Review - Mrs. Morris and the Ghost

I discovered this series in my search for Halloween-ish mysteries to celebrate the season.  I am so glad I found it, because I am already eager to read the rest of the series.  If you aren't familiar with this series, see my thoughts on it below. 

Author: Traci Wilton

Copyright: July 2019 (Kensington Cozies) 332 pgs

Series: 1st in Salem B&B Mystery series

Sensuality:  Adult topics discussed

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal cozy mystery, amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Charlene Morris, new owner of Strathmore mansion. 

Setting: Contemporary.  Salem, Massachusetts

Obtained Through: Library

Book blurb: "A grieving young widow, Charlene needed a new start—so she bought a historic mansion, sight unseen, and drove from Chicago to New England to start turning it into a bed-and-breakfast. On her first night in the house, she awakens to find a handsome man with startling blue eyes in her bedroom. Terror turns to utter disbelief when he politely introduces himself as Jack Strathmore—and explains that he used to live here—when he was alive. He firmly believes that someone pushed him down the stairs three years ago, and he won’t be able to leave until someone figures out who. If Charlene wants to get her business up and running in time for the Halloween tourist rush, and get this haunting houseguest out of the way, she’ll have to investigate. Though truth be told, this ghost is starting to grow on her . . ."  But Jack's isn't the only murder Charlene will deal with.

Charlene Morris is truly missing her deceased husband and Chicago held too many memories.  She is a "go-getter" with lots of drive and energy. Jack Strathmore is the extremely handsome ghost who owned the family mansion and believes he hasn't moved on because he was murdered.  He can be a bit pushy since he was catered to in life and was a renowned doctor.  Will Johnson and Minnie are her first staff hires.  Will handles the landscaping and maintains the grounds and his wife, Minnie, is housekeeper and cook.  Detective Sam Holden is six foot and looks like the actor Sam Elliot, mustache and all. He is pointedly interested in Charlene. 

The setting of Salem is just touched on in this first book since the mansion being turned into the Bed & Breakfast is the main stage for the story.  I look forward to more about Salem in future books.  The story moves along at a steady pace and kept my interest.  

The killer reveal was well done and I hadn't considered that character as the murdered.  The reveal was tense and played out logically.  I really liked the wrap-up and wonder how the situation with handsome Jack the ghost will develop over the series.

My Thoughts:  I found this to be a delightful ghostly cozy mystery.  I am looking forward to the next in the series already and wish I would have discovered it sooner.  A perfect mix of tenacious heroine, flirty ghost, well developed murder mystery, and spot on writing.  This is great for anytime of the year, not just Halloween.  I can't help but think this might be inspired by the movie The Ghost and Mrs Muir.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list