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The Lady Mortician's Visions #1
The Missing Brides
From author Helen Goltz comes an exciting new series about love, fate, and putting to rest more than the dead, with a hint of magic, mystery and visions.
Miss Phoebe Astin and her brothers, Julius and Ambrose, lead an unconventional life working in the family funeral business – The Economic Undertaker. But Phoebe is not just a talented mortician, she is a medium for the spirit world, and often enjoys the company of her clients before they move on to the next world. When a gentleman lingers behind before passing over to the other side and begs her to investigate his murder, Phoebe contacts her brother’s friend, Detective Harland Stone, to explain her concerns. Fortunately, the detective – who is new in town and making his mark – has an open mind and accepts that Phoebe communicates with the dead, but is fixed on finding the evidence to support her claims.
It is not long before another body, that of a young woman, is found buried under the hearthstone in a small family home and the likely villain is the very same man who Phoebe’s ghost claimed was responsible for his death. Detective Stone is racing against the clock to find the villain and to prevent any further deaths from those that the villain may love or con into marriage.
Meanwhile, Julius Astin is doing his best to avoid the persistent mothers and flirting daughters who manage to find a way to corner him, and his younger brother, Ambrose, has lost his heart to Phoebe’s friend and reporter, Miss Lilly Lewis, who only has eyes for Julius. There is murder, love and mystery afoot, and it appears that for the Astin family, being dead is no excuse for letting a crime go unpunished!
The Missing Bride mystery includes:
A hint of paranormal, fantasy, clairvoyant skills, and visions
A family with a funeral business and all the quirks that come with it
A beautiful and intriguing medium
A handsome detective who is happy to have all the help he can get to solve the mystery
Two handsome undertaker brothers who have their share of adventure and romance
Historical detail accurately researched and set in 1890 Australia.
BOOKS IN THE LADY MORTICIAN’S VISIONS SERIES so far…
The Missing Brides
The Fake Child
The Dastardly Debutante (coming soon).
Miss Phoebe Astin and her brothers, Julius and Ambrose, lead an unconventional life working in the family funeral business – The Economic Undertaker. But Phoebe is not just a talented mortician, she is a medium for the spirit world, and often enjoys the company of her clients before they move on to the next world. When a gentleman lingers behind before passing over to the other side and begs her to investigate his murder, Phoebe contacts her brother’s friend, Detective Harland Stone, to explain her concerns. Fortunately, the detective – who is new in town and making his mark – has an open mind and accepts that Phoebe communicates with the dead, but is fixed on finding the evidence to support her claims.
It is not long before another body, that of a young woman, is found buried under the hearthstone in a small family home and the likely villain is the very same man who Phoebe’s ghost claimed was responsible for his death. Detective Stone is racing against the clock to find the villain and to prevent any further deaths from those that the villain may love or con into marriage.
Meanwhile, Julius Astin is doing his best to avoid the persistent mothers and flirting daughters who manage to find a way to corner him, and his younger brother, Ambrose, has lost his heart to Phoebe’s friend and reporter, Miss Lilly Lewis, who only has eyes for Julius. There is murder, love and mystery afoot, and it appears that for the Astin family, being dead is no excuse for letting a crime go unpunished!
The Missing Bride mystery includes:
A hint of paranormal, fantasy, clairvoyant skills, and visions
A family with a funeral business and all the quirks that come with it
A beautiful and intriguing medium
A handsome detective who is happy to have all the help he can get to solve the mystery
Two handsome undertaker brothers who have their share of adventure and romance
Historical detail accurately researched and set in 1890 Australia.
BOOKS IN THE LADY MORTICIAN’S VISIONS SERIES so far…
The Missing Brides
The Fake Child
The Dastardly Debutante (coming soon).
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2023
486 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Helen Goltz
54 books128 followersHelen is a hybrid-published, Amazon best-selling author. After studying English Literature, Media, and Communications at universities in Queensland, Australia, and obtaining a Counselling Diploma, Helen Goltz has worked as a journalist, producer and marketer in print, TV, radio and public relations. Born in Toowoomba she has made her home in Logan Village, Australia with her journalist husband, Chris, and Boxer dog, Baxter.
