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Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery #3
Ghostal Living
In this mystery from the author of Manor of Dying, Hamptons interior designer and antiques picker Meg Barrett uncovers a veil of spooky goings-on...
The first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair is right around the corner, and interior designer Meg Barrett has her hands full decorating rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth. Rumor has it Hollingsworth is in possession of an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When the Fitzgerald manuscript's authenticator is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Meg suspects a killer is on the loose.
Rare books start disappearing from the B & B and Meg sees a connection between the stolen books and the deceased authenticator. With the fair looming, she finds herself caught up in catching a killer and thief before another victim is booked for death.
INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS
The first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair is right around the corner, and interior designer Meg Barrett has her hands full decorating rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth. Rumor has it Hollingsworth is in possession of an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When the Fitzgerald manuscript's authenticator is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Meg suspects a killer is on the loose.
Rare books start disappearing from the B & B and Meg sees a connection between the stolen books and the deceased authenticator. With the fair looming, she finds herself caught up in catching a killer and thief before another victim is booked for death.
INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
About the author
Kathleen Bridge
14 books346 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen Bridge, national bestselling author of The Hamptons Home and Garden Mystery Series and The By The Sea Mystery Series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America. Kathleen is also an antiques and vintage dealer and lives on the Central East Coast of Florida. www.kathleenbridge.com
Kathleen Bridge, national bestselling author of The Hamptons Home and Garden Mystery Series and The By The Sea Mystery Series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America. Kathleen is also an antiques and vintage dealer and lives on the Central East Coast of Florida. www.kathleenbridge.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 31, 2024
I know I still have giveaways but this was on a shelf in the library labeled "fun reads". I needed a cozy mystery fix. I know it says #3 in a series but if it's good, I'll give the series a try. 🙂
This book was cute. I liked the characters, especially the main character, Meg. It has a wholesome feel just like most cozy mysteries. I really need to only start with book #1 when I start a series. I saw this on display and it ended up being a number 3 in a series. (I know most of us have our phones on us and can Google that but I still wish authors would add the book number on the book itself) While I did think this book was cute, I wasn't fully invested in all the characters because they were probably better introduced in book 1. So this is my fault (that did, however work out when I tried the Hannah Swensen series and started them out of order) but I enjoyed sitting down, getting cozy and reading this. Maybe sometime I'll give this series another chance. I do love me a cozy mystery! Happy reading 💕♥️
This book was cute. I liked the characters, especially the main character, Meg. It has a wholesome feel just like most cozy mysteries. I really need to only start with book #1 when I start a series. I saw this on display and it ended up being a number 3 in a series. (I know most of us have our phones on us and can Google that but I still wish authors would add the book number on the book itself) While I did think this book was cute, I wasn't fully invested in all the characters because they were probably better introduced in book 1. So this is my fault (that did, however work out when I tried the Hannah Swensen series and started them out of order) but I enjoyed sitting down, getting cozy and reading this. Maybe sometime I'll give this series another chance. I do love me a cozy mystery! Happy reading 💕♥️
May 28, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Welcome to the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast. Meg Barrett has been working hard to complete all the rooms before the first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair. Rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth and owner of the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast is going to present an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald at the fair. Before he can do that the man that authenticated the work is found dead. Also, other rare books have gone missing from the B&B. Meg believes the death and the thefts are connected. She finds herself wrapped right in the middle of another investigation.
Each of the rooms at Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast is decorated around classic authors. Rooms dedicated to Emily Dickinson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, John Steinbeck, Louisa May Alcott, and Edith Wharton. All the furnishings, books and knick knacks are described in detail to give you a clear picture of all the rooms. I really enjoyed the way the authors were mentioned throughout the book.
The author also describes the grounds and people in vivid detail. Even the hurricane that blows through can be almost felt through the pages thanks to her writing style.
Meg is a unique character, strong and doesn’t let her hearing disability hold her back. In fact, because of it she can read lips which comes in quite handy when trying to catch a killer. Her romantic life is a bit of a mess but that doesn’t take over the mystery.
We are given several viable suspects with many twists. Greed, lies and secrets lead us to an eventful ending.
Take a little trip to the Hamptons and enjoy some time with Meg and her friends.
Welcome to the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast. Meg Barrett has been working hard to complete all the rooms before the first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair. Rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth and owner of the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast is going to present an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald at the fair. Before he can do that the man that authenticated the work is found dead. Also, other rare books have gone missing from the B&B. Meg believes the death and the thefts are connected. She finds herself wrapped right in the middle of another investigation.
Each of the rooms at Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast is decorated around classic authors. Rooms dedicated to Emily Dickinson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, John Steinbeck, Louisa May Alcott, and Edith Wharton. All the furnishings, books and knick knacks are described in detail to give you a clear picture of all the rooms. I really enjoyed the way the authors were mentioned throughout the book.
The author also describes the grounds and people in vivid detail. Even the hurricane that blows through can be almost felt through the pages thanks to her writing style.
Meg is a unique character, strong and doesn’t let her hearing disability hold her back. In fact, because of it she can read lips which comes in quite handy when trying to catch a killer. Her romantic life is a bit of a mess but that doesn’t take over the mystery.
We are given several viable suspects with many twists. Greed, lies and secrets lead us to an eventful ending.
Take a little trip to the Hamptons and enjoy some time with Meg and her friends.
