I had no idea what was happening with this book. It was wild, bonkers, and the ninth in a series. Dear publisher, if you do read this, can I recommend you announce that to save readers time.

The Hostess with the Ghostess, the ninth book in the Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries series by E. J. Copperman, is rife with intrigue, tension, and a plethora of moving parts in its characters who are intertwined in the murder mystery that Alison and her friends and family, ghost and non-ghost alike, work to solve two murders which were complex and at times baffling to the investigatory group.

With the author’s trademark wry wit, rapid-fire banter, and the hilarity of Alison’s internal monologue, the story entertains while at the same time engaging the reader’s mind in the complexities of the multilayered mystery.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

This is one of those series where I jumped in at book #9. Many times this is not a problem, but this one was harder to follow than others. Once I was about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way in, I was comfortable with the story and able to enjoy it. Alison Kerby owns and operates the Haunted Guesthouse. Resident ghost Paul Harrison ends up working with Alison to solve the murder of his recently deceased brother Richard. While trying to find out what happened to him, they also end up investigating a case about a woman accused of murdering her stepfather that Richard was working on when he was killed.

This series mixes humor with mystery. There is a paranormal aspect, but that is part of the fun. This was a well written story that moved along at a nice pace, smoothly blending humor and mystery. This book has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested, and guessing who did it. I like Alison's character. She is smart and I love how she works with the spirits to solve the mysteries. One thing I like is that she also has a life with her guesthouse and that is also an important part of the story. The author blends both her personal life and her sleuthing together well. This was a well plotted story that I enjoyed once I felt comfortable with the past. This is a series that I would recommend you read in order.

I love this series. Who would love to have ghost living in your home that you could interact with and make life more interesting. E.J. Copperman writes a wonderful series and gets the characters both dead and alive just right. From the Innkeeper and her 13 year old daughter to the ghosts in residence (Paul and Maxie) and all those they encounter this series is a great one to get carried away in. This is a particularly interesting mystery.

Though this is not the first book in this series, I wanted to read it because I've read another of this author's series and found it delightful. I will definitely be going back and reading the others in this series now as well. Honestly, this was one of the best books I've read recently. Though there were plenty of ghosts and things that go bump in the night, it was not scary at all and definitely fits within the cozy genre, which is my favorite.

Not only that, this book is also chock full of humor, which I find a huge plus to any book but especially in this genre as I don't see it as often as I'd like. There were parts that literally had me laughing out loud! One such example is the concept that even a ghost dog could aggravate your allergies.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and I can't wait to read the rest of the series! This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I'd highly recommend this book!

Copperman always does an excellent job with the Haunted Guesthouse series, and this is no exception. Paul, one of the guesthouse's ghosts, has vanished for months, and now a new ghost - his brother - has showed up, looking for help solving his own murder. Alison must do the investigating on her own as she delves into how a legal case may have led to murder.

E.J. Copperman writes a mystery that not only will keep you turning the pages until the conclusion, but also makes you laugh out loud! Alison, the innkeeper of the Haunted Guesthouse, can see and communicate with ghosts. Her inn is haunted and the guests that stay there see a "spook show" twice a day during their visit. In the meantime, Alison is busy helping Paul, a ghost that was a private investigator before he died, solve mysteries. This book has several new ghosts and characters that are involved with the current mystery to be solved. There are many suspects that will keep you guessing about who the killer is and why they did it. This book can be read as a stand alone for people that are just discovering this series, as the characters are thoroughly explained so you won't feel like you are missing part of the story. I look forward to catching up on other books in this series that I haven't read yet!

I would like to thank E.J. Copperman and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book. This did not influence my review in any way.

Alison is a ghost whisperer and guest house owner whose life is finally calm (or as calm as it can be), that is until recently deceased lawyer Richard Harrison shows up. He wants Alison to help him find his brother, Paul. He needs both Paul and Alison's help to find both his killer and the true killer of Keith Barent Johnson. His client was arrested for the murder of Keith Barent Johnson and he wants to prove her innocence. This book was a quick and good read. I do recommend reading the other books in the series because you are a little lost if you don't. Otherwise, I recommend giving it a try.

I have to start by saying that I am entirely biased about this series - it's one of my favourites and I've read every book in the series since the first installment. Alison is terrific; she makes no apologies for who she is and has grown into her roles as (reluctant) PI, ghost communicator and guest house operator.

In this one, she takes on the investigation for Paul's brother, Richard, a lawyer who was murdered whilst he was investigating the murder of someone else. Things get a bit more complicated when he reveals that he was in love with one of the main suspects and refuses to consider the possibility that the suspect could be anything but innocent. Not helping matters is the fact that Paul, her trusty, ghostly PI-in residence, has taken himself off to travel and she has no idea where he is or how to get in touch with him.