Connect with Helen:
Website: www.helengoltz.com
BookBub:www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-goltz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HelenGoltz.Author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helengoltz1/
Connect with Helen:
Website: www.helengoltz.com
BookBub:www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-goltz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HelenGoltz.Author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helengoltz1/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 15, 2023
This book was interesting but it was MESSY and BUSY.
I had to take notes to keep track of this dog’s breakfast plot and unnecessarily large cast of characters.
There was way too much going on here and it overwhelmed a pretty interesting murder mystery and original concept. I was disappointed that the author went way too crazy introducing NUMEROUS side characters and side plots; she really lost focus in this.
For named characters we had:
> the undertaker family (The Astons) siblings; Ambrose, Julius, Phoebe, and their grandfather (this gave HBO’s Six Feet Under but Victorian vibes…loved that)
> the investigative team: the police detective Harland Stone (love interest to Phoebe), the private detective Bennet Martin (2nd love interest to Phoebe), the coroner Dr. Tavish McSomething-or-other, the investigative reporter Lilly whatserface (love interest to Julius AND Ambrose), and Detective Gilbert the hapless partner to Stone.
> Mourning Clothing store storyline: the seamstress Violet I forget the last name of (2nd love interest to Julius) and her brother Tim or Tom.
> the vexed vixens: Kate & Emily, lady friend group to Phoebe -who had no plot significance whatsoever - Lilly was also a member.
Why do we need so many named characters with backstories in this? It was way too confusing and overwhelming. I didn’t know who was important to the plot and who wasn’t.
In addition to that we had so much head hopping, with POVs (written in third person) from at least seven of the named characters and two potential murder victims. I went into this thinking it was about a mortician and her sixth sense giving her clues to solve crimes but honestly that was a very teeny tiny part of this book. Phoebe was actually barely in the book at all.
The murder mystery was good, it was less of a whodunnit and more chasing down and uncovering the culprit who is known early on, and that was ok, I actually really enjoyed the investigation side of this. But did we need not one, but TWO love triangles??
Holy hell! Tone it down!
I liked the scenes with the detective, I liked the female reporter and I liked the side romance between the seamstress and Julius; everything else needed to be cut out and saved for another book. We did not need the private detective character at all, or the vexed vixens or for the blurb and title to mislead us that this story was in any way about the lady mortician and her ghost friends. It was not. One ghost appeared at the beginning and he didn’t offer any insight whatsoever into the case. This paranormal detail seemed to be the hook of this series and yet it was completely under-utilized and had it been omitted the story would have been much the same.
Ugh. Colour me disappointed. I really liked this author’s book Murder at the Freak Show and her last series was mostly enjoyable, but this book needed more focus and less of everything else.
I will read the next one because sometimes first books in series are a little crazy with the details, hopefully she can clean it up and keep focused on the murder mystery and *crosses fingers* one side romance and make the ghosts a central part of this PLEASE or stop pushing it in the blurb entirely 😵💫.
I had to take notes to keep track of this dog’s breakfast plot and unnecessarily large cast of characters.
There was way too much going on here and it overwhelmed a pretty interesting murder mystery and original concept. I was disappointed that the author went way too crazy introducing NUMEROUS side characters and side plots; she really lost focus in this.
For named characters we had:
> the undertaker family (The Astons) siblings; Ambrose, Julius, Phoebe, and their grandfather (this gave HBO’s Six Feet Under but Victorian vibes…loved that)
> the investigative team: the police detective Harland Stone (love interest to Phoebe), the private detective Bennet Martin (2nd love interest to Phoebe), the coroner Dr. Tavish McSomething-or-other, the investigative reporter Lilly whatserface (love interest to Julius AND Ambrose), and Detective Gilbert the hapless partner to Stone.
> Mourning Clothing store storyline: the seamstress Violet I forget the last name of (2nd love interest to Julius) and her brother Tim or Tom.
> the vexed vixens: Kate & Emily, lady friend group to Phoebe -who had no plot significance whatsoever - Lilly was also a member.
Why do we need so many named characters with backstories in this? It was way too confusing and overwhelming. I didn’t know who was important to the plot and who wasn’t.
In addition to that we had so much head hopping, with POVs (written in third person) from at least seven of the named characters and two potential murder victims. I went into this thinking it was about a mortician and her sixth sense giving her clues to solve crimes but honestly that was a very teeny tiny part of this book. Phoebe was actually barely in the book at all.
