Seances are for Suckers by Tamara Berry
Summary: When
something goes bump in the night . . . it’s most likely a plumbing problem, or
something equally mundane. But fake medium Eleanor Wilde is happy to investigate
and cleanse your home of spectral presences—for a fee. Hey, it’s a living . . .
Ellie has
an ailing sister to care for, and working as a ghost hunter who doesn’t believe
in ghosts helps cover the bills for both of them. When she’s lucky, it also
pays for the occasional tropical vacation. Her brother doesn’t exactly approve,
but Ellie figures she’s providing a service. On her latest job, though, she may
be in for some genuine scares.
The
skeptical, reserved, and very rich Nicholas Hartford III has flown her all the
way to his family’s ancestral estate in England—supposedly haunted by a phantom
named Xavier. Nicholas thinks it’s all just as much a crock as Ellie’s business
is, but the fact remains that something is causing the flashes of light,
mysterious accidents, and other apparent pranks in the chilly, eerie castle.
His mother is sure that Xavier is real, and he’s willing to employ Ellie if she
can get to the bottom of it and put a stop to the nonsense.
While the
food and accommodations are somewhat disappointing (dorm-room furniture?
Really?), Ellie is finding it an adventure to get to know this eccentric family
and their houseguests, and to poke around in the nearby village for clues. But
when an actual dead body appears—and subsequently disappears—at Castle
Hartford, she’ll have to apply her talent for trickery and psychological
insight to solve a flesh-and-blood murder.
Angie’s
comments: I enjoyed this fun, humorous and
sometimes dark mystery, the first in a series. Ellie’s background is unusual,
and there is a hint of paranormal. The plot moves along nicely, including
family drama and a love interest, besides the mystery.
Recommended for readers of cozy mysteries who like a hint of the paranormal.
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