Where There's Smoke...

Haunted Paint Store Mysteries #2

by E.J. Copperman

Paint store owner Laura Meehan must prove her amateur sleuthing skills (again!) when her small town’s public library starts burning in this installment of the Haunted Paint Store cozy mystery series.

Don’t mess with a paint store owner’s safe haven!

Laura Meehan has her hands full with her paint store, but also with another case (that she will definitely leave to the police to solve)! The Sea Breeze Public Library is burning and it’s clear from the beginning that it must be arson.

Who would want to burn a library down and why? Was it a group of moms protesting what they see as inappropriate book content? Maybe it was someone who didn’t like a title they lent? Or is there something more alarming going on?

As a library volunteer, Laura simply has to find out, and together with her IT-savvy husband Roy and her ex-detective father’s ghost (real or imagined still yet to be determined), she stumbles upon a lot of obstacles on her quest to find the truth—and maybe even an arsonist who might strike again!

A light-hearted cozy mystery with a paranormal twist and Copperman’s signature wit, humor, and zaniness. Perfect for fans of Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries and Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, as well as funny and cozy mysteries by Janet Evanovich, Elle Cosimano, and Amanda Flower.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2026

About the author

Librarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author Jeff Cohen

E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.

E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.

Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.

Reviews

[Marianne]

Where There’s Smoke is the second book in the Haunted Paint Store Mystery series by American author, E.J.Copperman. Laura Meehan has been running Sea Breeze Paint and Wallpaper for about six months now, and found time to volunteer every Friday evening at a favourite place, the Sea Breeze Public Library, when a puzzling act of arson shuts the place down.

The arsonist targeted the children’s and young adult’s section, which immediately puts suspicion on whoever posted threats on social media claiming librarians were supplying young readers with pornographic materials. But also, the library director has been missing since just prior to the fire. Laura can’t believe Evelyn Melbourne would torch her own library, but her absence and lack of contact doesn’t look good.

Laura didn’t know Evelyn well, but she now worries that her absence is not voluntary. After their previous interactions, Detective Hannibal Watson remains irritated with Laura, and disinclined to share information, while Atlantic County’s arson squad officer, Lieutenant Andre Delacorte is even more dismissive of her concerns.

So, with the able assistance of her IT savvy husband, Roy, and police procedural input from the ghost of her ex-cop dad, Amos (still haunting his paint store), Laura tries to subtly question anyone who might have a clue to Evelyn’s whereabouts: Evelyn’s junior colleague at the library, the friendliest member of the library board, her younger brother, her classmate from high school, even the library custodian.

Believing the fire has to be somehow linked to Evelyn’s disappearance, she also looks into the arson attack, gaining important information from a painter who is a volunteer firefighter. Each significant development is taken to the paint store to get her dad’s opinion.

Garnered from twenty years’ experience with the Atlantic City PD, Amos advises that the motive for arson is usually love or money. Just how close to the mark he is might surprise. Roy seems happy to accept the invisible-to-him presence of his father-in-law’s ghost, but Laura is still seeing Abby the Analyst about it. Abby offers a possible method to determine if it’s all a product of her overstressed, grieving mind.

Before matters are resolved, Laura finds herself looking for a man in a red fedora, she throws a punch that sees her fined for disorderly conduct, she sets up a sort of sting, Roy gets to slide down a fireman’s pole, and there’s a dramatic confrontation with the arsonist. There’s a development on the final page that promises a slightly new direction for this engaging cast. More, please!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Joffe Books.

[LORI CASWELL]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Paint store owner Laura Meehan loves libraries, so after working all day at her store, she volunteers Fridays at The Sea Breeze Public Library. She is heartbroken when she learns the library is on fire; a clear case of arson. She had just learned that the librarians and the library were receiving threats from someone regarding books they determined were inappropriate for children. Could they have started the fire? Or did another patron have a major bone to pick? Or could it be something else entirely?

Laura can’t stand that part of her “happy place” was destroyed. She enlists the help of her tech-savvy husband Roy and her ex-detective father’s ghost, Amos, to figure out who lit the flame before another fire breaks out.

Laura and Roy have a strong marriage with a bit of snark. They are both adjusting well to life in New Jersey, including her father, Amos, haunting the paint shop. Laura is the only one who can see and hear him. Still, Roy has accepted the arrangement, even as Laura tries to determine whether it is really her father’s ghost she is communicating with or a figment of her imagination. Each day Laura is visited by a group of contractors purchasing the materials they need for their sites that day. Each brings their own point of view of what is happening around town, and the arson at the library. Each character is uniquely crafted and adds to the story. I enjoy Amos’ common sense approach to everything. There is a deep love between father and daughter, and appreciate Laura working with a therapist to work through her feelings.

The mystery is complicated by the police’s main person of interest going missing. Laura is positive the person would never do anything to hurt the library, so her mission is to locate them. In doing so, she uncovers some other irregularities that need to be taken into account. Her interactions with others, including Detective Watson, can be brusque, but you can’t discount her determination. Clues fell into place for me early, allowing me to focus in on the guilty party before Laura, but then she needed to convince the people that could actually make the arrest.

While the author didn’t want to write about politics, book banning is a hot topic issue. I believe if you want to ban a book, you need to prove you have actually read the book and write a report stating what you find offensive and why it should be banned, and present it to the appropriate board for discussion and a vote. I echo Mr. Copperman’s statement in his Author Notes: Libraries are sanctuaries and cathedrals of thought. We must protect them at all costs, because without thought we have nothing.

Where There’s Smoke . . . is a fun follow-up to All Spooked Up. An appealing cozy mystery with entertaining characters, including a lovable resident ghost, set in a curious small town. There was an interesting development in the final scene which has me very intrigued and excited about Book #3. My virtual bags are already packed for my next getaway to Sea Breeze, New Jersey.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Mary Ryan]

I really enjoyed this. I hadn't read the first book but it didn't make a difference. Laura investigates when there is a fire at the library she volunteers at. It looks like arson and the disappearance of the head librarian raises suspicions as to her guilt. Laura is determined to prove otherwise with the aid of her husband and the ghost of her dead father who was a detective.

I liked the narrative throughout. Laura is feisty and quite sarcastic and I enjoyed the snarky comments all the way through. There seems to be more going on regarding the motivation for the fire - nasty comments around book content suitability for minors, as well as some financial issues, and I enjoyed the way we were pointed in one direction and then another. I will definitely read more in the series.

[Kari]

3.5 stars
Where There's Smoke... is the second book in the Haunted Paint Store Mystery series. I did read the first one before this one, but I think you could read this one as a stand alone and still enjoy it. I did ultimately enjoy this cozy mystery. One thing that I like about this series is the relationship between Laura and her husband Roy. It's refreshing to show a couple who have a healthy relationship. You can tell they obviously care about each other. I also enjoy not really knowing if Laura's dad is a ghost or a figment of her grief and imagination. The small town setting makes for amusing characters that round out the story nicely. I recommend giving it a try.

[Hannah Boyland]

3.5 ⭐️

This was a fun, cosy mystery with lots of humour, and a lovely ghost 👻

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, and it felt politically relevant, but in a light hearted way! Any books set in a library are an instant win from me🥰

I struggled a bit with how many characters there were. I admittedly haven’t read the first book, so it may be that I’d have found it easier if I had read that one first!

Laura admittedly wasn’t my favourite character ever, but I loved her Dad, and her husband, Roy, so I think that made it a lot more bearable for me!

