Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher can see and communicate with ghosts. This is the perfect skill to have since she hosts haunted tours in her native New Orleans’s Garden District. Lately, Lou has been having issues with rival tour guide Adam Brandt. Adam has accused her of faking ghostly encounters and stealing away his customers. When Adam is murdered, Lou jumps to the top of the police’s suspect list not only because of her recent issues with the victim, but because she’s the person who found the body b=not long after Adam was murdered. The murder weapon also came from her gift shop. Hoping to clear her name—and help Adam’s ghost find some peace with his new existence—Lou conducts an amateur investigation into the murder.

The mystery aspect of HAUNTING AND HOMCIDE was intriguing. A ghostly tour guide who can interact with ghosts was entertaining—though I personally thought Lou’s interactions with the ghosts were a little over the top and ridiculous at times. The identity of the murderer was a bit of a surprise since that character made few appearances in the novel and never really seemed like much of a suspect. Overall, a fast and fun read for anyone who enjoys the paranormal or New Orleans.

Lou Thatcher was one of many who ran ghost tours in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lou's gift was that she could see ghosts, as well as converse with them, so her tours were always interesting. One of her rival tour leaders was harassing Lou, declaring all she did was fake. Lou's and Adam's rivalry had gone on a long time, and she was fed up with him. But she certainly didn't expect him to end up dead, knifed in the back, and for Lou to actually fall over his body. Immediately Lou was a suspect - she found his body, and one of her shop's souvenir knives was what had killed him. Lou needed to prove her innocence by finding the killer.

Lou lived with her Nan after the horror that was her mother and step-father, drove her out. She was more than happy with her Nan, and her little shop was in the house grounds. Just after Adam's murder, she found her sixteen year old brother, Bryce, hiding in the garden; it turned out he'd run away from home because of bullying that was out of control at school, and his father only told him to "man up"!! What a jerk! Searching for a killer was made a little easier for Lou by being able to talk to ghosts, but she still ended up putting herself in grave danger. Would she find the killer before it was too late?

Haunting and Homicide is the 1st in A Ghost Tour Mystery series by Ava Burke (Amber Camp of the Horse Mystery series) and I enjoyed it very much! A paranormal cozy mystery, with an intriguing and different type of plot, it was cleverly done. Fun characters - Mamie was great! - I'm looking forward to #2 in the series hopefully soon. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

First and foremost, this feels like the beginning of a cozy mystery series and I am here for it.

The main character, Lou, can see ghosts and lives in the city of New Orleans with her grandmother. With her unique ability, she establishes a ghost tour experience and she quickly becomes viral since her tours seems to actually have paranormal activity and photographic captures. She also seems to have accidently created a nemesis in a "rival" ghost tour group who think she's faking the paranormal to poach customers.

One evening, Lou is giving a tour when the ghost of her rival comes screaming at her from the dark. Though she can hear and see him, no one else can, so she moves the tour along and comes back once it's over to figure out what's going on. The trouble for Lou is that she is now high on the suspect list for his demise.

She is determined to clear her own name since the local cops seem to be trying to pin the crime on her and she's not going down that easily. Even if she is being targeted by another mysterious person.

Though not perfect, I loved this book and had a great time getting to know the characters and setting the scene for more to come.

Lou Thatcher can see ghosts which is really helpful as she gives haunted tours of New Orleans. When a rival tour group owner is murdered suspicion falls on Lou. So she decides to investigate herself and clear her name. Good cozy mystery.

Haunting And Homicide, is the first book in The Ghost Tour Mysteries by Ava Burke, a.k.a. Amber Camp. Tallulah Thacher grew up talking to ghost when her mom and new husband. Jared moved to Missouri. A ghost was her only friend. Now she is grown and living back in New Orleans with her Nan, Liz, and running ghost tour’s out of a little shop, where she also sells haunting memorabilia. she has a pretty good life with the exception of Adam arrival tour guide owner, who is intent on proving her a fraud due to his jealousy over her viral videos guess have taken on her tour. He thinks she is a fake and is trying to prove it, but when she runs across his dead body, she soon goes from a tour guide to an amateur sluethe. especially after she becomes the main suspect. to make matters worse the detective investigating Adam’s murder is her childhood crush and best friend‘s brother Dylan, but with the help of those in they ever after and her newly acquired clumsy investigation skills, Lulu will try to get to the truth and definitely comes close to dying while trying to do it. there was a lot more to this book. There’s a storyline involving her brother that I loved her Nan and new boyfriend Ronald Joni her assistant test there’s just so many great characters in great reasons to read this fun cozy mystery. I love the name of the coffee shop Café, Nate, but I do wish there was more of a New Orleans flavor to the book. Hopefully in future books it’ll get more flushed out, but it almost seemed as if it was a generic version of New Orleans because no young woman would walk down the street anywhere including the garden district by herself at two in the morning I get it. It’s for the plot but when she did it in the book, I was like oh that would never happen. A lot of time when reading books that in New Orleans, I can be very critical being from there, but I must admit I absolutely loved this book. I didn’t like how things ended with Dylan and Tallulah because I’m not a big fan of that kind of prolonged storyline, but either way, I am definitely going to sign up to read the next book and cannot wait to get it.#NetGalley, #CrookedLaneBooks,#AvaBurke, #HauntingAndHomicide, #TheGhostTourMysteries,

In Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke, readers are introduced to the intriguing character of Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher, a ghost tour guide in the vibrant city of New Orleans. Lou possesses the unique ability to see ghosts, a talent she cleverly uses to enhance her tours. This supernatural gift, however, becomes a point of contention when her videos gain viral attention, sparking rumors and jealousy among a fellow tour guide. Adam Brandt, a rival guide, accuses Lou of fabricating ghostly encounters to undermine his business. This rivalry takes a dark turn when Adam is found dead, and Lou is the only one who can see his ghost.
The plot thickens as Detective Dylan Finch, Lou’s high school crush and brother to her best friend Tess, becomes involved in the investigation. Complicating matters, an item linked to Lou’s shop is discovered at the crime scene, further entangling her in the mystery and making her the prime suspect in the murder. Despite the mounting evidence against her, Lou is determined to clear her name. But someone thinks she is sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. To further her chaotic life, her resolve is tested when her younger brother, Bryce, runs away from home and seeks refuge at their grandmother’s house. Lou feels compelled to support Bryce, who is grappling with his own issues, adding another layer of responsibility to her already complicated life.
Ava Burke spins a delightful tale filled with quirky and relatable characters, each adding their own charm to the cozy mystery. At the heart of the story is Lou, a lovable protagonist whose clumsiness and warm personality make her impossible not to cheer for. As Lou stumbles her way through a series of unexpected events, her misadventures inject a playful spirit that lightens the more serious moments of the plot.
The narrative is laced with clever red herrings and a colorful cast of suspects, keeping readers guessing and engaged until the very last page. The intriguing backstories of the local ghosts add a captivating layer of depth, enhancing the supernatural elements that dance throughout the tale. The mystery itself is skillfully crafted, leading to an unexpected twist that leaves readers feeling satisfied and fulfilled as they reach the end.
Haunting and Homicide emerges as a charming paranormal cozy mystery, effortlessly inviting readers into its whimsical world. The blend of humor, suspense, and ghostly encounters makes for a captivating read that’s hard to put down. Ava Burke masterfully weaves together the lives of the living and the dead in a way that is not only entertaining but also invites contemplation about the boundaries between realms. This standalone novel will leave readers eagerly anticipating more of Lou's charming escapades, with the hope of becoming a new series, filled with delightful mysteries and ghostly adventures.

I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NG for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

I've been becoming acquainted with cozy mysteries the last couple of years and found this lovely ARC and immediately snatched it up. And I'm so glad I did. I loved the atmosphere, loved the characters (okay, maybe one I wasn't thrilled with but I don't want to talk about him) and the overall developments happening. I don't want to say too much but I loved that Ava gave personality to the spirits as well! Sometimes, I feel like that happens too often in cozies.

Loved it. Will Continue!

My Rating: 4 Stars!

The first book in a new paranormal/cosy series.

Lou Thatcher has been able to see and talk to ghosts since she was a child, something she keeps very much to herself. She makes use of this advantage when she sets up a ghost tour business in New Orleans, and pretty soon she is gaining customers and interest on the internet. When a rival business operator is murdered Lou is a suspect so she sets out to discover the truth.

It is an advantage to be able to speak to the dead when you are investigating a murder, especially if the victim has any ideas about what happened. Lou manages to get herself into lots of trouble as she gets closer and closer to the identity of the killer.

There are a number of interesting characters in the story, dead ones as well as living! Lou has some very supportive family around her, and a could be love interest if the two of them ever manage to be on the same page. Altogether a very satisfactory beginning to a new series and I will watch for the next book.

I have a tough time giving my honest opinion on a book when I feel like it just isn't for me. Added to that I see so many others who loved the book so I wonder what I missed and all I can think of is not every book strikes a chord with every person.
The concept was a lot of fun. New Orleans is the perfect backdrop for a story with haunted ghost tours where even the ghosts get in the act. I found it amusing when she talked about one ghost essentially wanted her fifteen minutes of fame in the afterlife so she had to mention her when doing promotions. That is actually the kind of moment this book should have capitalized on and more such moments should have been included. I almost gave up multiple times when reading this book but then I hit a moment like Grandma's breakfast "friend." Speaking of Lou's grandmother, she was the star of the book with her willingness to encourage Lou and help her get her new life off the ground and her willingness to not forget lost loved ones and her overall feisty self. Lou on the other hand was tough to connect with. She seemed to bumble along. Her plan was solid to clear her name and having ghostly guides was a lot of fun but she was just too inept for me. Her almost forced crush was a jerk with little in the way of redeeming characters.
I thought the book was boring at times but for those moments that rescued the story. Those moments tell me that this series has potential, it just might not be for me. I'm going to go with a middle of the road review and say that readers of cozies who enjoy a paranormal twist may enjoy it. You just need to manage your expectations. For me it was rough because I had seen a comparison to a series I love and it did not live up to the that book.
I am on the fence on whether or not to recommend it. Let me say this, if you are a fan of a certain series with paranormal elements that got started in New Orleans, this is probably not the book for you. If you read only cozy and enjoy paranormal elements it might be.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Coziness all throughout! I loved the character of Lou and her grandma. I loved the characters that were added to her life along the way. The ghosts are well done and a good investigation tool. I like that she had found a way to not let the public know she was talking to them. The other family issues were wrapped up pretty quickly and harshly, but it also made sense. So I am torn about my feelings on that part of the book. The solution was not my favorite, but I enjoyed the other parts so much that the solution didn't drag down my enjoyment. The romance is almost like a love triangle and I don't love those, but the author did try to avoid that. So Lou is confused about her love life, which could bring some good character growth.

This cozy mystery was entertaining, intriguing, and interesting, to say the least. Imagine sleuthing with the dead. Lou had no qualms about seeking their help. She needed all the help she could get, with a killer on the loose and trying to frame her. Like I said, it's interesting indeed.

Growing up I spent a lot of time during the summer in New Orleans and in 20219 we lived in New Orleans for about 5 months and spent a lot of time in the area that this book takes place. I was so pleased to virtually visit New Orleans that it probably raised my rating from 3.5 stars to 4 stars.

The setup was a little slow and it took a few chapters for me to warm to the execution of the premise and completely get hooked by the story. Adam is pretty terrible at first and Lou is not a natural at the investigative business. However, as the story went on I really began to enjoy it. I really love the side characters especially Lou's grandmother and her boyfriend. This is a fun take on a ghost tour which is big business in New Orleans and really helps set the scene.

