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A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder
Meet Alma Timperley. She
- Run a hotel
- Solve a mystery
- Talk to ghosts...?
December, 1914: After the death of her aunt, Alma Timperley is surprised when she suddenly finds herself the heiress to the Timperley Spiritualist Hotel in a pretty coastal town in Cornwall.
But not everything is as it seems... the hotel offers guests a very special the chance to communicate with the dead.
When the body of one of the hotel's maids is found, it is considered a tragic wartime accident. But the more Alma and the local police try to fathom what happened, the more they begin to realise this is much more than just a death - there might be a German spy in Falmouth.
With the stakes higher than ever, Alma must grapple with her own extraordinary secret if she is going to have more than a ghost of a chance of solving the mystery.
Being able to talk with the dead is one thing; solving their murder is positively ghoulish...
- Run a hotel
- Solve a mystery
- Talk to ghosts...?
December, 1914: After the death of her aunt, Alma Timperley is surprised when she suddenly finds herself the heiress to the Timperley Spiritualist Hotel in a pretty coastal town in Cornwall.
But not everything is as it seems... the hotel offers guests a very special the chance to communicate with the dead.
When the body of one of the hotel's maids is found, it is considered a tragic wartime accident. But the more Alma and the local police try to fathom what happened, the more they begin to realise this is much more than just a death - there might be a German spy in Falmouth.
With the stakes higher than ever, Alma must grapple with her own extraordinary secret if she is going to have more than a ghost of a chance of solving the mystery.
Being able to talk with the dead is one thing; solving their murder is positively ghoulish...
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2025
8 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 31, 2025
There is a hotel. There is murder. There is espionage.
There is not a ghost hunter, nor is the character communing with ghosts to actively solve a murder.
The start of the book was promising with Alma inheriting a hotel and seeing a ghost, but it soon became a subplot to the espionage.
After that switch it took me a while to get back into the book, and overall I'm glad I kept reading.
There are some great interactions when interviewing the town during the investigation.
Some sections felt a bit choppy as there were switches between characters halfway through chapters.
Was it enjoyable to read? Yes.
But did it land where I thought it would? No.
(ARC provided by NetGalley)
There is not a ghost hunter, nor is the character communing with ghosts to actively solve a murder.
The start of the book was promising with Alma inheriting a hotel and seeing a ghost, but it soon became a subplot to the espionage.
After that switch it took me a while to get back into the book, and overall I'm glad I kept reading.
There are some great interactions when interviewing the town during the investigation.
Some sections felt a bit choppy as there were switches between characters halfway through chapters.
Was it enjoyable to read? Yes.
But did it land where I thought it would? No.
(ARC provided by NetGalley)
September 12, 2025
If, like me, you saw the title of this book and thought "A ghost hunter solving a murder! Cool!", then allow me to disabuse of that notion. Said title is a little misleading, I'm afraid. There is no ghost hunter, and while there is a murder, there's not much mystery, for the reader, as to whodunnit. 👻
Don't be put off though, for I bring glad tidings. There are spiritualists, and there are séances. There is a spiritualist hotel, where members of the upper class come to attend said séances, in the hopes of communing with their loved ones. 👻
In the midst of all this lurks a German spy, for this book is set during the time of the Great War. 🪖💣
Despite it not being the cosy mystery I had anticipated, I quite enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable; even our traitorous spy, Excalibur, was charming. Spiritualism and espionage make for an entertaining combination. 👻🪖
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for the digital ARC.
Don't be put off though, for I bring glad tidings. There are spiritualists, and there are séances. There is a spiritualist hotel, where members of the upper class come to attend said séances, in the hopes of communing with their loved ones. 👻
In the midst of all this lurks a German spy, for this book is set during the time of the Great War. 🪖💣
Despite it not being the cosy mystery I had anticipated, I quite enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable; even our traitorous spy, Excalibur, was charming. Spiritualism and espionage make for an entertaining combination. 👻🪖
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for the digital ARC.
December 30, 2025
This book wasn’t bad at all. It was well written and started off really strongly. Honestly, it could have been amazing, but somewhere along the way it lost its focus and the title ended up feeling a little misleading.
The MC isn’t really a ghost hunter, and they’re not actually using ghosts to solve murders. The “help” from the spirits felt more like a dream sequence than anything genuinely supernatural, which was a bit disappointing given the premise.
I really wanted to love this. There were definitely elements I enjoyed, but from about the halfway point it just fell short of what it promised.
The MC isn’t really a ghost hunter, and they’re not actually using ghosts to solve murders. The “help” from the spirits felt more like a dream sequence than anything genuinely supernatural, which was a bit disappointing given the premise.
I really wanted to love this. There were definitely elements I enjoyed, but from about the halfway point it just fell short of what it promised.
November 2, 2025
Set in Cornwall during 1914, this is marketed as a paranormal cosy mystery, but it didn’t read that way to me. Alma, who inherits a hotel and has some medium abilities, seemed like the natural sleuth, but the focus often shifted to Robinson, a police officer, and even James the solicitor. The result felt more like a quiet historical spy novel than a cosy mystery.
The pacing was slow, which fit the historical detail but not what I expect in a cosy. The ghostly elements were present but faint, overshadowed by espionage and wartime intrigue.
The ending felt rushed. A key twist was revealed and then almost immediately ignored by the protagonist, leaving a sense of inconsistency. More importantly, Alma was never really solving a mystery. The title promises a ghost hunter unraveling a murder. The book delivers something else entirely.
While the setting and atmosphere had promise, the disconnect between what the book claims to be and what it actually is left me disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing was slow, which fit the historical detail but not what I expect in a cosy. The ghostly elements were present but faint, overshadowed by espionage and wartime intrigue.
The ending felt rushed. A key twist was revealed and then almost immediately ignored by the protagonist, leaving a sense of inconsistency. More importantly, Alma was never really solving a mystery. The title promises a ghost hunter unraveling a murder. The book delivers something else entirely.
While the setting and atmosphere had promise, the disconnect between what the book claims to be and what it actually is left me disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2025
|| Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||
It sadly didn't do for me, and I honestly think the reason why is due to receiving an e-ARC perhaps too early? It felt like being in the early stage, maybe a first draft, with necessary changes to be done before the final draft.
Despite the title, there is no "ghost hunter" here, and no real investigation to "solve a murder" from Alma. And while the blurb makes you feel like you'll be following Alma in a historical cozy mystery with a dash of fantasy... it turns out to be too many different point of views, and I feel like the genre of this book is more like a World War I historical fiction with magical realism.
The idea was honestly really interesting! The idea to use ghosts, the communication with them, from both sides of the war was a really good thing, and I'd have really loved reading a book about that - if there were only one plot, instead of a lot going everywhere.
I also have to say the writing style is more matter-of-fact, without emotions - here again, I sincerely hope it's due to the e-ARC and therefor will be modified before the book is out. Because this book really has potential, if it changes its marketing (going from cosy mystery to historical fiction with magical realism), and more emotions put into all of the characters.
It sadly didn't do for me, and I honestly think the reason why is due to receiving an e-ARC perhaps too early? It felt like being in the early stage, maybe a first draft, with necessary changes to be done before the final draft.
Despite the title, there is no "ghost hunter" here, and no real investigation to "solve a murder" from Alma. And while the blurb makes you feel like you'll be following Alma in a historical cozy mystery with a dash of fantasy... it turns out to be too many different point of views, and I feel like the genre of this book is more like a World War I historical fiction with magical realism.
The idea was honestly really interesting! The idea to use ghosts, the communication with them, from both sides of the war was a really good thing, and I'd have really loved reading a book about that - if there were only one plot, instead of a lot going everywhere.
I also have to say the writing style is more matter-of-fact, without emotions - here again, I sincerely hope it's due to the e-ARC and therefor will be modified before the book is out. Because this book really has potential, if it changes its marketing (going from cosy mystery to historical fiction with magical realism), and more emotions put into all of the characters.