April 24, 2017
Interior designer, Meg Barrett, is happily working on re-creating classic American author suites for guests at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast, owned by Franklin Hollingsworth. Meg's about to complete the Emily Dickinson room when she notices several missing books worth a lot of money. Hollingsworth has several employees he's considered trustworthy; but Meg has her doubts. In the midst of a hurricane--a guest disappears and meets with foul play; a priceless manuscript is stolen; and danger threatens Meg, her best friend, Elle, and various characters somehow connected to the missing manuscript. Kathleen Bridge pens an exciting tale of greed and lies and mixes in a twisted ending that is heart gripping! I enjoy the gorgeous setting of The Hamptons in this cozy series, and the richness of the historical details the author provides throughout the storyline.
I reviewed an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
I reviewed an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
May 11, 2017
The third installment in Kathleen Bridge's Hampton Home & Gardens Mystery series, Ghostal Living, finds our protagonist, Meg Barrett, decorating rooms at Franklin Hollingsworth's Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast prior to its opening, and also getting ready for the 1st Sag Harbor Book and Ephemera Fair. A recently discovered and heretofore unknown and unpublished F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscript is set to be the star attraction. We start off with a hurricane in Montauk, after which a body is discovered, and then the manuscript goes missing! Meg fears that the victim did not die of natural causes, and sets out to investigate, all while trying to discover who is stealing books from the B&B. In addition, she's still trying to decide between landscaper Byron and absentee boyfriend Cole, as well as get her cottage renovated so that she can finally move in. I really enjoy reading about Meg, she's a likable character and the mystery was nicely written. I look forward to future installments in the series.
April 26, 2017
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August 23, 2020
Meg is an interior designer in the Hamptons, and has been hired by an inn owner to decorate suites dedicated to classic authors. The plot continues along this vain, centering around first edition books and other antiquarian books of interest, making for a very interesting read. I love this kind of stuff. I do like Meg, who despite being hearing impaired, keeps on keeping on. Her best friend Ella is kindness itself. There was good mystery winding throughout the story, and a fine denouement.
June 13, 2017
Ghostal Living is the first book that I have read in this series. I was able to read Ghostal Living, but I felt that some background details on Meg were missing. I was curious as to how Meg ended up wearing hearing aids (and why she would go out without them). I found the novel to be slow-moving and lacking in action. The author's detailed writing did not help. While I did enjoy the descriptions of the rooms at the B&B, this type of detail can get monotonous. Readers are provided descriptions of meals, buildings, people, rooms, vehicles as well as numerous book quotes, information about authors (this was interesting, but not relevant to mystery), and old movies. It is a fine line between just the right amount of detail and too much. There is also some repetition of information (details about the book fair and the clues Meg discovered for example). I felt that the book lacked substance. The mystery was slightly complex. My favorite part was how the manuscript was concealed. If you pay close attention to the details, you can easily solve this one. I was disappointed that this cozy mystery contained a love triangle. It is an overplayed contrivance, and I was happy to see it resolved by the end of the story. I do not mind a mild romantic element in cozy mysteries (if I wanted more, I would pick up one of the numerous romance novels on the market). I will (when I have an opportunity) go back and read Better Homes and Corpses (first book in series). It might give me a better understanding of Meg.
May 31, 2017
Author Kathleen Bridges does it again. Fans of the Hampton Home & Garden Mysteries are going to love this third installment!
You know you’re in for a fast moving, exciting story when it starts off with a hurricane brewing! And indeed, by the end of chapter two of GHOSTAL LIVING, I already felt the energy of this tale growing, and I prepared myself to be blown away. I was!
Kicked back in my recliner with a cold soda at my side, I dived into GHOSTAL LIVING and was almost half way finished with the book when I came up for air. There was so much going on! Between the storm, a murder, and everything lead character, Meg Barrett was trying to juggle in her life, I simply had to keep reading “just one more page”.
Speaking of Meg Barrett, she’s really someone I enjoy reading. I like that author Bridges writes Meg with a hearing impairment. While I adore most protagonists in the cozy mysteries I read, a large percentage of them tend to be too perfect.
Kathleen Bridge is such a clever writer. She knows just what it takes to pen a mystery that will keep the reader interested, and guessing. So much so, that when I finished reading GHOSTAL LIVING, I was wishing I had another book by this author to read!
Make sure to keep reading once the story is over, or you’ll miss out on great tips for repurposing vintage items, and some mouthwatering recipes!
You know you’re in for a fast moving, exciting story when it starts off with a hurricane brewing! And indeed, by the end of chapter two of GHOSTAL LIVING, I already felt the energy of this tale growing, and I prepared myself to be blown away. I was!
Kicked back in my recliner with a cold soda at my side, I dived into GHOSTAL LIVING and was almost half way finished with the book when I came up for air. There was so much going on! Between the storm, a murder, and everything lead character, Meg Barrett was trying to juggle in her life, I simply had to keep reading “just one more page”.
Speaking of Meg Barrett, she’s really someone I enjoy reading. I like that author Bridges writes Meg with a hearing impairment. While I adore most protagonists in the cozy mysteries I read, a large percentage of them tend to be too perfect.
Kathleen Bridge is such a clever writer. She knows just what it takes to pen a mystery that will keep the reader interested, and guessing. So much so, that when I finished reading GHOSTAL LIVING, I was wishing I had another book by this author to read!
Make sure to keep reading once the story is over, or you’ll miss out on great tips for repurposing vintage items, and some mouthwatering recipes!
