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Violetta Graves Mystery #1
In Good Spirits
I didn’t kill my ex-boyfriend. But I sure as hell wanted to.
My name is Violetta Graves. I’m a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas, so I serve spirits to the mostly unlucky. But I also see spirits. Ghosts. And dead people are a pain in the ass. But you know what’s worse? Being accused of murder. And the only way to avoid getting arrested by the hottest homicide cop in Vegas is to ask the Other Side for help.
So here I am. Whispering to ghosts. And wishing Mr. Hottie’s handcuffs were being used for something other than taking me to jail.
My name is Violetta Graves. I’m a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas, so I serve spirits to the mostly unlucky. But I also see spirits. Ghosts. And dead people are a pain in the ass. But you know what’s worse? Being accused of murder. And the only way to avoid getting arrested by the hottest homicide cop in Vegas is to ask the Other Side for help.
So here I am. Whispering to ghosts. And wishing Mr. Hottie’s handcuffs were being used for something other than taking me to jail.
70 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2016
102 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Michele Bardsley
234 books1,451 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Michele Bardsley writes humorous paranormal romances and funny paranormal mysteries. Michele likes to write, read, crochet hats, drink wine, and eat chocolate!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 21, 2017
Not nearly as good as Ms. Bardsley's other work, but an okay read.
December 27, 2016
Violetta is a bit of a deadbeat. She's 30, with no savings or job. This novella opens with Violetta in small claims court being sued by her ex. Much happens and she is accused of murder. Luckily, this wraps up, no cliffhanger. I wanted more. I enjoyed her snarky humor.
I needed to laugh and this did it. "Men have sweaty balls. It's like acid that eats away at the fragile fabric."
I needed to laugh and this did it. "Men have sweaty balls. It's like acid that eats away at the fragile fabric."
June 25, 2017
A quick, fun, laugh out loud mystery that left me wanting more! Off to get book two!
March 27, 2017
In good spirits
Fun, funny, excellent characters, good plot for a novella, some f bombs but the Marilyn Monroe lawyer is worth it.
Fun, funny, excellent characters, good plot for a novella, some f bombs but the Marilyn Monroe lawyer is worth it.
April 10, 2017
Funny and entertaining
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had delightful character that I became invested in and will enjoy reading about again
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had delightful character that I became invested in and will enjoy reading about again
December 6, 2016
Cool premise, talking with dead people. Quick, fun read. I liked it!
Fast paced fun. I read it in one sitting. Interesting characters, neat setting. I recommend this book to everyone!
Spooktacular!
Fast paced fun. I read it in one sitting. Interesting characters, neat setting. I recommend this book to everyone!
Spooktacular!
February 24, 2016
This was a fun and quick read. I would love to read more books with these characters.
August 5, 2016
Nice little read with interesting characters and a good plot line. Have fifteen minutes or so to devote to crime and ghosts? Give this series a try. Number two is out and number three is coming.
August 31, 2016
Hysterical!
July 13, 2020
Fun and quick read . Loved Violetta- a strong and flawed but lovable character.
November 23, 2016
Great characters, funny, breezy. Really enjoyed the story, just a shame it was so short!
December 3, 2016
Ghostly fun
I love a story with eccentric characters and a hot detective. This one also boasts ghosts and a lawyer who likes to dress as Marilyn Monroe. Be prepared for laughter.
I love a story with eccentric characters and a hot detective. This one also boasts ghosts and a lawyer who likes to dress as Marilyn Monroe. Be prepared for laughter.
February 18, 2017
Whilst I liked this story - it was very short and thus not enough content.
But the ghost of Violetta's boyfriend was fun, especially when he could possess other people and talk for them.
But the ghost of Violetta's boyfriend was fun, especially when he could possess other people and talk for them.
March 18, 2019
After catching her boyfriend cheating on her, Violetta retaliates by throwing a one of her stilettos at him. The heel cuts Enrique in the face, and now he's suing her. The judge rules in Enrique's favor, and Violetta now owes the slime bag $5000.00. To begin paying it off, the judge also orders her to give Enrique the only thing she owns of any value--a beautiful pendant that is the only thing that prevents Vie from seeing ghosts.
