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A Room for Murder: Charlie Kingsley Mysteries
A Room For Murder For is Book 4 in The Charlie Kingsley Cozy Novella series by USA Today bestselling author Michele PW (Pariza Wacek). Ideal for cozy mystery fans, especially listeners who love clean, twisty and funny cozy mysteries that include tea, pets, baking, small towns and quirky side characters.
Charlie's very first case!
Normally Darla, the ghost that haunts the Redemption Inn, behaves herself. Relatively speaking.
Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, swears that Darla is harmless. At least, mostly harmless. Maybe she plays a few pranks on some unsuspecting guests, but it's all in good fun.
Until one of the hotel guests is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, and Darla is the one who's blamed.
With the threat of guests cancelling and her business on the line, Nancy turns to Charlie to help find the real culprit so Darla can rest in peace.
Meet Charlie. Better known as "Aunt Charlie" from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She's back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.
Charlie's very first case!
Normally Darla, the ghost that haunts the Redemption Inn, behaves herself. Relatively speaking.
Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, swears that Darla is harmless. At least, mostly harmless. Maybe she plays a few pranks on some unsuspecting guests, but it's all in good fun.
Until one of the hotel guests is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, and Darla is the one who's blamed.
With the threat of guests cancelling and her business on the line, Nancy turns to Charlie to help find the real culprit so Darla can rest in peace.
Meet Charlie. Better known as "Aunt Charlie" from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She's back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
Audible Audio
Published January 10, 2025
9 people are currently reading
4292 people want to read
About the author
Michele Pariza Wacek
63 books1,435 followersA USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn't enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.
Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
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September 12, 2024Charlie's first case!
Releasing on Nov 2, 2024.
Preorder on Amazon/Apple/Kobo/Barnes and Noble/Google Play: https://mpwnovels.com/book/a-room-for...
Releasing on Nov 2, 2024.
Preorder on Amazon/Apple/Kobo/Barnes and Noble/Google Play: https://mpwnovels.com/book/a-room-for...
November 16, 2024
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in the unique town of Redemption, Wisconsin with Charlie Kingsley and her very first case. Darla, the ghost at the Redemption Inn is usually harmless according to Nancy, the owner of the inn, but now a guest is dead and it looks like Darla is responsible. With guests checking out and reservations being cancelled Nancy asks Charlie for help to find out what really happened and save her business.
Tea is Charlie’s business, she crafts special herbal teas for her customers. She is outgoing and friendly but is just learning about the ghost at the Redemption Inn. The owner, Nancy is her friend and one of her best customers. So when she gets a late-night call from Nancy to bring some headache tea for a guest who had a fall, she hurries right over.
With her curious nature, Charlie pipes up with many questions about the ghost and its sightings. When the guest dies and many claim Darla the ghost was the killer, her inquiries intensify. While strange things happen in Redemption all the time, she is pretty sure the ghost is innocent. I enjoyed the way Charlie was all in on the case even when warned by Detective Wyle to stay out of it.
While this is a novella, I was still surprised by how quickly I reached the end. The book had a terrific flow, we weren’t short-changed on character development or suspense, the dialogues felt true to life, the mystery was complex and detailed, the reveal was terrifying and the takedown was impressive. The author exceeded my expectations.
A Room for Murder has engaging characters and an entertaining ghostly mystery. It was a Perfect Mini Escape. This book is great if you are new to the series or already a fan. All of the books in this series are written to stand on their own. I recommend them all.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
We are back in the unique town of Redemption, Wisconsin with Charlie Kingsley and her very first case. Darla, the ghost at the Redemption Inn is usually harmless according to Nancy, the owner of the inn, but now a guest is dead and it looks like Darla is responsible. With guests checking out and reservations being cancelled Nancy asks Charlie for help to find out what really happened and save her business.
Tea is Charlie’s business, she crafts special herbal teas for her customers. She is outgoing and friendly but is just learning about the ghost at the Redemption Inn. The owner, Nancy is her friend and one of her best customers. So when she gets a late-night call from Nancy to bring some headache tea for a guest who had a fall, she hurries right over.
With her curious nature, Charlie pipes up with many questions about the ghost and its sightings. When the guest dies and many claim Darla the ghost was the killer, her inquiries intensify. While strange things happen in Redemption all the time, she is pretty sure the ghost is innocent. I enjoyed the way Charlie was all in on the case even when warned by Detective Wyle to stay out of it.