The mystery was good and kept me guessing and the romantic angle (very minor) didn't go the way I expected which I liked. I'm hoping the world around the murder will be more fleshed out as the series continues and that we can meet more ghosts and learn their backstories - but not lose Mamie!

Good start to a new series. I liked the characters and the story overall, though I felt that it started a little slow in the beginning. I love the interactions with the different ghosts and the setting of New Orleans is always one of my favorites. That being said, I found most of it realistic enough but had a real issue with the use of the term “crawdad”. I have never heard anyone use that term here. Other than that, I will continue with the series and look forward to the next.

What a fantastic first in series. This had me up late reading. I did not guess who the killer was, which was nice. I have a bit of a thing for stories about people who can talk to ghosts and this book did not let me down! The characters were likeable and relatable, the plot was solid and the story flowed well.

The MC is Lou Thatcher. Lou runs a ghost tour business in New Orleans. She has developed a friendship with one of the ghosts who she sees on her tour, Mamie. Mamie will put on an orb show for the guests, which has boosted Lou's business. In return, Lou will show Mamie the feedback from the guests, which Mamie loves.

There is someone who doesn't care for Lou's ghost tours and that is a rival tour guide, Adam. He is always trying to get her business shut down and had taken to stalking her before he was murdered. His ghost appeals to Lou to help him find his killer.

Lou has a couple really good friends, Cady and Tess who make appearances, but my favorite is her Nan. Nan is her super supportive and loving grandmother, who shows unwavering love for not only Lou, but also for her brother, Bryce who has run away from her mom and step dad's house to stay with her.

Overall, lots of great characters and a fabulous story. I can't wait to hear more about Lou's adventures and I am hoping she starts to learn more about her ability to talk to ghosts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book.

Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke involves Lou Thatcher in solving a case she didn't want to be involved in.

Will Lou solve the case to clear her name?

Tallulah "Lou" Thatcher
Lou Thatcher has been able to see ghosts for as long as she can remember. Living in New Orleans, Louisiana, with the ability to see ghosts, makes for an interesting day. Well, that is when Lou steps into their haunting area. Lou's job is a ghost-walking tour host, which is always fun, especially when one of her ghost pals helps her make her tours extra special.

I must say that I love Lou; if I could, I would be friends with her. Lou is a nice person who is trying to figure out many things about the ghost world to help her friends. Granted, none of those have worked out, but her heart is in the right place, which means a lot to them.

The Mystery
Lou got done doing her walking tour and was coming back to talk to one of her ghost friends when she stumbled across Adam Brandt's dead body. Now, Lou is tasked by ghost Adam to catch his killer. Lou is inclined to do this for him and take her name off the police suspect list since they only seem to be looking at her. I, at first, didn't like Adam, but then I felt sorry for the guy. Being murdered isn't a great thing to happen. Ms. Burke also got me believing in a red herring, but the real killer sat on the back burner in my head for a long while. Until something clicked right before the killer showcased themselves as the perpetrator.

Five Stars
My rating for Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke is five stars. Ms. Burke does a great job transporting me to New Orleans and thinking I'm there with Lou, solving a case. I can't wait to learn more about Lou, Nan, and the rest of this fantastic ensemble of characters.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Haunting and Homicide is the first book in the Ghost Tour Mystery series by Ava Burke.

Lou Thatcher sees and talks to ghosts, which comes in handy when she needs a boost to the activity to attract tourists to her ghost tours. What she doesn't expect is to get caught up in the investigation into her rival's death when she finds his body close to where her tours take place, and he starts haunting the area demanding she help.

I really enjoyed Haunting and Homicide, I loved the premise of a ghost tour in New Orleans as the setting for a new cozy mystery series. And a heroine who talks to ghosts is perfect for this scenario.

The author did a great job introducing the characters (human and ghost) who I assume will make appearances in future books. I especially liked her long time crush, detective Dylan Finch. I hope to see more of him and, even though it seems a bit of a cliché in cozy mysteries to pair up the heroine with a police detective, I'm rooting for the two of them to get together.

There were a number of viable suspects in Adam's murder so I was kept guessing almost to the very end.

I look forward to reading other books in the series as they come out.

Haunting and Homicide by Amber Camp is her debut book, and the first in the paranormal cosy mystery series “A Ghost Tour Mystery” and I cannot WAIT until book 2 comes out. I was hooked from page one and LOVED the story, the characters and of course, Toby the puppy beagle. Haunting and Homicide was a real page turner and hard to put down. I made sure I carved out extra reading time just so I could finish it. The book got carted everywhere, read over meals, read instead of watching TV, and kept me up until 2 in the morning as I needed to know who the murderer was. I need to add that I did not guess who it was until Lou found out.

Lou can see and speak to ghosts, she was born with the gift, which she has hidden, but has finally found a way to use it - she has her own business running ghost tours out of a souvenir shop in the Garden District, one of the most haunted places in New Orleans. There are a few ghost tour guide businesses and they all have their specific area to run their tours. The various tour guides mostly get on, however, Adam Brandt accuses Lou of faking her ghost encounters to undercut his business and there is open hostility between them. So when she trips over his body in the cemetery, with a ceremonial dagger from her shop as the weapon she immediately becomes a suspect. Lou believes the police are not investigating, or looking for, other suspects. To prove her innocence Lou starts her own investigation with the help of her ghostly pals, including Adam who now understands that Lou was not faking her ghostly encounters on her tours. Yes, that a right, Adam has joined the ghostly inhabitants. What follows is a really great story with a mystery that has plenty of twists, turns, danger and surprises; and a heartwarming back story of family life as Lou steps in to rescue her teenage half brother.

Lou is an amazing woman she is cheeky, bold, strong willed, compassionate, protective and hard working. She’s not so good at private investigating but has plenty of friends (both alive and dead) ready to help her out of danger.

I need more ghost tour mysteries (and puppy Beagles) soon!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing an advanced copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the first cozy that I have read with a ghost tour heroine in it. I really enjoyed that aspect about it. It was refreshingly original. I love cozies, I mostly read cozies, however, it is nice that the main character is something other than a baker, chef, store owner, etc. And I really enjoyed that Lou has a gift, the gift of seeing and being able to talk to ghosts. I thought that was really neat.

And another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was Lou herself. She's spirited, strong willed, protective of her friends and family, loyal, and hard working. She protects Bryce as if she was his mother, the way a mother should. Nan and Ron were a very nice addition as well.

Bryce is a good kid. What he did may have been reckless, but I also thought it was brave. Sometimes it takes more guts to stand up to the people who are supposed to love us than it does total strangers. At the end of the day, you have to do what's right for yourself, nobody else.

I thought the story was really original and I just loved Lou's snark. She really has a lot of tenacity and grit in her character. I admire that a lot.

She may not have been super great at amateur sleuthing, but it was enough to get the job done and that is what counts at the end of the day. I loved meeting all of the ghosts, that was really cool. It made me feel so bad for Adam. I felt his loneliness and his despair. Overall, a very good start to the series. I look forward to reading the next book. I recommend!

I loved this. The mystery was really interesting and I was totally wrong about the who. The main character didn’t feel older and out dated when she spoke about tattoos and that was soo nice and also didn’t seem like a caricature of a young person overly obsessed with social media. I also loved that the paranormal aspect wasn’t just a hint or a toe tipping it was in your face and part of the crime solving! I thought the growth of her relation with Adam’s ghost and seeing how important they were in her life as essentially her friends was really sweet. I liked her family and her human friends as well. I am team Eddie. Boo to Dylan, he was annoying. I can’t read to the next and hope we don’t have to wait a year. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This is an enjoyable new cozy mystery! The mystery was well developed and entertaining. The characters are engaging and the paranormal aspects offer additional interest. Cozy mystery fans are sure to find this book a nice addition to the cozy mystery genre.