A new cozy mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau series.
Avery Winters was overjoyed to be brought back to life... unfortunately, the dead were waiting for her.
Aussie journalist Avery Winters was content—she had a caring boyfriend, great job, and supportive… okay, so her parents weren’t actually supportive, but she’d accepted she could never be the son they’d wanted seeing as how she was born a girl. Avoiding them seemed to work well, and, she reasoned, no one’s life was perfect.
And that was fine, except whilst covering a news story in a storm, Avery’s cosy life disappeared in a flash. Lightning struck, stopping her heart and blowing her favourite black boots to smithereens. It was pure luck that an off-duty nurse was walking nearby.
When Avery came to in the ambulance en route to hospital, she’d thought the worst was over. She was wrong.
Her lightning-induced hallucinations—there was no way they were ghosts—were impossible to hide. Her boyfriend soon left, and her boss suggested she take extended leave. Unable to cover her rent, she moved back in with her parents. And that’s when the fun really began. Unable to cope with their insistence she was crazy, and desperate for an escape, she responded to a journalist-wanted ad… in the UK, because getting mega far away from her parents could only be a good thing.
Armed with a new fear of storms, companions others couldn’t see, and the hope that leaving the stress behind would improve her mental state, she boarded a plane for London. What she didn’t count on was not being able to leave her ghosts behind… literally. Oh, and that the quaint English village she’d be living in had more skeletons in its closet than the Natural History Museum.
When she stumbles upon a dead body in her rented apartment on her first day, she’s tempted to get back on the plane. But whilst it’s not a good omen, returning to her parents would be worse, so she decides to stay. Only, she’s not sure if it’s the best decision she’s ever made, or the worst.
I love reading and writing. I'm a mother to two teens and two Siamese cats. I've got an associate degree of creative writing and am a full-time author. I write paranormal cosy mysteries with heroines who are quirky, kind, and love to right wrongs and get justice. I also love to make people laugh and give them an awesome escape, which is why I tell stories.
It took me a while to get into this one, not because the story wasn’t well written and captivating but because I was exhausted from two days of non-stop driving. Last night, after reading only up to 20% of the book over two nights, I finally had a chance to really commit to reading and I could not put this book down. The story was interesting, and it kept me reading until the very end. I’ve always been a fan of ghost stories where the character helps people cross over and this one had some very touching vignettes. The main character was easy to relate to and I enjoyed her banter with one of her coworkers. The town sounds quaint, and I can’t wait to visit again.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Killer Welcome by Dionne Lister has Avery Winters relocating to England from Sydney, Australia. After being hit by lightning, Avery was able to see apparitions. She is not sure what to call them, but Avery is beginning to wonder if they are ghosts and not figments of her imagination. Avery lost her job and her boyfriend. Her parents do not believe her and put her in a mental institution to recover. Avery is hoping a change of location will do the trick and she will no longer see the talking visions. Unfortunately, Avery has one join her for the drive to her new town. After getting the key to her new flat from her crabby new landlady, Avery enters to find a woman dead in the living room. Her scream has the landlady on her doorstep and the landlady’s scream is louder than Avery’s. The victim soon appears to Avery and asks her for her assistance. It is tempting to return to Australia, but that would mean living with her parents. Solving the crime could get Avery the scoop on the murder which would impress her new boss. Can Avery learn to embrace her gift and figure out who killed the victim?
A Killer Welcome is the first book in Haunting Avery Winters Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series (that is a mouthful). We are introduced to a number of people including Avery Winters. Avery is in denial about what she can see since she was struck by lightning which I found frustrating. With the story in the first person, readers are subjected to all of Avery’s thoughts (which are frequently on the negative side). There is a great deal of repetition as well. The mystery is not at the forefront of the story for the first half of the book. I wanted more investigation and less of Avery’s day to day activities (especially with regard to food). The whodunit can be solved before the reveal. I had trouble getting through A Killer Welcome. I wanted to like the story, but it really is not my type of tale. While A Killer Welcome is not my cup of tea, other readers are enjoying it (that is the beauty of books). I suggest obtaining a sample to see if A Killer Welcome is the right fit for you. A Killer Welcome is a lighthearted paranormal cozy mystery with gads of ghosts, jealous journalists, a surly landlady, a rude receptionist, a useful constable, and a confusing crime.
OUTSTANDING GHOST MURDER MYSTERY I LOVE ghost books and this story was unputtable down, yes I know that's not a word but there you go, I have just finished, it is 1:52am and it was FANTASTIC. There was humor, sadness, adventure, intrigue and even a few tears. It was well written and I want to read more. For book 1 of the series it is a winner, I really want book 2 "A regrettable roast". Recommended clean ghost mystery.
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a sucker for cartoonish covers, ghosts and murder mysteries. When those three are put together then I’m basically sold and would read anything by any unknown author out there. Dionne Lister was pretty unknown name for me although in a bit of a scrutiny her other book series is actually a bit familiar and it would seem that I even own an e-copy of the first book in my Kindle library. Oops…but I do have a massive TBR list, so it makes sense….😅 I absolutely loved this cozy mystery. It had a nice pace and a main character you can care for. I especially liked that Avery was an anxious person and an over-thinker - something I can relate to - and yet she overcame her shortcomings and did a pretty great job as a journalist. I also liked that although many of the male characters were considered quite the hunks, she wasn’t affected too much by it and could keep a straight thinking. I sensed a potential slow-burner on the way and I am pleased, slow-burners have always been more to my taste!😃 Some of the characters could use some deeper introduction (Carina, Bailey, Finnegan etc) but we’ll probably going to have loads of chance for that in the future books, so it’s ok!😉 Overall, a great cozy mystery and I’ll move Paranormal Investigation Bureau higher on my TBR list!😊
This was definitely a different type of cozy than I normally read but I really enjoyed the book.
Avery has moved from Australia to England to a small town to escape a broken relationship. She was also struck by lightning which has revealed a new talent, the ability to speak to ghosts. This can be a good and a bad thing and reminds me a lot of the show, The Ghost Whisperer.
Things don't go so well for Avery when she arrives at her new home and finds a dead body on the floor. However, this turns out to be a really good thing because she meets new people and of course has to solve the murder, write newspaper articles that feature the town residents, and maybe even help a few ghosts along the way.
I thought this had a few different twists and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was and why. I think I solved the who right before it was revealed, but I wasn't 100% sure on the why. There are a few clues and it all makes sense in the end.
I think this is going to be a fun new series and I can't wait to see what happens next and if Avery finds a new love interest because there are hints of one in this book.
I am so glad I stayed with this book. It seemed to drag at the beginning for me. Almost gave up on it. But so glad I gave it more time. I really ended up enjoying this story. The characters were all likable. The story was interesting. And the ghosts made it a fun read! Look forward to reading the next book.
Avery Winters was not having a run of luck lately. She ended up struck by lightning but was brought back as the ambulance raced to the hospital. However, now she sees ghosts, or hallucinations, as she prefers to think of them because nobody sees ghosts, right? Everyone seems to think she needs a long rest, so her boyfriend left her, her boss sent her off on an extended leave, and she had to return home to her parents who would have preferred to have a son and not a daughter. They were a very toxic combination, so she left for the UK to find a job.
When she finds a woman’s dead body, her lips tinged blue, in her rented apartment her first day there, she has to think about whether that is bad enough to force her back to her parents. She decides to stay in the UK. Finnegan Walsh, a top journalist at her new place of employment, would take her with him on the new job and give her a tour of the village. In the meantime, she has taken a room at the pub nearby.
Finnegan was showing her around town and stopped to talk to Sergeant Bellamy to get details about the murder. When Avery wandered toward the house where she would be staying when permitted back in, a ghost met her at the gate. She looked familiar, dressed just like the body Avery had found. She said to Avery, “You have to find my killer… I think I knew him.” Maybe this was a ghost for real and not a hallucination? So she started asking questions, figuring she would call the ghost by her name, Fiona Daniels. She told Avery about a field, then she suddenly disappeared. Would Fiona help her look for her murderer? She was a journalist, and journalists had a compulsion to know things. So she was ready to give this a try.
I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery which held my interest throughout. I especially loved the humor interspersed throughout the story line as Avery steadfastly refused to believe she was seeing ghosts. The characters were interesting as they interacted together. Would Avery figure out who murdered Fiona? Or would the killer come after her to stop her?
A Killer Welcome is the first in the new series Haunting Avery Winters Paranormal Cozy Mystery by Dionne Lister. And it gets off to a fantastic start. Avery Winters moves to England after being hit by lightning and she's able to see ghosts since then, or is she? Her family certainly thinks she's crazy. Upon arrival at her new flat she finds a body and starts to investigate. Avery is a journalist and she also vows to uncover the murder, with the help of the ghost of the estate agent she found in her flat.
While settling in her new surroundings, she comes across more ghosts and starting her new job with a small newspaper covering mainly local stories.
Absolutely loved reading this book. If you've read the PIB books by Dionne you're already familiar with her quirky and lovable characters and the cozy mystery style. This book has the same elements and the characters are well developed, intriguing and easy to relate to. Also, if you read PIB then you might have spotted the easter egg that was planted a few books back. It repeats in the beginning of this book, cleverly done, Dionne ! The story line is well thought out and twists and turns keeps you glued till the very end! Cannot wait to read the next book!!!
An exciting first in a new series. New beginnings, that’s what this move is for journalist Avery Winters. She leaves behind her home an emotionally abusive ex and a toxic relationship with her parents so she left Australia for a small town in England. There she hopes to deal with the apparitions and reclaim her self confidence. She makes new friends and starts a new job. Oh, she finds a dead body and thus starts an adventure and a mystery or three. This was really enjoyable. The author introduces us to a wonderful cast of supporting characters that I hope to learn more about in future installments.
Mostly I loved the characters in this book. There were two that for some reason take an instant a biscuits dislike of Avery, with no explanation or apparent reason for what came across as pure spite for no reason. Thankfully neither character has a very important role in the book so it doesn’t detract from a well written story. The characters of the ghosts are fun and well written. I’m hoping to get to know some of them better in later books. Avery is an interesting character with a number of facets and a back story that I think will become clearer as the series goes on. However, it’s her present and future that interests me and drives this book. I normally don’t like journalistic characters, yet she is written in a way that I like her journalistic tendencies. She wants the story, but not at the cost of her humanity. I think the fact that I pre ordered the next book as soon as I finished this one shows how much I enjoyed this book.
Another fantastic book by this great Aussie author. This is a new series by her. Avery the main character in the book is a interesting young lady journalist. I look forward to seeing her character develops and where the storyline goes. I have already preordered the next book.
Couldn't put it down loved the storyline and the characters so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend this book to everyone and can't wait to read more in this series
A great spin off cleverly introduced on another series, a must for the criminal investigators with a twist. Before you know it, you will be captivated and reading to the end !
Totally love the pre,use of this new series. And I was so wrong when I guessed what she frowned at in the back seat. I thought the cat had left a mess. Nope! Boy was I wrong! I also see a chance at a crossover. Sure hope that happens one day in the future. Also hope we find out more about Megs past! Gonna go start book two!
What a delightful read! A ghost cozy mystery indeed. I love how the intrigue and light-hearted were brought together so effortlessly. What an absolutely delightful book!
I enjoyed meeting Avery and her co-workers and new friends. The premise is an interesting one and I can foresee many stories to this series. Very enjoyable book!
A very enjoyable read! Not normally my genre but this book grabbed my attention with its fascinating storyline. The characters are entertaining with the main character, Avery, seeming to be quite complex, funny and serious at the same time. I would certainly recommend the read and look forward to reading more of Avery and her ghostly exploits!
Our heroine recovers from an accident only to discover she can now see ghosts. The fact the ghosts are more tolerable than her parents should give you a sense of her troubles and they are only just starting.
This is book one of the series so a fine place to start.
This is a paranormal cozy mystery story (sorry, no witches here). The story to be well written, easy to read and sprinkled with lots of humor throughout the story. I feel for our heroine regarding her parental interactions and enjoy her solution, even when she has cause to question it a time or two. The cast of characters are diverse, well developed and engaging, with lots of quirks and fun interactions. And that does include the occasional living characters as well. Add in an intriguing mystery and you have a highly enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
Avery Winters is a Trouble Magnet! Ever since her unfortunate up-close-and-personal encounter with Lightning, Avery is plagued by apparitions. [Are they ghosts? Manifestations of her repressed subconscious, with different accents and genders? Psychosis, as her family thinks?] Moving from Sydney to England, rather unexpectedly, might not be helpful either, considering a kidnapping rescue she performs and then her discovery of One.Dead.Body! See, "Trouble Magnet."
Another lighthearted and empathetic Cozy Mystery Series from prolific author Dionne Lister.
Avery moves all the way from Australia to start a new career in England at a small village newspaper. With suitcases in hand she steps into her new flat only to find her realtor dead at her feet. The rest of the book we try to sus out who is the murderer. With the help of the realtor 's ghost and a few more barely visible people, she not only holds down her job but deduces who really killed the dead body.