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Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum #2
Pressed to Death
Paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski has the perfect exhibit for the harvest festival—a haunted grape press. But when she's accused of stealing the press, and her accuser is murdered, all eyes turn to Maddie. Knowing the perils of amateur sleuthing as she does, Maddie is reluctant to get involved...until her mother insists she investigate.
Does her mom have a secret agenda? Or is she somehow connected to the murder? Facing down danger and her own overactive imagination, Maddie must unearth the killer before she becomes the next ghost to haunt her museum.
"In Weiss's engaging sequel...Well-drawn characters and tantalizing wine talk help balance the quirky aspects of this paranormal mystery."—Publishers Weekly
Does her mom have a secret agenda? Or is she somehow connected to the murder? Facing down danger and her own overactive imagination, Maddie must unearth the killer before she becomes the next ghost to haunt her museum.
"In Weiss's engaging sequel...Well-drawn characters and tantalizing wine talk help balance the quirky aspects of this paranormal mystery."—Publishers Weekly
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2017
123 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Weiss
110 books1,302 followersKirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
March 7, 2017
I always love the covers on these cozy mystery books. This one is a very good representation of the story within. It's eye-catching and interesting. The composition is spot on. It has interesting typography and makes great use of graphics.
I enjoyed this one. It was quirky and well-written. It had a nice pace to it. It was filled with twist and turns. It had a bunch of interesting side characters, and it kept me guessing right up until the end.That said, what I could have done without was the romance aspect. One because romances rarely work for me in these type of books. They are always inevitably underdeveloped or treated as an afterthought. And that was the case here. Two, this romance was depressing and included one of the biggest cliches you'll find in romance books. I ended up thinking Mason was a douche and although I was glad Maddie ended things I finished this book feeling bummed out, and that took away from my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
Had the romance aspect been simpler without all the cliched drama or had it been left out altogether this book would have gotten a higher rating.
March 8, 2017
Maddie Kosloski had taken over running the Paranormal Museum, a local town tourist attraction that exhibits artifacts that have a paranormal or haunted history attached to them. Maddie thinks her latest addition will be perfect to display in her booth at the upcoming harvest festival, a haunted grape press. Unfortunately the former owner is now claiming the press had been stolen.
However, the festival must go on even with her newest acquisition being questioned Maddie still tries to set up her booth. When her mother finds she needs help with some grapes stuck in a vat Maddie jumps right in to clear the mess only to find a dead body, and not any dead body.... the former owner of the very grape press in question. With Maddie likely to become a suspect her mother convinces her that she needs to start up her own investigation into the untimely death.
Pressed to Death is the second book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series by Kirsten Wiess. While some details into Maddie's life and her previous attempt at investigating a murder would be missed this second edition to the series does focus on a whole new case so it is possible to read without having read the first book. I would warn readers that while the setting does mention the paranormal the series is more cozy mystery set in a unique environment and doesn't bring much paranormal happenings into it.
Having read the first book in this series I already knew that I enjoyed Maddie as a character and loved the unique setting of her museum involved. There's also some quite quirky side characters involved in these books that make them a fun read. My one complaint really with this second installment was ignoring the previous relationship for much of the story before the reader gets any explanation to what had happened. Otherwise this is still a fun cozy mystery series that I've quite enjoyed so far.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
However, the festival must go on even with her newest acquisition being questioned Maddie still tries to set up her booth. When her mother finds she needs help with some grapes stuck in a vat Maddie jumps right in to clear the mess only to find a dead body, and not any dead body.... the former owner of the very grape press in question. With Maddie likely to become a suspect her mother convinces her that she needs to start up her own investigation into the untimely death.
Pressed to Death is the second book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series by Kirsten Wiess. While some details into Maddie's life and her previous attempt at investigating a murder would be missed this second edition to the series does focus on a whole new case so it is possible to read without having read the first book. I would warn readers that while the setting does mention the paranormal the series is more cozy mystery set in a unique environment and doesn't bring much paranormal happenings into it.
Having read the first book in this series I already knew that I enjoyed Maddie as a character and loved the unique setting of her museum involved. There's also some quite quirky side characters involved in these books that make them a fun read. My one complaint really with this second installment was ignoring the previous relationship for much of the story before the reader gets any explanation to what had happened. Otherwise this is still a fun cozy mystery series that I've quite enjoyed so far.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 22, 2018
Pressed to Death was a fun cozy mystery. I enjoyed this one! It’s quirky and well-written. It has a bunch of interesting side characters and as for the mystery it kept me guessing right up until the end.
We get two mysteries to solve in Pressed to Death, the current murder mystery and the Old Grape Press that Maddie has acquired for her Paranormal Museum. The story is mostly fast-paced, but slows down occasionally due to family angst, community happenings, troubled romance, a betting pool, a haunted house, rivalry and intrigue in a local ladies organization, and other events.
Their is a little paranormal element, which I thoroughly enjoy, but it’s not overly prevalent. We have GD the cat who see’s ghosts in the Paranormal Museum, we have the Paranormal Museum that has all these old items that may or may not be haunted or cursed, and a few characters that we get hits of that may or may not be fully human.
The mysteries where both quiet enjoyable and I had a lot of fun following Maddie around as she tries to figure it all out and still keep her Paranormal Museum running.
That said, I could have done without the romance in this one. It was depressing and included the ex coming back into Mason’s life. I dislike ex’s returning. Even though the romance takes backstage to the mysteries, it still took away from me fully enjoying the whole story; because It made me feel that Mason was a douche and sad for Maddie because of the choice she had to make in the end.
I had a delightful time reading Pressed to Death and can’t wait to read book three. My only down side was the personal romance life for Maddie.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
We get two mysteries to solve in Pressed to Death, the current murder mystery and the Old Grape Press that Maddie has acquired for her Paranormal Museum. The story is mostly fast-paced, but slows down occasionally due to family angst, community happenings, troubled romance, a betting pool, a haunted house, rivalry and intrigue in a local ladies organization, and other events.
