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Witch Woods Funeral Home #1
A Ghost of a Chance
A fun, humorous cozy mystery - with ghosts!
Nobody knows that Laurel Bay can see and talk to ghosts. When she inherits a funeral home, she is forced to return from the city to the small town of Witch Woods to breathe life into the business. It is a grave responsibility, but Laurel is determined that this will be no dead-end job.
There she has to contend with her manipulative and overly religious mother, more than one ghost, and a secretive but handsome accountant.
When the murder of a local woman in the funeral home strangles the finances, can Laurel solve the murder?
Or will this be the death of her business?
Note: This is a cozy mystery. It is a clean read, a supernatural ghost mystery.
Nobody knows that Laurel Bay can see and talk to ghosts. When she inherits a funeral home, she is forced to return from the city to the small town of Witch Woods to breathe life into the business. It is a grave responsibility, but Laurel is determined that this will be no dead-end job.
There she has to contend with her manipulative and overly religious mother, more than one ghost, and a secretive but handsome accountant.
When the murder of a local woman in the funeral home strangles the finances, can Laurel solve the murder?
Or will this be the death of her business?
Note: This is a cozy mystery. It is a clean read, a supernatural ghost mystery.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2015
About the author
Morgana Best
232 books434 followersUSA Today best-selling author Morgana Best survived a childhood of deadly spiders and venomous snakes in the Australian outback. Morgana Best writes cozy mysteries and enjoys thinking of delightful new ways to murder her victims.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
March 26, 2020
A new author and series for me, I really loved the premise, the main character Laurel Bay and the nearly (and not so nearly) departed.
BUT ...... I have sincerely never wanted to throat punch a secondary character so much! .... And I'd even entertain kicking her a little when she's down. Laurel's mother is a sanctimonious, abusive, fanatical religious nutbag!! It's so hard to like the series when you have such a disagreeable biaatch shoving religion down your throat every 3 seconds and telling you you're a heathen that's going to burn in hell.
That'd be a NUP from me for future readings.
BUT ...... I have sincerely never wanted to throat punch a secondary character so much! .... And I'd even entertain kicking her a little when she's down. Laurel's mother is a sanctimonious, abusive, fanatical religious nutbag!! It's so hard to like the series when you have such a disagreeable biaatch shoving religion down your throat every 3 seconds and telling you you're a heathen that's going to burn in hell.
That'd be a NUP from me for future readings.
January 3, 2016
The mother was dreadful and completely ruined the book for me. I won't continue the series. The characterisation really ruined it for me.
October 25, 2017
This funeral home series was a first and last for me....I thought it was stupid not funny at all...
June 28, 2018
"Not for me"
I can't say I love cozy mystery stories, but I try to step out of my comfort zone on occasion. This one featured ghosts and white witches too, so it was even more difficult to read. The main character's mother was possibly the worst character I've ever met, with John Jones and Ian just behind her. Are there really people like that? I kept telling myself it was supposed to be a Funny Cozy Mystery and that made all the mad situations acceptable. They weren't... and it wasn't funny. My average rating reflects the fact that I'm not a fan of the genre. It wouldn't be right to savage it, when there will be fans out there for this type of book.
I can't say I love cozy mystery stories, but I try to step out of my comfort zone on occasion. This one featured ghosts and white witches too, so it was even more difficult to read. The main character's mother was possibly the worst character I've ever met, with John Jones and Ian just behind her. Are there really people like that? I kept telling myself it was supposed to be a Funny Cozy Mystery and that made all the mad situations acceptable. They weren't... and it wasn't funny. My average rating reflects the fact that I'm not a fan of the genre. It wouldn't be right to savage it, when there will be fans out there for this type of book.
September 4, 2016
I feel like this book could've been really good, I really wanted to like it, but it seemed choppy and predictable. Almost hurried.
November 30, 2017
I liked the book but I was beyond annoyed by the mother's (and even at times by the main character's) actions.
August 29, 2018
Enter Laurel Bay, returned to the town she grew up in to be at her father's funeral.
Her dad left her mom the house and a small plot of land along with his savings. His business, the funeral home he left to Laurel. Mum wasn't at all pleased with this and seems to do everything possible to bankrupt the business.
