Enjoyed this mystery. It was a fun theme and I liked the characters. Author did a great job of weaving in historical renovation concepts throughout.

A GHOSTLY LIGHT is book seven in Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series. Although this is only the first book in this series I've read, I was still able to follow along and enjoy this book without any confusion. The combination of history, ghosts, and family togetherness will make A GHOSTLY LIGHT a delight for fans of cozy paranormal mysteries. Mel Turner is a down-to-earth businesswoman who makes a believable and easy-to-like amateur sleuth.

When Thorn Walker is murdered on Lighthouse Island, it makes some sense for Mel to get involved. Not only does she want to clear up the several mysteries that swirl around the location where her construction crew is working, but she wants to clear her friend as a suspect in her ex-husband's murder. Mel's ability to see and communicate with ghosts add an intriguing twist on things -- especially when the murder victim and one of the key suspects are ghosts. Not only does Mel have to figure out the identity of the murderer, but she must divine whether the perpetrator is living or of the ghostly variety. Most of the action in A GHOSTLY LIGHT takes place on Lighthouse Island. Juliet Blackwell does a fantastic job of working the Northern California setting into the story and making it seem like another character.

Apparitions and architecture make a spooky and sensational mix in A GHOSTLY LIGHT. Mel's boyfriend, assorted family members, and friend Luz all help Mel, to some degree, as she tracks down clues. Luz gives Mel advice about the psychological aspects of this puzzle. Mel's fear of heights is a great secondary story without taking anything away from the central mystery. I love the way Juliet Blackwell ties Robert Louis Stevenson and treasure hunting into this fascinating tale. I look forward to reading Juliet Blackwell's next Haunted Home Renovation mystery.

This book had everything this cozy mystery lover could want! Meg is going to turn a old lighthouse into a B&B for her friend Alicia. Alicia deserves happiness after escaping from abusive ex-husband, Thorn Webster This latest outing is a satisfying one, with a tale of real-life grief and domestic abuse as its underpinnings. There is less actual construction/renovation going on during this book, which is kind of a shame wish there had been more interaction between Mel and her sweetheart, Landon

I really love Juliet Blackwell's cozy mysteries, but I really love this series in particular. Mel is a great heroine; I love that she has a get-your-hands-dirty profession. I also love old houses, so the descriptions of the places she's working on is great fun. This mystery tugged at the heartstrings; you want the best for both Ida and Alicia.

I highly recommend this series.

A lighthouse, murder, and ghosts, oh my! Another fabulous Haunted Home Renovation Mystery!

When I started reading cozy mysteries, I didn’t know there were para-cozies dealing with ghosts, and witches. I love the traditional cozy so much I couldn’t even think about read one with a paranormal element. But then I did, and I loved it, and I have read more like, A GHOSTLY LIGHT. It seems as though I like a cozy with a ghost from time to time. And author Juliet Blackwell helps play a part in that.

A GHOSTLY LIGHT was a fascinating book that I couldn’t put down. From the vivid descriptions of the lighthouse, to the murder and investigation, meeting the ghosts, and the great reveal, as well as a surprise last couple of sentences, everything about this story worked from the way it flowed, to the suspense, and the mystery, Ms. Blackwell has written tale to beat.

A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell is the seventh book in A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series. Mel Turner, general contractor and head of Turner Construction, is starting a new project. Mel is working with Alicia Withers to turn the beautiful old Victorian Bay Light lighthouse and the keeper’s lodge into an inn (with restaurant) on Lighthouse Island. Alicia deserves happiness after escaping from abusive ex-husband, Thorn Webster. Mel and Alicia are touring the keeper’s house when Alicia goes still and pale. Thorn Webster steps inside the cottage and wants to speak with Alicia. Buzz, the security guard, escorts Thorn back to the dock, but Mel knows they have not seen the last of him. A little while later, the pair are at the lighthouse with Alicia at the top (Mel is having issues with heights since her last recent brush with death). Mel hears Alicia scream and then Thorn tumbles down the stairs. Alicia arrives on the scene with blood on her hands. Unfortunately, Alicia becomes the prime suspect in Thorn’s death (she had a good motive). Mel knows she did not kill Thorn and sets out to find the real culprit. Matters are further complicated by a couple of ghosts. Thorn is now haunting the island (and being a literal thorn in Mel’s side) and a female ghost in the lighthouse who has issues with men. Can Mel help find closure for the ghosts and capture Thorn’s killer? It looks like rough seas ahead for Mel in A Ghostly Light.

