Murder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner
From the first few pages of Murder at Blackwood Inn, I knew this was a special cozy. A unique setting with quirky characters was an instant hook – and Penny Warner, the author, reeled me in!
After 20 years, former ghostwriter, Carissa Blackwood is heading back to her coastal town of Pelican Point, California. She’s not looking back – especially with her cheatin’ hubby in her rear view mirror!
It’s a fresh start for Carissa. She’s going to help her (very) eccentric aunts manage the Blackwood Bed N’ Breakfast Inn.
Aunt Hazel and Aunt Runa inherited the Blackwood house from their deceased father, Bram Blackwood, who died mysteriously in his room. He was known to dabble in the occult. Some speculated the place was haunted, but that didn’t stop Hazel and Runa from converting it to a bed and breakfast.
The aunts had a very special theme in mind for their new bed and breakfast. It’s decorated inside and outside to entice horror movie fans, ghost busters, mystery lovers and those just booking a room out of curiosity! When Carissa pulls up to the inn for the first time, she’s completely speechless!
Needless to say, some of the locals and neighbors are not pleased with the new inn and waste no time with flying insults and threats. They turn up their noses and shake their heads at the mere mention of Aunt Runa’s powerful crystals scattered throughout the inn. They are horrified that Aunt Hazel’s garden, while beautiful, is also deadly – filled with lethal plants such as belladonna.
But the aunts, with Carissa’s help, push forward. The grand opening day for the B & B finally arrives. It’s an assortment of guests, including a newlywed couple, traveling salesman, a screenwriter, etc.. Noah, the inn’s handyman and Aiden, the local newshound, all add depth to this cozy mystery.
The author, Penny Warner, was on top of her game when she gave us this new series. The bantering back and forth between the two aunts who are complete opposites, plus the incredibly detailed transformed spooky new inn, are pure delight for cozy readers!
And then there’s the murder: someone who was vehemently against the inn is found dead – poisoned. All eyes turn to Aunt Hazel and her toxic garden. Carissa is horrified! Murder is bad for any business, but especially a brand new business. The inn’s reputation is on the line – guests are all checking out early. Aunt Hazel is going to be arrested!
As a former ghostwriter for a mystery author, Carissa is turning her fictional sleuthing skills into reality. It doesn’t take long for her to uncover a complex maze of secrets including hidden romances, greed and deceit. She’s following the secret passages strategically hidden inside the inn, while trying to ignore “things that go bump in the night!”
Murder at Blackwood Inn, A Haunted Dead and Breakfast Mystery debut is absolutely the perfect Halloween and fall cozy. There’s a strangeness going on at the inn, and you’ll enjoy every minute of it!
A copy of the book and cover photo were provided by: Crooked Lane Books.