Thelma Bay is one of the most Pius/hypocritical people you will ever meet, she is one you love to hate and even hope that maybe she'll be the one guilty of the murder. Never the less, Between the mother's antics, and her reactions to the pastor's outfits at some of the funeral/memorials. This is unreservedly a hoot!!!
Well written, a strong plot, well defined characters, and a ton of laughs.
Her dad left her mom the house and a small plot of land along with his savings. His business, the funeral home he left to Laurel. Mum wasn't at all pleased with this and seems to do everything possible to bankrupt the business.
Thelma Bay is one of the most Pius/hypocritical people you will ever meet, she is one you love to hate and even hope that maybe she'll be the one guilty of the murder. Never the less, Between the mother's antics, and her reactions to the pastor's outfits at some of the funeral/memorials. This is unreservedly a hoot!!!
Well written, a strong plot, well defined characters, and a ton of laughs.
June 23, 2018
I will admit that this rating might be harsh.
The series is a cozy with a supernatural twist as our heroine can talk to ghosts. The waitress of the nearby cafe is found dead in the coffin of their latest funeral. Kudos to the killer to come up with the idea of hiding the body in the coffin after the public viewing as under normal circumstances they wouldn’t have opened it again. This cold-hearted planing, unfortunately, makes no sense in combination with the motive or the killer, but it was a nice start to the book.
Our heroine has inherited the funeral home and agrees to help the deceased to solve her own murder. Unfortunately, the book focuses mostly on the heroine running the funeral home and her conflict with her hypocritical bible-thumping mother, the kind who quotes scripture at people without actually understanding its meaning.
The heroine might be pleasant enough, her best friend and her husband, the dead funeral director might have potential and it is kind of nice to see a romantic interest that is not a police officer - shocker, are they even allowed to do that? But, the selfish mother, who kept dragging her useless church bodies onto the scene at the most inopportune times or circumstances only to accuse her daughter again and again of being rude or ungrateful - talk about the kettle calling the pot black - made it absolutely impossible for me to enjoy this book. Now, if the author had sort of sprinkled her into the story, that might have been forgivable. Instead, she is in practically every scene.
The series is a cozy with a supernatural twist as our heroine can talk to ghosts. The waitress of the nearby cafe is found dead in the coffin of their latest funeral. Kudos to the killer to come up with the idea of hiding the body in the coffin after the public viewing as under normal circumstances they wouldn’t have opened it again. This cold-hearted planing, unfortunately, makes no sense in combination with the motive or the killer, but it was a nice start to the book.
Our heroine has inherited the funeral home and agrees to help the deceased to solve her own murder. Unfortunately, the book focuses mostly on the heroine running the funeral home and her conflict with her hypocritical bible-thumping mother, the kind who quotes scripture at people without actually understanding its meaning.
The heroine might be pleasant enough, her best friend and her husband, the dead funeral director might have potential and it is kind of nice to see a romantic interest that is not a police officer - shocker, are they even allowed to do that? But, the selfish mother, who kept dragging her useless church bodies onto the scene at the most inopportune times or circumstances only to accuse her daughter again and again of being rude or ungrateful - talk about the kettle calling the pot black - made it absolutely impossible for me to enjoy this book. Now, if the author had sort of sprinkled her into the story, that might have been forgivable. Instead, she is in practically every scene.
March 10, 2017
I am pretty torn. The story was cute, but very short. In addition, there were some structural issues (which approximately half would've been addressed by a good editor) that were distracting from the overall effect of the story. For example, at one point the main character said the doorbell rang shortly before 6 and then a few paragraphs later in the same scene, the mother says dinner is at 5:30pm. Other issues with the telling was simply a lack of character development and experience on the author's part. Her conversations lacked a great deal of depth and she tended to introduce characters without any description or point. I'm still not sure why the accountant behaved the way he did or why he was so wishy-washy.
January 10, 2024
Laurel inherits her father's funeral home after his death. She moves back home to run it. Laurel has a gift: she can see and communicate with ghosts. That makes owning a funeral home a bit tricky. She gets involved solving the murder of Tiffany, a young woman involved in a love affair. Laurel must clear the innocent person and find the real killer.
Her mother is hyper judgy and religious. She is the kind of person I would normally hate, but since Laurel puts her in her place and no one takes her seriously, I have to laugh her off. It's also amusing that the pastor for the funeral home goes along with the wacky rock star funeral by dressing up as a KISS character, making Laurel's mother have the vapors. Laurel has a friend who is witch, and this has to be kept secret from the mother.
This is a cute murder mystery, set in Australia. Basil is an enigmatic but likable love interest.
Her mother is hyper judgy and religious. She is the kind of person I would normally hate, but since Laurel puts her in her place and no one takes her seriously, I have to laugh her off. It's also amusing that the pastor for the funeral home goes along with the wacky rock star funeral by dressing up as a KISS character, making Laurel's mother have the vapors. Laurel has a friend who is witch, and this has to be kept secret from the mother.
This is a cute murder mystery, set in Australia. Basil is an enigmatic but likable love interest.
July 18, 2024
Affairs of the heart are complicated.
Laurel has moved home to take over her father's business, the local funeral home.
It's not the best idea for someone who can see and talk to ghosts.
Her mother interferes with her life and the business. Can laurel keep everything under control when the worst happens? Looking into a murder could get her killed, but she has to help the dead as best as she can.
Laurel needs time to figure things out, but will she do it time?
An excellent excellent read.
Laurel has moved home to take over her father's business, the local funeral home.
It's not the best idea for someone who can see and talk to ghosts.
Her mother interferes with her life and the business. Can laurel keep everything under control when the worst happens? Looking into a murder could get her killed, but she has to help the dead as best as she can.
Laurel needs time to figure things out, but will she do it time?
An excellent excellent read.
February 5, 2020
3 stars
3 stars. Glad tiffany got closure. Predictable of killer. But pretty good read still for couple chapters a night. The end.
3 stars. Glad tiffany got closure. Predictable of killer. But pretty good read still for couple chapters a night. The end.
May 24, 2018
Short book.
I almost like it.
If you are an evangelical Christian you will find it offensive.
The mother is over the top, but sadly not much of a caricature. It just feels that way. But I know people with some of the traits so I could believe it. But I had to choose to believe the character.
I think the intent is humorous madcap and zany characters with a domineering mother with the usual catch phrases of the domineering, but that didn’t work for me. Why didn’t the narrator change the locks? Why didn’t she change access to the bank accounts? Two easy steps. There is an accountant who will go with her to buy a car but not to change a bank account?
I say “the narrator” because I don’t know her name. I skimmed over the first chapters again and didn’t see it mentioned. There’s “Thelma” and “your daughter”. I often don’t remember the names of first person narrators, but I’m not sure it was ever mentioned.
The mother would not say “hell” and the cover her mouth with her hands. The word as an expression just wouldn’t be in her vocabulary.
The culprit was the person with the most obvious motive. No surprise there, but it’s cute how it all played out. So the mystery is not the point of the book, just a backdrop.
I liked the ghosts, but they were incidental to the plot. A contrivance to get our protagonist play detective.
I appreciated correct spelling and the interesting occasional colloquialism. And the forward about this.
So it’s the situation comedy that is the main point of the book, and most characters were too fake for that to work for me. Not like some other books in the genre, where the supporting cast might be weird but are fully fleshed out and feel real. The town is just a town. It’s not any place I’m growing to know, like, say, Deadwood. The mystery isn’t. The protagonist is likeable but doesn’t make any decisions. In Ontario I’m pretty sure you need a licence to be a funeral director. From what I read that might not be true in Australia, but that one detail interferes with the believability for a while until a chose to ignore it. And what’s with the electrical snap whenever she touches the accountant? Not answered yet, so must be resolved or continued in the next book; as a result, this book doesn’t feel quite finished.
Oddly enough I debated giving this 3 stars because I’d not be inclined to read anything else from a 2 star author. But if I run out of things to read and the next book is cheap I might get it. Go figure. Not enough depth of character or of plot, and the mother is over the top, but there is potential in the concept and the writing is easy to read.
I almost like it.
If you are an evangelical Christian you will find it offensive.
The mother is over the top, but sadly not much of a caricature. It just feels that way. But I know people with some of the traits so I could believe it. But I had to choose to believe the character.
I think the intent is humorous madcap and zany characters with a domineering mother with the usual catch phrases of the domineering, but that didn’t work for me. Why didn’t the narrator change the locks? Why didn’t she change access to the bank accounts? Two easy steps. There is an accountant who will go with her to buy a car but not to change a bank account?
I say “the narrator” because I don’t know her name. I skimmed over the first chapters again and didn’t see it mentioned. There’s “Thelma” and “your daughter”. I often don’t remember the names of first person narrators, but I’m not sure it was ever mentioned.
The mother would not say “hell” and the cover her mouth with her hands. The word as an expression just wouldn’t be in her vocabulary.
The culprit was the person with the most obvious motive. No surprise there, but it’s cute how it all played out. So the mystery is not the point of the book, just a backdrop.
I liked the ghosts, but they were incidental to the plot. A contrivance to get our protagonist play detective.
I appreciated correct spelling and the interesting occasional colloquialism. And the forward about this.
So it’s the situation comedy that is the main point of the book, and most characters were too fake for that to work for me. Not like some other books in the genre, where the supporting cast might be weird but are fully fleshed out and feel real. The town is just a town. It’s not any place I’m growing to know, like, say, Deadwood. The mystery isn’t. The protagonist is likeable but doesn’t make any decisions. In Ontario I’m pretty sure you need a licence to be a funeral director. From what I read that might not be true in Australia, but that one detail interferes with the believability for a while until a chose to ignore it. And what’s with the electrical snap whenever she touches the accountant? Not answered yet, so must be resolved or continued in the next book; as a result, this book doesn’t feel quite finished.
Oddly enough I debated giving this 3 stars because I’d not be inclined to read anything else from a 2 star author. But if I run out of things to read and the next book is cheap I might get it. Go figure. Not enough depth of character or of plot, and the mother is over the top, but there is potential in the concept and the writing is easy to read.
June 7, 2020
I could not even finish this book. I think it raised my blood pressure a good 20 points. The mother is so awful, and so annoying that I simply wanted to scream.
I understand there are many horrific mothers out there, but I don't want to have to read page after page of a mother's belittling, crazy and prejudicial remarks against a daughter who is self-reliant and clearly knows better but does nothing to extricate herself from the toxic relationship.
Perhaps by the end she does, but I'm not sticking around for it and I felt the need to warn others off the hours of hair pulling I went through.
The author was trying to make a point. She went overboard and that's where this book needs to be thrown.
I understand there are many horrific mothers out there, but I don't want to have to read page after page of a mother's belittling, crazy and prejudicial remarks against a daughter who is self-reliant and clearly knows better but does nothing to extricate herself from the toxic relationship.
Perhaps by the end she does, but I'm not sticking around for it and I felt the need to warn others off the hours of hair pulling I went through.
The author was trying to make a point. She went overboard and that's where this book needs to be thrown.
March 30, 2016
This book was well written and the characters were great! Ernie had me laughing throughout the book. Laurel had me laughing and cheering her on. Laurels mom reminds me of a few people and is really annoying but fits perfectly in this book! Basil has me intrigued and I wonder what he is hiding! With crazy funerals, sarcastic ghosts, and a over enthusiastic God fearing mom this book has it all! I can't wait to read the next book and find out what the mystery is that is hiding in the background! I highly recommend this book!
November 29, 2025
Loved the concept
Who better to run a funeral home than someone who can see and hear ghosts! The mother is some religious kook who is horrible. I screamed at her myself while reading. There is gems hidden that make you want to read more! I liked it!
Who better to run a funeral home than someone who can see and hear ghosts! The mother is some religious kook who is horrible. I screamed at her myself while reading. There is gems hidden that make you want to read more! I liked it!
December 22, 2015
Different but good
Everything was interesting and quirky in a good way. I like laurel but her mother was a little too much
Everything was interesting and quirky in a good way. I like laurel but her mother was a little too much
June 29, 2019
Laurel's mother was so annoying that she spoilt the whole book for me. There is no way that I will be reading anymore books in the series.
November 5, 2017
Laurel Bay has come home from Melbourne to attend her father’s funeral. Coming home brought her in closer contact with her overly pious mother – and this was not a pleasant thing for Laurel. She much preferred being 3 days’ drive away from her in Melbourne! After the memorial service, Laurel saw her mother outside complaining loudly to everyone about how Pastor Green should have been trying to save souls; instead, all he did was talk about Larry, her deceased husband!
