A Medium Death

The Haunted Life Cozy Mystery #5

by Lynn Cahoon

Summer in New Orleans might be hot, sticky, and muggy, but for the first time in a long time, Eddie felt like she was right where she wanted to be. Until Cayce’s Treasures got a new shipment of antiques with a few angry spirits attached. Then her neighbor arrived unannounced at his condo after the body of a local fortune teller was found on the streetcar. His interest in the killing could only mean one thing. There was a monster nearby.
With Lilac in and out of town on her college hunt, Eddie had thought it might be a quiet summer. She was wrong.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com

Reviews

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's summer in New Orleans and Eddie is happy where she is despite the hot, sticky weather. But when Cayce's Treasures gets some new furniture they also gain a poltergeist and Eddie knows she has to help. And when her neighbor shows up in town after the death of a fortune teller, Eddie knows that means bad news.

I've absolutely loved this series and this book's a prime example of why. It was very well-written with characters who are likable, believable, and well-developed while the plot is fast-paced. The book is a fun read. I was drawn into the tantalizing tale and kept hooked from beginning to end. The story has an intriguing mystery with multiple twists and turns along with a sweet romance. There's also a strong sense of family and friendship. Lynn Cahoon is an excellent author and storyteller and this is a can't-miss series. I really enjoyed the book which I simply didn't want to put down. I'm eager for the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I think is best read in order so you'll get the most out of things.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another haunting read from one of my favorite authors. Although these are shorter stories, there is plenty of action. Eddie gets in a truck load of antiques that appear to come with something extra, and the spirits are not happy! While dealing with this, one of the mediums that works in one of the family shops is murdered. On top of this, Eddie and Nic learn mediums are being murdered on the East Coast, is the death of their employee tied in? Then Eddie gets a message that this is all tied to their mother's death, except they always thought she died in a car accident. With all these questions and moving parts, can our crew figure out what is going on? Does Bubba's visiting cousin have anything to do with what's going on? Can Eddie keep all her Medium friends safe while we find answers? My one issue with this read is that we are left up in the air on a lot of answers until our next installment. #AMediumDeath #AHauntedLifeCozyMystery #LynnCahoon #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreaders

[dnsyl57 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Medium Death" is book #5 in "The Haunted Life Mystery Series" by Lynn Cahoon.

A new shipment of antiques that Eddie acquired for her shop - Cayce’s Treasures - comes with a troubled ghost. There is also someone killing fortune tellers in New Orleans.

I do like the core characters of this series but I don't really believe in the whole ghosts and spirit thing so I always have a bit of mixed feelings when I read this series. Why bother to still read it if I don't believe? I like Lynn Cahoon's writing, her character development and the general sense of the stories she tells - I'm just a sceptic of the whole spirit world thing. It's part of the plot but I don't focus on it.

The overall story of the murders as well as Eddie and Nic learning more about their mom is interesting. As for who may be behind the murders, that's another story....

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eddie had an experience in this book she’d never gotten to have before and knew it had to be a clue to something, but what? The town had lost a couple mediums to murder and the family was worried it was gonna be a spree of killings. Meanwhile a ghost was attached to a bookcase and causing some issues at Eddie’s store. Esmeralda from the author’s Tourist Trap series visited with a medium friend to help a ghost cross over. I’m sure Nic was pretty happy to see his longtime girlfriend, or at least he would’ve been if it weren’t for the fortune teller murders.

All this and getting rid of ghosts or helping them cross, all in a week’s work for those with Eddie’s particular talents. From the way this book ended, I’m super eager to read the next one since a couple side things were addressed but we’re left wondering on a couple important things.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘A war was coming to New Orleans.’

Despite the fact that her aunt is no longer a threat, Eddie’s time on the front lines clearly isn’t over when fortune tellers start dying at an alarming rate in New Orleans. And to add just a touch more chaos there’s a poltergeist attacked to a recently acquired piece of furniture and creating havoc at the antique shop. Mix in the upsetting news that her mother’s death may have been more than the accident she’d always believed and you can say Eddie’s having a really bad week or it’s simply another day in NOLA...however you look at it, it’s a fantastic addition to an amazingly fun series.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first four novella/books in this series and was excited that the author decided to add to the story. Visiting New Orleans through Eddie Casey’s eyes is fun and mysterious.
This time around Eddie is facing new angry ghosts and mediums being killed. The angry ghosts are resolved and Eddie learns more able her mother, but the recent murders are not resolved. That is to come in additional novellas.
The cliffhanger ending is what caused me to give the book 4 stars rather than 5. It is a very good story.
I received an early copy from the author.

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer in Louisana. Hot and sticky. Settle in for a delicious read. Eddie gets a shipment from a house that recently suffered a fire. The shipment comes with some extras. Ghostly ones! Then one of the best mediums gets murdered. It's up to Eddie to sort everything out. A fun quick read! Once again Lynn Calhoon shows us why readers love her books! Strong characters, fast paced stories and great locales. Grab a bowl of gumbo and enjoy! Thanks #LynnCalhoon for the eARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Medium Death is book #5 in The Haunted Life Cozy Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon.

It was great to be back in New Orleans with Eddie and her friends and family. Eddie isn’t going to have her quiet summer this year. There is a lot happening in this book. Eddie has a new shipment of furniture that comes with an unhappy attachment, there’s a new hire that doesn’t work out, there is murder, and visitors. I can’t wait to for the next book!

I received a free copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Haunted Life Cozy Mystery series written by Lynn Cahoon. I have enjoyed the stories up to this one. I was ready to wiz through this story and I was ubruptly at the end without knowing who killed the medium.

I enjoyed every minute and we garner more information. The mystery which begins the story is left as a cliffhanger for the next episode. Esmerelda from South Cove comes to assist Eddie & Nick.

I was given an advanced readers’ copy. These are my own opinions.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts and ancient magic, New Orleans is noted for both. Eddie is doing well with her Antique shop and living and loving her family, both the one in the store and her relatives. There is trouble afoot with an unseen poltergeist and the niece of one of her workers is more than she seems. News of Eddie's mother surfaces, and they lose two of their fortune tellers to a murderer. I definitely recommend this book and the rest of the series.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to see another Haunted Life Cozy Mystery. Eddie and the gang are back with new ghosts, new characters and a visit from a person from another series. These are shorter, quick reads. Enough for when you want something short to read. These take place in New Orleans and this time fortune tellers are murdered. There is a lot of action in this book. I am looking forward to more in this series.

[Kathleen Chrisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this fast paced series from the first book. Eddie has a full life of family and friends that she will do anything to protect from not only what everyone else can see but what she can see. This story is a fast read that I didn't want to end so quickly. I'm looking forward to another book in this series!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting on pins and needles and can’t wait for the next one on the series to be published!

Eddie just made some great deals on antiques that survived a fire. However, at least one of them seems to have a poltergeist attached. While she and her friends try to resolve this mystery, her neighbor, the knight, is called in to solve some serial murders.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it's well written and the interchange between the characters is great. I can't wait to see what happens next. I received this book as a Free ARC copy and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and series, but this book really needs to be proofread. This teacher (me) was so disappointed by the errors that took away from the story that really doesn't have an ending.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, but it left me frustrated because it is the first of a new series, and the answers won't be forthcoming till at least 2026! I can't wait!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Interesting characters, great plot, challenges, excitement, worry and understanding, but the ending left me up in the air and I find it hard to read books that do that.

[Karen Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story line just keeps getting better!!!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to be back with Eddie and the gang. This story had me crying, specially the one part, I don't want to give it away.