High Spirits

A Haunted Haven Mystery #2

by Carol J. Perry

Set during the Christmas season, the latest novel in this exciting new supernatural cozy series from the author of the Witch City Mysteries features a New Englander transplanted to a Florida town along the scenic Gulf of Mexico when she inherits a charming, century-old—and very haunted—inn from a mysterious benefactor. Fans of Amanda Flower and Heather Blake will delight in murder, ghosts, and the heroine’s golden retriever, Finn.

Christmas lights on palm trees and Santa hats on plastic pink flamingoes are far from the snowy landscape Maureen and her beloved golden retriever, Finn, are used to. But Maureen is determined to make this a holiday to remember—which means finding a way to promote Haven House on a shoestring. Fortunately, Haven’s vintage movie theater, the Paramount, has come up with a great “Twelve Days of Christmas” idea. They’ll feature an impressive list of the best classic Christmas movies ever made—shown by one-time movie actor-turned-projectionist Decklin Monroe . . .

But nobody bothered to tell Maureen that the Paramount is haunted by the ghost of a man who was murdered a few years back. Haven’s top cop Frank Hubbard doesn’t believe in ghosts but, believing that Decklin Monroe was somehow involved, he wants a reluctant Maureen’s help.

That plan is derailed when, on the first day of the festival, a fresh murder victim is found at the theater. Now Maureen has to defend her staff and guests, while trying to keep her high-spirited resident ghosts out of the picture—before they have company for the holidays . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christmas, Ghosts, Paranormal, Cozy, Audiobook

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

Carol J. Perry is the author of the Witch City Mystery series and the Haunted Haven series, both from Kensington Publishers. The Witch City stories take place in the magical city of Salem, Massachusetts--the "Witch City." Carol was actually born in Salem (on Halloween eve!) and knows the city well. The Haunted Haven books take place in Carol's adopted home state of Florida. As an experienced travel writer for magazines and newspapers, Carol knows her way around the Sunshine State too. The Salem books are based of course on a real city but Haven, Florida is made up of bits and pieces of some of the Sunshine State's charming older towns--bypassed by the theme parks. Readers of the Witch City books have come to know O'Ryan, a most remarkable cat. The new series introduces Finn, a lovable Golden Retriever.
Carol lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with her husband Dan.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Spirits by Carol J. Perry is the second book in the paranormal cozy A Haunted Haven Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each book in this new paranormal mystery series will contain it’s own mystery that will be solved within so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. Of course there will be some character development that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series in order.

Maureen Doherty had been settling into her career as a sportswear buyer for a department store when she got the news that the store would be closing. At just that moment when Maureen needed it most she received a letter from a lawyer informing her that she had a mysterious inheritance waiting for her in Haven, Florida. Maureen is now the new owner of a cozy inn on the Gulf of Mexico. The only catch to the inheritance is the inn is supposed to be haunted but not believing in ghosts Maureen saw it as the opportunity for a new career path.

Now as Maureen is getting settled into her new life in Haven, Florida the holiday season is upon her as she tries to drum up new business. Maureen finds that the new owner of the local theater, the Paramount, is running a holiday promotion but she also finds that the theater is just as haunted as her inn. On top of everything just as the festival is beginning Maureen finds there has been another murder in town and finds herself caught up in looking for another murderer before Christmas.

Carol J. Perry was an author that I had my eye on trying one day and that day finally came when I saw the new A Haunted Haven Mystery series. After enjoying the first book in the series I was happy to return with this second installment. Being a fan of crossing the paranormal genre with a cozy mystery I wasn’t surprised to find myself turning the pages quickly with this series. With a nice setting too and some quirky characters this will definitely be one I return to.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the second book in the Haunted Haven Mystery series. I have read and reviewed the first book in this series before picking up this book. I do think this book can be read as a standalone, but I feel it would be better if you had read the first book before this book. I love the ghosts in this book, and I wished the ghosts would show up more in this book. I enjoyed the mystery parts in this book, but I did guess some of the reveal not all. The ending was really good. The Christmas parts of this book were cute, and throughout this book. This is a great cozy mystery series, and I am really enjoying it. I really love the characters in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington) or author (Carol J. Perry) 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.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this charming bed and breakfast cozy mystery that also has a ghost theme. In the first story, we met Maureen Doherty who moved to Haven, Florida where she’d inherited the haunted Haven House Inn from a mysterious benefactor. In this book, readers learn a bit more about that lady. The employees at the Inn are nice people and most are welcoming to Maureen as the new owner. Meeting ghost, Lorna Dubois, a movie starlet, is a big surprise and Lorna turns out to be a fountain of information for Maureen about past people and the history of the town of Haven. Cute pets keep Maureen entertained, also.

Struggling for ways to strengthen the Inn’s cash flow, Maureen and Ted, her chef, bartender, and romantic interest, plan a Dinner and a Movie night with Decklin Monroe who is restoring the old town theater. When Maureen visits with Decklin to tour the theater, he tells her it’s haunted by Buddy Putnam who was shot and killed while watching a movie in the 1970’s. His murderer was never caught. The local cop has some crazy idea Maureen knows something about the murder and he’s stalking her. Lorna knows of several men who were possibly connected to the old murder, and when someone else is found dead in the theater, the puzzle pieces begin snapping into place and a surprise finale highlights this interesting mystery plot! Some funny scenes had me laughing! Great reading!

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the premise of this book - the thought of having ghosts around to help solve the mystery in your newly inherited hotel right on the beach gives you plenty of opportunities for great storylines. The ghosts aren't very present in this book. Sure, she has some conversations with them but it almost feels like they were added in later to keep the whole haunted inn thing working. The main character herself is kinda boring, as evidenced by the mundane tasks that she performs that are detailed in this book, such as feeding the dog, cleaning up poop, and the numerous runs she goes on every day. The story itself was also kind of just there. It wasn't interesting. I love this author's other series but I think I am done with this one.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining, cozy mystery book in the Haunted Haven series. I really enjoyed this Florida Inn series that features an amateur detective, her golden retriever and ghosts who inhabit her inherited inn. Great on audio and a perfect #SpookySeason read. This book is also a great balance of ghosts with a Holiday setting and has a well-written classic Hollywood movie mystery. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐ -- Cute cover on this one!

I don't have a lot to say about this one. It was okay. The setting was cool, the characters were fine. The plot was okay. My main issues was the obsessive amount of repetitive details. I don't need to know every move a character makes. Nor do I need a description of every little thing the character sees. Unfortunately, I don't think this series is for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Spirits is a great second book in this new series by Carol J. Perry.
Maureen is a likable character and her supporting characters are easy to like.
I find the whole storyline interesting, especially trying to find out why Maureen was next in line to inherit Haven House.
Her ghosty friends are funny, I enjoy their roles in the story.
Since this book takes place at Christmas, it became a favorite for me fast. I loved the idea of dinner and a movie, especially the 12 days of Christmas theme.
I’m excited to see what Maureen does next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#HighSpirits #NetGalley.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since mysteriously inheriting a rundown, haunted Florida hotel, Bostonian Maureen has learned to live with ghosts while using her retailing knowledge to make a profit. When she learns that someone is trying to renovate the decrepit local movie theater, she thinks of a way to partner with them, a plan that the hired projectionist, who is staying at the hotel, strongly supports. He's found murdered on the first night of the program, and the local police officer is convinced that Maureen has a gift for figuring out mysteries and wants her help. The ghosts have a smaller part to play in this than in the first of the series.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really disliked the first book [I knew the killer early on and disliked the MC], but as the bestie pointed out, I often don't like a first [or second or third] book and end up reading the second and loving it and the resulting series, so in that light, I got this book and settled in to read.

Sigh.

This book was slightly better than the first one [for me], but only slightly. I DID like the MC better this round, which helped. I liked the renovations she has done with the hotel. I loved the idea of the local movie theater getting renovated and reused [and the fun retro candy!!]. I really liked how the MC has embraced the people who live [and often work] at the hotel and have adopted them as her family - the real love and caring amongst them is really lovely to see. And I REALLY love that she does her job [mostly] before sleuthing. That is very refreshing as apparently it is the "IN thing" in new cozies to have the MC ignore their jobs and livelihoods just to put their nose in where it doesn't belong. In the case of Maureen, being in a hotel, often information comes her way and while she doesn't like Detective Hubbard, she respects the job he has and tries to work within his parameters [and for his part, he recognizes that she can be of help occasionally, even though he truly comes close to crossing the line and is really a creeping creeper in this one].