Their is a little paranormal element, which I thoroughly enjoy, but it’s not overly prevalent. We have GD the cat who see’s ghosts in the Paranormal Museum, we have the Paranormal Museum that has all these old items that may or may not be haunted or cursed, and a few characters that we get hits of that may or may not be fully human.
The mysteries where both quiet enjoyable and I had a lot of fun following Maddie around as she tries to figure it all out and still keep her Paranormal Museum running.
That said, I could have done without the romance in this one. It was depressing and included the ex coming back into Mason’s life. I dislike ex’s returning. Even though the romance takes backstage to the mysteries, it still took away from me fully enjoying the whole story; because It made me feel that Mason was a douche and sad for Maddie because of the choice she had to make in the end.
I had a delightful time reading Pressed to Death and can’t wait to read book three. My only down side was the personal romance life for Maddie.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
July 5, 2019
This was a fun book to listen to while I was walking. Maddie has a lot on her plate with the paranormal museum, setting up a display at the town's fall festival and then finding a dead body. Of course, Detective Hammer immediately accuses her of the murder. Frankly, Detective Hammer's harassment of Maddie is beginning to frustrate me as I read this series. I would think that there is something that could be done to stop her. The mystery plot was well developed and I admire Maddie for her strength and persistence. Her friends Adele and Harper are also great secondary characters and I always enjoy the three of them together on the page.
February 26, 2017
In the second book of this different cozy, that is not really into the unnatural world Maddie Kosloski has personal problems with her boyfriend. The Paranormal museum's entry to Harvest Festival is seized by the police as part of the crime scene because it had been reported stolen. Her accuser was found dead in a truck loaded with grapes. Maddie Kosloski's Mother insists that Maddie investigates the murder. The twists and turns this book takes will keep you turning the pages. The ending is slightly different wished I like. I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Midnight Ink for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book.The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Midnight Ink for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book.The opinions expressed are my own.
March 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Pressed to Death takes us back to San Benedetto and Maddie and her paranormal museum. In this book, it seems everyone has a secret – an element which adds intrigue to the mystery and the overall mood. With so many secrets floating around, narrowing down a murderer proves more difficult than it first appears. The murder mystery is well-plotted and will keep you guessing, as well as looking over your shoulder for rogue Buicks and falling wine barrels.
The hint of romance from book one carries over into Pressed to Death, and I’m still not sure who I prefer for Maddie – Mason or Detective Slate. After the events in this book, I’m leaning toward Slate with whom Maddie has a definite attraction/connection, but Mason could easily redeem himself and then I’d be back to square one. I’m very curious as to how all of this will play out in the next book.
One of the things I really like about this series is the dual mysteries – one present day, one historical – to be solved. In this book, however, the historical mystery felt like more of an afterthought, the investigating tacked on nearly at the end and somewhat anticlimactic.
Bottom Line: While this is a well-written and nicely paced mystery, I didn’t care for it as much as I did the first book in this series. Some plot points and character decisions just didn’t make sense to me or felt weak in general. However, Maddie is a likable character and tagging along with her on her investigations is enjoyable. I am still eager for the next book – to see how events from Pressed to Death affect the rest of the series.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
see my review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Pressed to Death takes us back to San Benedetto and Maddie and her paranormal museum. In this book, it seems everyone has a secret – an element which adds intrigue to the mystery and the overall mood. With so many secrets floating around, narrowing down a murderer proves more difficult than it first appears. The murder mystery is well-plotted and will keep you guessing, as well as looking over your shoulder for rogue Buicks and falling wine barrels.
The hint of romance from book one carries over into Pressed to Death, and I’m still not sure who I prefer for Maddie – Mason or Detective Slate. After the events in this book, I’m leaning toward Slate with whom Maddie has a definite attraction/connection, but Mason could easily redeem himself and then I’d be back to square one. I’m very curious as to how all of this will play out in the next book.
One of the things I really like about this series is the dual mysteries – one present day, one historical – to be solved. In this book, however, the historical mystery felt like more of an afterthought, the investigating tacked on nearly at the end and somewhat anticlimactic.
Bottom Line: While this is a well-written and nicely paced mystery, I didn’t care for it as much as I did the first book in this series. Some plot points and character decisions just didn’t make sense to me or felt weak in general. However, Maddie is a likable character and tagging along with her on her investigations is enjoyable. I am still eager for the next book – to see how events from Pressed to Death affect the rest of the series.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
see my review at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 6, 2017
I received a free copy of this book through netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Pressed to death is the second book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I enjoyed the first book and was happy to return this series. My thoughts about this one are a bit mixed, not sure if it was my mood or what, but some parts I really enjoyed and other parts not as much. The start of this book was a bit slow and I had a bit of trouble getting into the book. But there were also some great scenes and then around the halfway mark it got a lot better and kept my attention.
The paranormal aspect is one of my favorite parts of this book. The paranormal museum makes for a fun addition and it never is fully certain if there is something paranormal going on or not. The subtle paranormal touch really works for this book. Then there is the cat who live sin the museum, who is always fun to read about.
But on the other hand it felt like at times there was a bit too much in the book and not enough focus on the mystery at times. There is the ladies aid, the detectives, the haunted house, the romance, the side characters, the paranormal museum, the other wine sellers and the death café to name a few. There is are a lot of side characters and side plots going on that might or might not be connected to the murder and a few things got wrapped up a bit too rushed in my opinion.
Then this book has two of my pet peeves when it comes to cozy mysteries namely the not too believable method in which the main character gets involved into solving the mystery and the incompetent and in this case even unlikeable police. In the first book it felt more natural how Maddie got into solving the mystery, here it felt a bit forced somehow. And police detective Laurel really grated on my nerves, she seemed mean just because she could and was just such an annoying character. Her actions didn't make sense and I couldn't believe she actually could take those things based on such flimsy evidence. And at times it felt like the police were doing nothing except chase the wrong leads while Maddie figured things out.