September 26, 2017
I brought this book on my TBR shelf to what I knew would be a very long battery of medical tests yesterday and finished most of it while waiting. It was good, but not great. Liked but not loved. I like a cozy with a different timing of various events. The underlying plot of the unpublished F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscript is what attracted me to the book. It did carry the mystery throughout and I thought that was the strongest part of it. Some of the descriptions were repeated two or three times. I enjoyed learning about interior design and more about antique books.
I would give this 3.5 stars.
I would give this 3.5 stars.
May 27, 2017
Review at Cozy Girl Reads.
November 17, 2018
Admittedly better written than most cozies, rare books and dead authors made this a fascinating read for me. Meg Barrett is decorating the author rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector, Franklin Hollingsworth. I admit to disliking most of the characters save Meg and her friend, Ella and wasn't wrong to do so. Descriptions of the beautiful old town and buildings are delightfully detailed. There's a "ghost" in the mix as well and a few recipes that I'd love to try. A little something for everyone. This is the 3rd book in this series so I'll have to add the other two to my TBR.
October 31, 2017
Synopsis:
In the latest mystery from the author of Better Homes and Corpses and Hearse and Gardens, Hamptons interior designer and antiques picker Meg Barrett uncovers a veil of spooky goings-on...
The first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair is right around the corner, and interior designer Meg Barrett has her hands full decorating rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth. Rumor has it Hollingsworth is in possession of an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When the Fitzgerald manuscript's authenticator is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Meg suspects a killer is on the loose.
Rare books start disappearing from the B & B and Meg sees a connection between the stolen books and the deceased authenticator. With the fair looming, she finds herself caught up in catching a killer and thief before another victim is booked for death.
INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Meg is a hard-working smart woman, who is not perfect (none of us are). I liked the fact that she has a hearing impairment, this made her seem a little more real to me. And the fact that she can read lips makes it more interesting to me. It is sure to help her in investigation, gathering clues. The other characters added a lot to the story and I liked getting to spend time with all of them.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. And I could see in my mind the rooms of the B&B, the way they were decorated and all of the belongings in the rooms.
The mystery was well written and with so many clues to sift through and suspects to consider, it was difficult to solve. And adding to the tension was the author’s descriptions of the hurricane barreling toward them. There was plenty of suspense contained within this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With great characters, great descriptions and plenty of tension and suspense, this is a book you will want to read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book.
In the latest mystery from the author of Better Homes and Corpses and Hearse and Gardens, Hamptons interior designer and antiques picker Meg Barrett uncovers a veil of spooky goings-on...
The first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair is right around the corner, and interior designer Meg Barrett has her hands full decorating rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth. Rumor has it Hollingsworth is in possession of an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When the Fitzgerald manuscript's authenticator is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Meg suspects a killer is on the loose.
Rare books start disappearing from the B & B and Meg sees a connection between the stolen books and the deceased authenticator. With the fair looming, she finds herself caught up in catching a killer and thief before another victim is booked for death.
INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Meg is a hard-working smart woman, who is not perfect (none of us are). I liked the fact that she has a hearing impairment, this made her seem a little more real to me. And the fact that she can read lips makes it more interesting to me. It is sure to help her in investigation, gathering clues. The other characters added a lot to the story and I liked getting to spend time with all of them.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. And I could see in my mind the rooms of the B&B, the way they were decorated and all of the belongings in the rooms.
The mystery was well written and with so many clues to sift through and suspects to consider, it was difficult to solve. And adding to the tension was the author’s descriptions of the hurricane barreling toward them. There was plenty of suspense contained within this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With great characters, great descriptions and plenty of tension and suspense, this is a book you will want to read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book.
May 31, 2017
Ghostal Living is third in the Hamptons Home and Garden Mysteries, and a new - to - me series and author. Visiting the Hamptons on Long Island is interesting to many and I confess, what I would enjoy the most is combing antique or thrift stores and estate sales in the neighborhood.
I like Meg, the first-class interior designer and one woman show that is Cottages by the Sea. Her clients are coming by recommendation, and she is in the final stages of completing the guest suites at the Bibliophile B & B. The only area unfinished at the start the big weekend of a rare book fair and the gala opening the fair is the Emily Dickinson Loft. Meg and her recently-adopted Maine Coon cat Jo are staying in the suite during the hurricane heading towards Montauk and the borrowed yacht she is temporarily sleeping on seems to be in the path of the hurricane.
The next few days are as tumultuous as any hurricane I've heard about, with murder, thefts, and mysterious illness sweeping through the Sag Harbor Bibliophile B & B. Someone has turned around Meg's reputation that leads the B & B owner, Franklin, and staff to watch her very closely - as if she would suddenly begin to steal rare books and actually report they are missing. The night of the gala approaches, when Franklin will show his recent purchase: a previously unpublished short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald that, when authenticated, he paid a $5 million for. The gala simply doesn't go as anticipated, and life at the Bibliophile goes downhill from there.
Meg and her close friends - with the possible exception of one of the guys she is dating - are very likable and described so well that one could anticipate seeing them strolling down the street.
The plot is quite well planned and executed - I enjoyed it! The story moved along quickly, I could figure out part of the solution and still enjoy surprises. I was satisfied with the ending and highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans.
I received a copy of this from the publisher but no review was required.
I like Meg, the first-class interior designer and one woman show that is Cottages by the Sea. Her clients are coming by recommendation, and she is in the final stages of completing the guest suites at the Bibliophile B & B. The only area unfinished at the start the big weekend of a rare book fair and the gala opening the fair is the Emily Dickinson Loft. Meg and her recently-adopted Maine Coon cat Jo are staying in the suite during the hurricane heading towards Montauk and the borrowed yacht she is temporarily sleeping on seems to be in the path of the hurricane.
The next few days are as tumultuous as any hurricane I've heard about, with murder, thefts, and mysterious illness sweeping through the Sag Harbor Bibliophile B & B. Someone has turned around Meg's reputation that leads the B & B owner, Franklin, and staff to watch her very closely - as if she would suddenly begin to steal rare books and actually report they are missing. The night of the gala approaches, when Franklin will show his recent purchase: a previously unpublished short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald that, when authenticated, he paid a $5 million for. The gala simply doesn't go as anticipated, and life at the Bibliophile goes downhill from there.
Meg and her close friends - with the possible exception of one of the guys she is dating - are very likable and described so well that one could anticipate seeing them strolling down the street.
The plot is quite well planned and executed - I enjoyed it! The story moved along quickly, I could figure out part of the solution and still enjoy surprises. I was satisfied with the ending and highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans.
I received a copy of this from the publisher but no review was required.
May 28, 2018
First I'd read in the series. Meg Bennett is a decorator in Sag Harbor, currently working on an upscale B&B owned by a wealthy bibliophile who has bought what appears to be an unpublished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The unveiling is to be held soon, at an Antiquarian Books Fair, but before that happens the man who authenticated the manuscript falls to his death from a cliff. Was it an accident, suicide, or murder?
I'd rate it about a 3.7 or 3.8. I loved all the information about authors one gets while reading about the inn while Meg decorates the individual author suites. Meg herself is largely a delight, especially as she is profoundly hearing impaired but doesn't let that slow her down. Interesting characters and some good local color.
The downside: Meg is apparently another of those "can't make up my mind which man I want" characters who is dating two guys. At the end, one seems to have dropped out but Meg is already eying a new possibility. Mercifully, the author spared us the confrontation after one beau catches her out with another, but for me the "best there, done that" quotient was met long ago. I do like a little romance in my mysteries but waffling is annoying.
Secondly, there are some nasty characters who exist to be nasty. Also btdt.
Finally, Meg fails to report things she should and likes to try to beard suspects in their dens. See above.
The writing is good enough that I largely overlook those transgressions but I don't know how it will be for the long haul. I will be looking for the next in the series, and we'll see how things turn out.
I'd rate it about a 3.7 or 3.8. I loved all the information about authors one gets while reading about the inn while Meg decorates the individual author suites. Meg herself is largely a delight, especially as she is profoundly hearing impaired but doesn't let that slow her down. Interesting characters and some good local color.
The downside: Meg is apparently another of those "can't make up my mind which man I want" characters who is dating two guys. At the end, one seems to have dropped out but Meg is already eying a new possibility. Mercifully, the author spared us the confrontation after one beau catches her out with another, but for me the "best there, done that" quotient was met long ago. I do like a little romance in my mysteries but waffling is annoying.
Secondly, there are some nasty characters who exist to be nasty. Also btdt.
Finally, Meg fails to report things she should and likes to try to beard suspects in their dens. See above.
The writing is good enough that I largely overlook those transgressions but I don't know how it will be for the long haul. I will be looking for the next in the series, and we'll see how things turn out.
June 20, 2017
Another good one in the Hampton’s Home and Garden mystery series.
It starts out with a Hurricane a brewing and then Randall a man who appraises old things ends up missing. Later on he is found dead. Old books go missing and Randall was the one who authenticated them so they are not sure if that has anything to do with his death. Meg is curious about what happened so start sort of snooping around and then Franklin is killed and a group of people poisoned.
Meg has a few suspects but was having a hard time trying to put it all together. I kind of had an idea but had to wait for the reveal to see I was right. I really like Meg, she is an interior decorator and gets to decorate a place all in different classic author memorabilia which is really cool. She was a little confused on who she wanted to see relationship wise at first but I think (hope) it has resolved itself now. 🙂
Can’t wait for another one!
It starts out with a Hurricane a brewing and then Randall a man who appraises old things ends up missing. Later on he is found dead. Old books go missing and Randall was the one who authenticated them so they are not sure if that has anything to do with his death. Meg is curious about what happened so start sort of snooping around and then Franklin is killed and a group of people poisoned.
Meg has a few suspects but was having a hard time trying to put it all together. I kind of had an idea but had to wait for the reveal to see I was right. I really like Meg, she is an interior decorator and gets to decorate a place all in different classic author memorabilia which is really cool. She was a little confused on who she wanted to see relationship wise at first but I think (hope) it has resolved itself now. 🙂
Can’t wait for another one!
June 17, 2018
The Hampton Home and garden series is definitely one of my favorites, because it is well-written, the main characters are terrific, especially Meg the main person, the Hamptons is an exotic setting to someone who has never been to Long Island, and the world of antiquing and everything vintage is believable and quite interesting in Kathleen Bridge's hands. Book 3's bibliophile theme is a great topic and the ghost story adds to the plot. I think Agatha Christie would have approved of the plot!
February 4, 2021
I'm glad it took me only 7 days to read this book. Ghostal Living (2017) is not Bridge's best work in this series. All I can say is I hope the later books are better. I hate to see writers lowering their standards.
3 stars
3 stars
September 30, 2019
A nice cozy mystery.
I enjoyed reading about the Artist and Writers baseball game and the connections some famous authors had to the Hamptons area.
**Spoiler Alert***
One detail bothered me, I can't imagine a manuscript surviving being fired inside a 1900 F kiln.
I enjoyed reading about the Artist and Writers baseball game and the connections some famous authors had to the Hamptons area.
**Spoiler Alert***
One detail bothered me, I can't imagine a manuscript surviving being fired inside a 1900 F kiln.
January 26, 2022
The meat and potatoes of the mystery is in the B&B and with the horrible family that is setting it up. I'm talking a toxic family dynamic. In this regard book three builds on similar themes and tropes of Hearse and Gardens (2016)
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
July 25, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/gh...
Ghostal Living
Hamptons Home and Garden Mysteries, Book #3
By Kathleen Bridge
ISBN: 9780425276600
Author Website: kathleenbridge.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the latest mystery from the author of Better Homes and Corpses and Hearse and Gardens, Hamptons interior designer and antiques picker Meg Barrett uncovers a veil of spooky goings-on…
The first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair is right around the corner, and interior designer Meg Barrett has her hands full decorating rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth. Rumor has it Hollingsworth is in possession of an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When the Fitzgerald manuscript’s authenticator is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Meg suspects a killer is on the loose.
Rare books start disappearing from the B & B and Meg sees a connection between the stolen books and the deceased authenticator. With the fair looming, she finds herself caught up in catching a killer and thief before another victim is booked for death. INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS (from Goodreads)
Review:
Ghostal Living is exciting and suspenseful, drawing me in at the start and keeping my attention throughout. This third novel novel in the Hampton Home and Garden Mystery series can be read as a standalone, as the author shares just the right amount of info to acquaint us with the characters as they share a tantalizing glimpse of life in the Hamptons.
Meg has new challenges as a hurricane is heading towards Long Island. It was aimed in the direction of the cottage she has recently purchased in Montauk and even closer to the borrowed yacht she is living on. Said yacht is rocking and rolling more than Bill Haley and his Comets, sending Meg and her recently adopted Maine Coon Cat, Jo, running to the Bibliophile B & B in Sag Harbor.
The Bibliophilie is a place that I would happily run to if I had the spare $800 per night to visit! Meg knows it well, an ornate Victorian mansion that has been recently renovated. Meg, the one-woman interior design whiz of Cottages by the Sea designed and completed all except the Emily Dickinson Loft, which is almost complete. Since it isn’t quite ready yet, Franklin Hollingsworth and his niece, Brenna, who manages the B & B, will let her stay there through the upcoming Sag Harbor Antiquarian and Ephemera Fair and it’s kickoff 1920’s themed party thrown by Franklin’s eccentric brother Ollie. The B & B is not officially open; Franklin has hand-picked special guests for this special weekend. Franklin will publicly show the manuscript he recently purchased for a cool $5,000,000 for his collection. It has been authenticated as a previously unpublished, recently discovered short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
On the day of the hurricane, Randall McAfee, the manuscript’s authenticator and a weekend guest, disappeared and the next day his body is found below a cliff, next to a condemned house on the property. Something isn’t quite right, however. He is about to be honored at the gala and left nothing behind that would evidence he was suicidal, so his death is thought to be accidental.
There are so many good suspects! Based on Meg’s time spent with staff at the mansion, the guests, Franklin and his wife, Violet, there could be any number of motives. Meg’s best friend Elle is dating the detective in charge, Arthur Shoner, who doesn’t want Meg playing sleuth. Unusual events, thefts, and sudden illnesses occur, and Franklin, his butler and his butler’s sister seem to change their opinions of Meg for the worse. Could they honestly suspect her of the thefts, even murder? Or was there really a ghost in residence, as suggested by one person?
Meg and the author’s love of classic American literature is obvious as there are quotes of their favorite novels. There is much more to Meg and best friend Elle than meets the eye, and I thoroughly enjoy both of them. I love almost any mystery that has a cat in a starring role, in this case we get to watch Meg grow to appreciate the gorgeous Miss Josephine. Most characters, especially the guests and staff at the Bibliophile, are not who they seem to be; some seem like snobs and many are simply odd. Those most ‘real’ are Meg, Elle, Meg’s father’s best friend and retired Detroit coroner Doc and his best fishing buddy and new millionaire, Sully, who found the Fitzgerald manuscript. The characters are designed with care, and all with the exception of Meg and Elle, who are three-dimensional, are defined as thoroughly as necessary for their role.
The novel is fast-paced with twists and turns that roil up the plot just as the hurricane roiled up the waters off of Montauk. It is witty and suspenseful, and sprinkled with wisdom from the classics loved by Franklin and Meg. There are a few very good suspects. One suspect was simply not someone worth being in relationship with. Others were given wrong information that change their outlook. I was partially surprised when finding out who the bad guy(s)/ gal(s) were when the resolution takes place against the background of another terrible storm. The end is more than satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend Ghostal Living to those who like cozy mysteries that are well-written and full of surprises with likable protagonists and an assortment of eccentric characters and suspects.
Ghostal Living
Hamptons Home and Garden Mysteries, Book #3
By Kathleen Bridge
ISBN: 9780425276600
Author Website: kathleenbridge.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the latest mystery from the author of Better Homes and Corpses and Hearse and Gardens, Hamptons interior designer and antiques picker Meg Barrett uncovers a veil of spooky goings-on…
The first Sag Harbor Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair is right around the corner, and interior designer Meg Barrett has her hands full decorating rooms at the Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast for wealthy rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth. Rumor has it Hollingsworth is in possession of an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When the Fitzgerald manuscript’s authenticator is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Meg suspects a killer is on the loose.
Rare books start disappearing from the B & B and Meg sees a connection between the stolen books and the deceased authenticator. With the fair looming, she finds herself caught up in catching a killer and thief before another victim is booked for death. INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS (from Goodreads)
Review:
Ghostal Living is exciting and suspenseful, drawing me in at the start and keeping my attention throughout. This third novel novel in the Hampton Home and Garden Mystery series can be read as a standalone, as the author shares just the right amount of info to acquaint us with the characters as they share a tantalizing glimpse of life in the Hamptons.
Meg has new challenges as a hurricane is heading towards Long Island. It was aimed in the direction of the cottage she has recently purchased in Montauk and even closer to the borrowed yacht she is living on. Said yacht is rocking and rolling more than Bill Haley and his Comets, sending Meg and her recently adopted Maine Coon Cat, Jo, running to the Bibliophile B & B in Sag Harbor.
The Bibliophilie is a place that I would happily run to if I had the spare $800 per night to visit! Meg knows it well, an ornate Victorian mansion that has been recently renovated. Meg, the one-woman interior design whiz of Cottages by the Sea designed and completed all except the Emily Dickinson Loft, which is almost complete. Since it isn’t quite ready yet, Franklin Hollingsworth and his niece, Brenna, who manages the B & B, will let her stay there through the upcoming Sag Harbor Antiquarian and Ephemera Fair and it’s kickoff 1920’s themed party thrown by Franklin’s eccentric brother Ollie. The B & B is not officially open; Franklin has hand-picked special guests for this special weekend. Franklin will publicly show the manuscript he recently purchased for a cool $5,000,000 for his collection. It has been authenticated as a previously unpublished, recently discovered short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
On the day of the hurricane, Randall McAfee, the manuscript’s authenticator and a weekend guest, disappeared and the next day his body is found below a cliff, next to a condemned house on the property. Something isn’t quite right, however. He is about to be honored at the gala and left nothing behind that would evidence he was suicidal, so his death is thought to be accidental.
There are so many good suspects! Based on Meg’s time spent with staff at the mansion, the guests, Franklin and his wife, Violet, there could be any number of motives. Meg’s best friend Elle is dating the detective in charge, Arthur Shoner, who doesn’t want Meg playing sleuth. Unusual events, thefts, and sudden illnesses occur, and Franklin, his butler and his butler’s sister seem to change their opinions of Meg for the worse. Could they honestly suspect her of the thefts, even murder? Or was there really a ghost in residence, as suggested by one person?
Meg and the author’s love of classic American literature is obvious as there are quotes of their favorite novels. There is much more to Meg and best friend Elle than meets the eye, and I thoroughly enjoy both of them. I love almost any mystery that has a cat in a starring role, in this case we get to watch Meg grow to appreciate the gorgeous Miss Josephine. Most characters, especially the guests and staff at the Bibliophile, are not who they seem to be; some seem like snobs and many are simply odd. Those most ‘real’ are Meg, Elle, Meg’s father’s best friend and retired Detroit coroner Doc and his best fishing buddy and new millionaire, Sully, who found the Fitzgerald manuscript. The characters are designed with care, and all with the exception of Meg and Elle, who are three-dimensional, are defined as thoroughly as necessary for their role.
The novel is fast-paced with twists and turns that roil up the plot just as the hurricane roiled up the waters off of Montauk. It is witty and suspenseful, and sprinkled with wisdom from the classics loved by Franklin and Meg. There are a few very good suspects. One suspect was simply not someone worth being in relationship with. Others were given wrong information that change their outlook. I was partially surprised when finding out who the bad guy(s)/ gal(s) were when the resolution takes place against the background of another terrible storm. The end is more than satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend Ghostal Living to those who like cozy mysteries that are well-written and full of surprises with likable protagonists and an assortment of eccentric characters and suspects.
November 4, 2022
This MC has to be one of the stupidest I’ve ever read. The plot? There wasn’t one. The twist? There wasn’t one.
I only give two stars because I would love to live in an American authors inspired B and B. That’s all.
I only give two stars because I would love to live in an American authors inspired B and B. That’s all.
March 8, 2020
I'm not crazy about the protagonist.
September 17, 2020
rereading
i hate that theres a resolution of one love triangle only to be replaced by another.
i hate that theres a resolution of one love triangle only to be replaced by another.
May 3, 2026
Author has some good ideas and stories but desperately needs an editor. Beyond grammatical errors (in a book about book lovers, no less), there are endless descriptions of EVERYTHING, as if to say "look how much I know about a zillion topics that have nothing to do with the story."
And her local police are complete morons. Imagine an accidental death where the police a)do not search or seal the room occupied by the deceased; b)never look for the deceased's phone, though it's in plain sight, c) leave the car belonging to the deceased sitting UNLOCKED in a parking lot for days and never even look in it for an address, leaving that job for our nosy MC and d) somehow miss a piece of paper on the beach where the body was found, visible from a distance, and it miraculously sits there for a couple of days despite a hurricane having blown through on the night of death, until the MC gets around to retrieving it. Is it remotely possible a Long Island police department makes these kinds of blunders? No. And in fact they really don't even have a purpose to advance the MC's investigation. They're just silly.
