High Spirits by Carol J. Perry

Maureen is still trying to keep her inn in the black. To that end, she's bought several blocks of seats from the local movie theater's run of Christmas classics and is selling them as a bundle with dinner at the inn. Everything goes off course the first night when the guest projectionist is murdered. Not only was Decklin Monroe a guest at the inn, he was also an old resident who had been rumored to be part of a murder in the old theater. His supposed partner in crime, Harry Henshaw, is also back in town.
This book twisted and turned and didn't... actually make much sense with the solution of the mystery but I enjoyed the character building that occurred.

Haunted Haven #2

Three stars

This book came out October 25, 2022

Follows Be My Ghost

Be My Ghost by Carol J. Perry

Maureen Doherty is reeling from the fact that her job at a clothing department store is gone now that the store is out of business. She's not sure what she's going to do and is grateful that her boss gives her a last check and a lucky coin that falls out of her desk drawer as she's leaving. When she gets home, she discovers that she's inherited an in in Haven, Florida, a place she only visited once. What is she to do except pack up her belongings and her beloved golden retriever, Finn and head on down?

When she gets to Haven House Inn, she's surprised to discover that not only does she have a full staff, there are also some year-round residents in addition to the short stays and also some... well, some not so alive guests. Including one who was alive only a little while earlier.

This is a really fun start to a new series (I think) with not too much world building but enough to make it understandable and relatable. Do we know why there are ghosts in the hotel? Maybe not but it's not a necessary part of the story so why add it in? The ghosts didn't add much to the actual mystery other than the fact that the man who was killed was a ghost hunter who may or may not have figured out how to capture the ghosts on film but I think that may be added in to later books in the series.

Four stars

This book comes out August 31st, 2021

Followed by High Spirits

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing Corp. and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own