The mystery was decent. I liked how just as in book 1 there was a current time and a past mystery. In this case the past mystery and current one both are connected to a grape press that came into Maddie her possession. I would've liked to see Maddie do a bit more research herself into the past mystery as now it was mostly historical society who solved that. Who the murderer was in the current day mystery didn't really come as a surprise. I would've liked to see a bit more investigating as it was mostly her talking with some people and then at the end when she was piecing things together we didn't get much of her thought process, which always just kinda ruins things for me as I want to know what she's thinking.
The characters were nice enough and I was able to remember who was who, but didn't really particularly grow fond of anyone. There is a bit of romance, but it didn't get much attention and the parts that we did see I didn't really care for. Based on his personality I thought his actions seemed a bit unrealistic and I wanted to tell Maddie to shallow her pride sometimes and just call him. It just got dragged on a bit even with it barely being there. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the next book.
To summarize: this was a fun cozy, there were parts I really enjoyed, but also parts I liked less. I had a bunch of smaller issues with this one, I couldn't stand laurel and it felt a bit off how Maddie got into solving this mystery. At times it felt like there was a bit too much going on at times and it felt a tad slow at the same time. There are a lot of side plot lines. The mystery was decent enough, but not too surprising. I liked the subtle paranormal aspect, the cat and how there was both a mystery in the present time and a mystery from the past to solve.
Pressed to death is the second book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I enjoyed the first book and was happy to return this series. My thoughts about this one are a bit mixed, not sure if it was my mood or what, but some parts I really enjoyed and other parts not as much. The start of this book was a bit slow and I had a bit of trouble getting into the book. But there were also some great scenes and then around the halfway mark it got a lot better and kept my attention.
The paranormal aspect is one of my favorite parts of this book. The paranormal museum makes for a fun addition and it never is fully certain if there is something paranormal going on or not. The subtle paranormal touch really works for this book. Then there is the cat who live sin the museum, who is always fun to read about.
But on the other hand it felt like at times there was a bit too much in the book and not enough focus on the mystery at times. There is the ladies aid, the detectives, the haunted house, the romance, the side characters, the paranormal museum, the other wine sellers and the death café to name a few. There is are a lot of side characters and side plots going on that might or might not be connected to the murder and a few things got wrapped up a bit too rushed in my opinion.
Then this book has two of my pet peeves when it comes to cozy mysteries namely the not too believable method in which the main character gets involved into solving the mystery and the incompetent and in this case even unlikeable police. In the first book it felt more natural how Maddie got into solving the mystery, here it felt a bit forced somehow. And police detective Laurel really grated on my nerves, she seemed mean just because she could and was just such an annoying character. Her actions didn't make sense and I couldn't believe she actually could take those things based on such flimsy evidence. And at times it felt like the police were doing nothing except chase the wrong leads while Maddie figured things out.
The mystery was decent. I liked how just as in book 1 there was a current time and a past mystery. In this case the past mystery and current one both are connected to a grape press that came into Maddie her possession. I would've liked to see Maddie do a bit more research herself into the past mystery as now it was mostly historical society who solved that. Who the murderer was in the current day mystery didn't really come as a surprise. I would've liked to see a bit more investigating as it was mostly her talking with some people and then at the end when she was piecing things together we didn't get much of her thought process, which always just kinda ruins things for me as I want to know what she's thinking.
The characters were nice enough and I was able to remember who was who, but didn't really particularly grow fond of anyone. There is a bit of romance, but it didn't get much attention and the parts that we did see I didn't really care for. Based on his personality I thought his actions seemed a bit unrealistic and I wanted to tell Maddie to shallow her pride sometimes and just call him. It just got dragged on a bit even with it barely being there. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the next book.
To summarize: this was a fun cozy, there were parts I really enjoyed, but also parts I liked less. I had a bunch of smaller issues with this one, I couldn't stand laurel and it felt a bit off how Maddie got into solving this mystery. At times it felt like there was a bit too much going on at times and it felt a tad slow at the same time. There are a lot of side plot lines. The mystery was decent enough, but not too surprising. I liked the subtle paranormal aspect, the cat and how there was both a mystery in the present time and a mystery from the past to solve.
July 5, 2018
Not that we doubted it from volume 1, but this is shaping up to be a fun series.
Maddie Kosloski is rather pleased with her recent purchase for the Paranormal Museum: a haunted grape press. She's all set to have it be a featured part of her display at San Benedetto's harvest festival, when she is accused of buying stolen property. When the press' allegedly rightful owner turns up dead in a wine vat at the festival, Maddie is thrust into another mystery. She's reluctant to investigate at first, but her mother insists. Add in a struggle for power within the town's Ladies Aid Society and unwanted complications in Maddie's love life, and you've got another killer (ha ha) entry in this series ...
As with the first book, the characters are engaging, the setting memorable, the tone very slightly tongue-in-cheek, and the prose compelling. There is, of course, a discreet whiff of the paranormal. Maddie herself tends to be skeptical, but sometimes one has to wonder ...
This is a fun read. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended!
Maddie Kosloski is rather pleased with her recent purchase for the Paranormal Museum: a haunted grape press. She's all set to have it be a featured part of her display at San Benedetto's harvest festival, when she is accused of buying stolen property. When the press' allegedly rightful owner turns up dead in a wine vat at the festival, Maddie is thrust into another mystery. She's reluctant to investigate at first, but her mother insists. Add in a struggle for power within the town's Ladies Aid Society and unwanted complications in Maddie's love life, and you've got another killer (ha ha) entry in this series ...
