Sandie Herron is reviewing one of my long-time favorite series, Alice Kimberly’s Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure is the first in the series. Today, Sandie reviews the audiobook.
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure
Haunted Bookshop Mystery,
Book 1
Book 1
Written by Cleo Coyle (aka
Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini)
Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini)
writing as Alice
Kimberly
Kimberly
Narrated
by Caroline
Shaffer, Traber Burns
by Caroline
Shaffer, Traber Burns
Unaudited Audiobook
Blackstone Publishing
Published October 30, 2018
(copyrighted 2/3/2004)
(copyrighted 2/3/2004)
Listening
Length: 7 hours and 4 minutes
Length: 7 hours and 4 minutes
I almost did not listen to
this book, yet I am so glad that I did. As I switched on this audio
version of the first in the haunted bookshop mysteries, a gruff male voice
began talking. I disliked his tone and his style. Then a female voice continued, and her voice
was pleasant and used present day syntax. What we had was two distinct
voices narrating this delightful story.
The male voice is that of Jack Shepard, the private investigator killed
in 1949 in the bookstore that 30-something Penelope “Pen” Thornton McClure now
owned with her aunt Sadie. Buy the Book was renovated when Penelope
invested the insurance money from her husband’s suicide into the store,
relocating with her son Spencer to the Quindicott, Rhode Island store from
Manhattan. The construction crews had
not scared away the ghost in residence.
this book, yet I am so glad that I did. As I switched on this audio
version of the first in the haunted bookshop mysteries, a gruff male voice
began talking. I disliked his tone and his style. Then a female voice continued, and her voice
was pleasant and used present day syntax. What we had was two distinct
voices narrating this delightful story.
The male voice is that of Jack Shepard, the private investigator killed
in 1949 in the bookstore that 30-something Penelope “Pen” Thornton McClure now
owned with her aunt Sadie. Buy the Book was renovated when Penelope
invested the insurance money from her husband’s suicide into the store,
relocating with her son Spencer to the Quindicott, Rhode Island store from
Manhattan. The construction crews had
not scared away the ghost in residence.
Pen has the honor of
launching bestselling author Timothy Brennan’s newest entry in his Jack Shield
mystery series based loosely on Jack Shepard’s life. Pen is disappointed
to find the author rude, pompous, and unpleasant. While speaking, Brennan reveals that Jack
Shepard was actually murdered in that very store. Then Brennan keels over
dead! During Brennan’s speech, Pen
believes she hears a heckler in the crowd, and she hears the same voice later
that evening. She isn’t quite sure who
this gruff fellow is, telling her she’s a doll. He’s speaking in 1940s
English filled with very different slang.
Putting together what Jack is telling her now with what she learned from
Brennan’s speech, she realizes that she is talking with Jack Shephard, the
ghost, speaking silently, in her head, where no one else can hear him.
launching bestselling author Timothy Brennan’s newest entry in his Jack Shield
mystery series based loosely on Jack Shepard’s life. Pen is disappointed
to find the author rude, pompous, and unpleasant. While speaking, Brennan reveals that Jack
Shepard was actually murdered in that very store. Then Brennan keels over
dead! During Brennan’s speech, Pen
believes she hears a heckler in the crowd, and she hears the same voice later
that evening. She isn’t quite sure who
this gruff fellow is, telling her she’s a doll. He’s speaking in 1940s
English filled with very different slang.
Putting together what Jack is telling her now with what she learned from
Brennan’s speech, she realizes that she is talking with Jack Shephard, the
ghost, speaking silently, in her head, where no one else can hear him.
Strange events begin to
unfold as the store sells every copy of Brennan’s book including the 600 more
copies ordered at the last minute. The town is crowded with
tourists. The police have asked
Brennan’s daughter and son-in-law, on hand for the signing, to stay in town
pending the medical examiner’s findings. Brennan’s publicist and her assistant
stay as well. With Jack’s help, Pen
begins to piece together facts uncovered on a “dark and stormy night.” The two bounce ideas around together and
separately, ultimately solving, and then guiding others, to the murders.
unfold as the store sells every copy of Brennan’s book including the 600 more
copies ordered at the last minute. The town is crowded with
tourists. The police have asked
Brennan’s daughter and son-in-law, on hand for the signing, to stay in town
pending the medical examiner’s findings. Brennan’s publicist and her assistant
stay as well. With Jack’s help, Pen
begins to piece together facts uncovered on a “dark and stormy night.” The two bounce ideas around together and
separately, ultimately solving, and then guiding others, to the murders.
I thoroughly enjoyed this
story. I liked it far beyond my initial impression, since I was confused
by this gruff voice much as Pen was. I found the juxtaposition of noir,
small town issues, the hopes of a store owner, and the paranormal very
appealing. I am very much looking forward to the next entry in the
haunted bookshop mysteries.
story. I liked it far beyond my initial impression, since I was confused
by this gruff voice much as Pen was. I found the juxtaposition of noir,
small town issues, the hopes of a store owner, and the paranormal very
appealing. I am very much looking forward to the next entry in the
haunted bookshop mysteries.
