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Charity Shop Haunted Mystery #1

Mrs Pettigrew Sees a Ghost

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New job. New town. New ghost!

Fifty-two-year-old Emily Curtis wants a job so she can rebuild her shattered life. One year ago, a devastating car accident stole her occupation, her home, and half her mind.

Working in the charity shop of a small town in rural New Zealand seems ideal... until she awakens a ghost! Since the annoying spirit won't move on until her murderer is found, Emily sets to work. However, the ethereal Mrs Pettigrew doesn't remember dying, let alone who killed her.

With family remaining close-lipped and old employees keeping secrets, it'll take more than Emily's newfound ability to talk to the dead to solve the crime.

Mrs Pettigrew Sees a Ghost is the first book in a new paranormal mystery series. It contains ghosts and murderers but is free of the following evil spirits:

No Swearing
No Gore
No Graphic Scenes

This series is written in New Zealand English, which features mainly British spelling variants.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2019

1183 people are currently reading
572 people want to read

About the author

Katherine Hayton

64 books497 followers
I'm a middle-aged woman who works in insurance, doesn't have children or pets, can't drive, has lived in Christchurch my entire life, and currently reside a two-minute walk from where I was born.

For some reason, I've developed a rich fantasy life.



I like to write mysteries, some set in my hometown of Christchurch, others ninety minutes up the road in the beautiful township of Hanmer Springs, or in the quasi-fictional town of Pinetar. These mysteries range from hard-hitting psychological thrillers, through to police procedurals, or the lighter adventure of a cozy mystery.

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5 stars
541 (41%)
4 stars
434 (33%)
3 stars
260 (19%)
2 stars
56 (4%)
1 star
14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,235 reviews2,344 followers
December 2, 2020
Good book about a ghost but Pettigrew doesn't see it!

Mrs Pettigrew sees a Ghost by Katherine Hatton is a great ghost story that has relatable people, a few mysteries, and a murder. The ghost is very obnoxious and that would be like luck to finally see a ghost and they would be absolutely horrible in life and in death! Wonderful story!
Profile Image for S.A. Krishnan.
Author 31 books234 followers
July 26, 2020
Three point five stars
There were some inconsistencies with the story but however, the characters were very well etched. Especially Emily who has a brain injury and sees the ghost of Mrs. Pettigrew. She is trying to get the police to believe it and naturally her claims are rubbished and the other characters were also very well etched as Emily tries to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Interesting read.
Profile Image for Beth.
914 reviews17 followers
February 10, 2019
This was light read from Kindle Unlimited, and I don't want to be too harsh in my review. But right off the bat, what's up with the title? The main character is Emily Curtis, and she is the one who sees a ghost, who is Mrs. Pettigrew. Beyond that, there were a bunch of story inconsistencies, and several typographical errors. On the positive side, I thought the idea of having a middle aged woman with a traumatic brain injury as the heroine was unique and interesting. The mystery itself wasn't bad once you get past the things that didn't make sense. Not sure I will be continuing the series.
Profile Image for Allison ☾.
453 reviews17 followers
August 24, 2021
First of all, I was shocked to see a "cozy mystery" deal with such a tragic and heavy theme. I applaud the author for going there, seeing it through and showing such a vulnerable heroine.

Emily, the protagonist of the story, was in a terrible car accident that changed her life forever. She is living with a brain injury that affects her physical and mental state. Emily finds work at an antique shop preparing things for auction, when she runs into a ghost named Cynthia Pettigrew. Little did she know, her brush with death has now given her an affinity for seeing restless spirits. Emily has to jump over the hurdles of her injury to help solve the mysterious circumstances surrounding Mrs. Pettigrew's death.
Profile Image for Nicholas Ball.
203 reviews2 followers
August 21, 2021
A few minor errors here and there (most glaringly in the title, Mrs Pettigrew is the ghost) but was a somewhat enjoyable read.

The main character is a disabled middle aged woman, disabled via a traumatic car accident that is alluded to, and can no longer walk without pain, read words or figures etc. Bone fragments lodged in her brain make her an unreliable narrator and some interest twists come out of this along the way.

I was surprised this "cozy" book plumped for such a tragic figure but otherwise strove for a light tone. It mostly works, but some pacing of events are a bit convoluted, especially towards the end.
Profile Image for Susan Clark.
549 reviews2 followers
November 1, 2023
Quite Different

This novel elicits many different emotions. First of all, this is a great mystery with a surprising conclusion. However, parts are so sad that this reader almost closed the book without finishing. Finally, Ms. Hayton handles the subject matter of Emily’s brain trauma deftly, making us believe all the details. One final question: why is the title Mrs. Pettigrew??
Profile Image for Treena.
211 reviews3 followers
January 10, 2026
A cosy, feel-good read with smooth, easy-to-follow writing and a charming mix of mystery and humour. The characters are vivid and lovable, with Mrs Pettigrew stealing the spotlight through her sharp wit and feisty personality. Comforting without being dull, this uplifting story leaves you smiling and eager to continue the series.
543 reviews3 followers
March 3, 2019
This is a fun read!

A snarky ghost, a clairvoyant and a woman with dementia caused by an accident team together to solve the murder of the ghost. Some laugh out loud moments, some moments of empathy lead to a fine mystery. A few editing gaffes but overall well written. On to book number 2....😀
Profile Image for Cathy.
427 reviews24 followers
July 23, 2019
Was looking forward to reading this book but was quickly disappointed as I continued reading it. First of all the title, "Mrs. Pettigrew Sees A Ghost". Mrs. Pettigrew IS the ghost! This was one of those books that I just could not connect with. And was finding it more of a chore to read then an enjoyable story. I won't be reading anymore in this series.
Profile Image for Connie.
1,186 reviews5 followers
August 19, 2020
A good summer beach read. Not going to generate any brain cells.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
January 31, 2019
Is her brain damage getting worse or is that a ghost?

A great start to a new series but the title is a bit of a misnomer. Mrs Pettigrew is a ghost! Okay she sees the ghost of her cat but wish the title had been something else. Great plot with a nice showdown at the end a bit of a Miss Marple vibe. The characters are terrific and the way the leading character is portrayed is awesome. Brain injury is a subject most people avoid but this is seen from the sufferer's point of view and her attitude to the news that she will get progressively worse.
Trying to get herself going on her first day at work is hard. As hard as recovering from the horrendous crash she had been in that left her physically weakened (walking is hard as is lifting anything) plus it has robbed her of the ability to read and write as well as understanding numbers. Killing off her previous occupation. Her first job is to pick up items from a family where there has been a fatal accident. However the dead woman's ghost turns up in her bedroom claiming she was murdered. Laughed out of the police station she tries to investigate as much as she can. Add in a psychic, a doctor feathering his own nest, a downtrodden stepson, a husband whose is unfaithful and a underhand assistant at the auction house. How will she sort all this out to get to the killer after the news from her health team telling her that in time her brain function and mobility will be severely compromised? Is there possibly another career that has now opened up for her?
Profile Image for moxieBK.
1,763 reviews4 followers
July 15, 2019
Miss Pettigrew Sees a Ghost (Charity Shop Mystery #1) [Kindle Unlimited] — Katherine Hayton (26 chapters) July 3-4, 2019

Short and sloppy:

Characters: This was billed as a clean, wholesome (whatever that means,) cosy involving a physically challenged protagonist, Emily; a ghost friendenemy, Mrs. Cynthia Pettigrew; the cat Peanut; and a “psychic” named Crystal.

Plot: Emily is working back into society after an accident that has left her scarred booth emotionally and physically, and unable to do certain things on her own. She is working at a charity shop pricing items for be sold at an action, when she sees a drawing and a ghost comes a-calling to tell her she’s been murdered. Emily goes to the police but they don’t believe her; deciding to investigate and solve it herself to stop the annoying pestering of the ghost.

This cozy was sort of unique (but reminded me of other ghost-come-a-calling cozies.) If you like that premise than this book would be for you. Even though I’m not exactly wild about that kind, I did enjoy this series a lot and will definitely be reading more in this series.

A few typos as is normal for independent writers; this is a part of Kindle Unlimited, but don’t let that annoy you…I’ve been reading a lot more of those books and this one of the good books to read.

Four stars.
Profile Image for Lonny Johnson.
441 reviews13 followers
June 25, 2019
4.5 stars.

