Avery Morgan may have accepted she can talk to Clemie, but she isn't ready to let anybody-least of all her psychic aunt-know of her ability. But she may not have any choice.

Clemie Bow, resident ghost from roaring 20s, gets more page time in this book and I love her. Sergeant Alterman, known as Oz, is a romantic interest in this slow burn romance. I like how this is gradually developing. Avery's psychic Aunt Rosemary makes a surprise visit and her character is fun and sweet. I am enjoying these characters. The historic manner house is a great setting for these mysteries and shines again. In addition to the characters, the mystery is solid with plenty of suspects and motives to sift through and a gripping killer reveal make this a favorite cozy with a fun paranormal touch.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

This was a fun murder mystery with a dash of paranormal! The characters were very fun! This, this was an excellent cozy mystery!

A ghost, a fake murder, a real murder, and too many confessions! You would think this was the description of the play the women's club is putting on but no this is happening to the members of the club. I love a really good, who done it and why mystery and this one does not disappoint. I really enjoyable read and a great additions to the series. I can't wait for number 3.

Avery Morgan was hired by the Portage Path Women’s Club to bring in new members (and cash) to keep the club going. Dainty afternoon teas are no longer enough. New members want entertainment.

Of course, she got off to a rocky start when there was that dead body. And the ghost of a flapper named Clemmie Bow who was a singer in the hidden speakeasy downstairs, until her unfortunate demise that is.
➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅

Image Source Penguin
But now there’s an interactive mystery to solve if only the actors can learn their lines and stop improvising. Millionaire banker Bob Hanover has finagled the lead and won’t let anyone forget it. The list of those he hasn’t wronged, offended, or ruined is much shorter than the list of his victims.

It’s no surprise that his body is found in the speakeasy. The surprise is who was standing over the body, murder weapon in hand.

The case got more complicated by a confession by someone who didn’t do it, a second confession, Bob’s two wives at the supper, both wearing the same flapper dress (the ex- and current Mrs.), and confusion about a manuscript that was meant to make Bob famous.

This is book two in the series. Avery is about the only sane one in the cast of characters and one has to wonder how long she can hold out. A ghost, the detective, the actors, the club members who want inclusion and those who oppose it, and the dead bodies falling all around her. She’s someone you’d want for a friend but be leery of dropping by to see her at work—and by the way, she lives in the club building. I look forward to book three to see what will happen next. No matter what it is, there will be a body or two.

The A Haunted Mansion Mystery series is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy series. Even though I've never been a fan of mysteries involving ghosts. But in the case of this series Clemmie the 1920s ghost actually adds to the story. That to mention helping and Avery solve crimes. It's a neat duo one human and one ghost. I enjoyed this one more than I did the first one in the series. I look forward to more books in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Synopsis:

Avery Morgan has been hired to breathe new life into the Portage Path Women's Club, but first she'll have to deal with a dead body and a meddling ghost.

When a local theater troupe puts on a new play at the club, manager Avery Morgan is excited. This is just the sort of event that's destined to bring in potential new members. Okay, millionaire banker Bob Hanover has more bucks than talent and has used his position to grab the lead role, but that seems like a small price to pay...until Bob is found dead backstage.

Bob rubbed many people the wrong way, but would anyone want him dead? The short answer to that is: Who wouldn't want him dead? His long-suffereing wife had to put up with years of womanizing. The show's playwright has been tricked out of his one great idea by Bob, who claimed it as his own work. And Bob bankrupted one of the town's small businessmen. The choices are many and the time to find the killer is running short.

Avery is working overtime to keep the club open and find the killer. Fortunately, she has help with the latter task. Clemmie Bow was once a singer in the speakeasy in the club's basement. Now she's a ghost who's also a top-notch detective. Together Clemmie and Avery will find the killer—even if it kills one of them. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Avery once again finds herself having to solve another murder. This time, banker Bob Hanover is found dead backstage of a play that Avery’s Portage Path Women’s Club is putting on. She will have to look for clues and try to solve it, while still doing her job for the Women’s Club. She tries to help Oz, the sergeant working the case,to figure it out and catch the culprit. And she has Clemmie, the resident ghost that only Avercy can see and hear, to help her with the sleuthing.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions took me on a journey to find the killer. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. You have to put on your thinking caps to try and figure out the killer.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to the next book and seeing what Avery and Clemmie are up to.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Alright - I went back and read the 1st book in the series. I didn't realize this was #2 when I signed up. But I'm glad I did b/c I absolutely love this series and this author. What a great find!