**Spoiler alert**
I was so hoping her goofy high school crush on her hapless neighbor had been left behind in the previous book. There seemed to be a reason he made himself scarce when she eagerly ran out in the night multiple times hoping to meet him. I hoped her moving down the road a ways gave him some relief from her stalker behavior. But, no, he pops in at the end with a very much out of character flirtation scene. And her hapless boyfriend is about to be forgotten, again. He needs to just go back to SC and find a life with a grown woman and his 3 legged dog.
And her local police are complete morons. Imagine an accidental death where the police a)do not search or seal the room occupied by the deceased; b)never look for the deceased's phone, though it's in plain sight, c) leave the car belonging to the deceased sitting UNLOCKED in a parking lot for days and never even look in it for an address, leaving that job for our nosy MC and d) somehow miss a piece of paper on the beach where the body was found, visible from a distance, and it miraculously sits there for a couple of days despite a hurricane having blown through on the night of death, until the MC gets around to retrieving it. Is it remotely possible a Long Island police department makes these kinds of blunders? No. And in fact they really don't even have a purpose to advance the MC's investigation. They're just silly.
**Spoiler alert**
I was so hoping her goofy high school crush on her hapless neighbor had been left behind in the previous book. There seemed to be a reason he made himself scarce when she eagerly ran out in the night multiple times hoping to meet him. I hoped her moving down the road a ways gave him some relief from her stalker behavior. But, no, he pops in at the end with a very much out of character flirtation scene. And her hapless boyfriend is about to be forgotten, again. He needs to just go back to SC and find a life with a grown woman and his 3 legged dog.
June 5, 2017
Interior designer Meg Barrett is working at Franklin Hollingsworth’s Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast, designing guest rooms centering on classic American authors. Each room includes costly original works by the authors, along with period pieces Meg finds at her friend Elle’s Sag Harbor antique store. Franklin, a rare book collector, owns an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald that he plans to unveil at the upcoming 1st Sag Harbor Book and Ephemera Fair. In preparation of the event he has invited a few upper-echelon bibliophiles to stay at his B&B as guests until it officially opens.
After a hurricane hits and one of the guests goes missing, Detective Arthur Shoner is called to investigate his disappearance. The man is later found – dead. As Meg searches through the attic for other period items she can use in the various rooms, she discovers an old diary, indicating a few surprises about Sarah Hollingsworth, a previous owner of the home who supposedly haunts it now. Meg also discovers that rare books are missing from the rooms. Did an employee or guest take them? The questions keep mounting when yet another guest is found dead. But deaths and surprises are just the beginning of a story that blends history, an enchanting environment, antique books and mystery.
I received a free advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to grant it a favorable review. My full review can be found at http://myshelf.com/mystery/16/ghostal...
After a hurricane hits and one of the guests goes missing, Detective Arthur Shoner is called to investigate his disappearance. The man is later found – dead. As Meg searches through the attic for other period items she can use in the various rooms, she discovers an old diary, indicating a few surprises about Sarah Hollingsworth, a previous owner of the home who supposedly haunts it now. Meg also discovers that rare books are missing from the rooms. Did an employee or guest take them? The questions keep mounting when yet another guest is found dead. But deaths and surprises are just the beginning of a story that blends history, an enchanting environment, antique books and mystery.
I received a free advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to grant it a favorable review. My full review can be found at http://myshelf.com/mystery/16/ghostal...
October 15, 2017
2.75 Stars
Reviewed by Wendy
Sexual Content: None
Language Content: Mild
Violent Content: Minimal
Interior designer Meg Barrett is busy decorating rooms at the
Bibliophile Bed and Breakfast and getting ready for an Antiquarian Book
Fair. The Bed and Breakfast is a unique place to stay as the suites being
renovated are dedicated to classic American authors.
While working on one of the rooms, Meg notices several missing
books. Then during a bad storm, a guest disappears and ends up dead,
definitely due to foul play. Meg has quite a mystery to solve involving a
dead man, missing books and a priceless manuscript. She is also in the
course of renovating her own cottage and juggling two possible love
interests.
Meg is a likeable character and the town of Montauk in the
Hamptons and the Bed and Breakfast made for an attractive setting. The
story has some historical detail which usually interests me.
The mystery was a tale of greed and lies and had a few twists and
turns, but never quite kept my interest. For me, the book was slow moving
and lacked action. I had higher hopes for this third book in the series, after
reading the first two.Not my cup of tea, but may appeal to others.
-- WENDY
Reviewed by Wendy
Sexual Content: None
Language Content: Mild
Violent Content: Minimal
Interior designer Meg Barrett is busy decorating rooms at the
Bibliophile Bed and Breakfast and getting ready for an Antiquarian Book
Fair. The Bed and Breakfast is a unique place to stay as the suites being
renovated are dedicated to classic American authors.
While working on one of the rooms, Meg notices several missing
books. Then during a bad storm, a guest disappears and ends up dead,
definitely due to foul play. Meg has quite a mystery to solve involving a
dead man, missing books and a priceless manuscript. She is also in the
course of renovating her own cottage and juggling two possible love
interests.
Meg is a likeable character and the town of Montauk in the
Hamptons and the Bed and Breakfast made for an attractive setting. The
story has some historical detail which usually interests me.
The mystery was a tale of greed and lies and had a few twists and
turns, but never quite kept my interest. For me, the book was slow moving
and lacked action. I had higher hopes for this third book in the series, after
reading the first two.Not my cup of tea, but may appeal to others.
-- WENDY
October 3, 2019
The third in a series; I probably should have started at the beginning of the series. Some characters appeared later on that had no reference to the storyline and Megan’s two boyfriends were not at all developed in this book, so there was not loss when one went off with another woman and one showed up at the end but with little consequence. Definitely a cozy read. Megan is an interior decorator in Montauk and The Hamptons. In this book, she is charged with helping Franklin convert his home into the Bibliophile Bed and Breakfast; she is decorating the various rooms dedicated to various authors with artifacts that would be appropriate for their time. She is also using books which each would have had in his or her library in that period. When a person who is authenticating a newly found work by F.Scott Fitzgerald is found dead and subsequently another person is found to be murdered, Megan becomes involved with solving the mysteries, including the disappearance of the manuscript. All in all, Megan is not really a ‘lay” detective and there is no real build up to the climax but it was fun to read about Sag Harbour, the book collecting and the antique world.
May 4, 2017
When I read and reviewed her first book, BETTER HOMES AND CORPSES, I mentioned that it was disappointing that more wasn’t made of Meg having a hearing impairment. She is a unique amateur detective with the hearing impairment and her lip reading could add some nice depth to the character and how she solves her crimes. I was glad to see Bridge having Meg use that skill in GHOSTAL LIVING.
She does have, as is the pattern cozies seem to be falling into, a love triangle. I’m not the only reader who finds them annoying, especially when they drag on through several books. If I want to read a romance, I’ll pick one up. I don’t mind the sleuth having a love interest, but I want the focus on the detective’s smarts, cunning and creativity, not trying to figure out which guys she wants to be with. While Bridge does have the triangle aspect, she does a nice job of including it and then dispensing with it. In fact, it’s more of a background issue than actually part of the story so you don’t see much of it at all.
She does have, as is the pattern cozies seem to be falling into, a love triangle. I’m not the only reader who finds them annoying, especially when they drag on through several books. If I want to read a romance, I’ll pick one up. I don’t mind the sleuth having a love interest, but I want the focus on the detective’s smarts, cunning and creativity, not trying to figure out which guys she wants to be with. While Bridge does have the triangle aspect, she does a nice job of including it and then dispensing with it. In fact, it’s more of a background issue than actually part of the story so you don’t see much of it at all.
June 1, 2017
Meg Barrett is spending her days decorating rooms in early American author scenes for the newly renovated Bibliophile Bed & Breakfast at Sag Harbor. When money is no option; the sky is the limit for B & B owner and rare book collector Franklin Hollingsworth.
Meg loves her job and a great side effect of working for the wealthy is rubbing elbows with the wealthy; even living like the other half lives. Of course, the other half also lives with ghosts; the question is are the ghostly tales true or do people use ghosts to explain away what could otherwise be considered murder?
When the person who authenticated an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, owned by Hollingsworth is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the ungodly winds and rain are blamed for the death; but when rare books start disappearing Meg begins to believe that the story of the ghost that haunts the Hollingsworth estate is as fishy as the death of the manuscript’s authenticator.
Will Meg be able to see the tree through the forest before someone else dies?
Meg loves her job and a great side effect of working for the wealthy is rubbing elbows with the wealthy; even living like the other half lives. Of course, the other half also lives with ghosts; the question is are the ghostly tales true or do people use ghosts to explain away what could otherwise be considered murder?
When the person who authenticated an unpublished manuscript written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, owned by Hollingsworth is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the ungodly winds and rain are blamed for the death; but when rare books start disappearing Meg begins to believe that the story of the ghost that haunts the Hollingsworth estate is as fishy as the death of the manuscript’s authenticator.
Will Meg be able to see the tree through the forest before someone else dies?
June 20, 2017
Another good one in the Hampton’s Home and Garden mystery series.
It starts out with a Hurricane a brewing and then Randall a man who appraises old things ends up missing. Later on he is found dead. Old books go missing and Randall was the one who authenticated them so they are not sure if that has anything to do with his death. Meg is curious about what happened so start sort of snooping around and then Franklin is killed and a group of people poisoned.
Meg has a few suspects but was having a hard time trying to put it all together. I kind of had an idea but had to wait for the reveal to see I was right. I really like Meg, she is an interior decorator and gets to decorate a place all in different classic author memorabilia which is really cool. She was a little confused on who she wanted to see relationship wise at first but I think (hope) it has resolved itself now. 🙂
Can’t wait for another one!
It starts out with a Hurricane a brewing and then Randall a man who appraises old things ends up missing. Later on he is found dead. Old books go missing and Randall was the one who authenticated them so they are not sure if that has anything to do with his death. Meg is curious about what happened so start sort of snooping around and then Franklin is killed and a group of people poisoned.
Meg has a few suspects but was having a hard time trying to put it all together. I kind of had an idea but had to wait for the reveal to see I was right. I really like Meg, she is an interior decorator and gets to decorate a place all in different classic author memorabilia which is really cool. She was a little confused on who she wanted to see relationship wise at first but I think (hope) it has resolved itself now. 🙂
Can’t wait for another one!
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