Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke

Item: Haunting and Homicide
Rating: 5
Author: karenbaron

Posted December 27, 2024 by karenbaron in Mystery, Review, Series / 0 Comments

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

Haunting and Homicide

by Amber Camp

Series: Ghost Tour Mystery #1
Series Rating:

Published by Crooked Lane Books on January 21, 2025
Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
Pages: 272
Format: Audible Audiobook, Audio CD, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
BookBub
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon

Lou Thatcher is haunted by ghosts–friendly ghosts–but when she finds herself involved in a murder investigation, she’s in for the fright of a lifetime in this new cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Ellen Byron.

Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher has a gift: she can see dead people. But in New Orleans, Louisiana, this is not a drawback. On the contrary, her ability to see ghosts helps her host viral ghost tours through the historic Garden District. When rival tour guide Adam Brandt–who accused her of faking her encounters to undercut his business–is found murdered, Lou is the only one who can see him . . . his ghost, that is.

It’s no secret Adam and Lou were feuding and with the absence of a suspect, she’s the only one with a clear motive. After detective Dylan Finch, Lou’s longtime crush, reveals the murder weapon was a ceremonial dagger from Lou’s shop, she’s officially declared the prime suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, Lou starts investigating right away.

Weaving her way through Adam’s business partnerships, friendships, and kinships, Lou must uncover who wished to see him dead before the killer tries to silence her forever.

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.

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

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

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About Amber Camp

Amber has lived in Northwest Arkansas for twenty+ years, working as an RN at a rural hospital in the area. She has a menagerie of animals that includes dogs, cats, horses, chickens, and what has been described as the Mule from Hell, which may or may not be a slight exaggeration. Writing has always been a focus in Amber’s life, something she describes as “food for my soul.” An avid reader since grade school, she enjoys multiple genres and is always looking for new authors to add to her favorites. Amber is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.

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