While this is a novella, I was still surprised by how quickly I reached the end. The book had a terrific flow, we weren’t short-changed on character development or suspense, the dialogues felt true to life, the mystery was complex and detailed, the reveal was terrifying and the takedown was impressive. The author exceeded my expectations.
A Room for Murder has engaging characters and an entertaining ghostly mystery. It was a Perfect Mini Escape. This book is great if you are new to the series or already a fan. All of the books in this series are written to stand on their own. I recommend them all.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
December 17, 2024
Nothing like jumping into an already-established spin-off series of another already-established series… with a novella, no less. But Michele Pariza Wacek instantly drew me into the town of Redemption and into Charlie’s orbit with A Room for Murder. From other reviews I’ve read, it sounds like Redemption is almost a sentient town (choosing its residents, etc.) which is right up my magical-realism-loving alley. And though I didn’t get a real sense of that from this novella, it does touch on the plethora of ghost stories originating in Redemption which was more than enough for me to place the rest of the books set in this universe on my TBR list.
Charlie is an easily likeable character and the fact that we meet her in a bookstore makes her even more so. She gets involved almost right away in some mysterious goings-on at her friend Nancy’s hotel, and the Redemption Inn’s normally harmless resident ghost Darla may be at the center of it. In particular, male guests are being harassed which, understandably, makes everyone more than a little uneasy about staying there. As this is a prequel to the series – and Charlie’s first ‘case’ – it was fun to see her dive into this investigation and also to see her first encounter with the detective who seems to maybe be a love interest in the series. I really enjoyed how the author laid out the mystery, incorporated the possible ghost element (without overdoing it), and surprised me with a few twists at the end!
Bottom Line: A Room for Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek is a fun blend of murder mystery, ghost story, and series prequel – all wrapped up in a quick read that’s full of charm. The author’s writing voice makes it easy to jump right in to the story and feel at home with Charlie (the female protagonist) even though this is my first introduction to the character and the town of Redemption. The mystery is cleverly done, the ‘ghostly’ element adding a deliciously spooky (but not scary) fall vibe and more dimension. While this is a short read, it’s not lacking in plot development and it lays a good foundation, as well as piquing interest, for those of us who haven’t met Charlie until now. Great choice for a relaxing night at home!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Charlie is an easily likeable character and the fact that we meet her in a bookstore makes her even more so. She gets involved almost right away in some mysterious goings-on at her friend Nancy’s hotel, and the Redemption Inn’s normally harmless resident ghost Darla may be at the center of it. In particular, male guests are being harassed which, understandably, makes everyone more than a little uneasy about staying there. As this is a prequel to the series – and Charlie’s first ‘case’ – it was fun to see her dive into this investigation and also to see her first encounter with the detective who seems to maybe be a love interest in the series. I really enjoyed how the author laid out the mystery, incorporated the possible ghost element (without overdoing it), and surprised me with a few twists at the end!
Bottom Line: A Room for Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek is a fun blend of murder mystery, ghost story, and series prequel – all wrapped up in a quick read that’s full of charm. The author’s writing voice makes it easy to jump right in to the story and feel at home with Charlie (the female protagonist) even though this is my first introduction to the character and the town of Redemption. The mystery is cleverly done, the ‘ghostly’ element adding a deliciously spooky (but not scary) fall vibe and more dimension. While this is a short read, it’s not lacking in plot development and it lays a good foundation, as well as piquing interest, for those of us who haven’t met Charlie until now. Great choice for a relaxing night at home!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
October 30, 2024
The ghost who inhabits the Redemption Inn has been unusually active recently. This time she's gone too far and a guest is found dead at the bottom of the inn's staircase. As a friend of the owner, Charlie Kingsley wants to help out. With the inn's reputation on the line, getting to the bottom of this mystery will take a lot of skill.
Whenever I pick up a Charlie Kingsley mystery, I know I'm in for a treat. This book being Charlie's first case was even more special. Charlie's level-headed approach to asking questions calmly and logically sets her among the best amateur detectives. I particularly enjoyed meeting other characters who will become important in the Charlie Kingsley mysteries set further along the timeline.
And I wouldn't mind a cup of one of Charlie's delicious bespoke teas.
Thank you to Michele Pariza Wacek and BookSirens for the opportunity to view this eARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.
