Cover Image: Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork

Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Another fun read in this series. I enjoyed reading about our quirky protagonist and her little chihuahua. The mystery is well crafted with plenty of twists and turns. The story has just the right amount of humor to drama mixture and paranormal to realism. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Was this review helpful?

I don’t enjoy giving a bad review for a series or an author. In this case, even more so than usual but… Rose Pressey is a good writer, I have never doubted this, but there are certain issues in cozy books, really any fiction book, that I find difficult to get past or enjoy. Unfortunately, Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork has them all. The paranormal aspects of this series started as creative and original. I was never certain it was sustainable due to how hard it would be to change the central theme. The main character, Celeste, isn’t exactly a model heroine, and it’s hard to like her. But I wanted to give the series the benefit of the doubt. I am sad to say that I am disappointed.

I know it is hard to develop a new plot when dealing with paranormal subjects of this nature. Painting a portrait and having the ghost appear and start talking to you, and keep the story fresh and exciting would be no easy feat. However, I hadn’t counted on this series becoming so formulaic. It’s as if all the author is doing is changing the ghost’s name, maybe the sex as well, and the location. Other than this, it’s the same exact story over and over. But at least with the first two books, all the questions brought up were answered by the end, and the reader could smile and not feel as if they wasted their time. I can’t say that with this third installment. Not only did we never find out why the ghost appeared other than he needed to, but we also didn’t find out how he died or anything else about his background. In the end, we were left with more questions than answers. I am also not a fan of love triangles. I understand they have a place in a story, but they are usually resolved by the second book. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like this will happen even in the fourth book unless something drastic occurs.

The killer was predictable and easy to recognize. The motive just as easy to figure out, and most of the suspects, there weren’t that many to pick from, really weren’t viable. Only one suspect honestly had the opportunity to commit the crime if the evidence presented was followed to its logical conclusion. Not to mention that there truly was no police investigation worth noting. The ghost was somewhat entertaining as he followed the main character around and learned about all the innovations that hadn’t been around when he was alive, such as cell phones. This installment seemed to miss most of the paranormal aspects that made it enjoyable in the beginning. I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork; I found it tedious, the characters dull and predictable, and the plot tired. All of this aside, I still have hope that the author will surprise me with this series and give me something to smile about again.

Was this review helpful?

Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork by Rose Pressey
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: December 29, 2020

Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork is the third book in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series by Rose Pressey. I had not read the previous books in the series, but that did not prevent me from being able to quickly jump into the book and get swept away by the story!

This was a cute paranormal cozy mystery about an artist who can see ghosts and her paintings give her clues about the murder she is trying to solve, along with her two policemen 'friends' (wink wink).

This book had a great pace and was easy to read. The sleuthing was fun and kept me guessing on the whodunit & how/why.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to paranormal cozy mystery and cozy mystery fans alike! I look forward to reading the other books in the series, as well as other books by the author!

I'm so grateful to Rose Pressey, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork by Rose Pressey is the 3rd book in the Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries, and another fun addition. Celeste Cabot is an artist in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Celeste recently remodeled a Shasta Trailer for her and her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, so can travel to craft fairs and sell her paintings. Unfortunately after arriving at the craft fair in Asheville, North Carolina, at the site of the Vanderbilts mansion, Celeste finds a women murdered in the mansion. Celeste also has psychic abilities in her paintings, and brings a ghost to her. I loved this series, and I can't wait for the next book in the series. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. If you love cozy mysteries with a little paranormal, I strongly recommend this book/series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

