I’m not sure how many books are in the series but I’m still finding these extremely interesting. As the characters continue to grow, there continues to be murder in this little town and somehow it always involves the bookstore.
I am really enjoying learning more about Jack as we go back to his time period in his life through dreams. The only slight issue I may have with this series is that I am not quite sure about the whole ghostly romance thing. That just seems a bit wrong on a few different levels. ( )

Jack and Penelope are back to find who is killing guests at the film noir presentation at the local movie theater. Are they connected to a case of Jack's back from the 1940's?

I enjoyed this story. I like these characters. The regulars are all back and sniping at each other. Seymour is more involved this time. He'd drive me crazy but he is fun to watch as he needles and harasses the others but helps Penelope with her store and investigation. I enjoy the trips back to the 40's and how Jack's cases are entwined with the murders that happen around Penelope. I like the glimpses we get of Jack's life before death.

I am a lousy detective. Jack would always be shaking his head at me. I did figure out the who but almost at the end. I did not figure out the reason and needed it explained to me. I am looking forward to reading more in the series. ( )

Penelope Thornton-McClure and invisible partner, Jack Shepard, find they have another murder on their hands.

Quindicott, Rhode Island is hosting their first Film Noir Festival. Screenings of well-known films “The Postman Rings Twice,” “The Maltese Falcon,” “Double Indemnity” and more are on the bill. One movie in particular was a big deal, “Wrong Turn” starring Hedda Geist and Pierce Armstrong. The screenings are to be held at the newly restored Movie Town Theatre. Artists Q&A sessions would be held at the theatre and the event area at Buy the Book bookshop.

The turnout was great and the town was packed. Then things became noir. Professor Irene Lilly is found dead in the event room at Buy the Book just prior to her signing of her new book “murdered In Plain Sight.” Initial cause is determined due to an accidental fall from a ladder. But Penelope and Jack think different.

Among the guest speakers are Hedda Giest and Pierce Armstrong, the stars of “Wrong Turn.” Interesting thing is they haven’t seen each other since their movie originally opened. Seems there was a little murder that caused them to lose touch.

That old murder turns out to have some bearing on the death of Dr. Irene Lilly and some other events during the Festival. The only one who can help dig out the information on the past murder is Jack Shepard. He was there when it happened back in the 1940s! Finding out that information and using it to solve the current crime can only be done through Penelope, but how does she explain she can communicate with a ghost?

This is the second book I’ve read from this series and I enjoyed it too. I will definitely keep Cleo Coyle on my authors to read! ( )

A Film Noir Festival at a smalltown theater attracts some elderly film veterans and a mystery involving a mysterious ages-old death. Pen suspects a murder attempt that the dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks chief of police fobs off. Like others of this series, this is a great light novel that focuses on bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure, aided by the ghost of PI Jack Shepard who was murdered in the shop 50 years before. The concept is amusing, the dialogue between the ghost that even Pen can't see and between Pen herself, the only one who can hear him, is humor-filled, helped along by Pen's education in 1940's slang. Bodies begin to appear...not too many, it isn't a gory story...so the stakes go higher. Lotta fun. ( )

I really like this series and this one's mystery was really good. Penelope and her friends are hosting a film noir festival that will have a few mystery guests, a couple of authors of books on noir and a whole host of classic movies and book signings.

When one of the authors gets killed, Penelope and ghost Jack are on the case.

While I love the series, there were some parts of this that I wasn't comfortable with -- the relationship between Penelope and Jack got a little weird, and there wasn't nearly enough of Penelope's son, Spencer.

I'll read the next in the series because the books are really well written. ( )