Member Reviews
If You've Got It, Haunt It is a fun cozy mystery. Mysteries are always better when ghosts hang around to move the plot along. Cookie Chanel has no choice but to pay attention and try to solve her murder. Even better is the psychic cat, Wind Song, which is perfectly whimsical. While rather predictable, I appreciate a good cozy mystery. 4 stars.
This was such a fun read! I love vintage clothes and this book did a good job of talking about vintage fashion without getting too bogged down in details. Cookie is a cute main character who is aware that she really has no business investigating a murder. I love ghost Charlotte though I am very glad I'm not haunted by her as I think she would get exhausting very quickly. The possibly psychic cat, Windsong, is also a fun character and I'm looking forward to seeing what skills she develops as the series goes along. Cookie also has a good friend and a promising start to some kind of relationship with Detective Valentine. I'm really curious to see how Cookie gets pulled into the next mystery and if she ends up with more haunts.
This is the first in a series of five novels. The story takes place in Sugar Creek, Georgia and their town is famous for sweet tea and southern charm. Cookie Chanel owns a vintage shop called Its Vintage Y’all and she mostly finds her vintage pieces at estate sales. A wealthy woman was recently murdered and when Cookie attends the estate sale she's in for more than she bargained for.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and the way small clues were included throughout the story to help you figure out the whodunnit. I liked that fashion clues helped solve the mystery in the end and the cute fashion touches throughout. I liked Cookie’s character and since this book came out a few years ago I'm excited to see there's more in store. One of my favorite supporting characters was Cookie's adorable and strangely special cat.
If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey, December 2014, Kensington Publishing ISBN: 1617732494
If You've Got It, Haunt It is the first in a series which currently runs to five books, with a sixth out in 2018, and it introduces vintage-clothing shop owner and blogger Cookie Chanel. Cookie's shop, It's Vintage, Y'All is in the small town of Sugar Creek, Georgia.
Cookie is attending the estate sale of the late Charlotte Meadows, a successful businesswoman who died under mysterious circumstances. Cookie doesn't just acquire some new stock for her shop though...she comes home with the ghost of Charlotte. And Charlotte won't leave Cookie alone until Cookie finds Charlotte's murderer.
Encouraged by Charlotte – and not having much choice really – Cookie begins to do some snooping and even some breaking and entering. As no-one else can see Charlotte, Cookie has to be on her toes to not look like she's talking to herself all the time! Cookie crosses paths with a new to the town, and attractive, police detective when she discovers a body. And she acquires a cat who can communicate via a Ouija board.
This is an enjoyable and light read, well paced with a likeable lead character and the mystery is satisfying. It's high on the woo-woo factor with not only a ghost but a very mysterious cat but I don't mind that. I don't know whether Charlotte stays around in further books but I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
Karen Meek, September 2017.