Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Paint store owner Laura Meehan makes the discovery of a lifetime in her shop when she stumbles upon a body and . . . her dead father’s ghost! This brand-new Haunted Paint Store Mystery has Copperman’s signature wit, humor, and zaniness aplenty!

Dealing with her father’s recent death, Laura Meehan decides to move back to her New Jersey hometown and take over the paint and wallpaper store he opened after quitting his straining job in the police. Knowing that she is uprooting her own and her supportive husband Roy’s lives, she’s determined to continue her father’s legacy and keep the business alive.

But that doesn’t seem to be the only thing alive when Laura discovers that her store is haunted by none other than her deceased father! Either that or Laura has finally lost her mind and developed Ghost Traumatic Stress Syndrome . . .

When she discovers the body of the town’s deadbeat painter Ernie on top of all that, Laura is determined to find the culprit who’s rudely used her store as their murder scene, with the help of her ex-police detective father’s ghost—real or not, Laura might as well make use of his expertise!

It turns out Ernie owed a lot of money to a lot of people. Could one of them have reached breaking point and killed the freeloader?

A lighthearted, fun, and quirky cozy mystery with an intriguing paranormal twist. Perfect for fans of Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries and Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, as well as funny and cozy mysteries by Janet Evanovich, Elle Cosimano, and Amanda Flower.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2025

12 people are currently reading
107 people want to read

About the author

E.J. Copperman

34 books841 followers
Librarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author Jeff Cohen

E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.

E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.

Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
24 (23%)
4 stars
42 (41%)
3 stars
30 (29%)
2 stars
6 (5%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Joanna.
392 reviews6 followers
October 28, 2025
3 stars for me.

Laura Meehan is a paint shop owner,and the last thing she need is to find a body. Ernie is dead,and it seems that he own a lot of people money.Add her father ghost who appear in shop from time to time,and she will have more on her hands than selling paint.Together with Laura husband Roy she need to find out who killed Ernie,and used her store to do that.

Will Laura get the answers,or will the killer try to frame her?

First in series it was a quick and easy read.I liked Laura,and her husband Roy was very supportive,even when she said that her father ghost was in shop,he only asked how he looks now?Sometimes mysterious, sometimes funny it was a good first book in this cozy mystery series.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for arc,the review is honest and my own.
Profile Image for Lola.
2,034 reviews277 followers
January 14, 2026
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I was so excited when I heard about this book in an upcoming new cozy mystery releases Youtube video I watched, the premise sounded so good and I knew I had to read this one and luckily saw it still up on Netgalley for request. Sadly this book didn't work for me. All Spooked Up follows the point of view of Laura who inherited her father's paint and wallpaper store, she and her husband decide to upend their lives and move back to her hometown so she can take over her store. Then a dead body is found in the store and Laura starts seeing the ghost of her dead father who used to be a police officer.

I just love the premise of this one. Not only does it have such a unique setting for a cozy mystery with the paint and wallpaper store, but there is a bit of paranormal with her seeing the ghost of dead father and his insider knowledge from being a police officer and I also like reading about already established couples. Sadly this one just fell flat for me. I have the hardest time DNF'ing cozy mysteries as I know sometimes the first book takes a while to get going and by then I am usually far enough in that I want to know who did it. I wished I had DNF'd this one as it obviously wasn't a book for me.

Let's start with the writing style, from the first page I knew I would struggle with that, it's written as if the main character is telling the reader her story and adding these little weird interjections or comments about what happened. I think it's supposed to have this lighthearted and funny vibe, but the writing style didn't work for me and it was annoying to me.

The mystery started off decent with the body being found in the main character store and that's how she gets involved. I did think the method of murder seemed very impractical and quite gruesome. After the set up it just felt like it didn't really go anywhere for a long time. It just didn't really keep my attention and I had hoped for more smart investigating. I did like how Laura used her husband's expertise to do some sleuthing on the computer and be somewhere when she couldn't, which I thought was a nice addition. I did manage to guess part of the reveal, but more due to writing style reasons than the clues. And then when the whole conclusion to the mystery is there it's this weird scene with a confrontation, that just didn't make sense to me on so many levels or maybe I missed something and the murderer had this typical villain vibe and the whole confrontation scene just felt ridiculous. By then I just didn't care about the story anymore and the reveal didn't change that.

