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Hope Herring #2
Blood Moon
It is October and Hope and her daughter, Cori, are settling into their new town. When Cori and her friends go to a spooky and haunted attraction for some Halloween fun, things take a strange and frightening turn which thrusts the Herring women into a mystery they want nothing to do with. There's also their resident ghost who needs help researching the past to uncover his killer. Will Cori and Hope be able to figure out what's going on before someone else loses their life?
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2020
558 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Whiting
168 books319 followersUSA 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
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 3, 2021
2021 bk 37. An excellent comfort read set at Halloween. In this story Hope's daughter Cori witnesses a murder - and the murder sees her. At first Hope and other adults fluff it off as the crime scene was in a Halloween Horror house, but when the body of a young woman is discovered - murdered in the way Cori described, the truth is out there - and the murderer begins to stalk Cori and Hope. It is with the help of Detective Robinson that all eventually ends well... What endears this series to me is the relationship between mother and daughter - the honesty of it. It also reveals the struggles of people trying to fit into a new community to which they've moved, the grief of losing someone you love, and the ordinariness of daily life that can turn on a dime. I hope the writing continues to hold up.
September 28, 2020
Blood Moon
I read the previous book in this series and I thought it was ok. I found the conversations between the mother and daughter were too stilted. I understand the ghost was from a different time period but the mother and daughter gave me the impression that they were reading lines from a play. I did like the foundation of the story but again could not see any mother putting her daughter through being so close to a dangerous situation.
I read the previous book in this series and I thought it was ok. I found the conversations between the mother and daughter were too stilted. I understand the ghost was from a different time period but the mother and daughter gave me the impression that they were reading lines from a play. I did like the foundation of the story but again could not see any mother putting her daughter through being so close to a dangerous situation.
August 2, 2020
Enjoyable way to spend afternoon
This is a fun cozy mystery. Great characters that are down to earth. Nice mystery with a few twists to keep you guessing. There is also a friendly ghost with a mystery of his own!
This is a fun cozy mystery. Great characters that are down to earth. Nice mystery with a few twists to keep you guessing. There is also a friendly ghost with a mystery of his own!
August 9, 2020
by Barbara Kelley
Blood Moon is book #2 in the Hope Herring Mystery series by J. A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy. The 1st book showed only 1 of 3 mysteries being solved. This second book was the same. The two older mysteries were not solved, but a new mystery was.
This book starts off with Hope Herring having a year-old memory of her husband, Doug, who was still alive a year ago, and how close the family members (Hope, Doug, and Cori) were. They were having an outdoor barbecue when a drone flies over their house. Doug whispers to Hope that he is working on a story (he was a journalist) that could lead to him winning a Pulitzer Prize about corruption within a well-known company; however, he doesn't tell her anything else because he wants to protect Hope and Cori. Not long after that day, Doug was killed in a suspicious car crash. The police ruled it an accident, but Hope thinks otherwise. Even a year later, she thinks his pending story is what got him killed. She tries to get into his laptop, but the files are password protected and she can't figure out what the password is. This is one of the mysteries that remains to be solved, but maybe in a future book.
The second mystery has to do with the resident ghost, Maximillian Johnson, who built the house over a hundred years ago that Hope and Cori are living in. She is still investigating who murdered him all those years ago, during or right after the Spanish Flu of 1918. Max even tells her how people were wearing masks back then to keep from getting the Spanish Flu. It sounded much like our Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020.
The third mystery is a new one. Thirteen-year-old Cori Herring goes to Spooky Castle, a Halloween haunted house. This book takes place during the week before Halloween through a couple of days after. Cori goes to Spooky Castle with some of her school friends, but when they get inside, she gets separated from them. While she's trying to find her way back to her friends, she opens a door and witnesses a masked man slitting the throat of a young woman. She screams and runs away, finding herself back outside, where she hides from the masked man chasing her. But was what Cori saw really a man murdering a woman? Or was it just actors playing a part? Read this book to find out.
This is another one of those books that you cannot speed-read because you might miss pertinent clues, especially those that Cori remembers when she closes her eyes and thinks about what she saw in that room. As I said before, only 1 of the 3 mysteries is solved, while 2 remain open for future book solving. I will be on the lookout for book #3 of this series.
Blood Moon is book #2 in the Hope Herring Mystery series by J. A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy. The 1st book showed only 1 of 3 mysteries being solved. This second book was the same. The two older mysteries were not solved, but a new mystery was.
This book starts off with Hope Herring having a year-old memory of her husband, Doug, who was still alive a year ago, and how close the family members (Hope, Doug, and Cori) were. They were having an outdoor barbecue when a drone flies over their house. Doug whispers to Hope that he is working on a story (he was a journalist) that could lead to him winning a Pulitzer Prize about corruption within a well-known company; however, he doesn't tell her anything else because he wants to protect Hope and Cori. Not long after that day, Doug was killed in a suspicious car crash. The police ruled it an accident, but Hope thinks otherwise. Even a year later, she thinks his pending story is what got him killed. She tries to get into his laptop, but the files are password protected and she can't figure out what the password is. This is one of the mysteries that remains to be solved, but maybe in a future book.
The second mystery has to do with the resident ghost, Maximillian Johnson, who built the house over a hundred years ago that Hope and Cori are living in. She is still investigating who murdered him all those years ago, during or right after the Spanish Flu of 1918. Max even tells her how people were wearing masks back then to keep from getting the Spanish Flu. It sounded much like our Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020.
The third mystery is a new one. Thirteen-year-old Cori Herring goes to Spooky Castle, a Halloween haunted house. This book takes place during the week before Halloween through a couple of days after. Cori goes to Spooky Castle with some of her school friends, but when they get inside, she gets separated from them. While she's trying to find her way back to her friends, she opens a door and witnesses a masked man slitting the throat of a young woman. She screams and runs away, finding herself back outside, where she hides from the masked man chasing her. But was what Cori saw really a man murdering a woman? Or was it just actors playing a part? Read this book to find out.
This is another one of those books that you cannot speed-read because you might miss pertinent clues, especially those that Cori remembers when she closes her eyes and thinks about what she saw in that room. As I said before, only 1 of the 3 mysteries is solved, while 2 remain open for future book solving. I will be on the lookout for book #3 of this series.
October 28, 2023
Excerpt :“Most of the time, people liked to practice what they were good at, and only the driven practiced what they weren’t good at.”
I like Hope and her daughter Cori. They are a bit snarky toward one another with tasteful banter and seem to be intelligent which makes me remember that it’s actually Whiting and McCarthy who are the ones with the smarts. I like that the mother and daughter duo have such a good relationship. They like to joke with one another and many things Hope says makes me think.
Although it isn’t Hope that said it, she did have the thought about her late husband:
“Doug liked to say that constraints weren’t bad things because constraints taught creativity. Anyone could write sloppy essays filled with the adjectives and adverbs the author needed because he or she was too lazy to search out the right word. It took a good writer to turn out work under the constraints of reporting and news deadlines.”
I really like that and I re-read it several times - Constraints teach creativity.
Well something unfortunate but probable occurred and that is to say someone was murdered. However, this time there was a witness to the slaying. A witness who was convinced by someone that she didn’t see what she thought she saw and that everything was fake. Then again we see later on that the witness does see things like unicorns and orange rain and finally a ghost talks to her. Not much credibility…
Not to worry because Hope is on the case and is going around asking people questions in an attempt to get answers to the “Who?” of the murder. Hope is also trying to find out what happened to her late husband because she doesn’t believe his death was suicide. And finally there’s Tax…errrrr… Max’s murder that needs to be solved. Hope is busy, that’s for sure. And who’s in the white truck that’s been watching and following her?
So far, so great! Loving this series! Next in the Hope Herring Mystery series is book 3 “The Holiday Slay”.