I loved Avery's Aunt Rosemary and all of her psychic friends! I'm glad she finally made an appearance in this book. I wished there was more of Clemmie and less about the club business. My favorite though is Avery and how nice she is to everyone she meets. it definitely gives you that warm touchy-feely Hallmark like feeling..

Both book 1 and 2 were quick and easy reads and I can't wait for book 3!

3.5 stars = Good+

A fun addition to the series. I am loving the relationship between Avery and Oz. I enjoyed getting a few new tidbits about Clemmie's story, even though I resented the intrusion into her relationship with Avery. The mystery was good and kept me guessing until the end. The paranormal pieces of this particular book went beyond just the presence of the ghost, adding in a séance and another ghost. I am enjoying this series and will definitely pick up book 3 when it releases.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

I liked this sophomore entry in the Haunted Mansion Mystery series y Lucy Ness. Phantoms and Felonies is full of likable characters and a delightful resident ghost and has a plausible mystery to unravel.

After the events of the series debut Haunted Homicide, The Portage Path Women’s Club is still in need of funding and a bit of an image makeover. New manager Avery thinks that a murder mystery dinner is just the ticket to infuse the rather stuffy institution with new life. When local banker Bob Hanover, the star of the play, is stabbed during the performance, and Avery’s aunt is caught with the murder weapon in hand, Avery cannot help but get involved with the investigation. With a handful of suspects, all with good motives, to choose from she sets out to unmask the real killer.

The first book in the series spent a lot of time introducing the characters and setting the scene of the PPWC but Phantoms and Felonies jumps right into the story. It can easily be read as a standalone. My favorite aspect of this series is the relationship that has developed between Avery and Clemmie Bow. A flapper era ghost tied to the mansion because she died in the illegal basement speakeasy is a wonderful premise, and slang-spouting Clemmie is a hoot. She makes a few appearances throughout the story, but I want more of her. Avery is a capable, likable protagonist. I like that she works with the police, not against them. Her open involvement investigating with Oz is a bit farfetched, but it works well in this setting. The ladies associated with the Women’s Club are varied, and a couple are downright unpleasant snobs. Avery’s Aunt Rosemary is over-the-top but entertaining.

The mystery is well thought out and executed. Though there are only a few suspects, the clues kept me guessing about the killer’s identity until late in the tale. Ness’s writing is lighthearted and breezy, and I enjoyed my time in Avery’s world. Phantoms and Felonies is a solid installment with what I hope will be a long running series. I recommend it to cozy readers, especially for fans of the paranormal.

4.5 Stars - Top Pick

Life imitates death and spirits join the case to solve this murder-mystery quandary. Drama and theater surround this roaring gem of a murder-mystery production by Lucy Ness. This is the second book in the fabulous, A Haunted Mansion Mystery Series.

In an effort to revamp the Portage Path Women’s Club at the Dennison mansion, Avery Morgan, business manager, has planned a murder-mystery production set in the time of the roaring twenties speakeasies. The plan was simple, a theater production group was set to perform while guests dined in their costumes and joined in the spirit of the time. But when things go awry and the set suddenly becomes a real murder scene, Avery must pull it together quickly, since this is the second murder to recently take place at the mansion. Thankfully for Avery, there are plenty of reinforcements, both in human and spirit form, to help with the case.

Let me begin by stating how much I adored all of the characters in this book. The main character Avery Morgan was wittingly written and characterized. I loved how in her effort to investigate the guests who attended the event, she manages to help the other characters feel at ease. She is a wonderful protagonist and an easy-going character. The showstopper is her mansion-resident and friendly ghost, best friend, Clemmie. I loved the interaction between these two and how fiercely protective they are of each other. Clemmie is the bee’s knees.

