Ghost a la Mode

July 15, 2009
The creator of plus-sized paralegal Odelia Grey (Booby Trap, 2008, etc.) launches a new series featuring a California clairvoyant.

Emma Whitecastle sees dead people. Her first ghost is her recently deceased Aunt Kitty, who shows up while Emma's still recovering from seeing her self-involved ex Grant, soon-to-be trophy wife and adorable new baby in tow, at her daughter Kelly's graduation party. But Kitty's just an appetizer. The main course is Emma's several-times-great-grandmother Ish Reynolds, who really should be dessert, since she was known in her day as Granny Apples for her fabulous pies. Despite her oldster nickname, Ish died in her early 40s when she was lynched for the murder of her husband Jacob. Now the feisty phantom wants Emma to clear the family name by finding out who really killed Jacob. Since Emma has been camping at her parents' house while she waits for Grant to offer a settlement she can live with, she's only too willing to drive out to the Reynolds' former homestead in Julian, now a quaint tourist destination east of San Diego. In popular room ten of the Julian Hotel, she meets resident ghost Albert Robinson, who gives her a quick tutorial in local history, and Billy Winslow, whose spirit doesn't want to leave his burial site. But it's the live folks, especially charming, irascible Phil Bowers, current owner of the old Reynolds property, who provide the greatest challenge and the most promise.

A half-baked franchise debut most likely to appeal to paranormal-mystery buffs.

(COPYRIGHT (2009) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2009
Jaffarians new Granny Apples series offers a refreshing change of pace from her Odelia Grey novels. Both series take place in contemporary California, but similarities pretty much end there. The Grey books focus on a sharp, plump paralegal, while the new series concerns newly divorced mom Emma Whitecastle and her unconventional sidekick, Ish Reynolds. Ish (Granny Apples) is Emmas great-great-great-grandmotheractually a ghostwhom clairvoyant Emma is able to see and hear. In the series debut, the team has to prove that Granny did not murder her husband back in the waning days of the California gold rush. Granny was framed and then murdered herself, and she has been trying to get one of her descendants to help prove her innocence ever since. Ghostly puzzles are one of the trendy new themes in cozy mysteries, and this is a good one. The generous helping of history will also appeal to lovers of historical cozies. Adding to the appeal factors are the intriguing cast of family characters and the possibility of romance. A fun new series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)