As with the first book, the characters are engaging, the setting memorable, the tone very slightly tongue-in-cheek, and the prose compelling. There is, of course, a discreet whiff of the paranormal. Maddie herself tends to be skeptical, but sometimes one has to wonder ...
This is a fun read. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended!
November 13, 2016
. Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss was outstanding.
Not out until March 8th, this advanced reading copy I was granted by net galley was exactly what I needed to get me back into the swing of things! This is the second in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Series and something to put on your to be read list!
I love these characters, the rich history found in the items collected by Maddie and properly investigated. I found I was so caught up in the swirling circles of mystery that surrounded Maddie, that when the secondary mystery was reveled it was like a child watching fireworks for the first time! The way that Kirsten writes this story had me hanging on each word, gesture and abnormality. Great relationships, motives and history await the reader in Pressed To Death. This book is a great testament to how paranormal cozies should be written! Fantastic, I loved it and I hate that you have to wait for it! Oh and the cover is spot on for the book!
Not out until March 8th, this advanced reading copy I was granted by net galley was exactly what I needed to get me back into the swing of things! This is the second in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Series and something to put on your to be read list!
I love these characters, the rich history found in the items collected by Maddie and properly investigated. I found I was so caught up in the swirling circles of mystery that surrounded Maddie, that when the secondary mystery was reveled it was like a child watching fireworks for the first time! The way that Kirsten writes this story had me hanging on each word, gesture and abnormality. Great relationships, motives and history await the reader in Pressed To Death. This book is a great testament to how paranormal cozies should be written! Fantastic, I loved it and I hate that you have to wait for it! Oh and the cover is spot on for the book!
February 12, 2017
This is a nice cozy series set in the Paranormal Museum. Between the Museum, the Ladies Aide Society and the unusual festivals the town has a healthy tourism rate. Maddie, owner of the Paranormal Museum is setting up a display for the local wine festival centered around a haunted grape press. When the previous owner of the press is found murdered Maddie becomes a prime suspect. When his wife is murdered a few days later Maddie and the Ladies Aide Society start investigating. This zany town is a perfect fit for the series and the Museum's black cat adds some smiles and giggles. Fun to read and I'm looking forward to the 3rd story in A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series.
March 10, 2017
Maddie Kosloski is the owner of the Paranormal Museum in San Benedetto, California. In this story, an antique grape press that was once used in the wine making business and is rumoured to be haunted, is the newest acquisition of the museum. When Maddie moves it to the Harvest Fair site advertising her museum, her nemesis, Detective Lauren Hammer, comes to tell her that the true owner of the press is claiming that is it stolen and she will have to confiscate it. Even when Maddie produces a receipt signed by Romeo Paganini's wife, the detective goes to the fairgrounds to remove the press. Before she is able to take it, Maddie, helping her mother set up the "Grape Stomp Booth" comes across a dead body buried under the grapes. When it is identified as the vintner accusing her of theft, Maddie becomes a suspect. Everyone, including her mother, wants Maddie to investigate the crime--except the police. One of the things I like about this series is that the police do not co-operate with the amateur sleuth. Maddie does not get any information from them, she is on her own if she wants to solve this crime and take suspicion off herself and her employee, the vintner's estranged son.
There is a lot going on in this story besides just the murder mystery. Maddie is having problems with her boyfriend Seth, the Ladies' Aid Society has a huge rift that has put her mother in the middle and Adele is trying to get her tea shop business off the ground. As in the first book, Maddie is also working on getting more information surrounding the murder/suicide story that is attached to the Grape Press. There is fun when setting up the Haunted House, having a Death Cafe and running the museum in general. I really like the character of Deiter, handyman extraordinaire as well as bookie for all local strange things to bet on. All this adds to the story, even though some reviewers wish there had been more emphasis on the mystery. I liked how this developed the main characters more and we get to know them better in this book. The one character that I still do not like is the terrifically annoying Detective Laurel Hammer whose purpose seems only to annoy Maddie and her friends as well as carrying a grudge from highschool days when she was a bit of a bullly. She is definitely a negative stereotype that make police look bad. I am hoping that she will lighten up in future books.
This is a well written cozy mystery with a great California setting and quirky characters. The idea of the Paranormal Museum is a unique twist to the series. Even though Maddie is not a true believer in the paranormal, she realistically accepts that there are phenomena that cannot be explained. Three is a lot of information about making wine blended into the story and of course drinking wine happens at many occasions. This was a fun, easy read that I recommend to cozy mystery fans, especially those who like wine or the paranormal. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
There is a lot going on in this story besides just the murder mystery. Maddie is having problems with her boyfriend Seth, the Ladies' Aid Society has a huge rift that has put her mother in the middle and Adele is trying to get her tea shop business off the ground. As in the first book, Maddie is also working on getting more information surrounding the murder/suicide story that is attached to the Grape Press. There is fun when setting up the Haunted House, having a Death Cafe and running the museum in general. I really like the character of Deiter, handyman extraordinaire as well as bookie for all local strange things to bet on. All this adds to the story, even though some reviewers wish there had been more emphasis on the mystery. I liked how this developed the main characters more and we get to know them better in this book. The one character that I still do not like is the terrifically annoying Detective Laurel Hammer whose purpose seems only to annoy Maddie and her friends as well as carrying a grudge from highschool days when she was a bit of a bullly. She is definitely a negative stereotype that make police look bad. I am hoping that she will lighten up in future books.
This is a well written cozy mystery with a great California setting and quirky characters. The idea of the Paranormal Museum is a unique twist to the series. Even though Maddie is not a true believer in the paranormal, she realistically accepts that there are phenomena that cannot be explained. Three is a lot of information about making wine blended into the story and of course drinking wine happens at many occasions. This was a fun, easy read that I recommend to cozy mystery fans, especially those who like wine or the paranormal. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
March 16, 2017
"I was going to jail.
Worse my arch nemesis would be the one to drag me from my own paranormal museum."
Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss starts with the above lines; the cozy, possibly paranormal mystery novel is exciting, quick-paced and fun.
Maddie, the present owner of San Benedetto's Paranormal Museum, is the unlucky person who discovers the body of a man ahead of wine festival. To make things worse, the same man had accused her of stealing his antique grape press and told the police as much.
Maddie is then forced/asked – which ever you decide – to investigate the man's murder, with her former school nemesis Laurel Hammer being right on her tail and constantly trying to drag her to jail, especially after Maddie accidentally set Hammer's hair on fire.
While investigating, Maddie can't help but notice that her mother is acting strangely and so is her mother's entire group, the Ladies' Aid.
"It was one thing for me to discover a dead body, another to suspect my mom had some knowledge of the crime."
After the discovery of the dead body, a Romeo Paganini, Maddie keeps telling herself that she wouldn't interfere with the investigation, especially after the last one nearly got her killed.
"This investigation—"
"I'm not going to interfere."
"Oh yes you are, Madelyn."
As with the previous book, Pressed to Death sees Maddie investigating a case that is supposed to be the police's responsibility as well as a historical cold case pertaining to her recently-acquired antique grape press.
A relatable character, I absolutely loved Maddie, even more than in the first book in the series. She has a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong, even if that means that her actions will hurt her. She is also caring, has good instincts and has learnt to trust them. This is significant for her character development.
Narrated from the first person perspective of Maddie, Pressed to Death allows the reader to see how Maddie's mind works as an amateur sleuth, and engrosses the reader in the novel, the events and the mystery-ies.
"Haven't you ever seen something you can't explain?"
"Yeah, the way people tend to drop dead in your vicinity, and it's never your fault."
There were a lot of beautiful lines and images in the novel. The characters are down-to-earth and I liked the friendship Maddie, Harper and Adele have.
"I wanted to evoke the romance and mystery of tea, using lush descriptive phrases."
"Lush? These are pornographic," Harper said. "No wonder people were snatching them up."
Pressed to Death is the second instalment in The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series, but can be easily read as a standalone novel.
Overall, Pressed to Death is a perfect Halloween read and enjoyable cozy mystery.
Overall rating: 5 stars
Note: I received a free copy of Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour by Lori Great Escapes Book Tours.
Worse my arch nemesis would be the one to drag me from my own paranormal museum."
Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss starts with the above lines; the cozy, possibly paranormal mystery novel is exciting, quick-paced and fun.
Maddie, the present owner of San Benedetto's Paranormal Museum, is the unlucky person who discovers the body of a man ahead of wine festival. To make things worse, the same man had accused her of stealing his antique grape press and told the police as much.
Maddie is then forced/asked – which ever you decide – to investigate the man's murder, with her former school nemesis Laurel Hammer being right on her tail and constantly trying to drag her to jail, especially after Maddie accidentally set Hammer's hair on fire.
While investigating, Maddie can't help but notice that her mother is acting strangely and so is her mother's entire group, the Ladies' Aid.
"It was one thing for me to discover a dead body, another to suspect my mom had some knowledge of the crime."
After the discovery of the dead body, a Romeo Paganini, Maddie keeps telling herself that she wouldn't interfere with the investigation, especially after the last one nearly got her killed.
"This investigation—"
"I'm not going to interfere."
"Oh yes you are, Madelyn."
As with the previous book, Pressed to Death sees Maddie investigating a case that is supposed to be the police's responsibility as well as a historical cold case pertaining to her recently-acquired antique grape press.
A relatable character, I absolutely loved Maddie, even more than in the first book in the series. She has a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong, even if that means that her actions will hurt her. She is also caring, has good instincts and has learnt to trust them. This is significant for her character development.
Narrated from the first person perspective of Maddie, Pressed to Death allows the reader to see how Maddie's mind works as an amateur sleuth, and engrosses the reader in the novel, the events and the mystery-ies.
"Haven't you ever seen something you can't explain?"
"Yeah, the way people tend to drop dead in your vicinity, and it's never your fault."
There were a lot of beautiful lines and images in the novel. The characters are down-to-earth and I liked the friendship Maddie, Harper and Adele have.
"I wanted to evoke the romance and mystery of tea, using lush descriptive phrases."
"Lush? These are pornographic," Harper said. "No wonder people were snatching them up."
Pressed to Death is the second instalment in The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series, but can be easily read as a standalone novel.
Overall, Pressed to Death is a perfect Halloween read and enjoyable cozy mystery.
Overall rating: 5 stars
Note: I received a free copy of Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour by Lori Great Escapes Book Tours.
November 7, 2022
It wasn’t a bad book, just think Mason was a giant idiot and I don’t like the way the author handled that situation. After building him up to be such a good guy in the last book to have him suddenly do a 180- ehhhh
The mystery was actually good, there’s not a whole lot of paranormal aspects to the mysteries, Maddie is asked by her mom to solve the murder of a local vintner, who also happens to be the father of her employee, Leo. Overall, it’s a solid read
The mystery was actually good, there’s not a whole lot of paranormal aspects to the mysteries, Maddie is asked by her mom to solve the murder of a local vintner, who also happens to be the father of her employee, Leo. Overall, it’s a solid read
October 23, 2017
3, 3.5 stars
"Pressed to Death"gets off to a furious, full-throttle start. From there it zooms from story idea to story idea, bouncing around and having trouble settling on just a few. The story is mostly fast-paced, but slows down occasionally due to family angst, community happenings, etc.; there's a troubled romance, a potential new romance, a betting pool, a haunted house, rivalry and intrigue in a local ladies organization, a senseless feud that's already old and tired and needs to be ditched or resolved, and other events. It felt as if Weiss had lots of ideas and didn't know where to focus her attention. The story kept meandering and getting off track.
The paranormal aspect is subtle but sharper than it was in the first book, and added a nice bit of texture to the story. Weiss makes good use of the museum and also incorporates a cat into the story. Cats have a reputation for sensing the supernatural and GD is no exception. He also adds a bit of humor to the story. Some of the human characters were annoying, particularly Detective Laurel Hammer, and a few of the Ladies Aid women. There's some character development but it's low key.
As in the first book, Maddie is simultaneously investigating a historical case and a present day case, despite her protests to the contrary. Although she's very much an amateur detective, she does a better job than the police at solving things. Maddie initially gets involved when she's a possible suspect in the current day murder but her continued involvement was iffy and didn't really hold up. The mystery was not too hard to figure out though Maddie's attempts to solve it were often bumbling, which made sense given her amateur status. I would have liked to see her take a more active part in the investigation as she mostly wandered around, quizzing people, but doing little actual research or investigation.
Now it may seem like I didn't like "Pressed to Death" but I did. It wasn't great but it was pleasant. It has a good setting, interesting characters, and a good blend of mystery and paranormal. Despite the story's meanderings, it held my attention. Weiss has an eye for quirky and a gift for historical detail. It's different from other cozies, and worth a read if you like quirky mysteries mixed with a hint of paranormal.
"Pressed to Death"gets off to a furious, full-throttle start. From there it zooms from story idea to story idea, bouncing around and having trouble settling on just a few. The story is mostly fast-paced, but slows down occasionally due to family angst, community happenings, etc.; there's a troubled romance, a potential new romance, a betting pool, a haunted house, rivalry and intrigue in a local ladies organization, a senseless feud that's already old and tired and needs to be ditched or resolved, and other events. It felt as if Weiss had lots of ideas and didn't know where to focus her attention. The story kept meandering and getting off track.
The paranormal aspect is subtle but sharper than it was in the first book, and added a nice bit of texture to the story. Weiss makes good use of the museum and also incorporates a cat into the story. Cats have a reputation for sensing the supernatural and GD is no exception. He also adds a bit of humor to the story. Some of the human characters were annoying, particularly Detective Laurel Hammer, and a few of the Ladies Aid women. There's some character development but it's low key.
As in the first book, Maddie is simultaneously investigating a historical case and a present day case, despite her protests to the contrary. Although she's very much an amateur detective, she does a better job than the police at solving things. Maddie initially gets involved when she's a possible suspect in the current day murder but her continued involvement was iffy and didn't really hold up. The mystery was not too hard to figure out though Maddie's attempts to solve it were often bumbling, which made sense given her amateur status. I would have liked to see her take a more active part in the investigation as she mostly wandered around, quizzing people, but doing little actual research or investigation.
Now it may seem like I didn't like "Pressed to Death" but I did. It wasn't great but it was pleasant. It has a good setting, interesting characters, and a good blend of mystery and paranormal. Despite the story's meanderings, it held my attention. Weiss has an eye for quirky and a gift for historical detail. It's different from other cozies, and worth a read if you like quirky mysteries mixed with a hint of paranormal.
August 22, 2024
2nd read: Still agree with my first review, though I am even more annoyed/angry about the spoiler this time around.
This continues to be a fun, fluffy series. The characters continue to grow on me and the mysteries are fun to try to figure out. I like the ties to the stories behind the "haunted" objects too. And Maddie's "investigating" at least has a reason behind it still.
This continues to be a fun, fluffy series. The characters continue to grow on me and the mysteries are fun to try to figure out. I like the ties to the stories behind the "haunted" objects too. And Maddie's "investigating" at least has a reason behind it still.
Read
March 20, 2017Stopped at 50%
I picked this book up intrigued by a cozy mystery set in a haunted museum. I was expecting some ghosts or things that go bump, or something paranormal. Unfortunately, there was nothing paranormal. The mystery focused outside the museum and there wasn't anything ghostly. There was a cat in the museum, and I love cats. However, this cat was rather mean spirited. What was up with that? I also wanted a nice cozy, and I wasn't pleased with the lack of cozy. The story centered around a group of women, The Ladies Aid. These women were nasty and fighting amongst themselves. I didn't like all the drama, it felt unnecessary. I especially didn't like the way Maddie's mom was behaving, she was all caught up in the drama, hiding things from her daughter. Ugh.
There was a bit of romance, but then it looked like it was headed for derailment. Maddie had established a good relationship, and when her boyfriend tells her his ex is in town and wants to meet, she is fine with it as she trusts him. I stopped after the boyfriend starting acting weird.
Anyway, this book lacked cozy and no paranormal so I decided to part ways.
I picked this book up intrigued by a cozy mystery set in a haunted museum. I was expecting some ghosts or things that go bump, or something paranormal. Unfortunately, there was nothing paranormal. The mystery focused outside the museum and there wasn't anything ghostly. There was a cat in the museum, and I love cats. However, this cat was rather mean spirited. What was up with that? I also wanted a nice cozy, and I wasn't pleased with the lack of cozy. The story centered around a group of women, The Ladies Aid. These women were nasty and fighting amongst themselves. I didn't like all the drama, it felt unnecessary. I especially didn't like the way Maddie's mom was behaving, she was all caught up in the drama, hiding things from her daughter. Ugh.
There was a bit of romance, but then it looked like it was headed for derailment. Maddie had established a good relationship, and when her boyfriend tells her his ex is in town and wants to meet, she is fine with it as she trusts him. I stopped after the boyfriend starting acting weird.
Anyway, this book lacked cozy and no paranormal so I decided to part ways.
February 16, 2017
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October 20, 2016
See my full review (and more!) at Mystereity Reviews
Maddie has just bought a haunted grape press for her Paranormal Museum when she's accused of stealing it by a vintner that Maddie later finds dead. Coerced into investigating by her mother, Maddie puts catching a killer at the top of her to-do list, along with staging a room at a Halloween haunted house and hosting a Death Cafe at the Paranormal Museum.
