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The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library
by
Alice Kimberly, Cleo Coyle
paranormal fantasy, cozy mystery in a paperback edition that was published by Berkley on September 1, 2006 and has 254 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Ghost and Mrs. McClure, The Ghost and the Dead Deb, The Ghost and the Femme Fatale, The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion, On What Grounds, Through the Grinder, Latte Trouble, Murder Most Frothy
Third in The Haunted Bookshop cozy paranormal mystery series set in Quindicott, Rhode Island revolving around the ghost of a private investigator, Jack Shepherd, murdered in the bookstore back in 1949 and Penelope McClure, a partner in today’s bookstore.
My Take
I do enjoy this series, for a combination of reasons. Kimberly’s mastery of 1940s slang, the juxtapostion of the situations that Pen investigates versus Jack’s own cases back in the day, and, of course, it’s a bookstore. What more could a booklover like me want!!
In this case, however, there were a few oddities. I mean, why doesn’t Peter tell Sadie and Pen about his Poe consultant especially if Peter Chesley was worried about the person’s intentions? Kimberly never came up with a reasonable excuse for this. I did love how the bullying situation was resolved and Pen’s sudden understanding of her own situation was absolutely lovely. I did love her handling of the principal!
And Pen keeps doing such stupid things! Every time she “breaks-and-enters”, she doesn’t pay attention! If you’re gonna turn lights on, stuff something under the door! Lock the damn door so you’ll have some warning! Duh…where is Jack when she’s screwing up like this!??
I did love learning about Poe however. I’ve never really paid much attention as he’s just too horrific and depressing for me but I do so love to learn.
If you enjoy mysteries, books, detecting, and the 1940s, you will so enjoy this very homey and friendly series.
The Story
An old boyfriend of Sadie’s hands them a plum—the complete set of the Edgar Phelps editions of Edgar Allan Poe’s works, an 1838 Audubon folio, Caritat’s 1738 edition of Weiland. Their discussion about this “plum” takes place in very mysterious circumstances ending in an “accidental” death.
Things only get more mysterious when Brainert reveals there is a Poe Code, a series of riddles that lead to a treasure. A treasure, which a number of increasingly vicious people want.
The Cover and Title
The cover is perfect! The oval mirror and portrait, the raven above the roaring fire in the fireplace surrounded by the Haunted Bookshop signature frame of an art deco stained-glass border with Jack’s signature fedora floating before the mirror.
The title is certainly apt as, with ghostly assistance, Penelope solves the riddle of The Ghost and The Dead Man’s Library.