When Laurel and her mother went to hear the Will read, Laurel found out she has just inherited the Witch Woods Funeral Home and its surrounding property! Her mother was upset and said Laurel had no idea how to run that business and that she herself should own it. Laurel agreed and offered to give it to her, but the Will stipulated that the business be sold if Laurel did not take it. Selling it was not acceptable to her mother. It was imperative that she keep watch on Laurel and that she also should be in charge of “the purse strings” – therefore, Laurel would have to make her mother General Manager! As they were leaving, she told Mr. Goddard to change his name because it was blasphemous and he would not get into heaven. She had already spoken to the pastor about that.
At her first memorial service, the Pastor had not yet shown up. She went to look for him and found him with the deceased’s grandson who wanted one last look in the casket. Laurel gazed at the floor until a scream sounded and the grandson fell through the curtain and exposed the casket to all of the chapel guests! Not only was the grandmother there, but another body -- the girl from the café down the street -- was draped over hers with a knife in its back! Because Laurel can see and speak with ghosts, the dead café worker asked for Laurel’s help finding who killed her. Can Laurel solve the mystery? Will she find the killer? Will she save her failing business after this horrible incident?
This was a fun book which was not meant to be taken too seriously (so you are allowed to laugh at the chaos)! As Laurel tackles the serious matter of murder, she does it in a flamboyant way that has the reader stifling a grin behind his or her hand! There are many characters introduced and it can make for a bit of confusion. But truths do come out. Grab a copy and find out how all of this is ultimately resolved! I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review; needless to say, I also bought my own copy to read it again!
When Laurel and her mother went to hear the Will read, Laurel found out she has just inherited the Witch Woods Funeral Home and its surrounding property! Her mother was upset and said Laurel had no idea how to run that business and that she herself should own it. Laurel agreed and offered to give it to her, but the Will stipulated that the business be sold if Laurel did not take it. Selling it was not acceptable to her mother. It was imperative that she keep watch on Laurel and that she also should be in charge of “the purse strings” – therefore, Laurel would have to make her mother General Manager! As they were leaving, she told Mr. Goddard to change his name because it was blasphemous and he would not get into heaven. She had already spoken to the pastor about that.
At her first memorial service, the Pastor had not yet shown up. She went to look for him and found him with the deceased’s grandson who wanted one last look in the casket. Laurel gazed at the floor until a scream sounded and the grandson fell through the curtain and exposed the casket to all of the chapel guests! Not only was the grandmother there, but another body -- the girl from the café down the street -- was draped over hers with a knife in its back! Because Laurel can see and speak with ghosts, the dead café worker asked for Laurel’s help finding who killed her. Can Laurel solve the mystery? Will she find the killer? Will she save her failing business after this horrible incident?
This was a fun book which was not meant to be taken too seriously (so you are allowed to laugh at the chaos)! As Laurel tackles the serious matter of murder, she does it in a flamboyant way that has the reader stifling a grin behind his or her hand! There are many characters introduced and it can make for a bit of confusion. But truths do come out. Grab a copy and find out how all of this is ultimately resolved! I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review; needless to say, I also bought my own copy to read it again!
August 20, 2020
I've read another book by Morgana Best, which was fine. I can't remember the title, it's been a while. Nothing earth shattering, but then cozies seldom are. That's fine, all we need is an enjoyable escape. The experience made me buy the box set.
Big mistake.
This wasn't enjoyable.
Nor was it an escape.
I kept reading on, it was fascinating to see the author making almost every mistake in the book.
Characters so flat, a pancake would be a high-rise by comparison.
Cookie cutter characters doesn't apply either. Cookies are nice. These characters were - what? Tropey? Unengaging? Repulsive? Idiotic? All of the before?
Whatever. They weren't nice.
Telling, telling, telling all over the place. A sentence saying something. Then the character telling what they just said. Then another one repeating it. GET IT READER??? Big neon arrows pointing at vital clue. Only, the clue turns to be totally irrelevant in the end.
Some building blocks were nice, that's why I bought the box set (yes, foolish me. i shouldn't have fallen for that age-old trick. Somebody polished the first chapter to make it reasonably readable. Never mind the rest).
Why does the main character (I believe she's called Laurel. I wasn't interested enough to care even for her name) first doesn't want her father's funeral home (understandable), but then take it on?
Her bible-thumping mother could have been fun, but she's so overdone, she becomes disgusting. I flipped pages whenever she or one of her minions turned up. I'm not religious, not in the slightest. I didn't feel offended by her beliefs. Just by her actions.
The friend who - surprise, suprise - turns out to be a witch. Not that it does anything to the plot. Other than throw a skewed light on the hottie accountant who uses witch incense.
He had two sheep.
Those I liked. Great characters. Sadly, they didn't get as much as a "baa" into the novel.
The murder is standard fare, nothing surprising there, even if the idea of the murder victim hanging around could have added more spice to the plot.
Summary: A bunch of wasted plot ideas combined with some seriously subterranean writing. I can't imagine the next ones are any better. I will delete the whole set from my device. No point in reading on.
Big mistake.
This wasn't enjoyable.
Nor was it an escape.
I kept reading on, it was fascinating to see the author making almost every mistake in the book.
Characters so flat, a pancake would be a high-rise by comparison.
Cookie cutter characters doesn't apply either. Cookies are nice. These characters were - what? Tropey? Unengaging? Repulsive? Idiotic? All of the before?
Whatever. They weren't nice.
Telling, telling, telling all over the place. A sentence saying something. Then the character telling what they just said. Then another one repeating it. GET IT READER??? Big neon arrows pointing at vital clue. Only, the clue turns to be totally irrelevant in the end.
Some building blocks were nice, that's why I bought the box set (yes, foolish me. i shouldn't have fallen for that age-old trick. Somebody polished the first chapter to make it reasonably readable. Never mind the rest).
Why does the main character (I believe she's called Laurel. I wasn't interested enough to care even for her name) first doesn't want her father's funeral home (understandable), but then take it on?
Her bible-thumping mother could have been fun, but she's so overdone, she becomes disgusting. I flipped pages whenever she or one of her minions turned up. I'm not religious, not in the slightest. I didn't feel offended by her beliefs. Just by her actions.
The friend who - surprise, suprise - turns out to be a witch. Not that it does anything to the plot. Other than throw a skewed light on the hottie accountant who uses witch incense.
He had two sheep.
Those I liked. Great characters. Sadly, they didn't get as much as a "baa" into the novel.
The murder is standard fare, nothing surprising there, even if the idea of the murder victim hanging around could have added more spice to the plot.
Summary: A bunch of wasted plot ideas combined with some seriously subterranean writing. I can't imagine the next ones are any better. I will delete the whole set from my device. No point in reading on.
September 30, 2018
Good in one way, not so much in another
I really wanted to like this book. There are different variants, seeing ghosts, friend that's a witch whose abilities are not explained, a religious zealot of a mother who is mentally abusive to her daughter for a few examples. Even though, her father died leaving the business to his daughter instead of her nut job mother, she elects to move back to her family home into her old bedroom. I just couldn't believe this daughter would not move into her own place. She originally moved away to escape her mother but now as an adult moves back to subject herself to mental abuse all over again. I liked the mystery involving finding the killer of the ghost who can't cross over but the mother daughter thing really bothers me. Sorry, but this story didn't need that dragged out. The daughter could have stepped into the business, for her own place & dealt with keeping her overbearing, religious fanatic mother at arms length of further.
I really wanted to like this book. There are different variants, seeing ghosts, friend that's a witch whose abilities are not explained, a religious zealot of a mother who is mentally abusive to her daughter for a few examples. Even though, her father died leaving the business to his daughter instead of her nut job mother, she elects to move back to her family home into her old bedroom. I just couldn't believe this daughter would not move into her own place. She originally moved away to escape her mother but now as an adult moves back to subject herself to mental abuse all over again. I liked the mystery involving finding the killer of the ghost who can't cross over but the mother daughter thing really bothers me. Sorry, but this story didn't need that dragged out. The daughter could have stepped into the business, for her own place & dealt with keeping her overbearing, religious fanatic mother at arms length of further.
July 17, 2026
really enjoyed meeting Laurel’s character, but definitely not her mother or the creep she was trying to fix Laurel up with. What a couple of misogynistic characters! If the guy had been older, I’d’ve been thinking, well Thelma, you date this guy yourself if you think he’s so great lol. Laurel wasn’t afraid to tell people what she thought though, yay for that. As far as I’m concerned, Thelma only did one worthwhile thing in this book, and it wasn’t for love of her daughter—let’s just say it’s a good thing she’s very religious or Laurel might’ve been joining her ghost friend.
I really enjoyed the ghost character that Laurel was trying to help cross over by finding her killer. In stories like this, I always get to liking the ghost character so much, it’s a little sad when they finally cross over. At least Laurel herself lived to sleuth another day. I’d definitely love to read the next book sometime.
I really enjoyed the ghost character that Laurel was trying to help cross over by finding her killer. In stories like this, I always get to liking the ghost character so much, it’s a little sad when they finally cross over. At least Laurel herself lived to sleuth another day. I’d definitely love to read the next book sometime.
March 12, 2018
Ghost of a Chance: A Funny Cozy Mystery (Witch Woods Funeral Home Mysteries)
I have found a new series to read! Ghost of a Chance is the first book of the series...I love the dialogue--snappy, funny and sounding like something that would actually be said. I love the characters: Thelma, the mother that is fanatically religious and hypocritical--not to mention 'critical' in general; Laurel, the daughter who went to college and never returned, it was her father's desire that she take over the family business which turns out to be a funeral home. And the real kicker: Laurel sees, hears and speaks to ghosts because she inherited the gene from her mother!! But don't worry--the gift skips every other generation, so Thelma is only gifted at causing trouble and mayhem.
Throw in a good murder mystery and this is the series you will want to read too.
I have found a new series to read! Ghost of a Chance is the first book of the series...I love the dialogue--snappy, funny and sounding like something that would actually be said. I love the characters: Thelma, the mother that is fanatically religious and hypocritical--not to mention 'critical' in general; Laurel, the daughter who went to college and never returned, it was her father's desire that she take over the family business which turns out to be a funeral home. And the real kicker: Laurel sees, hears and speaks to ghosts because she inherited the gene from her mother!! But don't worry--the gift skips every other generation, so Thelma is only gifted at causing trouble and mayhem.
Throw in a good murder mystery and this is the series you will want to read too.
October 9, 2019
Fun, witty, cozy
This is a fun and witty book filled with irreverent puns about death. At one point, a ghost (oh, yeah, she can see and talk to ghosts) points out to her if her friend brings sheep to graze on her land around the Funeral Home, she would be able to give the ewelogy! That's an example of the kind in this book. She inherited the Funeral Home, debts, and ghosts from her father much to the consternation of her mother. It's clean and wholesome at the same time. And when she opens a grandmother's casket for a viewing, she finds an extra body in it. Morgana Best is one of my favorite authors and there several more of her books in this series and others on my TB R list so I need to get busy. I want to read them all!
This is a fun and witty book filled with irreverent puns about death. At one point, a ghost (oh, yeah, she can see and talk to ghosts) points out to her if her friend brings sheep to graze on her land around the Funeral Home, she would be able to give the ewelogy! That's an example of the kind in this book. She inherited the Funeral Home, debts, and ghosts from her father much to the consternation of her mother. It's clean and wholesome at the same time. And when she opens a grandmother's casket for a viewing, she finds an extra body in it. Morgana Best is one of my favorite authors and there several more of her books in this series and others on my TB R list so I need to get busy. I want to read them all!
April 17, 2019
An interesting story with lots of different and unusual things going on. Meet Laurel Bay who has returned home to attend her father’s funeral. Now things get very interesting from that point on. Her father owned the funeral home and left his business to his daughter and the weird mother gets the house behind the business. Laurel’s mother is a bit of a religious nut and it carries over in all she does. So we have an excellent mystery with a ghost seeing Laurel and a mother who will not leave her alone and spend money like water. There’s lots of characters you will meet as you read this story so put on your sleuth hats and try not to laugh to much as you read this book!
November 15, 2019
I have received a free copy of this book and am leaving an honest and voluntarily review.
Laurel Bay can see and talk to ghosts. She inherits a funeral home and has to move back from the city to the small town and is determined to make a go at it. Laurels' mother is so controlling and a church fanatic. she is so funny with all her bickering going on. Laurel just seems to get patience from "the universe" to be able to deal with her.
There is a dead body and Laurel helps to get the killer with help from her best friend and the dead girls ghost. And that is all that I am telling you, I loved this book, so I recommend you get it to find out more.
Laurel Bay can see and talk to ghosts. She inherits a funeral home and has to move back from the city to the small town and is determined to make a go at it. Laurels' mother is so controlling and a church fanatic. she is so funny with all her bickering going on. Laurel just seems to get patience from "the universe" to be able to deal with her.
There is a dead body and Laurel helps to get the killer with help from her best friend and the dead girls ghost. And that is all that I am telling you, I loved this book, so I recommend you get it to find out more.
October 29, 2020
3.5/5 stars.
This was actually a fun read. I laughed out loud a lot. Whilst the main character's nutbag evangelical christian mother is totally over the top (and I wanted to squarely punch her in the mouth) I kept reading.
In fact, I PURPOSELY kept reading because so many precious little US christians have left one star reviews on this book. If you're an evangelical christian, this is exactly how we Aussies see you: a bunch of evil charlatans spreading fear.
I'll probably read the next one in the series as they don't take long to read. My only quibbles about this book were that the middle was a bit too meandering and the ending a bit rushed.
This was actually a fun read. I laughed out loud a lot. Whilst the main character's nutbag evangelical christian mother is totally over the top (and I wanted to squarely punch her in the mouth) I kept reading.
In fact, I PURPOSELY kept reading because so many precious little US christians have left one star reviews on this book. If you're an evangelical christian, this is exactly how we Aussies see you: a bunch of evil charlatans spreading fear.
I'll probably read the next one in the series as they don't take long to read. My only quibbles about this book were that the middle was a bit too meandering and the ending a bit rushed.
June 1, 2018
Funny and punny
This was such a fun read. Not only was it humorous but I also loved the little puns thrown in. Although probably more eccentric than most, the frustration that only a parent can bring is definitely relatable. The mystery itself was fantastic, keeping you guessing as you went. Overall, I was impressed with this book. I took a star off because the ending felt slightly rushed and it left me hanging a little with unanswered questions pertaining to the case. I still strongly recommend it.
This was such a fun read. Not only was it humorous but I also loved the little puns thrown in. Although probably more eccentric than most, the frustration that only a parent can bring is definitely relatable. The mystery itself was fantastic, keeping you guessing as you went. Overall, I was impressed with this book. I took a star off because the ending felt slightly rushed and it left me hanging a little with unanswered questions pertaining to the case. I still strongly recommend it.
November 12, 2019
Totally dtupid
I couldn't even finish. The woman is an adult but acts like a child with her mother. Her mother is a crazy bully and the daughter alloes it. It's exaggerated and disrespectful to Christianity.
I was angry over the mother and how the daughter wouldn't grow up I couldn't finish it. The story doesn't center around the murder the mystery is when the daughter is going to tell the bully to shove off.
I don't need to be reading about cruel behavior. I wanted a copy mystery
I couldn't even finish. The woman is an adult but acts like a child with her mother. Her mother is a crazy bully and the daughter alloes it. It's exaggerated and disrespectful to Christianity.
I was angry over the mother and how the daughter wouldn't grow up I couldn't finish it. The story doesn't center around the murder the mystery is when the daughter is going to tell the bully to shove off.
I don't need to be reading about cruel behavior. I wanted a copy mystery
June 25, 2020
Laugh-out-loud fun!
Smiling the whole way through, which is good, because I needed some smiles! What makes it so funny? I think it’s mostly the characters. They are great! I saw in other reviews that some people think the mother is horrible, but I think you mustn’t take her too seriously. Because of course she’s horrible, but in the setting of this cozy I could appreciate the humor. We all have someone like that in our lives, don’t we? And that makes it relatable in a weird way. So I loved it. It’s chaotic, it’s mayhem! And I love that Laurel can talk to ghosts. It’s exactly what I needed!
Smiling the whole way through, which is good, because I needed some smiles! What makes it so funny? I think it’s mostly the characters. They are great! I saw in other reviews that some people think the mother is horrible, but I think you mustn’t take her too seriously. Because of course she’s horrible, but in the setting of this cozy I could appreciate the humor. We all have someone like that in our lives, don’t we? And that makes it relatable in a weird way. So I loved it. It’s chaotic, it’s mayhem! And I love that Laurel can talk to ghosts. It’s exactly what I needed!
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