I also would've liked some more store scenes, with a lot of the book actually taking place in the store I felt like I didn't really read a lot about Laura working there. There is a bit about the group of painters in the morning and a returning customer that stops by multiple times. I also thought this book didn't really feel as cozy as I had hoped.

The main character also keeps trying to argue and having these weird conversations with the detective, who strangely enough is called Hannibal Watson, which got me out of the story every time his name was mentioned. She kept edging him on even tough he is just doing his job, I also would be exasperated with her if I was him. I did actually like Laura's romance with Roy and seeing them together.

Then there is the whole thing with her fathers ghost, I thought this would be a big part of how Laura solves the mystery with her father having knowledge she doesn't have, but mostly he just looks at her disapprovingly or approvingly while she talks with other people. He can't leave the store, which seemed like a good limitation as else it would be too easy for him to figure things out but I felt there was so much more that could've been done with the ghost angle. Like with him noticing things that Laura could not or by sharing his police information.

I also got annoyed to no end with the fact Laura keeps believing for the entire book that she's hallucinating and not actually seeing her father's ghost. I recently read another book with ghosts and there's a very easy way to proof the ghost is real namely by having them reveal or tell the main character something they don't know. And the whole book Laura doesn't even try to figure out if the ghost is real. Instead she goes to see a psychologist so they can have these conversation that I think were supposed to be funny. I obviously did not get the humor in this book.

To summarize: I loved the premise for this book with an unique setting at a paint and wallpaper store, the main character already being in an established romance and her seeing the ghost of her dead father who used to be a police officer. Sadly this book did not work for me. The writing style bothered me, was annoying and didn't work for me with the main character sort of telling the reader what happened with these weird comments. I didn't find the humor in the writing style or the situations in the book funny. The mystery didn't keep me invested and was kinda gruesome with the murder method and some darker stuff related to the motive than I expected from a cozy. It also didn't really feel very cozy most of the time. The ghost plot line which I thought would be an integral part of the story was more comedic relief, which wasn't very funny and it bothered me that the whole book Laura keeps thinking she's hallucinating. There's an easy way to proof the ghost is real namely by having him share something the main character doesn't know, and this actually happens accidentally later on, but the character doesn't even realize it. I thought the father's expertise and knowledge would be integral to the mystery, but he doesn't really contribute much. I am just very sad this book didn't work for me as I really liked the premise.
Profile Image for LORI CASWELL.
2,904 reviews334 followers
January 14, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts

Laura Meehan has inherited her father’s paint and wallpaper store. She and her husband are moving from Maryland so that she can run the store that was part of her life growing up and so important to her dad.

The inheritance comes with a big surprise: her father’s ghost has taken up residence in the store. Laura doesn’t believe in ghosts and is sure she is losing her mind.

While trying to deal with her emotions and the ghostly apparition, she arrives at work to find a dead body attached to a piece of equipment she uses several times a day. The ghost claims he was elsewhere when the murder happened, but being an ex-police detective, he should be able to help his daughter paint the killer into a corner.

Turns out the list of suspects is quite long. Which one truly had the motive to kill?

I liked Laura and her husband Roy immediately. They have a strong marriage, common sense, and both have a great sense of humor. Roy was totally on board to make the move so that Laura could take over the store, even when he was left with packing up their old place and dealing with the movers to get everything to their new home. Laura stayed in a hotel until the day of the move. Her dad, Amos, melted my heart as he tried to figure out the whole ghost thing while trying to make Laura believe she was really seeing and hearing him. Her reactions felt pretty believable to me. I mean, if I turned around and the ghost of my father was there, I would probably faint and then get a therapy appointment as soon as possible. And I read a lot of ghostly cozy mysteries.

The supporting cast of characters are mostly customers and contractors who come into the paint store. Having worked in the building trades many years ago, I was pleased to see a female contractor among the group. Readers get to know them right along with Laura. They were all on her list of suspects. We also meet Laura’s therapist, Abby. I appreciated the way she approached Laura’s issue.

