The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait

Haunted Bookshop Mystery #7

by Cleo Coyle (Alias), Alice Kimberly, Alice Alfonsi

Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and her gumshoe ghost Jack Shepard team up to investigate the self-portrait of a "madwoman".

While gathering a collection of vintage book cover paintings for a special event in her quaint Rhode Island bookshop, Pen finds a spooky portrait of a beautiful woman. Disinherited Henrietta McClure was crazy, according to town gossip. Seymour, local mailman and Jeopardy champ, falls in love with the haunting image and buys the picture. He refuses to part with it, even as fatal accidents befall those around it. Is the canvas cursed? Or is something more sinister at work?

For answers, Pen turns to an otherworldly source: Jack Shepard, PI. Back in the 1940s, Jack cracked a case of a killer cover artist. To Pen's relief, his spirit is willing to help her solve this mystery, even if he and his license did expire decades ago.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Paranormal, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

317 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

Don't miss the newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series (with more to come), NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY, a National Mystery Bestseller and triple #1 Amazon Category Bestseller. Join Cleo's Coffee Club for bonus recipes and giveaways: Click Here to Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter

CLEO COYLE is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relenlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech. Their books have earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers, and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections.

When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or wrangling their rescued stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. One of those projects (ghostwritten by Alice Alfonsi) was named by Entertainment Weekly as the best media tie-in book written that year.

CONNECT WITH CLEO at CleoCoyle.com and CoffeehouseMystery.com

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CLEO'S TWO BESTSELLING SERIES:

Cleo’s Coffeehouse Mystery series, celebrated for pioneering both the “urban cozy" and “coffee cozy” mystery genres, follows the adventures of amateur sleuth Clare Cosi, a single mom with a complicated love life who manages a Greenwich Village coffeehouse and a crew of quirky baristas who helps her solve perplexing crimes.

Cleo’s Haunted Bookshop Mystery series, hailed as a highly original and "utterly charming" (Mystery Scene) blend of cozy and hardboiled genres, features an earnest young New England widow who catches criminals with the help of a gumshoe ghost, the irrepressible spirit of a tough private detective who’d been gunned down in her bookshop decades before.

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LATEST BOOK NEWS:

The newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY, on sale April 1st and already a national mystery bestseller and triple #1 Amazon category bestseller. Cleo's previous release, BULLETPROOF BARISTA, was a "wildly entertaining" (Criminal Elment) national mystery bestseller; a #1 category best seller for Amazon; and honored with 2 Best of Year list selections by reviewers. It is now availalbe in a new paperback reprint edition along with the previous bestselling book in the series, HONEY ROASTED, "A honey of a tale" (Kirkus Reviews).

Cleo's latest Haunted Bookshop Mystery releases include THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS, praised by Kirkus as "a gem of a story." And THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS, a #1 category best seller for Amazon, which Fresh Fiction called "amazing and unique." Cleo is now writing the next Haunted Bookshop Mystery. Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter for updates on the pub date!

Reviews

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been one of my favorites of the series. It’s entwined with an old and new mystery, and saving the Finch Inn.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is back!

I love this series! It is absolutely one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I snap up a copy each time I see a new book pop up for pre-order. This time, I got my review copy and pre-ordered both the paperback and audio book. I gotta have my Jack and Penelope (that sounds like a cool mixed drink, doesn't it!)!

The Ghost & the Haunted Portrait is the 7th book in the Haunted Book Shop Mysteries. This time, Penelope is preparing for a special event at her shop involving vintage book cover art. A spooky portrait of a woman with a bit of a legend behind it starts to cause trouble. Is the portrait cursed? Who best to help investigate a ghostly curse than a ghost detective? Penelope enlists Jack's help to discover the truth behind the portrait.

I have to admit that I have not read the end of this story yet. I'm repeating what I did with the last book....I read about half of my review copy....then I wait for the physical copy of the book to finish. I don't know whodunnit yet! My book is on the way though -- just left the Baltimore postal system on its way south! You better believe I'm tracking that puppy! I want to read the rest of the book on release day! If the book doesn't arrive on time (packages from all delivery companies seem to be taking longer to get here lately), I can always load my audio book which will magically appear on my devices on release day. I got it covered! The half of my review copy that I read was very good! But I'm making myself wait to finish the story!

For those new to Cleo Coyle's books (pseudonym for a husband and wife writing team), their Coffeehouse Mystery series is also very good! I'm a firm fan of that series too!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo Coyle is one of my favorite authors, so when The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait showed up on NetGalley, I was excited to request it.
Penny and her Aunt Sadie own Buy The Book, located in Rhode Island.
As they are preparing for a new event at the store, Penny and her two besties go to pick up some art work, which sets off a domino effect, that leads to murder and deceit.
The object of the investigation is a beautiful painting of a woman, who is rumored to have gone mad and lived as a recluse until her death.
Penny is eager to find out the truth hidden behind the painting, so she pairs up with Jack Shepard, her spectral friend, to get the answers.

I really enjoyed this book, especially when Penny can see into Jack's memories. This sets this series apart from others, and makes it colorful and unique.
I'm looking forward to catching up on any books I may have missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for approving me to read this exciting book.

[Anna Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so good to have Jack back. I enjoy the series and look forward to more. I was kept guessing by who did it The MC has 2 good friends who are always there for her. She also has her aunt and son. What she doesn't have is a boyfriend (she is a widower), unless you consider Jack (the ghost) her boyfriend.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope McClure is a young widow who co-owns a bookshop in Rhode Island along with her Aunt Sadie. She lives with her eleven-year-old son Spencer and Sadie above the shop. When they're given an advance copy of a book on pulp art from decades ago, they are going to offer a signing event in their store with the authors. But to help them, they've also contacted a local man who collects pulp cover art and is willing to allow them to borrow some if they will come and pick them up.

With the help of her best friends Seymour and Professor J. Brainert Parker, they head off in Seymour's van to the man's home. When they arrive Seymour sees a painting of an ethereal woman and learns that she is Harriet McClure, an ancestor of Penelope's late husband. The tale behind it is rather sad; the woman was declared mad and sent to live in a Queen Anne home that is now known as the Finch Inn, owned by Barney and Fiona Finch. The home is in the painting's background, and Seymour cannot take his eyes off it, finally convincing the owner to sell it to him.

But after Seymour purchases the painting, accidents begin to occur, and Pen wonders if it is coincidence or something larger. Her personal PI, Detective Jack Shepard is willing to help and even share one of his memories regarding the paintings on loan from the collector -- because he knew the artist and the model. Since Jack's the ghost of a PI who was murdered at the bookshop in the 1940's, he's been there ever since and Pen's the only one who can communicate with him. They've grown closer through the time she's known him, and it seems she needs to become part of the memory to crack the current case. Now if she can keep a killer at bay and discover the truth before anyone else dies...

This is the seventh book in the series and I have read and enjoyed every one of them. I love the romance between Jack and Pen, and while some may scoff, love transcends time and space, and while it's not specifically said, you can feel it with the characters when you read the words. The pages come to life, the characters right with them; and you want to continue to read and be part of their lives.

As for the plot, it is probably one of the most interesting that I have so far read in this series. Pen and her aunt are using the paintings of the cover art to promote the book; the collector has agreed to sell them for the right price. But more than Seymour's attraction to the picture is causing accidents, and Pen is determined to find out which one of the people around her might be a murderer.

The fact that Jack knows the story behind one of the paintings doesn't surprise me; and I love hearing about his adventures in the 1940s. (I'm a sucker for classic movies; they're all I watch, so this makes the book more pleasurable, going into Jack's world occasionally). He brings Pen along in her sleep, and while he doesn't solve her murder for her, he gives her the information she needs to solve it when she wakens. It's captivating, to say the least.

When the ending comes, the murderer is caught (because we know they will be); and everything that is hidden comes to light, it is a surprise that both stuns and gratifies, giving us a feeling of satisfaction that everything is as it should be. I can't state how much I enjoy this series and am looking forward to the next book and Pen and Jack's adventures. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Penelope Thornton-McClure and her Aunt Sadie are getting their bookshop, Buy the Book, ready for a big event. A book signing with the authors of a new book featuring Pulp Fiction covers from the past. As a bonus for the event, a local collector of the vintage covers is lending the shop some of his collection. Pen and her friends Seymour and Professor J. Brainert Parker travel to pick up the artwork. When they arrive Seymour becomes enamored with a portrait of a young Harriet McClure who just happens to have been related to Pen’s late husband. The painting is said to be cursed but that doesn’t stop Seymour from buying it. Strange events start to happen shortly after the purchase but are shaken off as coincidence. Then the previous owner is found dead and the ghostly private eye Jack Shepard tells Pen he has a history with one of the pieces of art and he offers to help her solve the current case.

If you love old movies you are going to love this story. Even the current mystery had an old-timey feel due to the theme of vintage cover art. As soon as we meet Walt Waverly and enter his “sprawling Tudor home” and his library where he displays “a lot of” his art I felt we stepped back in time. The author describes everything in detail even the doorknobs “covered with a patina of green from age and neglect” and the “pristine condition” of his rare books and the Nathan Brock cover painting from 1948 that even got Jack’s attention. The words put the readers right there on the scene observing each and every moment. I was captivated by the entire experience.

Then with the P.I.’s mysterious way we actually travel back in time to tackle one of his old cases that was linked to that Nathan Brock cover. Again I was intrigued by the whole process and how those experiences helped Pen solve the current mystery. The way Pen and Jack communicate is very interesting but eerie too.

The story sheds a light on corruption in publishing and scams. Authors and artists are both affected. While this was not a new concept to me I felt educated by what happened to a couple of characters in this story. The old adage, “if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is” definitely applies.

I absolutely loved the ending. Yes, the killer was revealed but so much more happens to bring things full circle. I can’t say more, you need to read the book yourself.

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait is an exciting addition to this great series. I am looking forward to the next adventure with Pen and her ghost gumshoe detective.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and her Aunt Sadie are getting their bookshop, Buy the Book ready for an event showcasing the classic covers of Pulp Fiction books because of an upcoming release. When she and her two best friends head out on a road trip to pick up some art that’s being lent to them, they come back with one more painting than they’re supposed to. You see, Seymour must have a self portrait by Harriet McClure, a well-known local woman, and ancestor to Penelope’s late husband. Only this portrait isn’t like any of the others that are known around town, in this one, Harriet is much younger and there seems to be some strange things in the painting.
Well, this sets off a string of strange happenings, starting with the death of the man Seymour bought the painting from. We’re transported from the present time, to 1940’s NYC through the memories of the ghost that haunts Penelope. Yes, Penelope that has a ghost that haunts her, a gumshoe who actually had firsthand knowledge of the painter of some of the covers that are on display at the bookstore and of the woman in some of them as well. Come to find out, PI Jack Shepard actually worked a case involving the painter and a possible homicide.
This was such an interesting story. I’ve never read anything like it and reading that this is in fact the seventh in the series makes me want to read them all. You don’t need to read the previous six to get into this story, I don’t feel like I missed anything (other than a great series I wish I knew about before now) and I wasn’t lost at any point. I didn’t figure out who the killer was in this book, which is rare, and means that I was invested in the story, not trying to figure out the bad guy. The writing was good, the characters are interesting, and the storyline was chock full of twists and turns. What a great story.
**I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait
(Haunted Bookshop Mystery #7)
by Cleo Coyle
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book. The opinions are my own.
I love ghost stories! Friendly, helpful ghosts or frightening, vengeful ghosts, I like them all! So I was disappointed when this book didn't live up to my expectations. Oh, it had a ghost, but the story was so dry!
Someone buys a painting because he just loves the image of the woman in it. Then bad things start happening around the painting. The ghost was a detective and helps out in the case.
The characters are flat, plot predictable, and I had to force myself to finish it so I could review it. If it wasn't a NetGalley book I would have quit reading it.
The 2 stars are for trying and that it had a ghost anyway! I rarely give low reviews, I usually just quit reading. Sorry, but I need to be honest with the readers.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can believe it, this is the FIRST book I've read by Cleo Coyle. I've been getting their newsletter for years, but with all of the books on my list, I haven't gotten to read theirs! I know people love them, and now I know why! The Ghost and The Haunted Portrait is brilliant!

Since this is the first I've read by Cleo Coyle, it's obviously the first I've read in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series. I didn't feel lost at all as I read the book. It's very easy to get to know the characters. They leap off of the page with their big personalities and realistic foibles. That includes the ghost too! Yes, there's a ghost, but only Penelope knows about him. Jack Shepard communicates with her as a voice in her head, so you can imagine why she doesn't tell anyone else about him! Hearing voices? Not something you wanna share with your friends.

