The Spirit Moves

A Haunted Haven Mystery #4

by Carol J. Perry

Innkeeper Maureen Doherty is well aware that no one—when asked why they come to Florida—says, “For the ghosts.” But her historic Haven House Inn has spirits to spare, and just when she thinks she’s met every ghost in town—a new one pops up to help solve a murder. Or so it seems . . .

When the body of “how-to” book writer Terry Holiday is found by Aster Paterson in her flower garden, the townspeople of Haven are shocked. But they’re even more surprised when the beloved bookshop owner insists that the spirit of her late husband Peter Paterson led her to the grim discovery. Only Aster seems unsurprised—she’s been baking his favorite shortbread cookies every day, hoping to lure his ghost back home . . .
 
Even Maureen is a little skeptical—until Peter’s ghost appears in the bookshop window for all to see. Haven’s hard-headed realist cop Frank Hubbard is determined to unveil whatever trickery led to the apparition, as he suspects the answer to who killed Terry Holiday may be connected to the illusion.
 
If Maureen’s learned anything since she moved from New England and inherited her haunted inn, it’s that 1) ghosts are real (at least some of them), and 2) so are murderers. She doesn’t need a how-to manual to solve a murder; she’s done it before. But with suspects ranging from a mystery writers group to a ghostwriter who just checked in at the inn, she will need a little help from her spirited sleuths . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Ghosts, Paranormal, Audiobook, Contemporary

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Carol J. Perry is the author of the Witch City Mystery series and the Haunted Haven series, both from Kensington Publishers. The Witch City stories take place in the magical city of Salem, Massachusetts--the "Witch City." Carol was actually born in Salem (on Halloween eve!) and knows the city well. The Haunted Haven books take place in Carol's adopted home state of Florida. As an experienced travel writer for magazines and newspapers, Carol knows her way around the Sunshine State too. The Salem books are based of course on a real city but Haven, Florida is made up of bits and pieces of some of the Sunshine State's charming older towns--bypassed by the theme parks. Readers of the Witch City books have come to know O'Ryan, a most remarkable cat. The new series introduces Finn, a lovable Golden Retriever.
Carol lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with her husband Dan.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series more than the Witch City cause the supernatural aspect is much more front and center. I like the ghost and the role they play in the mystery an in Maureen's day to day life. I like the personal relationship/romance stuff, it was really sweet. I can't wait to read the next one.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is quickly moving up my favorites list. I just love love love the characters and the Inn!

There's death, there's ghosts, yummy recipes, conniving quests, and progress in the romance department. Absolutely worth picking up!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[jenna williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m sorry but i hope ted turns out to be evil and / or dies

[Carlymor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another cute cozy entry in the Haunted Haven series. Maureen still doesn't know why she inherited her inn but another mystery pops up to keep her occupied when a writer is found murdered. There's plenty of suspects and ghosts to help with the investigation. There is also some advancement in Maureen's personal romantic life. This series is pleasant but I prefer the author's Witch City series.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

The death of a local writer, Terry Holiday, doesn’t upset too many people, especially those in the mystery writing club. The person who finds his body claims she was led to it by a ghost, but Officer Frank Hubbard doesn’t believe in ghosts, so he isn’t buying her story. The murder is almost predictable, and the victim, some might say, had it coming to him

Maureen tasks herself with finding the killer, even if it is a ghost. With a huge list of suspects and plenty of clues, she enlists the help of her ghostly companions and sets out to track down the killer. There are twists and turns, and ghosts who keep Maureen informed of the goings on in her business and town. The setting is terrific as usual, but I felt the story had too much filler that didn’t need to be addressed. The killer was easy to find, and the reveal was almost anticlimactic for me. It's a nice story, but I prefer Carol’s other work more.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great introduction to a new to me author and series. I really enjoyed meeting Maureen, all of her friends, of this plain and beyond, and the fascinating Haven House. I thought this book was the second or third in the series when I picked it up on Netgally, but it is book four. This did not stop me from enjoying the book totally, and it was pretty easy to follow, so I never felt lost! I was so intrigued by the start of Maureen's journey that I immediately ordered book one as soon as I finished this one. Maureen is caught up in a mystery when her friend Aster, the book shop owner, has her sitting in with a group of mystery writers, Murder Incorporated. As interesting as it all is, she is more interested in a book written by a local man that all the other writers shun. Terry Holiday's Make Your City Famous and Attrack Big Spenders is more up her alley as she is always looking for ways to attract more people to town and to stay at Haven House. When Terry Holiday is murdered behind the book store and Aster and her husband's ghost take up residence at Haven House, Maureen agrees to keep her ears open for the local police as the murder is keeping people away from town and its affecting business. I love Maureen, her fun bunch of employees that came with the House, and of course,the somewhat extra residents who add a little something for those who actually see them. It's a fun and satisfying tale with a smart MC! Thanks to #Netgally, #KensingtonCozies, and the author for the opportunity to discover this delightful series! #TheSpiritMoves #HauntedHavenMysteries #CarolJPerry #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hotelier Maureen Doherty's hometown of Haven, Florida, has so much to offer. Sun, sand, sea, great shopping ... murder, and ghosts! Unfortunately, the final two don't draw the tourists, murder isn't a crowd pleaser, and the residents of Haven don't mention the ghosts to outsiders, ever! So, when a local author is found dead in the garden of Haven’s bookstore and a ghost takes up residence in that same shop's front window, Maureen knows she has to act! With everyone's businesses suffering, and the local detective on her back, things are getting stressful but Maureen is a local and so, with the help of her own special crew of Inn workers, permanent residents, and the Haven House's very own ghosts she sets about unmasking a killer before she joins the dearly departed herself!

Book four in this fun cosy series is my first visit to Haven, but there are no major spoilers. Back stories were clearly explained, and I enjoyed the reading experience enormously. There are also recipes included, which is always a great way to end a cozy.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. Carol J Perry writes great ghostly cozies, with a hint (or two!) of romance, and I will definitely be reading the first three in this series very soon.

[Janet Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Perry never fails to create a great mystery story. In this, the fourth book of her series set in Haven, Florida, the author has exceeded expectations.
A love interest comes to the forefront even as protagonist Maureen Doherty is immersed in another murder to solve.
This book, like the others, features ghosts at the inn that Maureen has inherited. But better yet, this time, one of the departed takes a more active role. Reggie, once a Scotland Yard detective, provides advice on how to find the killer. Other ghosts also make entrances and provide the reader with a rousing good tale.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 An engaging mystery series set in the Florida town of Haven, a resort community with (shhh, don’t tell, an amazing number of haunted houses including the featured inn). I still prefer the author’s other series set in Salem, MA but this one is also fun to read featuring a group of mystery writers all of whom know way too much about various murder methods. Free ebook from the library.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super cozy book in this series. The more I read this series the more I wish I could visit this haunted cozy beach town. Yes maybe you get a whiff of perfume or pipe smoke in the elevator. But the ghost playing the piano has a sense of humor and the rooms named after famous people who stayed in the hotel is such a fun idea. Plus, they are pursuing an idea to make everything officially pet friendly which would be the cherry on top. This is the ultimate cozy and felt like a big hug (well except the murder). I love how happy and settled Maureen feels now after a tumultuous and mysterious start. She is finding love, finding murderers and finding her footing in the town and inn. I love the porch sitters and the town regulars. I was shocked by the reveal and love how the whole mystery came together. I am excited to read more!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Laura LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the last book of the series for now I hope. This was so far the best yet! I am really anxious for the next book.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the repetitiveness of the book. Finn’s “woofs” were a little out of control. Otherwise great setting and characters.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love those four seniors Gert, Molly, George and Sam who live at the Haven House Inn and help out there as well. They’re the most awesome people and I know Maureen wouldn’t know what to do without them. I was happy that the thing I’d been rooting for between Maureen and Ted finally happened and all during a murder investigation too.

I’m crazy about Lorna and Reggie’s ghosts—those two crack me up! Actually Reggie got more of a part in this book than he’s ever had. Mostly it’s Maureen reminding him he’s not supposed to smoke in the building, but this time he was actually advising her on the case. I was as surprised as she was to find out he was actually qualified for that when he was alive, lol. And the piano player ghost Billy Bedoggoned always knows just the tune to play and how to make it sound like it’s just another player piano song.

Maureen got into a tense showdown with the killer but she used her head and kept them talking all while finding something to use against them. Good thinking on her part and now the town could have some relief, and the inn was able to enjoy some new prosperity as well. Can’t wait to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Lee Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooray for another triumphant tale of ghosts and murder!

It was such a treat to read another bouncy tale from Carole J Perry. Her fifth book keeps us smiling and reading as we encounter a clowder and of murder writers and a dead body in the garden.

Perry has a knack for keeping the characters lively and the plot moving along. It was like catching up with old friends by reading this book.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Spirit Moves (A Haunted Haven Mystery #4)" by Carol J. Perry has Maureen quite comfortably established in the Inn she inherited. Not much was really developed on the side of the history of the inn for this book. However, there are some major love life developments for Maureen. She is also adding a Tiki Bar and making some other business driving aspects to the inn.

The mystery starts with the death of a local writer that the local murder mystery writing club all dislikes. The new long term (living) resident of the inn also have a connection to the victim. I jumped around a little with who I suspected. The culprit did end up being one of my top picks.

The ghost aspect was a little less in this one. There were two particular ghosts that kept being talked about. Only one actually seemed to get addressed and really it was more of a confirmation they were actually there by Maureen. The other one seems to have been forgotten about towards the end despite them causing the inn staff to have to relocate and provide incentives to keep guests happy. Unless it was a brief mention that I missed somehow.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that this book was not as well developed as it should have been. Too much filler and little thought to detail.

Now that Maureen and Ted are formally engaged, they are planning to head to Key West for the night to consummate their relationship. In the meantime, a writer is found murdered in Aster Paterson's flower garden, and the murder is keeping visitor's away from the town. Maureen is worried about paying the bills and keeping the inn open.

Am I the only one who finds it disturbing that Maureen wears clothing from her shop (carefully hiding the tags) and puts it back on the rack unclean to sell it as new? Ewwww.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maureen inherited her Florida (haunted) inn from a woman named Penelope, someone she'd never met. Now settled in with the crew who came with the inn, she's more than involved with Ted, the head chef. The two are moving forward with their romance, which is pleasing her other employees.

She's also looking for ways to make the inn more profitable, as she's barely making ends meet right now. While visiting her friend Aster, who owns the local bookshop, she sees that a group of mystery writers are meeting and she finds their remarks about an author who writers 'how-to' books are not flattering. Curious, she purchases his latest book and sees that it is certainly useful, and learns that this particular book was more than likely written by a ghostwriter. But when the author, Terry Holiday, is supposed to arrive for a signing at the bookshop, he never shows up.

Later, Aster finds his body in the flower garden behind her shop, and tells everyone that the ghost of her husband Peter told her it was there. Detective Frank Hubbard thinks Peter's appearance is a trick, and now Aster is a suspect, along with everyone who knew Terry. With the bookshop a crime scene, Aster moves to the hotel with her cat, Earl Gardner...and the spirit of Peter, supposedly. The writers' group is now meeting at the inn, and a couple of other guests show up, along with a man who claims to be a ghostwriter, but is charming everyone around him.

With a murderer on the loose, people are cancelling reservations. No one knows who to trust, and even Frank is asking Maureen for help on this case. What is going on? Can she solve a crime while still trying to find time to spend with Ted? It seems as if she'll need the help of her ghostly roommate Lorna, and Lorna's beau, a late Scotland Yard detective named Reggie. But how will she explain it all to Frank, who doesn't believe in ghosts?...

This is the fourth book in the series and I have read them all. I have also loved them all. To tell the truth, I do love books with 'friendly' spirits, and especially learning about their backgrounds as well. I love the relationship between them and Maureen, and it adds to the attraction of the book. Along with her dog, Finn, who has a lively time with the ghosts as well.

Maureen's efforts are not unrewarded, but she has a lot of people to sift through -- the guests at the hotel, and the writers' group -- she refuses to believe that gentle Aster could be a murderer, even if Frank isn't quite convinced. The clues that she finds are intriguing, and it isn't easy deciphering them, but I love a challenge.

I will not give anything else away, and hope that I didn't give too much (basically, I expanded on what the blurb states, so there's that), but I will say that the ending left me as stunned as it did Maureen. I was hoping for a different outcome, but murderers have their own ideas, and it's never reasonable nor logical. It was a tad humorous, though. I look forward to the next in the series and highly recommend this book.

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

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Spirit Moves" by Carol J. Perry is a light-hearted, comedic murder mystery set in a haunted town where the owner of a local hotel converses with the dead. A perfect book to dive into for readers who enjoy laughter, twists and turns, romance, and a splash of the supernatural.

When the body of famous author Terry Holiday is found in a local flower garden, the residents of Haven are shocked. Even more shocking is that the person who found the body, Aster Paterson, claims it was the ghost of her late husband that led her to the discovery. Haven's cop, Frank Hubbard, does not believe in ghosts. If anything, the likely solution is that whoever killed Holiday created an illusion of Aster's husband to throw him off their trail.

Maureen, having moved from England to Haven, knows that ghosts are real (well, some of them) and so are murderers (having solved some herself). But there's a large list of suspects, ranging from the mystery writers group to the local ghostwriter currently staying at the Inn she owns and runs. To figure out who's behind the death of Terry Holiday, an author hated by many, Maureen may need the help of her ghostly residents.

This is a fun murder mystery that will keep readers on their toes as they try to uncover who killed Terry Holiday. There are plenty of twists and turns and prime suspects, especially when most people of Haven have a special loathing for Holiday and his books. Figuring out who the killer is is no easy task. But there is a lot of fun to be had along the way. Maureen's ghostly residents at her Inn are tons of fun! They add a fun little spin on the story and, despite being unalive, have a lot of interest in the goings-on with the humans.

The mystery writers group are also a hoot that many readers and writers will get a kick out of. They seem like the most obvious suspects since they love discussing murder and the many ways a person can die. Who better to commit a crime than a writer who's done extensive research on how to commit a murder and get away with it? Despite the grim topics, there's always a good laugh to be had when they make their way onto the page.

Some practical business things made their way into the book, too. While a murder is a free buffet for ideas for the mystery writers, it means a drop in tourists coming to Haven, which affects Maureen's business. Adding in the stress of trying to entice tourists to stay at the Inn and boost sales so the Inn doesn't go under felt reflective of a real situation. There were times when solving a murder seemed to fade to the background as Maureen focused on trying to keep her business afloat and the spark between her and her partner burning. This made it hard for me to fully invest myself in the story because I was more interested in finding the killer than the more technical aspects of running a business.

"The Spirit Moves" by Carol J. Perry is expected to be published on May 27, 2025. Readers who love a good, cozy mystery must be on the lookout for this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a copy of the e-arc to share my honest opinion in this review.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This series is so hot and cold for me. I love the vibes, and setting, but there are things like the writing at some points and some of the subplots that I don't love.
In this one, Maureen is trying to drum up some business. Things are slow. At the bookstore, she suggests a local author come do a speech. She buys his book which is about how to get people to spend money or something. But then he ends up dead. There is a group of mystery writers who meet at the bookstore who really don't like this guy because his books are not good. They don't care that he is dead. Did one of them kill him?
The inn that Maureen owns it so cozy and these books make it sound like so much fun to run a little inn in a small town in Florida (even though it's probably not). I love how Maureen is so happy to get to know her guests and willing to house some of the employees. I love the ghosts that no one mentions to outsiders. The general vibes of this series keeps me reading.
A lot of the side characters are fun too. I love the group of 4 older employees that worked there when Penelope Josephine owned it and continue to work there now. They are so nosy but incredibly kind and willing to do anything to help Maureen around the inn. I also like the head cop, Officer Hubbard. He hates that Maureen either on purpose or on accident finds herself involved in murders, but then ends up asking for her help.
A few things are not my favorite though. I think it's more of a general cozy mystery thing and find myself mentioning it in almost every cozy mystery review I do. The wording in the narration and dialogue just don't sound like how people would actually talk to each other. It really takes me out of the story a lot of the time.
The romance sub plot is also just weird and seems out of place. Maureen and chef Ted are "dating." They haven't really told anyone (though everyone knows anyways) because of the boss/employee relationship. Then all of the sudden Ted asks Maureen to marry her and she says yes. There is a line about how they have never been alone except to run on the beach and in the inn's restaurant. It is just so weird that someone would get engaged even though they have never really been alone. The chemistry is kind of childish. It seems like their relationship *could* go somewhere, but it needs a lot more work before any engagement. I do enjoy their characters together and think they will be so good together as the series goes on, it just seems a little unbelievable. And I know this a is a cozy mystery series so the emphasis is not on the romance.
Despite any things that may not be my favorite, I love the vibes so much, I will definitely keep reading. These are easy to read (through the occasional weird wording) and quick to get through.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Devi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s get it out there: the mystery sparkles in this installment. Maureen finding herself wrapped up in yet another local murder feels right at home, especially with the town’s ghosts popping up at just the right (or wrong) times. The dog Finn steals plenty of scenes, especially with his hilarious misunderstandings—“vet” as “validate”? A+ canine comic relief. The ghosts and the inn’s lively elderly residents, their quirks and advice bring heart and laughter to every chapter, making it feel like settling into your favorite recliner with friends who just happen to be dead (and very opinionated).

But let’s talk about that central romance. Maureen and Ted are engaged but generate the chemistry of two polite coworkers at an awkward holiday party. For all the emotional depth layered into the Haven House mysteries, the romance consistently falls flat, never really convincing as a swoony or even comfortably warm pairing. Still, the supporting cast more than picks up the slack: detective Frank, with his bulldog (sometimes literally) approach, cracks me up, and the sleuthing ghosts never let the plot slow down for long. The setting—half sunny Florida, half haunted getaway—remains its own kind of magic, and the parade of eccentric seniors makes every scene shine.

If this review tickled your detective senses 🕵️♀️🔍, come snoop around my blog for more feel-good mysteries, page-turning escapades, and the occasional plot twist that even I didn’t see coming. 📚✨ Swing by Views She Writes — where books aren’t just read, they’re interrogated (nicely) until the truth spills out.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maureen is struggling to find her financial footing with her hotel in Haven FL. Things seem to be falling into place with both her professional and personal life when another body is discovered behind the bookstore. It casts a pall over everything and threatens to sink all the good things that Maureen has been able to achieve. A second body, both of whom seem to be connected to a book club made up of mystery writers, pops up.. One of the victims is a hack writer whose only success has come from a ghostwriter and the second body is a ghostwriter. Now Haven has more than its share of ghosts, not of the literary variety, including Lorna and Reggie who hang out at around Maureen.

One of the fun things about the series is everybody in town knows the whole town is haunted but they don’t want outsiders to know. It might bring ghost hunting riff raff and these two murders might just blow it wide open. The local police think Maureen has a special “feeling” about these things. She just has some spectral snitches. But even with the help from beyond, Maureen might stumble into a situation- unexpected I might add- where she risks joining her paranormal buddies.

All of this is going on whilst she and hunky Ted from the kitchen look like they are going to make things official. Unlike a lot of cozies, their romance was not one to linger book after book. It may seem rushed but it has been building over several books. But she has to introduce him to her ghostly buddies. Hmmm. That should be interesting. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4.
The Spirit Moves is #4 in the Haunted Haven series. Maureen has an inn that she inherited in mysterious circumstances, and along with quite a few inhabitants and other workers she is working hard to make it a going concern. All was going reasonably well until there are a couple of murders that put people off coming to Haven.

If Maureen can help solve those murders then she has a chance to keep the business going. Just as well too she has Ted, the cook, to look out for her and love her. She has quite a few ghosts in the building also who prove to be very helpful. I do like them and of course Finn, Maureen's dog. I also liked getting to know Reggie the ghost better, the tobacco smoker who turns out to have had useful experience in his actual life.

There is a rather large group of writers who may or may not have the murderer as one of their group. I found them a rather confusing group. However I asked myself who had motive and that really helped me to identify the murderer. Maureen eventually after much work comes face to face with that murderer. And deals! No thanks to the the local cop who is quite disdainful and calls Maureen by her surname. 

While I really enjoyed the inn and its life, Maureen's friends and the ghosts, I didn't find the mystery so engrossing. I will want to continue the series just to see how Maureen continues with the inn and whether she'll let Ted know about the ghost inhabitants of the inn.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun visit to Haunted Haven! The only thing I never understood was why the police chief seemed more interested in finding out how the ghost appeared in the bookstore window than in finding the killer. He was prepared to tear the store and the garden apart in his search for some sort of projection equipment. Even if she had done that, it isn't a crime and didn't put anybody in serious danger. The murder should have been his top priority! The mystery itself was well constructed. I loved the introduction of the writer's group and wondered if the author included them as a sort of parody of any writer's support group of which she may have taken part. I hope the mystery writer's group continues to be a part of the series and that Maureen follows through and features the writer's workshop in a future novel. As always, I love the presence of the resident ghosts giving her fashion advice and providing soundtrack clues! As a kid I loved the fortune teller in the arcade of the local amusement park, so I was happy to see the return of Zoltar! I really want to discover what else is in that mysterious trunk of memorabilia! I have no interest in the romance, but I realize I'm in the minority, so I just have to go along with it and appreciate that Ms. Perry lets the reader's imagination provide the intimate details. I wish they had visited the Hemingway's polydactyl cats while they were in Key West. Looking forward to the next book!

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses around Haven, Florida which has quite the haunted past. A strongly disliked book author ends up getting murdered and its up to Maureen to solve the mystery. As a Florida native, I loved all of the references to different parts of Florida. It was such a neat feeling being able to say "Hey I know that place!" While I am not the biggest history buff, I think it is neat that the author found their love of Florida history an inspiration to write this book.

I loved the addition of all of the spirits and their interactions with everyone throughout the book. I loved when "Don't Stop Believin" would play randomly in the hotel or when guests would complain of strong perfume smells from certain rooms. The spirits made sure that their presence was known to all whether they liked it or not.

While I do feel that the suspect was a bit obvious, I still enjoyed reading this book and had fun reading about all of the different characters. Overall I would rate this a 3.5/5. It was a fun read, but sometimes things felt a little repetitive or predictable. Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing, and Carol J. Perry for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

[K.B. Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best cozy series out there, especially for summer/beach reading. The setting of a haunted hotel in Florida, with beaches & tourist attractions, gives you major vacation vibes The fact that the whole town has ghosts only adds to the quirkiness. The supporting cast is very strong, especially the four seniors who help Maureen for room & board & the ghost of an actress living in Maureen’s room. This time around local bookseller Aster Patterson, seems to have finally gotten the ghost she wants, her late husband Peter. But when he leads her to the body of an author that was set to do a signing there, she finds herself on the suspect list. We also get a group of mystery authors & a ghostwriter to add to the mix.

Besides solving mysteries the books tend to cover a lot of stuff involving the business end of the hotel, the town & the ever changing guest list of suspects & red herrings. It’s all put together very adeptly & I’ve grown to look forward to coming back to the world each time. I highly recommend you seek the whole series out!

Thank you Netgalley & Kensington Books for the ARC of this book and honest review.

🌴

Read if you like:
* Beacon Bakeshop series by Darci Hannah
* Ruby & Cordelia series by Olivia Blacke

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry is a sprightly story that was fun to read. Maureen has settled into the inn she inherited in Haven, Florida. Maureen is exploring new methods to generate revenue for the inn, as it is struggling financially (the ghosts may need to pay rent soon). Unfortunately, a dead writer is going to send Maureen’s finances into the red unless she can resolve it quickly. Maureen uses all the resources at her disposal to solve this whodunit because there is a lengthy suspect list. It was an entertaining mystery, but it was easy to solve. I wish the mystery had been the main focus. Romance is in the air for Maureen and Ted, the inn’s head chef. Maureen and Ted are keeping their relationship under wraps because Maureen is Ted’s boss (but everyone knows about it). Their relationship is progressing rapidly. I like Haven House’s ghostly residents who make sure their presence is known (I laughed at their antics). There are repetitive details and some predictability. The Spirit Moves is the fourth A Haunted Haven Mystery and this is a series that is best read in order. The Spirit Moves is a lively tale with a clowder of cats, a group of ghosts, long-range residents, an eliminated writer, a strange romance, delectable dishes, and a search for a killer.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carol J. Perry for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Spirt Moves coming out May 27, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When the body of “how-to” book writer Terry Holiday is found by Aster Paterson in her flower garden, the townspeople of Haven are shocked. But they’re even more surprised when the beloved bookshop owner insists that the spirit of her late husband Peter Paterson led her to the grim discovery. Only Aster seems unsurprised—she’s been baking his favorite shortbread cookies every day, hoping to lure his ghost back home . . .
 
Even Maureen is a little skeptical—until Peter’s ghost appears in the bookshop window for all to see. Haven’s hard-headed realist cop Frank Hubbard is determined to unveil whatever trickery led to the apparition, as he suspects the answer to who killed Terry Holiday may be connected to the illusion.
 
If Maureen’s learned anything since she moved from New England and inherited her haunted inn, it’s that 1) ghosts are real (at least some of them), and 2) so are murderers. She doesn’t need a how-to manual to solve a murder; she’s done it before. But with suspects ranging from a mystery writers group to a ghostwriter who just checked in at the inn, she will need a little help from her spirited sleuths . . .

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued by the cozy storyline. I thought the characters were really interesting. I loved cozy books featuring the supernatural. I would definitely check out more books in this series and other books by the author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunted Haven Mysteries is a fun series centered in a small-town Inn on the Gulf side of Florida where there are resident ghosts not everyone can see. But this time there is more than just murder afoot and one of said ghosts seems to become visible to all. The murders are focused on a group of writers attending at the local bookstore and it takes everyone to find the killer.
As a history geek I really enjoy all the tidbits of Florida history in afterward. Of course I enjoy the recipes at the end as well!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
#TheSpiritMoves by Carol J. Perry #HauntedHavenMysteries4 @kensingtonbooks Avail Mar 10, 2025
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[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maureen and the crew at Haven House return in another haunted mystery. Aster, who owns the bookshop and makes cookies, has been waiting for her husband Peter to return as a ghost. One day, Peter arrives in spectacular fashion. A dead body in the garden follows.
A mystery writers group seems to be involved. Or is it Aster? Or a guest at Haven House? There is no shortage of good suspects. As soon a one is eliminated something pops up.
There is also plenty going on at Haven House to keep the reader engaged. Maureen and Tom’s relationship develops. We meet the elevator smoking ghost and learn something about him. Lorna arrives with great outfits and good ideas for investigating.
I enjoyed reading The Spirit Moves. If you enjoy cozies in Florida and like ghosts or the idea of ghosts pick this up.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.