[Katreader]

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE... by E. J. Copperman
The Second Haunted Paint Shop Mystery

Books have always been important to Laura Meehan and libraries a safe haven. That's why, after moving back to her hometown and taking over her father's paint store, she volunteers at the local library one night a week. The day after Laura learns that someone is threatening the librarians, accusing them of giving pornography to children, someone sets a fire in the children and young adult section of the library. Fortunately the library was closed at the time so no one was hurt. Unfortunately, Evelyn, the head librarian, was seen walking away from the library early that morning and no one has seen her since. While she might not consider Evelyn a good friend, Laura admires her and intends to find her, especially when the arson investigator seems to think that Evelyn set the fire herself!. With the help of her tech savvy husband and the ghost of her father, a former police detective, Laura will set out, not only to find Evelyn, but prove her innocence.

Although this is the second book in the Haunted Paint Store Mystery series, it is my first entry and I had no problem jumping in as it works perfectly as a stand alone mystery. That being said I would have enjoyed seeing how things began, and how her semi adversarial relationship with Detective Watson started. There's tons of snark, but behind everything is a finely drawn mystery with a happily married couple at its center. I like how Laura isn't sure if her dad is really a ghost or a figment of her imagination, and I appreciate her seeing a therapist.

I am pleased that WHERE THERE'S SMOKE...tackled the issue of book banning and the scary fact that librarians are being threatened by self righteous bigots for doing their job. If you don't like a book, don't read it. Libraries and their books are for everyone and everyone should be safe there. And don't tell me what I can and can't read.

With suspicious behavior, some twists and turns, and more than a few chuckles WHERE THERE'S SMOKE... is an inventive and finely crafted mystery.

[Paula Phillips]

There's something about picking up a new Laura Meehan mystery that feels like coming home , kettle on, cardigan on, the promise of trouble that's cozy rather than terrifying. Where There's Smoke delivers exactly that, and then quietly sneaks in something with real teeth.
The premise pulled me in before I'd even cracked the spine: someone's setting fire to the Sea Breeze Public Library, and the suspects all seem to circle back to the same simmering fight so many small towns are having right now who gets to decide what belongs on the shelves. EJ Copperman doesn't hammer you over the head with the banned-books angle, but it's there, woven into every conversation Laura has as a library volunteer, every side-eye between neighbors who used to just wave at each other over the mailbox. It gives the book a warmth of a different kind , the ache of watching a community you love start to fray at the edges over something as ordinary as what's allowed on a library cart.
And then, of course, there's Laura herself. I adore how reluctant she is every single time "I'll leave it to the police," she says, and we all know better, and that's half the fun. Her marriage to Roy remains one of the quiet joys of this series; he's steady and clever in that unshowy way, the kind of partner who hands you a flashlight without being asked. And her father's ghost still delightfully unresolved as to whether he's real or just grief wearing a familiar voice gives the book its heart. There's something so tender about a daughter still solving cases with her dad, even after he's gone.
It's not a perfect mystery, a couple of the red herrings feel a little worn at the edges, and I guessed at one thread before Laura did but I didn't mind. This series isn't really about outsmarting the plot. It's about sitting in Laura's kitchen, so to speak, while the world outside gets a little scary and a little too real, and knowing you'll still be home in time for cocoa.
If you love your mysteries with a side of small-town heart and a topical bite you don't see coming, pull this one off the shelf. Preferably before anyone sets it on fire.

[Michael Godwin]

Where There’s Smoke offers an entertaining blend of cozy mystery, small-town intrigue, paranormal elements, and humor. When the Sea Breeze Public Library goes up in flames and arson quickly becomes apparent, paint store owner and amateur sleuth Laura Meehan finds herself unable to stay on the sidelines. Her connection to the library gives her a personal reason to investigate, even when the case proves considerably more complicated than expected.

The mystery becomes even more enjoyable through Laura's unusual investigative team. Her IT savvy husband Roy provides practical support, while the presence of her ex-detective father's ghost or perhaps something Laura hasn't quite figured out yet adds a wonderfully playful supernatural dimension. With possible motives ranging from controversy surrounding library books to something far more sinister, the investigation keeps Laura moving through one obstacle after another.