Whenever I pick up a Charlie Kingsley mystery, I know I'm in for a treat. This book being Charlie's first case was even more special. Charlie's level-headed approach to asking questions calmly and logically sets her among the best amateur detectives. I particularly enjoyed meeting other characters who will become important in the Charlie Kingsley mysteries set further along the timeline.
And I wouldn't mind a cup of one of Charlie's delicious bespoke teas.
Thank you to Michele Pariza Wacek and BookSirens for the opportunity to view this eARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.
November 1, 2024
A sweet cozy mystery story with a touch of ghostly adventure. Although this is a ghost story gone awry at the Redemption Hotel. This ghost had never been so active, and only the male guest ever see her.
Charlie is friends with the owner and previously met one of the guest at a book store.
Great whodunit, number 4 in this series, and wonderful short story if you have little time to read and need a good little mystery to solve. Great for the young and young at heart, who like a nice clean cozy mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Charlie is friends with the owner and previously met one of the guest at a book store.
Great whodunit, number 4 in this series, and wonderful short story if you have little time to read and need a good little mystery to solve. Great for the young and young at heart, who like a nice clean cozy mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 27, 2024
An enjoyable suspenseful cozy mystery. The discussion about ghosts that took place between Charlie and Julian in the bookstore created the atmosphere prevalent In the town of Redemption.
Suspense was developed through the guests conversations at the Redemption Hotel. Charlie’s observations of the hotel guests resulted in identifiable characters.
This is the first Charlie Kingsley book I have read. I liked the authors style of writing.
Suspense was developed through the guests conversations at the Redemption Hotel. Charlie’s observations of the hotel guests resulted in identifiable characters.
This is the first Charlie Kingsley book I have read. I liked the authors style of writing.
October 25, 2024
This was short and sweet, but it had all the elements necessary for a whodunit. I liked the reference to a haunted hotel. I found it intriguing and would be willing to try one out for curiosity sake. Thus was a twisted story that I found engrossing. It was a bit of a shock when the reveal came. I wouldn't have figured it out. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
November 21, 2024
Enjoyable story and mystery.
November 9, 2024
Ghostly drama is going down at the Redemption Inn!
A Room for Murder is a novella in the Charlie Kingsley series by author Michele Pariza Wacek, and reading it is an excellent way to become acquainted with the main character and town of Redemption, Wisconsin, and enjoy an intriguing ghost story. Charlie Kingsley is drawn into a ghostly drama by Nancy, her friend and the owner of the historic and haunted Redemption Inn, where she meets the Redemption’s handsome, aggravating, and recently hired police officer.
Charlie is a friendly and helpful woman who operates a small home business crafting specialty herbal tea blends. She first learns of the Redemption Inn’s ghost, Darla, from a pair of tourists she encounters at Quoth the Raven, the local new and used bookstore. Intrigued, she heads to the Inn to ask the owner, her friend Nancy, about the ghost but inadvertently stumbles into a scene of turmoil with a guest loudly complaining that Darla tried to kill her husband.The town of Redemption has a peculiar reputation and odd history, so everyone is quite willing to accept the presence of a ghost as fact. But as these types of things go, something just doesn’t feel right, and before you know it, one of the guests falls victim to the supposedly deadly specter.
The author’s writing style is easy to read, and I was soon invested in the outcome of the story. The characters were engaging and easy to get to know, and the plot was compelling. Readers new to the series should have no trouble getting comfortable with the current tale without having read the earlier novels.I recommend A ROOM FOR MURDER to cozy mystery readers and fans of the previous books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.February 2, 2025
If you have enjoyed any of this author's other books set in the unique town of Redemption you will want to add this novella.
I found it somewhat slow in the early stages, especially so in view of the fact that it is so short a piece. Once things began to happen, it did move along a little more rapidly, though. In all it is a competent enough story, though not one to set me to any excitement.
The ghostly element does add some spice and the characterisations were distinct.
Redemption, it seems, is a town where the supernatural is part of the fabric of the town, so it is no surprise that Nancy's hotel should have its resident ghost. Nancy asked her friend Charlie, who may be familiar from other books in this series, for support during an event that looked as if she might lose her reputation because of the ghost stories. A ghost that may have pushed a guest at the hotel down the stairs is a fairly unusual manifestation which leaves plenty of room for plot development.
As a fairly short novella, A Room for Murder is a good suggestion for curling up with, cup of coffee in hand for a restful evening.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found it somewhat slow in the early stages, especially so in view of the fact that it is so short a piece. Once things began to happen, it did move along a little more rapidly, though. In all it is a competent enough story, though not one to set me to any excitement.