Violetta is between a rock and a hard place. She's just lost her job as a waitress, and she only has 30 days to come up with the rest of the money she owes Enrique. Now, the banging hot guy she hooked up with for a one-off has shown up, and he's interested in seeing Vie again. Desperate, she turns to her sister--perfect Deirdre, with her perfect attorney husband, nice home, cute son, and perfect life. Only, Dee isn't feeling so perfect. She suspects her husband is cheating on her. Deirdre cooks up a scheme to steal Violetta's necklace back, but while they're visiting the club that Enrique frequents, he ends up dead, and Violetta ends up the number one suspect. Too bad the banging hot guy is a cop.
Paranormal lite, in a nutshell. The story was cute and fun, without anything dramatic bogging it down. Enrique was an absolute asshole, but other than that, everything was lighthearted. The story was shorter than I had anticipated, and while the author took time to set up the situation (both between Violetta and Enrique, and Violetta and Deirdre), the ending was rather abrupt. I felt a bit cheated, to be honest. It was like, "That's it?" Eh. Cute, but not remarkable. Average score.
Violetta is between a rock and a hard place. She's just lost her job as a waitress, and she only has 30 days to come up with the rest of the money she owes Enrique. Now, the banging hot guy she hooked up with for a one-off has shown up, and he's interested in seeing Vie again. Desperate, she turns to her sister--perfect Deirdre, with her perfect attorney husband, nice home, cute son, and perfect life. Only, Dee isn't feeling so perfect. She suspects her husband is cheating on her. Deirdre cooks up a scheme to steal Violetta's necklace back, but while they're visiting the club that Enrique frequents, he ends up dead, and Violetta ends up the number one suspect. Too bad the banging hot guy is a cop.
Paranormal lite, in a nutshell. The story was cute and fun, without anything dramatic bogging it down. Enrique was an absolute asshole, but other than that, everything was lighthearted. The story was shorter than I had anticipated, and while the author took time to set up the situation (both between Violetta and Enrique, and Violetta and Deirdre), the ending was rather abrupt. I felt a bit cheated, to be honest. It was like, "That's it?" Eh. Cute, but not remarkable. Average score.
September 27, 2018
It never rains but it pours!
A great read but just a shame it was only 77% of the page count.
The day had started off badly - in court. She had managed to injure her ex-boyfriend with her only pair of designer shoes. Now he was seeking damages. $5000 was awarded to him. Part of which he took/demand in the form of the necklace her granny had given her. The necklace that kept ghosts away. Now without protection, no job, no money and no place to live she goes off to see her sister. That's how she ended up in the comedy club accused of his murder. Can she or the ghost that has accompanied her find the truth before she's arrested? A great fun plot and a fast read - wish it had been longer. Vivid characters that you remember.
A great read but just a shame it was only 77% of the page count.
The day had started off badly - in court. She had managed to injure her ex-boyfriend with her only pair of designer shoes. Now he was seeking damages. $5000 was awarded to him. Part of which he took/demand in the form of the necklace her granny had given her. The necklace that kept ghosts away. Now without protection, no job, no money and no place to live she goes off to see her sister. That's how she ended up in the comedy club accused of his murder. Can she or the ghost that has accompanied her find the truth before she's arrested? A great fun plot and a fast read - wish it had been longer. Vivid characters that you remember.
May 12, 2018
Violetta threw a shoe at her cheating boyfriend cutting his face and leaving a scar so he sues her. She has to give up her necklace to cover part of the fine it stops her from seeing ghosts, a gift from her grandmother. Then she’s accused of killing Enrique. She has to prove she didn’t kill him, This was an enjoyable story.
May 29, 2017
So glad I discovered this series, I'm hooked!
I love this new-to-me series, good character development who are likable and funny. Thank you Ms Barnsley for the entertainment, I can't wait to read the next book!
I love this new-to-me series, good character development who are likable and funny. Thank you Ms Barnsley for the entertainment, I can't wait to read the next book!
April 12, 2018
Fun short story. I don't usually like short stories but this one got me hooked on the characters and now I can't wait to read more of the series to learn more about all of them. I like this author, so I've no doubt I'll like this series too.
June 18, 2017
OMG! My only complaint is it's not long enough :) I love the characters, each one is a gem!
August 26, 2017
Review to follow.
June 12, 2019
Extra Book #18 - Not for the EBN Challenge.
Funny, sassy, and a quick read. I really liked it.
Funny, sassy, and a quick read. I really liked it.
January 6, 2021
I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely enjoyed this short read!!
February 21, 2017
Violetta Graves was down on her luck. She couldn’t rub two dimes together, has a propensity for using four-letter words and fits of unbridled anger. To top-off this portrait of human suffering, her car is on its last leg, she is about to become homeless, and a small-claims court judge just ordered her to pay her ex-boyfriend, Enrique Santos, five thousand dollars in damages. In an upwelling of rage, she threw one of her red stilettos at him, causing grievous physical and mental anguish. What’s a girl to do?
The value of a gift, like beauty and another man’s junk, is in the eye of the beholder. Violetta was blessed, or cursed (depending on which camp you take residence), with ghosts. This “gift” was passed on by her late grandmother and Violetta has suffered ever since. At a loss for a better alternative, Violetta visits her younger sister, Deirdre and they have a girl’s night out. What better place to do this than Las Vegas, Sin City and the Diamond in the Desert. What happens next may surprise you and will certainly entertain you. The old adage, “nothing is as it seems,” passes well in describing this modern ghost story. Enjoy the antics of the Graves sisters and their long-dead cohorts in a murder mystery like you have never imagined. The oxymoron cozy murder mystery fits this tale perfectly…….
The value of a gift, like beauty and another man’s junk, is in the eye of the beholder. Violetta was blessed, or cursed (depending on which camp you take residence), with ghosts. This “gift” was passed on by her late grandmother and Violetta has suffered ever since. At a loss for a better alternative, Violetta visits her younger sister, Deirdre and they have a girl’s night out. What better place to do this than Las Vegas, Sin City and the Diamond in the Desert. What happens next may surprise you and will certainly entertain you. The old adage, “nothing is as it seems,” passes well in describing this modern ghost story. Enjoy the antics of the Graves sisters and their long-dead cohorts in a murder mystery like you have never imagined. The oxymoron cozy murder mystery fits this tale perfectly…….
December 8, 2021
A series of violent events reintroduce some ghostly interventions in a woman’s life in Michele Bardsley’s In Good Spirits (Violetta Graves Mystery #1).
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
After being told by the judge to hand over her only item of value, a pendant necklace from around her neck, to Enrique, her ex-boyfriend, to cover $1,500 of her $5,000 payment to him, Violetta begins to see ghosts again as the pendant’s protective powers are imbued within the pendant. Determined to get it back to prevent potential havoc from taking over her life, Violetta enlists her sister’s help and the pair come up with a plan to go to the club he’s known to frequent as well as order plenty of drinks on Deirdre’s husband’s credit card, as Deirdre is convinced he’s having an affair. Violetta did throw her stilettos at Enrique causing cuts and subsequent scarring on his face, and yes, he sued her and got a restraining order, but that doesn’t mean that she killed him; when Enrique is found dead in the alley outside the club, along with Violetta and the murder weapon, it’s fortunate that Detective Matthew Stone, who is already familiar with Violetta from a previous encounter, is on the case; with his sympathetic ear, Violetta now aims to prove her innocence, which may come in the form of assistance from some supernatural allies.
A quick and relatively cutsey-given-the-subject-matter story, there’s a feel of comedy of errors in the rapid succession of events that took place over the course of these pages. The characterization of the main cast offered in this brief narrative presents some good humor that’s quite amusing and could prove to be satisfying as the larger narrative progresses. There was a good deal of set up established in this story, making the ending come about abruptly and shifting a hefty reliance on continuing on in the series in order to learn more details about the gift that Violetta has regarding ghosts and experience what growth she may have as a character as a result.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
After being told by the judge to hand over her only item of value, a pendant necklace from around her neck, to Enrique, her ex-boyfriend, to cover $1,500 of her $5,000 payment to him, Violetta begins to see ghosts again as the pendant’s protective powers are imbued within the pendant. Determined to get it back to prevent potential havoc from taking over her life, Violetta enlists her sister’s help and the pair come up with a plan to go to the club he’s known to frequent as well as order plenty of drinks on Deirdre’s husband’s credit card, as Deirdre is convinced he’s having an affair. Violetta did throw her stilettos at Enrique causing cuts and subsequent scarring on his face, and yes, he sued her and got a restraining order, but that doesn’t mean that she killed him; when Enrique is found dead in the alley outside the club, along with Violetta and the murder weapon, it’s fortunate that Detective Matthew Stone, who is already familiar with Violetta from a previous encounter, is on the case; with his sympathetic ear, Violetta now aims to prove her innocence, which may come in the form of assistance from some supernatural allies.
A quick and relatively cutsey-given-the-subject-matter story, there’s a feel of comedy of errors in the rapid succession of events that took place over the course of these pages. The characterization of the main cast offered in this brief narrative presents some good humor that’s quite amusing and could prove to be satisfying as the larger narrative progresses. There was a good deal of set up established in this story, making the ending come about abruptly and shifting a hefty reliance on continuing on in the series in order to learn more details about the gift that Violetta has regarding ghosts and experience what growth she may have as a character as a result.
February 18, 2017
I just did not love this. Violetta just was not a favorite of mine. She was just snarky and annoying at times just did not love it.
June 4, 2022
Not bad, but really short
August 22, 2016
Super fast and quirky read. Vie is sort of...I don't know. Directionless. The story was short so there wasn't a lot of chance to delve deep into her as a character, but it felt like she was just kinda of drifting through life. Drifting while occasionally getting hit with the stick of terrible luck, as it turns out.
Because losing a small claims case against a douchey ex the same day you're suspected of his murder is FANTASTICALLY bad as far as timing goes. I mean, that's some serious motive there, amirite?
Cute, but I wouldn't have minded a little more story. Vie seems like she leads an interesting life. I just wanted more.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Because losing a small claims case against a douchey ex the same day you're suspected of his murder is FANTASTICALLY bad as far as timing goes. I mean, that's some serious motive there, amirite?
Cute, but I wouldn't have minded a little more story. Vie seems like she leads an interesting life. I just wanted more.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
August 23, 2016
Short, very funny introduction to a new series. Violetta Graves is a down on her luck Vegas girl. Things have not been going well for her and get worse when she has to give up a family heirloom necklace to her ex who is suing her which also happens to be a talisman to protecting her from seeing dead people. And to make matters worse she has just been accused a killing said ex.
This was a short murder mystery that introduced us to the characters of this new series. Plenty of quirky characters and humorous situations. Looking forward to the next book.
This was a short murder mystery that introduced us to the characters of this new series. Plenty of quirky characters and humorous situations. Looking forward to the next book.
October 17, 2016
In Good Spirits (A Violetta Graves Mystery) by Michele Bardsley is the first of a wonderful short mystery series.
Violets has had a series of bad luck, or more probably, bad decisions. When she loses her sacred pendant to her ex in a small claims case, then later that night is found unconscious next to his dead body, she believes she's going to jail.
But help come a from a couple of unexpected sources; will it be enough to save Vie?
I cannot wait for more.
Violets has had a series of bad luck, or more probably, bad decisions. When she loses her sacred pendant to her ex in a small claims case, then later that night is found unconscious next to his dead body, she believes she's going to jail.
But help come a from a couple of unexpected sources; will it be enough to save Vie?
I cannot wait for more.
February 3, 2017
Violetta day is just gone from bad to worse. She has just been in court with her ex-boyfriend because she was perhaps a little fast for revenge NAH he deserved it, but now she owes him money and he gets her necklace as part of the payment and it is not any necklace – now all the “fun” begins.
Add the delicious detective Matt Stone and it all gets a little more ....... Awkward.
Super good book – laughed many times over what Violetta and her sister did.
Add the delicious detective Matt Stone and it all gets a little more ....... Awkward.
Super good book – laughed many times over what Violetta and her sister did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews