A cute and funny cozy mystery with a touch of the paranormal.and recipes to fix as well. Can't wait to read the next books in the series

Though I enjoyed this one I didn't love it as much as I did the first one in the series. At least for me this one fell into the second book slump. The mystery kept me turning the pages because I just wanted to know how it ended and who did it. But I did enjoy it enough to want to pick up the third book in the series.

Celeste Cabot has an unusual talent, she is an artist who when she paints unknown to her as she paints, she inserts the spirit of a wondering soul who will then manifest itself to her. That would be okay if this didn't always happen when a murder has occurred. Because she has these ghosts hanging around she gets herself and others into some IMO stupid situations.

The mystery didn't real hold my attention and the main character for me needs a major rewrite. I will try one more in the series, but if there is no major character development, I will abandon this series. The idea is good, but the execution poor.

Writing at its best. Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua by Rose Pressey is engaging and easy to read. The characters are well-crafted and the story is believable.

Way to go!

I really loved this book in a new to my series. Tha characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end

Celeste has just arrived at the craft fair in North Carolina, only to find a dead body down by the river where she has gone with her chihuahua while walking him. Shortly after reporting her find, she realizes that she has acquired a new friend, who happens to be a ghost. With the help of this ghost, a local medium and Caleb, a detective, Celeste sets out to find the murderer.

Celeste is quite the character. She is smart and tenacious, but she also has some paranormal abilities. She paints dead people into her paintings and they come back as ghosts. She is also able to communicate with spirits and uses them to get information about crimes. Van Gogh, her dog, is a great character as well. He seems to also have some abilities that tend to lead Celeste into danger, but she loves him and takes him with her everywhere. Being at a craft fair, you know you are going to meet some quirky characters which adds some fun. No one does paranormal cozies like Rose Pressey. I enjoy her writing and the way she develops her stories. The murder mystery was intriguing, with enough suspects and twists and turns to keep you guessing. I was pretty sure who the murderer was and I was right, but it was more a feeling than knowing for sure. Overall, this was a very light, enjoyable mystery and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I love this series because they are always a light quick read. The protagonist is likeable, and her ability to paint ghosts and bring them to life is a new twist that is fresh. I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the next one.

A great title and a really good read for an cozy mystery lover. The length is just right for a lazy afternoon read.

Kirsten Weiss is a favorite cozy author and Gourd to Death (5th in the Pie Town series) is her latest. For her northern California town's annual pumpkin festival, Val Harris has geared up and readied for the onslaught of tourists. But she wasn't ready for finding another body ...this one under a potential prize winning pumpkin. She and her cohorts, the Baker Street Bakers, are on the job to help solve the murder. Some of the shenanigans are slightly over the top, but the characters are endearing. All in all, a fun read, but not my favorite in the series.

Celeste travels to a craft fair in nearby North Carolina. This is a big fair complete with rides and games. Celeste is still getting used to the idea that she has a unique psychic ability and can see ghosts and even call for them through her paintings. She hopes to put this new ability aside and enjoy the beautiful landscape around her. The bright sunny atmosphere quickly turns dark when her chihuahua, Van Gogh, leads her to a dead body. With the help of a few ghosts and her paintings, Celeste sets out to find the murderer.

This is a fun and entertaining paranormal cozy mystery. The characters are likable and have quirky personalities. Celeste’s psychic abilities are unique which helps to smoothly move the plot of the mystery along at a steady pace. There are several twists and turns to help keep the reader guessing at whodunit. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.

Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua is the second book in the new paranormal series written by Rose Pressey and published by Kensington Books.

I truly enjoyed the first book in this series. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the second. As paranormal books go, it just didn’t have the main ingredients to hold my full attention. The main character seems to have become less intelligent and far too careless. She doesn’t grasp the need to be cautious when dealing with possible murder suspects and runs headlong into danger at every given turn. There is a feel of childishness to all the characters, but Celeste is the worst out of all. Neither the suspects nor the investigators are mature, and this gives the entire book the feel of being written for tweens instead of adults.

The premise of this second book is very similar to the first. Celeste comes across a body while working a craft fair; a ghost shows up out of a painting, and regardless of advice and warnings, she and the ghost go around asking, no demanding, answers to questions they have no right to ask. Ama, the ghost takes center stage in this paranormal story. She is not a good influence on Celeste and gets her into more danger. The suspects are blasé, to say the least, the motive quickly found out and the culprit, almost known from the beginning.