A Ghostly Light is an entertaining paranormal cozy mystery. The book contains good characters and the beautiful setting of San Francisco. Mel is a nice, strong female character with foibles that make her feel real. Mel is having issues with heights since her brush with death on a roof in the last novel. She is trying to overcome this weakness, but it is slow going (especially since she refuses most suggestions). I did feel that it was a little overplayed in the story. It was mentioned a few too many times. I enjoyed the humor provided by Mel’s family. It lightens up the story. Mel has such a great, diverse family (very lifelike). I am rating A Ghostly Light 4 out of 5 stars. The writing is good (as always), but the pace was a little slow. There is quite a bit of information (historical facts, character backgrounds) injected into the story that slowed down the flow. Included in A Ghostly Light is the murder, ghosts, treasure map, protestors, Mel’s issue with heights, Landon not being liked by all family members, various construction projects, and Mel needing a dress for the ballet. There is some repetition of information (needed to be eliminated). The identity of Thorn’s killer was a cinch to figure out. I could discern it before Mel left Lighthouse Island after the murder. The mystery of female ghost was appealing, and I was curious to see how it would unfold. I especially liked the treasure (something I would cherish). A Ghostly Light is the seventh book in the series, but you can read it alone. Readers are given all the necessary details needed to enjoy A Ghostly Light (though I have enjoyed reading all the books in A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series). I look forward to the next book in this engaging series.

I just finished reading A Ghostly Light, this is very much a9 cozy read. For me the book too long to get into for this kind of book. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Synopsis:

In the latest mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Give Up the Ghost, it will take a beacon of ghostly intervention to guide contractor Mel Turner to the truth...

Dangerous tides ahead...

When her friend Alicia hires Turner Construction to renovate a historic lighthouse in the San Francisco Bay, Mel Turner can’t wait to get her hands dirty. Alicia plans to transform the island property into a welcoming inn, and while Mel has never attempted a project so ambitious—or so tall—before, she’s definitely up for the challenge.

But trouble soon arises when Alicia’s abusive ex-husband shows up to threaten both her and Mel, and later turns up dead at the base of the lighthouse stairs. With no other suspects in sight, things start looking choppy for Alicia. Now, if Mel wants to clear her friend’s name, she’ll need the help of the lighthouse’s resident ghosts to shine a light on the real culprit... (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Mel is a strong smart woman who does not let much stop her. Except for heights, that she cannot handle. This is a new fear for her, and she does not know how to handle it. This is not a good thing for someone in construction. I thought this one just one of the ways that the author makes Mel more believable and human. All of her family (her dad, Caleb, Stan…)are very likable and I enjoy reading about all of their interactions and conversations. And of course I cannot forget to mention Thorn, the newly deceased ghost. To bad he does not know how he met his demise.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. The mystery surrounding the lighthouse, and the history of this lighthouse, and lighthouses in general, made for some interesting reading.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and enough clues to sift through and this was not an easy mystery to solve. Throw in some red herrings and you have a well plotted mystery on your hands.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy paranormal. With great characters, great descriptions and a top notch mystery to solve, this is a book you are sure to enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Juliet Blackwell's books just keep getting better and better!!!! I found this one particularly suspenseful. Unlike other mysteries I've read recently, I didn't figure out who the murderer was until the very end. I was a little more successful at solving another mystery, but I don't want to go into details because I don't like to include spoilers in reviews. Mel's gang continues to grow, and Blackwell continues to provide interesting character development that makes me wish I could meet them. The island setting and the local history lessons added extra spice to this book! I can hardly wait for the next in the series!

Oh this book I could not put it down! Juliet Blackwell has a must read book you will want to read this summer! This book had everything this cozy mystery lover could want! In A Ghostly Light, Juliet Blackwell took everything I love in a great cozy and surpassed my expectations of a great book. Wonderful read for a reader who loves light houses, ghost stories, mysteries and delightful endings! Take this book to the beach with you this summer or like me to a lighthouse. I have read one or two in this series and while I enjoyed them, this one stood out most for me as it hit on something I love so dearly which is preservation of lighthouses. This story was so inspiring, the mystery so captivating and the characters both alive and dead so relatable! This is a book I would buy for my friends just so we could talk about the story together! This series is a book clubs delight, this story a crown jewel. This book is out June 27th.

Mel Turner usually sees at least one ghost during her renovation jobs, but this time she encounters three. It's a complicated story about the life of the light keeper and his family and what happens when the keeper dies and his wife takes over the duties. Mix this in with a contemporary murder and you have A Ghostly Light. Enjoyed it very much.

Mel, of Turner Construction, is back with her friends as she tries to figure our who really killed the abusive exhusand of a friend. During this she is also trying to get over her fear of heights, solve a mystery from long ago involving the resident island ghost and renovate the lighthouse along with juggling family life and her new boyfriend . Mel always has lots going on. Another fun and interesting read by this author.

Mel Turner specializes in renovating and restoring historic homes, particularly haunted ones. Her latest project is helping her friend Alicia turn an abandoned San Francisco Bay-area lighthouse into a B&B. It's going to take an enormous amount of money and logistical maneuvering, but things are right on schedule...until Alicia's abusive ex-husband appears on the island and is killed soon after. Since Alicia finds him at the top of the lighthouse with a knife in his chest and tries to help him just before he falls down the stairs and dies, she's Suspect #1. Mel knows Alicia is innocent and starts doing some investigating of her own to help the police uncover the real culprit.

Meanwhile, the ghost of a former lighthouse keeper, Ida Vigilance, is desperate to know what happened to her son over a century ago, and her grief is causing difficulty with the renovations, so Mel recruits her friends Luz and Trish to help her search for clues among historical records.

The latest installment in the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series has it all: plot twists; characters you wish you knew in real life; funny, snappy dialogue; and a setting you can practically see and feel. Although you could read book #7 by itself, it's best read in order to fully appreciate the character development, particularly Mel & Landon's relationship and her recent-onset vertigo.

For readers' advisors: all four doorways are strong, particularly story and character. No sex or onscreen violence. Only an occasional mild swear word.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an advance copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. This is probably my favorite book in the series so far. Looking forward to #8 now!

Although I don't read many supernatural mysteries, I do enjoy the Haunted Home Renovation series with Mel Turner. This latest outing is a satisfying one, with a tale of real-life grief and domestic abuse as its underpinnings. There is less actual construction/renovation going on during this book, which is kind of a shame. Those details, which Blackwell skillfully weaves in, always ground the story and keep it from becoming too woo-woo, if you know what I mean. Still, this mystery is well-plotted, full of a great, realistic cast of characters and nicely balanced between the mysteries of family, friendship, love, lighthouses, and buried treasure. I'll look forward to the next entry in the series!

Note: Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

A Ghostly Light: Haunted Home Renovation
Author: Juliet Blackwell
Publisher: Berkley


Mel loves renovating old properties in the San Francisco area, so when her friend Alicia hires her company, Turner Construction to renovate a historic lighthouse in the Bay, she can’t wait to get started. Alicia wants to transform the island property into a paying Inn, saving the history of the lighthouse and its former residents. No one thought that murder would get in the way.

Alicia’s abusive ex-husband, Thorn shows up and is promptly killed, leaving Alicia as the only suspect. Of course, there are a few other problems with the renovation of the lighthouse beside the police investigation into Thorn’s death. First, the project is a colossal undertaking that will take time and lots of money. Second, Mel has recently become terrified of heights and is doing her best to hide the fact from her clients and crew which makes her job almost impossible and her life a nightmare. Last but most definitely not the least, some of the former residents are still living on the island and in the lighthouse, which wouldn’t be an issue if they were alive.

Mel has little choice if she wants to finish this project, she has to find out who killed Alicia’s ex, and help the ghost in the attic find peace. If she fails the project will be ruined, and her friend will end up in prison for a murder she didn’t commit.

--
Mel Turner is a memorable character filled with ambition and determination but has a softer side as well, one where she is fearful of failing in her relationship with boyfriend Landon and losing the love of her step-son Caleb. Her friends are colorful and loyal as well as entertaining all on their own, especially her ghost hunter mentor, Olivier.

The characters are highly relatable; the reader can easily see their family and friends within the pages of this book. Juliet Blackwell is a talented story teller who again shows that she can create interesting and well-rounded characters as well as exciting plot lines. The location of San Francisco Bay is wonderfully detailed in a way that makes it easy to see and feel the city and the lighthouse even if the reader has never been to the city. The small island where the lighthouse is located will come to life as the reader imagines the keepers and their families living and working on the lonely island in a time long past.

This book is a delightful fast read with several twists and turns that will keep the reader not only turning the page but surprised by the outcome. The reveal of the killer is very emotional and may even bring a tear to the eye of many readers. Happily, this book is recommended to anyone who enjoys a good mystery that is plot driven with characters that are charming and memorable.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

A Ghostly Light: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery
By Juliet Blackwell
Berkley
July 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Melanie “Mel” Turner, the owner of San Francisco’s Turner Construction, has several gifts. First, she can look at the most ramshackle of buildings and envision its potential beauty, as well as the possibilities to provide comfort and happiness. Her other talent is truly magical, as Mel has recently begun seeing and communicating with the ghosts. Her last experience at helping a spirit cross over still has Mel recovering from her own brush with death, suffering with a case of PTSD-induced vertigo. Being unable to cope with heights will be a bit of a problem on her newest site, as Mel has been hired by Alicia Withers to renovate Lighthouse Island’s historic lighthouse and keeper’s home into a functional Lighthouse Inn. Considering its long history and the precarious state of ocean travel, Mel wasn’t surprised to discover spirits haunting the island. What does shock her is the sight of a woman’s ghost throwing herself off of the lighthouse, not to mention the discovery of a far more recent corpse.

Mel herself had a confrontation with the late Thorn Walker, Alicia’s abusive ex-husband who had tracked her down even though she had assumed a new identity. The afterlife hasn’t made Thorn any less of a jerk, but circumstances have Alicia the most obvious suspect and the one Mel needs to help. Perhaps even more upsetting than this being the fifth body Mel has had the misfortune to discover are the memories of a home she’s certain she’s never been in. Mel’s new mathematician boyfriend Landon may use physics to explain parallel dimensions and ghostly presences, but she would prefer that Thorn simply disappear, discover whether the treasure maps being left around the island are real, and learn who and why the ghostly woman is haunting the lighthouse.

What continues to be remarkably entertaining about this series are the fascinating details and demands of historical renovations. Here lighthouses are particularly compelling, as few could tolerate the isolation or rigorous demands, making it one of the few professions therefore open to women . Mel continues to be the star attraction though, as she is a woman working in a male-dominated profession and living in a similarly masculine household. A stepson, father, family friend, Mel’s out-of-work friend Stephen, and even Doug the dog inhabit the Turner Construction home and office, which explains why Mel values her female friendships so highly. It is her best friend Luz who encourages Mel to seek an acupuncturist for help with her acrophobia, although in truth it may be feelings for Landon that are causing her fear. Mel’s good humor and wit make her an engaging and likable heroine – she is delighted to find how much she enjoys having minions to run errands – while her empathy and compassion compel her to assist both the living and dead. Mel herself would appreciate the crafting and construction of this novel, which skillfully balances humor with debates over justice, forgiveness, and whether anyone can be redeemed.

A wonderful series that adds more depth to the characters each new book, as well as interesting SF history. One of the best cozy mystery series I've read.

Once again, I have been transported, by Ms Blackwell, into Mel Turner's world of mysteries, murder, ghosts, and of course renovations/restorations. As with each book in this series, getting lost within the story and its quirky characters is a given. Add in Mel's wry and witty sense of humor, along with the musings of her family and friends, and you the perfect recipe for an entertaining read each and every time.

Through this author's vivid descriptions, I'm carried away into beautiful old homes, neighborhoods, and the many different and varied cities that encompass the Bay Area. The realism of the San Francisco Bay Area and its gorgeous surroundings is a bonus. With the intrigue that seems to follow Mel at every turn, there is never a moment where I'm not completely captivated by the premise of the story and all it's players. Having read the series from its onset, it's comforting to have all the characters reappear in each new book...they have become like old friends. Let me just say though, Mel's chemistry with her new love interest, Landon is off the charts. l love how the story ended...only promising to bring on more goodness in future books.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Mel Turner, general contractor, is hired to restore a historic island lighthouse, which turns out to be haunted. Her friend Alicia’s abusive ex-husband is murdered on the island—but could the ghost of a long-dead lighthouse keeper have pushed him down the lighthouse steps?

Mel Turner’s construction company has been hired to restore a lighthouse in San Francisco Bay and Mel is excited about the project. Her friend Alicia plans to turn the lighthouse into an inn, but plans are put on hold when Alicia’s violent ex shows up and threatens both women. When the lout is found dead at in the lighthouse not long after, it’s good riddance to bad medicine, but the cops want someone to pay for the crime. Alicia is suspect number one of course, but Mel isn’t about to let her friend go down for a crime she didn’t commit. The setting in this story is a big part of the books appeal, and Mel is the kind of freind we’d all like to have
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