The House of the Setting Son

ghosts, psychics, paranormal, law-enforcement, Hollywood, actors, cozy-mystery

Misty Dawn, a former Hollywood psychic to the stars, shares a house with a Shade (Wilson) who helps her with ghosts and such as she assisted Homicide Detective Cesar Romero on cases before this one. I thought the concept was a bit odd as the guy seems to interact with the physical world and drives her around in a Jaguar. But when I found out that it was a vintage model and that his other car is a classic Rolls Royce I was on board! This murder involves a troupe of actors, a vintage theater, a missing actress and her murdered sister. The mystery is well written and plotted, the story is a real tangle with twists, conflicts, and secrets and red herrings. Very enjoyable!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you!

I don't typically go for the paranormal, but I liked Nancy Silverman's first two Carol Childs books and thought I'd try the Misty Dawn series. I'm glad that I did, because I found an amusing new cozy series. Misty is a psychic to that stars (who may have even read for Nancy Reagan!) who sometimes consults with the police (because, it is LA). Accompanied by her sidekick and chauffeur, a shade named Wilson, Misty investigates the murder of a young actress. Just the right combination of humor and serious plotting.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

Mature former psychic to the stars Misty Dawn is back helping the LAPD with another murder. case. What starts out as a search for a missing theater star ends up as a search for the killer of the stars step sister. Helping Misty, possibly for the last time, is Wilson, the shade who's house Misty lives in. There are lots of distractions getting in Misty's way, including a past love from many years ago who she just happens to run into, and tries hard to ignore.

This is the third book in the series, and it was even better than I expected.

A great paranormal mystery with entertaining characters and a well written whodunit.

I cannot wait to read the next in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of the book.

Hollywood Psychic to the Stars Misty Dawn gets a late night phone call from Dori. The actress and former client is in town with the My Fair Lady production at the aging Crowne Theater. The show's leading lady, Cassie Marx, hs disappeared and the understudy Lynette has had to go on for her on opening night. Things turn deadly when the former lead, Cassie's stepsister Alexa, is found bludgeoned to death in her Santa Monica home. Cassie's distinctive pink smartphone is left on the scene but where did she go?

With the help of her shade Wilson, Misty is determined to help find Cassie and assist the LAPD in their investigation of Alexa's murder. This was a fun, light read with just the right amount of paranormal added into the story.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and BooksGoSocial with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

A light fun read with not too many aggravations. Mystic Misty gets involved in murder in Tinseltown and sets out to solve the case, with the police in part and with the aid of a 'shade' - Wilson is dead but hasn't moved on yet. I assume that the Rolls that he drives is right hand drive otherwise I'm sure she would have been pulled over by some enterprising traffic police to see how the car was apparently driving itself. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

THE HOUSE OF THE SETTING SON
The Third Misty Dawn Mystery

A call in the night leads psychic Misty Dawn to the Crowne Theater. The once magnificent Art Deco structure is hosting its final run before demolition, but there are more problems than the building's fading glory. Not only has the leading lady gone missing, but so has the resident ghost. While Wilson, Misty's spirit guide, looks into the otherworldly aspects of the case, including the spirit that appears to have attached itself to the touring company and is wreaking havoc, Misty starts the search for the missing young woman. What she finds, however, is a dead body.

I love this series and was thrilled to see it based around a theatre. Coming from a theatrical background and having once played Eliza Doolittle I loved the references to My Fair Lady as well as the importance of the theatre's ghost light. I really appreciate how Misty Dawn works a case, including the fact that she works with the police. Her charm, fortitude, and calm demeanor makes me like her even more. I also get a kick out of how she plays the little old lady card.

This multifaceted mystery was intriguing and red herrings and unsavory characters kept me guessing. I love the interplay between Misty and Wilson and I especially loved how Wilson continues to evolve after death.

THE HOUSE OF THE SETTING SON is a mystery about love, acceptance, and growth. It shows that while things appear to end, they truly just continue in another form. The third Misty Dawn Mystery provides excitement, laughs, and most importantly, a heartfelt ending.

Misty Dawn is back solving another murder with her sidekick Wilson (a shade) and assisting Detective Romero despite his reluctance to have a psychic help out even though she has proven her self several times.

I think I read that this is the last book in this series, so the ending was expected. I won't spoil it but if you have followed this series you will probably figure it out. However, if it is not the last book, there is a potential romance for Misty with someone from her past that admits to letting her get away. This could be an interesting turn of events for Misty because I think she feels something for him too.

I have to say that I figured out who the killer was in this book. There was a clue that could easily be overlooked but it stuck out to me and I kept it in the back of my mind wondering if my thought process was correct. But if you don't catch this clue, there are plenty of possible killers but none of them feel right and none have a motive to kill.

This book has many paranormal aspects with Wilson as a shade, which is not quite a ghost, Misty as a psychic, and a few other ghosts that cause some havoc for the living. While there are a few things that you need to suspend belief (Wilson being able to drive a car), it is an enjoyable series and I like that Misty doesn't automatically know the answers as a psychic. The cast of characters is intriguing and with this book, I had some thoughts about some of the characters that were never confirmed, so I'll go with not true....but you never know!