The ghostly element does add some spice and the characterisations were distinct.
Redemption, it seems, is a town where the supernatural is part of the fabric of the town, so it is no surprise that Nancy's hotel should have its resident ghost. Nancy asked her friend Charlie, who may be familiar from other books in this series, for support during an event that looked as if she might lose her reputation because of the ghost stories. A ghost that may have pushed a guest at the hotel down the stairs is a fairly unusual manifestation which leaves plenty of room for plot development.
As a fairly short novella, A Room for Murder is a good suggestion for curling up with, cup of coffee in hand for a restful evening.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 6, 2024
I loved A Room for Murder! I’ve read several books in this series, so it was fun to see how Charlie and Wyle first met and how she made friends with Pat!
If you haven’t read any of this series, you’ll be fine starting here since it’s a prequel. It’s sort of like watching Star Wars 1-3 before 4-6 (I TOTALLY wouldn’t recommend doing that with Star Wars though!). Charlie makes medicinal teas, and she gets involved in this mystery when she gets a late night call from Nancy, the owner of Redemption Inn, asking her to bring some of her headache tea for a guest who took a tumble and hit his head.
Strange things were happening at Redemption Inn, and everything was being attributed to a ghost named Darla! In all of the time Darla had been “haunting” the inn, she wasn’t malicious, and she definitely wouldn’t want to murder anyone. However, she gets the blame when a guest dies. Charlie isn’t convinced that a ghost had anything to do with the murder. Much to Detective Wyle’s dismay, she starts snooping around and eventually helps solve the case.
I highly recommend A Room for Murder! It’s a very quick read, has wonderful characters, and a fun, ghostly mystery! I also recommend the other books in the Charlie Kingsley Mysteries!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
If you haven’t read any of this series, you’ll be fine starting here since it’s a prequel. It’s sort of like watching Star Wars 1-3 before 4-6 (I TOTALLY wouldn’t recommend doing that with Star Wars though!). Charlie makes medicinal teas, and she gets involved in this mystery when she gets a late night call from Nancy, the owner of Redemption Inn, asking her to bring some of her headache tea for a guest who took a tumble and hit his head.
Strange things were happening at Redemption Inn, and everything was being attributed to a ghost named Darla! In all of the time Darla had been “haunting” the inn, she wasn’t malicious, and she definitely wouldn’t want to murder anyone. However, she gets the blame when a guest dies. Charlie isn’t convinced that a ghost had anything to do with the murder. Much to Detective Wyle’s dismay, she starts snooping around and eventually helps solve the case.
I highly recommend A Room for Murder! It’s a very quick read, has wonderful characters, and a fun, ghostly mystery! I also recommend the other books in the Charlie Kingsley Mysteries!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
November 13, 2024
Another fun entry into this series that I am only now still discovering! It's great fun following Charlie as she tries to help her friend and sort out the mystery of the ghost at the Redemption Inn. And it's a quick read, coming in just under 100 pages. Brandon's character, who called out Charlie as she snuck her way into the investigation, wasn't my favorite at first. His gruff and cranky demeanor was a turn off. Keyword was. By the end of the book, I'm shipping him and Charlie. He's just what Charlie needs to keep her from getting into too much trouble. The mystery is solid. I do feel the victim and killer backstories and motives could've been explored more satisfactorily in a longer book, but for under 100 words I got the gist of their dynamic well enough. All in all, A Room For Murder is a fast and fun story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 16, 2024
A lot can happen in a typical small town community that caters to tourists and people looking for a peaceful and quiet retreat. They can book a room in the lovely and quaint Redemption Inn to find it has a haunting story about a young newly wed woman with a broken heart. When an abrupt death occurs of a guest, is it a ghostly murder or an unfortunate accident? The innkeeper and her good friends work through the mystery and support eachother with the assistance of a mysterious guest at the Inn.
The story is fast moving with twists and turns with several options to investigate. Who would guess what form the ghostly murderer would take?
The characters held their individuality well throughout the story with personalities ranging from hysterical to “who cares?” Nice depth within the characters involved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is fast moving with twists and turns with several options to investigate. Who would guess what form the ghostly murderer would take?
The characters held their individuality well throughout the story with personalities ranging from hysterical to “who cares?” Nice depth within the characters involved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 11, 2025
I adore the Aunt Charley series and I held off grabbing this story because, to be honest, I thought I had already read it. I am so sorry that it took me so long to read it though. I loved this story of Charley meeting Wyle and this was the perfect book end to the author's story in the "Murder takes a Holiday" collection.
If you are like me, not knowing where a book falls in the series can disorrient you. As far as I can tell, this book tells the story of when Charley meets Wyle, which takes place after Books 4 and 5 in the Secrets of Redemption series, which is incredible and the beginning of the Aunt Charley series (Murder Before Christmas). You don't have to read any of those books to enjoy THIS book. Although, it kinda helps. (They are stunningly good!)
I adore Aunt Charley and I can't wait to see where the author takes us next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you are like me, not knowing where a book falls in the series can disorrient you. As far as I can tell, this book tells the story of when Charley meets Wyle, which takes place after Books 4 and 5 in the Secrets of Redemption series, which is incredible and the beginning of the Aunt Charley series (Murder Before Christmas). You don't have to read any of those books to enjoy THIS book. Although, it kinda helps. (They are stunningly good!)
I adore Aunt Charley and I can't wait to see where the author takes us next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 29, 2025
3.75 stars
A Room for Murder is a novella in the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series. The story must be fairly early on in the series, though it doesn’t specify exactly when it takes place.
This cozy mystery is an engaging, interesting, quick-reading story with a potential paranormal element. We are introduced to Charlie, a new-to-town tea seller who is asked to help her innkeeper friend Nancy, discover who has been bothering her guests, in particular, the men. The talk around the inn focuses on Darla, a long-time ghostly resident who seems to be up to more than her regular share of mischief, scaring the guests and threatening Nancy’s business. Concerned for her friend, Charlie questions each of the residents, alongside the rather hostile new detective, Brandon Wyle, who is also staying at the Inn until he gets settled.
Though only a novella, the plot is fully fleshed out and the story is a fun, entertaining, spooky read and a great introduction to this mystery series.
A Room for Murder is a novella in the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series. The story must be fairly early on in the series, though it doesn’t specify exactly when it takes place.
This cozy mystery is an engaging, interesting, quick-reading story with a potential paranormal element. We are introduced to Charlie, a new-to-town tea seller who is asked to help her innkeeper friend Nancy, discover who has been bothering her guests, in particular, the men. The talk around the inn focuses on Darla, a long-time ghostly resident who seems to be up to more than her regular share of mischief, scaring the guests and threatening Nancy’s business. Concerned for her friend, Charlie questions each of the residents, alongside the rather hostile new detective, Brandon Wyle, who is also staying at the Inn until he gets settled.
Though only a novella, the plot is fully fleshed out and the story is a fun, entertaining, spooky read and a great introduction to this mystery series.
November 2, 2024
I'm a big fan of the Charlie Kingsley mystery series. The characters in Redemption, AZ are perfect for their roles in these stories. The way they all stick together when something goes wonky is a delight and fun to read but knowing the town of Redemption with its storied history, something wonky is always going on. In this one Charlie is tasked with helping her inn owner friend when the resident ghost seems to have gotten out of control, but when murder is involved, Charlie knows the resident ghost just isn't the guilty party.
This is a quick read that only took a long afternoon to finish. If I'd make one improvement here, I'd want the story to be longer a little more in depth in content. I look forward to every new book in this series and can't wait to see where Charlie and gang go from now on. Happy Reading!
This is a quick read that only took a long afternoon to finish. If I'd make one improvement here, I'd want the story to be longer a little more in depth in content. I look forward to every new book in this series and can't wait to see where Charlie and gang go from now on. Happy Reading!
November 1, 2024
If you know anything about Redemption, Wisconsin, then you'll know that strange things happen there all the time. It's sort of a way of life for Charlie Kingsley and the rest of the inhabitants of the town. If you HAVEN'T been introduced to Redemption yet, then hang onto your hat because there's a lot to learn! And these books are like Charlie's chocolate chip cookies -- once you've had one, you just want more!
The author has a way of writing that draws me in and makes me feel like I'm right there, watching all of the action myself. I would love to sit down with Charlie and have a cup of tea and some of her baked goodies. But for now, I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with reading about it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author has a way of writing that draws me in and makes me feel like I'm right there, watching all of the action myself. I would love to sit down with Charlie and have a cup of tea and some of her baked goodies. But for now, I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with reading about it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2024
Welcome to Redemption, a town known for having ghosts and choosing its residents. I was intrigued by the author's story description and was not disappointed. This was an enjoyable cozy murder mystery novella. Charlie Kingsley is a great friend, going immediately after receiving a call about strange things occurring at her friend's Inn. A ghost named Darla is being blamed for these strange things and when a suspicious death happens there, the ghost is the main suspect. Charlie is determined to find the truth. The author describes her characters well and keeps the story moving forward quickly. I would read more of this entertaining series.
I received a free advance copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free advance copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 5, 2024
I LOVED this book so much! Definately amazing for fall especially with a cup of tea *wink* *wink*.
I found this fun and relatable, but I was shocked by the amount of cold cream mentioned...
I was satisfied with the main mystery conclusion but I thought that there were a lot of unanswered questions by the end.
But besides that, it's a fast paced book, lucky for me with a short attention span, and it's intriguing and it keeps you glued to the page! I read this in about 3 hours which is insane for me since I'm such a slow reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My thoughts as I read the book
I found this fun and relatable, but I was shocked by the amount of cold cream mentioned...
I was satisfied with the main mystery conclusion but I thought that there were a lot of unanswered questions by the end.
But besides that, it's a fast paced book, lucky for me with a short attention span, and it's intriguing and it keeps you glued to the page! I read this in about 3 hours which is insane for me since I'm such a slow reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My thoughts as I read the book
November 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this. It's Charlie's first case and as a fan of the prior series, it was great to get a glimpse of Charlie after not long arriving in Redemption. Also great to get an introduction to Darla the ghost of the local hotel !
Several guests complain about seeing Darla and possibly being attacked by her and when someone dies, Charlie gets involved to help her friend Nancy who is the proprietor of the hotel. It also sees Charlie meeting Wyle for the first time and sparks do fly! This is a nice quick novella which certainly hits the spot and gets Charlie off to a great start in solving the mystery. Look forward to many more to come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Several guests complain about seeing Darla and possibly being attacked by her and when someone dies, Charlie gets involved to help her friend Nancy who is the proprietor of the hotel. It also sees Charlie meeting Wyle for the first time and sparks do fly! This is a nice quick novella which certainly hits the spot and gets Charlie off to a great start in solving the mystery. Look forward to many more to come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 17, 2024
A haunted hotel and a ghost that kills. Sounded interesting, right? Well, I have to say that this really wasn’t as interesting as I was hoping. The beginning chapters talk a lot about this ghost and the things it has done. We don’t get a dead body until chapter 5, and, of course, they blame the ghost. There was a lot of trivial dialogue that talked about the case, which doesn’t quite follow the cozy mystery pattern. The mystery doesn’t quite keep you riveted and trying to guess who did it. It was tepid really.
The read was pretty decent overall, and it was short and quick, so I’d say it’s worth a shot if you have nothing else to read. But it could be better. In this book, there’s room for more mystery, more excitement, more interest. Just more.
The read was pretty decent overall, and it was short and quick, so I’d say it’s worth a shot if you have nothing else to read. But it could be better. In this book, there’s room for more mystery, more excitement, more interest. Just more.
December 11, 2024
A ghostly paranormal cozy murder mystery with an array of vibrant, colorful and quirky characters that will draw you in with their own unique charms and disdainful personalities. but it is a plot full of secrets, betrayals, lies, intrigue and murder that will have you captivated on the edge of your seat,because of course this wouldn't be a murder mystery without a deadly schemer hidden in the mix. With Charlie the heroine leading the tale asking the right questions trying to figure out the clues to the best suspects. Once I began reading this marvelous cozy mystery I was hooked unable to put it down until I had reached its unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " A Room for Murder " book five in the (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries) so that you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat
December 19, 2024
It was interesting to be taken back to Charlie's very first case. Charlie had lived in Redemption for about a year and somehow had never heard about the ghost that was purported to haunt the Redemption Inn. Nancy, the owner of the inn swears that Darla, the ghost is harmless at least for the most part. Until now, she has only played a few pranks and only appeared to men. Now she is blamed for the death of one of the guests. Guests are becoming frightened and looking elsewhere for rooms. Nancy calls on Charlie to solve the case before the Inn has to close for lack of business.
I enjoyed this story. It was well paced, the plot was interesting and kept my attention engaged to the end.
I received an ARC of this book. My opinion is voluntarily shared.
I enjoyed this story. It was well paced, the plot was interesting and kept my attention engaged to the end.