2020 has been the year for the Biltmore House in Asheville to make its appearance in cozy mysteries. Celeste discovers a body of one of the estate employees when she attends a craft fair on the grounds of the estste. Her art work provides some of the clues that help her solve the crime along with help of the ghost of a former estate resident. Celeste needs to learn to send the ghost in to do some investigating while she stays a safe distance the suspect. She puts herself in danger too much.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third book in a series by Rose Pressey about artist Celeste Cabot who has special physic powers and travels to craft fairs to promote her work. In this instalment, she goes to Asheville, North Carolina, the venue being a magnificent mansion. Arriving with her pink and white trailer and Chihuahua, Van Gogh (Van for short) she decides to take a tour through the mansion and is shocked when one of the tour guides is found dead, having been strangled with a rope barrier.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork and found it very absorbing. Although I haven't yet read the other two books from Rose Pressey's Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series this did not tarnish my appreciation for Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork as it was easy to read. I thought protagonist Celeste was a great character as she was personable, smart and independent, although a little prone to impulsiveness.

The mystery itself included enough twists and variety to keep me guessing and turning the pages. A good bunch of people surrounded Celeste, and I especially liked her hoot of a Granny. This is a great, very high quality, fun read, and I intend to catch up with the other books in this pleasurable and amusing series. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Celeste. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I have been on a cozy paranormal mystery kick lately because who couldn’t use a good laugh right now? Besides, I really like them. I pick this one up because it sounded good, and I dived in, and to be honest, I’ve never read a book by this author even the ones before this one. Right away, I liked the main character Celeste, but the more I read, the more I wanted to yell at her. She was a little too ditzy at times, and she seemed to make the silliest moves with one being why didn’t she have her ghost help her by scouting out because he couldn’t be seen. This happened more than once. I liked my MCs a little less…helpless. However, this still was a cute and fun book, and I did enjoy it. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 3rd installment in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series. Celeste Cabot and her family are at the Biltmore where she is in the craft show when her lively brothers go in a restricted area and they are kicked out. When Celeste goes to her trailer she finds she has lost her keys and she goes back to the mansion to see if she lost them there. While there she is almost trampled by people running away and she goes to see what the issue is and she finds a dead body. Security guards immediately cuff her but she tells them she was just checking to see if the woman was ok and she mentions Pierce and Caleb who are police officers back home and they can vouch for her. Fortunately, one of the police knows Pierce and she is uncuffed and her statement taken. She immediately wants to investigate to clear her name and find out who did this. Celeste goes back to her pink Shasta trailer with her Pink F-100 and begins to paint as she paints someone who later appears to her as a ghost. Celeste paints hidden items in her paintings as well and they are clues to the murder. Pierce and Caleb warn her off investigating and so does her family as they are still in town staying in a hotel. The ghost appears to look like William Vanderbilt who built the mansion and tags along as Celeste investigates. Pierce also begins to help her and thus continues the love triangle between them all. Her Grandmother and family are a hoot. Celeste is likeable although she does take some chances that seem out there without getting any assistance from anyone. Hopefully the love triangle can get resolved soon as I really don’t like those in a story. Enjoy the paranormal aspect and it is a quick read.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 4th release in the cozy series "Haunted Craft Fair Mystery" by cozy author Rose Pressey. I love this delightful series and thank the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Our favorite psychic painter Celeste has arrived at the prestigious Biltmore estate to sell her art at a well known craft fair. When a tour guide for the estate is murdered Celeste joins up with a helpful ghost and the police to find the rightful suspect.