Come on, Rose, I know you are a far better writer than this book proves, I’ve read your other series! There was an excellent start to this series, and I hoped it would grow with the second book, but instead, it reads as if it is the first attempt by someone who has no idea what the story is about. I am a connoisseur of paranormal and witch based cozies. I could happily spend all my waking hours devouring each one, and let there be no doubt that I search high and low for new writers and books that fit into my favorite topic, and when I find one I read it several times to get a good feel for the characters and plots. Most of the time, I am happy with the result and encourage others to read the books as well. However, this series has disappointed me with this new edition, and I fear it will not improve with the third book. I am hoping that I am proven wrong, and the third book will be everything Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua was not.

ARC provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley

Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua: A Haunted Craft Fair Mystery
By Rose Pressey
Kensington
May 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

You know you’re in for a treat when chapter heading craft fair advice suggests, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help with customers if you need it. Also, maybe they can help with the ghosts and locating a killer.” Indeed, artist Celeste Cabot has recently discovered her gift of painting hidden skeletons in her artwork, which has not only led her to victims but helped her to track down the killer. Her 1947 pink Ford F100 truck and equally adorable trailer is now parked in Cherokee, North Carolina for the annual Farewell, Summer Arts and Craft Fair, but it is her Chihuahua Van Gogh who leads her to her next dead body. It doesn’t take long for the authorities to identify the corpse as that of artist Erica Miller, or for FBI agent Detective Pierce Meyer to arrive for the case on federal lands. His desire to investigate the personal life of Celeste complicates her relationship with Caleb Ward; wood sculptor, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations detective, and human companion of the German shepherd appropriately named Gum Shoe.

While both men would prefer that Celeste not endanger herself yet again, the unexpected occurance of one of Celeste’s paintings coming to “life” prevents that. A woman calling herself Ama walks out of the canvas, declaring herself to be an alternative dimension traveler whose family lived on the lands 200 years ago. Ama encourages Celeste’s interest in the recent murder, especially when Celeste is repeatedly confronted by the menacing visiting artist Danny Manslick. Erica’s friend April Beaumont is disturbing in her own way, overly emotional and with disturbing questions of her own. Celeste is quick to make judgments, often hurtling herself into situations that have her confronting witnesses and suspects. A visit to psychic medium Madam Gerard gives warnings that Celeste is very much in danger, but that doesn’t prevent her from continuing to be involved in the murder within the fair. After all, dealing with her well-meaning but ludicrous brothers has made Celeste accustomed to chaos, although the arrival of Ama’s equally deceased but even more judgmental grandfather is an unexpected challenge.

This second of the series by the very prolific author continues to ingenuously incorporate the paranormal into a cozy mystery investigation. The craft suggestions that are uniquely suited for a ghost-accompanied-prone-to-being-hunted-by-killers-artist are hilarious, making it a twist of the usual food or crafty hints prevalent in these series. Celeste’s artistic temperament often leads her towards making rash decisions, although she is taking her time as she dates Caleb while flirting with Pierce. Celeste is willing to lie in order to continue her pursuit of justice, accepting the risks as being a part of life. Perhaps the knowledge that those beyond this existence can continue to cross over has eased her fears over death, although her family and friends certainly have different viewpoints. This is a very fun and exuberant mystery full of humor and genial characters, not to mention adorable dogs with strong personalities. The conclusion is similarly unique and surprising, with a resolution that few could predict. Ending on a high note and with a laugh, this series promises future fun and excitement in Celeste’s life.

I really enjoyed this book looking forward to the others in the series. I think the author did a great job writing this one.

Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua is the second story in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series and is full of everything I enjoy most about Paranormal Cozy Mysteries – quirky main characters, the touch of the supernatural, fun sidekicks/love interests… and murder most foul with lots of twists and turns.

Celeste is on the road in her pink truck and trailer headed to a last-minute entry into a well-known craft fair. She’s determined to have her paintings sell and save her from working in the diner (although she loves her aunt she’d rather paint), and who knows what kind of adventure she may find this time around. Drawing ghosts into and through her paintings is a rather new thing but it’s also fascinating with unexpected results for both her and the ghosts. Along with her pup Van (Gogh), Celeste is about to stumble upon – or be lead to by Van – yet another murder scene that will take her down a path of danger that, as always, she’s going to ignore.

