Welcome to Ravenmist! A tiny Midwestern town with charming covered bridges, quirky residents, delightful antique shops, and more than their share of haunted activity.
It’s time for the annual Fall Festival, and that means the quaint Ravenmist Inn—owned by Theodosia “Tedi” Hamilton—is filled to the brim with out of town guests. It’s her favorite time of the year with all the spooky decorations, sugar-filled candy, and over the top costumes.
The festival doesn’t quite go as planned, however, when one of her guests is found face down in the apple bob. To make things worse, her best friend becomes the number one suspect. Tedi has no choice but to spring into action.
Come join the spirited antics as Tedi deals with an unsolved murder, a shy ghost in her closet, a mischievous spirit in the bookstore, and the handsome new local sheriff who drives her crazy. You see, he thinks all the ghost stories are made up for the tourists. But Tedi knows better, and now so will you…
Olivia Jaymes is a wife, mother, lover of sexy romance, and caffeine addict. She lives with her husband and son in central Florida and spends her days with handsome alpha males and spunky heroines. She currently has five series: Cowboy Justice Association, Danger Incorporated, and Military Moguls, Midnight Blue Beach Trilogy, and her brand new contemporary romance series The Hollywood Showmance Chronicles.
To hear about upcoming releases sign up for Olivia's monthly newsletter:
A terrific new read. I've never read anything by this author before and was very pleasantly surprised. A good, well thought out cozy that is based on a quirky town that believes in ghosts but also has a Grim Reaper. The story however doesn't make a big deal of this and down plays it which in turn makes it more powerful. With normal (and okay some not so normal) characters that breath life into the book. After her failed marriage she has taken over the running of the family owned Inn. Now the new sheriff is giving her gip over safety issues regarding the entertainment set up for the annual Halloween party. The party goes off without a hitch until she finds the body of a guest face down in the barrel used for bobbing for apples. Her best friend was spotted at the Inn grounds earlier and is now suspect number one. How do you tell a non believer that you are a Grim Reaper? As she asks questions and looks into this she finds out that her parents are divorcing and that she has a ghost living in her closet! Another murder! Can she get more of the facts as she doesn't think that the couple being held are responsible? Will she ever make friends with the sheriff? Why is everyone so set on finding her another partner after all "once bitten twice shy"!
A fun start to a new series. I really like this author, and the paranormal element is different than anything else I've read from her. This is a great setup to the town and characters. The mystery was interesting and layered. I am looking forward to #2!
A good small town mystery, I enjoyed the story and the character diversity and look forward to reading more. Mystery, ghost and mayhem are a part of the little town of Ravenmist’s heritage. But after the latest festival at the Inn they can now add murder and not one but two. An array of characters all with motive and even some without or unknown but by the end of this story you will know Whodunit.
"A murder, a divorce, and now [...] was the Grim Reaper. My life in Chicago wasn't looking too bad in comparison."
Delightful, no?
Eat, Drink, and Be Scary by Olivia Jaymes is a delightful paranormal cosy mystery set in the charming town of Ravenmist. The story revolves around Theodosia “Tedi” Hamilton, who owns the Ravenmist Inn. During the annual Fall Festival, a guest is found dead, and her inn becomes the talk of the town.
With the sarcastic personality of the protagonist, Tedi, the book feels like sitcoms. It's conversational, as in Tedi is talking with you instead of in her head.
Olivia's writing style is engaging and humorous, blending mystery with paranormal elements seamlessly. The story is cosy and cold.
The small-town setting is vividly described, making readers feel part of the community. And you get to know the characters almost on a personal level.
I absolutely loved the book, but only until its first half. It started losing its sheen afterwards. The writeup started feeling like a normal novel, with a third-person narrative. It started losing its cosiness.
While the book's synopsis suggests that Tedi must solve the mystery while dealing with a skeptical new sheriff, the story was along the lines of sheriff solving the mystery, with Tedi being the nosey neighbour.
Instead of Tedi being in the main detective role, she felt like a kid with theory (ies) about the murders. She was irritating at times, almost botching out the police investigation.
But it was she who helped in the end. Thus, saving the story.