The is an interesting book involving Misty Dawn, a psychic, Wilson, a shade who is not quite a ghost and able to drive a car, and the theatre group performing the last play at a closing LA theatre. One of the actresses has gone missing and Misty has been called into help find her.

This is the first book in the series that I have read and apparently the last. I found it enjoyable and the ending was a surprise.

Misty Dawn and Wilson, the shade (the stage before one becomes a ghost!) who lives with her are back! Technically Misty lives with him since it's his house, but that's another story. I really like how Misty and Wilson interact; it's like he's her son. He drives for her, but, of course, no one knows that! However, Misty and Wilson aren't together as much as they were in The House That Vanity Built, so that made me a little sad. There is a reason for their disconnect though: much of the mystery surrounds the theater, and Wilson is a theater guy. So, while Misty spends a lot of time gallivanting from place to place, Wilson spends a lot of his time in the theater.

Obviously, I really love these two characters, but they're not the only ones I enjoy. Denise, Wilson's sister who's still living and doesn't know Wilson is with Misty, and Cesar, the police detective are my favorites too. The side characters in The House of the Setting Son were well developed and intriguing! You'll have a hard time figuring out whodunit since several of the characters are sketchy and others come across as jerks! But you've gotta have at least a few red herrings in there.

I love California, the beach, and the theater, so, needless to say, I enjoyed the setting. But, truthfully, my favorite spot is Misty's home. It seems so cozy, and I love that, courtesy of Wilson, the rooms are decorated with actual theater set decor.

The conclusion to the story is bittersweet. I won't give anything away, but I will say that I'm anxious for the next book! I've got to see what happens next! This has been a fun cozy mystery series so far (I did miss the first book), and I'm looking forward to reading more about the mysteries these characters get themselves mixed up in!

I love this series and I loved this installment.
It was great to meet again Mitsy and Wilson and catch up with them.
It's a fun and highly enjoyable story that kept me hooked and guessing till the end.
The mystery is solid and full of red herrings, the plot flows and the characters are well thought.
I can't wait to read the next installment, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Review
Misty Dawn is a psychic who worked with the police to solve mysteries in the past. In this book, the third in the series, the mystery revolves around the theater production of My Fair Lady. Even the squawking bird sings lines from the songs. The original Eliza became ill, and her sister, Cassie, stepped into that role. No one is particularly sad about that and some fear Alexa will return. That is until she's murdered and Cassie is a person of interest - and missing. Cassie isn't the only one missing, though. The theater ghost is also missing and Wilson wants to fill that vacancy. Misty doesn't want to lose him.

The theater provides a wonderful setting for this mystery, complete with a ghost believed to be creating havoc and another helping Misty. Cassie isn't the only suspect and there are many mis-cues as to the killer. The pace is good and the characters likable. This is the third in the series, but my first. It was easily read as a stand alone mystery, though starting a series at the beginning is the best approach. Readers who enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries will enjoy this one.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

This is the first book I've read in the series and I really enjoyed it, so much so I now need to read the previous books. Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

House of the Setting: A Misty Dawn Mystery
By Nancy Cole Silverman
September 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Psychic to the Stars Misty Dawn may have officially retired as a law enforcement consultant and advisor to Hollywood’s elite, but even a non-psychic knows that a middle-of-the-night phone call never means anything good. Misty’s actress friend Dorine Witherspoon is frantic that the star of the Crowne Theater’s production of My Fair Lady has gone missing, only the latest calamity to have plagued the stage. Cassie Marx was already a replacement for her Tony Award-winning stepsister, who had fallen ill after their Chicago performance. Missing scenery, falling props, and then the discovery of Alexa Marx’s body all culminate in what the superstitious theater crew believe the result of a vengeful ghost.

Misty believes that a far more corporeal menace is responsible, but it’s not because she doesn’t believe in hauntings. In fact, Misty herself recently acquired the companionship of Wilson Thorne, a movie and stage set designer whose untimely death made him a shade trapped between worlds. Unable to pass into the beyond until he settles his baggage with the living, Wilson roommates with Misty in the home she leases from his sister, while also chauffeuring her around in his beloved Jaguar and Rolls Royce. Being invisible to the living may be a little disconcerting as a driver, but it only enhances his natural inclination to snoop and eavesdrop on the gossip flowing through the money-backers and players. Misty’s intuition tells her that Cassie is in danger and not fleeing justice, but more challenging will be swaying LAPD Detective Cesar Romero. The movie-icon-resembling detective is still reluctant to trust evidence he can’t see or use in court, so it’s up to Misty, Wilson, and his irrepressible sister Denise to investigate Alexa’s previous relationships, resentful ingénues, and probable contributors to the MeToo movement.

This series successfully blends a light paranormal mystery with the tantalizing intrigue of the theater world. California is a glorious setting for these eccentric characters, especially as Misty takes a nostalgic trip from Santa Monica down the Pacific Coast Highway to Venice Beach, Malibu, and its pot dispensaries. Meeting up not just with a Cannabis dealer but also with a startling blast from her hippie past rocks Misty’s world and stirs up far more excitement and confusion than any ghost. Ushering Wilson on to his proper place in existence will be as challenging as bringing justice for the murdered actress, who is also on hand to complicate Misty’s investigation without adding any real helpful insight. The glamor of the theater, fascinating eeriness of the paranormal, and charming prospect of romance all guarantee a lively and fun mystery that will delight readers and theater fans.

This is the first book I have read by this author although it is the third and most likely the final book in the series.

It was interesting to see a psychic, Misty Dawn and Wilson, her partner and chauffeur who also happens to be a Shade (not a ghost but getting there) team up to solve mysteries; in this case solving a mystery involving the death of a young, leading theatre actress Alexa Marx and the apparent sabotage of the production of My Fair Lady, a production in which Alexa's younger half sister Cassie has replaced her in the leading role of Eliza DoLittle.

With interesting characters (human and ghosts) and a theatre setting, I quite enjoyed reading this cozy, paranormal mystery.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher BooksGoSocial and the author Nancy Cole Silverman for the e-Arc of the book.

The book was published on September 4, 2020.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to books that are a part of a series. I love this series and I loved this installment. I love the Mitsy character. She is a spunky character with a lot of personality. This is a perfect fall read in front of a fireplace with a glass of wine. It is an entertaining read that keeps you hooked until the end. I constantly kept guessing on what would happen. I didn't want to put down the book and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Keep them coming!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is my first book in this series but I was able to keep up regardless. We follow Misty a well known physic that has helped solve murders before with her skills. She is awakened late at night by a home call about a missing actress on opening night. She arrives with her shade sidekick Wilson to look into things. Having a ghost for help does make things interesting I must say as they don't have the same rules as the living. As the story progresses the a great is still missing but her sister has been murdered. The evidence points at the missing one for quite some time until Misty discovers a few tidbits that point elsehwere. The culprit surprised me a little which points to a well written mystery that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy. The ghosts popping up adds just the right touch at the right moments to give the story multiple levels all at once. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

The House of the Setting Son is the third installment in the series. Nancy Silverman is an excellent writer and always a pleasure reading her books.

The story surrounds Misty Dawn former psychic to the stars. She receives a telephone call in the middle of the night from Dorine Witherspoon. When Misty arrives she learns that the leading lady is missing, as well as, the ghost that is attached to the theatre. To make matters worse there is another ghost that is causing havoc on set.

While Wilson is trying to find out what happened to the resident ghost the detective on the case warns Misty to stay away from the investigation.

The characters are well-crafted and the scenes and storyline are believable. It was truly a pleasure to read this novel.

This is one of these books you don't want to miss. Can't wait for the next installment.

I received this novel in exchange for my honest opinion, and I can tell you it was a great read!

I enjoyed this story and will be looking for more books from this author. This was the first book that I read by this author and I found that I enjoyed it.

It's almost never good news when the telephone rings in the middle of the night. And when you are Misty Dawn, once the 'Hollywood Psychic to the Stars,' you can be pretty sure that a midnight phone call will be a call for help.

Former client, and actress, Dorine Witherspoon, is in town on tour with a musical, but the leading lady, Cassie Marx, has disappeared. Now the understudy is going to have to go - for opening night!

Misty heads to the theatre at first light, along with her spirit (ghost) Wilson, and discovers that Cesar Romero - an LAPD detective - is already there and meeting with the cast and crew. And if the circumstances around Cassie's disappearance wasn't strange enough, Misty sees Wilson in a new light as the theatre spirits want nothing to do with him. There's a lot working against Misty, but finding Cassie will save more than a show.

I've come to really like author Nancy Cole Silverman's work - based mostly on her Carol Childs Mystery series. This is the third book in the Misty Dawn Mystery series (the second one I've read), and just as with the Carol Childs series, Misty Dawn is improving as it grows. What Silverman does so well is find ways to challenge our main characters as people (or spirits), and not just create obstacles for the mystery. It's these challenges that help the reader's perception of the character to grow.

This mystery is an interesting balance between being frightening and fun. There is some danger ahead, but just before it gets too deep, it lightens up just a little bit.

Personally, I'm not sure how much I enjoy another paranormal cozy mystery series. There were times reading this that I flashed on a couple of other cozy paranormal mysteries series' that had been published by the (now defunct?) publisher that first started publishing this series. There was also a series that I enjoyed quite a bit in which the main character was an actor, so this book, with the paranormal and the stage, kind of meshed in with those other books.

Still, I like what's happening to Misty as a character, and to Wilson, and I hope we'll see more of their adventures.

Looking for a good book? The House of the Setting Sun by Nancy Cole Silverman is a paranormal cozy mystery (the 3rd in a series) where the author doesn't settle for standard-issue cozy characters who stay a little flat, but quirky and instead they are challenged and grow, making the series more interesting to read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.