The Haunted Bookshop SeriesBy Cleo Coyle, writing as Alice Kimberly
For mystery fans and the fans of those hard-boiled detective novels of the thirties and forties. THE GHOST AND MRS. McCLURE, the first book in the THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP series, introduces you to bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and the ghost of hard-boiled 1940’s detective, Jack Shepard.
When widow Penny decides to take her late husband’s small life insurance policy and move herself and her young son back to her small Rhode Island hometown to invest in her aunt’s failing bookstore, she most certainly did not believe in ghosts. At the bookstore’s first author event the guest of honor, a best-selling author who coincidentally wrote crime stories based on the real-life Jack Shepard, drops dead. Penny is the main suspect. But suddenly, there’s a deep voice inside her head saying “No way!” and she sees the shadow of a fedora wearing man. Is this a figment of her imagination or could this 1940’s era detective with the “acres of shoulders” really be talking to her and no one else? With the “help” of Jack, and her friends, Penny eventually solves the mystery. Along the way she also finds out that Jack’s last case ended in his death in her bookstore and he’s been forced to spend eternity in a small town far from his former stomping grounds of post
WWII New York.
Cooking Up A Treat! Killer Cheese Dip (HOT)
A Hot Spicy Party Cheese Dip known to make women faint, strong men cry and small children fun for their mommies.Makes 18 oz of dip
11 oz Cheese Soup (one can of condensed cheese soup)
4 oz Chopped Green Chilies ( use Old El Paso canned chillies)
1 Medium Yellow Onion, chopped
1 tbsp Crushed Red Pepper
1 tbsp Chili Powder
1 tbsp Cumin1 Garlic Clove, crushed
1/4 tsp Hot Sauce (Tabasco sauce or hot pepper sauce)
8 oz Sour Cream
Mix together all ingredients except the sour cream; heat to boiling at low heat.When blended, correct seasoning (usually needs more cumin and garlic)Add sour cream and heat until it bubbles slightly. Serve with Tostitos or any natural Mexican-style corn chip.
The books in the series are all quick reads and easy enough to throw into your beach bag and while away the day. This one in particular is especially entertaining because of Jack and Penny’s conversations – he uses the slang terms of his time and she keeps trying to explain the Internet and reality TV.
ReplyDeleteReaders can get a glimpse into a new genre of reading and realize that movies like “The Big Sleep” and “The Long Goodbye” were inspired by books. Every chapter opens with a quote by a famous detective novel author such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.
I loved it! I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Thanks for introducing me to a new author.
ReplyDelete