The murder mystery was good, it was less of a whodunnit and more chasing down and uncovering the culprit who is known early on, and that was ok, I actually really enjoyed the investigation side of this. But did we need not one, but TWO love triangles??
Holy hell! Tone it down!
I liked the scenes with the detective, I liked the female reporter and I liked the side romance between the seamstress and Julius; everything else needed to be cut out and saved for another book. We did not need the private detective character at all, or the vexed vixens or for the blurb and title to mislead us that this story was in any way about the lady mortician and her ghost friends. It was not. One ghost appeared at the beginning and he didn’t offer any insight whatsoever into the case. This paranormal detail seemed to be the hook of this series and yet it was completely under-utilized and had it been omitted the story would have been much the same.
Ugh. Colour me disappointed. I really liked this author’s book Murder at the Freak Show and her last series was mostly enjoyable, but this book needed more focus and less of everything else.
I will read the next one because sometimes first books in series are a little crazy with the details, hopefully she can clean it up and keep focused on the murder mystery and *crosses fingers* one side romance and make the ghosts a central part of this PLEASE or stop pushing it in the blurb entirely 😵💫.
March 28, 2024
Miss Phoebe Astin was tending to her client, Mr Walker, in her business as mortician at The Economic Undertaker in Brisbane, which was owned and run by her grandfather and brothers, Julius and Ambrose, along with herself. Her gift as medium to the spirit world allowed her to see Mr Walker and hear his pleas to solve his murder - which the police had passed off as an accident. And so began the most dreadful case in many a year, for all involved.
Mr Walker was a private investigator and had been searching for a woman and her four children, at the request of the woman's parents in England. But he must have come too close to the truth...
When a woman's body was found beneath the heartstone of a local cottage, Detective Stone knew they were on the right track. With another private investigator - a friend of Julius Astin - a local newspaper reporter - friend of Phoebe - the police and the undertakers comparing notes, their race to catch the murderer before someone else was sucked into the web, was on. But would they succeed?
The Missing Brides is 1st in The Lady Mortician's Visions series by Aussie author Helen Goltz and is a fascinating, yet horrific tale of mystery, intrigue and mild fantasy, based on factual evidence in 1890s Australia. Excellent characters, a well paced plot and a satisfying conclusion - I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will check out #2 asap. Highly recommended.
Mr Walker was a private investigator and had been searching for a woman and her four children, at the request of the woman's parents in England. But he must have come too close to the truth...
When a woman's body was found beneath the heartstone of a local cottage, Detective Stone knew they were on the right track. With another private investigator - a friend of Julius Astin - a local newspaper reporter - friend of Phoebe - the police and the undertakers comparing notes, their race to catch the murderer before someone else was sucked into the web, was on. But would they succeed?
The Missing Brides is 1st in The Lady Mortician's Visions series by Aussie author Helen Goltz and is a fascinating, yet horrific tale of mystery, intrigue and mild fantasy, based on factual evidence in 1890s Australia. Excellent characters, a well paced plot and a satisfying conclusion - I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will check out #2 asap. Highly recommended.
December 14, 2023
Given the praise I've heard and the many high rated reviews I've read, I thought I would enjoy this historical mystery story.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite keep me interested. The beginning was messy, with many characters and bits of stories. I got used to the writing stululenot the author after a couple of chapters, but the different backstories still left me unfeeling, whereas the main plot was actually pretty simple, and predictable.
At around 50%, I started skimming some, eager to reach the end to see if I hadn't missed anything, which I hadn't.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite keep me interested. The beginning was messy, with many characters and bits of stories. I got used to the writing stululenot the author after a couple of chapters, but the different backstories still left me unfeeling, whereas the main plot was actually pretty simple, and predictable.
At around 50%, I started skimming some, eager to reach the end to see if I hadn't missed anything, which I hadn't.
January 10, 2024
A fabulous read!
This is the first book in the series.
It is set in a Brisbane funeral parlour in around 1890, where the mortician communes with the dead she is preparing for burial.
It seems some of them have been murdered, and the information received helps the police look in the right directions.
Another delightful feature of this book is the development of the relationships of the male and female characters in the story.
This is the first book in the series.
It is set in a Brisbane funeral parlour in around 1890, where the mortician communes with the dead she is preparing for burial.
It seems some of them have been murdered, and the information received helps the police look in the right directions.
Another delightful feature of this book is the development of the relationships of the male and female characters in the story.
August 14, 2025
On the fence
Okay this was not really romance. They are people who are attracted to other people but no kisses are exchanged. They are all very proper. And all of them are good looking, extremely good looking according to the author. It's rather confusing at first because you walk into the book and immediately you are meeting too many characters and I was confused if I missed a book or something. The mystery was good. A woman, her three daughters and a son were missing but her husband didn't alert the police, her parents did. They go to ask the man where they are and he is like they left, I know not where, and I am late for a date with another woman. So I thought he was guilty from the start. Phoebe was a mortician who can see and hear the dead. She runs the business with her two.brothers, and her very dead client was a PI whom the missing woman's parents hired. They have friends at the morgue and the police and the newspapers and they all get involved in solving the mystery. The ending while satisfactory, seemed incomplete. Why did that person do it? It never says and I guess it really didn't matter but enquiring minds etc. I am reading the second as it did engage me and I love when characters can talk to the dead.
Okay this was not really romance. They are people who are attracted to other people but no kisses are exchanged. They are all very proper. And all of them are good looking, extremely good looking according to the author. It's rather confusing at first because you walk into the book and immediately you are meeting too many characters and I was confused if I missed a book or something. The mystery was good. A woman, her three daughters and a son were missing but her husband didn't alert the police, her parents did. They go to ask the man where they are and he is like they left, I know not where, and I am late for a date with another woman. So I thought he was guilty from the start. Phoebe was a mortician who can see and hear the dead. She runs the business with her two.brothers, and her very dead client was a PI whom the missing woman's parents hired. They have friends at the morgue and the police and the newspapers and they all get involved in solving the mystery. The ending while satisfactory, seemed incomplete. Why did that person do it? It never says and I guess it really didn't matter but enquiring minds etc. I am reading the second as it did engage me and I love when characters can talk to the dead.
December 26, 2024
A simplistic, easy read—entirely unremarkable but comfortable in its straightforwardness.
I do think that to advertise this book as a mystery is misleading. Based on a true murder case that took place in Australia in the 1890s, this novel is obviously a fictional. In essence, it seems to be an exploration of an wide range of characters who happen to orbit around the development of this case (I wouldn’t like to call it “solving” because there was almost no intrigue or mystery—from the outset there was only one suspect). Perhaps to call this a character study would be more accurate than a ‘mystery.’ I will also say that the absurdly large number of characters who are given POV cause this character study to feel almost schizophrenic and dizzying, and detaching me from the story (after reflection, I’m not sure if the story is the case or the characters’ involvement in the case, or the lives of the characters), causing me to not really give much of a shit about any of the characters.
I do think that to advertise this book as a mystery is misleading. Based on a true murder case that took place in Australia in the 1890s, this novel is obviously a fictional. In essence, it seems to be an exploration of an wide range of characters who happen to orbit around the development of this case (I wouldn’t like to call it “solving” because there was almost no intrigue or mystery—from the outset there was only one suspect). Perhaps to call this a character study would be more accurate than a ‘mystery.’ I will also say that the absurdly large number of characters who are given POV cause this character study to feel almost schizophrenic and dizzying, and detaching me from the story (after reflection, I’m not sure if the story is the case or the characters’ involvement in the case, or the lives of the characters), causing me to not really give much of a shit about any of the characters.
December 28, 2024
A good read
It took me a few chapters to get my bearings with the story as each chapter changes point of view with little to no warning. I did like this overall and plan to read the others in the series. The love interests are all introduced in this book, but no happy endings are formed with those relationships. The main plot of the book is not left unfinished, as that mystery is solved satisfactorily.
It took me a few chapters to get my bearings with the story as each chapter changes point of view with little to no warning. I did like this overall and plan to read the others in the series. The love interests are all introduced in this book, but no happy endings are formed with those relationships. The main plot of the book is not left unfinished, as that mystery is solved satisfactorily.
February 7, 2024
Frustrating
This apparently ties to previous works by the author, but the reader is given little guidance on that. Instead one is dumped into the middle with no backstory. Its a given that everyone accepts the seeing of ghosts. Then there is the continual loves labors lost theme where various characters moon over others who are consistently unaware of this and mooning over someone else. The story is based vin Australia, but you'd never know it. The tale could occur in Yorkshire without any alteration. This is unfortunate because the plot is interesting. Its based on the real Fredrick Bailey Deeming ( not much of a name change) 1853-1892 murder case.
This apparently ties to previous works by the author, but the reader is given little guidance on that. Instead one is dumped into the middle with no backstory. Its a given that everyone accepts the seeing of ghosts. Then there is the continual loves labors lost theme where various characters moon over others who are consistently unaware of this and mooning over someone else. The story is based vin Australia, but you'd never know it. The tale could occur in Yorkshire without any alteration. This is unfortunate because the plot is interesting. Its based on the real Fredrick Bailey Deeming ( not much of a name change) 1853-1892 murder case.
February 11, 2025
I highly recommend this book & I believe series. It has Phoebe that can see and speak to the dead; place is the family Funeral parlor; and an intriguing title The Missing Brides. It also has the rare but occasional moment, when I thought it said Lady Morticia - a.k.a. Addams Family - which caught my attention.
The plot is excellent - I don't think I came close to figure it out until I was about half-way through - which rarely happens to me. About 40% of the books I read end up with someone speaking to the dead/ghosts. No particular reason I have personally figured out, but it happens. I am noting that I couldn't put it down, and had to discipline myself to take a Tylonol PM, and turn off the light. Starting reading once I had coffee poured and, besides yelling at the tv occasionally, and finished Book #1 just now.
Give it a go - you will find it intriguing. Onward to #2 The Fake Child
Now for the ***DISCLAIMER*** I apologize that I have written a few silly reviews on the last series of books I read. MidLife Recorder/Lindzi Day But, I am finally over the flu/crud/pneumonia and I have recovered my sense of humor/sarcasim, wit, bad temper and possibly rudeness. What can I say??? I was really, really sick and that series made me laugh, cry, have to change clothes more than once, [yes Ladies, you do understand what I mean] and recovered my true sense of humor.
I will try to behave forthwith.... maybe...no promises
The plot is excellent - I don't think I came close to figure it out until I was about half-way through - which rarely happens to me. About 40% of the books I read end up with someone speaking to the dead/ghosts. No particular reason I have personally figured out, but it happens. I am noting that I couldn't put it down, and had to discipline myself to take a Tylonol PM, and turn off the light. Starting reading once I had coffee poured and, besides yelling at the tv occasionally, and finished Book #1 just now.
Give it a go - you will find it intriguing. Onward to #2 The Fake Child
Now for the ***DISCLAIMER*** I apologize that I have written a few silly reviews on the last series of books I read. MidLife Recorder/Lindzi Day But, I am finally over the flu/crud/pneumonia and I have recovered my sense of humor/sarcasim, wit, bad temper and possibly rudeness. What can I say??? I was really, really sick and that series made me laugh, cry, have to change clothes more than once, [yes Ladies, you do understand what I mean] and recovered my true sense of humor.
I will try to behave forthwith.... maybe...no promises
March 17, 2025
Miss phoebe Astin is a mortician in her family’s undertaking business in Brisbane. Working alongside her two brothers Julius and Ambrose, they run The Economic Undertaker offering simple, low cost funerals. She’s not only in an unusual profession for a woman in the 1890s, but she is able to see and converse with the spirits of her clients, who often linger a while before moving on.
When the spirit of William Walker, a private investigator insists his death was not an accident as assumed by the police but a murder, she contacts Detective Harland Stone. Mr Walker was a private investigator contracted to look for for a missing woman and her children by her parents in England when he was hit on the head while waiting to meet the woman’s husband.
This tale of a cruel and cunning serial murderer might seem a little far fetched, but it is in fact an extraordinary one based on real events. The novel is populated by a cast of characters, all young men and women including the three Astin siblings, the detective, a junior detective, a private investigator (replacing Mt Walker), a female journalist, a female photographer, a teacher of deportment and a seamstress, who all seem to have feelings for each other with at least two love triangles, to the point where it became difficult to remember who was lusting after whom! However, the paranormal element an unusual element and the murder mystery is a good one that I enjoyed very much. 3.5★
When the spirit of William Walker, a private investigator insists his death was not an accident as assumed by the police but a murder, she contacts Detective Harland Stone. Mr Walker was a private investigator contracted to look for for a missing woman and her children by her parents in England when he was hit on the head while waiting to meet the woman’s husband.
This tale of a cruel and cunning serial murderer might seem a little far fetched, but it is in fact an extraordinary one based on real events. The novel is populated by a cast of characters, all young men and women including the three Astin siblings, the detective, a junior detective, a private investigator (replacing Mt Walker), a female journalist, a female photographer, a teacher of deportment and a seamstress, who all seem to have feelings for each other with at least two love triangles, to the point where it became difficult to remember who was lusting after whom! However, the paranormal element an unusual element and the murder mystery is a good one that I enjoyed very much. 3.5★
August 29, 2024
A great first book in a new series.
I found this book by way of the Miss Hayward series, and I have to admit that while Matilda Hayward and her family were lovely, I’m enjoying Phoebe’s world just a little bit more. Love that it’s set in 1890s Brisbane, with streets, suburbs, and other locations I’m familiar with. The paranormal aspect also adds that little bit of extra spice that has made this series a delight to read. Have already read this series once, and it’s just as entertaining on reread.
I found this book by way of the Miss Hayward series, and I have to admit that while Matilda Hayward and her family were lovely, I’m enjoying Phoebe’s world just a little bit more. Love that it’s set in 1890s Brisbane, with streets, suburbs, and other locations I’m familiar with. The paranormal aspect also adds that little bit of extra spice that has made this series a delight to read. Have already read this series once, and it’s just as entertaining on reread.
November 27, 2023
Hard to rate
Well written, intriguing story…and almost too many people to keep track of. There’s the random mother and daughter that don’t seem to have any point in the story. Odd (to me), people that just don’t fit the story line, making it hard to keep track. However, having said all that, as the daughter of a mortician, I totally appreciate the location of the story and the addition of a ghost doesn’t hurt. I mean, where else would you expect a ghost?
Well written, intriguing story…and almost too many people to keep track of. There’s the random mother and daughter that don’t seem to have any point in the story. Odd (to me), people that just don’t fit the story line, making it hard to keep track. However, having said all that, as the daughter of a mortician, I totally appreciate the location of the story and the addition of a ghost doesn’t hurt. I mean, where else would you expect a ghost?
September 5, 2024
This is barely a murder mystery.
This was a lot of “he gazed at her”, “he painted a new more personal painting of her”, “they both felt so strongly of her unique beauty”, etc. (quotes not literally in the book, just paraphrasing the frequent fawning. The murder was quick apprehended and yet that aspect of the story was abandoned for doe eyes for each other. The murderer and his horrific ways suddenly became a method for romance. So disappointing.
This was a lot of “he gazed at her”, “he painted a new more personal painting of her”, “they both felt so strongly of her unique beauty”, etc. (quotes not literally in the book, just paraphrasing the frequent fawning. The murder was quick apprehended and yet that aspect of the story was abandoned for doe eyes for each other. The murderer and his horrific ways suddenly became a method for romance. So disappointing.
April 24, 2025
This is the third series of books I've read by this author. For some reason, it did not click that it was the same author. I will say that I noticed similarities in The Missing Brides to Murder at the Carnival, only in family makeup & the strong will & drive of the heroine. Imagine my surprise & delight when I discovered she also penned The Clarvoyant's Glasses series!
Helen Goltz is becoming one of my favorite authors!
Helen Goltz is becoming one of my favorite authors!
July 6, 2023
At last...
...a well-plotted story crammed with interesting and likable characters written by a deft hand. Ahhhh, such a pleasure to read. I'm so happy to have found such a talented author and her excellent novel in today's current literary wasteland.
There's none of the ruminating and repetition so common today. Can't wait to read the next novel in this series.
...a well-plotted story crammed with interesting and likable characters written by a deft hand. Ahhhh, such a pleasure to read. I'm so happy to have found such a talented author and her excellent novel in today's current literary wasteland.
There's none of the ruminating and repetition so common today. Can't wait to read the next novel in this series.
September 26, 2023
A wonderful book
I really enjoyed reading this book, it has a little bit of everything you want in a good book. Romance, murder and ghosts. The Astins run a funeral home and they help the detective solve murders using some very unique skills. I don't want to say too much but I highly recommend this book. Well worth five stars .
I really enjoyed reading this book, it has a little bit of everything you want in a good book. Romance, murder and ghosts. The Astins run a funeral home and they help the detective solve murders using some very unique skills. I don't want to say too much but I highly recommend this book. Well worth five stars .
September 18, 2024
The Ghost Begins
A historical fiction based on real crime is always interesting. This one was a heart rendering story of the fictitious people who discovered this crime and how they worked together to solve it. Did I mention the ghost who helped? Yes, A ghost begins the search. It is a good read and I think you will enjoy it. The ghosts are quite nice too.
A historical fiction based on real crime is always interesting. This one was a heart rendering story of the fictitious people who discovered this crime and how they worked together to solve it. Did I mention the ghost who helped? Yes, A ghost begins the search. It is a good read and I think you will enjoy it. The ghosts are quite nice too.
January 15, 2025
Excellent characterization
An enjoyable read that moves quickly. Every character introduced is well-written, with enough telling detail that they come comfortably to mind when they reappear.
The family was apparently introduced in volume 4 of another series, which I shall likely pursue as well.
An enjoyable read that moves quickly. Every character introduced is well-written, with enough telling detail that they come comfortably to mind when they reappear.
The family was apparently introduced in volume 4 of another series, which I shall likely pursue as well.
May 23, 2023
Well written and entertaining
Clever storytelling and strong, interesting characters. Some humor and potential romance add to the mildly suspenseful plot. Will definitely continue the series.
Clever storytelling and strong, interesting characters. Some humor and potential romance add to the mildly suspenseful plot. Will definitely continue the series.
August 17, 2023
Great story
This book captured me from the first chapter. It had great characters, great humor, several twists, a bit of paranormal assistance, and just enough cozy romance to keep things fun. I look forward to the next in the series.
This book captured me from the first chapter. It had great characters, great humor, several twists, a bit of paranormal assistance, and just enough cozy romance to keep things fun. I look forward to the next in the series.
July 24, 2024
I started out with a hope for a Murdock Mysteries-esque story. The writing style was spot on, but sadly, it fell short for me. I like a bit more forward momentum and less trying to keep track of who was who. DNF.
October 11, 2024
Brides
Good book with a generous amount humor and actions that you. It is an easy read and fun. The unconventional family is funny and honorable. Very well written. Characters are believable.
Good book with a generous amount humor and actions that you. It is an easy read and fun. The unconventional family is funny and honorable. Very well written. Characters are believable.
February 3, 2025
I loved the characters and the story. 1800’s in Australia. I liked it so well I am reading the second book in the series. I don’t mind how many characters there were in the book. I don’t have trouble keeping track of them.
May 13, 2023
Humorous and compelling
I enjoyed this book. Made me smile and I liked the main protagonists. Eager to read the next instalment but no cliffhanger which was appreciated.
I enjoyed this book. Made me smile and I liked the main protagonists. Eager to read the next instalment but no cliffhanger which was appreciated.
June 24, 2023
Ghost mystery
Good period read. I liked the family banter of the siblings. It's interesting to read of the social life of working professional women of that period.
Good period read. I liked the family banter of the siblings. It's interesting to read of the social life of working professional women of that period.
October 3, 2023
The Missing Brides
Helen Bolts is a great writer. I can't wait to read the next. I love how she wrote a twist to the real stories. She was great at researching.
Helen Bolts is a great writer. I can't wait to read the next. I love how she wrote a twist to the real stories. She was great at researching.
February 22, 2024
Riveting!
All the characters were very believable and the story line was great! Their personal lives and mysteries intertwined so seamlessly. Hard to put down
All the characters were very believable and the story line was great! Their personal lives and mysteries intertwined so seamlessly. Hard to put down
August 7, 2024
I am really enjoying this series, the small amount of paranormal has added a little spice to an
interesting story.
interesting story.
August 20, 2024
Enjoyed the strong women who still want a husband while helping to solve a crime or two.
November 20, 2024
Page turner!!!!
Love how she kept it Suttle on the visits with her guests but that she accepted they come. Love to see the differnt blooming love angles. So ready for more!!!!
Love how she kept it Suttle on the visits with her guests but that she accepted they come. Love to see the differnt blooming love angles. So ready for more!!!!
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