What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghosted Cozy Mysteries
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy
Professor Pickett in the cafe with the Mardi Gras beads?
New Orleans ghost tour gift shop manager, Paige Harrington, makes a wish for her twenty-fifth birthday: to find the one thing she can be as passionate about as her cancer-curing scientist parents.
She doesn’t, however, expect her calling to come in the form of a mysterious app on her phone that matches her up with the ghost of a cute bartender who wants her to solve his murder. Nor for her pet hedgehog, Auguste, to start talking to her with a French accent.
When her favorite professor turned cafe owner, Liz Pickett, is framed for the murder, Paige can’t sit by and let all of this happen. Even if uncovering the truth means tangling with the Enclave, a secret society with the power and connections to make someone like her asking too many questions disappear without a trace.
With the Enclave and their dark secrets dogging at her heels, Paige will have to step up her sleuthing skills and unmask the real killer before she ends up their next victim.
New Orleans ghost tour gift shop manager, Paige Harrington, makes a wish for her twenty-fifth birthday: to find the one thing she can be as passionate about as her cancer-curing scientist parents.
She doesn’t, however, expect her calling to come in the form of a mysterious app on her phone that matches her up with the ghost of a cute bartender who wants her to solve his murder. Nor for her pet hedgehog, Auguste, to start talking to her with a French accent.
When her favorite professor turned cafe owner, Liz Pickett, is framed for the murder, Paige can’t sit by and let all of this happen. Even if uncovering the truth means tangling with the Enclave, a secret society with the power and connections to make someone like her asking too many questions disappear without a trace.
With the Enclave and their dark secrets dogging at her heels, Paige will have to step up her sleuthing skills and unmask the real killer before she ends up their next victim.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2021
3 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Arden
7 books21 followersJessica Arden writes cozy mysteries, and quirky contemporary romance, usually with a supernatural twist. She’s stomped grapes in her native California, hiked 350 miles on an ancient pilgrimage route in Spain, had breakfast with a coatimundi in Costa Rica, and spent the night in a monastery. But no matter where life takes her, her true north will always be with her husband and two energetic boys.
When she’s not writing, you can find Jessica teaching, designing graphics, logos, and book covers, making crafts (she’s currently obsessed with vinyl and stickers), reading tarot cards for her characters, and working on non-fiction projects.
Jessica also writes non-fiction for writers, including Tarot for Fiction Writers as Jessica Arden Cline.
When she’s not writing, you can find Jessica teaching, designing graphics, logos, and book covers, making crafts (she’s currently obsessed with vinyl and stickers), reading tarot cards for her characters, and working on non-fiction projects.
Jessica also writes non-fiction for writers, including Tarot for Fiction Writers as Jessica Arden Cline.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 15, 2021
This is a Paranormal Mystery, and this is the first book in the Ghosted Cozy Mysteries series. I love a book with Ghosts, and this book had a couple of Ghosts characters. I loved how the Ghosts came and how their characters where used in the storyline. I loved the Ghosts characters and the main character, and I also loved getting to know all the characters in this book. I am really looking forward to read more books for this book series. This book was fun and made me want to keep reading. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Wayfarer) or author (Jessica Arden) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
July 20, 2021
An exciting, fun, and gentle cozy mystery with lots of cool paranormal elements. The author creates a fantastic world set in New Orleans, with sleuths, ghosts, and a talking hedgehog! I loved the main character, Paige, and her circle of friends — it's one of the things I love most about cozy mysteries, how the sleuths often form a found family of hilarious and smart people. The elderly ghost grandma is THE BEST.
This book creates a found family so well, and I can't wait to read more of Paige's terrestrial, and paranormal, adventures!
This book creates a found family so well, and I can't wait to read more of Paige's terrestrial, and paranormal, adventures!
July 6, 2021
Really enjoyed reading an early copy of this fun paranormal cozy mystery! Delightful mix of New Orleans, ghosts and graveyards, secret societies, romance, female friendships, and one very witty hedgehog :) Looking forward to seeing what comes next in this series!
August 24, 2021
I have a soft spot for cozy mysteries and add the paranormal factor and I am in love!
Paige is the manager of a gift shop and ghost tours in New Orleans. While New Orleans is always filled with mysteries, legends, and spooky things this is the real deal for Paige. When this all started she noticed a new application on her phone and while she assumed it was a dating app, she would soon learn it is something soo different. This is an application where ghosts can get someone to take their case and figure out what really happened to them, and this is just what happened to Paige.
Thinking about everything along with her talking hedgehog Auguste she decides to take the case. Later on, she is assigned a "Mentor" and this mentor just happens to be her EX who left her without any warning and without any communication before now since he left, so she has to work with her EX.
So all while this is going on Paige's favorite Professor is getting the blame cast upon her for the death of Austin, and she didn't do it so Paige is on the case and she will do whatever it takes to figure out who killed Austin and why.
This is a cozy mystery filled with secret societies, secrets, friends, and murder. If you love cozy mysteries then this would be the perfect next read! I really enjoyed it! Thank you Netgalley and Wayfarer for the opportunity to read and review this one! I can't wait to see how this series continues this adventure!
Paige is the manager of a gift shop and ghost tours in New Orleans. While New Orleans is always filled with mysteries, legends, and spooky things this is the real deal for Paige. When this all started she noticed a new application on her phone and while she assumed it was a dating app, she would soon learn it is something soo different. This is an application where ghosts can get someone to take their case and figure out what really happened to them, and this is just what happened to Paige.
Thinking about everything along with her talking hedgehog Auguste she decides to take the case. Later on, she is assigned a "Mentor" and this mentor just happens to be her EX who left her without any warning and without any communication before now since he left, so she has to work with her EX.
So all while this is going on Paige's favorite Professor is getting the blame cast upon her for the death of Austin, and she didn't do it so Paige is on the case and she will do whatever it takes to figure out who killed Austin and why.
This is a cozy mystery filled with secret societies, secrets, friends, and murder. If you love cozy mysteries then this would be the perfect next read! I really enjoyed it! Thank you Netgalley and Wayfarer for the opportunity to read and review this one! I can't wait to see how this series continues this adventure!
August 19, 2021
Paige Harrington can’t seem to find her “Thing” in life. That one thing that she has passion for and fulfills her and makes her feel good about what she does. As she searches, she manages the gift shop for a ghost tour company. When a large package is delivered to her at the shop, she opens it and makes a wish as directed, hoping to find her “Thing”.
Once the wish is made, things start to change for Paige, in a strange way. First there’s a new app on her phone, she assumes it’s a dating app, and then her pet hedgehog speaks to her. Turns out Paige is a ghost investigator, helping those that have passed to settle matters they left behind in the here and now. Even more of a surprise are her mentors who will guide her in her new role. But will she surive her first job or will she bail on it as she has other things when she hans’t been successful out of the gate? This may be the “Thing” Paige has been waiting for and she decides to not question herself and trust in her instincts for a change. She just trust they won’t let her down.
This is sa great stat to a new series and I love the way the author built her cast of characters to support and challenge Paige. I wasn’t even half way through the books and I was already hoping for a lot more to come in this series! The future is bright for Paige and yet there will be darkness…and I can’t wait to see it all unfold!
Once the wish is made, things start to change for Paige, in a strange way. First there’s a new app on her phone, she assumes it’s a dating app, and then her pet hedgehog speaks to her. Turns out Paige is a ghost investigator, helping those that have passed to settle matters they left behind in the here and now. Even more of a surprise are her mentors who will guide her in her new role. But will she surive her first job or will she bail on it as she has other things when she hans’t been successful out of the gate? This may be the “Thing” Paige has been waiting for and she decides to not question herself and trust in her instincts for a change. She just trust they won’t let her down.
This is sa great stat to a new series and I love the way the author built her cast of characters to support and challenge Paige. I wasn’t even half way through the books and I was already hoping for a lot more to come in this series! The future is bright for Paige and yet there will be darkness…and I can’t wait to see it all unfold!
September 28, 2021
Don’t get me wrong - a well-crafted, fear-inducing thriller is a great way for me to lose sleep and wonder if every creak I hear is coming from a serial killer who wants to add me to his list of victims. I’m right there with the chiseled detective trying to track down The One That Got Away.
Then there are times I want to curl up on the couch with a cool beverage and immerse myself in a mystery that draws me in like a good friend meeting for coffee. Quirky people, quirky setting, and fun that turns into a sinister story. These cozy mysteries usually include a charming protagonist who is on the verge of a good life but just can’t pull the pieces together to be following her true path and an impossibly handsome policeman who remains just out of reach because of her insistence on meddling in a potentially dangerous case (or two, or three, or ten).
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy takes that basic premise and throws in some supernatural to add to the fun. Paige works in a New Orleans gift shop while wondering when her true purpose will appear and transform her life. Then the Ghosted app on her phone notifies her of a match. After wondering how the app got on her phone, she is matched with Austin, a bartender at a nearby restaurant. Oh, and he’s a ghost who hopes Paige can solve his murder. Paige wants to clear her friend who is the police’s prime suspect, so she agrees. Then things get weird.
Paige is haunted by this case in more ways than one. Family ghosts pitch in to help. The ex-boyfriend who disappeared four years before is also investigating Austin’s murder. Paige has to put aside her skepticism about magic and dig into a sinister society that may be the key to solving the case. If the ex-boyfriend isn’t enough eye candy, there’s also the chiseled-chin policeman nicknamed Officer Handsome.
Oh, and Paige learns that her pet hedgehog can talk and has a French accent.
Arden has a wonderful conversational style that makes the reader feel like part of the gang. As Paige works through the case, she makes rookie ghost detective mistakes ranging from meddling to downright embarrassing. If you take away the quirks and magic, you’ll find a solid murder mystery story with all loose ends tied up well by the end. Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a strong standalone book but also hints to an interesting sequel.
I cared about the characters. I cared about the story. I rooted for Paige to show the skeptics in her life just how much she could do. In the potential love triangle, I kept going back and forth on which man was better for Paige while wondering if either deserved her. I laughed a lot throughout the book but especially during the shocking conclusion for one suspected murderer. In other words, I felt like I was a part of that world instead of just a spectator.
I hope this is the first of many mysteries facing our new ghost detective. Paige is in a fascinating, curious world, and I want to go to there.
Then there are times I want to curl up on the couch with a cool beverage and immerse myself in a mystery that draws me in like a good friend meeting for coffee. Quirky people, quirky setting, and fun that turns into a sinister story. These cozy mysteries usually include a charming protagonist who is on the verge of a good life but just can’t pull the pieces together to be following her true path and an impossibly handsome policeman who remains just out of reach because of her insistence on meddling in a potentially dangerous case (or two, or three, or ten).
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy takes that basic premise and throws in some supernatural to add to the fun. Paige works in a New Orleans gift shop while wondering when her true purpose will appear and transform her life. Then the Ghosted app on her phone notifies her of a match. After wondering how the app got on her phone, she is matched with Austin, a bartender at a nearby restaurant. Oh, and he’s a ghost who hopes Paige can solve his murder. Paige wants to clear her friend who is the police’s prime suspect, so she agrees. Then things get weird.
Paige is haunted by this case in more ways than one. Family ghosts pitch in to help. The ex-boyfriend who disappeared four years before is also investigating Austin’s murder. Paige has to put aside her skepticism about magic and dig into a sinister society that may be the key to solving the case. If the ex-boyfriend isn’t enough eye candy, there’s also the chiseled-chin policeman nicknamed Officer Handsome.
Oh, and Paige learns that her pet hedgehog can talk and has a French accent.
Arden has a wonderful conversational style that makes the reader feel like part of the gang. As Paige works through the case, she makes rookie ghost detective mistakes ranging from meddling to downright embarrassing. If you take away the quirks and magic, you’ll find a solid murder mystery story with all loose ends tied up well by the end. Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a strong standalone book but also hints to an interesting sequel.
I cared about the characters. I cared about the story. I rooted for Paige to show the skeptics in her life just how much she could do. In the potential love triangle, I kept going back and forth on which man was better for Paige while wondering if either deserved her. I laughed a lot throughout the book but especially during the shocking conclusion for one suspected murderer. In other words, I felt like I was a part of that world instead of just a spectator.
I hope this is the first of many mysteries facing our new ghost detective. Paige is in a fascinating, curious world, and I want to go to there.
September 15, 2021
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a cozy paranormal mystery with a great storyline, great characters, and laugh out loud humor. Super unique, too! I was hooked clean to the end, leaving me reading all day. I can't wait to see what happens next and what adventures the ghosted app will send Paige on.
Unfortunately, I am unable to give this book 5 stars. I would love to… if it weren't for the following issues.
Issues:
1. The talking hedgehog is pushing it. All of a sudden Paige's pet can talk, and in a French accent that is rarely seen. From there, the hedgehog knows things Paige doesn't. To top this off, only Paige, Hudson, and the grannies can hear him. No explanations!
2. Paige calls her lawyer to help Liz. Later, Liz says she needs to lawyer up like she doesn’t have a lawyer.
3. Paige tells her friends about the Ghosted app, the fortune telling machine, and the ghost but doesn't get any reaction. They all immediately jump into figuring out the oddities like situations like this are nothing more than an everyday occurrence.
4. Some confusing paragraphs. I read them five times and still didn't understand.
5. Lots of details about what someone is wearing.
6. Strange word choices, like aubergine (dark purple) and decolletage (the neckline of a dress). I was forced to look them up, which pulled from the story. Worse yet, the sentence containing these two words ended up not making sense since I originally thought aubergine was a clothing brand and decolletage was a scientific word for a body part.
7. "It [At] least it doesn't look like it."
8. It is pointed out 3+ times how Great-Grandma Magnolia founded the sorority with 13 others and wrote books.
9. On page 158, Paige suddenly calls Austin by Aus. On page 272, Ben says Aus.
10. Paige asks Austin 2X in the same conversation if he went to see his parents.
11. Paige is energized by talking to people, yet she gets overwhelmed in crowds, has sensory issues, and is prone to panic attacks.
12. Austin, as a ghost, is able to change clothes. A ghost should be restricted to what they died in.
13. How do you tug your own arms across your chest?
14. There are many areas where paragraphs are inappropriately broken into two or three short paragraphs.
15. "Austin turned to me when after she’d walked out the door."
16. Shotgun style house? What is that?
17. Me vs I.
"Moisha leaned between the two front seats and looked between Hudson and I with a conspiratorial grin."
Does this make sense with the 2nd person dropped?
"Moisha leaned between the two front seats and looked past I."
Doesn't make sense, does it?
18. "He gave the hedgehog equivalent of a shrug."
19. Hudson is startled by the hedgehog on Paige's dashboard, revealing he did not know she had one or even liked them, and yet he is prepared with dried bug treats to give the animal. Hudson even whittled a wooden hedgehog to show Paige.
20. I am guessing Hartley is a vampire. It was mentioned there was a vampire present, although it was never mentioned who. Why didn't he see the granny ghosts? Also, the subject is dropped completely, like it never came up at all.
21. “And Carlie is vindictive as all get out,”
22. "helping me with this case and might could find someone on the other side with some information."
23. Clean up was asked twice in the same conversation, splitting response into two explanations rather than one.
24. eyeing, not eying
25. wallpaper, not wall paper
26. backyard, not back yard
27. "And for shying away from going after what I what I wanted in life."
28. Eliza comments how The Enclave has a police officer on their side. Paige doesn't react. Clearly this could be Crowder. Never resolved!
29. voicemail, not voice mail
30. On page 277, suddenly Hudson is shaking Paige awake. Never stated she fell asleep in the truck or that she got tired or anything until afterward.
31. "I figured time work[ed] differently there,"
32. "with pillars carved into the corners of and a carved stone gateway in the center."
33. You should have shown The Enclave oath and sacrificial chant.
34. "A smiled tugged at my lips."
35. "Magnolia and Moisha appeared my living room"
36. Magnolia touched Paige in the sacrifice room, but Paige didn't react. She reacted to Ben going solid at the end, though.
Unfortunately, I am unable to give this book 5 stars. I would love to… if it weren't for the following issues.
Issues:
1. The talking hedgehog is pushing it. All of a sudden Paige's pet can talk, and in a French accent that is rarely seen. From there, the hedgehog knows things Paige doesn't. To top this off, only Paige, Hudson, and the grannies can hear him. No explanations!
2. Paige calls her lawyer to help Liz. Later, Liz says she needs to lawyer up like she doesn’t have a lawyer.
3. Paige tells her friends about the Ghosted app, the fortune telling machine, and the ghost but doesn't get any reaction. They all immediately jump into figuring out the oddities like situations like this are nothing more than an everyday occurrence.
4. Some confusing paragraphs. I read them five times and still didn't understand.
5. Lots of details about what someone is wearing.
6. Strange word choices, like aubergine (dark purple) and decolletage (the neckline of a dress). I was forced to look them up, which pulled from the story. Worse yet, the sentence containing these two words ended up not making sense since I originally thought aubergine was a clothing brand and decolletage was a scientific word for a body part.
7. "It [At] least it doesn't look like it."
8. It is pointed out 3+ times how Great-Grandma Magnolia founded the sorority with 13 others and wrote books.
9. On page 158, Paige suddenly calls Austin by Aus. On page 272, Ben says Aus.
10. Paige asks Austin 2X in the same conversation if he went to see his parents.
11. Paige is energized by talking to people, yet she gets overwhelmed in crowds, has sensory issues, and is prone to panic attacks.
12. Austin, as a ghost, is able to change clothes. A ghost should be restricted to what they died in.
13. How do you tug your own arms across your chest?
14. There are many areas where paragraphs are inappropriately broken into two or three short paragraphs.
15. "Austin turned to me when after she’d walked out the door."
16. Shotgun style house? What is that?
17. Me vs I.
"Moisha leaned between the two front seats and looked between Hudson and I with a conspiratorial grin."
