High Spirits by Carol J. Perry is a cute cozy mystery. It is the second A Haunted Haven Mystery and it can be read as a standalone. The author provides all the necessary background information for new readers. I found High Spirits easy to read thanks to the author’s conversational writing style. The book moved along at a good clip. I like Maureen Doherty and her darling dog, Finn. I also like Ted, Lorna, Gert, and the other seniors who work at the inn. I enjoyed the descriptions of the inn Maureen inherited. I wanted to steal some of her Christmas decorations (I love vintage ornaments). I can relate to Maureen’s thoughts about Christmas in Florida. It is challenging to channel Christmas when you are wearing shorts and t-shirts with the sand and surf nearby. There are two mysteries in High Spirits. There is a cold case that Officer Frank Hubbard is determined to solve. A man was shot in the Paramount Theater while watching Animal House in the 1970s. In the present day, the projectionist hired by the owners of the Paramount Theater ends up shot in the projectionist booth. Officer Hubbard believes Maureen has information on the cold case and he is stalking her (stakes out her house, follows her while she walks the dog, and much more). I am not a fan of Officer Hubbard. I believe he crossed the line in this book. I enjoyed the two mysteries that tie into the local movie theater. There are several suspects in the cold case, and they happen to be in town. It was fun following Maureen as she set out to gather information to solve the cases. She gets help from Lorna the inn’s resident ghost who loves to borrow from Maureen’s wardrobe. Maureen assembles her clues and puts the pieces together to solve the puzzles. I did feel, though, that the reveal was anticlimactic (it was ho hum). For those who are avid armchair sleuths, you will not find the mysteries challenging. I quickly grew tired of all the repetitive details (every time Maureen walks the dog, goes in the side door, what she is wearing down to the shoes, goes out the side door, passes the soda machines and guest laundry area, the type of car she drives). There was romance in the story as Maureen gets to know her head chef. Plus, Lorna has a beau to squire her about town. I love the ghosts in the story and would like to see more of this element. High Spirits is a spirited story with a friendly Finn, Christmas centerpieces, appealing paintings, a cold case, pricey purses, and festive embellishments for trimming the palm tree. ( )

Maureen Doherty lost her job and didn't no where to turn when she'd found that she'd inherited Haven House in Florida. The inn is old, and needs plenty of work, but has a lack of funds due to the mismanagement of the previous manager. But Maureen knows how to plan, and she's hoping to figure out a way to save it.

Then comes Decklin Monroe, an old actor who is now a projectionist of old two-reel movies at the Paramount, a theater also in need of repairs. Maureen has come up with an idea: have a dinner and a movie night. Purchase theater tickets, and include a dinner at the hotel's restaurant, giving them some proceeds -- which are better than none. But Decklin's story of a murder in the theater, and the ghost who haunts it, bothers Maureen, even though she doesn't let it interfere with her idea.

But at the first showing, there is another murder, and now people are wondering who killed this person, and police officer Frank Hubbard is none too happy with Maureen right now, but still needs her help in finding the killer. With a full house on board for Christmas, a ghost haunting her suite, and a murder to solve, it will be a wonder if Maureen can actually find a killer...

This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it quite as much as I did the first. Ms. Perry weaves a story well, and it was full of plenty of goings-on and a few ghosts to boot. Watching her try to keep the Haven House and keep it running is worth it, and her staff is fiercely loyal to her and the old inn as well. What I found humorous was the fact that Finn loves to be read to -- books about dogs, of course!

But who killed the latest victim? I had my own insights, and I read a lot of mysteries, so I had the culprit halfway through the book. I just didn't know how. That was all explained carefully, believably, and capably. This series is a delightful entry to the cozy genre, and the characters are becoming more defined, which I know will continue with each book.

The ending does have a nice epilogue, and it ties everything together in a brightly colored Christmas bow, and gives us something to look forward to in the next in the series. There are also a few yummy recipes in the back. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review. ( )

amateur-sleuth, chef, cold-case, cozy-mystery, Florida, friendship, ghosts, inheritance, innkeeper, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, pets, preternatural, read, recipes, restoration, senior-citizens, small-business, small-town*****

Maureen had a surprise inheritance of an inn in Haven, Florida just as her career in Boston as a retail buyer came to an abrupt end. This venture is a new one for her and there is little actual money involved as the place has turned into a money sink. The inn is haunted by the glamorous ghost of an actress long dead who loves reading dog stories to Maureen's golden, Finn. Then there's the multitalented chef, an oddly behaving policeman, all the employees who love the inn, the locals with long memories and an appreciation of the luminaries who used to stay at the inn all those years ago.
The publisher's blurb is pretty good, so no need to repeat or do spoilers. I loved this one just as much as the first!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )