This was definitely not my favorite of the series I feel like at this point I need a little more with these but they just keep shorter which means you don’t get all the details. The mystery just felt rushed.

I tried really hard to get into this one and it just wasn’t my thing. I like the premise, I love anything ghosts/haunting related but when it came to grabbing my attention and holding it, this book just never successfully did.

Maureen Doherty is trying to find a reason to get tourists to Haven (and thus to her inn). She thinks she might have found a perfect hook. Now she just has to solve that pesky murder so people might actually come.
Aster Paterson, the bookshop owner, is the one who finds the body of the dead "how to" writer. While nobody is really sad that Terry's gone, they're sort of shocked he's been murdered. And there are even more surprises when Aster's dead husband, Peter, starts appearing around town.
Of course, Maureen knows from ghosts but none of her dead friends seem to know anything about Peter so she's on guard. As if her life isn't complicated enought with her boyfriend Theo making it very obvious that he's about to propose.
This book didn't come together for me quite as well as previous books in the series. It was a fun romp but didn't feel as tightly written.

Three stars
This book comes out June 25, 2024
Haunted Haven #4
Follows Haunting License
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Another super cozy book in this series. The more I read this series the more I wish I could visit this haunted cozy beach town. Yes maybe you get a whiff of perfume or pipe smoke in the elevator. But the ghost playing the piano has a sense of humor and the rooms named after famous people who stayed in the hotel is such a fun idea. Plus, they are pursuing an idea to make everything officially pet friendly which would be the cherry on top. This is the ultimate cozy and felt like a big hug (well except the murder). I love how happy and settled Maureen feels now after a tumultuous and mysterious start. She is finding love, finding murderers and finding her footing in the town and inn. I love the porch sitters and the town regulars. I was shocked by the reveal and love how the whole mystery came together. I am excited to read more!

Maureen is struggling to find her financial footing with her hotel in Haven FL. Things seem to be falling into place with both her professional and personal life when another body is discovered behind the bookstore. It casts a pall over everything and threatens to sink all the good things that Maureen has been able to achieve. A second body, both of whom seem to be connected to a book club made up of mystery writers, pops up.. One of the victims is a hack writer whose only success has come from a ghostwriter and the second body is a ghostwriter. Now Haven has more than its share of ghosts, not of the literary variety, including Lorna and Reggie who hang out at around Maureen.

One of the fun things about the series is everybody in town knows the whole town is haunted but they don’t want outsiders to know. It might bring ghost hunting riff raff and these two murders might just blow it wide open. The local police think Maureen has a special “feeling” about these things. She just has some spectral snitches. But even with the help from beyond, Maureen might stumble into a situation- unexpected I might add- where she risks joining her paranormal buddies.

All of this is going on whilst she and hunky Ted from the kitchen look like they are going to make things official. Unlike a lot of cozies, their romance was not one to linger book after book. It may seem rushed but it has been building over several books. But she has to introduce him to her ghostly buddies. Hmmm. That should be interesting. Five purrs and two paws up.

The Spirit Moves is #4 in the Haunted Haven series. Maureen has an inn that she inherited in mysterious circumstances, and along with quite a few inhabitants and other workers she is working hard to make it a going concern. All was going reasonably well until there are a couple of murders that put people off coming to Haven.

If Maureen can help solve those murders then she has a chance to keep the business going. Just as well she has Ted, the cook, to look out for her and love her. She has quite a few ghosts in the building too who prove to be very helpful. I do like them and of course Finn, Maureen’s dog. I also liked getting to know Reggie the ghost better, the tobacco smoker who turns out to have had useful experience in his actual like.

There is a rather large group of writers who may or may not have the murderer as one of their group. I found them a rather confusing group. However I asked myself who had motive and that really helped me to identify the murderer. Maureen eventually after much work comes face to face with that murderer. And deals! No thanks to the the local cop who is quite disdainful and calls Maureen by her surname.

While I really enjoyed the inn and its life, Maureen’s friends and the ghosts, I didn’t find the mystery so engrossing. I will want to continue the series just to see how Maureen continues with the inn and whether she’ll let Ted know about the ghost inhabitants of the inn.

In the town of Haven, Florida, nearly every building is haunted or has a resident spook. It’s a secret the townspeople prefer to keep to themselves, as the last thing they want are disruptive clout-chasing ghost-hunters flooding the town. They still need to attract tourists though, which is why Haven House Inn owner Maureen Doherty is consulting the DIY book “How to Make Your City Famous and Attract Big Spenders” by Terry Holliday. The author also just happens to be doing a book signing in their town’s local bookstore, a promotional change from the book club’s usual mysteries The mystery/romance/western/thriller writers in the book club call themselves Murder Incorporated, an ironic reference to their collaborative knowledge on infinite ways to murder someone. That proves to be rather unfortunate when Terry Holliday is found murdered in the bookshop owner’s flower garden, especially since the book club had declared just how much they loathed him and wouldn’t mind seeing him dead. Astor Patterson begs Maureen to once again help discover who was responsible, and even local police officer Frank Hubbard asks her to use her “feelings” to help them catch a killer.

This 4th in the series focuses on Maureen’s efforts not just to promote Haven as a dog-friendly town with its own Yappy Hour, but on her budding relationship with chef Ted Carr. Due to their living in and working together in the same Inn, not to mention having ghosts constantly and randomly popping in and out, they have yet to have had a moment of privacy for more than a few kisses. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t ready for the next step though, not only proposing marriage but using an upcoming planned Tiki event as a rest-run for their own eventual ceremony. Maureen’s occasional roomie ghost and former starlet Lorna DuBois continues to pop in for fashion inspirations, and her equally departed detective boyfriend provides Maureen with investigative advice. The more Maureen learns about Terry Holliday, which was not his real name, the more she realizes that jealous authors and even his own family had motives for wanting him permanently cancelled. Prophetic notes from a carnival Zoltar machine guide Maureen along in her personal life and in the investigation, delivering the perfect mix of cozy mystery and paranormal that fans of Carol J. Perry love.

This is the anticipated 4th release in this charming paranormal series. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publishers for the opportunity. My review is based on my own impression.
I have enjoyed this entire series. The paranormal aspect is done to perfection and enjoyable. The characters are well crafted to the series. I love the aspect of the intriguing haunted Inn and the ghostly antics. The sleuth kept this reader turning pages and I did not guess the outcome. A fun next in series with the perfect cozy elements we cozy readers love. Well done to the author.

“The Spirit Moves” is the fun fourth book in Carol J. Perry’s Haunted Haven Cozy Mystery series. This is a great series for fans of paranormal cozy mystery – Innkeeper Maureen Doherty runs an inn that is full of ghosts and hers isn’t the only business in town that has spirits. And then there is the Zoltar machine that gives out eerily accurate fortunes. This is delightfully done and not scary at all. There is also a nice, if a bit old fashioned (nothing wrong with that), romance in the book that will have readers smiling as well as the ongoing mystery of how Maureen came to inherit the inn in the first place. The mystery is well done with Maureen having a great reason to investigate and plenty of suspects. Truthfully, I did figure out who the killer was early on but not the motive which was chilling.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Carol J. Perry gives us ghosts and cozy hotel life in Haunted Haven m;ysteries with the fourth in the series The Spirit Moves. The town of Haven is infested with ghosts, particularly Haven House. Maureen with her ghostly friends and her living helpers move to solve the murder of book writer Terry Holiday. Holiday is found in the garden of Aster, the fantastic cookie baker. Aster is sure that her dead husband has come back as a ghost to keep her company. No one else believes her; but who knows? Writer's group joins the fun of finding the murderer. Enjoy this ghost ridden cozy for it's gentle humor and crime.

I have loved this series from the first book. Maureen and Finn remain some of my favorite cozy mystery characters.
The body of a how to author is found by Maureen's friend, Aster Paterson in her flower garden. She insists her dead husband's ghost led her to the discovery. Maureen isn't sure she believes her until she sees his ghost in the bookstore window.
Another murder has caused tourism to slow down in Haven, Florida. Maureen works to solve the mystery since Det. Hubbard thinks he's being tricked with Peter's ghost but he even enlists Maureen's help. Will he ever believe in ghosts?
It's a great cozy with a fun to solve mystery, a still-budding romance and Finn, who I need more of. This series is one of the best for all of us paranormal cozy lovers.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carol J. Perry for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Spirt Moves coming out May 27, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued by the cozy storyline. I thought the characters were really interesting. I loved cozy books featuring the supernatural. I would definitely check out more books in this series and other books by the author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

Maureen has her hands full trying to run an Inn, spans her business and plan a wedding. When one of her guests is found murdered in the bookstore’s garden, Maureen adds solving a murder to her to do list. Perhaps she should also add flying under a killer’s radar as well?

This is an adorable series with resident ghosts, cute critters and a seaside setting that delivers a solid cozy mystery in each entry. It’s a must read series for me as is the author’s other series. I love her writing style!

Carol J. Perry’s Haunted Haven mysteries are some of my favorite cozies. I like the setting of Haven, Florida, the Haven House Inn, the ghosts, and the characters. There were a few too many characters in The Spirit Moves, and I had a hard time remembering which members of the local writers’ group wrote which genre, but the villain stood out as a character.

Maureen Doherty inherited the Haven House Inn from a complete stranger, Penelope Josephine Gray. She also inherited a few full-time residents who work there, take meals, and make a small salary. That includes executive chef Ted Carr, Maureen’s romantic interest. Maureen also inherited ghosts that haunt the inn, and Josephine’s trunk that contains history and secrets.

When local bookstore owner, Aster Patterson, invites Maureen to a meeting of the local writers’ group, she’s eager to hear what they write. But, it’s Aster who finds the body of a writer that no one in the group likes. And, then she moves into the inn, fearing the killer will be looking for her. But, Maureen fears the killer will also crash her business. She comes up with plans to help the town’s businesses, promoting it as a “dog friendly” destination, and planning for Bingo nights. But, what she really needs to do is uncover the killer.

As I said, there were a few too many characters in the writers’ group, all suspects. But, the setting, the town, the ghosts, and other characters are just as enjoyable as I remember. The Spirit Moves is a paranormal treat.

The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry is a sprightly story that was fun to read. Maureen has settled into the inn she inherited in Haven, Florida. Maureen is exploring new methods to generate revenue for the inn, as it is struggling financially (the ghosts may need to pay rent soon). Unfortunately, a dead writer is going to send Maureen’s finances into the red unless she can resolve it quickly. Maureen uses all the resources at her disposal to solve this whodunit because there is a lengthy suspect list. It was an entertaining mystery, but it was easy to solve. I wish the mystery had been the main focus. Romance is in the air for Maureen and Ted, the inn’s head chef. Maureen and Ted are keeping their relationship under wraps because Maureen is Ted’s boss (but everyone knows about it). Their relationship is progressing rapidly. I like Haven House’s ghostly residents who make sure their presence is known (I laughed at their antics). There are repetitive details and some predictability. The Spirit Moves is the fourth A Haunted Haven Mystery and this is a series that is best read in order. The Spirit Moves is a lively tale with a clowder of cats, a group of ghosts, long-range residents, an eliminated writer, a strange romance, delectable dishes, and a search for a killer.

This is one of the best cozy series out there, especially for summer/beach reading. The setting of a haunted hotel in Florida, with beaches & tourist attractions, gives you major vacation vibes The fact that the whole town has ghosts only adds to the quirkiness. The supporting cast is very strong, especially the four seniors who help Maureen for room & board & the ghost of an actress living in Maureen’s room. This time around local bookseller Aster Patterson, seems to have finally gotten the ghost she wants, her late husband Peter. But when he leads her to the body of an author that was set to do a signing there, she finds herself on the suspect list. We also get a group of mystery authors & a ghostwriter to add to the mix.

Besides solving mysteries the books tend to cover a lot of stuff involving the business end of the hotel, the town & the ever changing guest list of suspects & red herrings. It’s all put together very adeptly & I’ve grown to look forward to coming back to the world each time. I highly recommend you seek the whole series out!

I like this author. I enjoyed this book. I like the characters and that they are moving forward in their lives. I really want to know how the MC was chosen to inherit. The mystery kept me guessing. I look forward to more.

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

The Spirit Moves is book #4 in the Haunted Haven Mystery series by Carol J. Perry.

This is a fun series! It checks all the boxes I look for and more. There are interesting characters, a great location (Florida), setting (an inn), food (recipes included), ghosts, a bit of humor, and an interesting mystery. I was drawn into the story from the start and couldn’t put it down!

I really love those four seniors Gert, Molly, George and Sam who live at the Haven House Inn and help out there as well. They’re the most awesome people and I know Maureen wouldn’t know what to do without them. I was happy that the thing I’d been rooting for between Maureen and Ted finally happened and all during a murder investigation too.

I’m crazy about Lorna and Reggie’s ghosts—those two crack me up! Actually Reggie got more of a part in this book than he’s ever had. Mostly it’s Maureen reminding him he’s not supposed to smoke in the building, but this time he was actually advising her on the case. I was as surprised as she was to find out he was actually qualified for that when he was alive, lol. And the piano player ghost Billy Bedoggoned always knows just the tune to play and how to make it sound like it’s just another player piano song.

Maureen got into a tense showdown with the killer but she used her head and kept them talking all while finding something to use against them. Good thinking on her part and now the town could have some relief, and the inn was able to enjoy some new prosperity as well. Can’t wait to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I've found this series to be fairly inconsistent. The first book I absolutely adored, the second book was just okay, the third was a lot of fun, and unfortunately, I found book four to just be okay. I had a difficult time getting into this one which I'm largely putting down to mood as I was feeling decidedly under the weather when I started this. But even as I got caught up in the story I was never fully invested. The mystery was a bit odd, the writing group was a bunch of really terrible people, and if I was Maureen I would have blocked the sheriff's calls. I can get wanting to hear her thoughts or wanting her to stay out of the investigation but the guy couldn't pick a lane. He was either mad at her that she wasn't working on the investigation or mad at her that she was working on it or mad at her that information she gave him didn't prove fully accurate.

I like Maureen, her dog Finn, and the side characters at the Inn. I find the investigation into the Inn's past really interesting and I love the ghostly residents. This is definitely a series that is best read in order as there are a lot of multi-book plot points but so far I've found the even numbered books a bit disappointing. This is a fun ghosty cozy mystery series but unfortunately, I found this to be one of the weakest books in the series.