I liked this, but I was a little disappointed. At the heart of this book is a good premise and an intriguing plot. The current day murders had a lot of twists and turns, and the story behind the haunted grape press (and everyone's reaction to it) was entertaining. I loved Maddie's room at the Haunted House (actually, I would've loved to see the whole thing!) and the descriptions of the custom Oujia boards she sells made me want to go out and buy one. As for Adele's new descriptions of her teas, I thought they were colorful and a bit corny, but pornographic? Nope. Harper needs to get out more.
Unfortunately, the murders weren't the focus of the book; the plots were largely buried under the weight of Maddie's love life, the town placing bets on whether Maddie will solve the crime, the Ladies Aid anarchy, the Death Cafe, and the terrifically annoying Det. Hammer whose purpose seems only to be a distraction and is a negative stereotype that makes police look bad (as if they need any more of that.)
Overall, this is a very cute and enjoyable series (and I still love the idea of a paranormal museum!) and this book was a good read but it would've been so much better if the focus was more on the mystery and less on all the other silliness.
Thank you to Midnight Ink and Netgalley, who provided an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Maddie has just bought a haunted grape press for her Paranormal Museum when she's accused of stealing it by a vintner that Maddie later finds dead. Coerced into investigating by her mother, Maddie puts catching a killer at the top of her to-do list, along with staging a room at a Halloween haunted house and hosting a Death Cafe at the Paranormal Museum.
I liked this, but I was a little disappointed. At the heart of this book is a good premise and an intriguing plot. The current day murders had a lot of twists and turns, and the story behind the haunted grape press (and everyone's reaction to it) was entertaining. I loved Maddie's room at the Haunted House (actually, I would've loved to see the whole thing!) and the descriptions of the custom Oujia boards she sells made me want to go out and buy one. As for Adele's new descriptions of her teas, I thought they were colorful and a bit corny, but pornographic? Nope. Harper needs to get out more.
Unfortunately, the murders weren't the focus of the book; the plots were largely buried under the weight of Maddie's love life, the town placing bets on whether Maddie will solve the crime, the Ladies Aid anarchy, the Death Cafe, and the terrifically annoying Det. Hammer whose purpose seems only to be a distraction and is a negative stereotype that makes police look bad (as if they need any more of that.)
Overall, this is a very cute and enjoyable series (and I still love the idea of a paranormal museum!) and this book was a good read but it would've been so much better if the focus was more on the mystery and less on all the other silliness.
Thank you to Midnight Ink and Netgalley, who provided an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
January 26, 2017
I enjoyed this second book in the series as much as the first. Maddie is back and trying to keep her museum afloat. When she is accused of theft and the accuser later is found dead she knows the finger will point her way. She is reluctant to get involved but her mother pushes her into investigating. Unfortunately she will have to do it without the support of her boyfriend because he is busy with the past coming into the here and now.
I thought I knew who the murderer was but Ms. Weiss threw me off that track and then surprised me at the reveal at the end. I can't wait for the third book to come out to see what else is in store for Maddie.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I thought I knew who the murderer was but Ms. Weiss threw me off that track and then surprised me at the reveal at the end. I can't wait for the third book to come out to see what else is in store for Maddie.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
April 18, 2017
Maddie a curator for a small paranormal museum in wine country California who also huelps out with the harvest festival gets into the middle of a drama she has no control of. Of course she is a suspect as she was the first on the scene and she has to investigate as she didn't do. Has some fun, quirky characters with a haunted plot. It was a fun read and looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 11, 2018
Audio Review
A body at the grape harvest festival, a cursed and haunted grape press, danger at the haunted house, and mysterious activities among the ladies' aid society all come together to give Maddie Koslowski a Halloween season she won't soon forget.
Pressed to Death is the second installment in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum cozy mystery series. There is some build on the first book, but in a pinch a reader/listener might squeak by getting them out of order.
Like with book one, Maddie soon finds herself embroiled in a murder and her old high-school nemesis on the police force is looking for any excuse to arrest her while the other detective gives her an old tingly sensation each time they meet. There are a lot of brands in the fire for her between her boyfriend, Mason, getting a surprise visit from an ex, her mother keeping secrets along with both her best friends, Estelle and Harper. A death society group wants to use the museum for their meeting. And, her teenage employee might be suspect number one in his own dad's killing. While worrying about Mason's ongoing silence, she delves into community Halloween activities, working new angles to make the museum profitable, sleuthing the recent murder, and the one from the past involving the grape press.
I enjoyed the mild spooky aspect of museum and haunted exhibits, GD (ghost detecting) cat's antics around the museum and the 'is it or isn't it' possibility of paranormal activity.
But, as I've emphasized, there is a ton going on in this one and I felt like Maddie was bouncing around from one thing to another making my head spin a bit. I got confused a couple of times over which lady was involved in the historical museum, ladies' aid, or friends of her mother. So many change of scenes and people like that. Yes, there was forward progress, but all of it was somewhat distracting. I suspect that several of the situations were meant to be distractions on purpose and they were humorous at that.
I did have the murder figured out and the tangle with Maddie's love life (let's just say, I'm sort of rooting for someone else) so I wasn't as upset as I might have been to see what was going on there with Mason going radio silent on her.
My big complaint about the first book vanished and this one was a much more enjoyable story for me. Maddie is settled into the museum and gung ho about her life in San Bernedetto. No more wishy washy and constantly complaining or getting envious. She no longer gets whiny with comparing herself to her siblings or her friends and she is loyal and involved in her work, her community, and her family and friends.
The narrator, Emily Durante did a fabulous job once again. She had a good sized cast of varying ages and genders which she did well. I like her voice for Maddie and definitely want to catch more of her work.
All in all, this was a fun and light spooky mystery. I felt it was more settled in ways though a bit too busy in others. It's definitely a series that I want to get more of since I love the paranormal museum, the combo of old and new murders, the quirky cat, and the whole cast of characters.
My thanks to Tantor audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
A body at the grape harvest festival, a cursed and haunted grape press, danger at the haunted house, and mysterious activities among the ladies' aid society all come together to give Maddie Koslowski a Halloween season she won't soon forget.
Pressed to Death is the second installment in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum cozy mystery series. There is some build on the first book, but in a pinch a reader/listener might squeak by getting them out of order.
Like with book one, Maddie soon finds herself embroiled in a murder and her old high-school nemesis on the police force is looking for any excuse to arrest her while the other detective gives her an old tingly sensation each time they meet. There are a lot of brands in the fire for her between her boyfriend, Mason, getting a surprise visit from an ex, her mother keeping secrets along with both her best friends, Estelle and Harper. A death society group wants to use the museum for their meeting. And, her teenage employee might be suspect number one in his own dad's killing. While worrying about Mason's ongoing silence, she delves into community Halloween activities, working new angles to make the museum profitable, sleuthing the recent murder, and the one from the past involving the grape press.
I enjoyed the mild spooky aspect of museum and haunted exhibits, GD (ghost detecting) cat's antics around the museum and the 'is it or isn't it' possibility of paranormal activity.
But, as I've emphasized, there is a ton going on in this one and I felt like Maddie was bouncing around from one thing to another making my head spin a bit. I got confused a couple of times over which lady was involved in the historical museum, ladies' aid, or friends of her mother. So many change of scenes and people like that. Yes, there was forward progress, but all of it was somewhat distracting. I suspect that several of the situations were meant to be distractions on purpose and they were humorous at that.
I did have the murder figured out and the tangle with Maddie's love life (let's just say, I'm sort of rooting for someone else) so I wasn't as upset as I might have been to see what was going on there with Mason going radio silent on her.
My big complaint about the first book vanished and this one was a much more enjoyable story for me. Maddie is settled into the museum and gung ho about her life in San Bernedetto. No more wishy washy and constantly complaining or getting envious. She no longer gets whiny with comparing herself to her siblings or her friends and she is loyal and involved in her work, her community, and her family and friends.
The narrator, Emily Durante did a fabulous job once again. She had a good sized cast of varying ages and genders which she did well. I like her voice for Maddie and definitely want to catch more of her work.
All in all, this was a fun and light spooky mystery. I felt it was more settled in ways though a bit too busy in others. It's definitely a series that I want to get more of since I love the paranormal museum, the combo of old and new murders, the quirky cat, and the whole cast of characters.
My thanks to Tantor audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2020
The second book in this series was every bit as good as the first, if not better. I love this series. There are interesting characters, humor, mystery, and a little bit of paranormal thrown in. Can't wait to read the next one.
July 17, 2018
I love Weiss's cozy mysteries more than I can possibly explain. They're the perfect combination of silliness, mystery, relationship angst, and entrepreneurship. LOVE.
September 3, 2022
3.5 stars for the cozy mystery that this is. Nothing really paranormal about it.
October 8, 2025
Wow, that was confusing and disappointing. Missing all the cheek of the first novel.
November 5, 2025
Such a fun premise. Maddie is settling in at the museum and making things her own but another murder becomes priority and she is scrambling to clear her name.
October 28, 2021
I really like Maddy and company, and the mystery isn't bad either. But I could do without Mason and his whole drama. Good for Maddie, but I read the blurbs on the next couple of books and why is he still there. Just let go already.
May 9, 2024
Set in California wine country, in a cozy little paranormal museum, much happens around main character, Madeline. I didn’t read the set-up first in the series, which might’ve helped in reading the characters, but this one moved well.
I liked the characters, tho not the wimpy dynamics between Maddie & Laurel.
I liked the characters, tho not the wimpy dynamics between Maddie & Laurel.
March 15, 2017
This is a really good series. I like the characters, the setting and a good mystery. I wish they were out more than once a year.
March 15, 2017
This is another cozy series I've added to my favorites. It's original in that it's main character, Maddie, works in a paranormal museum. How she started there is explained in book one and I would recommend reading in order although it would read as a standalone. The museum adjoins one of her best friend, Adele's, tea shop in San Benedetto which is a lesser known area of wine country that is always trying to promote tourism. Maddie is promoting her museum at an upcoming Harvest Festival and a Haunted House. She's even acquired the perfect exhibit-- a haunted wine press. Perfect that is, until it's confiscated as possibly involved in a murder. As in the case of the first book, there is also an old murder mystery to solve this time involving the wine press.
Maddie's mother belongs to The Ladies Aid Society and is more involved with the mystery in this second book much to my delight. I really enjoyed her so much more this time.
The paranormal element is still relatively light but intriguing. (I'd be okay with a little more.)
I wonder if GD cat & Maddie will ever truly be friends? I do think the behavior of Laurel towards Maddie borderlines on police harassment though and wish she'd at least get called out on it. That's one of the few issues I have.
The mystery was thought out well and while I did suspect the killer, it wasn't until towards the end.
All in all, this was a very satisfying read and leaves me happily anticipating the next book in the series.
Disclosure:
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Maddie's mother belongs to The Ladies Aid Society and is more involved with the mystery in this second book much to my delight. I really enjoyed her so much more this time.
The paranormal element is still relatively light but intriguing. (I'd be okay with a little more.)
I wonder if GD cat & Maddie will ever truly be friends? I do think the behavior of Laurel towards Maddie borderlines on police harassment though and wish she'd at least get called out on it. That's one of the few issues I have.
The mystery was thought out well and while I did suspect the killer, it wasn't until towards the end.
All in all, this was a very satisfying read and leaves me happily anticipating the next book in the series.
Disclosure:
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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