Book picks similar to
Ghosts and Garlands by Morgan Vale


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Marigolds and Murder


London Lovett - 2017
    With her pet crow Kingston and a tabby cat named Nevermore, she is settling right into her new life in the small coastal town of Port Danby. With a flower shop opening soon and a full cast of quirky neighbors and friends, her new digs are exactly what she's been looking for. Away from the hectic hustle and bustle of the city Lacey has found peace and happiness. However, her heightened sense of smell proves to be of use once again when a Port Danby neighbor turns up dead. Lacey finds herself caught up in an unexpected murder investigation alongside the handsome local detective, James Briggs. She’s determined to find the killer and solve the murder mystery before any more bodies turn up.Book 1 of the Port Danby Cozy Mystery Series. 1. Marigolds and Murder2. Carnations and Chaos (October 15, 2017)3. Mistletoe and Mayhem (November 2017)Full-length novel ~50,000 words.

In for a Penny


Kelsey Browning - 2013
    Desperate to keep up the family name and give the man a decent burial, penniless Lil cooks up a shady deal that lands her smack-dab in the slammer.Burdened by her shameful secret and a crumbling family estate, Lil entrusts Summer Haven’s care to her best friend, Maggie, who recruits two more over-fifty ladies to help. But when Maggie discovers that Lil’s restitution is ten times the amount she “borrowed” from the federal government, she’s convinced Lil has taken the fall for someone else’s crime.Will these gals be able to get some vigilante justice for Lil, or will the swindler get away with hoodwinking a sweet little old lady?Recipes included!(Originally published as In for a Penny in the Granny/G Team series)

Christmas, a Cat and Cardiac Arrest


N.L. Cameron - 2017
     After being closed for six months, The Barrell Inn has reopened, just in time for the Holidays and thanks to Allie Garrett. Met by both resistance and open arms from the locals, Allie attempts to fill the big shoes her Great Aunt left behind.

French Vanilla & Felonies


Erin Huss - 2018
    She's got a nice home for her daughter, a steady source of income, and the cute maintenance guy is certainly a nice perk! But her luck takes a bad turn again when a dead body turns up, a crime spree takes over the community, and Cambria finds her complex squarely at the center of it all! With her dream job suddenly on the line, Cambria dons her detective hat to get to the truth—after all, she's watched enough crime shows on TV to know how to catch a perp! Or so she hopes as she wades through a streaker in apartment 40, an ex-con with a shady agenda, an overly frisky retired couple, and the suspiciously sneaky dealings of the dentist in apartment 36. But will Cambria be able to catch a killer... or will she get caught up in his game and lose it all?

March Street Murder


Estelle Richards - 2019
    My name’s Kelly, and I’ll be your server today.I think I’ve said those words a hundred times. But I’m more than just a server.I’m a painter. In fact, a few of my paintings hang on the wall in the March Street Cafe.I’m a dog-lover. I walk Buddy the bulldog every morning and every night, even though he never obeys my commands.I’m a granddaughter. I live with my Grandma Iris, taking care of her and Buddy after she had a fall.And now, I’m a woman trying to solve a murder.March Street Murder is a new short cozy mystery by Estelle Richards, author of the Lisa Chance Cozy Mysteries. It has no sex, no gore, and no swearing. It’s a short read, perfect for giving yourself a little treat in between tasks in your busy day.

Like a Bad Penny


Harper Crowley - 2019
    The good, the bad, and the ghoulish, streaming live and in color to thousands of subscribers. When Meredith and her team of ghost hunters take on a case in the tiny town of Oak Cliff, Georgia, they don’t expect anything out of the ordinary, just a ghost in a white dress that may or may not be related to a missing persons investigation. But this case is unlike anything Meredith has taken on before. Oak Cliff is a town awash in mysteries and lies, and the spirit Meredith’s searching for may not be the only one haunting the MacIver mansion.Determined to unearth the truth, Meredith and her team dig their way through layers of mysteries and strange occurrences, getting closer to the truth—and real danger. Because it’s becoming clear that someone, or something, wants the past to stay buried, at any cost, and Meredith’s search for the truth just might get her and her team killed. Fans of Amanda Lee and Rose Pressey, get ready to start an exciting new series...

Resort to Homicide: A Merrifield Mystery Novella


Christine Chianti - 2016
    Giving in to her brother's request, she goes to visit his new island resort during a special weekend for the investors. Spending time at Rim Runners should have been the perfect prescription to help rebuild her life, but the mood at the resort is like the weather-stormy. As hurricane Anna cuts them off from the mainland, tempers flare resulting in threats and sabotage. When the body of one of the guests is found, Laura is forced to rely on her training to find the killer before the storm lets up and they can slip away.

Ghost of a Chance


Cate Dean - 2016
    His search leads him to Holmestead, and a stubborn, fascinating American who has acquired the box that once contained the rare jar.When the missing jar turns up, clutched in the hand of the very dead local historian, Martin becomes the prime suspect. He and that dead historian were bitter rivals.With his future on the line, Martin turns to Maggie for help, and they join forces to find the real killer.Maggie Mulgrew Mysteries:Ghost of a ChanceWritten on the Wind - coming August 2016Check out all my books here: amazon.com/author/catedean

A Promise Kept: A Rick Carnes Cozy Mystery


David Bishop - 2020
    His last request, “Please, Captain, help my family they’ve got troubles.”Rick Carnes musters out of the U.S. Army a few weeks later. Determined to keep that promise, he heads for Angels Camp, California. A town, the chief of police calls Peyton Place West.In this twisty cozy mystery, Rick uncovers the real story behind the Jones’ family troubles, solves a murder, and makes new friends. Along the way, he may have found the woman of his dreams, and perhaps a new career.

Involuntary Turnover


Cheri Baker - 2013
    Whether it’s brawling employees, difficult bosses, or dress code drama, she knows how to handle a crisis. But when an employee is murdered at the Seattle hospital where Kat works, and the police try to blame the victim, playing by the rules won’t be enough to save the day. Fueled by an endless supply of coffee, and assisted by a colorful cast of coworkers, Kat is determined to bring the murderer to justice. But can she do it before the killer strikes again?This mystery is the first in the Kat Voyzey Series.

Magic and Mystery: Bundle Book 1


Lily Webb - 2019
    So when she gets a job offer in the middle of nowhere, Zoe jumps at the chance to make a name for herself only to find her new home is teeming with magic and paranormal beings—and those aren't its only secrets. During a heated election for Head Witch, the most powerful position in town, Zoe’s predecessor was buried alive—and accusations are flying faster than broomsticks. Despite her editor’s orders to leave the story alone, Zoe can’t resist. From the front-running witch with a secret to the mysterious vampires pulling strings in the shadows, Zoe knows the truth is just under the surface. So after she discovers she has rare telepathic abilities, Zoe realizes she's the only one who can keep digging. Will Zoe’s powers lead her to the murderer and the scoop of a lifetime? Or will they send her to an early grave? 

Spellbooks and Stakings, Book 2:

 Zoe Clarke is going back to school. After learning she’s telepathic and risking her life to solve a paranormal murder, she’s been invited to the prestigious Veilside Academy of Magic to sharpen her newfound powers. But not all the students are spellbound by Zoe, and it isn’t long before she realizes the Academy is brimming with exceptional witches and warlocks—who are as cutthroat as they are talented. So when Zoe’s new favorite vampire professor is found in a pile of ash, all spell breaks loose. Between troublemaking witches and a jealous staff, Zoe knows whoever the murderer is, they aren’t finished handing out suspensions. Can Zoe work her magic to reveal the killer? Or will she fail the ultimate test?

 Alchemy and Arson, Book 3: 

Zoe Clarke’s life just keeps getting better. After repeatedly risking her life to solve a rash of paranormal murders in Moon Grove, Zoe’s become a household name. But her newfound attention isn’t all magic. Zoe knows she’s made enemies along the way and that they aren’t above pouring gas on her troubles. So when one of Moon Grove’s most prominent witches dies in an inexplicable house fire, hysteria ignites—and Zoe finds herself standing in the ashes. From the psychedelic new alchemist in town to the werewolves running shady businesses, Zoe’s certain someone’s trying to torch her reputation. And when another building spontaneously combusts, Zoe knows she’ll have to walk through fire and brimstone to stop the arsonist. Can Zoe stamp out the killer before they strike again? Or will she go up in flames? Other Books in the Magic & Mystery Series: Heists and Homicides, Book 4 Covens and Coffins, Book 5 Voodoo and Vanishings, Book 6

Saints & Sinners Ball (Harper & Hattie Magical Mystery Book 1)


Stacy M. Jones - 2019
    When Hattie hosts the Saints & Sinners Ball & someone kills the lead prosecutor in her yard, her niece Harper has no choice but to help find the killer.At 40, this wasn't the do-over in life Harper expected. Now Hattie is insisting Harper learn the Ryan family magic. Psychic powers at forty? Harper isn't so sure. But Harper has a murder to solve and her aunt's reputation to protect. The Ryan women are the only two standing in the killer's way.With help from their sinfully attractive new neighbor, Harper & Hattie must decide who is friend or foe if they have any hope of unraveling the mystery. Uncovering secrets and scandal at every turn, the two unlikely sleuths must unmask a killer before the next body drops.If you like charming characters, an entertaining blend of cozy mystery and paranormal women's fiction, and a hint of romance, you'll love Saints & Sinners Ball. Read Book #1 in the Harper & Hattie Magical Mystery series as a standalone or part of the series.

Taking the Fall


Laney Monday - 2014
    Now, she’s just burned out—and burned by love. She’s ready to retire from competitive judo and pursue a new dream in a new town, with her biggest supporter, her recently divorced little sister, Blythe. But on their first day in town, Blythe falls for local sleaze-bag reporter, Ellison Baxter, and their small-town welcome is stained by Baxter’s murder. The weapon—Blythe Battle’s hair brush. In this fast-paced, fun cozy mystery, Brenna, the proud new owner of the building that formerly housed Bonney Bay’s lone recreational opportunity for kids, Little Swans Ballet, is ready to turn tutu-clad powder-puffs into little warriors by opening a judo school for kids in its place. But now she must clear her sister’s name and save her new dream from ending even more disastrously than her Olympic hopes. Brenna must deal with one crazy member of the local police force, who’s determined to see the sisters pay—and another cop, whose deep brown eyes just might drive Brenna crazy—in a way her battered heart just can’t take.

A Maryland Witch (Witches of Crabtree Bay Book 1)


Catherine Mesick - 2019
    While the town is still reeling from the news, Chloe’s high school rival is attacked and another young girl is placed under the infamous Sleeping Beauty Curse. Suspicious eyes soon turn to Chloe, and the whole town believes she is guilty. As Chloe investigates the attacks, with a little help from the handsome but irritating Professor Mike Fellowes, she discovers that there may be a deeper and deadlier plan afoot—one that’s focused on her. Can Chloe unravel the mystery in time? Or will she fall prey to the malevolent figure lurking in the shadows?

Tomes and Terriers


Hillary Avis - 2020
    Actually, it has everybody’s secrets. In a hidden library on Rosemary Street, the memories of all the town's citizens are recorded on the pages of magical books.Every happiness. Every lie. Every crime.Allison Rye’s husband lost his memory overnight. They went to bed married and woke up strangers—twenty-five years of marriage gone, poof. He can’t remember her name, let alone the home they’ve shared for decades.Forced to sell the family bakery to pay for his care, Allison is left broke, unemployed, with no hope of recovering her old life. What choice does she have but to move in with her daughter in Portland?But when a resident at her husband’s care facility is murdered—and a sweet old lady is blamed—Allison finds herself drawn into the investigation. She knows something that police don’t…something she can’t reveal without becoming a murder suspect herself.With her intrepid foster dog, a Yorkshire terrier named Pogo, Allison sets out to prove that more than one person in Remembrance had it out for the victim. Too bad she only has a few days to dig up the evidence before she has to leave town.Hope comes in the form of a friend who offers Allison a place to live for free, with just one little catch. Allison must become the sworn guardian of library of memories.Reading the memory books is the perfect way for Allison to learn who committed murder at Golden Gardens Memory Care. But as she uncovers the true story of what happened that night, she learns other truths that make her question everything she knows about her own life.First in the Magic Library series, Tomes & Terriers is a bittersweet magical realism mystery that will change the way you think about memory and magic, fidelity and friendship.