Along with this investigation is the request from one of her guests, an 80-year old called Abby, to find out whether a gentleman the same senior's tour as Abby, is interested in Abby.

There were a lot of characters involved in this particular book which is why I only gave it 4 stars - it got a bit tricky to follow at times, but was ultimately satisfying in the end. There's humour, excellent dialogue, a nicely paced and complex plot, and the writing is terrific. This is a strong series and I hope it continues!

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Alison Kerby runs an unusual guest house. Not only is it haunted but thanks to a bump on the head, Alison can see and communicate with the ghosts. It is a good deal as she can set up “experiences” for her guests to share but it can be stressful especially when the brother of one her ghosts shows up- in ghost form.
It seems he was involved in a big murder trial where he thought the accused was innocent. It might have gotten him killed. There is still some suspicion that the accused did kill her step-father but there are lots of other candidates for murderer. It is up to Alison and her special crew to uncover who really “did it”.
There is a lot of humour and chuckles in the book. There are lots of clues that lead to dead ends, no pun intended. It holds the suspense to the end making it an enjoyable read.
I give it four purrs and two paws up

I don't know how this paranormal series has escaped my attention . This is book 9 in the Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Series and I now have 8 more books on my TBR stack. E.J. Copperman pens several series and is a good cozy author. This book is easily a standalone read, explaining the ghosts and human characters backgrounds so you know what's going on. I like the fact that Allison runs the B&B as a haunted stop on senior tours. I also like the the interaction with her husband Josh who can't see or hear the ghosts living with them.

E J Cooperman continues her Haunted Guesthouse series with Hostess with the Ghostess. Ghost whisperer Alison Kerby sees and talks to ghosts including a dead private detective Paul who has left the guesthouse to explore the world. Then his murdered brother turns up and Alison tries to resolve who murdered him and whether his late client killed her step father. Enough red herrings to keep the reader following corkscrew turns in the case. Whodunit? The widow? The step daughter? Someone else. Can the ghosts and Alison solve the case?

THE HOSTESS WITH THE GHOSTESS is the ninth book in E.J. Copperman's Haunted Guesthouse cozy mystery series. Like with the previous Haunted Guesthouse mystery, "family" is a major theme in THE HOSTESS WITH THE GHOSTESS. Innkeeper Alison Kerby has two ghostly Harrison brothers to deal with when her friend Paul returns from his recent travels and his brother Richard shows up to beg a favor. Having his brother around lets readers see another side to Paul, and I like the new dynamic of having Paul able to accompany Alison on her sleuthing.

One of the things that makes THE HOSTESS WITH THE GHOSTESS such a treat for mystery fans is that there are several different mysteries in this book for readers to puzzle out. For Alison, figuring out who killed Richard is high on her priority list. Ironically, his is not the murder that Richard wants Alison to concentrate on solving. While he was alive, Richard was a little sweet on his client Cassidy Van Doren. Richard wants Alison and her crew to prove Cassidy's innocence. The problem with that is that Richard is the only one who is absolutely certain that Cassidy is not a murderess. With all the morally ambiguous characters, blatant lies, evasions, and half-truths, Alison has a hard time trying to decipher the truth and pinpoint the culprit. Disguises and false alibis leave the reader and the main characters with the difficult task of trying to connect any possible financial crimes to motives for murders.

THE HOSTESS WITH THE GHOSTESS is like a Perry Mason tale of legal intrigues and murder but with a paranormal twist. The humor in THE HOSTESS WITH THE GHOSTESS acts as a nice counterpoint to some of the grisly murders. The small story involving a possible romance between two of Alison's guests is cute and provides an amusing respite from murder. I'm excited to see what is next in store for Alison & her ghost crew in the next Haunted Guesthouse mystery.

The Hostess with the Ghostess by EJ Copperman is the ninth book in the Haunted Guesthouse Mystery series. I had not read any of the previous books which might be the source of my problem. I simply could not become invested in the book. I stopped and started this book several times before making myself finish it. The idea that ghosts were made to perform on command was a bit silly. Even worse was the fact that the guests accepted these perfectly scheduled hauntings. The story seemed to go round and round in circles without getting anywhere until close to the end. This book was simply not for me.

“The Hostess with the Ghostess” earns 5/5 Spooky Scenarios…Murderously Fun!

