Ghost at the Lighthouse Cafe: A Lena Merritt Culinary Cozy Mystery

by Tracy Auten

The Harvest Festival at the Lighthouse Café promised cider, pumpkins, and autumn cheer. Instead, a local barista pulled a disappearing act.

The only a shattered mug and a chilling note.

Innkeeper Lena Merritt isn’t buying any ghost stories. With Dot, her sharp-tongued assistant, and Whiskers, her ever-curious feline sidekick, she starts stirring the pot.

Secrets don’t stay buried long in a small town, especially when Lena starts digging. She soon uncovers an ex-boyfriend drowning in regret, and a café owner whose motives are darker than his morning roast.

The closer Lena gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that someone doesn’t want to be caught.

Unless she unmasks the culprit fast, the missing barista won’t be the only ghost in town.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghosts and a Missing Barista . . .

Lena Merritt owns the Sea Star Inn currently decorated for Fall with pumpkins on every step of the porch, cornstalks tied with twine, and seasonal flowers on display. The combined smell of the sea air and woodsmoke from nearby chimneys instantly put everyone in the spirit of the season. When Lena had taken over the inn, she gave it her time and savings to restore and improve it to make it welcoming for everyone. She didn't miss her former city job at all! With ghost stories popular in the town, especially now, Lena hoped the cozy warm atmosphere of the Inn would not encourage such stories. And as Whiskers the cat munched on a small piece of pumpkin scone, the tension in the room faded off as the guests relaxed... at least until Whiskers wandered over to the window and stared at the lighthouse, his tail flicking back and forth as Mrs. Everly whispered that he was watching the ghost! Even Lena shivered as a gust of wind rattled the windows. Was something ominous lurking nearby? Lena stepped out on the darkened porch and heard a faint thud, then turned around and went back inside.

Everyone is eager to attend the Harvest Festival at the nearby Lighthouse Café. Paper lanterns were hung everywhere, leaving spooky shadows on the walls. The snacks looked delicious, the decorations festive. The Inn's guests all arrived as a group to join the locals. Once again, Prudence Everly loudly suggested everyone watch the windows in case of ghostly activity. She managed to bring discomfort into the room and Lena stayed alert. Jessica Lane moved swiftly between tables, keeping everyone fed and greeting newcomers, although she distractedly kept looking toward the hall leading to the back of the cafe. When a loud crash occurred, a broken mug was on the floor. Jessica had been behind the counter but was now gone! The owner's worry about his employee was making everyone nervous. Henry picked up a paper among the broken mug that said "Was I right about him all along?" What did that mean? Did the ghost snatch her away? Apparently Lena, her clue-finding cat Whiskers and her friend Dot need to investigate and figure this out quickly! As she gets closer to finding out the truth, will she be putting herself in imminent danger? You won't want to miss the rest of the story; but keep your eyes on the shadows before the ghost finds you! We all know that secrets never stay buried in a small town!

[Cynthia Woodlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book blending small-town charm with an intriguing whodunit. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque Harvest Festival, the story promises autumnal warmth but quickly takes a chilling turn when a local barista vanishes under mysterious circumstances.

This book balances the cozy, heartwarming elements of small-town life—cider, pumpkins, and community spirit—with the suspense of unraveling a puzzling disappearance. This is a great book that kept me guessing with all the clues and the atmospheric descriptions of the Lighthouse Café and its surroundings. I loved how this book kept me guessing with the great balance of suspense and warmth. This is the perfect read for a crisp autumn weekend, giving a cozy escape with spine-tingling intrigue.

I highly recommend it for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of the supernatural.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena Merritt is the owner of the Sea Star Inn and she is excited for the Harvest Festival at the Lighthouse Café. But when a barista is missing and the only thing left behind is a broken cup and a curious ominous note, Lena with her clue finding, intelligent cat, Whiskers and her friend Dot she decides to look into it. With the ghost rumors picking up in town, and with Lena and her crew getting closer to finding secrets that someone wants left alone, can she find the answers? She finds potential suspects and has she gets closer to the truth, she is putting herself in a dangerous situation. This is a great, page turning book that you just can't put down once you begin. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jessica, a server at the Lighthouse Cafe, disappears, Lena Merritt and her assistant Dot begin to investigate. Lena finds a criptic note, then she finds more clues. She runs an inn and the topic of conversation with all the guests is Jessica's disappearance without a clue and also the lighthouse ghost and they try to figure out if the two are connected. She digs into the towns history and finds that Jessica had done so too, and she wonders if her digging had gotten her "disappeared" permanently.
Great characters in a quaint town.

[TheCoffeenatedCanadian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the atmospheric, detailed writing that set the mood and allowed me to visualize what was going on. I also enjoyed the characters and thought the author did a good job making them each individuals with their own motives and voices.

At times though I thought the pacing was just a bit slow, with the story's progress stalling. While there were a number of clues they didn't seem to lead much of anywhere until close to the end.

It was a good book. I enjoyed reading it and I'm glad I did, I just feel it could have had a few tweaks.

[G. Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book, just got finished, it was full of lies, mystery, a missing person, hidden records and a Police Department that had to try and stop the gossip because the town wanted their Festival to be a hit and bring in more money. Then there was Lena the owner of the Sea Star Inn who was worried about a friend who went missing and decided to do some secret checking around because she felt a missing friend was more important than money. Check out this book it is worth the read. Happy reading.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost at the Lighthouse Cafe is a story about Lena an Inn Owner and her clever , sleuthing cat Whiskers. One of the visitors to the Festival goes missing. So Lena , Whiskers and Dot look into the mystery unofficially and they search for the truth. They follow a trail of clues. But will they be able to solve the mystery?
Great story and series that I recommend you read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young woman vanishes from the cafe all or a sudden, there seems to be more going on. A great cozy mystery with characters that don't give up and keep digging. A storyline that has a few surprises along the way. This is a great book to read and relax with.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

When server Jessica goes missing, Lena, her best friend Dot, her cat Whiskers, and all the guests at her inn are on the case. There are lots of twist, lies and misdirection. This was a  good read and keeps you guessing how it will end. 

[Dianne Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden in plain sight!

A fascinating story with historical links to the town lighthouse and founding family.  Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the book.  

I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful and twisty mystery featuring wonderful characters and their charming pets.

[DONNA FOSS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great!
It kept me interested all the way through.

[Diane M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting mystery to solve.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting mystery set around the disappearance of a barista under suspicious circumstances. Set in a cozy, heartwarming small town.

[Penny Perse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost at the lighthouse Cafe

Great story snd so happy Jessica was safe in the end. Spooky snd sincere all in one boo. Fantastic story.