Does this make sense with the 2nd person dropped?
"Moisha leaned between the two front seats and looked past I."
Doesn't make sense, does it?
18. "He gave the hedgehog equivalent of a shrug."
19. Hudson is startled by the hedgehog on Paige's dashboard, revealing he did not know she had one or even liked them, and yet he is prepared with dried bug treats to give the animal. Hudson even whittled a wooden hedgehog to show Paige.
20. I am guessing Hartley is a vampire. It was mentioned there was a vampire present, although it was never mentioned who. Why didn't he see the granny ghosts? Also, the subject is dropped completely, like it never came up at all.
21. “And Carlie is vindictive as all get out,”
22. "helping me with this case and might could find someone on the other side with some information."
23. Clean up was asked twice in the same conversation, splitting response into two explanations rather than one.
24. eyeing, not eying
25. wallpaper, not wall paper
26. backyard, not back yard
27. "And for shying away from going after what I what I wanted in life."
28. Eliza comments how The Enclave has a police officer on their side. Paige doesn't react. Clearly this could be Crowder. Never resolved!
29. voicemail, not voice mail
30. On page 277, suddenly Hudson is shaking Paige awake. Never stated she fell asleep in the truck or that she got tired or anything until afterward.
31. "I figured time work[ed] differently there,"
32. "with pillars carved into the corners of and a carved stone gateway in the center."
33. You should have shown The Enclave oath and sacrificial chant.
34. "A smiled tugged at my lips."
35. "Magnolia and Moisha appeared my living room"
36. Magnolia touched Paige in the sacrifice room, but Paige didn't react. She reacted to Ben going solid at the end, though.
September 13, 2021
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Jessica Arden starts Ghosted Cozy Mysteries series. It’s set in New Orleans and stars Paige Harrington who suddenly finds herself being called to investigate a murder—by the ghost of the victim.
It’s a closed room murder, with a limited number of suspects. But since it was dark, the ghost has no idea who killed him, so no easy solution there. Paige sets out to investigate, but she can’t exactly tell the police where she gets her information from, not even when her good friend is framed for the murder.
She isn’t alone though. She’s helped by her ex-boyfriend who suddenly returns to town after disappearing four years earlier with only a goodbye note. His leaving has left Paige with self-confidence issues, and now that he’s back, old romantic feelings resurface too. It makes working together difficult.
This was a quirky and fun book, but not a terribly good mystery. Paige ignores obvious questions that would lead to solving the mystery faster, random people show up just so they can offer helpful information that she then ignores, and in the end the killer reveals themselves before she even suspects them. The killer’s motivation is bizarre, to say the least.
But what truly irked me and lowered the rating was the deus ex machina solution. I dislike them in general, and here it removed Paige’s agency completely. Instead of being the main actor of her story, someone who rises to the occasion despite being the underdog, she was forced to look from the sidelines as others handle the difficult parts for her. For someone already dealing with self-confidence issues, this should’ve been the worst kind of outcome. Yet she doesn’t even notice.
I had some smaller issues too. Paige took to becoming a ghost PI a bit too easily; not even a token question about why it happened. Character info was repeated several times, as if for the first time; random character facts sprang out of nowhere, and important info was omitted completely. For example, I thought Paige was showing unseemly interest in a married man, only to learn towards the end of the book that he’s divorced. The cast of characters was slightly too large, and not everyone was necessary for the story. But in general, the characters were nice and interesting (Auguste the talking hedgehog was my favourite) and they will carry the series onwards.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a closed room murder, with a limited number of suspects. But since it was dark, the ghost has no idea who killed him, so no easy solution there. Paige sets out to investigate, but she can’t exactly tell the police where she gets her information from, not even when her good friend is framed for the murder.
She isn’t alone though. She’s helped by her ex-boyfriend who suddenly returns to town after disappearing four years earlier with only a goodbye note. His leaving has left Paige with self-confidence issues, and now that he’s back, old romantic feelings resurface too. It makes working together difficult.
This was a quirky and fun book, but not a terribly good mystery. Paige ignores obvious questions that would lead to solving the mystery faster, random people show up just so they can offer helpful information that she then ignores, and in the end the killer reveals themselves before she even suspects them. The killer’s motivation is bizarre, to say the least.
But what truly irked me and lowered the rating was the deus ex machina solution. I dislike them in general, and here it removed Paige’s agency completely. Instead of being the main actor of her story, someone who rises to the occasion despite being the underdog, she was forced to look from the sidelines as others handle the difficult parts for her. For someone already dealing with self-confidence issues, this should’ve been the worst kind of outcome. Yet she doesn’t even notice.
I had some smaller issues too. Paige took to becoming a ghost PI a bit too easily; not even a token question about why it happened. Character info was repeated several times, as if for the first time; random character facts sprang out of nowhere, and important info was omitted completely. For example, I thought Paige was showing unseemly interest in a married man, only to learn towards the end of the book that he’s divorced. The cast of characters was slightly too large, and not everyone was necessary for the story. But in general, the characters were nice and interesting (Auguste the talking hedgehog was my favourite) and they will carry the series onwards.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2021
After reading only a few chapters of this unique cozy mystery I knew I was going to love it! All Paige wants in life is to find the one thing she is ment to do with her life.. The thing that will make her happiest, and help to make her feel fullfilled..( I can totally relate to Paige with this feeling)..
So when this weird fortune teller machine finds its way to the doorstep of her workplace she has no idea this is the first day of her new life.. When a new app shows up on her phone called Ghosted she assumes its some new dating app.. When the guy she matches with ends being found dead...she quickly realizes with his help that she is supposed to solve his murder.. ( I would absolutely love this to be a real thing.. I don't know how good I would be with the murder solving part, but to have an app that matches you with a ghost would be sooo cool!!) Then she goes home to find that her lovable hedgehog Auguste who can talk... and has a french accent? Then she meets her ghost hunting mentor, someone from her past she never expected to see again.. and she is off on a new life path... When her mentor/friends ends up in the crosshairs of the police as a suspect Paige will do whatever it takes to find out who the real murderer is.. Even if that means putting herself in the killers sight.