October 17, 2025
Twenty-two-year-old Alma Timperley is stunned when she learns that her Aunt Gladys has died, leaving her hotel in Cornwall to Alma in her will. The news comes as a particular surprise as Alma didn’t even know that Gladys existed in the first place! Still, she accompanies her lawyer, James Nascent, to Falmouth on the Cornish coast to inspect her inheritance and likes what she sees. The Timperley Spiritualist Hotel overlooks the town below and has a very special clientele. The people who come to stay are hoping to make contact with loved ones beyond the grave and their reservation fee includes three sessions with one of the hotel’s two mediums, George Weaver and Valentine Wragge.
Alma has always believed she has psychic abilities herself, so she’s intrigued and decides to immediately take ownership of the hotel. She soon finds that she has more than ghosts to worry about, however, because it’s 1914 and war has recently broken out with Germany. Why has a book written in German been hidden inside a cooking pot in the hotel kitchen? And who turned on a light in the tower, guiding an enemy Zeppelin in from the shore? Is someone in the hotel spying for the Germans?
This is the first book in a planned series of novels starring Alma Timperley and based on this one I’ll definitely be looking out for more. It wasn’t really what I’d expected, though; the title and cover gave me the impression this would be a humorous cosy mystery set in a haunted house, but it’s actually something very different. There’s no ghost hunting (unless you count mediums trying to contact spirits) and there’s not really a mystery either. The identity of the German spy – referred to as Excalibur – is revealed to the reader very early in the book and although Alma and the police don’t know who it is, I would have preferred to be kept in suspense as well, wondering who it was.
Despite the book not really being as advertised – which is a shame, as it seems to have resulted in the book receiving worse reviews than it deserves – I still enjoyed it. I particularly loved the Cornish setting: Petford does a great job of bringing Falmouth to life, with its bay and harbour and local landmarks such as Pendennis Castle, which played a part in the town’s defences during the war, and the King’s Pipe, a chimney used to burn tobacco illegally smuggled into the country. We also learn a lot about PK Porthcurno, once the world’s largest telegraph station where many cables from overseas came ashore and now a museum open to the public.
I think this book has a lot to offer, as long as you approach it as historical fiction about German spies in the First World War and not a ghost story or a detective novel. It covered some aspects of the war I hadn’t read much about before and it held my interest from beginning to end. I liked Alma and her friends and hope to meet them again soon.
Alma has always believed she has psychic abilities herself, so she’s intrigued and decides to immediately take ownership of the hotel. She soon finds that she has more than ghosts to worry about, however, because it’s 1914 and war has recently broken out with Germany. Why has a book written in German been hidden inside a cooking pot in the hotel kitchen? And who turned on a light in the tower, guiding an enemy Zeppelin in from the shore? Is someone in the hotel spying for the Germans?
This is the first book in a planned series of novels starring Alma Timperley and based on this one I’ll definitely be looking out for more. It wasn’t really what I’d expected, though; the title and cover gave me the impression this would be a humorous cosy mystery set in a haunted house, but it’s actually something very different. There’s no ghost hunting (unless you count mediums trying to contact spirits) and there’s not really a mystery either. The identity of the German spy – referred to as Excalibur – is revealed to the reader very early in the book and although Alma and the police don’t know who it is, I would have preferred to be kept in suspense as well, wondering who it was.
Despite the book not really being as advertised – which is a shame, as it seems to have resulted in the book receiving worse reviews than it deserves – I still enjoyed it. I particularly loved the Cornish setting: Petford does a great job of bringing Falmouth to life, with its bay and harbour and local landmarks such as Pendennis Castle, which played a part in the town’s defences during the war, and the King’s Pipe, a chimney used to burn tobacco illegally smuggled into the country. We also learn a lot about PK Porthcurno, once the world’s largest telegraph station where many cables from overseas came ashore and now a museum open to the public.
I think this book has a lot to offer, as long as you approach it as historical fiction about German spies in the First World War and not a ghost story or a detective novel. It covered some aspects of the war I hadn’t read much about before and it held my interest from beginning to end. I liked Alma and her friends and hope to meet them again soon.
October 19, 2025
1,5 Sterne
Leider ist der Titel dieses Buchs sehr irreführend. Einen Mord gibt es zwar, dessen Auflösung steht jedoch absolut im Hintergrund und die Protagonistin hat da auch nichts mit zu tun. Auch Geisterjäger findet man nicht. Zwar kann die Protagonistin Alma mit Verstorbenen sprechen, das hat jedoch kaum eine Relevanz für dich Geschichte und kommt kaum vor. Die wenigen Szenen, in denen es darum ging, waren die einzigen, die mir gefallen haben.
Die Handlung entwickelte sich sehr langsam, dafür kam das Ende dann viel zu schnell und gehetzt, auf der letzten Seite wurden dann in einem kurzen Satz noch die letzten Fragen geklärt.
Auch gab es total viele Perspektiven, die für mich sehr verwirrend waren und mich oft aus der Geschichte gerissen haben.
Der Schreibstil wirkte total distanziert, fast eher wie ein Bericht. Die Gefühle der Charaktere kamen nicht rüber und ich habe daher gar keine Verbindung zu ihnen aufbauen können.
Dieses Buch war also leider nichts für mich und ich hatte etwas ganz anderes erwartet.
Leider ist der Titel dieses Buchs sehr irreführend. Einen Mord gibt es zwar, dessen Auflösung steht jedoch absolut im Hintergrund und die Protagonistin hat da auch nichts mit zu tun. Auch Geisterjäger findet man nicht. Zwar kann die Protagonistin Alma mit Verstorbenen sprechen, das hat jedoch kaum eine Relevanz für dich Geschichte und kommt kaum vor. Die wenigen Szenen, in denen es darum ging, waren die einzigen, die mir gefallen haben.
Die Handlung entwickelte sich sehr langsam, dafür kam das Ende dann viel zu schnell und gehetzt, auf der letzten Seite wurden dann in einem kurzen Satz noch die letzten Fragen geklärt.
Auch gab es total viele Perspektiven, die für mich sehr verwirrend waren und mich oft aus der Geschichte gerissen haben.
Der Schreibstil wirkte total distanziert, fast eher wie ein Bericht. Die Gefühle der Charaktere kamen nicht rüber und ich habe daher gar keine Verbindung zu ihnen aufbauen können.
Dieses Buch war also leider nichts für mich und ich hatte etwas ganz anderes erwartet.
September 17, 2025
Listen. If you’re going to name your book A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder, I expect AT MINIMUM one ghost being hunted and one murder being solved, preferably while someone in a sensible knit cardigan screams “THE SPIRIT WANTS VENGEANCE.” What I got instead was a WWI espionage plot wearing a novelty ghost hat and pretending it’s spooky season. It’s not.
Alma Timperley inherits a spiritualist hotel in Cornwall from a mysterious aunt she didn’t know existed and already, we’re vibing. She’s got secret ghost-seeing powers, two hot guys orbiting her like emotionally repressed moons, and the house is literally designed for séances. On paper, this should have been my whole personality. But instead of Alma going full gothic chaos and teaming up with a bitchy ghost maid to solve a paranormal murder? We got wartime spycraft, coded letters, and a lot of historical realism. Which is fine. But not what I signed up for when the book promised me Scooby-Doo with corsets.
And poor Alma! She starts off ready to discover herself and step into her power, but the moment a man with forearms and war trauma appears, she becomes the B-plot in her own story. The hotel? Barely explored. The séances? Hand-waved. The murder? Solved in a way that felt less “whodunit” and more “oh, there he is.” It’s not that I needed her to be a full-blown Sherlock-with-a-ghost-sidekick situation, but it’s deeply frustrating when your heroine has literal supernatural powers and still needs a man to hold her purse while she stumbles toward a plot twist.
Also, can we talk about the vibe confusion? One chapter we’re talking to ghosts, and the next it’s detailed reports on German U-boat strategy. I felt like I was switching between Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Dunkirk every ten pages. And the omniscient POV was whiplash-inducing. We got everyone’s inner monologue, from the romantic interest to the actual villain, which left zero suspense and all the narrative tension of watching a cat stare at a closed door for 300 pages.