I received an ARC of this book. My opinion is voluntarily shared.
October 30, 2024
A Room for Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek is a short novella cozy mystery featuring Charlie Kingsley. While there is a whole series of Charlie Kingsley mysteries set in Redemption Wisconsin, you don't have to have read any of the other books to enjoy this story. The book is about a death at a local Inn and the main suspect is a ghost, or is it? The dialog in the book is great, and the story really pulls you in. This is the first book I have read in the Charlie Kingsley series, and I plan on reading more. If you are looking for a light quick read, I recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2024
I’m a new reader/fan of Michele’s work, so getting to see Charlie at work on her first case was a treat, as she was mentioned, but not a central figure in The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive. Charlie’s a wonderful character, level-headed and thoughtful, and I am fascinated by her teas. I wish I could visit with her and try some.
Since this was a novella, it was short, but didn’t feel rushed, and I finished this in one day. It was a good introduction to characters that I hope to get to know more as I read further in the series (just found a bunch on my library’s Hoopla account as audiobooks, yay!). The ghost element was fun and certainly not too scary. The writing is clever and vivid, and I enjoy the suspense mixed with the witty. The 1990s setting is also a hoot and fun to relive through the pages of the mystery. Can’t wait to read more! Love this so much!
Since this was a novella, it was short, but didn’t feel rushed, and I finished this in one day. It was a good introduction to characters that I hope to get to know more as I read further in the series (just found a bunch on my library’s Hoopla account as audiobooks, yay!). The ghost element was fun and certainly not too scary. The writing is clever and vivid, and I enjoy the suspense mixed with the witty. The 1990s setting is also a hoot and fun to relive through the pages of the mystery. Can’t wait to read more! Love this so much!
November 24, 2024
This is a cozy mystery, a novella set in Redemption, a small town in Wisconsin. Grab your tea for a nice afternoon reading a funny story featuring a ghost in a haunted hotel.
Charlie has a small business selling custom teas, but she is also the perfect sleuth and is called to help her friend, when terrible things starting happening in the local Hotel. Darla, the resident ghost is taking the blame, but the new police office is not convinced that a human being is not involved.
I liked this book, it was a quick read, very enjoyable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Charlie has a small business selling custom teas, but she is also the perfect sleuth and is called to help her friend, when terrible things starting happening in the local Hotel. Darla, the resident ghost is taking the blame, but the new police office is not convinced that a human being is not involved.
I liked this book, it was a quick read, very enjoyable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 17, 2024
This book is more like a short story with it only being 97 pages. It is the 5th book in the Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. A ghost named Darla haunts the Redemption Inn, Nancy the owner of the Inn tells guests that yes, Darla does haunt the Inn, but tells them that she is harmless and only reveals herself to men. When men start having accidents at the Inn, it has the guests asking the question, Is Darla really harmless. I received an advance reader review copy for free, and I am leaving this review Voluntarily. Can Charlie help Nancy discover what is going on and determine if in fact Darla is harmless and these accidents are exactly what they are being called,,,, Accidents?
October 31, 2024
A captivating short, cozy mystery book! This is my first time reading a Michele Pariza Wacek book, and now I might have to read more! Charlie, the main character, has her first case in a supposably haunted hotel. I do love the whodunit mystery in this book. A hotel with ghosts, guests, and more! All the characters are interesting, and the twist I did not expect! I recommend reading this cozy mystery 📖
Thank you, booksirens and Michele Pariza Wacek, for this ebook, and I reviewed with my honest thoughts.!
Thank you, booksirens and Michele Pariza Wacek, for this ebook, and I reviewed with my honest thoughts.!
November 1, 2024
A Room for Murder is Book 5 in the Charlie Kingsley Mysteries by Michele Pariza Wacek. I enjoy the books this author writes. Charlie is helping Nancy discover how Julian, staying at Nancy's B&B, was killed. Since he fell down the stairs, was it murder or a murderer ghost? There might be a romance in future books with the hot new Police Officer, Brandon Wyle. I thought this was a perfect story for the fall season. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
November 3, 2024
There are rumours of Redemption Inn being haunted by an entity named Darla. A couple complain that the ghost is dangerous as the husband was pushed down the stairs. Then another guest is attacked by the ghost and gets killed. Charlie is not convinced and decides to investigate the rumours and her snooping nearly gets her killed. An entertaining and captivating mystery with unexpected twists and nailbiting suspense.
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