Haunting and Homicide (A Ghost Tour Mystery, #1) by Ava Burke opens with a little girl named Lou Thatcher talking with a ghost about how she doesn't want to move. Fast forward to several years later, Lou has moved back to the Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana. She still can see and talk with ghosts and has opened her own business . . . a haunted history walking tour. When one of Lou's competitors dies just feet from her, she becomes the number one suspect in his death. Can Lou prove her innocence, or will she end up in jail?
A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for approving me and providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Haunting and Homicide. When I read the synopsis of the book, I just knew I had to read it. I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

The beginning of this story didn't immediately pull me in, but after reading a few pages, I found myself engaged with the tale the author was weaving. Give me a paranormal setting in a city that I love to visit, and I'm all there for it. Having been on a haunted walking tour of the French Quarter a couple of times, having a book built around one of these just called my name. I'm not quite as familiar with the Garden District of New Orleans, but I have had lunch at restaurant there, and the area was quite nice from what I remember. There are a few locations mentioned in the story that I know I have to check out the next time I visit, and I will definitely want to do a tour of those locations if they are offered.

I really enjoyed most of the characters in Haunting and Homicide, but of course, there were a few that I didn't care for, namely Lou's mom and stepfather. They were a piece of work, and unfortunately, there really are crappy people like them in the world. I didn't care for Adam, but he ended up growing on me. Then, there was Lou's crush . . . he seemed very uncaring and almost harsh. The reader does find out why he acts the way he does later on in the book, but I still didn't quite like him.

Ava Burke does a fantastic job of providing the reader with several suspects and their motives. I wasn't quite sure who the killer was going to end up being, and when they were revealed, I wasn't surprised about who it ended up being. Did I figure out who it was? That would be a big no! Should I have paid more attention to the clues the author gave me? That would be a resounding yes!

When it comes to cozy mysteries, I am particular on the ones I read and end up continuing with the series. Haunting and Homicide (A Ghost Tour Mystery, #1) by Ava Burke is definitely being added to my favorites list, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Five out of five stars.

Haunting and Homicide is book #1 in the Ghost Tour Mystery series by Amber Camp.

Lou Thatcher lives in New Orleans and has a ghost tour business. She actually sees ghosts and that gives her an edge against her competitors. When a rival who accuses her of faking the ghost sightings is found dead, Lou is a suspect. I couldn’t put this down! I liked that she was truly a suspect and not just imagining that she is which prompts her to investigate. And another thing I liked was that she wasn’t very good at asking questions. It felt realistic. There was humor and pets and family drama. I was really surprised at the murder wrap up and with Lou’s decision. I can’t wait for the next book! This is definitely a new favorite series for me.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke is the debut of A Ghost Tour Mysteries. The author takes the time to establish the main character, Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher, as well as her grandmother, best friend, employee, grandmother’s paramour, her brother, and her best friend’s brother (whom she has had a crush on since she was a teen). We get to meet some entertaining ghosts too. I enjoyed the descriptions of the places Lou visits on her ghost tour in New Orleans and while she was investigating. We also get details about Lou’s shop and her grandmother's house where Lou resides. The whodunit has Lou finding her nemesis, Adam dead. Lou cannot believe she is the top suspect, and the victim wants Lou to find his killer (I would have told the snarky little creep to take a hike). Lou asks questions from the living and the dead. She manages to get herself into trouble several times while searching for the truth. Lou is surprised when her teenage half-brother shows up unexpectedly. He needs assistance and his parents are not supportive (I felt bad for the kid). Thankfully, Lou and her grandmother welcome him with open arms. There is an adorable puppy that wiggles its way into all of their hearts. Grandma’s boyfriend was an interesting addition. I did not feel that a love interest was needed for Lou especially after she kept going on about her crush on her best friend’s brother. The story got off to a good start, but then it slowed down as Lou went about her day-to-day life. There were repetitive details that included information about Lou’s parents, details about the ghosts, and intel about the murder. Haunting and Homicide is a cute story, and I will pick up the next book in A Ghost Tour Mysteries. Haunting and Homicide is a spirted tale with a troublesome tour host, a gammy grandma, a departed rival, a dapper detective, an unexpected visitor, and a precious puppy.

Rounding up from 4.5 stars

Cozy mysteries aren't always my typical read. They can lean to the hokey side. However, I really enjoyed Haunting and Homicide. It's a paranormal cozy mystery in that it's clean and the main character can see ghosts. I definitely didn't figure out who the murderer was until it was revealed which is always a bonus. I also really enjoyed the characters. I'm a little disappointed that this is the first book in the series because now I have to wait to read more about them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 🌟
0 🌶️

Haunting and Homicide was a fun and cozy read. The author did a great job of setting up what I feel will be an enjoyable, cozy mystery series. Lou has moved back to New Orleans to live with her grandmother. Lou also sees dead people most charmingly. They become her friends, and although she doesn't understand why they have not moved on, she converses with them and gets them to help in her Haunted New Orleans tour. This does give her a slight edge since her ghosts can manifest some interesting things, but she's not in the big leagues of ghost tours. Nevertheless, she has earned the ire of a competitor and looks really guilty when he turns up dead. So we are introduced to all of Lou's side characters and everything going on in her life.

This is a fast-paced mystery with humor and touching moments, including the adorable dog. I didn't get Lou's attitude toward the guy she's been crushing on for years at the end, but I hope the author will clear that up in the next installment. I will read the next one because I love a cozy fantasy/urban fantasy read. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.

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.