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Celeste Jones Paranormal Mysteries #1
Haunted Hardbodies
Celeste Jones has always dreamed of owning a gym. So, when the opportunity arises to buy Six-Packs for peanuts, she's thrilled. The fact that the previous owner claims the place is haunted doesn't bother her one bit--she doesn't believe in ghosts. With all her experience, she'll revive floundering Six-Packs!
Unfortunately, Celeste soon discovers that the gym IS haunted by a feisty ghost named Lennie. Lennie used to own the building that houses Six-Packs, and he was a slumlord. Lennie approaches Celeste and tells her he must solve five crimes before he can enter the next world to atone for being a terrible person in life.
At first, Celeste ignores Lennie's badgering ways. But then one of the gym members suffers a mysterious death--and only Lennie seems to know who's behind it. Celeste has no choice but to help Lennie solve his first crime or it's over for Six-Packs, leaving not only Celeste broke, but her employees without a job.
NOTE: Haunted Hardbodies is a cozy murder mystery for people who like to laugh.
Unfortunately, Celeste soon discovers that the gym IS haunted by a feisty ghost named Lennie. Lennie used to own the building that houses Six-Packs, and he was a slumlord. Lennie approaches Celeste and tells her he must solve five crimes before he can enter the next world to atone for being a terrible person in life.
At first, Celeste ignores Lennie's badgering ways. But then one of the gym members suffers a mysterious death--and only Lennie seems to know who's behind it. Celeste has no choice but to help Lennie solve his first crime or it's over for Six-Packs, leaving not only Celeste broke, but her employees without a job.
NOTE: Haunted Hardbodies is a cozy murder mystery for people who like to laugh.
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About the author
Julia Derek
103 books116 followersJulia Derek is originally from Sweden and is a trainer by day and writer by night. She's the author of several mystery and thriller books.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 10, 2017
Great read
I look forward to reading more in this series. Lennie the ghost is a hoot and appears when you least expect him.
I look forward to reading more in this series. Lennie the ghost is a hoot and appears when you least expect him.
August 9, 2016
An interesting new cozy series, with the usual murder and mayhem, ohh..and a ghost looking to help out. I though the idea of a cozy series, in a workout center, Six Packs, was a great new location, to host a cozy mystery series. I know those place always give me the heebie jeebies.
The characters were well developed and the imagery was solid. I liked the dynamics between the sisters, they irritate the heck out of each other, but with a lot of love. This has lots of potential, for a great new cozy series!!
The characters were well developed and the imagery was solid. I liked the dynamics between the sisters, they irritate the heck out of each other, but with a lot of love. This has lots of potential, for a great new cozy series!!
February 14, 2021
Lighthearted
This amusing story involves murder, physical fitness, mystery and sexual attraction without actions, plus a ghost trying to make amends. It is an easy, fun book to read.
This amusing story involves murder, physical fitness, mystery and sexual attraction without actions, plus a ghost trying to make amends. It is an easy, fun book to read.
December 6, 2016
An amusing ghost story. Entertaining and well developed characters!
February 2, 2024
Haunted Gym
Celeste wants to own a gym and she finally found one for a good price. The owners reveal that the building is haunted which of course she doesn't believe until she meets Kenny the resident ghost. A man is murdered at her gym and Kenny and her sister help Celeste to find the killer. It is a good beginning to the series, but needs help with grammar.
Celeste wants to own a gym and she finally found one for a good price. The owners reveal that the building is haunted which of course she doesn't believe until she meets Kenny the resident ghost. A man is murdered at her gym and Kenny and her sister help Celeste to find the killer. It is a good beginning to the series, but needs help with grammar.
May 13, 2018
The story dragged, I found my self skipping pages to get to the gist of the mystery. I found the story far fetched and unbelievable. Even if the police are not called, that body would stink. Others would have noticed.
September 12, 2022
She knows how to write. I enjoyed the ghost story. It was something different for me. It’s not written like a thriller but it still had enough interest to keep me at it. Sometimes she has too much detail, or extraneous fluff, but I just think that is her style. 4
June 7, 2017
Haunted Hardbodies
A very enteresting story it makes you wonder about ghosts,and wonder if they do exist.If they do I hope they are a lot like Lennie.
A very enteresting story it makes you wonder about ghosts,and wonder if they do exist.If they do I hope they are a lot like Lennie.
August 4, 2017
Bailed on this one when the protagonist was more concerned about concealing the presence of a murder victim from her gym customers than with calling the police....
April 4, 2018
A Great Read
Haunted Hardbodies is an easy read, with lots if quirky characters, murder and humour. Everyone will enjoy reading this colourful story and have a good laugh to boot!
