know and love all over again.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Yes!!
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: If you've read the main series, every piece of this novella is just more of Nick and Parker being SO NICK AND PARKER. There really isn't another way to describe it. It's wonderful to see that from the start they had a special relationship that is a joy to read on the page.
PLOT: This is a short one. We get a lovely dose of the supernatural, Parker's brilliant POV, and the Nick/Parker banter that we've come to know and love from the rest of the series. A rental house is haunted and Parker is called in to fix it while Nick gets called in because a neighbor sees Parker snooping around. The house traps them, and they have to work together to get out.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
1:5/low. It's not meant to be super emotional. However, if you've read the series, this will likely bring a wave of joy and nostalgia back!
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
100%. It gave me exactly what I was expecting. More time with my favorite characters.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Yes!!
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: If you've read the main series, every piece of this novella is just more of Nick and Parker being SO NICK AND PARKER. There really isn't another way to describe it. It's wonderful to see that from the start they had a special relationship that is a joy to read on the page.
PLOT: This is a short one. We get a lovely dose of the supernatural, Parker's brilliant POV, and the Nick/Parker banter that we've come to know and love from the rest of the series. A rental house is haunted and Parker is called in to fix it while Nick gets called in because a neighbor sees Parker snooping around. The house traps them, and they have to work together to get out.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
1:5/low. It's not meant to be super emotional. However, if you've read the series, this will likely bring a wave of joy and nostalgia back!
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
100%. It gave me exactly what I was expecting. More time with my favorite characters.
July 2, 2021
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3.5 🌟
What an intriguing start!
I got this in the Winter Wonderland Prolific Works and I'm so glad I started here instead of going straight for the first book. I'm guessing reading this won't be mandatory to understand the series, but the novella was funny, full of magic and deadly ghost and was a perfect introduction for or mains.
We get to see how they need and get a glimpse into this world of spellcraft, witchcraft and alchemy. Also, I can't wait to discover the secret behind Parker's powers. What is he really??
Parker is a Paranormal Investigator, he's working on a haunted house when two cops appears at the door and end trapped with him in a house full of angry poltergeists.
King is one of the cops, and also an alchemist. Alchemist don't believe in ghosts and he will have a hard time accepting what he's seeing. Also, it's pretty funny how he tries to explain the situation without admiring I the existence of this such as ghosts.
When the novella ends you just want to keep reading to discover more things about this world and our mains, but also to see how things between these two develop.
If you like action, magic and paranormal things with a bit of romance in between, this one is for you.
3.5 🌟
What an intriguing start!
I got this in the Winter Wonderland Prolific Works and I'm so glad I started here instead of going straight for the first book. I'm guessing reading this won't be mandatory to understand the series, but the novella was funny, full of magic and deadly ghost and was a perfect introduction for or mains.
We get to see how they need and get a glimpse into this world of spellcraft, witchcraft and alchemy. Also, I can't wait to discover the secret behind Parker's powers. What is he really??
Parker is a Paranormal Investigator, he's working on a haunted house when two cops appears at the door and end trapped with him in a house full of angry poltergeists.
King is one of the cops, and also an alchemist. Alchemist don't believe in ghosts and he will have a hard time accepting what he's seeing. Also, it's pretty funny how he tries to explain the situation without admiring I the existence of this such as ghosts.
When the novella ends you just want to keep reading to discover more things about this world and our mains, but also to see how things between these two develop.
If you like action, magic and paranormal things with a bit of romance in between, this one is for you.
May 1, 2025
There is nothing about the story I don't like, hence the 5 stars. The haunting is scary, the mystery is intriguing, the protagonist is a delight, and the writing is excellent. What's not to love?
Parker is, at this point in the story (if you haven't read Wormwood Summer), an enigma. His magic is not "normal," and he's not keen on showing King (who, at this point, doesn't have a first name) his full power.
Honestly, I'm not sure I understand the magic in this world. There's witchcraft, alchemy, and whatever Parker's magic is. All are different and may or may not be compatible. As good as Parker and King worked together, I tend to believe they're compatible. But it's still a mystery.
Wormwood Summer was published before A Haunting at Midwinter, so I don't know which is meant to be read first. In chronological terms, Haunting would be first. But Parker's mysterious powers are not fully explored, and we're left guessing what he is. If you've read Wormwood, you know what he is and it makes more sense. So, which is better, knowing or not knowing? For me, either works wonderfully.
I may go back and reread Wormwood Summer, after I read A Debt Unpaid. Is that where we learn KIng's first name?
Parker is, at this point in the story (if you haven't read Wormwood Summer), an enigma. His magic is not "normal," and he's not keen on showing King (who, at this point, doesn't have a first name) his full power.
Honestly, I'm not sure I understand the magic in this world. There's witchcraft, alchemy, and whatever Parker's magic is. All are different and may or may not be compatible. As good as Parker and King worked together, I tend to believe they're compatible. But it's still a mystery.
Wormwood Summer was published before A Haunting at Midwinter, so I don't know which is meant to be read first. In chronological terms, Haunting would be first. But Parker's mysterious powers are not fully explored, and we're left guessing what he is. If you've read Wormwood, you know what he is and it makes more sense. So, which is better, knowing or not knowing? For me, either works wonderfully.
I may go back and reread Wormwood Summer, after I read A Debt Unpaid. Is that where we learn KIng's first name?
August 22, 2025
This was a series I was thinking about reading so I was glad there was a novella to start things off.
My biggest issue with books with romance is when the MC is surrounded by chaos but all they can think about is having sex with some guy they literally met 2 minutes ago. There’s a ghost trying to kill you, let’s focus. It’s an immediate no from me.
It’s a novella but the little ghost story bored me. Nothing exciting at all. There were just a couple of things that I didn’t get. This is a world of magic, witches and alchemists exist, so why is a belief of ghosts unacceptable? There’s actually a Paranormal Unit so I didn’t get it. The warlock in it, I guess that’s what he is, to be a PI for this sort of thing, he was amateurish.
Just not the series for me but I’m sure others will enjoy it.
My biggest issue with books with romance is when the MC is surrounded by chaos but all they can think about is having sex with some guy they literally met 2 minutes ago. There’s a ghost trying to kill you, let’s focus. It’s an immediate no from me.
It’s a novella but the little ghost story bored me. Nothing exciting at all. There were just a couple of things that I didn’t get. This is a world of magic, witches and alchemists exist, so why is a belief of ghosts unacceptable? There’s actually a Paranormal Unit so I didn’t get it. The warlock in it, I guess that’s what he is, to be a PI for this sort of thing, he was amateurish.
Just not the series for me but I’m sure others will enjoy it.
August 29, 2021
Having read the first 2 books in the series and quite liking them, even though in the first book there were references in this short but nowhere in the beginning it was advised to go back and read it before starting, so imagine my annoyance when reading the first book and Parker's and King's meeting here was inferred like it was a done deal and we knew it.
Anyways this is a really good, spooky short BUT if I was starting the series now and reading this first, there's no way I would have expected the story line as it happens in the books and not a mystery-ghost fighters paranormal plot. So this short is a bit of false advertising especially claiming that it ends in an HFN, when King and Parker haven't even gone on a date yet.
Anyways this is a really good, spooky short BUT if I was starting the series now and reading this first, there's no way I would have expected the story line as it happens in the books and not a mystery-ghost fighters paranormal plot. So this short is a bit of false advertising especially claiming that it ends in an HFN, when King and Parker haven't even gone on a date yet.
March 5, 2022
A really great short to start a series!
This short gives an introduction to Parker Ferro and his job as a supernatural PI. When a ghost investigation goes wrong it also introduces the unusual alchemist cop, Nicolas King. The two have chemistry but also are not in a situation to do anything about it. Between the secrets Parker has about his magic (secrets we don't yet get to fully see) and the strict law abiding way that King has, the chemistry the two have may not have anywhere to go. In the meantime the job is fascinating, with ghosts and magic and spirits, promising an exciting series to come!
This short gives an introduction to Parker Ferro and his job as a supernatural PI. When a ghost investigation goes wrong it also introduces the unusual alchemist cop, Nicolas King. The two have chemistry but also are not in a situation to do anything about it. Between the secrets Parker has about his magic (secrets we don't yet get to fully see) and the strict law abiding way that King has, the chemistry the two have may not have anywhere to go. In the meantime the job is fascinating, with ghosts and magic and spirits, promising an exciting series to come!
September 3, 2021
After accidentally reading novella 2.5 of this series I got from a giveaway, I had to double back and read this one. It was referenced frequently and I was very curious.
Much like book 2.5, this one was well done, especially for a novella. Distinct characters, the beginnings of fascinating world-building, a plot that held my attention and wrapped up well. Everything is introduced enough to follow, but still leaves plenty of questions.
Overall, a great read. Now I can actually read the full series.