To complement the wonderful supportive cast is Avery’s psychic aunt, Rosemary and her wonderful psychic friends. Together they are a psychic force to be reckoned with and the spirits better watch out (!), because these ladies can make any lingering ghosts appear. And of course, Avery being the lovely person that she is, has plenty of attention from the handsome and dedicated, Detective Oz Alterman. Psychic connections, mystery and romance combine to make this story exceptionally enjoyable.

With plenty of unsavory and misunderstood characters, the story takes on a few twists and turns, but ultimately, resolves with a bang. I highly recommend this as a weekend read. It was quick and easy, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Now, twenty-three skidoo and get yourself this book!

~ Patricia

The first book in this series reminded me a bit of a grown up Nancy Drew with ghosts and this one is no different except we are digging a bit more into the characters and the club. As well this one has Avery's Aunt Rosemary from Lily Dale showing up with quite an entrance. Avery talked quite a lot about Aunt Rosemary in the first book but seeing her in action was quite the experience.

On the surface Bob Hanover seems like an okay guy who is excited about being in the dinner theater and not really willing to be pushed around by the playwright with the inflated ego. It's not shocking that the playwright doesn't like him but after Avery observes several tense conversations or moments between him and a whole host of people she starts to wonder - especially when Bob turns up dead in the middle of the play. Between pleas from family members, her relationship with the detective in charge, general nosiness, and feeling the responsibility of keeping the club going heavy on her shoulders she can't help but get involved with the investigation.

I liked seeing a bit more of Clemmie, Avery's relationship with her aunt, and the minutia of club business in this book. It gave it a sense of place and community feel. I think this series is a fun one with a lot of potential and I'm really excited to see what happens next with these characters.

I was excited to see book 2 of the Haunted Mansion Mystery being released. I fell in love with the characters of Avery and her ghost side kick, Clemmie. Avery is the manager of an old fashioned women's club and lives on the top floor with Clemmie dropping in on a regular basis. Avery is having a fund raiser for their charity work and trying to convince the Board of Directors to open up the membership to all ladies in town. When the actor in their fundraising play is murdered it is up to Clemmie to show the clues and save the club. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Event planner Avery is a lovely person. She works hard, and even when others try to derail her, she carries on and gets the job done. In Phantoms and Felonies, she has the help of a young flapper from the 1920s, Clemmie Bow, who was murdered at the club. In this paranormal mystery, readers get two puzzles to solve. First, who killed banker Bob Hanover during an event at the club, and who killed Clemmie Bow?

Suspects in Bob’s murder are vast. It could be anyone who attended the event that night, but it’s Avery’s aunt who the finger points at first. Just because she wasn’t supposed to be there, and she was found standing over the body. It’s no wonder Avery and Clemmie get straight to work. Being an event planner helps Avery have access to club members and guests who may have had it in for the victim. Using her gift for the paranormal to communicate with Clemmie and get the info she wouldn’t be able to otherwise goes a long way in helping solve this murder. Other suspects have genuine motives, Bob destroyed one person’s family business, a man’s writing career was sidetracked, and the man’s wife put up with his cheating far too long. This victim is not likable, and no one will miss him. The evidence isn’t set in stone. A weapon is found, but anyone could have gotten their hands on it. Other evidence is thin and could apply to almost any suspect.

With help from Clemmie and Avery’s paranormal-loving aunt and friends, she cracks the case but not before putting herself in harm’s way. No matter how good an event planner she is, Avery can’t plan what a killer put in a corner will do. Not all of the questions raised in Phantoms and Felonies get answered. We still don’t know who killed Clemmie, but we do get a better understanding of what happened to her. Will Avery and Oz continue their relationship? And most important, will Avery ever tell her aunt the truth about her psychic abilities? Hopefully, all of these questions will be answered in the next addition to the series. In the meantime, readers should grab a copy and enjoy getting to know these wonderful and interesting characters.

I’ve really been into cozy mystery paranormals lately as they are usually so much fun. I’d read the first in this series, and I had to pick this one up as I quite enjoyed it. In this latest, Avery hosts a 20s-themed murder mystery party, only there is a real murder, and Avery and friend must solve it. I love how the author throws us red-herrings, and I end up not guessing who the villain is which is unusual for me. Another aspect to enjoy is the relationship between Avery and Oz; he doesn’t belittle her or make fun of her need to investigate. This book is a well-written, LOL, fun time sure to keep you entertained for hours. You don’t need to have read the first one to have read this one. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Phantoms and Felonies by Lucy Ness is a lighthearted paranormal cozy mystery. Avery Morgan has been hard at work to revitalize the Portage Path Women’s Club by booking events in the elegant Dennison mansion. They need a big influx of cash as well as new members, so Avery has come up with a twenties themed murder mystery event which is open to the public. Unfortunately, the local banker is found bumped off in the speakeasy in the basement of the mansion. Avery sets out to solve the murder with help from the mansion’s resident ghost, Clemmie Bow. Phantoms and Felonies is the second book in A Haunted Mansion Mystery series. I was able to read Phantoms and Felonies, but the task would have been easier if I had read Haunted Homicide. I just loved Clemmie Bow, the flapper ghost who has become Avery’s friend. I enjoyed the 1920s slang (it was the bee’s knees). The mystery has several suspects who all had motive to rub-out the banker. There are good clues to help readers solve the whodunit before the reveal. I enjoyed the witty banter between Clemmie and Avery. They work well together and have a good friendship. There is humor throughout the story that will have readers chuckling. Aunt Rosemary was a hoot. Aunt Rosemary is a psychic who lives in Lily Dale, New York where Avery grew up. She believes that Avery has psychic powers as well, but Avery has always claimed she does not believe in all that “woo woo” stuff. Now, Avery works to make sure her aunt does not find out about Clemmie. I hope that Avery will embrace her gift as the series progresses. Phantoms and Felonies is an entertaining tale with a flapper phantom, an assertive aunt, a dashing detective, a bumped off banker, and a cat’s meow chick.

This was such a fun find! I really enjoy cozy mysteries - especially in these odd times... This was a delightful read. It is the second in the series, but I had no trouble following things or feeling connected to the characters. Ness does a lovely job of providing just enough detail to keep you in the thick of things, without weighing the story down with too much background or description. The pacing and revelations flowed very well and kept me engaged from the opening salvo. I already requested the first in the series from my library!

This is starting to look like a fun murder mystery series.

Avery's new try of getting people interested in a Portage Path Women's Club involves a murder mystery interactive play at the mansion. Unforutenly, the play's murder victim ends up being an actual murder victim. To save the club, she has to find the murderer. Again.

As I read this, I wondered how long this club could last. Every time they try to do something, someone gets murdered. It's not a good look.

This book does bring up the resident ghost's death. Is there more to Clemmie's death than we were led to believe? Wonder if that question gets answered in the next book.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Avery Morgan's latest idea to revitalize the Portage Path Women's Club is to host a murder mystery dinner. She has to deal with a prima donna author, a banker turned actor with ideas of his own about the story, a club member who thinks the whole thing is a bad idea, and a number of other characters with their own agendas.

When the banker turned actor winds up dead before the play is well under way, Avery needs to help her boyfriend Oz find the killer. She really hopes that it isn't another club member which would really ruin her plans for good PR for the Club.

Avery is assisted by ghost Clemmie Bow who was killed in the speakeasy in the basement during the 1920s. Part of this case included keeping Clemmie secret from her Aunt Rosemary who is a noted medium from Lily Dale. Aunt Rosemary decided to surprise her niece by attending the mystery dinner but wasn't expecting to discover the body and be accused of murder. She has always thought that Avery had some psychic powers though Avery had constantly denied any such talent.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery with interesting characters and an engaging plot.

Delightful! Despite not having read the first book in the series, I got right into this one. Great characters-fun background. The best part about a cozy is the characters and I can't wait to find out what happens to these ones. Recommended and now I have to go back and read the first in the series.

This is a light, frothy mystery with an interesting setup and plenty of quirky characters. The main character has just enough grit to give the narration texture, and there are few plot twists to keep the reader guessing. Overall, a fun fast read providing the satisfaction of a warm cup of cocoa on a lazy Saturday afternoon.