There is a unique beginning to this book as the reader is invited to the telling of a ghost story. It’s Halloween time in Otter Lake, New Hampshire, and local teens have discovered a body part buried in the woods. Erica Bloom and her friend and security teammate Freddie Ng are in the area and wait while the police are called. There is danger afoot in the apple orchard where the “Apple Witch” is rumored to patrol the woods. Local authorities will uncover the remainder of the body, led by Erica’s off and on again love interest Sheriff Grady Forrester. The hunt is on for the killer or killers and Erica and her Otter Lake Security team will be helping. Will the killer strike again? The timing is not what Erica had planned on as she and Grady had just decided that is was time to work on their “friendship”. Ms. Wallace writes such interesting characters with witty and laugh out loud dialog (especially between Erica and Freddie) that adds humor to this entertaining mystery. This is book number seven in the Otter Lake mysteries. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy) - Really between 3-4 stars!

This is the sixth book in the Otter Lake Mystery series and a perfect read for fall in preparation for Halloween. The main character, Erika is easily likable and very funny, even when there is a murder.

Erica Bloom and the Otter Lake Security team are providing security at the local orchard for the Halloween festivities. It’s all fun and games, except for a potential haunting that has one of the partners spooked, until a body that has completely decomposed is found. While the majority of the OLS team wants to stay out of the investigation, the majority changes that decision when they believe their lives are being threatened. 

This is the first book I have read in the six book series and it was find as a stand alone. However I love finding a series that I like and has some additional books that allow me to catch up and read while waiting for the next installment. A fun series and a great read for the Halloween season!

So funny. Erika and Freddie’s relationship is the best friendship of any series. I need a book devoted to only their conversations. Love this book and all of the other books in this series. A lot!

I keep trying to give this series a chance to grow on me. However, with this latest offering, I am able to say it just doesn't appeal to me. I don't enjoy the characters and the mystery just fell flat.

HAUNTED HAYRIDE WITH MURDER (September 25th 2018 by St. Martin's Press) by Auralee Wallace is the 6th novel in the Otter Lake Mystery series. Erica Bloom and her friend Freddie are working security at the local apple orchard during the Halloween season. Between monitoring the guests at the haunted hayride and haunted barn, they are tasked with chasing off the teenagers who are roaming the woods in search of the Apple Witch. The Apple Witch is a local legend - a ghost that haunts the apple orchard in October. The teenagers don't find the Apple Witch, but they do find human remains. Even though Sheriff Grady Forrester seems to have the investigation under control, Erica and the rest of the Otter Lake Security team take it upon themselves to look into the cold case and determine if the Apple Witch is real or not.

HAUNTED HAYRIDE WITH MURDER is the first Otter Lake Mystery that I've read, and, after reading it, I'm not inspired to check out the rest of the series. I just could not bring myself to like the main character, Erica Bloom. I'm not sure how old the character is supposed to be - I'm guessing early 30s - but she behaves likes a teenager. To be honest, most of the characters, regardless of their age, behave like a bunch of teenagers. They refer to murder as "did the thing" and a committed relationship as "closer friendship". The relationship between Erika and Sheriff Grady came off as juvenile, and their interactions were very off-putting. I also felt the twist at the end was a major letdown since discovering the killer's identity really didn't resolve anything.

If you're looking for a quick, mindless read that is low on suspense, you might want to check out HAUNTED HAYRIDE WITH MURDER. Just don't expect there to be more than a brief mention or two of the haunted hayride.

It’s Halloween in Otter Lake and Erica Bloom is enjoying the season with her beau sheriff Grady Forrester. The fun and games come to an abrupt end when teenagers find human remains in a local apple orchard rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a witch. Erica is pretty sure that the man who died was killed by someone most assuredly alive. A fun Halloween cozy sure to please readers