Much like book 2.5, this one was well done, especially for a novella. Distinct characters, the beginnings of fascinating world-building, a plot that held my attention and wrapped up well. Everything is introduced enough to follow, but still leaves plenty of questions.
Overall, a great read. Now I can actually read the full series.
November 17, 2024
Quick read, prequel to the series
I intended to start this series I saw recommended but discovered there were two prequel novellas so since I’m nothing if not OCD about reading series in order I started with this first novella. It’s an interesting introduction to the main characters but I felt like I came in on the middle of something and was VERY confused! I’m hoping the next novella and then book one will straighten it all out for me. Definitely enjoyed the style and looking forward to more.
I intended to start this series I saw recommended but discovered there were two prequel novellas so since I’m nothing if not OCD about reading series in order I started with this first novella. It’s an interesting introduction to the main characters but I felt like I came in on the middle of something and was VERY confused! I’m hoping the next novella and then book one will straighten it all out for me. Definitely enjoyed the style and looking forward to more.
June 10, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
This novella is a prequel to a new series and was just long enough to tell a story and to grab my interest. I have so many questions about Parker and his magic and Officer King and his alchemy. I will definitely be picking up the first book in the series because I am intrigued.
The author offers this story as a freebie for signing up for her newsletter but I received it as part of the Winter Wonderland giveaway from January 2021.
This novella is a prequel to a new series and was just long enough to tell a story and to grab my interest. I have so many questions about Parker and his magic and Officer King and his alchemy. I will definitely be picking up the first book in the series because I am intrigued.
The author offers this story as a freebie for signing up for her newsletter but I received it as part of the Winter Wonderland giveaway from January 2021.
December 31, 2025
Wow. That was a nail-biter. Just when you think that Parker and King have subdued everything, something else come bursting out. I'm so glad I have the first book in the series downloaded to read after A Debt Unpaid.
What a start to a new-to-me series and author.
What a start to a new-to-me series and author.
September 26, 2021
This was a great beginning to the series. A not-witch and a skeptical cop have a lot of work ahead of them sorting out just which ghost goes with which bones. As they work, they get to know each other and the requirement of trust between them for survival creates a kind of intimacy against which sparks can start to fly. I look forward to reading more of this series.
July 2, 2022
Ohh, I can see that I am going to love these two! King is a "by the book" alchemist cop and Parker is... well we don't know quite yet WHAT Parker is...
I think this is going to be an exciting roller coaster ride if these 60 short pages are any indication and thankfully there was almost NO gross factor! *grin*
Can't wait to get serious about this series! Hopefully in the VERY near future!
I think this is going to be an exciting roller coaster ride if these 60 short pages are any indication and thankfully there was almost NO gross factor! *grin*
Can't wait to get serious about this series! Hopefully in the VERY near future!
January 27, 2025
Cute intro to a popular series, I read this after the book that comes next, and TBH I enjoyed this so much more. Great dynamic between characters, great special effects, spooky ghosts and a nice mystery to boot.
I'm not sure if I'll move into the main series but this was certainly a nice intro.
I'm not sure if I'll move into the main series but this was certainly a nice intro.
October 25, 2024
Great intro to the series
If you haven’t read the San Amaro series yet, or even if you have and want to revisit this world, then pick up this short novella (less than an hour) and see for yourself where Parker’s adventures with Nick began. You won’t regret it.
If you haven’t read the San Amaro series yet, or even if you have and want to revisit this world, then pick up this short novella (less than an hour) and see for yourself where Parker’s adventures with Nick began. You won’t regret it.
February 10, 2025
I started Wormwood Summer and really felt like I was missing something in Parker and Nick's relationship and realized there were two prequel novellas. This is where they first meet and helps put their relationship into more perspective in the main novel.
June 1, 2025
A fun prequel to the series about how our hero and his love interest first meet.
While I like the pairing enough, after two main books + 2 prequels, I still don't feel like I know enough about the love interest to care if they stay together.
While I like the pairing enough, after two main books + 2 prequels, I still don't feel like I know enough about the love interest to care if they stay together.
December 26, 2025
I read a short story based in this universe in a charity anthology and really enjoyed it, so decided to give this series a go. I enjoyed this short intro to Nick and Parker. It was fun, flirty and the perfect hook to get me into the series.
June 21, 2021
So, this could've used one more careful edit pass, but I enjoyed the heck out of it, and so I cannot care all that much.
August 21, 2021
A short novella, an introduction to the characters for future books, I'm interested to learn more about alchemy and warlocks and magic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews