High Spirits: A Haunted Haven Mystery by Carol J. Perry

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set in the fictional town of Haven on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a sequel to Be My Ghost. Recently, Maureen Doherty unexpectedly inherited the Haven House Inn. The town and the inn are haunted, but the ghosts are not at all scary. Haven’s resident ghost, Lorna, likes to “borrow” Maureen’s clothes and share some history of Haven, which welcomed quite a few celebrities decades earlier. Maureen is slowly refurbishing the inn, and the dining room and bar are next on her list. The local movie theater is showing Christmas movies, so Maureen and chef Ted, who joins Maureen and her dog Finn for early morning runs on the beach, coordinate a dinner and a movie promotion. Petals and Tea, a local business, creates holiday table decorations including antique Christmas ornaments Maureen found.

Unfortunately, there’s a suspicious death during the first holiday movie showing, and gruff police officer Frank Hubbard wants Maureen’s insight. Maureen’s experience buying accessories for a Boston department store proves as useful as tips from the local ghosts in solving the crime. I look forward to future mysteries set in Haven. Readalikes include the Lucky Lexie mystery novellas by Shanna Swendson.

Brenda