To be clear: this is not a bad book. The writing is solid. The setting? Gorgeous. The historical research? Deep. If you want a gentle spy novel with a dash of spectral ambiance and a woman who’s apparently not allowed to ghost hunt without supervision, you might actually enjoy this. But if you, like me, saw that title and thought “hell yeah, this is going to be Agatha Christie meets The Sixth Sense with a side of spiritualist grift”? Prepare to be misled by the most chaotic case of book-to-title mismatch since The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires sold me weaponized book clubs and gave me PTSD and patriarchy instead. Incredible book, but ma’am, where was the guide?!
This book owes me a séance, a mystery, and a refund for emotional whiplash. 2.5 stars. Would read a sequel only if Alma dumps both men, hires a lesbian medium sidekick, and turns the hotel into a ghost crime-fighting empire.
Huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC. Even if this book gaslit me harder than a Victorian ghost in a fog machine.
Alma Timperley inherits a spiritualist hotel in Cornwall from a mysterious aunt she didn’t know existed and already, we’re vibing. She’s got secret ghost-seeing powers, two hot guys orbiting her like emotionally repressed moons, and the house is literally designed for séances. On paper, this should have been my whole personality. But instead of Alma going full gothic chaos and teaming up with a bitchy ghost maid to solve a paranormal murder? We got wartime spycraft, coded letters, and a lot of historical realism. Which is fine. But not what I signed up for when the book promised me Scooby-Doo with corsets.
And poor Alma! She starts off ready to discover herself and step into her power, but the moment a man with forearms and war trauma appears, she becomes the B-plot in her own story. The hotel? Barely explored. The séances? Hand-waved. The murder? Solved in a way that felt less “whodunit” and more “oh, there he is.” It’s not that I needed her to be a full-blown Sherlock-with-a-ghost-sidekick situation, but it’s deeply frustrating when your heroine has literal supernatural powers and still needs a man to hold her purse while she stumbles toward a plot twist.
Also, can we talk about the vibe confusion? One chapter we’re talking to ghosts, and the next it’s detailed reports on German U-boat strategy. I felt like I was switching between Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Dunkirk every ten pages. And the omniscient POV was whiplash-inducing. We got everyone’s inner monologue, from the romantic interest to the actual villain, which left zero suspense and all the narrative tension of watching a cat stare at a closed door for 300 pages.
To be clear: this is not a bad book. The writing is solid. The setting? Gorgeous. The historical research? Deep. If you want a gentle spy novel with a dash of spectral ambiance and a woman who’s apparently not allowed to ghost hunt without supervision, you might actually enjoy this. But if you, like me, saw that title and thought “hell yeah, this is going to be Agatha Christie meets The Sixth Sense with a side of spiritualist grift”? Prepare to be misled by the most chaotic case of book-to-title mismatch since The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires sold me weaponized book clubs and gave me PTSD and patriarchy instead. Incredible book, but ma’am, where was the guide?!
This book owes me a séance, a mystery, and a refund for emotional whiplash. 2.5 stars. Would read a sequel only if Alma dumps both men, hires a lesbian medium sidekick, and turns the hotel into a ghost crime-fighting empire.
Huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC. Even if this book gaslit me harder than a Victorian ghost in a fog machine.
October 25, 2025
3.5 Stars
I’ll start with a common thread among others reviews, and admit that the title is a bit misleading. Alma is not a ghost hunter, she is a clairvoyant - one who barely even speaks to ghosts, at that. The amount of ghosts, seances, etc was extremely light. Additionally, the murder is not a mystery - we the reader learn who the killer is early on. If your heart is set on a ghost hunting whodunnit, you might be a bit disappointed. My disappointment, however, was very short lived, because the book compensated for the misleading title and was actually very enjoyable.
Now, I have to give the author a bit of credit. If this book was marketed as a historical fiction during in WWII with the hunt of German spy, I would not have picked this book up. I have a general disdain for historical fiction, I find it boring and simply CANNOT get into the genre. Doubly so for war retellings. And yet… I loved this book.
Alright onto the book itself. It’s a historical fiction set in England in the 1940s, and written in third-person omniscient pov, it jumps back and forth following different characters and storylines. The constant switching is a bit much, and at times felt like I was switching every three pages. We learn pretty early on who the spy is, but it’s in a sweet spot - late enough for us to have a little fun playing the guessing game, but early enough that we can move on and follow the spy as things pick up.
The author wrote the characters in such a way that I actually liked and cared for them. Alma had a few moments where I wanted to slap some sense into her - you’re brilliant, observant, and clairvoyant. You can literally speak to the people the spy killed and ask them what happened, and that never crosses your mind? You have a spy living under your nose and you ignore the threat, and flirt/go out with a prime suspect? I get Gladys asked her not to seek her out on the other side, but Alma could have talked to the other murder victim and saved a lot of time and a few lives. She definitely disappointed me in some moments, but she redeems herself in the end, and she IS a young, slightly naïve young woman after all.
The surprise reveal at the end about Alma and James relationship was a bit cliche, but not too cheesy. I’m interested enough in the hotel and Alma’s circle to read on if this book becomes a series. If it does, though, I sincerely hope they bump up the talking to the dead. It was way too light for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy.
I’ll start with a common thread among others reviews, and admit that the title is a bit misleading. Alma is not a ghost hunter, she is a clairvoyant - one who barely even speaks to ghosts, at that. The amount of ghosts, seances, etc was extremely light. Additionally, the murder is not a mystery - we the reader learn who the killer is early on. If your heart is set on a ghost hunting whodunnit, you might be a bit disappointed. My disappointment, however, was very short lived, because the book compensated for the misleading title and was actually very enjoyable.
Now, I have to give the author a bit of credit. If this book was marketed as a historical fiction during in WWII with the hunt of German spy, I would not have picked this book up. I have a general disdain for historical fiction, I find it boring and simply CANNOT get into the genre. Doubly so for war retellings. And yet… I loved this book.
Alright onto the book itself. It’s a historical fiction set in England in the 1940s, and written in third-person omniscient pov, it jumps back and forth following different characters and storylines. The constant switching is a bit much, and at times felt like I was switching every three pages. We learn pretty early on who the spy is, but it’s in a sweet spot - late enough for us to have a little fun playing the guessing game, but early enough that we can move on and follow the spy as things pick up.
The author wrote the characters in such a way that I actually liked and cared for them. Alma had a few moments where I wanted to slap some sense into her - you’re brilliant, observant, and clairvoyant. You can literally speak to the people the spy killed and ask them what happened, and that never crosses your mind? You have a spy living under your nose and you ignore the threat, and flirt/go out with a prime suspect? I get Gladys asked her not to seek her out on the other side, but Alma could have talked to the other murder victim and saved a lot of time and a few lives. She definitely disappointed me in some moments, but she redeems herself in the end, and she IS a young, slightly naïve young woman after all.
The surprise reveal at the end about Alma and James relationship was a bit cliche, but not too cheesy. I’m interested enough in the hotel and Alma’s circle to read on if this book becomes a series. If it does, though, I sincerely hope they bump up the talking to the dead. It was way too light for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy.
October 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A ghost hunter’s guide to solving a murder follows Alma as she inherits a hotel and threats of German spies are about. I found this to be an entertaining read! However just to be clear, unless I’m missing something, I feel the need to mention there are no ghost hunters. If you go into this book thinking it’s a murder mystery set during WW1 I think you will be more satisfied.
In this book, perspectives shift from Alma as she figures out how to be an owner of a spiritualist hotel and pursues a relationship with a man who might be stationed away from her or a man who could be a German spy to the German spy as he murders people who get in his way as well as the police investigation. I think the alternating helps keep the interest of the reader but I do wish we had Alma more involved. It took me about 5 chapters to get used to the writing style and then I had no problems with it, I had though at the beginning of the book that Alma would play a big role in being a detective and while she is involved, it does not feel like she is the main detective or that this is a story where she is investigating. The best I can explain it is Alma’s perspectives show her living life and being suspicious and finding information, while the spy’s perspective show the murder mystery just unfolding. James the lawyer also serves as a detective in this story and I think he’s the one character it feels like finds information that is impactful to the investigation. None of this is a bad thing but it makes the story feel unique in this way and not like your typical murder mystery.
I found the spiritualism ideas in this book fascinating, especially the concept of a spiritualist hotel running during war times. I thought it was really interesting to see the different characters perceptions on spiritualism and also how it impacted the investigation. Alma receiving a message that was crucial information was cool to imagine how mysteries could be solved with help from the dead.