Paige and her friends have quickly become favorites and I can't wait to see what case Paige will be solving next.. .It kept me endlessly entertained from page one, and I really loved all the characters.. Especially Auguste.. I mean a talking hedghog, what could be cuter? he even has his own set of litte booties!!
So when this weird fortune teller machine finds its way to the doorstep of her workplace she has no idea this is the first day of her new life.. When a new app shows up on her phone called Ghosted she assumes its some new dating app.. When the guy she matches with ends being found dead...she quickly realizes with his help that she is supposed to solve his murder.. ( I would absolutely love this to be a real thing.. I don't know how good I would be with the murder solving part, but to have an app that matches you with a ghost would be sooo cool!!) Then she goes home to find that her lovable hedgehog Auguste who can talk... and has a french accent? Then she meets her ghost hunting mentor, someone from her past she never expected to see again.. and she is off on a new life path... When her mentor/friends ends up in the crosshairs of the police as a suspect Paige will do whatever it takes to find out who the real murderer is.. Even if that means putting herself in the killers sight.
Paige and her friends have quickly become favorites and I can't wait to see what case Paige will be solving next.. .It kept me endlessly entertained from page one, and I really loved all the characters.. Especially Auguste.. I mean a talking hedghog, what could be cuter? he even has his own set of litte booties!!
September 7, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Wayfarer for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
Once Ghosted Twice Shy is as the series title suggest a cozy mystery that is just perfect to read between two more heavier reads.
Paige works at ghost stour gift shop as a manager in New Orleans. When she gets a weird big fortune telling package and a very weird app on her phone she can suddenly see ghosts, namely one of the body that fell on top her during one of her ghost tours. And she has to help them out to figure out their murderer. A ghost detective if you will. But it is not all fun and games when her mentor turns out to be her long lost ex or when they have to get right into a secret society.
I think what made this book fun are all the little quirky things. The app that Paige gets on her phone, going along with modern technology. Her hedgehog that starts talking to her and turns out to be a find partner in crime. Her friends who jump right on board with her sleuthing without asking (too) many questions. Her ghost grandma and her friend that come help out. And the mystery was interesting because I was interested in the murder vicitim and his life. Secret societies are always interesting to take a look into I find.
My downside would be is that I would have liked to have gotten more of a feel of New Orleans. New Orleans is a charismatic setting and with ghost tours and the secret society a lot more could have been done with that. I also would have loved to have seen more diversity on the page front and center.
But overal Once Ghosted Twice Shy is a fun cozy mystery with supernatural elements.
Once Ghosted Twice Shy is as the series title suggest a cozy mystery that is just perfect to read between two more heavier reads.
Paige works at ghost stour gift shop as a manager in New Orleans. When she gets a weird big fortune telling package and a very weird app on her phone she can suddenly see ghosts, namely one of the body that fell on top her during one of her ghost tours. And she has to help them out to figure out their murderer. A ghost detective if you will. But it is not all fun and games when her mentor turns out to be her long lost ex or when they have to get right into a secret society.
I think what made this book fun are all the little quirky things. The app that Paige gets on her phone, going along with modern technology. Her hedgehog that starts talking to her and turns out to be a find partner in crime. Her friends who jump right on board with her sleuthing without asking (too) many questions. Her ghost grandma and her friend that come help out. And the mystery was interesting because I was interested in the murder vicitim and his life. Secret societies are always interesting to take a look into I find.
My downside would be is that I would have liked to have gotten more of a feel of New Orleans. New Orleans is a charismatic setting and with ghost tours and the secret society a lot more could have been done with that. I also would have loved to have seen more diversity on the page front and center.
But overal Once Ghosted Twice Shy is a fun cozy mystery with supernatural elements.
August 17, 2021
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a winner!
What a great concept to have an app to communicate with the recently departed, brilliant! In this first book which I hope will be a series New Orleans ghost tour gift shop manager, Paige receives something in the the shop she was not expecting.
It can grant wishes, sure she thinks. But why not right? So, she makes a wish for her 25th birthday. Is she in for a surprise. Follow Paige, her friends and a ghost to solve a murder.
Great story, fantastic characters - well done!
What a great concept to have an app to communicate with the recently departed, brilliant! In this first book which I hope will be a series New Orleans ghost tour gift shop manager, Paige receives something in the the shop she was not expecting.
It can grant wishes, sure she thinks. But why not right? So, she makes a wish for her 25th birthday. Is she in for a surprise. Follow Paige, her friends and a ghost to solve a murder.
Great story, fantastic characters - well done!
August 23, 2021
Thank you to Wayfarer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Jessica Arden is a fantastic, funny cozy mystery that is Veronica Mars meets Ghost Whisperer. The story is about a ghost tour gift shop manager who has to solve the mystery of a murdered Tinder date. Paige Harrington is going about her regular business one day when she gets a mysterious package. She downloads the Ghosted app to her phone and is paired up with a ghost who wants her to solve his murder. When the ghost first appears to her, she faints from fright. Fortunately, she decides to take the case. Will she be able to find the ghost's murderer? And what does the murder have to do with a secret society in New Orleans called the Enclave?
Here's an excerpt from the beginning of Chapter 1 that sets up the premise:
""You sure this is for me?” I scrunched my eyebrows at the massive cardboard box on the delivery guy’s hand truck.
He glanced at the manifest. “If you’re Paige Harrington.” His New Orleans accent was as thick as the bald cypress trunks in the bayou.
“That’s me,” I said. Paige Magnolia Harrington. Ghost tour gift shop manager, devoted friend, newly 25 and still with no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
“I actually have specific instructions that you’re the only one who can sign for it,” he said.
My eyebrow rose, and I sized up the enormous box currently blocking the main aisle of the Deveauxs’ Historical Haunts gift shop."
Overall, Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a great paranormal cozy mystery that will appeal to anyone looking for a light-hearted mystery with a side of magic. One thing to keep in mind is that this is not just a standard cozy mystery with ghosts where they just float around and haunt people. In the fantasy New Orleans of this book, ghosts are organized, and in the afterlife, they have an app that allows them to pair up with a living human to track down who murdered them. If that fantasy aspect sounds too far-fetched to you, this might not be the right book for you. However, for me, this book was perfect, and I loved the original aspects of the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of cozy mysteries in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Jessica Arden is a fantastic, funny cozy mystery that is Veronica Mars meets Ghost Whisperer. The story is about a ghost tour gift shop manager who has to solve the mystery of a murdered Tinder date. Paige Harrington is going about her regular business one day when she gets a mysterious package. She downloads the Ghosted app to her phone and is paired up with a ghost who wants her to solve his murder. When the ghost first appears to her, she faints from fright. Fortunately, she decides to take the case. Will she be able to find the ghost's murderer? And what does the murder have to do with a secret society in New Orleans called the Enclave?
Here's an excerpt from the beginning of Chapter 1 that sets up the premise:
""You sure this is for me?” I scrunched my eyebrows at the massive cardboard box on the delivery guy’s hand truck.
He glanced at the manifest. “If you’re Paige Harrington.” His New Orleans accent was as thick as the bald cypress trunks in the bayou.
“That’s me,” I said. Paige Magnolia Harrington. Ghost tour gift shop manager, devoted friend, newly 25 and still with no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
“I actually have specific instructions that you’re the only one who can sign for it,” he said.
My eyebrow rose, and I sized up the enormous box currently blocking the main aisle of the Deveauxs’ Historical Haunts gift shop."
Overall, Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a great paranormal cozy mystery that will appeal to anyone looking for a light-hearted mystery with a side of magic. One thing to keep in mind is that this is not just a standard cozy mystery with ghosts where they just float around and haunt people. In the fantasy New Orleans of this book, ghosts are organized, and in the afterlife, they have an app that allows them to pair up with a living human to track down who murdered them. If that fantasy aspect sounds too far-fetched to you, this might not be the right book for you. However, for me, this book was perfect, and I loved the original aspects of the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of cozy mysteries in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!
October 2, 2021
I think this had an interesting plot with a ghost app and getting hired by the dead, but the execution was a little shaky, with jumpy transitions and a lot of repeated information. I went into the story expecting a fast paced supernatural cozy mystery, but instead this felt more like women's fiction story. The book basically starts with the main character finding a dead body but instead of jumping right into the sleuthing the plot moseys along, going through Paige's normal day routine and feelings and background and her meeting all her besties and rehashing her past romantic relationship. The book was not bad, it just went in a different direction than I anticipated and the mystery had a very slow start. That being said, the cast of characters were great, each detailed and unique, they helped to round out the main character nicely. And it was a nice touch to have a talking hedgehog for a splash of fun. The mystery of the dead body was solved but the ending of this book felt like it was just the beginning of a new life for Paige so I would not be surprised if this is the first in a series. I can see this being a great read for someone looking for a supernatural mystery with a dash of angst and romance
September 14, 2021
The keyword is FUN. I read an early copy of this book, and it was so much fun. This book is quirky and lighthearted, even when a body falls on our heroine (she gets out ok). There’s a hedgehog with an accent and strong opinions about snacks, great friends (both living and dead), and a love interest that provides a little spark and a little heart. If you want to traipse through the French Quarter’s darkest secrets, but also don’t want to give yourself nightmares, Once Ghosted is a perfect choice. Paige hones her detective skills and by the end it’s clear she was meant for this. I can’t wait to read more about her amazing friends and see how the relationship develops with a certain handsome (sometimes infuriating) gentleman. A really promising start to a paranormal cozy series!
September 1, 2021
I just had so much fun with this book, besides being one of my favorite genres the author made it easy to go through the thriller parts. It is an easy read, couldn't put it down and then I didn't want to finish it. I am looking forward to the next book of this series, can't wait to read about the new missions of these unusual characters.
It was perfect for me!!
You can find me here: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_a_slow... https://www.facebook.com/TheSlowReade... https://twitter.com/Elliemas6
It was perfect for me!!
You can find me here: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_a_slow... https://www.facebook.com/TheSlowReade... https://twitter.com/Elliemas6
September 29, 2021
I don’t know how Arden did it, but somehow the entire time I was reading this, I felt tense. Like I was reading with my shoulders up at my ears. Which was FUN!
I really enjoyed this cast of characters. Especially being blessed by a hedgehog that talks with a French accent (which I never knew I needed).
*Disclaimer* I received an eARC from Wayfarer on Netgalley. An honest review was provided.
I really enjoyed this cast of characters. Especially being blessed by a hedgehog that talks with a French accent (which I never knew I needed).
*Disclaimer* I received an eARC from Wayfarer on Netgalley. An honest review was provided.
September 4, 2021
This was a fun read. I liked the idea of the author using modern technology with ghost adventures. The ‘ghost app’ on Paige’s phone was a unique idea.
I absolutely loved her pet hedgehog 🦔! It made me want one, who knew they could be pets!
This had the right amount of mystery and intrigue with ghosts, atmosphere in New Orleans.
I was surprised at the end.
I am looking forward to Paige’s next adventure.
This is an honest review of ARC I received from NetGalley.
I absolutely loved her pet hedgehog 🦔! It made me want one, who knew they could be pets!
This had the right amount of mystery and intrigue with ghosts, atmosphere in New Orleans.
I was surprised at the end.
I am looking forward to Paige’s next adventure.
This is an honest review of ARC I received from NetGalley.
December 12, 2022
A wonderful cozy mystery! Hoping for future installments. The characters are colorful and will remind you of the characters in your life. Paige is finding her way in the world then a ghosted app appears on her phone. She has help from old friends and new in order to solve an acquaintances murder.
October 24, 2022
I love the whole cast of characters and can’t wait to read the next in the series!
September 24, 2021
3.5 Rounded up to 4
A cute and cozy paranormal mystery book to transition my reading list into the spooky season. Definitely a nice break from the darker mystery books. The supporting characters were just as wonderful as the main character herself. A great fun and light read between series with heavier topics.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A cute and cozy paranormal mystery book to transition my reading list into the spooky season. Definitely a nice break from the darker mystery books. The supporting characters were just as wonderful as the main character herself. A great fun and light read between series with heavier topics.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
September 29, 2021i loved the idea of a "cosy mystery" but i just didn't find that in this book. dnf at 13%
November 5, 2021
5 stars Great story!!
Loved this story. It kept me intrigued and always guessing.
Such an imagination this author has. Will there be another book featuring these characters??
Loved this story. It kept me intrigued and always guessing.
Such an imagination this author has. Will there be another book featuring these characters??
October 1, 2021
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is the first book in the Ghosted Cozy Mystery series by Jessica Arden. New Orleans ghost tour gift shop manager, Paige Harrington makes a wish for her twenty-fifth birthday: to find the one thing she can be as passionate about as her cancer researcher parents. She doesn’t, however, expect her calling to come in the form of a mysterious app on her phone that matches her up with the ghost of a cute bartender who wants her to solve his murder. Nor for her pet hedgehog, Auguste, to start talking to her with a French accent. When her favorite professor turned cafe owner, Liz Pickett is framed for the murder, Paige can’t sit by and let all of this happen. Even if uncovering the truth means tangling with the Enclave, a secret society with the power and connections to make someone like her asking too many questions disappear without a trace. With the Enclave and their dark secrets dogging at her heels, Paige will have to step up her sleuthing skills and unmask the real killer before she ends up their next victim.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a book that felt like a cozy mystery, but it had some very dark moments. I liked Paige's search for her calling, and the supportive circle of friends. I liked the secondary characters and thought some of the connections and banter were great. Sometimes there were connections that felt like they would lead to something in this case, or future installments but others felt like there might have been a prequel or related series that went into things with more detail. I really liked the ghost elements, and the talking hedgehog. I thought the humor and conversations between friends and main characters were the best parts of the book. I did think that the mystery part was well done, and there were some good twists and turns. However, there were parts that did not seem connected to the larger story and left me with new questions that I do not think I will ever get answers to. I liked the read, and so much of it worked for me, but I felt like the balance of dark and humor was a little off for my personal tastes.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a good read with plenty of humor and a fair amount of dark and dangerous.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a book that felt like a cozy mystery, but it had some very dark moments. I liked Paige's search for her calling, and the supportive circle of friends. I liked the secondary characters and thought some of the connections and banter were great. Sometimes there were connections that felt like they would lead to something in this case, or future installments but others felt like there might have been a prequel or related series that went into things with more detail. I really liked the ghost elements, and the talking hedgehog. I thought the humor and conversations between friends and main characters were the best parts of the book. I did think that the mystery part was well done, and there were some good twists and turns. However, there were parts that did not seem connected to the larger story and left me with new questions that I do not think I will ever get answers to. I liked the read, and so much of it worked for me, but I felt like the balance of dark and humor was a little off for my personal tastes.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a good read with plenty of humor and a fair amount of dark and dangerous.
November 22, 2021
Princess Fuzzypants here: There are a number of cozies with paranormal themes. Often the ghosts are comic relief or the bête noirs of the feisty female investigating murders. This one is a bit different. Set in New Orleans, the ghost capital of the world, Paige works for a ghost tour company when she is approached by a handsome guy who works in the neighbourhood, who just happens to be dead. Then his corpse ends up at her feet outside of her friend’s bakery. Paige has never had a glimmer of an idea that she could see ghosts but the surprises just keep on coming.
She discovers her beloved pet, Auguste the hedgehog can speak to her- or as he corrects, he was always talking to her, she just wasn't listening. Then she learns her mentor in this new world of ghostly detective work turns out to the be the guy who “ghosted” her four years earlier and broke her heart. She is not done yet. Her bakery friend is being framed for the murder and the people who really did this are part of a secret society where they have traded a deal with the devil for power and fame. As she learns there are vampires and other spooky creatures, she is also going to meet the “big guy” who turns out to be anything but expected.. But the biggest surprise is the return of her great grandmother and her best friend, who did this spectral sleuthing before arriving on the other side and wrote of the adventures in a highly successful mystery series that Paige adores.
I liked this book on so many level. I liked the suspense and the complex characters and plot line. I loved the relationships she builds with her ghostly associates. I think this has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing how this unusual detective team moves forward. Five purrs and two paws up.
She discovers her beloved pet, Auguste the hedgehog can speak to her- or as he corrects, he was always talking to her, she just wasn't listening. Then she learns her mentor in this new world of ghostly detective work turns out to the be the guy who “ghosted” her four years earlier and broke her heart. She is not done yet. Her bakery friend is being framed for the murder and the people who really did this are part of a secret society where they have traded a deal with the devil for power and fame. As she learns there are vampires and other spooky creatures, she is also going to meet the “big guy” who turns out to be anything but expected.. But the biggest surprise is the return of her great grandmother and her best friend, who did this spectral sleuthing before arriving on the other side and wrote of the adventures in a highly successful mystery series that Paige adores.
I liked this book on so many level. I liked the suspense and the complex characters and plot line. I loved the relationships she builds with her ghostly associates. I think this has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing how this unusual detective team moves forward. Five purrs and two paws up.
September 1, 2021
I don’t need a fortune teller to predict this series will be a hit. Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a witty and fun paranormal cozy mystery with of wide assortment of psychic sidekicks to guide protagonist Paige Harrington on the road to sleuthing. She’s the great granddaughter of famous mystery writer Magnolia Castile, who penned the Matilda Mayhew series in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Paige has read the well loved books so many times she automatically reaches for one whenever she needs solace. She definitely needs consoling after the dead body of a man she knew falls from the roof of the ghost tours gift shop she manages. When a ghost app appears on her phone, matching her with the spirit of the dead man, she takes on her first case to find his murderer. Maybe, like her great grandmother, solving mysteries is in her blood.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a highly entertaining cozy for lovers of quirky, light paranormal stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and Wayfarer for providing an ARC to read for review. *NetGalley Top Reviewer*
This review will be posted to Bayside Book Reviews on release day at https://baysidebookreviews.com
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a highly entertaining cozy for lovers of quirky, light paranormal stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and Wayfarer for providing an ARC to read for review. *NetGalley Top Reviewer*
This review will be posted to Bayside Book Reviews on release day at https://baysidebookreviews.com
August 25, 2021
Jessica Arden has penned an introduction to "A Ghosted Cozy Mystery' series that not only hooks you and reels you in, but leaves you wanting more.