I love Celeste and her psychic ability. She is a smart savvy independent protagnist that is a talented artist. This is a fun paranormal series. The supporting charcters are likable and the sleuth is always enjoyable and well matched to the series. I look forward to the next in series.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun, quirky cozy series and is best read in order. Celeste is a painter who travels to various craft/art fairs in her pink and white Shasta trailer accompanied by her Chihuahua, Van (Gogh). She is also visited by ghosts who appear in her paintings and tied to the mystery she gets involved in at each fair. This time the whole family is on stage and are they a handful. The setting is the Fifth Annual Biltmore estate Craft Fair in Asheville, North Carolina. It should be a wonderful event given the magnificent location but it isn't very long before Celeste finds herself trying to track down a killer and another ghost has to be dealt with...along with her family.
The mystery was solid and had enough twists and turns to keep me reading past my bedtime. I wasn't disappointed and I'm holding a spot on my TBR list for the next in the series. My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Celeste is a likable character but with each book she becomes more impulsive. There is no real reason for Celeste to investigate the death at Biltmore other than she can’t help getting involved.
Celeste kind of goes off the deep end and things don’t become recognizable until about 1/2 to 2/3 into the book.
Celeste makes assumptions about the ghost that comes along and creates confusion for most the book. Even the ghost knows that the way Celeste is acting is unsafe and not wise.
Pierce goes kind of contrary to character and says he will work with Celeste.
Caleb is a side note. Celeste’s family is more annoying than usual. The police are almost completely absent from the storyline. That bothers me just a bit.
The mystery itself is interesting and if there wasn’t so much zany and unsafe behavior going on this book would have really shone. As it was I liked the ending but was disappointed in the execution.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book, which went beyond the quirky mystery genre right into the completely weird mystery genre. The characters were really engaging and the method of murder - strangled with the entry rope - was an example of creative descriptors which made this book different.

Was this review helpful?

Celeste, Van the Chi, and unfortunately, her whole family, are at the Biltmore mansion so that Celeste can take part in a craft fair. Given her history, it's not a surprise when a tour guide is murdered and a painting stolen. There's a paranormal element in this series (it doesn't get too woohoo)- Celeste paints ghosts who help her solve crime. In this case, the man she paints claims to be Mr. Rockefeller. There's as much about Celeste's family (and her love interests Caleb and Pierce) as there is about the mystery this time. I find her family a tad irritating but I very much like Celeste and Van. It's not a classic cozy since she travels to different craft fairs but it's entirely accessible as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

Was this review helpful?

Rose Pressey writes fun and fast reads. I enjoy these books about Celeste and her dog Van are different from the usual cozy protagonist. I love that there are a supernatural twist and because Celeste travels to art fairs in her camper the locations and victims change. What is needed to end the love triangle which is starting to dampen my enjoyment of the books. I loved the changed of locale and the ghost this time around! I cannot wait to read the 4th book!

Was this review helpful?

"Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork" the 3rd instalment in the "Haunted Craft Fair" Mystery series by Rose Pressey. I am a huge fan of Rose Pressey and her newest series. It can be read as a standalone but I think it should be read in order.

The protagonist Celeste is a likable, fun main character, with quirky supporting characters her family, her BFF Saddie and her faithful companion Van the Chihuahua.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep you engrossed till the end. The love triangle sounds like it might be coming to an end in the next book which would be nice.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Having read and mildly enjoys the preceding novel, Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece, I was intrigued to see what Rose Pressey brought to this sequel. I read quite a fee cozy mystery series and stand-alones, and can handle quite a few wacky twists as a reader. But, Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork really takes the case. Just like it’s predecessor, this book is struggle to accomplish too many goals, falling short of all of them. While the book is enjoyable, light reading, it ends up feeling jumbled and confused by the 65% mark.

Was this review helpful?

I am enjoying the series. I like the mysteries and the characters. The craft fair setting spreads out the dead body's so there isn't a high death rate in a small town, which is nice. We get a bit more of Celeste's family and I like the clues in the paintings.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest reveiw.

Was this review helpful?

Celeste Cabot is back and painting more pictures with hidden images. This time attending a craft fair at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. While touring the estate, Celeste finds one of the tour guides murdered. While investigating what happened and who did the murder, Celeste meets the ghost of the handsome man in her new painting who she believes was once the owner of the estate. With his help, and the help of her Chihuahua, Van, can she find the killer before he or she finds Celeste.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoy the premise of this book, but there was not enough of the painting / ghost aspect for my liking and I really find the protagonist irritating.

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute series. I felt that things were rushed in this book. A dead body right away and the usual go round with all the characters.

Was this review helpful?