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Ella Daniels #1

The Pine Hill Inn

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This is book 1 in the Ella Daniels Mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author J. A. Whiting.
Ella Daniels, a professor of American history at Green Hill University, comes from a family with many talents, and seeing ghosts is one of them. The family matriarch, Aunt Jin, has agreed to allow a journalist to do a story on their business, Green Hill Investigations.
When the man accompanies Ella to a centuries-old inn to try to help a ghost cross-over, they stumble over the body of a dead man in the garden.
Who killed him? Why? Will more bodies pile up?
With the help of her brother, sister, and a black cat named Raisin, will Ella and her family find the killer before he or she strikes again?
This story has ghosts and mild paranormal elements.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2019

519 people are currently reading
225 people want to read

About the author

J.A. Whiting

168 books319 followers
USA TODAY Bestselling Author and Amazon All Star, J A Whiting is the author of over 100 cozy mysteries. She lives with her family in Massachusetts. Whiting loves spending time with family, reading, traveling, cycling, following New England sports teams, exercising, and being outdoors.

For exclusive content and new book announcements please visit www.jawhiting.com and sign up for my mailing list.

Also please "like" my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jawhitingauthor

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5 stars
400 (62%)
4 stars
165 (25%)
3 stars
64 (9%)
2 stars
10 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,462 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2021
A light cozy paranormal mystery with a twist on the usual "ghost hunting" theme. I liked that the whole family is involved with Green Hill Investigations as each family member has their own strengths to contribute when they are called in on an investigation. Murder, ghosts, witchcraft magic and a touch of romance rounded out the story.
Profile Image for Pumpkinpuddy.
229 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2020
Another fun series with a focus on the paranormal from J.A. Whiting. I haven't read all of Whiting's series, but I have read most of them. Love everything I've read.
Profile Image for Neena Christianson Martin.
1,185 reviews11 followers
September 9, 2020
Ghosts and witches.

Ella and her family have a business of helping ghosts. Some cross over and others stay, and the family works hard getting the ghosts and their haunted hosts to learn to live together. By the way, what isn't common knowledge is that the whole family are witches.
Profile Image for Lori Kern.
0 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2021
The Pine Hill Inn

This was a great story. It wasn't too harsh but was "homey". What I mean is it had a great relationship between family members and a little bit of romance. I am looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
December 14, 2019
The Inn''s ghost is not a happy bunny

The series starts off with a bang (well a murder actually).
It all happens because the Inn has been having a problem with their resident ghost. She's been far more active and noticeable and as they have several weddings coming up they want the trauma to lessen. Ellie has been tasked with talking to the young girl. Today though she not only has her cat but also a reporter with her. When the ghost gets really agitated and leaves they go out to invest hat she had been trying to draw their attention too. A murder of a young chef in the garden. Unable to let things be (as the young man's ghost has appeared outside her sister's house), the family investigate. Lies, schemes, destruction, violence and greed are all mixed into a read that ended the young man's life and now possible two others, whilst Ellie and the cat have the fight of their lives against a determined killer. Will they get the answers they need?
Will the drought in Ellie love life now be over with a handsome detective and reporter?
The book was well written but I have read a few previously on very similar lines to this. Hopefully the next storyline will be fresher.
The characters though are engaging, thoughtful in their persona and little Jack is a delight.
961 reviews4 followers
July 30, 2021
A Great Cast of Characters!

by Barbara Kelley

What a wonderful cast of characters that J. A. Whiting has created! An entire family of people who can see ghosts, and either help them cross over to the spirit world, or help them calm down, so that they won't scare people staying in old houses, bed and breakfasts, or inns that were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. I have read several series by this author and have loved them all! She is one of my top five favorite authors. I love stories about characters with paranormal abilities, even as young as a year old. The main character, Ella, has seen ghosts since she was one year old, according to her mother. Bella's nephew, four-year hold Jack, can see ghosts. The only one in the family that cannot see ghosts is Mike, Livvy's husband and Jack's daddy. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I gave this book 5 stars, and would have given it more, if I could have.
Profile Image for Juliet Minerva Swift.
823 reviews14 followers
November 18, 2024
I’m so excited to start this new series! I love JA Whiting’s books and I couldn’t pass up reading all 4 in October to get into the autumn-Halloweeny vibes.
This book has a new cast of characters, and there are many! At the start I was quite confused and couldn't really distinguish them, but after a while I got to know them.
Ella is really nice and fun, she’s outspoken and sure of herself, which I liked. Liam is very sweet, and I really liked him for Ella, even though the detective seems to also be interested.
The mystery was convoluted enough to keep me engaged, and

I really enjoyed this and will definitely read the whole series.
Profile Image for Lady Galaxy.
883 reviews
April 27, 2020
I liked the characters, setting and concept, but it felt as if the writer was trying to distance herself from the characters, as if she hadn't quite figured out their voices. It was more like reading a report about what happened than a story about happened. The dialog was stilted. I liked it well enough to try the next book in the series. I'm hoping as the writer becomes more familiar with her characters the series will start to warm up and feel less like a formal dinner party and more like an impromptu family supper.
8 reviews
February 1, 2021
Ghosts and Dead Bodies

The family “business” is dealing with ghosts - and business is in quotes because there is no charge for the service. A free lance journalist wants to write about this and goes with Ella to calm an angry ghost. The ghost, puzzlingly, lowers and raises the window shade. They find a dead body... interesting universe, nice heroines, smart, cute cat with better judgment than the humans. It’s a fun way to waste a couple of hours. The only reason it gets four stars rather than five is the lack of clues, foreshadowing, in the murder mystery elements.
Profile Image for Sharen.
614 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2021
Great beginning to a new series!

This is a really good book from one of my favorite authors...J A Whiting. There are ghosts (yes, more than one), good dialogue, excellent editing, likable characters, evil doers doing evil deeds, and an adorable cat who understands human speech and sees ghosts (I want one like her). Are there witches and a touch of romance too? Well that would be telling. I have already found and gotten the next one to read. Enjoy!
93 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2020
A very enjoyable read. Ready to read next book in this series. I actually laughed out load a few times. I love The cat!

I have read several books by this author and find them interesting enough to want to read the next in the series. I think the Ella Daniels Mystery books r going to be a hit! Jo
258 reviews
March 3, 2020
Very good 👍

Very enjoyable story. Refreshing that Ella and her family are accepting and open ,for the most part, about their paranormal abilities. Characters strong,warm and likeable. Plot flowed well and was engaging and well thought out. I will read more from this series. Satisfying conclusion.
40 reviews
February 3, 2021
Enjoyable read

If you are a fan of easy books to read about magical happenings, this book fits the bill. The premise is different from other paranormal books with a friendly cast of characters and one sweet cat. I enjoyed relaxing with this story and will look for others by J.A. Whiting in this series.
Profile Image for Lynda Lippin.
Author 2 books11 followers
February 3, 2021
A fun and empowering story

I wasn't sure about this story at first, but a third of the way in and I grew to love the characters - witches who help ghosts either cross over or stay here happily and by choice. Ella and her family, including her cat Raisin, are talented witches and ghost whisperers, which helps them solve murder mysteries. I can tell this will be a fun series.
Profile Image for Mary Beth.
789 reviews
November 1, 2021
This was a very good read. It is about a family of witches hiding in plain sight. They run a side business as paranormal investigators who help ghosts move on to the other side. And while being interviewed for an article one of the sisters stumbles into a murder. I really enjoyed it and it is a quick read. It was perfect for a Halloween night!
Profile Image for Terri.
286 reviews9 followers
January 4, 2020
Great Story!

A family of witches who can communicate with ghosts, helps the Spirits to move on. A murder at the Inn is almost deadly! Great characters and writing, I enjoyed this book and will be reading the rest of the series!
65 reviews
October 6, 2021
An all around good book

A family of witches takes on the responsibility of helping spirits find their way to the afterlife and help them to heal if they had a traumatic demise. Wonderful read
24 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2022
Lovely

Very good book. Just enough backstory to help you to understand what's going on with the characters without making the story itself overly confusing. I'm really looking forward to finding out Rebekka's full story.
531 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2023
Good mystery

The characters in this mystery are incredible and interesting. The investigation they do to solve the crime and the danger they put themselves in is intense and exciting.
180 reviews
December 14, 2019
Good cozy book

This book is a nice paranormal cozy read. It is cozy without being juvenile or ridiculous. A good read. Mystery, a bit of romance, and lots of ghosts.
Profile Image for Carolann Hiller.
312 reviews7 followers
December 22, 2019
Motive?

Ella and Livvy her sister are asked to calm an unhappy ghost. And they discover a dead body. While attempting to find killer they face danger again. Good read and author!
Profile Image for gary c lehn.
1,724 reviews7 followers
December 25, 2019
Great series ahead,......

I've enjoyed the first of the stories in the coming series, I believe it will be a good one. The characters seem to be a great group to follow.
Profile Image for Elisa.
3,232 reviews44 followers
December 25, 2019
Great first in a new series I love Ella and her family and I can’t wait to read more they seem like a really interesting family, they have a great dynamic and I can’t wait to read what comes next.
Profile Image for Linda Rainey.
2,348 reviews21 followers
December 29, 2019
A Nice Paranormal Mystery

This was an enjoyable mystery.
I enjoyed the storyline and characters.
This book is recommended for those who paranormal mysteries.
Profile Image for carla bigham.
5 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2020
I enjoyed this first book of this new mystery series. It was the kind of good read I've come to expect from Ms. Whiting. I always try to read her books.
474 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2020
I loved this story. Fun and adventure with the mystery. Great characters and a fun kitty too. Kept my attention and made me want more about the folks in the story.
Profile Image for Matthew Murray.
1,002 reviews
January 11, 2020
Enjoyed

This was the very first book I have read of yours and it was very entertaining and I am looking forward to your next one.
416 reviews4 followers
January 23, 2020
The Pine Hill Inn

This was a nice cozy mystery . I liked the characters . The mystery was easy to solve. I will read the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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