I enjoyed Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua, it’s full of surprises, a few red herrings, and is moving toward a possible love triangle (which probably won’t last long before a choice is made). In any Paranormal Cozy Mystery, I’m along for the ride and the experience so I wasn’t trying to figure out whodunit. Celeste, as a character, can be frustrating since she’d never, ever get away with half the things she inserts herself into in a true crime scene – but as a Jessica Fletcher wannabe, she’s fun if flighty. I had fun with this one, and that’s the entire point. If you love Paranormal Cozy Mysteries then give this series a try, you may find a new favorite series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Celeste is on the road again with her chihuahua, Van (Gogh) in her pink trailer, destination North Carolina. Still setting her sights on making a living selling her oil paintings so she won't have to work in her aunt's diner, she travels from craft fair to craft fair. Along for the ride? Ghosts who find their way into her paintings and dead bodies. Yes, Celeste is a medium, both a ghost magnet and a dead body magnet. At least her life isn't boring. Now if she could just be a little less reckless when trying to find the killer, that would be nice. Still, she does figure it all out in the end and this is a cozy, after all, complete with ghosts. The normal rules of behavior can be bent.
At this craft fair there is a lot of entertainment to be enjoyed, from rides to a load of food to taste. Taking a break, Celeste heads for the river bank to set up her easel and paint the landscape. Van has something to add - he discovers a body. From there on the mystery evolves and the twists and turns kept me guessing to the last page. This series has a bit of everything that makes for a great break from reality - murder, a puzzle, ghosts, a bit of romance and a main character who charges into an investigation that puts her into danger that could have been avoided. Standard and a very enjoyable read. Plus, it works fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua by Rose Pressey is the second book in the paranormal cozy Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries series. As with most cozy series each of the books in this series features it’s own mystery that will be fully solved within the book so each can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

Celeste Cabot is an artist who has bought herself a small travel trailer in which she and her dog spend most of their time traveling from craft fair to craft fair. This allows Celeste the ability to spend her days painting as she sits in her booth outside the trailer at the fairs actually trying to sell her work to customers.One day at a fair however Celeste has a customer return one of her paintings claiming it is haunted and makes mysterious things happen.

After investigating her paintings closer Celeste learns that there are hidden images within that she doesn’t purposely paint, weirder still somehow these paintings can summon ghosts. At the newest fair Celeste is attending Celeste decides to take a quick walk but when off by herself she finds the body of a woman that has been murdered which leads to another ghost coming out of her painting to help her solve the murder.

Being one that loves a quirky cozy the Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries series is another that is right up my alley. I love the touch of paranormal involved with Celeste having ghostly help in crime solving and the series also has all those other fun elements, laughs, cute critters and a interesting mystery with plenty of suspects. I do wish though we wouldn’t head towards a love triangle angle to this one but otherwise I’ll definitely be back for more.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

While I didn't care for this one as much as I loved the first one (this is a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone) It's still well worth picking up, especially for those of you that like a cozy mystery with a ghosty turn. My biggest issue? Celeste over investigated in this one. No way would her behavior fly in the real world. That said, I still can't wait for the next one <3

Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3309046974

This is the 2nd book in the "Haunted Craft Fair" mystery series. I have read and enjoyed the first in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review is my own. . I have read the first in series and enjoyed this 2nd in series as much as the first book. The author has created a charming series with likable characters and a enjoyable sleuth. .

In this next in series we return to Celeste Cabot who is attending a popular craft fair in North Carolina., She is planning to sell her work as well as have some time to paint. Celeste is a talented artist and a medium as well.. While painting on the beach her feisty sidekick Chihuahua, Van Gogh finds a body. She is intrigued to try to solve the murder. With the help of Madam Gerard, the medium and both Caleb and Pierce she may solve the murder and the love triangle at the same time.

This is such a fun series with delightful charcters The Chihuahua is charming . The sleuth kept me guessing to conclusion . I loved this next in series and look forward to my next visit to Celeste and company.

Unfortunately, I could not read this entire book.
Celeste is determined to get involved in another murder investigation, even though the police have asked her to stop butting in.
I really like this author and I had high hopes for this book.

I loved the first instalment in this series and I loved this one.
An excellent plot, lovely cast of characters and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.