I liked following Alma because I found her character to be interesting as well as James and seeing what he had to offer. I was invested in the storyline with Alan for Alma was falling for and how Alan interacted with the German spy unknowingly. There was a twist at the end with James that i felt proud to have guessed. Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me.
A ghost hunter’s guide to solving a murder follows Alma as she inherits a hotel and threats of German spies are about. I found this to be an entertaining read! However just to be clear, unless I’m missing something, I feel the need to mention there are no ghost hunters. If you go into this book thinking it’s a murder mystery set during WW1 I think you will be more satisfied.
In this book, perspectives shift from Alma as she figures out how to be an owner of a spiritualist hotel and pursues a relationship with a man who might be stationed away from her or a man who could be a German spy to the German spy as he murders people who get in his way as well as the police investigation. I think the alternating helps keep the interest of the reader but I do wish we had Alma more involved. It took me about 5 chapters to get used to the writing style and then I had no problems with it, I had though at the beginning of the book that Alma would play a big role in being a detective and while she is involved, it does not feel like she is the main detective or that this is a story where she is investigating. The best I can explain it is Alma’s perspectives show her living life and being suspicious and finding information, while the spy’s perspective show the murder mystery just unfolding. James the lawyer also serves as a detective in this story and I think he’s the one character it feels like finds information that is impactful to the investigation. None of this is a bad thing but it makes the story feel unique in this way and not like your typical murder mystery.
I found the spiritualism ideas in this book fascinating, especially the concept of a spiritualist hotel running during war times. I thought it was really interesting to see the different characters perceptions on spiritualism and also how it impacted the investigation. Alma receiving a message that was crucial information was cool to imagine how mysteries could be solved with help from the dead.
I liked following Alma because I found her character to be interesting as well as James and seeing what he had to offer. I was invested in the storyline with Alan for Alma was falling for and how Alan interacted with the German spy unknowingly. There was a twist at the end with James that i felt proud to have guessed. Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me.
August 18, 2025
Rating: 1.3/5
Oh, dear! Where should I start with this? Well, seeing as it is the first part of the book you are likely to encounter, let's begin with the title. It is quite possible, perhaps even likely, that, like me, "A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder" on the front cover would lead you anticipate a quirky, probably largely comedic, cosy-style murder mystery with supernatural elements - but how very wrong you would be!
There is no ghost hunting in this novel at all, nor is much of the story concerned with trying to solve a murder. The closest to ghostly goings-on that you will find is the fact that the central protagonist, Alma, has inherited a hotel in Cornwall, where the establishment's unique selling point is that it offers its clients the opportunity to connect with their deceased loved ones through the psychic mediums who work at the hotel. In spite of the book's title, even this aspect is very much a sub-plot rather than being the main focus of the narrative.
So, if this isn't about ghost hunting and it isn't a murder mystery, cosy or otherwise, what is it? Well, essentially it is a lightweight historical drama set during WWI with an undercover German spy trying to undermine the British war effort by feeding information back to his native country. Even this element isn't a mystery, though, as the identity of the spy is made known to the reader quite early in the piece. If you like works of fiction based in that era, then you may possibly find something to enjoy about this book, but I wouldn't even be confident of that, because the writing style leaves an awful lot to be desired. I doubt this will satisfy many adult readers, as is it too simplistic and, at best, more reminiscent of a "Boy's Own" adventure. Furthermore, the pace is pedestrian, which is exacerbated by the amount of superfluous padding that serves only to beef up the word count. If it weren't for the fact that I hate not finishing a book, it would have been so easy to give up on this - at least I could have spent my time watching the grass grow instead.
As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.
Oh, dear! Where should I start with this? Well, seeing as it is the first part of the book you are likely to encounter, let's begin with the title. It is quite possible, perhaps even likely, that, like me, "A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder" on the front cover would lead you anticipate a quirky, probably largely comedic, cosy-style murder mystery with supernatural elements - but how very wrong you would be!
There is no ghost hunting in this novel at all, nor is much of the story concerned with trying to solve a murder. The closest to ghostly goings-on that you will find is the fact that the central protagonist, Alma, has inherited a hotel in Cornwall, where the establishment's unique selling point is that it offers its clients the opportunity to connect with their deceased loved ones through the psychic mediums who work at the hotel. In spite of the book's title, even this aspect is very much a sub-plot rather than being the main focus of the narrative.
So, if this isn't about ghost hunting and it isn't a murder mystery, cosy or otherwise, what is it? Well, essentially it is a lightweight historical drama set during WWI with an undercover German spy trying to undermine the British war effort by feeding information back to his native country. Even this element isn't a mystery, though, as the identity of the spy is made known to the reader quite early in the piece. If you like works of fiction based in that era, then you may possibly find something to enjoy about this book, but I wouldn't even be confident of that, because the writing style leaves an awful lot to be desired. I doubt this will satisfy many adult readers, as is it too simplistic and, at best, more reminiscent of a "Boy's Own" adventure. Furthermore, the pace is pedestrian, which is exacerbated by the amount of superfluous padding that serves only to beef up the word count. If it weren't for the fact that I hate not finishing a book, it would have been so easy to give up on this - at least I could have spent my time watching the grass grow instead.
As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.
September 16, 2025
3.5
It’s hard to rate this book because it’s marketed as something entirely different to what is inside the book, and that is a real shame. The title has no relation to the story whatsoever, and nobody is ghost hunting at any point. The cover suggests a cosy supernatural mystery, but it’s actually a cosy spy novel with a supernatural element to it. The blurb describes the main character as Alma, who inherits a spiritualist hotel, but she’s not really the main character, just someone who starts off as the main character and ends up more interested in which man she’s going to date. At no point is she ghost hunting or solving any mysteries. Certainly not without a man to hold her hand.
That’s not to say this is a bad book because it’s not. It’s a spy novel set in WW1 with great research and real locations you can actually visit. The author has done a great job of weaving the supernatural elements into the story, and it’s a clever idea to use the ability to talk to ghosts as a bonus when you want to be a spy. After all, it’s a time when a great many people died, therefore perfect for this kind of plot.
I do sometimes struggle when men write female characters, and this is one of those where I struggled to identify with any of the women in the book. The men get all of the action. The women are side characters, only interested in relationships, or giggling and leering at the exercising soldiers and passing them notes. Even the grieving women that visit the hotel to connect with dead loved ones are a bit thirsty. The men talk about the women as if they are ornaments (or not good enough to be) and when we had the potential in a German woman who is shut away but has information that is useful to her side of things, she passes that on and a man takes over.
There are so many things I wished for this book. I wanted Alma to build on the independence she found at the start and to not be concerned with men, but to realise that there is a life for her in Cornwall where she can come into her abilities and run a fantastic hotel, all while batting away the enemy and solving crimes with help from a series of helpful ghosts. The book I got was a cosy spy novel that was very much aimed at someone who would be unlikely to pick up this book because of the way it’s presented. And that is doing the author a real disservice. I hope the publishers reconsider the cover and title, because there is an audience out there that would enjoy it, but I don’t think will engage with it.
It’s hard to rate this book because it’s marketed as something entirely different to what is inside the book, and that is a real shame. The title has no relation to the story whatsoever, and nobody is ghost hunting at any point. The cover suggests a cosy supernatural mystery, but it’s actually a cosy spy novel with a supernatural element to it. The blurb describes the main character as Alma, who inherits a spiritualist hotel, but she’s not really the main character, just someone who starts off as the main character and ends up more interested in which man she’s going to date. At no point is she ghost hunting or solving any mysteries. Certainly not without a man to hold her hand.
That’s not to say this is a bad book because it’s not. It’s a spy novel set in WW1 with great research and real locations you can actually visit. The author has done a great job of weaving the supernatural elements into the story, and it’s a clever idea to use the ability to talk to ghosts as a bonus when you want to be a spy. After all, it’s a time when a great many people died, therefore perfect for this kind of plot.
I do sometimes struggle when men write female characters, and this is one of those where I struggled to identify with any of the women in the book. The men get all of the action. The women are side characters, only interested in relationships, or giggling and leering at the exercising soldiers and passing them notes. Even the grieving women that visit the hotel to connect with dead loved ones are a bit thirsty. The men talk about the women as if they are ornaments (or not good enough to be) and when we had the potential in a German woman who is shut away but has information that is useful to her side of things, she passes that on and a man takes over.
There are so many things I wished for this book. I wanted Alma to build on the independence she found at the start and to not be concerned with men, but to realise that there is a life for her in Cornwall where she can come into her abilities and run a fantastic hotel, all while batting away the enemy and solving crimes with help from a series of helpful ghosts. The book I got was a cosy spy novel that was very much aimed at someone who would be unlikely to pick up this book because of the way it’s presented. And that is doing the author a real disservice. I hope the publishers reconsider the cover and title, because there is an audience out there that would enjoy it, but I don’t think will engage with it.
September 24, 2025
I confess, I was wary of F.H. Petford’s A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder. I thought there might be a significant reliance upon ghosts telling an investigator who the murderer was; and reporting their actions. Happily, there was nothing like that. One spirit is used to move the plot along but they are “off-stage” and we never see/hear them. One or two other spirits are used as background colour but are not integral to the plot. The ghosts are believable, if that is not a contradiction in terms.
Alma Timperley inherits a Falmouth hotel from an aunt she never knew she had. I enjoyed the author’s depiction of a young woman changing from an office clerk in straightened circumstances during WWI into the confident owner of a healthy business. Although there is a murder, the murderer is revealed rather than the crime being solved – and it is certainly not solved by Alma. The main focus of the book is upon a ruthless German spy during WWI. The book is very well-written, with the author maintaining the tension: will the spy succeed in their audacious plan? Will they be unmasked as a murderer? Will they kill again?
Although the aspect of murder-solving by a ghost hunter, as mentioned in the title, is non-existent, I found this a highly satisfying novel with a touch of romance amongst the suspense. Alma does not investigate a murder and there are no clues for us to spot, but the historic background has been very well researched and is accurately depicted. Although historic accuracy may not matter too much to some people, I find that glaring mistakes destroy the reader’s immersion in the story. A good novelist researches well but uses their knowledge to make the story believable, rather than delivering a history lecture – and Frederick Petford is such a novelist.
I was delighted to read that the author has signed a contract to deliver three books about Alma Timperley, with the second currently scheduled for publication in mid-2026. I really look forward to reading it.
#AGhostHuntersGuidetoSolvingaMurder #NetGalley
Alma Timperley inherits a Falmouth hotel from an aunt she never knew she had. I enjoyed the author’s depiction of a young woman changing from an office clerk in straightened circumstances during WWI into the confident owner of a healthy business. Although there is a murder, the murderer is revealed rather than the crime being solved – and it is certainly not solved by Alma. The main focus of the book is upon a ruthless German spy during WWI. The book is very well-written, with the author maintaining the tension: will the spy succeed in their audacious plan? Will they be unmasked as a murderer? Will they kill again?
Although the aspect of murder-solving by a ghost hunter, as mentioned in the title, is non-existent, I found this a highly satisfying novel with a touch of romance amongst the suspense. Alma does not investigate a murder and there are no clues for us to spot, but the historic background has been very well researched and is accurately depicted. Although historic accuracy may not matter too much to some people, I find that glaring mistakes destroy the reader’s immersion in the story. A good novelist researches well but uses their knowledge to make the story believable, rather than delivering a history lecture – and Frederick Petford is such a novelist.
I was delighted to read that the author has signed a contract to deliver three books about Alma Timperley, with the second currently scheduled for publication in mid-2026. I really look forward to reading it.
#AGhostHuntersGuidetoSolvingaMurder #NetGalley
August 15, 2025
A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder by F.H. Petford is one of those books where the title and cover set up big expectations - think cozy mysteries and paranormal sleuthing - but what’s inside is something quite different.
Rather than a quirky ghost hunter unraveling a murder, the story is more of a historical espionage tale set in Cornwall at the beginning of World War I. The protagonist, Alma Timperley, inherits a hotel from an aunt she never knew, complete with a supposed gift for talking to the dead.
However, Alma’s psychic skills are pushed far into the background, barely coming into play until late in the book.
The narrative revolves much more around a German spy lurking at the hotel and his efforts to undermine the British war effort than it does around supernatural mysteries or murder-solving.
In fact, there's no mystery at all, as we know who the spy is; it's just Alma who is completely oblivious to it.
While the book’s setting and historical details are enjoyable, if you're after a classic cozy mystery with clues, red herrings, and amateur sleuthing, you might be disappointed.
Alma’s character, initially promising, spends much of the story preoccupied with romance rather than investigating anything, which can be frustrating, especially when the plot all but hands her the answers.
If you go in expecting an atmospheric historical spy novel with a minor paranormal element, you might find this a decent, if somewhat flawed, read.
But if you’re after the sort of witty, ghostly detective story the title suggests, this isn’t it.
For me, the mismatch between the book’s marketing and its content, as well as an underwhelming protagonist, left me feeling disappointed and detached from the story, wishing for a more engaging mystery and a lead character with greater depth.
With thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.
Rather than a quirky ghost hunter unraveling a murder, the story is more of a historical espionage tale set in Cornwall at the beginning of World War I. The protagonist, Alma Timperley, inherits a hotel from an aunt she never knew, complete with a supposed gift for talking to the dead.
However, Alma’s psychic skills are pushed far into the background, barely coming into play until late in the book.
The narrative revolves much more around a German spy lurking at the hotel and his efforts to undermine the British war effort than it does around supernatural mysteries or murder-solving.
In fact, there's no mystery at all, as we know who the spy is; it's just Alma who is completely oblivious to it.
While the book’s setting and historical details are enjoyable, if you're after a classic cozy mystery with clues, red herrings, and amateur sleuthing, you might be disappointed.
Alma’s character, initially promising, spends much of the story preoccupied with romance rather than investigating anything, which can be frustrating, especially when the plot all but hands her the answers.
If you go in expecting an atmospheric historical spy novel with a minor paranormal element, you might find this a decent, if somewhat flawed, read.
But if you’re after the sort of witty, ghostly detective story the title suggests, this isn’t it.
For me, the mismatch between the book’s marketing and its content, as well as an underwhelming protagonist, left me feeling disappointed and detached from the story, wishing for a more engaging mystery and a lead character with greater depth.
With thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.
November 18, 2025
Let me start by saying this is probably not the book you expect it to be. There is no ghost hunting involved and solving the murder wasn't really pursued with as much enthusiasm as one might expect from the title. This is, however, a very entertaining read. I would categorise this as a cozy historical spy fiction with elements of mystery and magical realism.
There's enough mystery to capture your interest (murder, spy, spiritualism), ghosts, spies, old-world charm, and a touch of romance. The author has thoroughly researched the historical elements and I found myself transported to the coastal Cornwall town of Falmouth in the early 1900s. Besides the old-world charm of the setting, supernatural elements such as seances and messages from beyond add to the overall intrigue of the book. The pacing, tone, and writing style worked well for the story and I finished the book in a single sitting.
I found the main characters to be a bit lacking however. They were likeable, but didn't seem too smart or enterprising. For instance, the female lead Alma's character and contribution seemed pretty weak. Considering her ability (which was described more than once as being superior to most), I expected her to play a more active role in solving the murder or identifying the spy living under her roof. Her romantic interest, Bricken, was also portrayed as being dim and astonishingly lax about security.
This is my first book by the author and I was definitely not disappointed. Despite the few pain points (character development, less paranormal content), on the whole, this was an enjoyable read.
Although the book doesn't delve too much on disturbing details (the mood of the story is more cozy than thrilling), I'll list the following as content triggers: War, spying, bombing, loss, murder, shooting, grief
I thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
There's enough mystery to capture your interest (murder, spy, spiritualism), ghosts, spies, old-world charm, and a touch of romance. The author has thoroughly researched the historical elements and I found myself transported to the coastal Cornwall town of Falmouth in the early 1900s. Besides the old-world charm of the setting, supernatural elements such as seances and messages from beyond add to the overall intrigue of the book. The pacing, tone, and writing style worked well for the story and I finished the book in a single sitting.
I found the main characters to be a bit lacking however. They were likeable, but didn't seem too smart or enterprising. For instance, the female lead Alma's character and contribution seemed pretty weak. Considering her ability (which was described more than once as being superior to most), I expected her to play a more active role in solving the murder or identifying the spy living under her roof. Her romantic interest, Bricken, was also portrayed as being dim and astonishingly lax about security.
This is my first book by the author and I was definitely not disappointed. Despite the few pain points (character development, less paranormal content), on the whole, this was an enjoyable read.
Although the book doesn't delve too much on disturbing details (the mood of the story is more cozy than thrilling), I'll list the following as content triggers: War, spying, bombing, loss, murder, shooting, grief
I thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2025
⭐️: 3.25
🌶️: 0.25
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, the author F.H. Performs and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book.
I have to agree with what a lot of other reviewers have said that the title is pretty misleading in comparison to the actual story. Historical fiction isn’t really my thing especially when it centers around war. I thought this would be much more about ghosts and the paranormal but that felt like a third or fourth level sub plot.
The POVs in the book were overall really difficult to follow. It kept jumping from one character’s internal thoughts to another with very little (if any) warning. So it got confusing to figure out what was going on and who knew what/when.
Some of the twists in the book were well done and while you do find out how the “bad guy” is at like 40%, the story kept my attention still after that for the most part.
I do have a few qualms though. There were some rapey vibes coming off one of the characters and the non-con was glossed over which bothered me. Admitting you can hypnotize people and then basically can “pick and choose” who you take to bed because of it felt like an icky plot point that wasn’t necessary. And made me want to DNF right there.
Alma (the FMC) was kind of an idiot. Which made me sad because she could have been so much more in this story. But she felt more like a passive player rather than the one who was making things happen. I understand how women were viewed at this point in history but she had received quite the windfall and had a lot more freedom to do as she wished than others of her gender. But this was wasted by the author and instead we’re left with an overly trusting dingbat of a character that I wasn’t rooting for in the least bit.
If you’re interested in WWI stories that take place in England with a dash of supernatural and a half spun romance kernel, this book is for you.
🌶️: 0.25
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, the author F.H. Performs and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book.
I have to agree with what a lot of other reviewers have said that the title is pretty misleading in comparison to the actual story. Historical fiction isn’t really my thing especially when it centers around war. I thought this would be much more about ghosts and the paranormal but that felt like a third or fourth level sub plot.
The POVs in the book were overall really difficult to follow. It kept jumping from one character’s internal thoughts to another with very little (if any) warning. So it got confusing to figure out what was going on and who knew what/when.
Some of the twists in the book were well done and while you do find out how the “bad guy” is at like 40%, the story kept my attention still after that for the most part.
I do have a few qualms though. There were some rapey vibes coming off one of the characters and the non-con was glossed over which bothered me. Admitting you can hypnotize people and then basically can “pick and choose” who you take to bed because of it felt like an icky plot point that wasn’t necessary. And made me want to DNF right there.
Alma (the FMC) was kind of an idiot. Which made me sad because she could have been so much more in this story. But she felt more like a passive player rather than the one who was making things happen. I understand how women were viewed at this point in history but she had received quite the windfall and had a lot more freedom to do as she wished than others of her gender. But this was wasted by the author and instead we’re left with an overly trusting dingbat of a character that I wasn’t rooting for in the least bit.
If you’re interested in WWI stories that take place in England with a dash of supernatural and a half spun romance kernel, this book is for you.
September 8, 2025
Le titre du livre peut prêter à confusion. Je m'attendais vraiment à plonger dans une ambiance un peu effrayante et automnale. Ici, nous sommes plus sur une histoire qui mêle spiritualisme et espionnage.
Hormis ce quiproquo, j'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire qui se déroule pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Direction les Cornouailles et, plus particulièrement, le Timperley Spiritualist Hotel à Falmouth. C'est un hôtel un peu particulier puisqu'il propose à ses clients de communiquer avec les morts. Mais la mort suspecte d'une des femmes de chambres vient perturber le quotidien tranquille de cette ville côtière. Plus l'enquête avance et plus l'hypothèse d'un espion allemand se dessine.
Un des points négatifs est que l'on apprend assez tôt l'identité de l'espion allemand puisqu'il y a des scènes sous son point de vue. J'aurais aimé un peu plus de mystère sur ce point là. Il y a tout de même du suspens quant à l'opération de sabotage prévu par les Allemands.
J'ai bien aimé le fait d'avoir les points de vue des deux côtés: Allemands et Britanniques. C'était intéressant de voir comment l'histoire se développait et d'avoir les tenants et aboutissants de chacun.
Côté personnages, j'ai beaucoup aimé Alma qui vient d'hériter de l'hôtel et qui apprend à le gérer. Elle se retrouve au milieu d'un triangle amoureux, entre George Weaver et Alan Bricken. J'ai parfois trouvé que l'histoire pouvait traîner en longueur de ce côté-là.
C'était un très bon roman policier historique même si j'aurais aimé plus de scène avec des fantômes, etc.
Il me semble que ce livre est le tout premier du série mettant en scène Alma Temperley. J'ai hâte de découvrir la suite.
Hormis ce quiproquo, j'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire qui se déroule pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Direction les Cornouailles et, plus particulièrement, le Timperley Spiritualist Hotel à Falmouth. C'est un hôtel un peu particulier puisqu'il propose à ses clients de communiquer avec les morts. Mais la mort suspecte d'une des femmes de chambres vient perturber le quotidien tranquille de cette ville côtière. Plus l'enquête avance et plus l'hypothèse d'un espion allemand se dessine.
Un des points négatifs est que l'on apprend assez tôt l'identité de l'espion allemand puisqu'il y a des scènes sous son point de vue. J'aurais aimé un peu plus de mystère sur ce point là. Il y a tout de même du suspens quant à l'opération de sabotage prévu par les Allemands.
J'ai bien aimé le fait d'avoir les points de vue des deux côtés: Allemands et Britanniques. C'était intéressant de voir comment l'histoire se développait et d'avoir les tenants et aboutissants de chacun.
Côté personnages, j'ai beaucoup aimé Alma qui vient d'hériter de l'hôtel et qui apprend à le gérer. Elle se retrouve au milieu d'un triangle amoureux, entre George Weaver et Alan Bricken. J'ai parfois trouvé que l'histoire pouvait traîner en longueur de ce côté-là.
C'était un très bon roman policier historique même si j'aurais aimé plus de scène avec des fantômes, etc.
Il me semble que ce livre est le tout premier du série mettant en scène Alma Temperley. J'ai hâte de découvrir la suite.
August 27, 2025
This was an enjoyable historical espionage thriller with an interesting main character and a great setting. The title though is a bit misleading. The story takes place in a hotel run by mediums that specialises in spiritual trips. So there is an element of ghosts in this story but it was nowhere near as prevalent as I would have expected from the book title. Go into this book expecting a good historical mystery with spirits rather than a ghost story. I did like the unusual hotel as a business and a setting for this story and it was a useful vehicle for explaining the relationship between the three business owners. The main character inherits the hotel from her aunt who has a suspicious fall from the roof of the building. She knew nothing about her aunt previously and becomes immersed in the business with her aunts two associates, both acting mediums. She herself has a talent for this, which she has avoided using since she was at school.
The core focus of this story is the hunt for a German spy who is passing on strategic information and putting the port town the story takes place in at risk. The main character starts picking up on odd details which she passes on to her lawyer and friend who helps investigate further. This is central to the story as it takes place during the war. I thought the historical details of this story were explained very well.
Overall a good historical mystery, but I would have liked the ghostly parts of the story to have been explored in more depth. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
The core focus of this story is the hunt for a German spy who is passing on strategic information and putting the port town the story takes place in at risk. The main character starts picking up on odd details which she passes on to her lawyer and friend who helps investigate further. This is central to the story as it takes place during the war. I thought the historical details of this story were explained very well.