Fans of cozy mysteries, paranormal mysteries, amateur sleuths, quirky small-town settings, and lighthearted investigative fiction should find plenty to enjoy here. The combination of a library-centered mystery, an arson investigation, family dynamics, humor, and the series' supernatural twist makes Where There’s Smoke an inviting choice for readers who prefer their mysteries clever, character-driven, and entertaining rather than relentlessly dark.

PROFESSIONAL OUTREA

[Phil Rogers]

A funny mystery story with a friendly ghost and plenty of twists.

Laura Meehan takes over the running of the small-town paint store after her Father dies. Her ex-policeman father retired from being a good detective to take up running the paint shop a few years before he ups and dies. Trouble is he is not ready to leave this world and refuses to give up the roll of shop owner and hand over the reins to Laura, instead he stays to haunt her in a benevolent but interfering way. The result is a humorous relationship
Laura is not sure if her father’s presence is part of her imagination or a true ghostly haunting. She is the only one who can see or hear the apparition but her long suffering husband believes her and dies not interrupt their conversations.
Laura is also a volunteer at the small library, and when her boss confides that she has been getting threats from an unknown troublemaker, her amateur sleuthing kicks in and she talks it over with her special Dad. That night the library burns down in a mystery fire. Laura can’t help but get involved investigating.
There ensues a hilarious romp of twisty plots and multiple suspects. The characters, include a grumpy police detective and the curmudgeonly and recently deceased father and the amateur sleuthing aided by the expert detective/ghost results in a hilarious and twisty story

[Katy Cannon]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I started in this series at book 2, with this ARC. I don't think I would have picked it up if I have had read book 1. I do not like the main character. I think she's supposed to come off as no nonsense, but really she comes off as rude and bitter. She is very to the point and only gives you as much as you give her. It's really confrontational. Especially for an owner of a paint store who sees her dead ghost police father. Even he is disappointed in how she treats others, and she doesn't change. She goes from adoring of her husband to 'I guess this will do' in a matter of his actions. Ex him eating chocolate covered almonds and having bad breath after that.

It made it really hard to care about the mystery and characters. Her confidence that she cand do better than the police astounds me. They are trained and made for the job, and she just doesn't care. Even her husband tells her to let them work. He agrees with her dead father, and he can't even hear him.

It wasn't a fun time. It didn't feel cozy. It just felt like she was a know it all in a small town.

[Victor O'Connell]

Where There's Smoke... continues the Haunted Paint Store Mysteries with another intriguing combination of mystery and the supernatural.

As the second installment in the series, the book benefits from the distinctive premise established by the haunted paint-store setting while offering readers another opportunity to become immersed in its world of secrets, suspicious circumstances, and ghostly intrigue.

What makes a series like this particularly appealing is the balance between the familiar pleasures of cozy mystery fiction and the added unpredictability of a supernatural element. Readers can enjoy investigating the case while also wondering what the living,and the dead,might be hiding.

With its 289-page length and strong early reader response, Where There's Smoke... has the potential to appeal to established fans of the series as well as readers who enjoy paranormal mysteries, cozy crime, amateur sleuth stories, and atmospheric small-town investigations.

As a second series installment, it also presents an opportunity to introduce new readers to the earlier book while giving existing fans another reason to remain invested in the Haunted Paint Store Mysteries.

[Lora]

Where There’s Smoke is the second installment in E. J. Copperman’s Haunted Paint Store Mystery series. Laura Meehan investigates a fire at the local library, where she volunteers on Fridays. With help from her husband and her father’s ghost, a former police detective, Laura sets out to find the arsonist.

One thing I love about this series is how much Laura is in love with her husband. Their relationship feels genuine and is a refreshing part of the story. I also like that Laura is seeing a therapist because she believes she is seeing her father’s ghost. As readers, we know ghosts exist in Laura’s world because this series is set in the same universe as Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse series. Still, there is a little bit of doubt about whether Laura really can see ghosts since her father is the only ghost (so far) she has seen.

[Penny]

I really liked the first book in this story, and now that I’m done with the second book, I love this series even more. This time the mystery involved a fire and a disappearance related to the library Laura volunteers at. I can’t help but just love how forward and pushy Laura is, and I laugh with her interactions with those she pushes around including Watson. Also, Laura is still convinced that she’s hallucinating her father, and I love how supportive Roy is with her. I really enjoyed this and the author’s sense of humor, and I can’t wait to read more. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent]

A slow-burn cosy mystery. It's a quirky story with an interesting side for Laura to bounce ideas off.

A fire in the library pages the way for an interesting police investigation with no clear culprit initially. As it unravels, we find a few things going on that could provide a motive. However, it isn't clear cut and there's more to it than initially assumed.

Laura isn't an officer but she can't help but investigate. She doesn't always get things right but she's persistent and her confidantes provide some comedy along the way.

The fire in the library is devastating for the community but fortunately theres a commitment from people to work together to make things right.

[Ann]

This is book 2 in the Haunted Paint Store series. I did read book 1, All Spooked up. Laura is kept busy with her Dad's paint store but when an arsonist targets the local public library she is again on the case. With the help of her father's ghost they figure out that someone has been stealing frrom the library budget and is attempting to cover their tracks. The police arrest the director who is Laura's friend and she is determined to prove her innocent with the help of her IT savey husband and her dad. A easy to follow cozy without any terrible violence, a nice read.

[Jade Leanne]

Could I have loved this anymore. When Sea Breeze library burns down and it’s clearly arson, paint shop owner Laura just has to get to the bottom of it. With her husband Roy and her dad’s ghost (still deciding if he’s real? 🤣), she’s on with clues and dodging plenty along the way.

Who’d burn a library?! Someone with a grudge? Or something more serious? Kept me guessing right to the end! Cozy, fun, and a little spooky, exactly my kind of read.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer]

This was loads of fun to read, a cosy mystery with an interfering parent who happens to be a ghost 😂
yep! I’m all in for this!
As well as the humour there was a great plot too and lots of suspects to choose from, the dynamic between the amateur sleuths was so well written, this really was a joy to read I loved the twists in this too.
I haven’t read book 1 but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book but I’ve added book 1 to my list to read.

[Ria]

Laura Meehan runs her deceased father's paint store but on the side is an amateur sleuth.
The Sea Breeze public library has had a fire and right from the start it's suspected arson.
But why?
Is it the group of mot ha protesting about inappropriate reading material or is it someone else?
Being a library volunteer Laura is keen to find out and along with her sidekick husband Roy they set about trying to find the culprit.
A fun cosy mystery.

[Melvyn Homer]

Where There's Smoke. When there is a fire in the library, the police seem certain of the culprit. Laura has to piece together what really happened to avoid a miscarriage of justice. A funny, intriguing and compelling nove

[Christine]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I've been a fan of EJ Copperman for a while now, and this new series does not disappoint! I love the snarky asides and i'm happy there is some movement for the dad (pun intended!) Can't wait to read more!

[Beverly Husani]

It seemed to get better or it grew on me as the book continued or maybe I just got tired of having to make so many notes! For example:

- Early in chapter 10, Laura mentions “When I knew Bonnie in high school, she had aspired to be a nurse.” but very shortly after that, Bonnie said “You know in high school I wanted to be a nurse, you remember that. (I hadn’t remembered that.)”

- An odd juxtaposition about Roy’s abilities during a phone number search: “clacking away, assuring that any investigation by authorities would be able to trace his somewhat shady activities …to me.” versus, immediately following, “ I knew Roy; he’d not only get the information, but he’d cover his tracks and Big Brother would never know I wasn’t at home watching The Repair Shop.”

At the end of the day, the solutions to the crimes seemed a bit far-fetched but I’m willing to accept them since I’m a cozy mystery buff! And I loved: “There wasn’t a gruntled person within driving distance.”

[BibliofiendLM]

While I still don't love these as much as the Haunted Guesthouse series from Copperman, these are fun, cozy paranormal mysteries with a fun group of characters. I look forward to the next one.