Haunted Hijinks

Agnes Barton Paranormal Mystery #1

by Madison Johns

Ever since Agnes' car accident, things have changed drastically for her. When she wakes up in the hospital, not only is her son Stuart there, who she hasn't seen in years, but a ghostly apparition! Instead of getting ready for the loony bin, Agnes and Eleanor help ready the Butler Mansion for a grand opening as a bed and breakfast on Halloween, except they find the body of Katherine Clark. It's game on, as usual, for Agnes, except she now has a new partner, one who has remained silent and is—well—a ghost. Agnes now struggles to keep her wits, keeping her ghostly companion a secret from Eleanor, not such an easy feat since Eleanor is sharp as a tack. Not only that, but where has Stuart been all of these years and what is he up to?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Paranormal, Ebooks, Ghosts, Fiction, Supernatural

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2014

About the author

When Madison Johns began writing at the age of forty-four, she never imagined she'd make it onto the USA Today best-selling books list with her first cozy mystery, Armed and Outrageous, as an independent author. Sure, this book is an Amazon bestseller, but USA Today?

Although sleep-deprived from working third shift, she knew if she used what she had learned while caring for senior citizens to good use, it would result in something quite unique. The Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths mystery series has forever changed Madison's life, with each of the books making it onto the Amazon bestseller's list for cozy mystery and humor.

Madison is a member of Sisters In Crime. Madison is now able to do what she loves best and work from home as a full-time writer. She has two children, a black lab, and a hilarious Jackson Chameleon to keep her company while she churns out more Agnes Barton stories with a few others brewing in the pot.
Books


Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery series in order:
Armed and Outrageous
Grannies, Guns and Ghosts
Senior Snoops

Romance
Pretty and Pregnant novella
Redneck Romance (Published by Tirgearr Publishing)

Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/Madison-Johns/e...

She is actively involved on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Goodreads. She is always willing to chat it up or give advice, and supports other writers whenever she can.

Smiles :)

Reviews

[Quenya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as the first in a series. What I felt like I got was a book stuck in the middle of a series and like I was missing a lot of important information about the characters and relationships in the book. I don’t think the author did a good job of separating this book as a new series by helping readers get to know the characters and ease them into the world of East Tawas. It was a jarring slam into the middle of a new universe.

With all that negativity though I still liked the characters and really enjoyed the mystery. Agnes and Eleanor are great together whose relationship seems very natural. Some of the supporting characters were not as developed as I wanted but it didn’t deter me from enjoying the story.

I admit I heard the narrator and immediately cringed. If I had known Angel Clark was the narrator I probably would not have gotten the audiobook and stuck with reading only. I enjoy both Agnes series and the Harper Harlow series, but they are both ruined by a narrator that makes every character sound 12.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spirits rule the house

I love this series! Agnes was recently been involved in an accident and since she left the hospital she has been accompanied by a ghost.
Agnes and Elinor have been hired to prepare a local old mansion to open as a bed and breakfast at Halloween. A body is discovered and the sleuths spread themselves between preparing the mansion and investigating the murder.

[Paulette Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright if you haven't any thing else to read

I don't think the grammar check worked vert well. The dialogue was stiff. The main characters are more fit than any 70s+ person I've ever known. Not my favourite.

[Jeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Just felt like I jumped into the middle of a story and didn't have the background to it. Like I was missing a previous book.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5
Not my favourite. Pretty far-fetched that the local sheriff would seek out the advice of two senior ladies. Or that said ladies consider themselves the best detectives around, even though half the time all they do is admire and describe each others' (and all their friends') wardrobe choices.
The paranormal aspect was okay, and not a bad storyline, if it wasn't so convoluted with multiple storylines, some apparently pertaining to previous books involving the characters, although this was advertised as Book One in the series.
Confusing and a bit silly.

[Deserthomemaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay. The mystery was pretty good, but the writing needs polishing — it’s quite simplistic, and the dialogue is at times stilted, at others clichéd and cheesy. Although this is the first book in a series, there are references to cases our heroines have previously solved, so these must be tied into another series. Because of this, the backstory, and characters, are underdeveloped in this book.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Agnes and Eleanor are known around town for their crime solving skills. The local police even give them a bit of leeway and let them snoop around crime scenes for clues, just so long as they keep the officials filled in on what they find. So when the two are asked to oversee the transformation of an old mansion into a B&B, and a corpse shows up on their first day on the job, nobody is surprised when Agnes and Eleanor set out to find a killer.

I was torn over this book. I like the two main characters. They are older women, living full and rewarding lives, and they are fun and spunky. Also, after a car accident, Agnes seems to have picked up a ghost who always tags along with her, and the the ghost has pretty good sense of humor too.

It was the storyline that just didn't work for me here. I never really got in to it, never really cared who did it, just never got excited about what was happening. And I'm not sure why. There was a mansion with secret passageways, and I love a mystery in a mansion with secret passageways. There were interesting characters. I don't know why it didn't work for me, but it didn't. Still, I might try another in the series.

[LVLMLeah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the first book in the original series, the one that introduces Agnes and Eleanor and found it entertaining, light reading. These are the kinds of books I'd rather listen to, but the next few books in that series are not in whispersync, so I got this one.

Meh-- it was OK. I disliked the narrator. The one for the first book was good and added much to the story. This one, not so much. I wouldn't recommend the audio.

While I get these aren't meant to be serious, this one was rather hokey. Still though, it was mindless entertainment and it was OK for me.

[Sue Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

This a brilliant read. Can not wait to read the next one. I highly recommend. If you are into these kind of mysteries you can't go wrong.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fun quirky mystery. I have read a few of Madison Johns books and liked the characters in them so when I saw she had a new series with the same characters but with an added twist I thought I would give it ago. Glad I did because it was fun. I liked the addition of the ghost and the explanation of why Agnes could suddenly see ghosts and I thought it was cleverly woven in with the currant case as well. The mystery was interesting and the book just a fun light hearted mystery that you can get lost in for a few hours.
Agnes was caught up in a car accident and now she can see ghosts or more correctly a certain ghost has attached herself to Agnes and is following her around.. Fearing everybody would think her mad Agnes hasn't told anyone not even her best friend and partner in crime Eleanor. This would be okay but there latest case has them staying in a haunted house just after a murder has been committed. The dead lady isn't who they thought she was and the more questions they ask the more Agnes wishes her ghost friend would talk to her because solving the mystery around her might just help solve the murder. There is also the pressure of getting the manor ready for its first guests as a B&B, a cleaning crew that wont work and a son that is up to something. Not to mention there friends missing money, secret passageways and attempted kidnapping and it is not even Halloween yet.
I liked the use of the special effects for the ghost but not so sure of the voices for the characters, she tried to make them sound elderly but it just sounded to deep or gruff.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good cozy mystery and was thrilled to find a book with older main characters, but this book was a disappointment. It's listed as first in a series, but it is clearly a spin-off from another series. There are repeated references to events from the past, with little context for new readers, and the relationships between many of the characters are treated as if the reader already knows who they all are and how they relate to one another. That's fine in an established series, where I know I'm coming late to the party, but not what I expect from the supposed first in a series.

The author uses dialogue as a means of conveying a lot of information to the reader and the result is "conversations" that come across as silted and unnatural. This was made even worse by the narrator's terrible delivery. (Note to self: avoid this narrator in the future.) I imagine this is what it would sound like if I attempted to record an audiobook myself.

[Natelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women of mature years solving crimes gives me hope for an exciting retirement, so I found the concept of this novel compelling. Throw in a little ghostly intervention and I want to read more. The author kept it light-hearted despite the obvious dark undertones of a murder (or many murders) in a haunted mansion that plans to open as a bed and breakfast for Halloween. Agnes and Eleanor find themselves in the middle of the investigation, learning more secrets about the mansion as well as family and friends, including a ghost who has attached herself to Agnes. I feel like the author could have added a few more chapters and found some questionable editing, but overall I found this book entertaining.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Senior caregiver turned cozy mystery writer Madison Johns writes about senior sleuths Agnes Barton and best pal Eleanor as they solve murder mysteries with the cooperation and respect of the local sheriff. That part is unusual in cozy mysteries. Also unusual is the fact that Agnes has Caroline, the ghost of a young woman killed in the 1930s, as her usually unseen sidekick and partner sleuth. In this outing, Agnes and Eleanor are hired by a Hollywood starlet to oversee preparations for her family home's opening as a bed and breakfast in time for Halloween. Dead body found on scene.
Johns is a better cozy mystery writer than many I've read, and I actually like the main characters.

[Sinead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initial at the start i thought this book was quite similar to Angie Fox "sweet tea and Spirits" due to where the body was found. i found tho that the writer made the Sheriff appear stupid because one of the character was telling him how to do his job. Also if i heard anymore about Angie (the character) and her accident i think i going to scream. i mean it was mention 5 times in chapter one. Also i hope Elenor dies or goes somewhere because she was such a moan she somewhat turned me of the story a little

but i think i would read another book in this series

[Lyssa F · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book. I listened through Audible. I did not like the narration. The first time the grandmother was introduced her voice was an average sounding fourty/fifty year old. Then the voice for the same character sounded like a 70 year old. So it took me awhile to discern the voices. Needless, the story line was slow and weird that these two older ladies were ahead of the game with the police dept. and even not close. Stupid police people. I couldn't wait till this book was over.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was cute, it was quite expository, and I found myself getting lost between jumping from one activity and person to the next. the characters didnt seem to have.much of their own personalities, so I kept getting Elsie and Eleanor mixed up, the boyfriend, the sheriff,the mortician, who am I listening to now? How did they get in the story? wait, what?
the mystery was fine. I liked Caroline the ghost

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. The mystery was pretty good and had a lot of unexpected twists and turns. This is the first book in a series but there was a lot of backstory and character development missing. I still liked the characters but it just took over half the book to really get to know them.

Overall I downloaded this book for free and it is worth a read. I wouldn’t have paid for it but it was a nice short light read with an interesting story.

[Sharen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much as I wanted to like this book (because there are ghosts in it) and I really hate to give negative reviews (since the author spent a lot of time and work writing the book)….I just couldn’t seem to get into the storyline. There seemed to be a lot of backstory that was missing even though this was supposed to be book 1. An editor would have been helpful. So, even though this is a box set I just couldn’t even finish the first book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun paranormal mystery!

Two senior women investigators, Agnes and Eleanor, found a dead body in the Butler Mansion after they were asked to oversee and prepare for the opening of the Butler mansion as a B&B. Agnes was in a car accident and when she woke up, she was seeing ghosts. Madison Johns takes the reader on a marvelous journey to finding out what really happened. This book is a delightful read, and I recommend it. Happy reading!😊

[Nakoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I had fun with this book! Some writers can really make older ladies a real hoot. There is always something about elderly ladies that makes me enjoy myself.

Cussing: None
Nudity: A tad bit of showing off :-P
Violence: Mild
Explicit Descriptions: None

Definitely a book I would recommend. And the ghostly part makes it that much more fun.

[Karlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was cute if a bit difficult to follow. This isn’t my normal reading scene. I found the shift of the narrator a bit annoying. She moved from a young voice to an interpretation of an older voice too much. I won’t seek out others in the story line unless they are on a deep sale but I can see what someone would like about them.

[Marlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a cozy mystery when I picked it up and they are not my favorite. Sure they are quick and easy to read; but they are also predictable and often rather poorly written. I had a very hard time believing in any of these characters. I figured it out half way through so I can't really give it too many stars.

[Alison Boniface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent cosy mystery

Good cozy mystery but it was advertised as the first book so quite confusing to find out it was the second. Somethings were a little harder to fallow for that reason. But a decent easy read and I would probably read another by the author as the characters are quite likeable.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAUNTED HIJINKS
Every time a ghost opens a door, today it was the mansion, something dreadful happens. They were there to oversee preparation of turning it into a B&B.place. Sure enough another body, this one having been place inside, was this the woman they were to meet. Who was Katherine really, and what brought her death...Nice cozy, ghostly plot to read.

[SANDYE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining cozy mystery

Full of unexpected twists and turns, just when you think you know who the killer is, another surprise fact is revealed that makes you rethink things!! Great storyline, interesting from beginning to end!! Will definitely be reading this entire series at some point!!

[Paul Hefka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun.

I found this book to be enjoyable. The story and characters were intriguing and engaging. Discovering that the story takes place in Michigan was a pleasant surprise. It's good to see our state getting some love. I loved the secret passages--you don't see them often any more in stories. This book is definitely worth reading.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Mystery

This was a very entertaining story with a lot of surprises. I love Agnes and El, they are really enjoyable characters. And pretty good at solving mysteries. This was book one of the paranormal series and a lot of fun, so I'm on to book number two. I hope to see Caroline in it.

[Della Sudek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read! Am familiar with the area where the story takes place so that makes is so much better. Would recommend for light readingng..

She has an easy way to fill in characters. Story line keeps your interest. Would definitely recommend this to a friend.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very quick read. I know most of the stuff was explained at the end of the book but felt like I was missing something while reading it. I guess it really wasn’t my type of book, thought it would be funny but wasn’t really. Oh well!! Happy Reading :)

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to read my books in order. This was supposedly book 1, but that's not how it read. There were references made to things in the past, like I should know what they're referencing because I'd already read another book. The writing was choppy and amateurish. Would I look for a book 2? NO.