Somehow, towards the end, the writing style returned to being humorous. Tedi was back to talking with the readers, instead of a usual novel-like third-person narrative.
If you love quirky characters and charming settings, this book is for you. It's perfect for those who enjoy a light-hearted, spooky read with a touch of mystery.
If there's one holiday the town of Ravenmist goes all out for it's Halloween. And the rooms at the Ravenmist Inn are filling up quickly. Tedi, the owner, has a lot planned for her guests. If only the new sheriff would get off her back. That would be Jackson Garrett, former Chicago PD, current sheriff and thorn in Tedi's side. Jackson is spending a lot of time categorizing all that is wrong with the upcoming Halloween festivities to be held at the Inn. Tedi has never had any problems with the celebration, but Jackson seems to be finding a lot. Tedi reassured him there is lots of harmless fun to be had by all. Even his broody, alpha sexy self is invited. He's nice to look at, a little overbearing and pessimistic at times, but even so, Tedi wasn't looking for a man. Tedi was happy running the Inn and hanging with her friends. Jackson was from the big city. He's always looking for trouble. From crowd control to fire hazards, you'd think Jackson was expecting a murder to happen at the famous Ravenmist Inn. Bad things never happened in Ravenmist. Well, never say never... I loved Tedi's narration. It was like she was telling me this story over coffee at The Grateful Raven. Ravenmist is a very interesting town, especially the people that live(d) there. VERY INTRIGUING STORYLINE WITH LOTS OF SUSPENSEFUL TWISTS ! IF YOU LIKE WHODUNITS WITH A SIDE OF GHOST HUNTING, YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK ! ! !
Theodosia "Tedi" Hamilton is the owner of the Ravenmist Inn in the town of Ravenmist. The town is preparing for the town's annual Fall Festival where everyone gathers for the spooky decorations and fun festivities. However, the festival takes a dark turn when Jerome Bergstrom one of the Inn's guests, is found dead during an apple bobbing game. To make matters worse, Tedi's best friend Lorna Bergstrom becomes the prime suspect. Tedi is determined to clear her friend's name by investigating and uncovering secrets while interacting with Edward, a mischievous spirit in the bookstore. There is Terrence the shy ghost in her closet, and the handsome and skeptical Sheriff Jackson Garrett who doesn't believe in the town's ghostly tales. This story weaves together wit, intrigue, and supernatural twists, creating an engaging and entertaining experience for cozy mystery enthusiasts. I really enjoyed this fantastic cozy mystery novel.
Tedi runs a B & B in a town noted for being haunted by ghosts. Also much to her surprise, her best friend, Missy, is the Grim Reaper. On the night of the fall festival, someone stabs and drowns an odious man in the apple bobbing tank. The new sheriff, Jackson “Jack” Garrett is a thorn in Tedi’s side. Every time she turns around he is there with a long list of why the festival is not safe and then he wants info about the murder but is unwilling to listen to Tedi’s theories.
When Tedi finds herself face to face with the murderer, it is Terence the ghost who keeps her from being murdered. Jack is so quickly on the scene that Tedi is unsure whether he saw Terence or not.
This book could have used some editing help. I liked the snarky humor of the main characters. This is book one of a three part series.
With an inn full of guests and a Fall festival drawing in the townspeople, Theodosia “Tedi” Hamilton has her hands full. When one of the guests is found dead in the "Bob for Apples" tub, things get even more complicated.
Though I ended up liking this story as I reached the last page, initially I had my doubts. By breaking the fourth wall several times early on, it felt as though the author was rushing the bond between the reader and the main character. I was not ready to be friends with Tedi at that point. With the addition of a real live (dead?) ghost, I was hooked. At this point, my rating changed from a solid three-star to four. Though the ghost had many good points to him, he wasn't the thing that sold me. The writing started to flow more smoothly and some of the quirks that had irritated me in the beginning were resolved.
Ravenmist is your typical, small Midwestern town or is it.
There are strange happenings in the town the no one has an answer for or do they.
Then there is the fact that Tedi Hamilton and Sheriff Jackson Garrett have a love-hate relationship. It doesn’t help that Tedi sticks her nose in where it doesn’t belong.
Oh, did I mention that the town is haunted and people are seeing ghosts. Did I also mention that Tedi’s best friend is the Reaper?
I haven’t read many paranormal books, but the banter and the local townsfolk keep the story going at a steady pace throughout the story.
I’m a longtime fan of Olivia Jaymes’ books so I went into this book with high expectations and I wasn’t disappointed.
I'm really torn on these books. On one hand the mystery itself is fun, and I like the ghosts and best friend who give the tale it's paranormal oomph. But I don't like how everyone treats the heroine's love life, we want her to move on after divorcing the cheating ex. But to make light of her insistence that she's not interested at the moment, to keep shoving the sheriff on her, and worse for the only positive relationship in her life to just end the way it does, with the attitude that she should be happy about it is not cool. Instead of building up a romance between h and Sheriff it just feels like they are being forced together by well meaning but hypocritical others, which severely irks me.
My book club theme for this month (we read books with a common theme/genre, not the same book) was to read a cozy. I can count on one hand the number of cozies I've read, but when this one popped up as free in a BookBub newsletter, it sounded like something I might enjoy. A small, quaint town filled to the brim with ghosts, dead bodies, a Halloween setting - I finished it in a couple days. It wasn't very difficult to figure out who the culprit was since other people high on the suspect list were murdered, but I liked meeting the residents of this quirky town. There are seven books in the series, and I'll probably pick up the next one. After reading heavy fantasies and horror novels, this was like a palate cleanser and nice for a lighter read. And the titles are very clever.
A different kind of paranormal, no witches, wizards, fairies or gnomes but ghosts and the grim reaper are very much present. The story is told by the main character, Theodosia, Tedi, and it is told in such a way that there is never a dull moment throughout. The other characters are strong also and this adds to the interest, the word play between the sheriff, Jackson Garrett and Tedi keeps the dialogue flowing. The main story has some credibility but not much, the sub plots are an indication that future books will be interesting. Reading Eat, Drink, and be Scary was a nice way to spend a few hours, so, go ahead and grab your copy.
This is a classic who-done-it with red herings and the murderer being revealed at the last minute. The twists are not just in the plot; it's the ghosts. Not gonna tell...it will be too much fun to find out for yourself!
I especially liked how well every person was developed and while there were some classic tropes, almost as a nod to the genre, the main character was very real as a person. It remains to be seen whether her sense of when something just "doesn't make sense," both now and in her past job, is simple smarts or an interesting emerging ability.
I am looking forward to the next books in this series. Happy Reading!
I usually read psychological thrillers and this was my very first cozy mystery. This was a short and quick read.
This book has a paranormal ingredient to it. However, I feel like it would have been just fine without the paranormal aspect. It isn't very long and the pace of the story is appropriate. As you progress, the murderer is quite evident and I could guess every 'twist' in the book and I am only average when it comes to guessing the big reveal. However, I must say that it pulls you in because of the quirky characters.
Overall, this is a light read and the book makes for a great palette cleanser if you just need something fun, light-hearted, with a gentle touch of mystery.
Tedi runs yet he Inn in the small town of Ravenmist. It is haunted, at least that’s what people say. Tedi has never seen a ghost, but she hopes to someday. The Inn holds a fun filled day and night of all things Halloween the week before the spooky holiday. Lots of fun and games, spooky things and good food and drink. Only early the next morning, Tedi is up early and discovers the dead nobody of one of her guests. The new sheriff, from Chicago, works, sometimes with Tedi’s help, to discover the killer. This story is fun and has quirky as well as “normal characters. It is fun and interesting. .
This intriguing narrative weaves a darkly comedic tale that balances macabre elements with unexpected humor. The characters are delightfully entertaining, bringing vibrant personalities to life, while the supernatural entities provide surprising assistance to the plot's progression. The story offers a unique blend of ghostly intervention and comedic storytelling that keeps readers thoroughly engaged, creating an atmosphere that is simultaneously chilling and amusing. Despite the underlying serious theme of murder, the narrative manages to maintain a lighthearted tone that makes the reading experience both thrilling and entertaining.