I like Hope and her daughter Cori. They are a bit snarky toward one another with tasteful banter and seem to be intelligent which makes me remember that it’s actually Whiting and McCarthy who are the ones with the smarts. I like that the mother and daughter duo have such a good relationship. They like to joke with one another and many things Hope says makes me think.
Although it isn’t Hope that said it, she did have the thought about her late husband:
“Doug liked to say that constraints weren’t bad things because constraints taught creativity. Anyone could write sloppy essays filled with the adjectives and adverbs the author needed because he or she was too lazy to search out the right word. It took a good writer to turn out work under the constraints of reporting and news deadlines.”
I really like that and I re-read it several times - Constraints teach creativity.
Well something unfortunate but probable occurred and that is to say someone was murdered. However, this time there was a witness to the slaying. A witness who was convinced by someone that she didn’t see what she thought she saw and that everything was fake. Then again we see later on that the witness does see things like unicorns and orange rain and finally a ghost talks to her. Not much credibility…
Not to worry because Hope is on the case and is going around asking people questions in an attempt to get answers to the “Who?” of the murder. Hope is also trying to find out what happened to her late husband because she doesn’t believe his death was suicide. And finally there’s Tax…errrrr… Max’s murder that needs to be solved. Hope is busy, that’s for sure. And who’s in the white truck that’s been watching and following her?
So far, so great! Loving this series! Next in the Hope Herring Mystery series is book 3 “The Holiday Slay”.
October 6, 2024
It's the first Halloween in their new town in North Carolina. Hope is teaching and Cori has settled in by making new friends. Cori goes to a "haunted house" and witnesses a real murder, or so she thinks. She tells her mom but there's no body. Did she imagine it? Later when a body is found, they realize that it really did happen. Even though Cori can't ID the killer because he wore a mask, strange things start happening. A white truck runs them off the road and Cori is drugged. Hope has to find the killer before something worse happens. In the end Max, the house ghost, saves the day.
I like the progression of the series, the growing relationship between Hope and Max as well as the bond between Hope and her daughter.
I like the progression of the series, the growing relationship between Hope and Max as well as the bond between Hope and her daughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
Entertaining
The books are knowledgeable as well as entering. Holly is a widowed school teacher with a 13 year old daughter, Cori. Holly is very protective and instills life lessons freely. Real freely. The mysteries they solve together are interspersed with all these life lessons. (readers take heed, they are useful)
Holly seems to explain important things away easily though. I see things she should have shared with the Detective and other clues she should have picked up on. I did and I'm not even a PI.
There is a murder mystery in each book as well as the ongoing mystery of her resistant ghost's murder over 100 years ago, and now the death of her husband's murder to keep us enthralled.
The books are knowledgeable as well as entering. Holly is a widowed school teacher with a 13 year old daughter, Cori. Holly is very protective and instills life lessons freely. Real freely. The mysteries they solve together are interspersed with all these life lessons. (readers take heed, they are useful)
Holly seems to explain important things away easily though. I see things she should have shared with the Detective and other clues she should have picked up on. I did and I'm not even a PI.
There is a murder mystery in each book as well as the ongoing mystery of her resistant ghost's murder over 100 years ago, and now the death of her husband's murder to keep us enthralled.
August 3, 2020
The Devil Made Her Do It
Hope’s daughter Cori joins her friends at the local haunted house for some Halloween fun, but things quickly spiral out of control. Cori accidentally witnesses a horrific crime, and Hope decides to help investigate to keep Cori safe. With the assistance of house ghost Max, Hope and Cori follow leads, while keeping an eagle eye out for danger. In the end, a small detail makes the difference in bringing the culprit to justice. Interesting, likable characters make for quick reading of a great story. In the future books, I hope they can help Max as much as he has helped them.
Hope’s daughter Cori joins her friends at the local haunted house for some Halloween fun, but things quickly spiral out of control. Cori accidentally witnesses a horrific crime, and Hope decides to help investigate to keep Cori safe. With the assistance of house ghost Max, Hope and Cori follow leads, while keeping an eagle eye out for danger. In the end, a small detail makes the difference in bringing the culprit to justice. Interesting, likable characters make for quick reading of a great story. In the future books, I hope they can help Max as much as he has helped them.
June 2, 2023
Well written book. I'm just not into the story or the characters.
Amazon synopsis:
This is book 2 in the Hope Herring mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author, J.A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy. It is October and Hope and her daughter, Cori, are settling into their new town. When Cori and her friends go to a spooky and haunted attraction for some Halloween fun, things take a strange and frightening turn which thrusts the Herring women into a mystery they want nothing to do with. There's also their resident ghost who needs help researching the past to uncover his killer. Will Cori and Hope be able to figure out what's going on before someone else loses their life?
Amazon synopsis:
This is book 2 in the Hope Herring mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author, J.A. Whiting and Nell McCarthy. It is October and Hope and her daughter, Cori, are settling into their new town. When Cori and her friends go to a spooky and haunted attraction for some Halloween fun, things take a strange and frightening turn which thrusts the Herring women into a mystery they want nothing to do with. There's also their resident ghost who needs help researching the past to uncover his killer. Will Cori and Hope be able to figure out what's going on before someone else loses their life?
October 19, 2020
Clever!
This is second book in this new series---I have enjoyed both books! Hope and her daughter are starting a new life after her husband dies in an auto accident! A murder is witnessed in a Halloween Haunted House and the murderer is pursuing them. Good, well developed plot leads to a final confrontation --- Hope hits him in the head with her handbag, containing bricks, while trick or treating!
This is second book in this new series---I have enjoyed both books! Hope and her daughter are starting a new life after her husband dies in an auto accident! A murder is witnessed in a Halloween Haunted House and the murderer is pursuing them. Good, well developed plot leads to a final confrontation --- Hope hits him in the head with her handbag, containing bricks, while trick or treating!
November 18, 2020
I have thorough enjoyed the first two books in this series and have already started the third. I really like the characters. Hope is constantly teaching her daughter about life. There are many gems. Some might find the daughter to be unbelievable good, but this is fiction. It is quite enjoyable to spend time with nice people. And, the plot moves well. There are several levels going, but nothing too deep.
November 2, 2022
Devil kills
Cori goes to a haunted house and looses her way, sees devil slit woman's throat. She tells her mom, says she thinks it was one of the bridesmaids from the wedding. Hope calls Det. Robinson about what Cori saw. They found the body that Cori saw murdered. They have to be careful now the murderer may come after Cori. Hope asks for Maximilian's help in guarding Cori and the house. Good story, you learn more about the characters and their history, ghost and people.
Cori goes to a haunted house and looses her way, sees devil slit woman's throat. She tells her mom, says she thinks it was one of the bridesmaids from the wedding. Hope calls Det. Robinson about what Cori saw. They found the body that Cori saw murdered. They have to be careful now the murderer may come after Cori. Hope asks for Maximilian's help in guarding Cori and the house. Good story, you learn more about the characters and their history, ghost and people.
August 3, 2020
This quick-read cozy continues two mysteries from the first book (and they will continue in the next) while adding murder that is solved. I like the characters and most of the writing, though a continuity error bugged me as did a small plot hole. The continuity error was perhaps mostly noticeable since I binge read the two books in the series. I will read the third.
September 3, 2023
Recently discovered
I have really enjoyed the first two books in this series. They are well written, the characters believable different you find yourself quickly becoming 8nvolved in the story. Definitely worth you time, so find a comfy spot a cool glass of tea and sit back and enjoy.
I have really enjoyed the first two books in this series. They are well written, the characters believable different you find yourself quickly becoming 8nvolved in the story. Definitely worth you time, so find a comfy spot a cool glass of tea and sit back and enjoy.
August 1, 2020
Murder in the haunted house.
While visiting the local haunted house Cori gets lost and witnesses a murder, or did she? Hope is still working on finding the killer of her resident ghost Max, and also begins looking into her husbands death.
While visiting the local haunted house Cori gets lost and witnesses a murder, or did she? Hope is still working on finding the killer of her resident ghost Max, and also begins looking into her husbands death.
August 3, 2020
Love Hope Herring series
I absolutely loved book 1 and couldn't wait for book 2 to come out. Loved book 2 just as much. Now I can't wait for book 3. Just can't put your books down. Keep writing.
I absolutely loved book 1 and couldn't wait for book 2 to come out. Loved book 2 just as much. Now I can't wait for book 3. Just can't put your books down. Keep writing.
August 4, 2020
Blood Moon
I guess drugs have gotten to be a problem in all towns. Cori was lucky she didn’t have any permanent damage. It really makes u think about getting food and drink anywhere u don’t prepare yourself. Good book can’t wait for the next in the series. Jo
I guess drugs have gotten to be a problem in all towns. Cori was lucky she didn’t have any permanent damage. It really makes u think about getting food and drink anywhere u don’t prepare yourself. Good book can’t wait for the next in the series. Jo
August 5, 2020
Blood Moon
Being a fan of JK Whiting, I was excited for this new Hope Herring series. This is a fast paced mystery that gets solved in part, but the underlying mystery goes on. Can’t wait for book #3!!!!
Being a fan of JK Whiting, I was excited for this new Hope Herring series. This is a fast paced mystery that gets solved in part, but the underlying mystery goes on. Can’t wait for book #3!!!!
August 6, 2020
A fun read
light and enjoyable mystery. The relationship between Hope and Cori is every mother's dream! Not sure how many have such an agreeable daughter.lol
If you enjoy a good cozy, pick this up. I'm looking forward to the next book.
light and enjoyable mystery. The relationship between Hope and Cori is every mother's dream! Not sure how many have such an agreeable daughter.lol
If you enjoy a good cozy, pick this up. I'm looking forward to the next book.
September 20, 2020
Outstanding
This book was everything that I had hoped it would be. The writing is great and holds your attention. Very hard to put down. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
This book was everything that I had hoped it would be. The writing is great and holds your attention. Very hard to put down. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 25, 2020
Murder Made To Feel Good
Having read both books in this series, I can say that they were very enjoyable and hit the right note of tension and quietness. It also handles the ghost very well, something not often found. I look forward to reading a third installment.
Having read both books in this series, I can say that they were very enjoyable and hit the right note of tension and quietness. It also handles the ghost very well, something not often found. I look forward to reading a third installment.
August 4, 2020
Great book
This is another great book in the Hope Herring series by J A Whiting and Nell McCarthy. I can't wait for the next book.
This is another great book in the Hope Herring series by J A Whiting and Nell McCarthy. I can't wait for the next book.
August 17, 2020
Excellent
These books are so good, easy to read. They’re well written, have a great cast of characters, always a good mystery, too!
These books are so good, easy to read. They’re well written, have a great cast of characters, always a good mystery, too!
August 25, 2020
I really love the characters in this story. The story was so well written that it was easy to read. This will make you want more. Great Reading Everyone!
November 27, 2020
Exciting and fun
Love the wonderful mom daughter interactions and Max is a presence that keeps the story moving.looking forward to book 3
Love the wonderful mom daughter interactions and Max is a presence that keeps the story moving.looking forward to book 3
Read
January 4, 2021I enjoyed reading this series with Hope and her daughter. It held my interest and at times I didn't want to put it down.
February 9, 2021
A delightful cozy mystery with relatable characters!
April 5, 2021
Actually 4 1/2 stars due protagonist's naïveté about possibilities versus probabilities.
December 8, 2021
Great series!
April 3, 2023
Loved it. Lovable characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews