Book 16, 2018

A Haunting is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have the day off, which enabled me to read the ebook novella A Haunting is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell. It features the protagonists of two of my favorite series of hers: "Haunted Home Renovation" (with general contractor Mel Turner) and "Witchcraft mysteries" (with vintage clothing store owner and witch Lily Ivory). The story is told in first person pov, from Mel's perspective.

Mel gets suckered into volunteering her time and expertise to fix up an old Victorian mansion/museum in time for a Halloween fund raiser. For once, the house isn't haunted, but the former owner was a dollmaker, and Mel is creeped out by some of his creations.

When one of the college docents is found dead in the foyer, Mel begins to see his ghost now haunting Spooner House. Another of the volunteers, Maya (who works with Lily), offers to bring Lily by to see if she can suss out anything odd at the home. Maya tells Mel that Lily is a witch, but Mel, who can see ghosts, is in no position to cast stones; she welcomes the additional input.

Once Lily arrives at Spooner House and sees the dolls that were created to look like the Spooner family, she claims that they are holding spirit energy of the family members they resemble. Now it's up to Mel and Lily to concoct a trap to catch a killer, while at the same time releasing the energy, including Adam's ghost, from Spooner House.

Brilliant story! I only wish it had been longer. I love both Mel and Lily, and to see them join forces was fun and fascinating. It was interesting to read about Lily from another character's perspective, and even more fun to know what Lily was holding back from revealing to Mel. Things got wrapped up rather quickly, but in a satisfying manner. I hope to catch glimpses of Lily and Mel in one another's stories from now on.

Favorite line: I needed a how-to book: how to make friends with, and influence, dead people.

Loved it! Five stars:

*****