I enjoyed that Laura and Roy worked the investigation together and talked through theories: Who benefited from the man’s death? Who could have actually had the strength to commit the crime? Amos, the ghost, chimed in with his thoughts and caution as needed. He really wasn’t a fan of Roy. Laura wasn’t a fan of Detective Hannibal Watson, and neither was I, but I think he will grow on both of us. Mr. Copperman allows the story to build at a comfortable pace, dropping clues and inserting twists. All of which sets up an exciting showdown. When all was revealed, I was happy to say that I was on the right track, and the conclusion made complete sense. Amos also learn more of his ghostly skills.

E.J. Copperman writes what he knows, and his fans know he has a talent for writing entertaining ghostly mysteries, with 10 Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries under his belt. He also knows how to put the funny/snarky in all the right places. With All Spooked Up, he has set his new series off to a wonderful start. I am anxious to return to Sea Breeze, New Jersey, to see what he has in store for Laura, Roy, and Amos next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Profile Image for vlm.
421 reviews10 followers
October 8, 2025
E.J. Copperman delivers another delightfully quirky cozy mystery with All Spooked Up, blending humor, heart, and a touch of the paranormal. When Laura Meehan returns home to run her late father’s paint and wallpaper shop, she doesn’t expect her biggest problem to be that her dad’s ghost is haunting the place—or that she’ll stumble upon a dead body amid the paint cans.

With her father’s spectral guidance and a healthy dose of skepticism, Laura dives into solving the mystery of the town’s least reliable painter’s murder. The result is a charming mix of small-town secrets, family bonds, and ghostly hijinks.

Copperman’s trademark wit and warmth shine through, making this a fast, feel-good read perfect for fans of light paranormal cozies.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Maria.
3,132 reviews101 followers
November 12, 2025
I wanted to love this. I was hoping since it was set at the Jersey Shore that there would be a tie-in with Alison Kerby and one of her many projects at her guesthouse but it wasn't to be. This book had Copperman's trademark humor and I did chuckle throughout but then it seemed to be trying to hard to work it in and it felt forced at times. Then there was the lack of investigation; I get that this is the first book and Laura is settling in to her new normal but I didn't really feel that the investigation was the main focus of the book. And the ending didn't work for me. I am hoping the series develops more as it continues but I had a difficult time getting through this one.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #SevernHouse for an honest review.
Profile Image for BibliofiendLM.
1,745 reviews46 followers
October 28, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
-----
Loved it and the casual mention of the Haunted Guesthouse series. I hope there is a crossover eventually.
Profile Image for Barb.
2,082 reviews
November 2, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up

After her father’s death, Laura moves back to her New Jersey hometown to run the paint and wallpaper store he ran for years. When the body of one of his regulars is found in the store and Laura is one of the top suspects, she sets out to clear her name and that of the store. She didn’t realize, though, that she would be getting assistance from her father’s ghost!

This author has written several series, but the only one I’ve read to date is the Haunted Guesthouse series. I really like those books, so had high hopes for this one. It’s a good story and there are several first-in-a-series issues (if this is indeed the beginning of a new series) that I hope will work themselves out in future books, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as the Guesthouse series.

For the most part, I liked Laura, but her husband Roy seemed almost too supportive to be real. Maybe that’s more of a ‘me’ issue than a book issue though? There is a group of people – so far, mostly regular customers of the store – who will likely be recurring characters, at least until Laura makes more friends in town. I wasn’t thrilled with the depiction of the almost inept police officer, but maybe that will change too if the series progresses?

The identity of the murder victim wasn’t a surprise, and there were plenty of suspects to think about. I kept changing my mind about who the culprit was, and hadn’t decided on a most likely culprit until it became obvious in the book. The motive made sense for that character.

If this is the start of a new series, I will read the next book before deciding whether to pursue it beyond that point.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for S.J. Higbee.
Author 15 books42 followers
November 25, 2025
I quickly bonded with Laura. Copperman has the knack of depicting difficult and painful life events through the lens of a protagonist, who tends to deflect their pain through humour. It’s something a lot of us do. But it means that while still giving the subject sufficient emotional heft and respecting its seriousness – I also found myself grinning at Laura’s take on her predicament.