This is a not quite cozy mystery with a ghostly twist. Emily Curtis was severely injured in an auto accident. It left her with a scarred face, brain damage, and neuropathy in her legs. She is about to discover it also gave her the ability to see and hear ghosts. She makes this rather unwelcome discovery in the middle of the night when she awakens to find the ghost of Cynthia Pettigrew standing at the foot of her bed. Since Emily is the only one who can see her, Mrs. Pettigrew demands Emily find her killer. Emily's brain damage has left her unable to discern letters and numbers, not good for an accountant. The book spends some time showing how Emily deals with her disability. It shows her anger at being treated as somewhat less than human because of her situation. Her dismay at having her life scrutinized by a committee to determine how she should live it. Her struggle to reclaim as much of her life as she can lifts this above the average cozy. That there is a neat little mystery to frame her story is just a bonus. I very much enjoyed meeting Emily and have marked the sequels as to read. I hope even more will follow.
2,673 reviews12 followers
July 30, 2020
A fun paranormal crime mystery!

Emily Curtis is still trying to adjust to her new normal after the accident which left her scarred, in constant pain, and with damage to the areas of her brain that control literacy and memory. Now, no longer able to work in finance and unable to read and write, she works at a charity shop where her wages are commissions on the donated items she picks up and then sells at auction to earn money for the charity. After one such pickup from the mansion of a wealthy family in the community, a ghost visits her and she begins a mission to discover if the ghost’s death really was the result of an accident or a murder.

This was a fun read and an enjoyable mystery. I was a little confused at first by the title since Mrs. Pettigrew was actually the ghost. I liked the interactions between Emily and the people in her life as she tries to find a new place for herself in the world. In spite of this being a cozy-type mystery, it also dealt with some real issues. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
344 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2020
I don't do book reviews......


I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
Profile Image for Dobby.
563 reviews36 followers
December 30, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this amusing cozy mystery. Well-written with believable characters; I especially liked watching Mrs Pettigrew discover that she was not only dead but she was also a ghost who was only visible to our intrepid heroine. Some of the dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny. Charming book; I'll look for more in this series.
“I wasn’t taking medication,” the ghost said, holding her hands out to either side. “At least, not that was prescribed to me. Occasionally I indulged in a few odds and ends, just to get a better response to life than my factory settings.”
Peanut is just like every cat I've known:
Peanut greeted her with the loving admiration of a hungry belly.
320 reviews
January 16, 2023
Who saw the ghost?

I liked the idea of the story and I was caught by the location in which it was set. The story started well for me but left me confused part way through, at one point I was not sure who was having the hallucinations, myself or Emily. I had to re-read some pages to make sure I had not part out anything.
Emily is a most unfortunate main character with misfortunes that are more than enough for any one person, she bears these with a certain degree of fortitude. Her behaviour is reasonable but there are times when it is a bit irrational. I still cannot find a word or phrase to describe Mrs. Pettigrew.
The book makes for light reading and you will like Emily. Interchanges between her and Mrs. Pettigrew provide laughable moments, so go ahead and read.
Profile Image for Trish Goodgame.
517 reviews5 followers
November 9, 2019
A Fun paranormal cozy mystery

I really did enjoy this story. Colourful characters abound including a scornful ghost and her sweet cat and a not-so-psychic medium aling with the main character, 52 year old Emily Curtis who is recovering from a nasty car accident and volunteering in a second hand shop, when she is suddenly able to see the ghost of Cynthia Pettigrew.
I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars, mainly because there were a lot of grammatical errors, typos and missed words. However it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Easy to read and recommended for those who like a clean, light read and mystery puzzles to solve.
Profile Image for DE Jorgensen.
174 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2020
Interesting book with an ending I did not see coming. Emily is a former accountant who is now barely functioning due to a major car accident, except that she sees a ghost. The ghost is ill-tempered and rude, and if she weren't already dead, I would not have faulted Emily for killing her. Emily's frustration with her condition is well-written and true-to-life. Other reviews mentioned typos and proofreading errors, but I did not see any. Usually, errors stop me in my tracks, and I read and reread them in case I misunderstood. Perhaps the version I read has been repaired. I'll look for more by Katherine Hayton.
Profile Image for Rhonda Jones.
2,794 reviews17 followers
September 10, 2020
Unexpected

I read a lot, and I must say this book surprised me. It was the characters that surprised me. They were unexpected. Usually author's write characters you want to fall in love with immediately. I did not fall in love with Mrs. Pettigrew. But I anxiously awaited for the next thing that she said. And the real heroine of the book, Emily, was unlike any leading character I have read. I kept wanting to fix her. And Emily's new friend Crystal, well, is she or isn't she who she says she is. I can't say more, no obvious spoilers. But I can say I stayed up all night reading this book. Now, onto the next in series.
Profile Image for Linda.
654 reviews
March 16, 2024
This was pretty bad. The main character Emily deserved every stupid thing that happened to her in the story aside from the car accident and the pain caused from it. She legit paid into an insurance fund and refused to claim insurance after her accident and then complained about not having an income. Also who on earth would go into the police department and claim their friend was murdered and she knew this because a ghost told her, and to get pissy because she was laughed at??? Come on. Also, how the hell was she allowed to drive?
So many stupid things in the story and the name is a lie, Mrs Pettigrew is the ghost. Not a spoiler.
209 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2019
Mrs Pettigrew Sees a Ghost

I totally enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in this series
The characters are likable and I didn't figure out the murderer before the ending. Now, a lot of people who write reviews note if the characters are believable--I figure that ship sailed when "ghost" was used in the title 😉
The circumstances of Emily Curtis are 100% believable...medical expenses, lack of savings and loss of employment are real issues in today's world....overcoming these issues by being a 'ghost seer', not so much.
Overall, a good read!
Profile Image for Marianela.
80 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2019
Interesting and fun to read.. The title stumped me at first because Mrs. Pettigrew is the ghost. But I think she finally realizes that she is a ghost. Well, anyway, the main character has TBI, a traumatic brain injury from an accident which apparently now gives her the superpower of being able to see ghosts. She is disabled and is has difficulty with numbers and words, hindering job prospects. I enjoyed reading how she overcomes her disabilities, makes friends, and solves a murder. Light enjoyable reading!
653 reviews
April 11, 2020
Points for having a main character in her 50s, more points for giving her a disability due to which she can't read, and even more points for making it a problem even when not directly plot-relevant. The meeting with Emma's case-workers was cringingly accurate, her friendship with Crystal is lovely, and Peanut is very cute. The characterisation in general is very good - all the characters have flaws but most are still likeable, even Mrs Pettigrew (eventually). A nice cozy mystery with a lot of depth.
937 reviews7 followers
August 2, 2020
The title is a Misnomer- Mrs. Pettigrew is the ghost and the person seeing the ghost is Emily Curtis a 50 something year old woman who was almost killed when her car was hit by a truck and she is now having vision problems and has difficulty reading due to the severe head trauma that nearly took her life. Something about the accident and head trauma has enabled her to see Mrs. Pettigrew and the tale of her death which may not have been as the coroners report indicates and about a questionable seer named Crystal who is unable to see the dead. No spoilers here! Enjoy the story!
Profile Image for Elaine.
Author 29 books29 followers
September 1, 2020
The story's heroine is in bad shape after a terrifying auto accident. Her brain can no longer function thoroughly, she can't read or recognize numbers. She finds a job at a charity store where she can go through boxes of donations to see what is worth bringing to an auction. She unhappily finds she can see the ghost of a recently dead woman, Mr.s Pettigtrew. Was her death an accident, like the coroner pronounced, or was hse murdered? The ghost wants our heroine to find out the truth about her sudden death.
A nice cozy mystery with a new twist.
Profile Image for Miguel.
276 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2022
Fifty-two-year-old Emily Curtis moves to a small town in rural New Zealand after a car accident devastated her life. She gets a job in a local charity shop. As she is cataloguing items donated by a local family upon the death of their wife/mother, the ghost of the deceased is awakened. The ghost is a sarcastic pain in the neck who won’t leave Emily alone until she helps solve the mystery of her death. Never gory, no swearing, no graphic scenes. Funny at times, perfect YA reading , entertaining for all ages.
Profile Image for Gabrielle David.
212 reviews7 followers
February 24, 2019
TBI Sleuth

I almost passed this up because of negative reviews. I’m glad I didn’t. The protagonist is an older woman with a traumatic brain injury that leaves her unable to read or write. She is visited by a rather rude ghost and makes friends with a psychic whose powers are almost nonexistent. The three manage to solve more than one crime despite their handicaps. I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
Profile Image for Ruth clarke.
120 reviews3 followers
June 9, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book, about somebody with a serious brain injury, who was able to overcome discrimination (from herself and others) and find a new purpose. Simply Loved the ghost with an attitude problem and the accompanying ghost cat. I will definitely be reading the next in the series. Possibly the Author should change the title to 'Mrs Pettigrew's Ghost', other than that, an excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews

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