Overall a good historical mystery, but I would have liked the ghostly parts of the story to have been explored in more depth. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
October 7, 2025
4 stars
England, 1914 - Alma has just inherited a rather unusual property from her late aunt - The Timperley Hotel. It's a destination where the draw is one thing: Spiritualism and the chance for grieving aristocrats to reconnect with lost loved ones, for a price of course. For Alma, whose lineage has always included the gift of mediumship, it seems like a perfect opportunity. But the chaos and destruction of WWI is finding its way to England's shores, and it turns out a German spy is hiding in their midst. Can Alma handle the responsibilities of running such a unique hotel, while trying to ferret out a spy who's resorted to murder to keep their identity secret?
I found the historical details in this quite compelling and the plot was so interesting to follow - a murder mystery set against the backdrop of WWI espionage all taking place in a hotel where paranormal is the actual normal? Yes, please. The characters were so thoughtful, and I would honestly love to read another book with Alma as the stalwart protagonist. I really hope there are more books planned for the Timperley Hotel!
Thanks to NetGalley, author F.H. Petford, and Hodder & Stoughton publishing for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.
England, 1914 - Alma has just inherited a rather unusual property from her late aunt - The Timperley Hotel. It's a destination where the draw is one thing: Spiritualism and the chance for grieving aristocrats to reconnect with lost loved ones, for a price of course. For Alma, whose lineage has always included the gift of mediumship, it seems like a perfect opportunity. But the chaos and destruction of WWI is finding its way to England's shores, and it turns out a German spy is hiding in their midst. Can Alma handle the responsibilities of running such a unique hotel, while trying to ferret out a spy who's resorted to murder to keep their identity secret?
I found the historical details in this quite compelling and the plot was so interesting to follow - a murder mystery set against the backdrop of WWI espionage all taking place in a hotel where paranormal is the actual normal? Yes, please. The characters were so thoughtful, and I would honestly love to read another book with Alma as the stalwart protagonist. I really hope there are more books planned for the Timperley Hotel!
Thanks to NetGalley, author F.H. Petford, and Hodder & Stoughton publishing for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.
August 7, 2025
"A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder: A brand-new utterly gripping and paranormal cozy crime murder mystery" by F. H. Petford advertises itself as a cozy mystery and something ghost hunter like. However, I would say that this doesn't really fit into cozy mystery territory and there was lots of mention of spiritualism in World War I England/Germany. However, I would classify this more as a historical fiction book.
There's really no mystery to solve on the reader's part. We know pretty quickly who the German spy and culprit is since we get a narrative from their perspective where they identify themselves. Also, the majority of the story is from one of the mens' perspective and not the supposed main character, Alma. If it had been her investigating rather than the police, then it at least would have been a bit truer to cozy mystery. However, again, no mystery to actually solve.
With all that being said. If you're interested in historical fiction stories set during World War II with a touch on the Spiritualist side, then you'll probably enjoy this book. It has lots of action, a touch of romance and some interesting information from that era.
There's really no mystery to solve on the reader's part. We know pretty quickly who the German spy and culprit is since we get a narrative from their perspective where they identify themselves. Also, the majority of the story is from one of the mens' perspective and not the supposed main character, Alma. If it had been her investigating rather than the police, then it at least would have been a bit truer to cozy mystery. However, again, no mystery to actually solve.
With all that being said. If you're interested in historical fiction stories set during World War II with a touch on the Spiritualist side, then you'll probably enjoy this book. It has lots of action, a touch of romance and some interesting information from that era.
October 29, 2025
It's the end of 1914 and Alma Timperley has just found out that she had an aunt that she didn't know about, but also that her aunt has died and left her a hotel in her will. The Timperley Spiritualist Hotel is in Cornwall, and caters to a very specific clientele - those who wish to communicate with the dead. And as the first Christmas of the war approaches, there are more people than ever looking for comfort in hearing from their recently departed loved ones. As if that wasn't enough, soon after Alma's arrival at the hotel, one of the maids is found dead and there are suggestions that there is a German spy in town. And then there is the fact that Alma can talk to the dead, just like her aunt could.
The spiritualist craze that happened during and after the Great War pops up in a few books - notably (in my reading life anyway) in Dorothy L Sayers' Strong Poison, where Miss Climpson uses her experience of fraudulent mediums to help Peter Wimsey - but in this case, the mediums (or some of them at least) really can talk to the other side. And in terms of the mystery that needs solving, as a newcomer Alma is able to ask plenty of questions about the hotel and it's inhabitants without arousing too much suspicion. I have a somewhat mixed relationship with books with supernatural elements as you all probably know by now, but I really, really enjoyed this - it's a great idea and an interesting twist on a wartime spy mystery and not too heavy on the actual ghosts - I wouldn't even really say it was haunted. This is F H Petford's first novel (at least as far as I can find) and the end of the book suggests that there is the possibility of a sequel - which I would read with great pleasure.
*****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****
The spiritualist craze that happened during and after the Great War pops up in a few books - notably (in my reading life anyway) in Dorothy L Sayers' Strong Poison, where Miss Climpson uses her experience of fraudulent mediums to help Peter Wimsey - but in this case, the mediums (or some of them at least) really can talk to the other side. And in terms of the mystery that needs solving, as a newcomer Alma is able to ask plenty of questions about the hotel and it's inhabitants without arousing too much suspicion. I have a somewhat mixed relationship with books with supernatural elements as you all probably know by now, but I really, really enjoyed this - it's a great idea and an interesting twist on a wartime spy mystery and not too heavy on the actual ghosts - I wouldn't even really say it was haunted. This is F H Petford's first novel (at least as far as I can find) and the end of the book suggests that there is the possibility of a sequel - which I would read with great pleasure.
*****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****
November 11, 2025
December 1914 Britain was on edge. They had the Great War to contend with. The young men recruited were dropping off like flies, the rumors of German spies was rampant but bombardment of Falmouth where the story was set had not begun.
Anna Timperley, having a mundane job inherits a hotel from an Aunt she was not aware of and an entire new chapter in her life opens. Her aunt ran a spiritual retreat for people who had lost loved ones, with two people who ran seances and who reached and contacted the dead. Anna’s aunt herself was a spiritualist and Anna has inherited the gift, though she has not actually used it for years.
Drawn into both running the hotel, and against her inclination drawn into the spiritualist side as well, Anna stumbles into a plot to destabilize Falmouth, when she realizes her hotel is being used by someone who is a spy.
The combination of the spiritualist aspect of the members in the hotel and the espionage that was taking place alongside the murder of two young women in this quiet town was an interesting mix of genres. Reminiscent of the times, it was also descriptive of the lifestyle and attitudes of people.
Anna Timperley, having a mundane job inherits a hotel from an Aunt she was not aware of and an entire new chapter in her life opens. Her aunt ran a spiritual retreat for people who had lost loved ones, with two people who ran seances and who reached and contacted the dead. Anna’s aunt herself was a spiritualist and Anna has inherited the gift, though she has not actually used it for years.
Drawn into both running the hotel, and against her inclination drawn into the spiritualist side as well, Anna stumbles into a plot to destabilize Falmouth, when she realizes her hotel is being used by someone who is a spy.
The combination of the spiritualist aspect of the members in the hotel and the espionage that was taking place alongside the murder of two young women in this quiet town was an interesting mix of genres. Reminiscent of the times, it was also descriptive of the lifestyle and attitudes of people.
July 23, 2025
A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder is by FH Petford. Mr. Petford is a new author for me and I really enjoyed this book that appears to be the beginning of a historical mystery series. It is set during WWI in England and involves the military, supernatural elements and spies. It was a really interesting book and I enjoyed the way it was written. It doesn’t take long for the author to reveal who the murderer is, but then we get to read and enjoy watching the characters in the book figure out who did it. It was enjoyable to sit back and read their reasoning when we already had a lot more knowledge than they did. The use of the supernatural in the book was also quite surprising and original and really added to the plot. I hope Alma will have more mysteries to solve, especially those that involve supernatural elements. I would love to read more about her and all the characters at her hotel and in Falmouth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
July 25, 2025
This book was so much better than the title suggested. Set at the start of the First World War at the Timperley Spiritualist Hotel in Falmouth caters for the rich and grieving from well to do society who wish to contact their lost loves from beyond the grave.
One of the key aspects of the book concerns the popular belief in Spiritualism which had a resurgence in popularity with the outbreak of war as grieving loved ones sought out any way they could find or reconnect with their lost relatives. I'm always concerned about this because of how much exploitation took place as a result, but the book deals with this in a sensitive way, leaving things open to interpretation for those who believe and those who don't and without judgement on those who gained comfort.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the daring war time narrative of spies and espionage. It was unexpected and really pacy.
This is clearly the set up of first in a series of books and I'd be happy to see what happens next for Alma and her hotel.
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read in exchange for an honest review.
One of the key aspects of the book concerns the popular belief in Spiritualism which had a resurgence in popularity with the outbreak of war as grieving loved ones sought out any way they could find or reconnect with their lost relatives. I'm always concerned about this because of how much exploitation took place as a result, but the book deals with this in a sensitive way, leaving things open to interpretation for those who believe and those who don't and without judgement on those who gained comfort.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the daring war time narrative of spies and espionage. It was unexpected and really pacy.
This is clearly the set up of first in a series of books and I'd be happy to see what happens next for Alma and her hotel.
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2025
A GHOST HUNTER’S GUIDE TO SOLVING A MURDER is set in 1915 England during WWI. A mix between a cozy paranormal mystery and historical fiction, the story follows Alma Timperley, who discovers she not only had an aunt, but is now the owner of the aunt’s spiritualist hotel in Falmouth upon her death. A clairvoyant herself, Alma is ready to continue her aunt’s legacy.
There are two main plots in the story — the unexpected death of a maid in the hotel, and the infiltration of Falmouth by a Nazi spy. I’m not typically a fan of historical fiction, and the wartime plot was a bit more than I would have preferred. The paranormal element took a bit of a backseat, sadly, as the story continued.
There were a few twists, but Alma’s slowness at picking up on clues was frustrating to me. At least it ended well.
If you like your cozies mixed with historical fiction, this might be a good choice for you.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
There are two main plots in the story — the unexpected death of a maid in the hotel, and the infiltration of Falmouth by a Nazi spy. I’m not typically a fan of historical fiction, and the wartime plot was a bit more than I would have preferred. The paranormal element took a bit of a backseat, sadly, as the story continued.
There were a few twists, but Alma’s slowness at picking up on clues was frustrating to me. At least it ended well.
If you like your cozies mixed with historical fiction, this might be a good choice for you.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
September 6, 2025
A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder - F. H Petford due for publication 2 October 2025
Alma Timperley inherits her Aunt’s spiritualist hotel in Cornwall at the beginning of WW1. Whilst she is getting to know the running of the hotel she feels the return of her clairvoyant powers allowing her to commune with the dead. However this is not the main plot of the story and we see early on there is a Nazi spy at the hotel passing vital information back to Germany. We get to see the mystery around Alma’s inheritance and parentage, the reawakening of her powers, her Aunt’s death and several murders. Although you know who the traitor / murderer is early on this was an enjoyable easy read with interesting characters.
I would have liked to see more of the spiritualist story but as it is the beginning of a series perhaps further tales will explore this and add greater depth to the main characters later.
Overall an easy enjoyable uncomplicated read and I would read more of this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.
Alma Timperley inherits her Aunt’s spiritualist hotel in Cornwall at the beginning of WW1. Whilst she is getting to know the running of the hotel she feels the return of her clairvoyant powers allowing her to commune with the dead. However this is not the main plot of the story and we see early on there is a Nazi spy at the hotel passing vital information back to Germany. We get to see the mystery around Alma’s inheritance and parentage, the reawakening of her powers, her Aunt’s death and several murders. Although you know who the traitor / murderer is early on this was an enjoyable easy read with interesting characters.
I would have liked to see more of the spiritualist story but as it is the beginning of a series perhaps further tales will explore this and add greater depth to the main characters later.
Overall an easy enjoyable uncomplicated read and I would read more of this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.
October 4, 2025
World War II is in full force when Alma Timperly is informed that her aunt has died and left her a hotel in Cornwall. Alma is initially confused because she had no idea that she even had an aunt. But the lawyer seems nice and Alma's intuition is telling her that he is trustworthy. So she is off to take over the Timperly Spiritualist Hotel.
There, Alma is surprised to learn that her aunt actually had the gift of talking to the dead. Even more surprisingly, Alma seems to have the gift as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if either of the two other spiritualists actually have the gift. That doesn't dissuade people from coming to see them at the hotel.
The hotel is fairly well run and Alma is pretty much able to step in. She also has a couple of suitors and seems to move quickly. However, they are in a war and life just moves quickly then. She'll also have to move fast to uncover the German spy that is operating out of her place.
There was a little much going on in this story but I enjoyed it overall.
There, Alma is surprised to learn that her aunt actually had the gift of talking to the dead. Even more surprisingly, Alma seems to have the gift as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if either of the two other spiritualists actually have the gift. That doesn't dissuade people from coming to see them at the hotel.
The hotel is fairly well run and Alma is pretty much able to step in. She also has a couple of suitors and seems to move quickly. However, they are in a war and life just moves quickly then. She'll also have to move fast to uncover the German spy that is operating out of her place.
There was a little much going on in this story but I enjoyed it overall.
September 11, 2025
I really liked this book; the premise, plot, and characters were intriguing. I enjoyed seeing how the mystery unfolded, and the historical and geographical setting was great. You could envision the places so clearly and the relationships between the characters unfolded in a slow and interesting manner. I thought the book went down smoothly and made me interested in what else the author might write or how else the FMC might help in the solving of local mysteries throughout the war with her particular gifts.
However, I don't feel like the title really matches the book at all. The FMC is not a ghost hunter, per se - she sees and talks to them. She runs a hotel with a supernatural secondary function - which is great and does add to the ambience of the book but she's not out there hunting for ghosts so it feels like a misdirect before you even pick up the book.
Even still, a good read and would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
However, I don't feel like the title really matches the book at all. The FMC is not a ghost hunter, per se - she sees and talks to them. She runs a hotel with a supernatural secondary function - which is great and does add to the ambience of the book but she's not out there hunting for ghosts so it feels like a misdirect before you even pick up the book.
Even still, a good read and would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
October 13, 2025
This one was a surprise delight! It was completely unexpected - less cosy supernatural mystery, more historical spy novel. Once I figured that out, and adjusted to the changed trajectory of the storyline, i was totally bought in.
I enjoyed the way the author wove historical facts about Falmouth, the war, and the resurgence of spiritualism following the great losses during the period. It made for an intriguing setup, and felt more nuanced than a typical supernatural murder mystery.
Alma was an endearing character, and I liked following her pragmatic narration as she pondered relationships, murder and her identity as a medium. The actual solving of the murder was a secondary focus, with the story following the presence of a spy at the hotel, compounding in an action packed ending.
I’d recommend for anyone looking for a rousing historical spy story with a fun twist.
Thank you to the publisher for a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed the way the author wove historical facts about Falmouth, the war, and the resurgence of spiritualism following the great losses during the period. It made for an intriguing setup, and felt more nuanced than a typical supernatural murder mystery.
Alma was an endearing character, and I liked following her pragmatic narration as she pondered relationships, murder and her identity as a medium. The actual solving of the murder was a secondary focus, with the story following the presence of a spy at the hotel, compounding in an action packed ending.
I’d recommend for anyone looking for a rousing historical spy story with a fun twist.
Thank you to the publisher for a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
October 16, 2025
2 1/2 stars. After the death of her aunt, Alma Timperley is surprised to find out she has inherited a hotel that specializes in connecting the dead with the living which is particularly relevant at this time, during the beginning of WWI. But when a maid from the hotel is found murdered during a bombing Alma and other begin to suspect a spy for the Germans maybe in town. But why kill a maid from her hotel? Alma will need to use all talents, those she admits to and doesn't, and perhaps a little help from the local police force to expose a murder and stop a deadly plot.
This reminded me of Christie's N or M but with a supernatural twist and set during WWI. There isn't as much of a mystery here for the reader to solve because the murderer tells some chapters from their pov and it eventually is revealed who it is before the characters figure it out. But there is still plenty of action.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This reminded me of Christie's N or M but with a supernatural twist and set during WWI. There isn't as much of a mystery here for the reader to solve because the murderer tells some chapters from their pov and it eventually is revealed who it is before the characters figure it out. But there is still plenty of action.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
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