Ok, are you a newbie like me? Yes? Well, don't shy away from this ninth book even though it is well into E.J. Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse series. A few pages in enough background and character connections are revisited to effectively set up the story. Four years ago, Alison Kerby and her daughter Melissa returned to Harbor Haven, New Jersey, for a fresh post-divorce start. During renovations of the Victorian she hoped to turn into a guesthouse, Alison suffered a blow to the head that sent her life into an unexpected direction…she can see and hear ghosts, a skill she discovers is typical for the women in her family. We continue with an agreement struck between Alison and her first two ghosts, Paul Harrison and Maxie Malone. In exchange for helping to popularize her inn with a “haunting” experience for her guests, Alison agreed to become a licensed private investigator and set about uncovering details behind these two and other’s untimely demise. I love the premise and the quirky personalities of all the characters, and I am somewhat finicky about the paranormal in my cozies—no juvenile hocus-pocus for me. Copperman has spent several books developing a fascinating relationship between Alison and her more non-corporeal friends, clever banter and description, endearing dynamics between family and friends, and clever mysteries…it all works very well.

In “The Hostess with the Ghostess,” Richard Harrison, brother of the gone AWOL resident ghost Paul, unexpectedly appears…yes, a recent murder victim! Alison has difficulty finding Paul to help uncover what happened to his brother. I mean how do you go about tracking down a wayward ghost? But, she does discover that Richard, a criminal defense attorney, may have gotten too close, murderously close, as he looked into details surrounding his client Cassidy Van Doren, a young woman accused of murdering her stepfather. Now, he needs Alison and her ghostly sidekicks to help find out what happened to him as well as saving the young woman. Totally engaging! Well developed characters! Witty humor! Nail biting! Delightful fun! You'll be inspired and eager to read more from the series…

I just love this funny, paranormal cozy mystery series! In this latest book, Alison Kerby is finally getting some peace following the disappearance of her resident spirit, Paul Harrison. But just as she thinks she has the guesthouse to herself sans spirit, Paul's brother Richard shows up searching for his brother. The only problem is that Richard has been murdered....he's dead. He wants his brother's help to solve not only his murder, but also the case he was working on when he was killed. Alison starts looking for Paul...and also checking into the case that got Richard killed. If she's not careful, she might be the next one to die!

This series mixes humor with mystery in such a great way! There are very few books that can make me laugh out loud, but this series always manages to do it. Always a delightful read! This one moved along at a nice pace, smoothly blending humor and mystery. Alison should have known she would never have a life without a ghost hanging about!

The cover art is great, as usual!

I have enjoyed each book in this series and look forward to the next one!

**I read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The Hostess with the Ghostess by E.J. Copperman is a great, quick read for those who like both cozy mysteries and the paranormal. I went into this book having not read the rest of the series, and while I could figure things out and get the jist of the who's who, I definitely recommend starting with book 1 if this series appeals to you.

Thank you to E.J. Copperman, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have been following this series since it began but this ninth installment in the series fell a little flat. All the usual characters that I have come to know so well and love were all in attendance. The location was as nice as always and there was a murder to be solved that revolved around ghosts. However something was off and I found myself forcing myself to keep reading instead of my usual "can't believe it's over already" speed read.

Things back over the story I have to admit I didn't really find the mystery very compelling this time around. Despite the nice tie-in with Paul it was an overly complicated plot involving so many people who I didn't care one bit about. It was hard to follow and sometimes just didn't make sense. Weak and boring which is really not what I have come to expect from this series.

Also the connection with the guests felt very distant this time around and when they were involved it was very forced and off hand. Usually Alison takes care of her guests and spends we get to know them well. However this time they felt almost forgotten.

Oh and poor Josh! I am so happy that Alison got married but how any man would put up with all that ghost stuff and not walk out is beyond me. I admire him putting up with it but it already feels very unrealistic and I wonder if he will stick around. The relationship also played second fiddle...not wait fourth or even fifth fiddle to everything else. I felt very sorry for him and hope the author deals with this better next time.

I think the main problem is that as the series has evolved the author has thrown way too much into the mix and now she has to try and fit it all in and quite honestly isn't succeeding. You have the Guesthouse with its guests and the hauntings. Then you have her daughter and husband of which only one can see the ghosts. There are now three ghosts in permanent residence with there own quirks and needs. Then Alison's mother and father...with the father being another ghost. Also the detective business, best friends, police officer and definitely more I have forgotten about. A lot of plates to keep spinning and way too much for a murder mystery that isn't even close by.

I love the series and the premise but I really hope that things go back to simpler ways. I fear this one is getting to complicated and trying to over achieve. I look forward to seeing what happens next but my next visit to the guesthouse may just be my last.

The Haunted guesthouse series is back and this next in series is a exciting sleuth. Allisons enjoyment of quiet time at the haunted guesthouse is soon over when a new ghost moves in. Soon she is trying to solve two murders and balances work, ghosts and suspects. The two murders intersect at times making this a fun sleuth for the reader.
This is a charming paranormal series with great characters. I like how the author gives the ghost each fun personality traits and emotion. It's is always fun to revisit this series.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.