In addition to the wonderful characters, The Ghost and The Haunted Portrait has a well-crafted mystery. It really kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. Since I've read this, I am excited to read the first six in the series! This cozy mystery is the type I love. If you're looking for a new cozy to read, you have to read this one! The humor, wonderfully written characters, and, of course, the mystery make this a book to read!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I have to say how amazed and impressed I was with the range of quotes that begin each chapter! Varied sources from Shakespeare and classic lit to noir mysteries such as Chandler and Spillaine to pop culture (music and comedy) and even sports(Yogi Berra!)

Planning a spectacular book launch event at the bookstore she owns, Pen Thornton-McClure sets off to pick up display items. She takes along some extra hands in the form of well educated friends, a professor and a postal carrier. As soon as they arrive at the mansion to retrieve the items, paintings, things begin to heat up. Could it be possible one (or more) of those paintings is haunted, or worse, cursed?

Something is causing one disaster after another, although it seems to be helping sales.
From family disputes to random accidents to MURDER, the twists and action never end.
I enjoyed the travel via dreams back to 1947 with Jack and visiting another era, along with a crime to solve. This book is a delight for the senses.

The ending is one you can not predict.

[marita lazarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It’s my first time reading this series and I loved it It’s nice cozy, good mystery and in my mind’s eye I kept seeing a series on masterpiece theatre or Netflix Jack would be an awesome character to see come to life in the small screen.

Any ways back to this book. I def want to read all the books In the series It was a fun read and I could not put it down I loved the characters I loved how Jack kept taking pen and the reader back to his time and review his cases and how it all tied in.

The story was good and entertaining.

Can’t wait to read the previous stories and I can’t wait till the next book

[Megan W. (pnwbookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good paranormal mystery and this series is fantastic. I love the dynamic between Penelope and Jack and I loved the mystery. The story was full of plenty of twist, great character arcs and good writing. I didn't figure out the mystery before the end, which means I was too busy reading to try and think about it too much. Overall I really enjoyed this one! I also love their coffee house mystery series!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and I'm so glad it was brought back. I normally only buy new books if they are getting signed but I'm now pre-ordering these (originally this was supposed to be published by my birthday in 2020 but the release got pushed back). Jack is my favorite PI ghost and I love that we get a look at his old cases as he helps Pen solve modern cases. This mystery was interesting and I was very happy with who the guilty party turned out to be. Looking forward to more adventures.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get enough Jack and pen

Just love Jack and Pen, they fit together like Powell and Loy. Really enjoyed this book would recommend it to all my mystery friend readers. Can't wait for your next one, please keep them coming.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in Cleo Coyle's Haunted Bookshop Mystery series and though it was my first instalment I didn't feel at a disadvantage and still found the story absorbing and the characters winsome.

In this cozy mystery, I got to meet bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure. She is preparing for an event to be held at her shop, Buy the Book, and is collecting paintings of vintage book covers. One of the paintings, a portrait of a beautiful woman who he learns is Harriet McClure, an ancestor of Penelope's late husband, has caught the attention of the local postman, Seymour who buys it. The picture, according to the locals is haunted, and when strange occurrences begin happening, and there is a fatal accident, Seymour still hangs on to it. Wondering if the painting is cursed, Pen turns to private investigator and ghost Jack Shepard for help.

Cleo Coyle has a lively writing style that sets the stage for the book with plenty of vivid imagery, making it easy to visualise scenes. The mystery is skillfully woven filled with intersecting stories, past and present and there are clues galore. The characters are expertly created and developed. Pen and Jack make a fascinating sleuthing duo and I could tell that they care about each other. Even though Jack has a rather gruff manner, he clearly has feelings for Pen who is smart, diligent and caring. I was totally invested in the story and reading The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait has given me the desire to check out the rest of this series as well as continuing with Cleo Coyle's other series, the Coffeehouse Mysteries. A very highly recommended, fun trip to the 1940s for cozy mystery readers.

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, Cleo Coyle and Berkley Publishing Group for a complimentary copy of The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait via Netgalley at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly love this series, I devoured all 7 books in a week.

I listened to them on Audible and I have to say that the change up of the Narrator in book 7 was very disappointing. Caroline Shaffer, and Traber Burns created the perfect characters in my imagination. Traci Odom did a decent job but it wasn't the same.

I'm still giving this book 5 stars because the book itself is amazing. I do hope the original narrators will be back for the rest of the series.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pen and Jack (the PI ghost) find themselves caught into murders related to a set of paintings being exhibited at the store. Jack is puzzled by a woman's portrait he knew when he was alive, and Pen is trying to find who killed the art's owner. I love the scenes when Jack takes Pen back to his time in her dreams. This is a great series!

[Elliemae · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! WOW! Have been waiting for this book and it delivered! Hope there are a lot more books coming in this series in the future!

[D.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost and the Haunted Portrait
“Our cat’s nocturnal wanderings had to be curtailed.” Hah! Tail!

Jack is back, and he’s as charming as ever. My sweet ghost pal from the 40s is on the case and helping Penny in present day solve another mystery.
There’s plenty to enjoy in this cozy mystery. You’ll have favorite moments throughout the splattering of character shenanigans, and the business association meeting is pure fun. Publishing scams were brought to light as well as a peek into book cover artwork. But you’ll get distracted and will need to pay attention to the clues cleverly dropped right in front of you. And while present day has enough murder for Pen to be involved in, I especially enjoyed the trip back to Manhattan with Jack to investigate Ruby’s connection across the decades.
I did get to wondering if Jack lingers in Pen’s head without her knowing. Can he pop in at will? Will there ever be a time when Pen won’t want Jack floating around in her head? While I wanted to see more of their togetherness when she went back in time with Jack, this 7th in the series is a delightful read. And Jack’s last line brought a sigh and a hope that maybe there will be more to the gumshoe team in the future.
As they say, Jack is my Shepard, I shall always want…

[Sue Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another slam dunk!

Cleo Coyle has written another great story that draws the reader into the mystery. The handsome ghost p.I. doesn't hurt either, when he takes Penny back in time in her dreams to put two and two together. I have to say that the long wait for this book was worth it, but I hope it won't be so long before I get to see Pen and Jack again.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle is the 7th A Haunted Bookshop Mystery. This enchanting cozy mystery can be read as a standalone for those new to the series or if you have missed a tome or two. This is an entertaining and unique cozy mystery series. I love visiting Penelope and Jack Shepard. Penelope and her two bickering friends are off to pick up some artwork that will displayed at Buy the Book as part of an exhibit. They end up finding the owner dead and it relates back to a case Jack investigated before his death. I like how the past and present tie-in together. It is neat how Penelope gets to “see” Jack’s memories. The interplay between Jack and Penelope is delightful. The mystery was complex which makes it fun to solve. There are good suspects, a red herring, and exciting twists. I appreciated that everything was neatly wrapped up at the end. The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait is well-written with friendly, developed characters. Buy the Book is a wonderful place to visit with its charming owners. The romance between Penelope and Jack is special. We can see how love can transcend time and space (reminds me of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir). This cozy mystery has good friends, close family, mysterious acts, a dead art collector, books, and humor. The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait is a unique cozy mystery with precious paintings, a dashing detective, ambiguous acts, concealed clues, treasured tomes, and a suspicious specter.

[Nicole Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return of old friends

After waiting so long for the next installment in this series that I have up, it was such a pleasure to find this book. The story kept me reading way after I should have been asleep. The outcome does not disappoint!

[Laurie Pinnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me start by saying while this is the seventh book in the haunted bookshop series, it is my first. I have read other books from Cleo Coyle and this title was way too good to pass up.
It starts out with Pen and her two friends going to pick up some paintings that she and her Aunt are borrowing for an event at their bookshop. From there, things just kind of snowball when the first murder is the man who owns the paintings. The bookshop's resident ghost Jack, a P.I. who died in the 1940s is there with Pen talking to her in her head and taking her back to the 1940s through her dreams as he guides her through the crimes of the present and one of his cases from yesteryear. The suspense is palpable and the dangers are very real as Pen rushes against time to figure out who committed these crimes all the while being guided and learning from the gumshoe whose license and life both expired decades ago. I thought I had it figured out in my head who the killer was only to find out that someone totally off my radar was the guilty party. How about you? Can you put the pieces together and solve this case before Pen and Jack? I bet you can't. And yes, that is a challenge, are you up for it?

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait (Haunted Bookshop Mystery, #7) by Cleo Coyle.

Once again I'm so thankful this series was brought back. It's been my favorite cozy( and then some) series. It connects the present to the old due to Jack's presence in Pen's life. Penelope goes to an art collector's home to browse paintings for an event that's to take place in her bookshop. Walt Waverly has quite a collection but the one painting of a beautiful woman with rumors galore of her life catches the eye and heart of Seymour. Seymour becomes obsessed with the woman in the painting and soon that obsession takes over his life.
This story had depth in unraveling the truth behind those rumors. It had depth in the bringing together the town's characters as they played off one another in connecting the dots in this mystery.

Highly recommended as long as becoming addicted to this series is considered. Just a warning.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Ms. Coyle has been able to begin writing this series again. I love Jack Shephard and Penelope is one smart independent woman. The plot was intricate and the weaving of Jack's case into the current mystery kept me turning the pages to see how both mysteries would develop.

[Mary E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every book written by Cleo Coyle and her husband Marc. I just LOVE them. Wish the writing process was not so long and difficult. Waiting for the next book is so difficult.

This book was so fast moving and had so many twists and turns I never guessed who done it as they say.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo Coyle is one of my favorite authors and this series is a delight. I'm happy to read this book after several years of waiting.

Jack Shepard, the ghostly PI who inhabits the book store is a delight as he helps Penelope solve the mystery related to the spooky portrait of a beautiful local woman. There are plenty of twists and turns as this very detailed cozy mystery proceeds.

[LiteraryChic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely hope this series continues! I truly have enjoyed binge reading all of them. The characters are funny, relatable, and love able. I would definitely love to see more of the connection between Jack and Pen like we have in the first few books to the series (the romance). They definitely care for one another. Keep this series coming.

[Drebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

While gathering a bunch of paintings for an event at her bookstore featuring pulp magazine covers, Penelope Thornton-McClure and her friends Seymour and Brainert stumble across a self-portrait of Harriet McClure who supposedly went mad. The portrait itself is strange – Harriet seems to have left several clues in it but clues to what? Seymour quickly becomes enchanted by the picture but Pen has to wonder if the portrait is haunted, especially after a series of events that seem related to the portrait including a couple of murders. When someone Pen knows is arrested for the murder, she thinks the police have the wrong person and sets out to find the real killer. Luckily she has the ghost of PI Jack Shepard to help her!

“The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait” is the wonderfully done seventh book in Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop cozy mystery series. I love everything about this series starting with Pen’s relationship with the ghost of Jack Shepard. There is just the slightest hint of romance between the two especially when Pen is able to visit one of Jack’s past cases in a dream – this could have been creepy but it isn’t at all, it is very nicely done by Could (a husband and wife writing team). In this book, one of Jack’s prior cases ties in very neatly with the current day plot – it is fun to read as Coyle deftly weaves the two cases together (and I love the way Coyle captures the language of the 1940’s – even Pen speaks in the dreams as if she lived in that time period). There is, in fact, a sly sense of humor throughout the book as Jack struggles at time to understand modern day slang and Pen struggles with 1940’s slang. While this isn’t quite a figure out whodunit type of mystery, both mysteries – the 1940’s one and the modern day one – are nicely done with each having some twists and turns and a few surprises. In the end, I was sorry that my visit with Jack and Pen was over and I look forward to visiting them again in future books.

“The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait” is a nicely done cozy mystery.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope, Seymour, and Brainert go to pick up some pulp art from Walt Waverly for display at the book store for a new book coming out. While there Seymour falls in lust with a portrait of a young woman who is Penelope's in-law. He buys it but is told there is a curse on it. On the way home they have a flat and decide to stay at a motel since there is a bad storm. Penelope receives a call from Waverly while a knock happens at his door. Penelope and the guys go back to his place the next morning and find him dead. Why and who? As Penelope continues to look for a murderer bad news is discovered for the Finches. Interesting news happens to them later. But it looks like they may lose their inn. Who and what is behind that? Does is have to do with the earlier murder and what is the curse of the portrait?

There is so much going on here but I think this is the best book of the series. Jack takes Penelope back to his time several times and focuses on a case involving the models and artists of the pulp covers shown in the book and on the walls at the bookstore. I found the history given on them interesting. I also liked that Penelope is getting better at what Jack wants her to learn with the trips into his memories.

I liked that Seymour thought the portrait was a message for him to solve. I also enjoyed his persistence in finding out what the message was. I loved how much history of the town and the earlier families were brought out. I got to know these characters better. I loved how everything worked out so that Penelope's in-law's were thwarted. Jerks!

I hope there are more. Jack is really coming alive and Penelope is learning about him, detection, and Spencer. I love it!