Damsel in a Dress

Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum #5

by Kirsten Weiss

Bridesmaid duties can be deadly…

Maddie Kosloski has more than wedding cake on her plate. She’s managing her paranormal museum, helping her best friend Adele with wedding plans, and trying to prove that Adele’s vintage wedding dress is most definitely not haunted.

But when a bridesmaid turns up murdered, Maddie has to solve the crime to save the wedding. As her bouquet of suspects grows, and everyone’s alibis have the ring of truth, Maddie begins to doubt this wedding will go off without a hitch.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy, Humor, Mystery Thriller

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2021

About the author

Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com

Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

Reviews

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the previous 4 books as audios but the author has chosen not to continue the series that way so I grabbed the Kindle version.
Adele's wedding is finally happening....or is it?! The dress might be haunted (this is the best story, I love how this mystery ended up!), someone is after Maddie and it probably has to do with the investigation into the bridesmaids murder. It was an adventure to get to the whodunit reveal, which was a pretty small pool of suspects, despite the author continuing to point out it wasn't (it was). There's also an abandoned dog and GD who hates the dog.
Overall I really love the Paranormal Museum vibe and cast of characters and already preordered the next in the series.

[Ann Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 5 of the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. Adele is finally getting the wedding she dreams of and the perfect wedding dress is found. Unfortunately, GD hisses at the dress and the idea that it is haunted starts. Maddie agrees to determine if the dress is haunted to calm Adele the week before her wedding.

As things do with Maddie and her friends, there are 2 deaths, Bernadette, a bridesmaid and her husband William. Harper, another bridesmaid, finds both bodies and is prime suspect. Maddie is called on to help her best friends and find the murderer as well as determine if the wedding dress is haunted. She also agrees to get a new home for Bernadette's dog, Bugsy who GD dislikes.

With help from Leo, GD, the Ladies Aid, Jason, and her best friends investigate the history of the wedding dress, the two murders and why there are now 3 candidates for a vacant city council seat which Harper is one of the candidates. Bernadette, with 2 other college friends, started their own company and were getting ready to launch a new blood testing device for dogs. The Bernadette is killed. Maddie interviews Scarlet and Tyra, partners in the company as well as the other city council candidate whose Mother is a long standing member of the Ladies Aid and ousted by Maddie's Mom.

Thrills and chills, destruction of Maddie's museum and vintage truck occur and Maddie has to determine how the ghost and wedding dress fit into everything going on. A great adventure and mystery. Kristen Weiss keeps getting better with each story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Westveil Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was granted complimentary access to Damsel in a Dress as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Goddess Fish Promtions. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Tour blog post (goes live @ 3:30am EST on 30 April 2021) https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...

Damsel in a Dress is the 5th book in a paranormal mystery series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. This was my first time reading anything by Kirsten Weiss, but it won't be the last! I enjoyed the experience and didn't feel like I missed anything by jumping into the series at this point. I love all things paranormal, and ever since starting blog tour reviews last year I've discovered that I also really like cozy mysteries, so this was a perfect little treat to interrupt my endless stream of SFF and YA Contemporary reads.

If you've ever been involved in making a wedding happen, you know how stressful it can be. Now toss in hauntings and murder! That's how Maddie's week is going. No bridesmaid has ever had quite this experience.

The murder mystery element to the plot was great, really kept me guessing, and I like Maddie a lot. I also love GD, the ghost-detecting museum cat. I suspect that's a recurring character and I want more, because I'm a sucker for cats in books and they're the perfect furry friends for anyone involved in the paranormal.

If you like cozy mysteries, read this book!

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books continue to be ridiculous and fun, quick fluffy reads. Weiss always adds in enough new characters to keep you guessing, though this one was the most predictable yet I think, murder-wise at least. There were some twists in other aspects that caught me off, and characters doing/saying incredibly stupid things to cause drama. Like, who in their right mind would do something like that? I'm a bit mad about it.

But not enough to not like the book.

The "clean" level continues, very minimal light swearing, and any romance beyond kissing is left completely up to the reader's imagination. The most graphic things are the murders and even that is pretty light-handed.

I have worked in multiple veterinarian offices, and the lady at this vet was super intense. Maybe it's because it's a small town but I, nor any of my coworkers, would never have treated a pet owner like she did. A dog eating chocolate is a bad thing, yes, but Maddie called right away and got him in which is the responsible thing to do. Dogs get into things, it happens. This is just really bad customer service and it made me laugh and roll my eyes because it probably does happen, but man, intense.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book 5 in a series titled “A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery”. While the series title might be difficult to say this is not true of the book. It’s entertaining and fun, and it’s quite quirky in my mind. Paranormal is not my first choice of a genre, and I’ll admit there were a few items or ghosts or whatchamacallits that I didn’t recognize. Then again, we wouldn’t want every book to be something we already knew everything about. How dull. You won’t find this dull. Kirsten Weiss keeps the pace going and some laughs break it up too.
This is the first book I have read by Kirsten Weiss so I can’t speak for the whole series. This book, Book 5, can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Kirsten Weiss has other series published as well as this one. Every book has high review ratings. Check them out here. https://www.amazon.com/Kirsten-Weiss/...

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wedding Troubles . . .

Maddie Kosloski certainly has her hands full with managing her paranormal museum, helping her best friend, Adele, with wedding plans, and looking for a way to prove Adele’s vintage wedding dress is not haunted, especially after GD, the museum’s ghost-detecting cat implied it was. So when a bridesmaid, Bernadette Perry, turns up murdered, Maddie has to drop everything else to solve the crime and save the wedding. With the list of possible suspects growing, and another death discovered later, this may take a little more time to resolve. Will she find the murderer?

The plot is well-written and holds the reader’s attention as Maddie searches for clues. The characters are intriguing as the reader figures out how they support the mystery as they move smoothly through the story line. You will find this to be an enjoyable cozy mystery with the right balance of suspense and clever deduction.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good cozy mystery and this one has the added bonus of a touch of the paranormal. You have quirky characters, most notably the animals, who play off of each other quite well without being over-the-top. I found myself wanting to solve the mystery but also just enjoying the interactions between everyone along the way. And I definitely had some big smiling moments, just absolutely enjoying every minute of this book.

And can I just say that I never could quite get the cat's name right? GD stands for Ghost Detector, but ... lol.

This is the fifth book in the series, but works well as a standalone. I definitely want to read the other ones, because there are just enough hints dropped throughout this book to whet the appetite for more. I've read other of her works, which I also enjoyed, so I know I would also like the others.

Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish for the requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mooncat · Rating 4 out of 5]

So after finishing the first book, I was on the verge to also leave it at that. Boy am I glad I continued. After finishing this newest installment I must admit, I grew to be quite fond of this quirky little series.
Most of the characters are quite likable, the case stories are always well built up and not very obvious and with the paranormal museum in its center there is always also an old mystery around a possible haunted/cursed object involved.
With this book, all centered around Adele’s wedding, murder of bridesmaid inclusive. I thought the end was a bit rushed and Maddie had a lot of self doubts in this one, something I understand in aspects of character development but never really enjoy all that much.
But it was a good read and I am looking forward to the next one and learn more of the inner workings of Ladies Aid.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

GD, the cat in the paranormal museum has been known to recognise haunted or cursed objects so when he started staring at Adele's vintage wedding gown, it can only be bad news. And then one of the bridesmaids was found dead. And things started to go from bad to worse. Adele was convinced that either the gown was haunted or the universe was sending her a message that this wedding should not go ahead. But Maddie, her best friend really did not want to see Adele's heart breaking over a non-wedding.

I did enjoy reading this one very much. I love that Maddie thought she would get the cake tasting duty of a bridesmaid but ended up with the prove-the-wedding-dress-is-not-haunted duty instead. Exciting and with many humorous bits, this is a good fun read.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the series that got me started with all books Kirsten Weiss. She is one of the few authors who I immediately add to the Kindle or Nook when I see she has a new one coming out. I like this series for many reasons. The main character, Maddie, gets sort of pushed into taking over the paranormal museum in her hometown. She makes it work.
Several mysteries going on in this one. There's the suspicious death in the vineyard while Maddie and her friends are planning her friends' wedding. There's what's going on between GD, the museum's cat, and the dog that Maddie has somehow inherited. There's the wedding dress that might be haunted. Who is trying to terrorize Maddie?
This series is one of my favorites and I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal Museum owner Maddie is getting ready to celebrate the marriage of one of her best friends, Adele. Unfortunately their other best friend, Hannah, finds a dead body in the vineyard that Adele’s parents’ own—and it happens to be another bridesmaid. Maddie tries to save Adele’s wedding and prove her friend Hannah isn’t the murderer by finding the real killer. And in addition, she is now taking care of the murdered woman’s dog and finding out if Adele’s dress is haunted. Maddie has a lot going on at the moment.

I love the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Series. Maddie is very smart and witty. I enjoy her banter with her friends, mother, and boyfriend (who happens to be a detective). I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bonds of friendships are sorely tested as Maddie works to resolve rumors of a haunted dress and mysterious deaths among the bridesmaids before this wedding is called off

Love, family and loyalties are relative. For different people, different values are weighted more heavily- sometimes lethally

Fake it until you make it doesn’t work as an approach in all situations- and echoes from past romance stories might add blessings or curses depending on perspectives of the times

San Benedetto is a hopping place in the wine country!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie, GD Ghost Detector cat, a bunch of friends and animals... and a killer on the loose. Maddie is helping a friend with her wedding when GD hisses at her dress, freaking the bride out that the dress is haunted. A bridesmaid is murdered and suspects are multiplying. Love the quirky characters and animals. The storyline was highly detailed and well thought out. Intriguing with twists and surprises that keep you glued to the pages until done. Prepare to laugh at all the situations and banter going on. Very well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot of editing problems. Scenes would just end and jump right into another. It was incredibly confusing. Normally books have a delimiter or something to indicate a scene change—this one did not. And the scene wouldn’t even feel finished before jumping. It happened at least twice.

I’m pretty disappointed in this book. I loved the first four. This was the first that didn’t have an audiobook and then had the editing problems. Not to mention it was the first book I bought in a long time—usually I read on KU or Libby. So for it to be so busted is really disappointing. I might read one more, but if it has the same problems I’ll stop reading the series.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will there be a wedding?

So much can happen in a few days, especially when there’s a wedding involved. Adele has been planning her wedding for months, but no one can plan for murders or a haunted wedding dress. Fortunately Maddie is there to help with the unconventional jobs like learning about the supposedly haunted gown.
Fantastic characters and an ending I didn’t see coming add up to another wonderful book in the paranormal museum series. These books keep getting better and better!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal museum owner, Maddie Kosloski, is helping her friend Adele prepare for her upcoming wedding, when one of the bridesmaids is found murdered. As Maddie tries to solve the crime, she's also trying to determine if Adele's vintage wedding dress is haunted, as Adele is beginning to believe that the whole wedding is cursed.

I really enjoy the humor in this series set in a small California wine country town, along with the mysteries and cast of characters. Also, the paranormal museum is a unique and fun backdrop for a series.

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series. I’m not sure what it is about it, but it doesn’t matter. There’s a murder and a wedding! Maddie is at it again, this time with a dog sidekick. It’s snooping, adventure, and life-questioning. Maddie is Maddie. Life is moving forward, and some characters are having life-changing situations start up. I look forward to seeing where it leads them.  The ladies aid seemed somewhat more mysterious with those double doors. I definitely want to read about them. I love these characters. This is absolutely a series to try. 

Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun entry in this little series. A wedding, murders, attempted murder, mayhem, paranormal shenanigans, flirting, you name it.

No content warnings to mention.

There were a few editing issues, like this one: '...Harper turned into the gravel drive for Adele's family vineyard, Plot 42. Dust pluming behind the BMW, we crunched down the narrow trail to Adele's family vineyard.' And we had a lot of ebony hair falling across Leo's forehead and eyes. But I'm nit-picking.

[Chaitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. In which Adele turns into a bridezilla, kind of. Maddie is a waffler, which got on my nerves a little. This is the first book of the series published by Misterio Press, whatever that is, and it shows, as there's little to know transition between so many scenes. The first four had better covers too. I'm not sure how many more books I'll read of this series. Perhaps one more - if it's more of the same I'm giving up.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

I love Kirsten Weiss’s series, but The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum holds a special place in my heart. Maddie is a great character. The mysteries are complicated and serious, but there is always laugh out loud with tears in eyes humor. I eagerly await the next book.

[Betsy the Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in this series.

Love this series and the way the characters and relationships are developing. Maddie is a great protagonist and her relationships between her girlfriends and the other quirky residents of the town is perfect. Love the subplot of this one, drawn from some of the current headlines and woven into the story line.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie didn't discover the first body - that's unusual! Trying to solve a murder, discover is Adele's wedding dress is haunted, and taking care of a dog almost make Maddie lose it, but she continues to do her thing and still run her museum and have a warming relationship with Jason. This book seemed bit hectic, probably because of the wedding.

[Janet Balliet]

Adele is getting married! Harper is running for city council. She & Maddie are bridesmaids with 3 of Adele's college friends. One is murdered & that brings Laurel on the scene. Maddie's truck & the museum are damaged. Ben's husband is murdered & M & H find him. Laurel again suspects M or H. In the end Adele & Deiter get married. Ladies Aid replaces the cake.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth book in the A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series a well written story that kept me turning pages. The scene that had me laughing was the dress and wedding cake. I want to read the next book. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so funny that I was laughing out loud and snorting. I really enjoyed myself reading this fabulous and fun cozy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the eve of her bestfriend's wedding, Maddie has to deal with finding out who killed a bridesmaid, and later her husband. Oh, and the bride's dress may be haunted. Maddie needs to solve the murders, and figure out the dress' history.

[Sandra Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

Love these books! Kirsten Weiss knows how to weave a good mystery! Really enjoy the characters and how they follow from the first book to the next! Look forward to reading the next one!

[Flora Camille Lynette Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series I cant wait for the next one!!!

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and quirky series. I can’t get enough of it!

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alwas great fun!