I'm very pleased to welcome Dr. Jack Strathmore to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Jack on the pages of the Salem B&B Mystery series by Traci Wilton. MRS. MORRIS AND THE WOLFMAN is the seventh book in the series and was released last month. After the guest post is a reprint of my review which I previously shared on this blog on August 4, 2023.
So…some of you might be curious as to what I do all day. It’s not just unicorns and rainbows, being a ghost. It’s a lot of effort to put in, to be visible. It’s for Charlene’s sake that I dress with style. Like I used to do, when I was a doctor leaving for the office every day. Played golf, drank wine with Brandy Flint, went to Boston for the plays. God, I was such a schmuck. I had no idea my beautiful wife Shana was cheating. With Theo, of all people. I thought he was a friend.
How oblivious must I have been to miss all the signs? I worked hard. I loved it though, helping people beat sickness. Beat death. It’s a lot like being God. I didn’t really believe in the Big Guy but now I know different. Wished I’d been less self-absorbed when I was on earth. Love is what matters.
You know who I loved most? Amelia. My high school and college sweetheart. Shana was like a viper and separated us…but now that I’m dead, I see things with clarity. I let it happen. If I’d been true to Amelia, I might even still be alive right now.
When Charlene moved into my house—MY house!—I was so angry. Nobody could see me until Charlene. I was stuck here, because I’d been murdered here. She solved that mystery and we’ve been working together ever since.
I fear that I am in the way of her happiness now that she’s healed a little bit from Jared. I know Sam loves her. It really makes me mad. I want to hold Charlene. I want to be there for her—like I am now, but as a human man, not this worthless bodiless joke. We are happy though. We’ve made a family—Charlene, me, Silva, and Avery. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
Tell me what you think of how Charlene and I work together to save our friend Darren Shultz from Sam taking him to jail…Darren has secrets, true, but he is no murderer. Where would Sam be without us?
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Review
The Seventh Salem B&B Mystery
Having made millions selling flavored salts, Darren is following his dream by opening a classic cinema in Salem. Showing his favorite classic horror shows he's turned the old building into a showpiece serving popcorn with his gourmet flavored salts and his sister-in-law's homemade soft pretzels. Charlene forged a connection with Darren and his wife, Elise, and is excited to join in the soft opening. The film has barely begun when Elise appears to choke on her popcorn. Before the night is over Elise is dead, Darren is distraught, and a murderer may be on the loose.
The Wolf Man is more than just a classic horror film, it's much deeper with many layers. The same can be said for MRS. MORRIS AND THE WOLFMAN; it's not just a cozy mystery, it too is much deeper with many layers. In addition to the mystery, and just as important, is the relationship between characters and their growth. I love how Charlene has created a family with friends, guests, and a very special ghost. From dark despair at losing her husband she's created a wonderful new life.
The mystery was so clever, I was never sure who to trust. Lots of red herrings interspersed with Charlene trying to simply run her B&B. Of course, Charlene inserts manages to insert herself in the investigation as well. I absolutely loved the parallels drawn between this book and the classic film.
MRS. MORRIS AND THE WOLFMAN takes a classic horror movie and melds it with the American Dream gone awry in a delightfully chilling cozy mystery.
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Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (A Salem B&B Mystery) by Traci Wilton
About Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman
Paranormal Cozy Mystery 7th in Series
Setting - Massachusetts
Kensington Cozies (August 22, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Saturday night at the movies has some added flair now that Darren and Elise Shultz are reopening one of Salem’s classic theaters. Charlene is delighted to help the couple with their venture, and Darren has lined up a cult classic double-header featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman. But things get hairier than expected when Elise starts to choke on her popcorn mid-movie—and once the lights go up, she’s dead . . .
When tests reveal Elise's popcorn was poisoned, Detective Sam Holden eyes her husband as the guilty party. Charlene doesn’t believe Darren would hurt his wife—even if his company’s specialty seasoned salts were sprinkled on the fatal snack. But who else had a motive to do something so unsavory? With a little help from Jack, the handsome ghost who haunts her B&B, Charlene delves into the ill-fated couple’s past. And the more she learns, the more Charlene wonders if this time, she’s bitten off more than she can chew . . .
About Traci Wilton
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone. Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Author Links:
Website https://www.tracihall.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tracie.hall.35/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/traciella/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Traciwiltonauthor/
Twitter https://twitter.com/tracihallauthor
Amazon https://amazon.com/author/tracihall
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tracihallauthor/
Kensington https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author/traci-wilton/
Thank you so much Kathy!!
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