First book in a new cozy mystery series by Olivia Jaymes, I really enjoyed this book..alot!! It's Halloween and the Fall Festival and we have a mystery, Theodosia aka Tedi Hamilton runs an Inn in small town in Ravenmist where we have spirits (ghosts) abound, Jack Garrett is the new sheriff in town, he gets on Tedi nerves-lol, Tedi bestfriend is the Grim Reaper. This cozy mystery has para normal, murder and laughable moments, it's a fast enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading more of this series!!
This is a light-hearted murder mystery which is sure to raise a few chuckles: ideal reading for when you are feeling down. The plot moves along nicely, and there are no boring bits. The characters are likable, and it is interesting to see the relationship between Tedi (the main character) and Sheriff Jack Garrett change and grow. The paranormal content is handled well (also light handed).
If you enjoy paranormal, cozy mysteries this is the book for you. This novel gets 4 stars from me.
Tedi runs the local inn in Ravenmist, the most haunted town in the area. She has never seen a ghost, but she is sure they exist.
As Halloween approaches she sets up a fun festival for the town and everything is going well, until one of her guests is found dead, face down in the apple bobbing station.
The local sheriff is from Chicago and believes everything is dangerous and no one is to be trusted. He also seems to believe that he needs to check on Tedi multiple times a day.
This is a sweet cozy mystery with a little romance, a good mystery and lots of ghostly fun.
4 1/2 stars. I found this to be a cute whodunit. Tedi was a hoot, very loyal to family and friends, determined to find a real ghost, and kept bumping heads with Jack, the new sheriff. We got to know quite a few of this small town's residents while trying to solve the murder of a guest of Tedi's inn. With plenty of suspects, some back and forth as to who committed the crime, a change in feelings between Tedi and Jack, this story kept me entertained. This was a story with ghosts, murder, friendships, and well worth the read.
3.75 ⭐️ I got this book for free during one of the many stuff your kindle deals. Glad I found it. This was cute. It was a paranormal/murder mystery, do your own sleuthing kind of book. Short and sweet. No romance but definitely small town vibes. This is the first book in a series and I might just continue on with the series. There's murder, speculation, ghosties, other paranormal happenings, new friendships, new beginnings, divorce and more. Yeah I would recommend this if you enjoy a cute paranormal/mystery.
So much going on in this story. A best friend who is not who you thought she was. A new sheriff who is intent on driving you crazy. A murder, a divorce and a town Halloween festival just add to the list of items causing Tedi to think she is losing her mind. But she does get to meet her resident ghost at her inn. A very entertaining story with lots of mystery and twists. Highly recommend this book.
This is a fun book. Tedi owns and runs a haunted inn. During the town's fall festival, an in patron is murdered. Her best friend is one of themselves so Tedi goes about proving her innocent. She knows she's keeping a secret but what? That's when she discovers that her best friend is a grim reaper (not The Grim Reaper who lives in Florida but his niece).
A super easy, charming read. The story happens right around Halloween, so it was a perfect book for me to read this month. The book reads like Tedi is talking to you and telling you what happened around her little town. I like the kooky cast of characters and the ghosts who come out when they feel like it.
This is not a deep, dark book or one that will keep you thinking for hours on end. But if you need an escape into a mystery, this is a good one to check out.
A funny, quirky & easy read! Tedi is the main character & she is funny & smart. She is divorced & has moved back to her small home town to run the family Inn. Keep an open mind & roll with the absurdity & laughter. There is a psychic, a reaper, a couple ghosts, her retired parents that are getting divorced, a single & annoying Sheriff that everyone keeps trying to match her with & 2 murdered cheating husbands. I really needed a light hearted read & this was perfect!
Excellent writing style, fun and funny. A definite notch above the usual cozy. The dialogue (especially Tedi's inner dialog) was hilarious and on point, natural good natured snark. Minor plot issues, and I so wish there was a little more description, but overall, I looked forward to my nightly reading time with this book. Ms Jaymes is on my watch list!
Eat, Drink, and Be Scary is a delightful paranormal cozy mystery. Tedi is sweet and funny and the sheriff has possibilities. Ravenmist is a quiet town that has had not one but two murders in one weekend. Can the sheriff find the murderer in a town filled with tourists? I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read the next installment.