Since Alison Kerby's guesthouse on the Jersey Shore already had a reputation as being haunted, she decided to capitalize on it. She booked a tour group that promised guests a "unique" vacation, the chance to stay in a house inhabited by ghosts. Alison even had an agreement with Paul and Maxie, the resident ghosts, so they "appeared" at certain times of day. In return, though, Alison agreed to get her private detective's license, so she and Paul could investigate crimes. It was just a shame that the first case Paul brought her happened at her busiest time. The first tour group was there, and the director of a popular reality show booked the rest of the guest house. But, Paul's case brought nothing but trouble.
It seemed simple. Another ghost, Scott, was afraid he had killed a woman he was only supposed to scare. It didn't take long for Alison to find her alive and well. First ghostly investigation successful, right? When the woman showed up at Alison's to participate in a séance, she ended up dead. And, it ticked Alison off. "It happened in my house, under my roof, to a guest I invited." Alison teams up with Paul and Maxie, as well as her daughter, Melissa, because Detective Anita McElone won't have anything to do with a case in which ghosts are involved.
The second book in this series, An Uninvited Ghost, is a triumph. Suspend your disbelief even more than usual. You have to accept that Alison Kerby can see and communicate with ghosts. All of the main characters in Copperman's latest mystery are well-developed, even the ghosts. Accept the fact that a protective mother, who didn't want to get involved in a dangerous case, would realize someone had involved her by killing a guest. The humor is delightful, particularly the reference to a guest reading Some Like It Hot-Buttered, a mystery written by Copperman under his actual name, Jeffrey Cohen. If you like ghost stories mixed with your mystery, try this Jersey Shore mystery, An Uninvited Ghost.
E.J. Copperman's website is www.ejcopperman.com
An Uninvited Ghost by E.J. Copperman. Berkley Prime Crime. ©2011. ISBN 9780425240588 (paperback), 304p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of the book, in hopes I would review it.
