Book 46, 2022

[chez_jae]

The Guest is a Goner by Carly Winter

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Just finished reading The Guest is a Goner by Carly Winter. It's the first installment in the "Sedona Spirit" cozy paranormal series. The main character is Bernadette "Bernie" Maxwell.

Bernie likes to play up on the haunted angle when it comes to her Bed and Breakfast, but she's never seen a ghost...until an accident suddenly enables her to see her resident ghost--her free-spirited grandmother, Ruby. Bernie is still coming to terms with having Ruby around when a guest is found murdered in her B&B. Now, not only is Bernie a suspect, but the actual killer has been threatening her. With Ruby's help, Bernie strives to solve the case on her own before she's the next one haunting the B&B.

This story left a lot to be desired. I loved the premise of it, but the narrative fell short of my happy expectations. Bernie is a likable character, and Ruby is hilarious, but the plotting lacked cohesion. What really perplexed me was when Bernie first began receiving threats of the 'tell the police and I'll kill you' variety, she knuckled under and didn't tell the police. Even as she, herself, remained their primary suspect! Tell the police, you dumb bunny! Sheesh.

Favorite lines:
♦ While out of town for my cousin's wedding, they'd had a Voodoo priestess come out to release the soul of the caterer who had been killed right after the alligator ruined the ceremony.
♦ "You're wound tighter than a girdle at a pancake breakfast."
♦ "We've found ourselves right in the middle of a big, rotten, smelly pickle."
♦ I didn't hear much of what he'd said because my mind was preoccupied with not being murdered.
♦ "People who like lemon cookies are not to be trusted."
WTF?! I love lemon cookies! Hmpf.
♦ "I've had a psycho javelina chase me, and a colonoscopy is slightly more enjoyable."

I'm on the fence between a score of 2 or 3. Trope test time!


1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? Yes, she runs a bed and breakfast.
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? Yes, she does.
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) Yes, she's sweet on police officer Adam.
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? Yes, she has a cat.
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? Well, Bernie's BFF, Darla, is now pissed at her for telling the police that she (Darla) checked the murdered guest in.
6. Did the mc find the body? Yes, she did.
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? Yes, of course!
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Yes, her mother is absent.
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? Yes, her ghostly grandmother.
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes, she is child-free

Wow, other than the BFF dilemma, it was a solid 9 yes answers out of 10. For that reason, I'm knocking the score down to a two.