Tome Thursday: Ghost Overboard

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome back to the blog.

 

For tonight's book of choice, we're picking a series that's been ongoing for a bit, but always seems to keep fresh no matter which one you choose to read!

 

I've been a fan of Dina Marie's work since I accidentally stumbled upon Going Ghost, and I've loved the rest of the books ever since.

 

I'm sure plenty of people out there will argue with me and say these books are short, bring nothing to the table, and are much too simple to be considered proper sleuthing ones.

 

I disagree!

 

It doesn't always have to be a crime so deep you need to bring out Holmes or Poirot.

 

Sometimes, all you need is logical thinking, a little bit of luck, and a ghostly companion while you're at it.

 

So let's check that out in Ghost Overboard.

 

Links to previous related posts can be found at the bottom of the page, as per usual!

 

Ghost Overboard is the sixth in the overall series, and resumes the story of Clara Kelly, owner of her very first bed and breakfast, and William, her ghostly housemate whom she's trying to exonerate of a crime he didn't commit.

 

Trouble is, the whole of history is convinced he did, so she's got a heck of a lot of work on her hands left to do, but she finds her first clue that something might have been tailored to fit the narrative and cover up the truth in this one, though it's only one clue and we'll have to keep patiently waiting for other breadcrumbs.

 

Meanwhile, however, she's nervous because her first guests are arriving, and she has no idea what else to suggest for them to do, so William suggests they take a local cruise to test it out and see whether it might be a win.

 

So off they go. They meet the handsome captain (retired military man, at that), avoid the stupid journalist Taylor who keeps trying to convince everyone Clara's crazy, and nearly get run over by Mavis and Beverly of the historical society who are deep in a political campaign because ... small towns, too many people, I honestly couldn't pinpoint the correct reason LOL.

 

They're just being spiteful for no real reason, and it might have ended there.

 

If not for the fact Mavis topples overboard, can't swim, and drowns.

 

Then she returns as a ghost.

 

Oh boy, says Clara, here we go again.

 

Digging into potential reasons as to why Mavis might have been murdered - because she distinctly remembers struggling against someone, and she'd torn off a necklace from that person, too - they discover a bunch of other things about the others who are in this same race for one of the chairs, only to eventually stumble upon the one who Mavis was leading a smear campaign against.

 

Mandy seems lovely on the outside - until Clara recognizes that she's got the hots for the captain, and the captain seems to be missing a necklace.

 

HER necklace, because she'd given it to him, and he'd given his tags and college ring to her.

 

Turns out, he did the deed because Mandy literally poisoned his brain to do it, thinking it was going to win him brownie points with the woman who only wanted to take one of the obstacles in her way out. And also, she wasn't happy about the smear campaign, either.

 

Problem solved - and the local officer convinced Clara's trying to become the next him (buddy ...) - they can all return home again, and once there, Clara meets up with Sebastian who brings her flowers.

 

Then she gets a text from William, talking about the cruise, but she'd previously told Sebastian she was on the cruise alone.

 

You see where this is going.

 

The guy leaves, Clara feels so sorry, William advises she invite Sebastian over so they can have an honest chat, and the first guests arrive, happy to spend their anniversary at such a historic location!

 

Clara, meanwhile, can finally get some much needed rest.

 

And if you're still wondering - yes, I read this book as an ARC (I usually buy published works pretty much of all the ARCs I read, though).

 

I love being back with Clara and William. The fact that we get to explore even further into Salem and its Salemanders? Priceless.

I can honestly say the mysteries have yet to grow stale or boring; Dina Marie manages to keep things fresh and engaging with each book she publishes in this series, and I'm loving it.

The mystery in this one is straightforward enough, but the culprit is definitely one I'm looking at with more pity than anything else. Loneliness is certainly not something to brush aside, that's for sure!

I can't wait to see what the annoying Taylor wants in exchange for covering for Clara in this one, how her B&B flourishes, and how she eventually solves the Sebastian dilemma!

10/10 recommend. 

 

xx

*image not mine

 

Going Ghost - Ghost Writer - Here Ghost Nothing - Anything Ghost - G is for Ghost

Love Ghost On - Tailing Ghost Cat