Haunted Hardbodies is an easy read, with lots if quirky characters, murder and humour. Everyone will enjoy reading this colourful story and have a good laugh to boot!
January 24, 2020
Not my cup of tea. The 2 leading female characters were fun though.
October 18, 2020
Ok read
Ok read. This is a cute read. It has a good story and char and you will enjoy the other books by this author.
Ok read. This is a cute read. It has a good story and char and you will enjoy the other books by this author.
February 27, 2021
This is the first in this Hardbodies series that I have read and I was hooked from the first paragraph.
I have read other books that this author has written and I have not been disappointed.
I have read other books that this author has written and I have not been disappointed.
Read
March 21, 2021Book was cute but there wasn't anything new. It was what I call a popcorn book.
June 9, 2023
Haunted hardbodies
This is a funny stories about a ghost living in a gym trying to solve crime to get to pass on to the next life
This is a funny stories about a ghost living in a gym trying to solve crime to get to pass on to the next life
June 17, 2023
Hardbodies
The plot was promising and the characters were interesting. The ending was unexpected and refreshing. It was too drawn out in places, though, and slow.
The plot was promising and the characters were interesting. The ending was unexpected and refreshing. It was too drawn out in places, though, and slow.
December 5, 2023
Took absolutely forever to get nowhere and just utterly stupid storyline. 😒
August 13, 2024
This was absolute nonsense, but exactly the fluff I needed. It was written in the same style and had the same vibe as Janet Evanovich books so if you're into those, this might give you a laugh.
June 13, 2025
An unusual tale
The author has created an interesting and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
The author has created an interesting and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
February 23, 2017
Nice read
Nice concept. But i got bored reading it. I did finish it but i just couldn't bring myself to give it a higher rating..
Nice concept. But i got bored reading it. I did finish it but i just couldn't bring myself to give it a higher rating..
August 18, 2016
** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
'Haunted Hardbodies' is a cozy, mystery read. There were quite a few unexpected twists, which is always a good thing in my opinion. The characters were an array of colorful personalities. Lennie was a hoot. I liked his personality most, considering he was a ghost. He had quite the outlook on circumstances from the gym, to the other characters, to the murder and to life in general. He was definitely opinionated. Celeste made the transition of becoming a new owner to a haunted gym rather easily. I wasn't sure about her thought process, along with Becky, involving the surprise in the supply closet, but for her personality it made sense. This book was a good start to 'A Celeste Jones Paranormal Mystery Series'.
'Haunted Hardbodies' is a cozy, mystery read. There were quite a few unexpected twists, which is always a good thing in my opinion. The characters were an array of colorful personalities. Lennie was a hoot. I liked his personality most, considering he was a ghost. He had quite the outlook on circumstances from the gym, to the other characters, to the murder and to life in general. He was definitely opinionated. Celeste made the transition of becoming a new owner to a haunted gym rather easily. I wasn't sure about her thought process, along with Becky, involving the surprise in the supply closet, but for her personality it made sense. This book was a good start to 'A Celeste Jones Paranormal Mystery Series'.
April 21, 2025
The gym "Six Packs" is up for sale at a ridiculously low price, ghost included. When Celeste Jones takes over Six Packs, she doesn't realise that her workload will be increased by solving both a haunting and a murder. With a dead body in the closet, Celeste needs to figure out a way to get the corpse away from her new business before rumours kill her venture before it even starts.
Both the story and the plot insisted that I suspend my disbelief. So many laws were broken. I could not stand the childishness of the secondary character (the sister), and the priorities of the main character were out of whack. The book itself needs good editing for typos and misused words.
Both the story and the plot insisted that I suspend my disbelief. So many laws were broken. I could not stand the childishness of the secondary character (the sister), and the priorities of the main character were out of whack. The book itself needs good editing for typos and misused words.
August 28, 2016
Not good
I wanted to like this book so much especially since I like paranormal but it just wasn't that good. This not a spoiler since I'm sure you have guessed that there I s a dead body in it so anyway I haven't figured out they thought they had to move the body.
I wanted to like this book so much especially since I like paranormal but it just wasn't that good. This not a spoiler since I'm sure you have guessed that there I s a dead body in it so anyway I haven't figured out they thought they had to move the body.
February 1, 2017
A fun idea
I enjoyed everything about this book except the moving of the body. A definite fun stat to a new series
I enjoyed everything about this book except the moving of the body. A definite fun stat to a new series
Read
October 19, 2019This was quite good, I enjoyed it and hope to find some more on the series..
Read
April 8, 2018Did not like the book, the main character was just stupid and did not do logical reactions.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews