It took me a while to get into this one, not because the story wasn’t well written and captivating but because I was exhausted from two days of non-stop driving. Last night, after reading only up to 20% of the book over two nights, I finally had a chance to really commit to reading and I could not put this book down. The story was interesting, and it kept me reading until the very end. I’ve always been a fan of ghost stories where the character helps people cross over and this one had some very touching vignettes. The main character was easy to relate to and I enjoyed her banter with one of her coworkers. The town sounds quaint, and I can’t wait to visit again.

A Killer Welcome is the first book in Haunting Avery Winters Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series (that is a mouthful). We are introduced to a number of people including Avery Winters. Avery is in denial about what she can see since she was struck by lightning which I found frustrating. With the story in the first person, readers are subjected to all of Avery’s thoughts (which are frequently on the negative side). There is a great deal of repetition as well. The mystery is not at the forefront of the story for the first half of the book. I wanted more investigation and less of Avery’s day to day activities (especially with regard to food). The whodunit can be solved before the reveal. I had trouble getting through A Killer Welcome. I wanted to like the story, but it really is not my type of tale. While A Killer Welcome is not my cup of tea, other readers are enjoying it (that is the beauty of books). I suggest obtaining a sample to see if A Killer Welcome is the right fit for you. A Killer Welcome is a lighthearted paranormal cozy mystery with gads of ghosts, jealous journalists, a surly landlady, a rude receptionist, a useful constable, and a confusing crime.

I really enjoyed this book and would love to read more of this series, or any book by this author. Fun mystery, with some touching parts at the end that make this story a truly wonderful read.

This was definitely a different type of cozy than I normally read but I really enjoyed the book.

Avery has moved from Australia to England to a small town to escape a broken relationship. She was also struck by lightning which has revealed a new talent, the ability to speak to ghosts. This can be a good and a bad thing and reminds me a lot of the show, The Ghost Whisperer.

Things don't go so well for Avery when she arrives at her new home and finds a dead body on the floor. However, this turns out to be a really good thing because she meets new people and of course has to solve the murder, write newspaper articles that feature the town residents, and maybe even help a few ghosts along the way.

I thought this had a few different twists and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was and why. I think I solved the who right before it was revealed, but I wasn't 100% sure on the why. There are a few clues and it all makes sense in the end.

I think this is going to be a fun new series and I can't wait to see what happens next and if Avery finds a new love interest because there are hints of one in this book.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Independently Published and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Creative new series, enjoyable characters. This new cozy mystery series stands out from the others.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and BooksBuzz.net (independently published), in return for an honest review. This is the first book in a new cozy series and it’s a wonderful start! Australian journalist Avery Winters was your average person, with boyfriend, job, and a set of not particularly supportive parents. Her life is dramatically changed when she’s struck by lightning, survives but now can see & hear ghosts. Or can she? Her parents and (former) boyfriend think she’s mentally unstable. Her boss puts her on long-term sick leave. She’s still seeing & hearing these hallucinations. What’s a woman to do?
In Avery’s case, she makes a clean break from her home and those pesky delusions by accepting a sight unseen journalism job at a small town in England. While the transatlantic trip to her new town was miserably long, it was finding the dead body in her rental flat that really made the move a challenge! While she first wants to ask her curmudgeonly landlady if the body on the floor is real or not, discretion is the better part of valor. Meeting her new boss and fellow reporters adds to her list of stress events and, somehow, figuring out the ghosts seems much easier.
This was such an interesting and fun take on the cozy mystery. Avery has very human issues and responses. Her job allows her to sleuth in a realistic way. All the supporting characters are well written and clearly defined in the story. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for cartoonish covers, ghosts and murder mysteries. When those three are put together then I’m basically sold and would read anything by any unknown author out there. Dionne Lister was pretty unknown name for me although in a bit of a scrutiny her other book series is actually a bit familiar and it would seem that I even own an e-copy of the first book in my Kindle library. Oops…but I do have a massive TBR list, so it makes sense….😅
I absolutely loved this cozy mystery. It had a nice pace and a main character you can care for. I especially liked that Avery was an anxious person and an over-thinker - something I can relate to - and yet she overcame her shortcomings and did a pretty great job as a journalist. I also liked that although many of the male characters were considered quite the hunks, she wasn’t affected too much by it and could keep a straight thinking. I sensed a potential slow-burner on the way and I am pleased, slow-burners have always been more to my taste!😃
Some of the characters could use some deeper introduction (Carina, Bailey, Finnegan etc) but we’ll probably going to have loads of chance for that in the future books, so it’s ok!😉
Overall, a great cozy mystery and I’ll move Paranormal Investigation Bureau higher on my TBR list!😊

Excellent! I loved this book. I read about 10 cozy mystery books a month and this one really stands above so many others! I almost didn't pick this book to read because the cover didn't look as "cozy" as others in the genre usually do. I'm SO glad I picked it to read. I just love the main character, Avery. The supporting characters are great as well. The banter between several of the supporting characters and Avery is fabulous. The book is heartwarming, but not overly touching (I only teared up once, at the end, regarding Craig/Patrick). I usually don't say this about books I read/review (though I hear others say it often), but I really hated for it to end.

Unlike many other cozy mystery series, I didn't find "holes" throughout the story. I don't set out to find "holes" but while reading many of the other cozy mystery series I unfortunately find them in the story along the way (ex. plot mistakes, or unrealistic), which is a real distraction. It was so refreshing to not constantly find these types of issues (I'm not talking grammar, spelling). Sometimes it seems, with other series, that the authors are rushing to push books out too fast that they don't have enough (or the right) people review them for inconsistencies, etc. Not the case with this book.

The writing style is nice, I breezed through it without any hangups. The mystery was challenging and also meaningful. I was a little leery about the "ghost" aspect (I don't read a lot with that angle), but it was perfectly blended in with typical day-to-day stuff, and Avery is someone you definitely root for! I can't wait to read the next in the series. I'm also going to check out the other cozy series by this author. I'm so happy to have found her.

AKWelcome by D. Lister is book one in the HAvery Winters Paranormal Cosy Mystery Series.
Avery Winters, a journalist, traveled from Australia to the UK. She seems rather high maintenance, but maybe is there a reason.
When lightning strikes and nothing is anymore as it was, her life changed in a big way.
It took me a minute to get into the book and connect with the character, but it was worth giving this book a try. It turns in a witty and fun read, well written with great storyline and characters.

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with an interesting premise and a likable heroine.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review