Search - Ghost a la Mode (Ghost of Granny Apples, Bk 1)

I enjoyed this new mystery and am looking forward to reading book 2. Don't expect any recipes in this book because there are none which is a refreshing change from all the other cozy mysteries out there. I thought the ghost of Granny Apples was funny too.

While the author's depiction of ghosts doesn't necessarily fit with my belief of ghosts, that didn't detract from the fun story line and well-portrayed characters ...

All in all, I enjoyed this quite a bit more than most first-in-a-series cozies, and I'll definitely be back for more ...

This one started out a bit slow for me. The middle of the book became funnier, and I enjoyed the interactions between the heroine and the ghost of Granny Apples. I did not care for most of the ending, because I hate it when a mystery writer goes from telling an interesting mystery to having a "Scooby-Doo" type ending. I guess I enjoyed the interaction between Granny Apples's ghost and her great(x3) granddaughter enough to read book 2 in the series, but hopefully the author improves her ending with the next one!

First Line: "Mom went to a séance last night."

It's not been a good year for 44-year-old Emma Whitecastle. Her television celebrity jerk of a husband decided to trade her in for a newer model who's more compliant about plastic surgery, and now he's dragging out the divorce. Her beloved Aunt Kitty has died. To top it all off, Emma goes to a séance as a favor to her friend, and the psychic insists that there's a spirit trying to get in touch with her. Come to find out, the psychic is right. You see, Emma discovers that she can see and hear spirits, and Granny Apples is demanding her help.

Tiny Granny Apples is the ghost of 42-year-old Ish Reynolds, Emma's great-great-great-grandmother, and the woman was hung because she was believed to be the murderer of her husband. Granny Apples emphatically proclaims her innocence and insists that Emma help her. Once Emma decides that she hasn't lost her last marble, she finds herself packing her bags and going to Julian, California-- a small town that came to being during the Gold Rush and the home of Granny Apples. It doesn't take her long to stir up the natives-- both living and dead.

It was refreshing to read a book about a woman in her forties who's intelligent, funny, and full of common sense. Not only that, but she's surrounded by a loving family and close friends. Even though she's going through a nasty divorce and not at all sure about the whole seeing ghosts thing, this is not an angst-filled character, so the reader can just relax and have a fun and very enjoyable read.

Emma's journey to the acceptance of her "gift" is a good one for anyone who's not enamored of a lot of "woo-woo" in the books they read, and the cast of supporting characters are very well drawn-- especially feisty little Granny Apples and lawyer/rancher Phil Bowers. There's even a bit of history thrown in for good measure, and this all adds up to a very good read.

Now I have to get my hands on the next book in the series, Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini. Something tells me that Granny Apples will be keeping Emma busy!