The concept for the series is original and current among the throng of cozy mysteries out there - not only does the main character converse with ghosts who need her help, but she is matched up with them through an app that makes matches between investigators and the deceased with unfinished business. Add in the unusual yet adorable pet hedgehog, who is refreshingly articulate when she finally can hear what he has to say, (no 'I has cheeseburgers' here) and this first book in the series is set for success.
The book is well written, with an intriguing mystery that brings to mind thriller plot points, well rounded characters of both the alive and ghost persuasion, and plenty of suspects to keep you turning the pages to the end.
I was provided with an ARC of the book through NetGalley and I look forward to the next in the series.
The concept for the series is original and current among the throng of cozy mysteries out there - not only does the main character converse with ghosts who need her help, but she is matched up with them through an app that makes matches between investigators and the deceased with unfinished business. Add in the unusual yet adorable pet hedgehog, who is refreshingly articulate when she finally can hear what he has to say, (no 'I has cheeseburgers' here) and this first book in the series is set for success.
The book is well written, with an intriguing mystery that brings to mind thriller plot points, well rounded characters of both the alive and ghost persuasion, and plenty of suspects to keep you turning the pages to the end.
I was provided with an ARC of the book through NetGalley and I look forward to the next in the series.
September 15, 2021
Paige has an app appear on her phone. Thinking it is a dating app, she swipes to approve the cute guy she kinda knows. After a few weird things happen, the cute guy falls at her feet...dead. The app turns out to be a way to match a recently (or not so recently) dead person with a live person who will investigate their murder. Things continue down the weird path when her hedgehog starts talking to her (in a French accent), her good friend is arrested for her guy's murder and then her ex boyfriend, who disappeared, shows up out of the blue.
Opinion
This book is the beginning of an awesome series. Just the quirkiness of the book alone makes it such a fun read. While the book is long, the whole time you are reading it, you will either be chuckling or have your mouth dropped open in surprise. I absolutely loved this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Opinion
This book is the beginning of an awesome series. Just the quirkiness of the book alone makes it such a fun read. While the book is long, the whole time you are reading it, you will either be chuckling or have your mouth dropped open in surprise. I absolutely loved this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
October 17, 2021
This book started out so interestingly. Paige Harrington has a mysterious app, Ghosted, appear on her phone. Thinking it is a dating app, she swipes right on a guy she recognizes, Austin, who is a bartender she knows. Then he literally falls at her feet, flung off a balcony after having been strangled with Mardi Gras beads. It's a nice, tight story.
Then, the story starts to get convoluted. Paige's favorite professor now store owner is framed for the murder, her long-lost love shows up again to act as her mentor, a secret society is thrown in as well as are the ghost of her great-grandmother and her great-grandmother's best friend. Oh. And now her hedgehog is talking to her. Information starts to be repeated more and more often and the story gets a bit fractured.
An interesting start to a series but I'm going to proceed cautiously with reading more books in the series. If there is a love triangle introduced (which sort of seemed like it might be happening), I'm definitely out.
Then, the story starts to get convoluted. Paige's favorite professor now store owner is framed for the murder, her long-lost love shows up again to act as her mentor, a secret society is thrown in as well as are the ghost of her great-grandmother and her great-grandmother's best friend. Oh. And now her hedgehog is talking to her. Information starts to be repeated more and more often and the story gets a bit fractured.
An interesting start to a series but I'm going to proceed cautiously with reading more books in the series. If there is a love triangle introduced (which sort of seemed like it might be happening), I'm definitely out.
October 12, 2021
I was given this as an early reviewers copy from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. I stumbled across the book while looking through the available arcs listed and the cover caught my attention.
The title sounded quirky and made me giggle and so i read the blurb and , even if i had been hesitant before that I was hooked after. I am a sucker for a good mystery.
This title is certainly a cozy mystery with many thrills and some light hearted laughs here and there.
Paige and her friends are brilliant characters. i even love that she has a talking pet Hedgehog its just charming and sooo much fun. She starts off not sure what she should be doing and falls into her place.
I throughtly enjoyed getting to know Paige. I cant wait for the next mystery to pop up and see how she handles it.
The title sounded quirky and made me giggle and so i read the blurb and , even if i had been hesitant before that I was hooked after. I am a sucker for a good mystery.
This title is certainly a cozy mystery with many thrills and some light hearted laughs here and there.
Paige and her friends are brilliant characters. i even love that she has a talking pet Hedgehog its just charming and sooo much fun. She starts off not sure what she should be doing and falls into her place.
I throughtly enjoyed getting to know Paige. I cant wait for the next mystery to pop up and see how she handles it.
October 16, 2021
This first in a new series by Jessica Arden has left me wanting more. It is in New Orleans and has quirky characters that you really would like to be your best friends.
Paige Harrington is works for a local ghost tour agency while she tries to find her calling. She finds her self as a Ghost PI on a supernatural app and trying to solve a murder of a local barista, Austin, and keep her good friend and former professor Liz out of the slammer. Add in an ex who she has never gotten over, a secret society who wants her dead, her Ghost grandmother, Magnolia, who was cozy mystery writer in her day & her friend Moesha, and a hunky who may or may not have a thing for her.
This story was exciting and fun and I loved every minute of reading it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Paige Harrington is works for a local ghost tour agency while she tries to find her calling. She finds her self as a Ghost PI on a supernatural app and trying to solve a murder of a local barista, Austin, and keep her good friend and former professor Liz out of the slammer. Add in an ex who she has never gotten over, a secret society who wants her dead, her Ghost grandmother, Magnolia, who was cozy mystery writer in her day & her friend Moesha, and a hunky who may or may not have a thing for her.
This story was exciting and fun and I loved every minute of reading it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews