Haunted Homicide

August 1, 2020
Her new role running an old-fashioned lady's club puts a woman in touch with two niche domains: the spirit world and the world of old money. Avery Morgan may be passing up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to manage her Aunt Rosemary's retreat center in Lily Dale, New York, but she's never been into all that woo-woo, communing-with-the-dead stuff that Rosemary's new business is all about, even though Rosemary insists Avery has a natural gift for it. Instead, Avery's leaving home for a position managing the faltering Portage Path Women's Club in Ohio, living in the gorgeous mansion that houses the club and working to return it to its glory days. On arriving at her new home, Avery is "welcomed" by club president Muriel Sadler--a formidable grand dame who's the only board member who voted against her appointment. Avery's sure she can win Muriel over even though the other women on the board clearly gave up trying to influence her years ago. Ness limns Muriel's dreadful qualities so efficiently that Avery's considerably more shocked by her murder than most readers will be. Avery's certain that none of the other women would do Muriel harm, but she wonders whether the mysterious girl in 1920s garb she saw in the mansion's basement might know more. Unfortunately, Avery's the only person who can see the girl. The board insists that Avery look into the circumstances of Muriel's death, which are more entertaining than murder has a right to be because Avery gets to know Sgt. Oscar Alterman while navigating the world of the too-rich, who have some surprises of their own. A series debut with fun and flair.

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