Unfortunately, none of this was enough to truly keep me engaged in this book. It is just so...bland. You'd think a book where there are supposed to be ghosts and murder and intrigue that there would be more excitement, but alas, that is a no. Actually that isn't true - there are about 2-3 chapters towards the end that had some excitement and then the reveal happens [really? THAT was the ending we got? R E A L L Y?] and it is back to bland [and also rather unbelievable] and don't even get me started on the slap-dash epilogue that leaves one very, very, unsatisfied. It is like it was written at the last moment and just slapped at the end of the book. Meh. I knew who the killer was pretty early on [though I tried to convince myself otherwise with a character that I am still on the fence about] and again, the reveal was just so anticlimactic that I may or may not have rolled my eyes. Also, I cannot even begin to talk about how much you get beat upside the head with the SAME INFORMATION over and over. Do we really need to know that E V E R Y time Maureen goes out the side door [or comes in the side door for that matter] that she passes the guest laundry and soda machines? Do we need to be reminded that there are money problems and that reno's need to be done? IF one contracts a contractor to building something, does the MC need to call and confirm this more than once? Over, and over, and over again. This seems to be another trope that some writers are investing in and I need to say it again apparently; the readers are NOT five years old, we don't need the same info over and over and it is just wasted filler. There were also some weird, stilted conversations and ideas that didn't seem fully fleshed out that left some of the story very disjointed and left me feeling off-balance in the story. It was both off-putting and weird.

I am pretty sure I won't read anymore of these [should there be any more] as I have many other books that hold more appeal and action than these have. What a disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley, Carol J. Perry, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maureen and her pup Finn are back and enjoying the preparation for their first Christmas in Florida. Her haunted inn is doing a rousing business, and the resident ghosts are helping in the only way they can by causing problems and getting in the way. In High Spirits, the idea for an old movie festival has guests and locals excited. That is until someone is murdered on opening night at the theater again. The old movie house already has a resident ghost, a man who was murdered a long time ago. Now it looks like he has company, maybe even the very man who murdered him and left his body sitting in a seat at the theater.

It isn’t easy running a hunted inn; holiday time is no exception. Maureen and her ghost pals have their work cut out for them, but when the brilliant idea of an old movie festival in the antique Paramount Theater goes awry, Maureen has more than a minor problem. This could be a make-or-break time in her inn’s life and could bankrupt her if things go wrong. Which, of course, they do. When someone is murdered at the theater during the first movie, the characters jump in to find the killer. Maureen, alongside Frank, starts investigating; before you know it, there is plenty of evidence to point to suspects, new and old, and some of them are staying at her inn. Even Finn jumps in to help. They are not solving just one murder but also a cold case from years before. The problem is Frank’s best suspect is also the newest victim.

Readers will be taken on a joy ride of vintage holiday movies and a theater that’s seen better days, but you can imagine those good times vividly and happily. High Spirits is a wonderful holiday story, even if many people believe it should have been a Halloween book. The haunted inn is still haunted by delightful ghosts who are always trying to help but usually make things worse. But even they hadn’t thought there would be an issue with an old movie holiday festival. Once the killer is revealed, it appears readers should have known from the beginning, but most will not have guessed, and this makes for a very enjoyable holiday treat. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and even when the last page is turned, you will want to flip back to the beginning and read this book all over again.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in a series, a department store buyer loses her job and moves from Boston to Florida. Maureen Doherty was on a downer until she received news of an inheritance from an unknown benefactor - in the form of an Inn in a place called Haven on the Gulf of Mexico. She moved with her golden retriever, Finn. She is now in a position to promote the Inn, Haven House but doesn't have much cash. With Christmas just around the corner, The Paramount theatre has come up with a great “Twelve Days of Christmas” idea, and Mareen spots an opportunity to strike a deal with them. She gets talking to Decklin Munroe, the projectionist and they come up with a plan. Munroe shows her around the theatre and he mentions that it’s haunted by a man who was shot and killed while watching a movie in the seventies. However, the local copper, Officer Frank Hubbard has it in his head that Maureen knows something about the murder and he’s stalking her. But then another death occurs in the theatre.

This is a charming mix of ghostliness, furry friends and mystery, set in a pet-loving place. Maureen is a great, independent, smart, driven protagonist and her loving Finn is one of her main focuses. There are some nice moments with Maureen and Ted, her chef, bartender, and romantic interest. Witty and endearing, I shall be continuing with this humorous series and hope to read more about Maureen's Inn, Haunted Haven and her capers.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series as it's a lot of fun and the ghosts are very entertaining. Solid mystery that kept me guessing and well plotted.
I think there's a lot of potential even if I'm not a huge fan of the MC at the moment as I found her a bit flat.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

High spirited cozy with ghosts haunting an inn in Haven, Florida. Both ghosts and the characters of the natural world are engaging and interesting. Our heroine, Maureen, sctually inherited the rundown inn from a person she never met. And that mystery, while not solved in this book, has me hooked and ready for the next in the series. Maureen's efforts to renovate and revitalize the inn anchor the story and play into the mystery itself. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maureen had a surprise inheritance of an inn in Haven, Florida just as her career in Boston as a retail buyer came to an abrupt end. This venture is a new one for her and there is little actual money involved as the place has turned into a money sink. The inn is haunted by the glamorous ghost of an actress long dead who loves reading dog stories to Maureen's golden, Finn. Then there's the multitalented chef, an oddly behaving policeman, all the employees who love the inn, the locals with long memories and an appreciation of the luminaries who used to stay at the inn all those years ago.
The publisher's blurb is pretty good, so no need to repeat or do spoilers. I loved this one just as much as the first!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pro:
* The inn, movie house, and other shops in the town are inviting.
* Finn
* The ghosts
* The romance

Con:
* Belabored points along the mystery development
* Bumbling cop moves
* Not enough red herrings to make the reveal at all surprising
* Epilogue feels like a lazy attempt to dump in all the loose ends

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy Maureen's journey as she works to save the Haven Inn, gets to know her inherited employees, fellow townspeople, and residents ghosts! With the holidays approaching, Maureen and Ted, her executive chief, decide to coordinate with the Paramount theater, which is showing Christmas movies to do dinner and theater combos. The theater has brought in a former resident to run the old double reel movies, Decklin Monroe has a shady past, though, and police officer Frank Hubbard is not thrilled with his appearance as he was tied to an old unsolved murder that took place 40 years before. When Decklin is murdered during a showing, will the " Twelve Days of Christmas" be shut down? Will Maureen and Ted be able to continue the promotion the Inn desperately needs? Will Maureen be able to help figure out the two murders, new and old? Can the holidays be saved? You will definitely want to come on the holiday ride!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun series. I do love a good ghost story and the fact that there are resident ghosts that interact just like all the other characters adds such a fun flair. I enjoyed the combination of a cold case and a new murder (are they linked or not?!) and how it leads the investigation. The idea of a dinner and an old-time movie as a holiday promotion is lovely and I wish I could visit and go myself. The way that Maureen has jumped into revitalizing the inn and the town with both feet even though she was just transplanted there with no prior knowledge in just the last book is admirable and makes me root for her even more. The ending was surprising, especially in the way everything was revealed and played out in such an unsettling and unique way had me on the edge of my seat. I'm hoping there will be more books in this series!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently this is a Christmas book. I had no clue when pressing play, because there's not even some measly fairy lights around a palm-tree on the cover. 😆

The book worked pretty well in the middle of summer warmth anyway. I feel like this book found its feet better than the first one. The characters feel more well-formed and I'm starting to feel invested in how this will go.

[Kara (Books.and.salt) · Rating 2 out of 5]

High Spirits is the second novel in Perry's Haven Cozy Mystery series, where her main character Maureen inherits a haunted hotel on the gulf coast of Florida and solves mysteries while she runs it.

I remember really loving Be My Ghost when I read it last year, with all the old people and Florida charm. But High Spirits was so, so incredibly boring. Maureen's inner monolog is constant and I felt like the main plot was her stressing over the hotels finances.

