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Viola Valentine Mystery #2
Ghost Town
Every day at dusk, in a small Louisiana town, the dead emerge from Lorelei Lake.Viola Valentine is hired to use her “gift” of seeing ghosts to rid this town of its apparitions. In the process, she hopes her new ability, obtained after a hurricane barreled through New Orleans, will help her reach her beloved Lillye on the Other Side.Yet, the more Viola struggles to talk to her departed daughter, the more frustrated she gets. Plus, there's a recession on, jobs are hard to come by, and her suffocating family and ex-husband keep making demands. She takes solace in a new love interest, one who teaches her how to harness her anger.In the end, Viola realizes that only love can solve her problems, from ridding ghosts of lakeside towns to healing a broken heart.Book two in the Viola Valentine Mystery Series by award-winning author Cherie Claire.BOOK DETAILS• Contemporary paranormal mystery• Book Two of the Viola Valentine Mystery Series• A full-length novel of approximately 80,000 words • PG-rated Light sexuality• Set in Louisiana and the Deep SouthBooks by Cherie The Viola Valentine Mystery SeriesA Ghost of a ChanceGhost TownTrace of a GhostGhost Trippin’Give Up the GhostThe Ghost is Clear (novella)Ghost FeverGhost LightsThe Cajun EmbassyTicket to ParadiseDamn YankeesGone PecanCarnival A Mardi Gras NovellaThe Cajun SeriesEmilieRoseGabrielleDelphineA Cajun DreamThe LetterNon-fiction titles by Cheré Magic’s in the Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets with Jude BradleyExploring Cajun A Tour of Historic AcadianaHaunted Lafayette, LouisianaForest Hill, A Bloom Town History
- GenresFantasy
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2017
20 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Cherie Claire
27 books139 followersCherie Claire grew up in New Orleans, with mud between her toes and a rabid love of Mardi Gras parades. Naturally, she couldn't help but write about her unique, colorful state and the South.
Cherie is the award-winning author of several Cajun historical romances and The Cajun Embassy series of contemporary romances and the Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series. She's a Holt Award finalist, a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award finalist, and received the Louisiana Press Women Book of the Year.
She also writes non-fiction books under the name of Cheré Dastugue Coen.
Visit her website at www.cherieclaire.net and write to her at CajunRomances@Yahoo.com.
Cherie is the award-winning author of several Cajun historical romances and The Cajun Embassy series of contemporary romances and the Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series. She's a Holt Award finalist, a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award finalist, and received the Louisiana Press Women Book of the Year.
She also writes non-fiction books under the name of Cheré Dastugue Coen.
Visit her website at www.cherieclaire.net and write to her at CajunRomances@Yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 11, 2018
I very much recommend this book & the first book in the series (A Ghost of a Chance) to anyone who wants to read a very different type of mystery. The characters are well drawn & complex--even to Stinky, the cat.
I was drawn in Ghost Town from the beginning, and remained absorbed throughout the whole book. I have to amit that I didn't always like the choices that were made, but understood why they were made.
This different approch in a mystery novel intrigued me--it was nothing like I ever read before, serious, but with humor sprinkled here and there. The main character, Viola, is fiesty and complex, and the author described New Orleans and the areas around New Orleans so well that it was like reading about another character. I will definately keep on reading this series!
The only thing I did not like was the cover as it did not fit the book, this is not a cozy mystery. Or a light mystery as (in my opinion) the complexty of the characters made it much more than that.
Although one can read this as a stand-alone book I personally would recommend reading the first book first as you can live through how well the characters are drawn.
I was drawn in Ghost Town from the beginning, and remained absorbed throughout the whole book. I have to amit that I didn't always like the choices that were made, but understood why they were made.
This different approch in a mystery novel intrigued me--it was nothing like I ever read before, serious, but with humor sprinkled here and there. The main character, Viola, is fiesty and complex, and the author described New Orleans and the areas around New Orleans so well that it was like reading about another character. I will definately keep on reading this series!
The only thing I did not like was the cover as it did not fit the book, this is not a cozy mystery. Or a light mystery as (in my opinion) the complexty of the characters made it much more than that.
Although one can read this as a stand-alone book I personally would recommend reading the first book first as you can live through how well the characters are drawn.
January 8, 2024
Viola Valentine, recovering reporter, travel writer, and ghost whisperer, is hired by the residents of a small Louisiana town to rid the town of its apparitions. She also hopes to reach her beloved daughter, felled by leukemia, on “the Other Side.” That’s not working out so well, and she’s also plagued by poverty, a suffocating family where she’s the outlier, and an almost ex-husband who just won’t go away.
I had only one quibble with this. Viola made a reference to “Walter Cronkitt” and any reporter worth their salt knows it’s “Cronkite.” Google is your friend.
But, I got caught up in the way she helped the townspeople solve their problems while figuring out some things about herself. The plot involved corrupt politicians (it is Louisiana), illegal dumping, unethical land deals, those pesky dead people who won’t stay put, and a water nymph trying to protect the town. There was a good balance of mystery and day-to-day life and I liked that the paranormal elements were “normal”. Okay, the whole water nymph thing was a little out there, but she served a purpose and moved the story along. I liked watching Viola work through the layers and the lies to help the town find a reasonable resolution to the problem. I also like that she’s got a backbone.
I found myself thinking about the story when not reading it, wondering how my new friends were doing and how the problems would get resolved. I was sad when it was over because I enjoyed the story so much. I think these would be better read in order, but the author does a good job of filling in the backstory so you don’t feel lost. I will read more in this series.
I had only one quibble with this. Viola made a reference to “Walter Cronkitt” and any reporter worth their salt knows it’s “Cronkite.” Google is your friend.
But, I got caught up in the way she helped the townspeople solve their problems while figuring out some things about herself. The plot involved corrupt politicians (it is Louisiana), illegal dumping, unethical land deals, those pesky dead people who won’t stay put, and a water nymph trying to protect the town. There was a good balance of mystery and day-to-day life and I liked that the paranormal elements were “normal”. Okay, the whole water nymph thing was a little out there, but she served a purpose and moved the story along. I liked watching Viola work through the layers and the lies to help the town find a reasonable resolution to the problem. I also like that she’s got a backbone.
I found myself thinking about the story when not reading it, wondering how my new friends were doing and how the problems would get resolved. I was sad when it was over because I enjoyed the story so much. I think these would be better read in order, but the author does a good job of filling in the backstory so you don’t feel lost. I will read more in this series.
January 18, 2023
Cherie Claire has made the protagonist of her series, Viola Valentine, an unlikable person in the second installment, "Ghost Town". This is a very difficult choice to make work, and Ms. Claire only partially succeeds. The plot is interesting, though the central point of industrial waste dumping has been well used. The anger of Viola and her treatment of the people around her make the book a bit of a slog. It did hold my interest enough for me to complete it and I will attempt the sequel, hoping for a return to the form of the original book of the series.
September 4, 2017
Like the Germans would say "Wunderbar".
As you can see I like the book a lot. Viola is so angry at what happened to her in life that it is clouding her rational thinking and acting inappropriate, but it looks like she is getting her act together.
Her husband may not be the smartest, but he is like a lovable teddy bear and very devoted to her. She must give him a chance again.
As you can see I like the book a lot. Viola is so angry at what happened to her in life that it is clouding her rational thinking and acting inappropriate, but it looks like she is getting her act together.
Her husband may not be the smartest, but he is like a lovable teddy bear and very devoted to her. She must give him a chance again.
October 13, 2017
I like this series a lot- it makes me laugh and cry and get angry. Good signs. Viola is an angry and stressed out lady, just trying to make it through life. I love that she is learning to accept her gifts and that she is working hard to keep her dream job. I also like that she is not perfect, but she's working on getting better (at least in some aspects of her life).
February 27, 2018
Wiw!
The author does an excellent job of making us care about her characters so clearly that he want them bash Viola, the main character, over the head every time she’s mean to TB. As for the mystery, I double-dog dare you that you WON’T figure it out! Lots of characters to feel quite passionate about. Good read
The author does an excellent job of making us care about her characters so clearly that he want them bash Viola, the main character, over the head every time she’s mean to TB. As for the mystery, I double-dog dare you that you WON’T figure it out! Lots of characters to feel quite passionate about. Good read
June 17, 2020
Viola Valentine sees ghosts
Viola is broke, sad, confused and angry. Plus she sees ghosts of people who died by water. She gets involved in helping an old town exorcise a pile of ghosts, finding corruption and community along the way. Characters are likable and unique and the story keeps your interest
Viola is broke, sad, confused and angry. Plus she sees ghosts of people who died by water. She gets involved in helping an old town exorcise a pile of ghosts, finding corruption and community along the way. Characters are likable and unique and the story keeps your interest
August 22, 2017
Love, love, love this book!
This book was great fun and I loved every minute of it. This series deserves more than five stars and it's a pity it had to end, but I'm hoping there will be more from Ms. Claire and Viola Valentine very soon.
This book was great fun and I loved every minute of it. This series deserves more than five stars and it's a pity it had to end, but I'm hoping there will be more from Ms. Claire and Viola Valentine very soon.
August 15, 2018
Scooby Doo meets the ghost whisper
I don't think this author likes Yankees , it's thrown around quite a bit about us northern people . The last book the sister was pregnant, 2 book the kid is two years old if not older , it bounces around to much .
I don't think this author likes Yankees , it's thrown around quite a bit about us northern people . The last book the sister was pregnant, 2 book the kid is two years old if not older , it bounces around to much .
September 21, 2023
Well written and considerably less violent than some of the series I have been reading lately. I admit that the character reveal near the end took me by surprise (though in hindsight there were clues).
November 13, 2025
The unexpected
Everything in this novel keeps you guessing. It's very enjoyable to read. The history of locations their in my home state. Some I knew about, and others were very unexpected. I am debating the cat, is her daughters. I'm just debating.
Everything in this novel keeps you guessing. It's very enjoyable to read. The history of locations their in my home state. Some I knew about, and others were very unexpected. I am debating the cat, is her daughters. I'm just debating.
August 16, 2017
The characters are endearing, the locations and images evocative, and the mystery is enthralling. I stayed up way too late last night reading this, and I don't regret it. I really like this series!
November 1, 2018
Wonderful
I really enjoyed this book. It was as good as the first one in the series, maybe better. I admire an author that does that! I look forward to the next book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was as good as the first one in the series, maybe better. I admire an author that does that! I look forward to the next book.
August 8, 2019
I'm still hooked... Even though the editing issues are becoming more obvious. The writing is engaging, but the little malapropisms are a tad distracting. Where's her editor?
August 29, 2019
Enjoyable
Love the characters & the story! I'm so excited that I found these books. Hard to out down & keeps you interested. Give it a try you won't be sorry.
Love the characters & the story! I'm so excited that I found these books. Hard to out down & keeps you interested. Give it a try you won't be sorry.
April 28, 2020
Further travel and mystery murder dealt with by Viola Valentine and ghostly help, while rebuilding after personal loss and reconstruction in the wake of Katrina..
August 21, 2020
As a travel writer originally from New Orleans myself, this book is so fun. Her characters are so real I think I have met some of them.
May 28, 2022
Great book, great series
I like all the travel, getting caught up with friends. Viola is an awesome hermione working through the crap life throws our way.
I like all the travel, getting caught up with friends. Viola is an awesome hermione working through the crap life throws our way.
January 14, 2018
Love this series. Claire's books really move. Can't wait 'till the next one!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews