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.

A cute little cosy paranormal mystery. While an interesting premise where a girl giving ghost tours can see and speak to ghosts -. It didn’t quite hit the spot for me as it was slow and boring at times. The main character Lou was difficult to relate or engage with, with a preoccupation on mundane thoughts. However for those that enjoy a quaint mystery with paranormal elements, this could be up your alley.

I received a free copy of the arc from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Opinions expressed are my own.

An enjoyable debut mystery with a clever mystery, paranormal elements and a well rounded cast that make it a pleasure to read.

This book is good...a perfect combination of mystery and paranormal. I enjoyed this cozy mystery very much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Lou Thatcher gives ghost tours in the Garden District of New Orleans. Lou is also able to communicate with the dearly departed which is a plus for her tours. A rival tour guide, Adam, has been claiming she is a fake and harassing her. Adam is killed and Lou finds the body and herself a suspect. Lou needs to find the real killer to keep herself out of jail.

I enjoyed the idea of a tour guide being our sleuth and enjoyed Lou and the great cast of supporting characters. The mystery was a good one and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity read this ARC.

Lou lives in New Orleans, Louisiana and owns a ghost tour business. Lou has a special gift she can see and talk to ghosts making her ghost tours go viral. Another ghost tour business owner Adam Brandt is convinced that Lou is lying and is trying to prove it. When Lou stumbles upon Adams body and his ghost. The police think she's the prime suspect.

This was such a great paranormal cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the characters and the gumption of Lou. I'm excited to see what happens next in the series. I'll definitely be checking them out.

A fun paranormal cozy mystery with a great plot! I absolutely can't wait to read more from this series! The main character is a smart, quirky, businesswoman who just happens to be able to see and talk to ghosts. She has unique and varied family and friends who help her with life, business and a bit of amateur sleuthing to keep her out of jail! Throw in an adorable puppy and younger half-brother who shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night and you have even more complications to layer throughout the mystery. The author has woven some serious real-life issues into the story to make it more lifelike and varied thus making the story all that more enjoyable. A whodunit with meat on its bones and a bit of fun with ghosts getting involved in the daily life and sleuthing too! Set in New Orleans makes this the perfect paranormal cozy for mystery lovers who like a bit of fun in their story too! I can't wait for more!

The first in a new series follows Lou, who lives in New Orleans and runs a ghost tour business. When a competitor is murdered, she is the immediate suspect, especially since she found his body. What most people don't know about Lou though is that she can communicate with ghosts. She works with the ghost of the murder victim to try to figure out who else wanted him dead.

Overall, I enjoyed this debut! It's a really fun setting/premise (New Orleans, ghost tours, AND the added supernatural element), and I think the mystery was pretty solid. There is a lot of setup here, which I personally appreciated as it really let us get to know Lou and set up some future plot points. I definitely will be on the lookout for the next in this series!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Haunting and Homicide is a new paranormal cozy mystery from Ava Burke. It is the first book in the new Ghost Tour Mystery series.

The series sleuth is Tallulah "Lou" Thatcher. Lou can see, hear, and talk to ghosts. She has had this special power since she was a child and has found a way to utilize it as an adult.

Lou gives ghost tours in the historic Garden District of New Orleans. Her tours are extra special thanks to her ghostly contacts. Lou has attracted the ire of a rival ghost tour guide, who is found dead with one of Lou's daggers in his back.

At the insistence of the recently deceased (and to clear her name), Lou sets out to solve the mystery with the help of her ghostly sidekicks.

This story has a lot of great characters. Lou is kind, clever, and determined. She has a fun Nana and a delightful ghost friend named Kenneth. A super cute beagle pup, a younger brother with family drama, a best friend, and a cop crush help to round out the supporting cast.

The mystery is solid and includes enough intrigue and suspects to keep things interesting. The reveal was well done.

I would definitely read more from this author and series. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for the ARC.

This was the perfect paranormal cozy mystery with some awesome ghost characters. I loved Mamie and Albert's ghosts who were always a big help and Mamie even got to help later on in the book in a bigger way. A new ghost on the block was a jerk at first but eventually came around and was nice.

That was one nail-biting showdown but with some good old ghostly help, Lou lived to investigate another day. I really enjoyed these characters a lot but gotta admit, I was disappointed in the very ending. Everything with the mystery being solved worked out great though.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

BOOK: HAUNTINGS AND HOMICIDE
AUTHOR: AVA BURKE
PUB DATE: 25:01:2024
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book had amazing elements from the characters to the storyline and the setting. I liked the new venture into the FMC being able to see ghosts. That really helped her to solve the cases.
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This is the first in the series, and I liked that the book was mainly focused on the FMC, Tallulah 'Lou'. She was an amazing character who stood up for her baby brother, nice enough to solve her horrible competitor's murder and a bad ass entrepreneur. You can't help but like her.
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I liked that the mystery part of the book was simple. It was what the book needed. The FMC was just a typical store owner, so it was perfectly normal for her not to know her way through a murder investigation. But, she learned quickly. I didn't like who the culprit was because I was wrong 😂. But, I didn't see him coming from a mile away. So, that was okay.
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This book was a very nice beginning, and I would definitely read the next book in the series. In fact, I'm expecting it already.
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This was a fun new cozy debut. I love that it’s in New Orleans & centered around ghost tours! I will definitely keep reading this series.