Murder on the House

Starred review from December 1, 2012

Building contractor Mel (short for Melanie) Turner's construction firm is known for quality work on historic San Francisco homes, but she's also developing a reputation for being the up-and-coming ghost buster for the region as well. Part of the bidding process for a renovation on a sprawling home situated in the colorful Castro district requires Mel and the competing firm's representative to spend the night--just so they can experience the ghostly environment. The ghosts definitely distract them, and tragically, at the same time, someone kills the elderly owner in the garden. Now, everything is upended with a very real murder case, abundant suspects, and an unresolved history that only Mel can rectify. Clearly, though, the killer isn't done, and Mel is getting in the way. VERDICT Blackwell's third entry in this series (after Dead Bolt) is a charming cozy. This top-notch light paranormal successfully mixes San Francisco history with a tremendously appealing ghost buster at the helm.

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