A ghostly romance, a cozy mystery, and enough holiday charm to make even Scrooge smile—if Anna can survive until Christmas morning.
Christmas in Lockwood Cove should be twinkling lights, fake snow in the streets, and Anna McGuffin finally settling into life at the charming (and genuinely haunted) Lockwood Manor. She's even developing feelings for Richard, the impossibly handsome Victorian ghost who comes with the property—though explaining that relationship status to her visiting college-age son might require spiking the eggnog.
But someone wants Anna gone, and they're willing to manipulate Richard's own descendant to make it happen. Worse, Richard is fading fast, losing his memories and his very existence to a Christmas curse seventy years in the making.
With carolers singing, cookies baking, and a vengeful spirit escalating attacks, Anna must unravel a decades-old embezzlement case before the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve. Between holiday parties, her terrible lying skills, one very determined ghost dachshund who thinks she's a Rottweiler, and the challenge of keeping supernatural drama hidden from her son, Anna will discover that clearing an innocent man's name might be the only way to save the infuriating ghost she's falling for.
Looking for your next addictive cozy mystery series? Maggie March delivers heartwarming whodunits that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Her stories blend clever mysteries with humor and just enough romance to make your heart flutter.
She brings the same warmth and humor from her close-knit family life – complete with a very patient husband, three grown children, two granddaughters, and one grumpy old pup – into her engaging mysteries that readers describe as "impossible to put down."
When she's not plotting her next murder mystery, you'll find Maggie at her favorite beachside café in Central Florida, testing yet another key lime pie in her quest for the perfect recipe.
Maggie loves hearing from her readers. You can write to her at maggie@maggiemarch.com
Maggie also writes heart-warming small-town contemporary romance as her alter ego Maria Geraci.
My general opinion on this series so far (before going into this one speficically): This is so far the best one of the ghost-Centered cozy mysteries I tried (even surpassing the haunted Bockshop) which is Saying something because I am really picky about these and kind of obsessing over this sub-subgenere3 (I blame „Ghost“ and „the Ghost and Mrs Muir“ as well as a Natural Inclination towards spooky things for it). +: Great banter and romantic tension, likable characters (even though richard somewhat gives me whiplash between being somewhat egotistic/impressed with himself in regards to his work and the effect he still has on the woman of the RLF (or the wine Night Committee) while at the same time feeling guilty/inadequate concerning the relationship with his wife; that someone does not quite gel, but maybe that´s just me) +: ongoing threads/Story Arcs introduced (the HB is good, too, but there is no Sense of a worldbuilding like there is here) -: the whole Thing with Richard stubbornly negating or outright lying to Anna when he wants to protect her (I Hope this is Part of his Development and not an ongoing Theme in the Future
My gripes with this one: Character assassination of RL (seriously, he is mischievous and somewhat Full of himself but ultimately decent/honorable and she has him possess his perfectly innocent and nice relative Damien to Kiss Anna (disclaimer: yes, I know she set up the role that possession „works best“ with relatives and it was „just“ a kiss, but really…that gave me WW1985-vibes). I know there is a Similar situation in the GaMM-Sitcom in the 60s but I was Fine with that because he was a spineless greedy asshole and I did not care about him. And Anna actually going for this and even implying she might be up for another go at this…just no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Well, Anna & Richard are at it again in this fun, exciting, paranormal cozy featuring Lockwood Cove, FL. Richard isn't himself, his voice sounds hollow & his image flickers like a bad light bulb & Anna is worried. Her boss is experiencing frightening paranormal activity & needs Anna's help to rid the store of this entity. He has every talisman from every religion known to man & is bound & determined to get rid of it for good. Tommy Crane worked for William Lockwood, Richard grandson. When he is accused of embezzling money from clients & loses his job, all he wants is to talk with William to clear his name, but his boss won't take a meeting. On Christmas Eve he goes to the offices to try & clear his name, but slips & breaks his neck, dying cold & alone on the street. Now he is seeking revenge on the Lockwood family who didn't give him the chance to clear his name before he died, destroying his family name & devastating his sister. Possessing Damian Lockwood is easy, getting what he wants has taken him 70 yrs! Just what does he have to do with Richard & his predicament? Can Anna, Richard & her boss Martin figure out how to stop Tommy before he destroys Richard, who is growing weaker by the day? Can Anna continue to keep the secret that she can see dead people, especially while her son Theo is in town visiting? As with the other Anna McGuffin stories, this one was filled with great supporting characters, a fun, cozy paranormal vibe & let me tell you....The end just may blow your mind! Enjoy!
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS SNARK is the fourth book in The Grumpy Ghost series by Maggie March and I’m already looking forward to reading more books in this series. There are multiple ghosts, some whom amateur sleuth Anna already has a relationship with, but there’s a newly introduced one who is creating havoc and evil all around them.
Anna, along with her ghostly sidekicks, run into trouble when she’s asked for help by her part time employer to right a wrong for a long deceased relative who is unsettled in the afterlife trying to clear his name. Her employer Martin also sees ghosts and feels their presence. She continues to be caught talking to thin air since most around her, including her son attending Duke, don’t know about her abilities.
There are multiple stories being told and they add depth to the story. There’s a good flow to the story with so many unexpected twists and turns along with a few laugh out loud moments. There’s also some romance and lots of holiday happenings. The continuity of the story from one book to the next is nicely written. There is closure with the reveal of whodunnit as Anna calms the snarky ghost and things get back to normal or as normal as they can with so many paranormal events.
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS SNARK is a paranormal mystery that wasn’t always cozy. It has so much otherworldliness, some filled with anger, and clues to figure out not only whodunnit but also what was happening to Richard, the ghost she lives with and is overly fond and protective of.
Loved this book like I love this series. Anna is decorating the Lockwood Manor for the arrival of her son. She doesn’t know why Richard is giving her such a hard time about the decorating, but he does. Well she continues to decorate. At least Daisy is happy, and dancing around. Damien Lockwood arrives, and offers her money to move out of the manor. He tells her a Lockwood should be staying there. She’s not a Lockwood, and why would she want to stay there. He thought she didn’t want to be there? Well in her mind she didn’t until the ghost of Richard Lockwood appears to her, and little Daisy. She doesn’t know what to do. She gets a job at Holly Jolly & Company for a Christmas. A weird thing happens there, and her boss lets her go. It’s a misunderstanding. Her boss soon is asking her for help, and takes her back. It gets even more interesting. She has another problem once she helps her boss with his issues at work. But she agrees. She also tells Richard about this since something happened right outside of the store she works at. It was a long time ago.
Highly recommend this book. So much more to come. An amazing and shocking ending. It blew my mind. Well done Ms. March. I can’t wait for more.
Christmas with Anna and Richard is a fun adventure!
Anna is getting her rental home at Lockwood Manor ready for Christmas and for the arrival of her son Theo coming home for the Holidays. A special ability that Anna has and keeps hidden is that she can see and talk to ghosts.
Richard Lockwood the resident ghost, one of the founding members of Lockwood Cove and the original owner of Lockwood Manor is being his grumpy snarky self and complaining about Christmas. Daisy the ghost dachshund is being her happy adorable self.
Anna trying to earn extra Christmas money is working part time at a temporary Christmas shop. Unfortunately she has to dress as an elf, put up with a boss that is acting strange and can feel a dark ghostly presence at the store.
Damien Lockwood arrives and is doing what he can to get Anna to move out so he can move into the Manor.
There are a lot of things happening in Lockwood Cove that need investigating and Anna and Richard are just the team for the job.
There are many twists and turns in the story to keep you turning pages keep you wondering what is going on. Read along and join the adventures with Anna and Richard in trying to figure it out.
I think you will really enjoy this story, I know I did.
After reading all of the Lucy McGuffin books, I knew I enjoyed Maggie March’s cozy mysteries, but had not yet started any of the Grumpy Ghost books. Now that I’ve read this one, I know I have to go back and start the series from the beginning. The story is well written, with banter that feels natural and realistic. I found myself visualizing what Lockwood Manor and downtown Lockwood Cove looked like, in my mind at least, and that is a sign of a good author (and perhaps also my overactive imagination). While the setting is Lockwood Cove at Christmastime, the story is a classic story of injustice and revenge that kept me reading late into the night to see what happened. The supernatural battle that takes place had my own hackles raised, much like little Daisy’s, as the tension felt real. And the surprise at the very end made me very happy, although I do feel a little sorry for Damien as he the poor guy was being used like a rented Halloween costume. I definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Anna is renting at the old, distinguished, and haunted mansion, Lockwood Manor. She has a special gift - that is, she sees and can converse with ghosts. Richard Lockwood, long dead, inhabits the mansion, as does a sweet dog ghost. Anna is all excited about decorating for Christmas and Richard is grumpy. He doesn't like Christmas. Still, Anna harbors deep feelings for him.
Anna receives a visit from a modern day Lockwood and he wants her to move out. So much that he offers her a great financial deal to exit quickly. Things are tight while she waits to see if her first book is accepted for publishing, so she is considering the deal for moving out. She's also accepted a seasonal job that comes with a quirky boss.
Then she notices a dark shadow and it turns out to be the ghost of a man who died while under suspicion in the 1950's. He is not a friendly ghost, so the story takes a decided turn.
I love the hint of romance between Anna and Richard. I have a fondness for stories like this. And the twist of the malevolent ghost adds additional interest to this book.
The Ghost of Christmas Snark (The Grumpy Ghost Book 4) is one wild ride as Anna McGuffin finds she is falling for a ghost who has a Christmas curse destroying his presence at the mansion. By Maggie March, it is easy to see why the handsome ghost is beginning to win Anna’s heart, while still a bit grumpy he is mellowing some too. Though he needs to adjust his opinion on Christmas at the beginning of this book. Added to the needed to break the curse, Anna must navigate college-age son visiting and a descendent of Richard’s too. Like I said it is one crazy time for Anna who just wanted to enjoy the holidays in Lockwood Manor. Don’t forget that there is a ghost dachshund who is trying to help too. What a awesome story which will have you pulling for Anna, Richard, and Daisy to find the Christmas magic that is needed.
Richard and Anna are at it again, with a twist on who the dead person was. Ms. March has an inventive way of developing story lines and this book is no exception. I enjoyed learning more about Richard's past and seeing how he was developing as a character in the present. The secondary characters were also more involved, which added to the story but I was especially glad to see more of the romantic aspect. Since this is all a study in "what if ghosts are real and can interact with us", I am cheering for there to be a way to make this a "reality". I am looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended.
The Ghost of Christmas Snark written by Maggie March. Wow what cool book. There’s ghosts mysterious, murder and hauntings going on and haunted house where the 2 ghost & Anna that lives in Lockwood Manor. Anna is trying to put up Christmas lights & decorations but Richard is frustrating Anna. Then Damien pounded on Anna’s door she opens it & he tells her to get out of the house so he can move in because he’s a Lockwood & it’s suppose to keep it in the family. Now you will have to find out whether she is going to stay or move out. This is an awesome book & you will not be disappointed. I do have this book & I recommend it. It exciting with all the going ons.
Anna is still living in the Lockwood Manor with her own private ghost Richard Lockwood. She still has feelings for him, even knowing nothing will come of falling for a ghost. Strange things are starting to happen in town and Anna knows they have to do with a young man wrongly accused decades ago, and dying before he could prove his innocence. This story had me so enthralled that I kept thinking someone was not going to live thru it! Then I'd remember it was a story, not fact! Whew! Loved it from start to finish!!
Having read all of the Grumpy Ghost stories, I believe this is my favorite! I now know many of the characters, although if this is your first Lockwood Manor story, you will not miss any backstory. This book can stand on its own. Such a fun book but one you have to suspend belief, which actually Maggie March writes very well. Anna lives in a old, lovely mansion where Richard Lockwood lived many years ago, and his ghost still lives in the house. Anna and Richard have such an interesting relationship with chemistry that is off the pages, and the dialogue works well, snark and all. Totally recommend this book.
I love, love, LOVED this book! As always, the story/mystery is really well done AND it's really interesting. The characters are fabulous, as always. I enjoyed getting to meet Anna's son, as well as Richard's descendant, Damien. I read this book in one sitting... and stayed up late to do so because I just couldn't fathom putting it down without knowing the ending. All I can say is that I'm so glad I stayed up because the ending was worth it.
I recommend this book, and this series... so much fun to read. I'm looking forward to book five's release!
Thoroughly enjoyed this new cozy mystery. It is a great addition to The Grumpy Ghost series, but a great read if you just want to enjoy a "Christmasy" themed book. It's a mystery, with a little romance, humor, and Christmas rolled into one. Anna, Richard(the ghost) and Daisy are all characters I enjoy. Throw in the characters of Martin Sourberry & Kirby Edwards, and you have a fun read. You can't go wrong with this story.
What a fun book to read. With Christmas right around the corner, I want to go visit this town in real life (too bad it isn't real). This book was a little different than just finding a killer. I liked how this story went. We also meet some new people. It will be interesting to see how the author navigates the relationship that has been developing. I am leaving this review voluntarily after being sent a free book.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I love Richard. I love Anna. Heck might even love me some Theo! I would love to start this review off by saying 1. Martin is wacko with his trunk of goodies. 2. Tommy poor soul just wanted justice. && 3. Richard…Richard my friend ima need you to come back to life for my girl Anna. 😂 in all honestly this book was a fast absorbing read to start December. I’ll be reading more of this series. I’m hooked!
The Ghost of Christmas Snark was such a fun, cozy read. I loved how short it was—perfect for a quick day read. The story had just the right mix of mystery, holiday charm, and light romance without feeling heavy or rushed. The characters were charming, the humor was spot-on, and the ghostly elements kept it playful rather than scary. A delightful, feel-good book that’s perfect when you want something easy, cozy, and heartwarming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I got an ARC and I adored this book. It put a touch of holiday spirit in me. The characters are super charming and I can “hear” them in my head while I read. I’ve read several of March’s books, but not this series. Now I am definitely adding this one to my library!
I loved it just like the others and the surprise ending blew my mind! Can't wait to read the next one! I'm definitely hoping that our two star-crossed lovers will find a way to make their romance work.
A really good ghost mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The plot kept me interested in what might happen next. It's a nice change of pace from the other books I read. I enjoy this authors writing.
Always a fun read. I alternate between serious reads and fun reads. Maggie is one author that I’ll always look for a good, easy, fun read. I’m very excited to see what she has in store for Anna and Richard.
I love these book! Its such a refreshing read! MAC (main animal character) Daisy was brilliant 👏 👌. I felt connected to her as much as i was to Anna and Richard! Enjoyed this story so much.. right intime to get me in the Christmas Spirit! These books should be a Netflix series.
Maggie March has once again sucked me in with the misadventures of Anna & Richard. I loved their Christmas antics and meeting Theo and, of course, the latest ghostly problems brewing in Lockwood Cove!
The Ghost of Christmas Past, a Present...and a Future?
I have enjoyed Maggie's Grumpy Ghost Series from the beginning and continue to pre-order each book because I can't wait to see what Anna and Richard find themselves up against next!
I just love this series and these characters. Another fun mystery that I'm so glad they got resolved. The characters are wonderful and I'm always sad for a book to be over, but always glad to get the next one!
With two spirits doing battle, her son visiting, Anna is being run ragged, trying to save her home, her son, and her own favorite spirit. Oh, and did I say it was Christmas? Fun story, well written.
Best cozy series EVER!!! These keep getting better and better. I love all things Lockwood Cove, from the fabulous Anna McGuffin to her snarky companion, Richard, and Daisy the adorable (ghost) dog. The small town, the quirky characters, the Lockwood family history, and add in Christmas joy! And we finally meet Anna's son Theo! Goodness we have it all. Maggie March has a gift. This book will grab you on page 1 and keep you reading until the end you never saw coming. Wit and humor on every page with a warm and fuzzy companionship between Richard and Anna. Find a comfortable spot to open this book, you will want to read it all in one session. I may have to reread this whole series while I wait for another.
This was an excellent book. It will keep you entertained and you will have a hard time putting it down. You will have all the Christmas sightings and the added bonus of a ghostly disturbance.
Almost losing her home, she tries everything to save the man, er, the ghost, and also almost loses her son. Find out how she wins and gets a kiss from the ghost she loves.