The Library Ghost of Tanglewood Inn - Review

Review

THE LIBRARY GHOST OF TANGLEWOOD INN by Gigi Pandian

The Fifth and a Half Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery 

Trying to make it back home in time for Thanksgiving, Jaya and Tamarind are grounded by a Colorado snowstorm. A meeting with a man who looks somewhat like a Hollywood styled vampire procures them an invitation to join a group going to an inn off the beaten track in order to avoid sleeping in the airport. The inn has an interesting history, including being home to an avenging ghost. Screams in the night send everyone running to the library which they find locked from the inside. Gaining entry, they discover the vampire looking author quite dead. Has the avenging ghost struck again? 

I love getting another glimpse into Jaya Jones' world. What a fun idea to see what happens while not on a big adventure, but rather, returning from one and simply trying to get home in time for Thanksgiving. We only know two characters going in, Jaya and Tamarind, so a reader can jump right in without prior knowledge of the series. Of course, those of us who read this series can appreciate more nuances and enjoy it even more. 

Arriving at the Tanglewood Inn, Gigi Pandian creates a setting evocative of ghost stories and Golden Age mysteries, at once haunting, spine tingling, and cozy! The mystery is fiendishly clever and great fun. A dead body in a locked library with an early edition Agatha Christie mystery and an avenging ghost as a suspect, what's not to love?!? My only gripe is that it's a short story and so is...short! Such an atmospheric setting deserves to be explored more fully and at length. Perhaps Jaya will return for a visit?

THE LIBRARY GHOST OF TANGLEWOOD INN is a cleverly plotted locked room mystery. This short story is a delightful morsel to keep you going until the next full length Jaya Jones adventure is released.