I skimmed the last half of the book - there isn't anything BAD, per say. It's just a boring, run of the mill Cozy.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books by this author, and I loved every single one. This is the second book in the Haunted Haven series, and I think this is better than the first. Maureen is taking the running of an inherited inn and trying to improve it. I love how she cares so much, and all her ideas to make the inn a showcase. Add in all the characters that help her, love her, and make this an interesting world, and this is such a joy to read. I can’t wait to read the next one to see how far along the inn is, how her romance is coming, and what ghosts she’ll meet next. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite paranormal series.
It grabbed me from the get go and kept me entertained from start to finish.
It was a really well crafted whodunit with characters I cannot wait to read more about.
This is a stellar example of a great paranormal cozy!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

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

Maureen Doherty lost her job and didn't no where to turn when she'd found that she'd inherited Haven House in Florida. The inn is old, and needs plenty of work, but has a lack of funds due to the mismanagement of the previous manager. But Maureen knows how to plan, and she's hoping to figure out a way to save it.

Then comes Decklin Monroe, an old actor who is now a projectionist of old two-reel movies at the Paramount, a theater also in need of repairs. Maureen has come up with an idea: have a dinner and a movie night. Purchase theater tickets, and include a dinner at the hotel's restaurant, giving them some proceeds -- which are better than none. But Decklin's story of a murder in the theater, and the ghost who haunts it, bothers Maureen, even though she doesn't let it interfere with her idea.

But at the first showing, there is another murder, and now people are wondering who killed this person, and police officer Frank Hubbard is none too happy with Maureen right now, but still needs her help in finding the killer. With a full house on board for Christmas, a ghost haunting her suite, and a murder to solve, it will be a wonder if Maureen can actually find a killer...

This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it quite as much as I did the first. Ms. Perry weaves a story well, and it was full of plenty of goings-on and a few ghosts to boot. Watching her try to keep the Haven House and keep it running is worth it, and her staff is fiercely loyal to her and the old inn as well. What I found humorous was the fact that Finn loves to be read to -- books about dogs, of course!

But who killed the latest victim? I had my own insights, and I read a lot of mysteries, so I had the culprit halfway through the book. I just didn't know how. That was all explained carefully, believably, and capably. This series is a delightful entry to the cozy genre, and the characters are becoming more defined, which I know will continue with each book.

The ending does have a nice epilogue, and it ties everything together in a brightly colored Christmas bow, and gives us something to look forward to in the next in the series. Highly recommended.

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

[Bobbie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of HIGH SPIRITS (Book 2 of the Haunted Haven Mysteries) by Carol J. Perry in exchange for an honest review. In employing new methods to cross-promote her inn with other local businesses, Maureen finds herself wrapped up in solving a movie theater murder. I enjoyed this book as well as the first.

#HighSpirits #NetGalley

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the publication date of late October and the title, High Spirits, you would be forgiven if you assumed this was a Halloween-related cozy mystery - but you’d be wrong! This story is actually Christmas-themed. It takes place mainly in the weeks leading up to Christmas, in a small beach town near St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. Maureen is the owner of an old hotel in Haven, Florida, that she inherited in a mysterious fashion and she’s trying her best to update the place. Down the street is a historic theater that is going to show classic movies as a 12 Days of Christmas event and Maureen decides to do a “dinner and a movie” promotion. Of course, since this is a mystery, there’s a murder that needs to be solved. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and this was just as good. It could be read as a standalone without too much trouble. Be prepared for friendly ghosts, delicious sounding food, and tidbits about Florida’s history, as well as some fun references to the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, etc.). The mystery was a good one, even though I eventually figured out who the culprit was. I loved that Maureen’s background as a department store buyer figured into the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Spirits is the second book in the Haunted Haven series, which takes place in Florida during Christmas. Not only is the setting my favorite place, but it’s such a perfect cozy mystery. I love this series! It has everything I want; haunts, cozy, Florida atmosphere, and a light murder mystery. It’s the perfect kind of book to read after a heavy horror book, like The Shining. This book can be read as a standalone, but I’d read both to get the full effect. They’re just too cute and cozy not to! I love the characters in this series, especially the ghosts. The murder mystery is a one of a kind story that’ll keep you guessing until the end. My only qualm is the ending. It felt a little rushed, the whole villain reveal and the wrap up. I was just expecting a little more. It does have some loose ends, so I can’t wait to find out what Maureen discovers in the next book! This would be a perfect cozy mystery for the holiday season. Preorder your copy now!

Thank you so much @kensingtonbooks and Carol Perry for this gifted copy! I absolutely love this series. I can’t wait for more adventures!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

High Spirits  is #2 in the Haunted Haven series, and follows Be My Ghost. We find Maureen settling into the Inn that she has inherited rather mysteriously. She has plans for it's development and they seem to be going well. Ted the chef, and herself also seem to be getting along well and are a great team, along with the rest of the staff.

A fund raiser that involves old movies at the Paramount, leads to a murder. Who killed the victim? Frank Hubbard the local police officer is out to find out, and he does believe that Maureen knows more than she is telling. It's a weird set up really and his consulting her all the time I found a bit strange. One thing Maureen is though is observant and knowledgeable about fashion and this is an asset in this murder. As well the present day murder seems linked to a long ago one.

I enjoyed the story but found it rather slow paced. There is the murder, and the mystery of who funds the Haven Inn and how did Maureen become chosen to take up as the owner. This isn't solved yet and no doubt will be a thread going through the series. I will certainly want to read the next one but I am certainly hoping it will have a faster pace to it.

[Janet Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love paranormal mysteries, but this one doesn't use the ghosts to their full potential. In this second book I had hoped that protagonist Maureen Doherty and Haven House Inn owner would at least admit to ghosts in residence.
Ghostly Lorna Dubois, a former movie starlet, "shares" Maureen's wardrobe. Yes, it is interesting how Lorna wears the essence of Maureen's clothes in order to party with famous ghosts around the world. But Lorna should be doing more to help Maureen solve crimes.
In this book, we have a haunted movie theater, seemingly right up the starlet's alley. But no, Lorna is too busy partying to help solve a cold case that happened right in the theater.
Thanks to the town's annoying top cop, Frank Hubbard, that case and a more recent one, are solved. Hubbard's ongoing intervention spurs Maureen into getting the job done, more to get Hubbard to leave her alone than any real interest in the murders.
The most interesting part of the book is how Maureen operates her inn, while beginning a romantic relationship with her chef, Ted.
I want more from this budding romance and let's get the other inn ghosts more involved.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Christmas story, though you would never know it looking at the cover (what was the marketing department thinking?). During the days leading up to the holiday someone gets murdered in an old movie theater while a Christmas movie is playing. The murderer is not totally unexpected but still surprising in many ways. How the main character, Maureen, figures out the identity of that person is a good lesson on how the slightest detail can trip up anyone.

This is a gentle and traditional cozy mystery with just a hint at paranormal activity handled with good humor. I particularly liked the scene where a ghost is reading to the dog while Maureen is otherwise occupied. The riddle provided early on by Zoltar is particularly interesting as we see how real events match what his note suggested. By the end of the book we know this is true: "Zoltar knows all."

I highly recommend this to everyone who likes a good mystery, enjoys old movies, and is open to there being spirits possibly hovering in the background. All of this and a tad of humor and romance makes for a very enjoyable read.

I am hoping for a third book so we can maybe find out more about Absinthe as well as what is behind some of the coincidences that have lately happened it Maureen's life.

[Emily Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

•High Spirits by Carol J. Perry
•Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/4.5
•This is a prequel to her Be My Ghost book, (which I loved) they are both cozy murder/mystery books and quick reads! High Spirits is kinda like the other one, where the main character ends up finding a dead body in the movie theater down the street, from the inn that she inherited from the first book. This book was set around Christmas, the first one was set around Halloween. I was hoping this was set around Halloween too cause I’m not a big Christmas fan but, I just glossed over those mentions. I kept trying to figure out who the murder was throughout reading and I ended up being right! I really enjoyed this series and part of me hopes there might be more, if not that’s okay!

•If anyone else read it, what were your thoughts?

#highspirits #book #books #bookstagram #caroljperry #ghosts #mystery #murder #cozyvibes #cozy #cozyreading #halloween #christmas #bemyghost

[Annie (is so far behind 😬) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second in this new series but the first I’ve red, and I’m afraid it was a miss for me. I got to only about 40% on my Kindle before calling it a day and skimming to the end to see if I’d got the murderer right. Just more questIons than answers, particularly about the way the cop was following Maureen around. That’s not normal, no matter how cosy the mystery. Maureen was a bit underwhelming as an MC, not especially engaging or interesting, despite the premise of the story. Refurbishing and planning events to keep her mysteriously inherited hotel sounds like it could be quite promising, but it just didn’t grab me, I’m afraid.

The cover is delightful, however, and I usually enjoy pets and ghosts in my cosies, but it all felt a bit disjointed.

Disappointed, and won’t be continuing this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.