The Devil Wore White

by Glenn J. Hill

The Devil Wore White
A Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery – Book Two

By Glenn J. Hill
A spring wedding in Ashland’s flower-filled Lithia Park should be a dream come true. But when the radiant bride plunges to her death from the 9th-story window of the historic and haunted Globe Springs Hotel, the celebration turns chillingly tragic.
Was it an accident, or something darker blooming beneath the surface?
Former antiquities inspector William Mills and his spirited partner Carol Lindsey, with the aid of Dante the ghost cat, are swept into a mystery that winds through heirloom secrets, suspicious relatives, and a controversial exhibit of ancient Egyptian and Biblical artifacts. One centerpiece—a gold and gemstone necklace said to carry a deadly curse—seems to be waking something long dormant within the hotel’s walls.
With the ghostly Blue Lady whispering warnings, and the hotel’s shadowed past refusing to stay buried, William and Carol must untangle a ritual half-forgotten and a legacy someone will kill to protect.
Secrets blossom, ghosts stir, and danger blooms in the quaint Shakespearean town of Ashland, Oregon.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2025

About the author

Glenn J. Hill is the author of the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery series, blending cozy whodunits with a touch of the supernatural and plenty of theatrical charm.

A lifelong lover of history, Shakespeare, small-town quirks, and stories where every shadow hides a secret. Glenn sets his mysteries in Ashland, Oregon—a place where drama thrives both on and off the stage.

With a love of cooking gluten-free Thai, Asian, Italian, and Middle Eastern dishes and a background in storytelling, musical instrument building, and visual design, Glenn brings a unique eye to his writing, crafting tales that are as atmospheric as they are suspenseful.

When he’s not unraveling fictional crimes or collaborating with ghostly cats, you can find him enjoying life outside of Ashland, Oregon, with his wife Laurie and their spirited dog Mitzi.

More about my Violin Maker Novel and me:

I started writing some years ago, when I was studying to become a certified Jewish Storyteller. At the time I began writing my own original stories to tell to live audiences, along with my own versions of traditional tales.

I had not known my Mother was Jewish when I was younger. I only found out in the last twenty years that she was from a hidden Jewish family who, at the pain of death, had to flee from persecution and the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal in the 1400`s,1500`s, and 1600`s.

Some of my ancestral Jewish family in Venice claimed to be descended from King David, though there is no sure proof of this. In the 1500s and later, they were court musicians and instrument makers at the Courts of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth, where the family continued to play for the Royal Court and the Globe Theater in London. Eventually, their descendants settled in the American colonies as early as 1609.

I draw upon this once-hidden ancestry and my experiences with stringed instrument building in my writing. I am a trained classical Italian violin builder and harp builder, designing, building, and carving custom one-of-a-kind harps for forty-eight years now.
My creative endeavors over the years include having danced ballet and modern dance with local dance companies, as well as acting, dancing, and singing in semi-professional musical and dramatic theater productions.

I live and write in Southwest Oregon, outside Ashland, with my beautiful wife, Laurie, and our sweet little mixed-breed girl dog, Mitzi.

In my Book Two, "The Violin Maker: In The Fires of Time", (to be released in the summer of 2027), of this series, "The Music of Time", the story in this novel will be continued back in time in the 1500`s and beyond.

This novel was partially inspired by past life recalls I have had, as well as a near-death experience I experienced on Yom Kippur in 1999, before I found out I was Jewish by birth.

Follow your Bliss and Live your Life in Joy.

Glenn J. Hill

Reviews

[Lise]

The occasion of Heather and Derek's marriage was marred when the bride fell to her death moments after saying her vows. Williams Mills, accompanied by Carol Lindsay, seeks to uncover the truth: Is the old hotel haunted, and did a ghost push Heather to her death?

I loved the concept for this story with the hotel as the star of the show. And the two detectives are wonderfully drawn, with William an innovative character, far from the regular cosy detective. However, the storytelling is abstract and (for me, at least) difficult to connect with. The ghosts aren't particularly helpful with their vague hints, which are as wispy as they are. The ghost cat, Dante, is a treat, though, and I like that he doesn't follow the traditional conventions of being a phantom.

The Devil Wore White is the second book in the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery Series.


Thank you to Glenn J. Hill and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this complimentary digital copy. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.

[Linley Adams]

Overall I enjoyed this book but I did find it a bit hard at beginning to get into, I’m not sure why though which isn’t helpful to the author. However I persisted and then thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. Really enjoyed ghost cat Dante I’m a cat aficionado. Interesting how the male is a real foodie and it’s a great addition having recipes at the back of book. Great bonus. book ends with an opening for another in the series so look forward to continuing William’s journey.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Estelle Bouldin]

What a ride! Glenn J. Hill takes us back to Ashland in this second installment of the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery series, and once again the town’s charm is paired with its shadows. From the very first pages, you’re dropped into a world where the Oregon Shakespeare Festival mingles with haunted hotels, ancient artifacts, and whispers from the past that refuse to stay buried.

The real strength of this book lies in its characters. William Mills isn’t your typical amateur sleuth—he’s haunted, both literally and emotionally, and watching him wrestle with his past while being pulled into new mysteries makes him feel real and grounded. Carol, with her mix of practicality and warmth, balances him out beautifully (and I loved their banter). Detective Argent is sharp and uncompromising, a perfect foil to William’s instincts, while side characters like Rosemary Bloomington and Aunt Bessie add rich flavor and unexpected humor.

Hill has a knack for weaving historical backstory, ghostly lore, and modern intrigue without it feeling forced. The hotel itself feels like a character—glamorous, sinister, and deeply haunted. And let’s not forget Dante, the mysterious ghost-cat who pops up just enough to keep things eerie and delightful.

This isn’t just a mystery; it’s a layered story about grief, secrets, and the ways the past insists on being seen. And the Shakespearean thread running through the whole thing ties it together with a sense of theatrical drama that fits Ashland perfectly.

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you like your mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, a cast of characters you can root for (or side-eye with suspicion), and plenty of atmosphere, The Devil Wore White delivers.

[Beverly]

William and Carol attend the Shakespeare festival and get the "real spirits" of the theme. Who murdered a bride on her wedding day?? I didn't see this one coming. It had detours and twists that were unforeseen in the line of lineage. What a pure shocker!!! I was happy for the little boy who finally got the justice he deserved for so long. I enjoyed watching these two sleuths along with ghost cat , Dante, at work.

Someone was too greedy and wanted to keep the treasure from the multitudes and have it for their eyes only. This greed is punished down the hereditary lines!! An intriguing read that kept me riveted from start to finish. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.

[JanÃÂ Klos]

I like ghost stories that are not terrifying and I like stories about Egypt so I really wanted to love this book. But I admit to being confused about some things that seemed inconsistent. This is book 2, and while you can read it first, as I did, I think it would really help if you read the first book because it would give you some context and background on the characters. There are many descriptions of what appears to be a delightful, small town with boutique shops and restaurants and that makes the book very warm and inviting. There are also many discussions about foods and at the end of the book there are recipes for these delightful sounding foods. But that’s not why I was reading. Somehow the book seemed jerky and it seemed to jump around a lot. I thought that Sergeant Argent did not want William to interfere in the investigation in one chapter and then later suddenly she seems to be working with William and to appreciate his help without any segue into that. Also, the blue lady that appears frequently must have been in the first book, but she just kind of keeps popping up in this one without explanation. It just seemed to me that the book jumped around a lot with different events.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lora]

The Devil Wore White is the second installment in Glenn J. Hill’s Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery series. A century after a young boy tragically falls to his death at the historic Globe Springs Hotel, a bride falls from the very same floor on her wedding day. Was it a tragic accident or murder? William and Carol, wedding guests and witnesses, begin investigating the bride’s death. But it quickly becomes clear that to understand what happened in the present, they must uncover the truth about the boy’s death in the past.

This series leans toward the darker end of the cozy mystery spectrum, with brutal deaths and an unsettling sense of conspiracy running through the narrative. In The Devil Wore White, we learn more about the mystery surrounding the Blue Lady, though that thread seems destined to unravel fully in the final book.

If you enjoy mysteries that blend historical hauntings with modern-day murders—and don’t mind a little more grit than the average cozy—this series is worth exploring.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea Stoeckel]

"Death rarely travels alone."

And in this case it brings along a gaggle of history. William and Carol attend a wedding at the Globe Springs Hotel that doesn't end as supposed. Between Egyptian artifacts and old clues it gets more and more murky. Will they ever figure it out?

With a book this connected to the history of Ashland it's hard not to post spoilers and it seems like they are scattered like bread crumbs along with the genealogical family ties you don't see until you begin to follow the trail.

Out of the three books this was the hardest to figure out. Every time I followed a clue I came to a wall. This can also be tagged with "triggers" around violence but it's part of the story. I read 84% of this in one sitting.

Glenn J Hill is an author to watch for. Highly Recommended 5/5

[ Disclaimer: I received this book from Book Sirens. However in no way did it affect my reading or review]

[Elizabeth]

Book #2 in the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mysteries series was as interesting as the first.

William and his feisty friend Carol are back along with Detective Argent, and the ghost of long dead Ophelia Beckworth aka The Blue Lady, plus Dante, the spectral feline that has attached himself to William.

This time, a newly wedded bride falls from her hotel room window and dies. There are whispers of an old curse linked to the hotel. Was it the curse? An accident? Or MURDER?
Follow William and Carol as they help the good detective investigate and solve the mystery, with help from Dante, the Blue Lady, and a couple other spirits roaming the halls of the Globe Springs Hotel.

I received an advance review copy for free; I am leaving this review voluntarily and the opinions are entirely my own..

[Geraldine Lopez]

This was a really enjoyable ghost story jam-packed with different ghosts, including a ghost cat called Dante.
In amongst the ghostly happenings was a very human murder story.
In addition to the wonderful mystery, there were lots of descriptions of delectable food and some incredible recipes at the end of the book.
I look forward to reading another book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barbara Behning]

The town was buzzing with the wedding of Heather Standish in the Rose Garden. With the family's antiquities on display in the Rose Room at the Globe Springs Hotel after the wedding things were tense. The bride was also staying in the Bridal Suite on the haunted 9th floor. The unthinkable happened -read and enjoy!

[Kat M]

I really enjoyed getting to reading this, it had that element that I enjoyed from The First Thing We Do… and continued the mystery element that I was looking for. I was engaged with the paranormal cozy mystery element that I wanted and was engaged from the first page. It was a strong sequel in the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mysteries series, and was glad it was so well done in this universe. The characters had that feel that I was wanting and enjoyed in this series. Glenn J. Hill wrote this so well and I'm excited to read more as these two books have been wonderfully done.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder]

The Devil Wore White is Book 2 of A Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery by Glenn J Hill. I think that this mystery is interesting. The Globe Springs Hotel has secrets that started in 1925 to the present. William, Carol and his ghost cat, Dante, are hot on the trail of what happened to a bride that fell 9 stories. This series has so much action with great characters. The question to be answered is was the bride murdered or is it a terrible accident. Plus, what is buried in the hotel… it's a mystery. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Jodi Sweet]

I am loving this series! Ok, ghosts are terribly cryptic and give horrible clues, and Shakespeare is beyond my comprehension, but I still love it! This book was full of everything. There was a curse, a bunch of murders both old and new, lots of suspects, and ghosts! What more could anyone ask for? The next book sounds fantastic too! Can’t wait!

[Phthon]

I gues Ashland held more secrets! Deep, dark, twisted secrets. All waiting for William and Carol to discover them and solve another murder. I will never understand the need that some people have to take things from others…especially the dead. It never ends well. I loved this book! It was very engrossing and entertaining! I am looking forward to reading the next book!

[Brenda]

There are plenty of ghosts in this book. It is a paranormal mystery full of magic and a murder.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sherry Priddy]

This was a fun read. From the beginning it grabs you. I love a good haunting mystery and this definitely delivered. I really can't wait for the next.

[Emily Phelps]

4.75 - A mixture of the paranormal and mystery, with a side of romance.The writing is good, very descriptive. The background story and characters are well-developed. The humor and the mysterious spirits are enjoyable.The ghosts work well in the movement of the plot, especially the ghost cat, Dante. I will continue reading the rest of the series. Thank you Glenn Hill for another delightful read!

[Julie Burnett]

The story line grabbed my attention, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I will look for the first book in the series that I haven't read yet.

[Nisha]

The Devil Wore White by Glenn J. Hill was such a fun cozy mystery read. I enjoyed this one even more than book one because the writing felt tighter, the pacing sharper, and the mystery more layered. The story balances ghosts, secrets, and plenty of classic whodunnit twists that kept me guessing until the end. I loved the eerie atmosphere and the way the clues unfolded without losing the cozy charm. The characters are becoming more familiar and enjoyable with each book. If you like paranormal cozy mysteries with engaging suspects, clever twists, and a strong sense of mystery, this series is definitely worth picking up.