For the most part, I really enjoyed “Haunting and Homicide” by Ava Burke. The storyline is a good one – when tour guide Adam Brandt is murdered, Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher is a main suspect since it is well known that she was feuding with Adam. What is not well known is that Lou can talk to ghosts, including the ghost of Adam who wants her to find his killer. She’s happy to help him, especially since she’s the number one suspect. The book is filled with memorable characters – Lou, her grandmother, her grandmother’s beau, her younger brother, her best friend, her coworker, her best friend’s brother, and the ghosts she interacts with. The family dynamics were well done, if sad at times (Lou’s grandmother is awesome!). Unfortunately, I found the mystery wasn’t quite as well done as the character aspects – there weren’t enough suspects and I felt like there weren’t enough clues leading up to who the killer really was. Having said that, I did enjoy the characters and setting and would read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher is a young woman who lives in New Orleans and she has a very special gift. She can see and talk to ghosts! She has since she was a child. It helps her in her business which is providing ghost tours of the city. She has a particular route she follows so she does not encroach on any other tours area. However, one of her competitors, Adam Brandt, has been harassing her. He has accused her of fraud and stalks her. On one of her tours, she stumbles upon his body. The police are called and who should be a investigating detective but her childhood crush and best friends brother, Detective Dylan Finch. If that isn't bad enough, she can see and hear Adam's ghost. Lou soon becomes the number one suspect. She decides to find the killer herself and not wait for the police to arrest her. With Adam's help, she sets out to find the killer.

It took me a while to get into this story. It's easy-to-read is fun. Perhaps I was just too busy. The story is unique in that all the ghosts along her tour as well as others help her piece together what happened.

Haunting and Homicide is the first book in a new series, A Ghost Tour Mystery. Lou Thatcher is a tour guide to a ghost tour company in the Garden District of New Orleans. When another tour guide is murdered, Lou works to solve the mystery.

I wanted read this novel because I love cozy mysteries. The New Orleans setting was also appealing.

This is a great series debut! I found Haunting and Homicide to be a unique series because of the ghostly aspect to the story. The author did a great job introducing a memorable amateur detective, setting the scene in picturesque New Orleans, and plotting the mystery.

I recommend Haunting and Homicide for other cozy mystery fans!

A good start to the new series. I was drawn to it because of the ghost element that reminded me of the addictive sitcom Ghosts. Obviously this cosy mystery doesn't have the comic factor of the tv show, but it's still entertaining. Looking forward to the next installment!

Haunting and Homicide, Ava Burke’s new cozy mystery, introduces a tour guide who sees ghosts—and helps one solve his own murder.

Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher runs a ghost tour company in New Orleans. Though she just started, her tours are gaining in popularity thanks to her knack for finding paranormal activity on late-night strolls through the Big Easy. Lou’s had the ability to see and speak to ghosts her whole life, but rival tour guide Adam Brandt is convinced that she’s faking her supernatural encounters and launches a campaign to shut down her tours for good. But when Lou stumbles upon Adam’s lifeless body, she promises his confused and angry ghost that she’ll help solve his murder. She needs to act quickly: Their feud was well known, and the murder weapon may have come from her shop, so the police zero in on Lou as a suspect. Can she work with Adam and the other neighborhood ghosts to solve his murder before she’s arrested? Or worse, targeted by his killer?

Haunting and Homicide takes readers on a delightful and atmospheric tour of New Orleans. Lou’s ghostly friends are unique and very funny, while her tours incorporate actual local history. The real-life details and paranormal elements combined make for a memorable and exciting premise for a cozy mystery series.

Lou herself is a high point of the novel: She’s smart, hardworking, loyal and extremely well-adjusted to her supernatural reality. Her relationships with the secondary characters really make the story come to life—expect heartfelt scenes with her grandmother and her younger half-brother, Bryce. And Lou has chemistry with two potential suitors, one of whom happens to be her childhood crush and best friend’s brother.

Haunting and Homicide is an entertaining introduction to Lou’s complicated and enjoyably spooky life as a sleuth in New Orleans.

While I didn't love this one. I did enjoy some aspects of the book especially the mystery and the New Orleans setting. I however think it's bit to much paranormal for me. But I am willing to give the next book in the series a chance as well as other books by the author.

This is my favorite book so far this year. I loved the setting, the characters, and the mystery. I was guessing until the end and even second guessed myself. I stayed awake much to late simply because I could not put it down. I am already looking forward to the second book.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher hosts ghost tours in the New Orleans Garden District and her tours are going viral because Lou has a gift. She can actually see and communicate with the area ghosts and one ghost loves to show off and watch the viral videos with Lou.

Adam Brandt also hosts ghost tours but he doesn’t have a gift and he believes Lou’s tours are complete shams until he is murdered and has his own encounter with Lou. He wants her to find his killer but she is the police’s prime suspect due to their prior discord and that the murder weapon came from her store. He doesn’t know who killed him but he knows it wasn’t Lou so she starts to dig into his past to see who wanted him dead and is framing her for his murder. She just hopes she can find the killer before they have her haunting the Garden District with all the other ghosts.

Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher is a wonderful protagonist with an interesting gift – a gift she has had her whole life. She doesn’t know why the ghosts are stuck where they are and would love to help them pass to the next realm. Until then she enjoys visiting with them and showing off their talents. We also meet her loving grandmother, her grandmother’s significant other Ronald, her best friend Cady, Cady’s brother Detective Dylan Finch, Lou’s part-time employee Tess, and Lou’s teenage brother Bryce. For the first book in the series, the characters were well fleshed out while leaving room for growth as the series continues.

There are also some cool ghosts in this story and I loved how cleverly they were created. They had distinct talents and were there when Lou needed them most.

We follow Lou through her busy daily life as she works in questioning the living and the dead in her quest to find Adam’s killer. She did get herself into some sticky situations but none more so than when the killer is revealed. I truly was on the edge of my seat for the chase that occurred in the final chapters and found the takedown was especially delightful. Adam makes a request of Lou after everyone is safe. It was truly heartwarming.

A subplot deals with Lou’s dysfunctional family and I appreciated the way Ms. Burke handled the situation. I am sure there will be issues that arise in future stories as there would in real life. What occurred gives us insight into Lou’s past which makes her even more genuine.

A unique plot set in New Orleans with complicated relationships, family drama, ghosts, and more has set this series off to a terrific start. It was very easy to get invested in these characters with the interesting and entertaining mystery the author has penned. I highly recommend Haunting and Homicide and can’t wait for the next Ghost Tour Mystery!

Haunting and Homicide is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. I was intrigued by the premise, which is different than other cozies featuring ghosts. The fact that not only does the main character, Lou, see ghosts, but when the guy who made her life miserable is murdered, she still has to deal with him and solve his murder. It's such a good story. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see how the characters continue to develop.

Enjoyable.

Lou Tatcher just started her own business giving ghost tours, which is a really good job for her because she can actually see ghosts. A competitor threatens to put her out of business and when she stumbles over his dead body, Lou is considered a suspect.

So Lou decides to investigate herself, with the help of Adam (who didn’t see who killed him and also doesn’t think he has enemies) she talkes to a few living and dead people. All the while nursing the crush she has on the lead detective.

Lots of interesting characters and I hope to see a few of the ghosts again in the next mystery.

What a wonderful start to a series! The location of New Orleans & Lou’s ability to see ghosts, adds the perfect amount of the macabre to this cozy book. I really enjoyed that she uses her gift/curse to her advantage by having ghost tours. Unfortunately when her business rival is murdered she has to work with his ghost to clear her name and solve his death. It’s very cool that some of the best supporting characters are ghosts. The author does such an amazing job of bringing in the supernatural into the story and making it seem plausible. I hope there will be more books to follow as I really enjoyed this as a starter. A amateur sleuth who can communicate with the murder victims is a very clever plot device, one that opens itself to many future opportunities.

👻

Read if you like:
* A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke
* Haunted Haven series by Carol J. Perry

Three cheers for publisher Crooked Lane Books for introducing a new, delightful paranormal cozy mystery series. Haunting and Homicide is book one in Ava Burke’s A Ghost Tour Mystery series and serves as a great start.

Lou Thatcher lives in New Orleans and owns and operates her own ghost tour business through the historic Garden District. But what makes Lou especially unique is that she sees and communicates with ghosts, many of whom enjoy playing along to add extra flair to her tours.

Unfortunately, her rival tour guide Adam Brandt is found murdered, and due to their acrimonious relationship, Lou is the prime suspect. Lou’s teenage crush, now local detective Dylan Finch, finds even more reason to believe Lou is guilty when the murder weapon is found to have ties to Lou’s shop. Wanting to prove her innocence and be rid of Adam’s ghost, Lou dives headfirst into the investigation.

This was such a fun start to a new series. I was immediately drawn in by the story, and I especially enjoyed Lou’s interactions with the local ghosts. I thought I had the true culprit uncovered, but I was fooled! I found myself quickly turning the pages as I neared the ending, mentally biting my nails as I raced to the resolution.

While I very much enjoyed the character of Lou, the ghosts made the story for me. Each of them was unique, with wonderful personalities, and I especially loved that some of them got such a kick out of helping give Lou’s tours a spookier feel.

New Orleans is a great setting for a paranormal cozy mystery series, and I enjoyed all the details about the sights and sounds of the place. Such vivid writing brings the story and setting to life and makes for a true literary escape.

I’ll certainly be keeping my eye out for future additions to this series.

Cozy mysteries are always fun and charming, and Burke brings these elements and more in "Haunting and Homicide." This has the feel-good nature of the genre mixed with ghosts which provides something refreshing to the genre and will appeal to those seeking paranormal stories. There are plenty of surprises and twists to be had, keeping you engaged from chapter to chapter. I greatly enjoyed this and can't wait to see what Burke writes next!

**3.5 stars**

This was a very fun Southern supernatural cozy set in New Orleans involving ghost tours, murder, and a cute puppy. I will look for the next book in the series for sure.

The author says Ava Burke on Goodreads but the audiobook copy lists the author as Amber Camp which is very confusing.

I also listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator.

*Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

This was a fun cozy set in New Orleans, a perfect place for a paranormal cozy. The main character is fun and quirky. The idea of the plot is a little on the nose for a "pilot" book in the series but did not detract from my enjoyment. I hope there will be more to come.

Ava Burke starts the Ghost Tour mysteries with Haunting and Homicide. Lou Thatcher can see and communicate with ghosts who populate New Orleans so of course she leads ghost tours of New Orleans streets and cemeteries. Her rival tour leader ends up dead after suggesting her tours are fake. Then her brother teenager turns up running away from home. She is a suspect in her rival's murder and sees his ghost. He asks her to investigate. What could go wrong? Hang on for the ride in this ghost ridden cosy.

I liked the ghost hunting and seeing ghosts angle, especially mixed with solving a murder. I am excited to read more of the series.

I enjoy reading paranormal cozy mysteries. They're my favorite. So many are just about the same but by different authors. This first book in the series is a little different and I'm excited to keep reading the series.
Lou Thatcher can see ghosts which makes her ghost tours the best in New Orleans. When a rival tour guide is found dead, Lou is the main suspect due to their rocky relationship. But she is the only one who can see him and help find his murderer. She puts herself in danger while investigating.
Love the characters in this book and really love all the ghosts. Nan is a sweetheart and I"m glad Lou is helping Bryce.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.

This is a charming series starter. New Orleans is a wonderfully ghostly setting, and Lou's ghost-talking abilities make her career logical and helpful in both her business and solving the crime she finds herself involved in. Good characters will make for a good series.

Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and ghostly intrigue, set in the vibrant streets of New Orleans’ Garden District. Lou Thatcher, a tour guide who can see ghosts, gets entangled in a murder investigation when her rival, Adam Brandt, is found dead—and his ghost sticks around to help her uncover the truth.

The novel shines with its colorful characters, heartwarming community dynamics, and a lighthearted tone that balances the spookier elements. The addition of Lou’s runaway brother and a stray puppy adds charm and relatability. The New Orleans setting, with its rich supernatural history, adds another layer of atmosphere.

However, the pacing falters at times, with the middle of the book dragging as Lou’s investigation meanders. While the final reveal is satisfying, tighter plotting could have kept the story more engaging throughout. Still, it’s an enjoyable read for cozy mystery fans craving a paranormal twist.