I sympathised with her over the loss of her father – losing a parent can be devastating and she is clearly still grieving. To the extent that she’s reasonably convinced that she’s seeing her father’s ghost because she doesn’t want to let him go. I was also impressed at Copperman’s depiction of Laura’s therapist – they often get a bad rap in fiction and Laura’s sessions with her are often amusing, but also sensitive to Laura’s feelings of loss. I’m aware that you’re probably thinking this is a rather sad book buoyed by the occasional shafts of humour – when it’s nothing of the sort.

Laura and her loyal, loving husband, Roy, are uprooting themselves and relocating to the hometown where Laura’s father settled to open a paint and wallpaper shop. They have a tightknit relationship I really appreciate. But then, one of the Laura’s most obnoxious customers is murdered in her store and from then on, she is increasingly drawn into the investigation – especially as she and her young assistant both come under suspicion. There are a pleasing number of suspects – Ernie isn’t a popular man – with plenty of plot twists and a nice ramping of tension near the end. The denouement and ultimate murderer makes complete sense – which isn’t always the case in cosy mysteries – leaving me finishing the book with a sigh of satisfaction.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one – Copperman is back to his best form. And now I’m eagerly anticipating the next book – I want to see how Laura and Roy will settle into their new home. Highly recommended for fans of cosy whodunits set in small-town America. While I obtained a copy of All Spooked Up from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Profile Image for Devi.
846 reviews42 followers
August 17, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC

I picked up All Spooked Up hoping for a zany cozy mystery with a ghostly twist, but it felt more like slogging through a corporate memo. A policeman named Hannibal Watson should’ve been a playful nod, but instead it pulled me out every time I read it. That moment set the tone for much of my reading experience: clever ideas that never really found their footing. The murder body drops fairly early—about 10% in—but instead of diving into the mystery, the story stalls.

The bulk of the narrative is spent on the main character’s disbelief about her father’s ghost. She knows she’s seeing him… but also insists she can’t be seeing him… and then a therapist even advises her to “just accept it.” Meanwhile, she frequently comments on how wonderful her husband is, especially how supportive he was in quitting his job so they could run her late father’s struggling paint shop. Logically, I couldn’t help but wonder why both of them would abandon steady jobs to take on a barely-thriving business.

What surprised me was just how little sleuthing actually went on. Her father, once a sharp police detective, doesn’t contribute much beyond shrugs and cheap shots at his son-in-law. Laura, meanwhile, spends her energy sparring sarcastically with Hannibal Watson, flattening him into the butt of jokes rather than a functioning detective. Honestly, I didn’t understand what Watson had done to deserve being the butt of so many remarks, other than stand around looking frustrated.

The mystery’s resolution comes out of nowhere, with clues and connections conjured like a bad magic trick. It’s a slow crawl to a rushed, nonsensical end. The premise has undeniable charm: a haunted paint store, family legacy, and paranormal cozy energy. But the execution felt scattered, weighed down by skepticism circles and side-commentary rather than a satisfying mystery core. I finished this ARC out of obligation, but I’m not itching for the sequel.

Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,114 reviews84 followers
November 4, 2025
All Spooked Up by E.J. Cooperman is the debut of A Haunted Paint Store Mysteries. I anticipated a fun, paranormal-themed cozy mystery. While reading All Spooked Up, I felt like I was wading through quicksand and slowly sinking (I wondered if I would ever reach the end of the book). The narrative unfolds solely through the main character's perspective, which quickly becomes repetitive. She frequently fixates on her father's ghost, wavering between believing she's seeing him and doubting his presence. At times, it feels as if she should simply accept what's happening and carry on, given her ongoing conversations with him. I did tire of the comments about her wonderful husband who gave up his job, so she could run her father’s store. I was curious as to why Laura sold her father’s house and how it sold so quickly. The mystery was a letdown. There was little sleuthing. Laura spent time speculating and talking about the case with her husband and her father. I thought Laura’s father, a former police detective, would help Laura solve the case. Naturally, her father was never in the main part of the store when a crime was committed. The ghost’s contributions are mostly shrugs and taking pot shots at his son-in-law. I wasn't pleased with how Detective Hannibal Watson was depicted, especially with Laura making him the target of her jokes. The mystery lacked development. I had a suspicion as to the resolution of the crime, but it was based on a gut feeling instead of the clues (which were lacking). The conclusion felt hurried and the resolution appeared somewhat implausible, raising questions about its origin. While All Spooked Up presented a promising concept, its execution did not fully realize its potential.
Profile Image for Vickie.
2,331 reviews6 followers
December 1, 2025
I have been a fan of E J Copperman, aka Jeff Cohen, for quite a long while ever since reading his Double Feature mystery series. If you haven't read those, please do. They are superb.
He has got the haunting gig down really well. His Haunted Guesthouse series is fun and now he's got the Haunted Paint Store series to add to the shelf.
This one felt a weensy bit more snarky, in the best possible way, than his other books. There's snark abounding in his other series but this one is next level...again in the best possible way.
I like the premise of a dutiful daughter coming back home after her father dies and she takes over the paint store he's had forever. I like that her husband is willing to uproot and move back to her Jersey shore hometown. I am a bit jaded from the other cozy/amateur sleuth books I've read and I kept waiting for Roy to be a horse's patoot. I am pleased that he is quite the nice and understanding spouse.
I like that Laura thinks the ghost of her deceased dad is a figment of her imagination and goes to therapy to see if she can untangle her brain. I like the therapist too.
I like the quick mention of the Haunted Guesthouse in a nearby town. PLEASE let there be a crossover...pretty please!!!
All the way around, I liked this book and I really look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I can definitely recommend this book and this author in both his guises.
2,579 reviews41 followers
November 16, 2025
Laura Meehan has moved back to Sea Breeze with her husband Roy. Her father, a retired police officer, had opened the Breezewood Paint and Wallpaper store. After his death, Laura and Roy have returned as she plans to keep the store open. Things have been hectic, living in a hotel while waiting for their furniture to arrive, but seeing her father in the paint store was a shock. It seems his mostly complete form spends his time in the store. No one else can see him and Laura thinks that she is going crazy and needs a therapist. When Laura arrives for work one morning she finds one of painters dead in a most gruesome death. A detective arrives and she can’t believe that his first name is Hannibal. Possible reasons for his murder may have been the money he owed to the other painters, his cavalier treatment of his wife and daughter, a former teacher of his and a loan shark. I found the story a bit confusing, at times, as there were almost too many characters to sort through. I did enjoy the often slightly sarcastic humor displayed by Laura and her husband. When she is threatened to stop asking questions, with her father’s “help” will they find the murderer before any more lives are lost? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,229 reviews130 followers
July 24, 2025
#AllSpookedUp #NetGalley is the first in a new paranormal series by the very talented E.J. Copperman.
Laura has decided to take over her father's paint & wallpaper shop in New Jersey.
Her father's recent death spurred the decision, but she has no idea her dad is still there, tethered to the shop, in ghost form.
Laura thinks she's crazy, she blames it on her grief, but whatever the reasons, he's there.
Laura is trying to make the store her own, but the longtime customers don't make it easy. Ernie, the slacker, thinks he can intimidate her into letting him get his supplies with his take now, pay later tactics, but Laura isn't falling for that.
Ernie's temper doesn't scare her, but when she finds him dead, in her store, she realizes somebody was mad enough to shut him up, permanently.

This is a fun, laugh out loud cozy mystery, that I enjoyed reading.
Laura is a great character, the author's take on her sense of humor is refreshing, and I was immediately drawn to her character.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this fun cozy mystery series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Profile Image for Astrid Greyson.
39 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2025
I was a huge fan of the author’s Haunted Guesthouse series and when I saw this was the start of a new series, I did not hesitate to request and read this. And I was not disappointed! This series was one of the best cozy mystery debut series book I have read in such a long time. The main character was hilarious and I was rooting for her from the beginning. I am excited to see how the series will expand on the relationship dynamic between the main character and her ghost father. I typically try not to solve the mystery as I’m reading as I like to be surprised and enjoy the story and while I had an inkling I knew where the story was going, there was enough red herrings to make me question what I thought I knew. Overall, a very fun read and a great debut for the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with an electronic ARC. This is my honest review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,757 reviews103 followers
November 5, 2025
I really enjoyed meeting Laura and her husband Roy’s characters. It’s so few and far between that you get to read about a happily married couple doing the sleuthing in a mystery, and I really liked that. The detective was an acquired taste, but he was a good guy overall. And I just loved Amos’s ghost—he was awesome especially something he did toward the end.

The showdown was a good one, and it was cool how both Laura and Roy faced off with the killer. Laura had been going to therapy since she thought she was seeing things when her dad’s ghost started hanging around. Maybe once she admits he��s really a ghost, she won’t need sessions anymore, but at least the therapist, Abby, had a wicked little sense of humor as could be seen at the very end. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
54 reviews
November 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

This was a quirky cozy mystery with a paranormal twist that attracted me as it stood out from your usual small town whodunit. Laura is a likable and relatable main character her determination to take over her father’s paint store and keep his legacy alive really anchors the story. I enjoyed following her through the humor, and the unexpected situations the haunted store threw at her.

Her father’s ghost added an interesting layer, but I didn’t feel as connected to him as a character, which made some of the paranormal scenes feel a bit flat for me. The mystery itself was entertaining, though somewhat predictable, and I guessed the culprit before the big reveal. Even so, the humor and lively narration kept the story enjoyable, making it an easy, pleasant read for fans of cozy mysteries with a light paranormal twist.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review
Profile Image for Penny.
3,198 reviews87 followers
September 28, 2025
I requested this book because I thought I had read this author before. But after reading this one and looking at his backlist, I hadn’t which I’ll rectify ASAP. Back to this book, Laura’s dad died, and she’s started running his business and trying to deal with the grief that must have her hallucinating the ghost of her dad. When a dead body is found in the store, she decides to use her hallucination to help her solve the murder since her dad was a police detective many years ago. This book is so fun, and I especially like how Laura goes to a therapist because she just can’t believe her dad is still around as a ghost. I’ll definitely read the next because this author’s sense of humor is very apparent in this book, and that was like icing on the cake. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Profile Image for ₊˚✧SJ✧˚₊.
205 reviews120 followers
August 15, 2025
A lighthearted, funny story that involves a paint shop, a ghost and a murder. I enjoyed this book, it was a fun investigative mystery with some good banter between characters, particularly Laura and Detective Watson.

Unfortunately, I found it a little predictable and it lost a bit of momentum in the middle with some pointless rambling.

My biggest issue was possibly a plot hole in Chapter Four? Laura mentioned installing a “Closed Circuit Monitor System” and was watching these monitors while in her office, however this was never mentioned again, even when there was an important mid-day theft later in the book? This confused me.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
262 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2025
I enjoyed EJ Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse series and thought this book would follow along those lines. All though it does seem to try that, it just doesn’t seem to work out quite the same. The ghost is not likeable or very helpful. The idea of giving up two very good jobs to sell a few gallons of paint a day seems like a very bad idea and the whole mystery in the book just didn’t work. The motive was pretty thin and the resolution was really unbelievable. I do have to say it was one of the most unique cozy methods of death I’ve ever read, but even that did not make the book more interesting. It is a quick, easy to read mystery and not unenjoyable, just not very exciting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book. All opinions are my own.

Profile Image for NewariMaicha.
168 reviews
September 9, 2025
The setting for this cozy ghost murder mystery was intriguing: a paint store, full of potential for colorful clues and hidden secrets. However, despite the promising premise, I found myself not as captivated by the story as I'd hoped. The mystery itself felt somewhat underdeveloped, lacking the intricate twists and turns I typically enjoy in this genre. While the ghostly element added a unique touch, it wasn't as seamlessly integrated into the plot as it could have been, leaving me wanting more. The characters, though likable enough, lacked the depth and complexity to truly draw me into their world. Ultimately, the book fell short of my expectations, leaving me with a sense of unfulfilled potential.
Profile Image for Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29).
923 reviews10 followers
November 1, 2025
‘But I knew he was there.’

Laura has uprooted her and her husband’s lives to come home and take over her father’s paint and wallpaper business after he’s passed away but apparently not on. Things go awry when she finds that her father’s ghost still resides in the store and if that’s not bad enough, one of their least favorite customers dies by paint shaker. Not impressed by the sarcastic detective in charge Laura, her husband and her father set out to solve the case themselves. Laura see saws back and forth from thinking she’s completely crazy to perhaps only slight in this offbeat first outing. I only wish the author would have spent a few paragraphs here and there actually painting a picture of what our leading characters looked like and made them a bit more three dimensional.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
1,960 reviews9 followers
November 7, 2025
All Spooked Up is book #1 in the Haunted Paint Store Mystery series by E.J. Copperman.

Laura Meehan and her husband, Roy, move back to her New Jersey hometown after her father’s death. She takes over his paint and wallpaper store and finds that it is haunted by her father’s ghost. When there is a death, Laura investigates with the help of her father’s ghost. There were plenty of suspects and the mystery kept me guessing. This was a good start to a new series and I look forward to the next book.

Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
270 reviews5 followers
December 11, 2025
While Haunted Paint Store Mysteries isn’t a spinoff of A Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries, both take place in the same universe. Laura Meehan starts seeing the ghost of her father in the paint shop she recently inherited from him shortly before discovering the body of a deadbeat painter inside her paint shaker. Like Laura, readers aren’t sure whether she’s truly seeing her father’s ghost or if her imagination is working overtime. Some of the best scenes in the book are between Laura and her father’s ghost, a retired police detective. While the story doesn’t flow as smoothly as I would’ve liked, I still enjoyed reading it. I recommend reading.
81 reviews4 followers
January 4, 2026
All Spooked up is the first in the Haunted Paint Store Mysteries by E. J. Copperman.
Laura inherited her father's paint store when he passed away. She soon discovers that he is haunting the place, which comes in very useful in solving the murder of a customer who she finds dead one morning in her paint shaking machine.

This is a very enjoyable, easy reading cosy mystery. There is a mix of lovable and not so loveable characters and a good splash of humour. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for letting me read a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Profile Image for Cass Chloupek.
55 reviews2 followers
September 13, 2025
I didn’t like this book particularly. The main character had basically no idea what was going in and every piece of evidence was basically handed right to her. In a detective/mystery novel you want to feel like the hero/heroine earned solving of the case but I didn’t feel that way here. And then the reveal was horrible. Why would you make the statutory rapist the murderer if their victim. That plot line was completely unnecessary and it felt completely illogical and nonsensical. Even if it was a long time ago surely someone would have recognized her. Not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
672 reviews7 followers
November 12, 2025
All Spooked Up is the first book in A Haunted Paint Store Mystery series. It has the author’s signature humor, quirky characters and a resident ghost.

Overall this was an enjoyable book although the pace seemed sluggish at times, the ending was just a bit strange, and the humor, while it produced a few chuckles, seemed to be more than necessary. Every other paragraph was written for the sake of humor and it didn’t always enhance the story or increase the reader’s enjoyment.

I have hopes for this series, so I’ll be back. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.
Profile Image for April Brown.
236 reviews6 followers
November 19, 2025
Laura Meehan and her husband Roy move back to her hometown to take over her late father's paint store. What she finds is a dead body and if that isn't enough, her father's ghost keeps making an appearance. Can Laura solve the puzzle of what happened at the paint store?

This is a funny cozy full of all the elements of a good cozy mystery. There were enough red herrings to keep you guessing and I enjoyed the characters.

A good start to a new series.

Thanks NetGalley and Severn House for the chance to read the story and give my opinion
755 reviews5 followers
October 4, 2025
After her father's death, Laura has decided to move back with her husband to run her father's paint and wallpaper store. When her father's ghost appears in the store, Laura questions her sanity. When the body of a dead customer is found in the store, she hopes that her father's previous job as a police detective will help in uncovering the murderer.
First in a new series with interesting characters and look forward to reading more about them.
#AllSpookedUp #SevernHouse #NetGalley
Profile Image for Lee Lee.
381 reviews
October 7, 2025
All Spooked Up - E.J. Copperman

This is another example of a book that I thought was written by a female and it was only librarian note ~ “E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author Jeff Cohen” that told me otherwise. lol unless Jeff is a lady. Not that it matters, I enjoyed the story nonetheless and would love to read more in the series as they emerge.

Brilliant 👏 I can’t wait for the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.