Night of the Living Deed

The pun-filled title notwithstanding, E.J. Copperman’s first novel in this series deals not with zombies but ghosts. Single mom Alison Kerby (not Kirby) buys a dilapidated Victorian mansion on the Jersey Shore to turn into a guesthouse but gets more than she bargained for in the purchase: The house comes with two demanding ghosts. Private investigator Paul Harrison and over-the-top Maxie Malone were killed a year ago, and they can’t cross over until they find out who killed them. For that, they want Alison to find out for them. Naturally enough, Alison doesn’t want to tangle with a proven double-murderer, but she ends up doing so because … well, because otherwise there wouldn’t be a book, much less a series, would there?

With a show more very likeable heroine, Night of the Living Deed proves cute enough, sort of reminiscent of early Stephanie Plum before the slapstick and lust became too thick and the mystery plots became too thin. The novel suffers a bit from predictability, and Alison’s too-wise-for-her-age 9-year-old wisecracking daughter Melissa, Alison’s Pollyanna-ish mother, and her wacky friends seem plucked from a lackluster TV sitcom. Despite some flaws, E.J. Copperman (a nom de plume for screenwriter and mystery writer Jeffrey Cohen) manages to include a clever mystery and enough funny quips and scenes to redeem the novel for all but the most demanding readers. I’ll definitely be back for the sequel, An Uninvited Ghost. show less

First Line: "I don't get it, Mom."

Newly divorced Alison Kerby has returned to the Jersey Shore to fulfill a dream: renovating a Victorian fixer-upper into a beautiful guesthouse. She figures she has the know-how and just enough money to complete the makeover and open for business so she can provide a decent future for Melissa, her nine-year-old daughter.

As she begins the process of renovating, she gets the odd vibe now and then but thinks nothing of it until a fifty-pound bucket of joint compound knocks her in the head, and she begins seeing ghosts. Two of them. One an evil-tempered young woman named Maxie (the previous owner of the house), and the other, a private eye named Paul. Both died in the house on the same night. Police think show more they "drank the Kool-aid" and committed suicide. Maxie and Paul insist that they were murdered-- and they also insist that Alison drop everything to find out who killed them.

It's quite a stretch for Alison to believe in the resident ghosts to begin with, but she finally has no alternative. Both ghosts are very good at getting their way, although they have very different methods. However, Alison's not bad at driving a hard bargain herself, and she manages to persuade them that she'll investigate as long as the renovations keep on schedule. As she begins to play sleuth, things begin to happen, and she realizes that she'd better identify the killer before she becomes the third ghost in her guesthouse. (And don't you dare call it a bed and breakfast!)

I was in the perfect mood for a light, fast-paced, and laugh-out-loud funny read. Night of the Living Deed almost immediately had me in reading nirvana. The cast of characters is superb. Alison's voice is pitch-perfect: alternately sarcastic, befuddled, DIY knowledgeable, stressed out, and punch-drunk... as only the mother of a young girl can be. Her daughter, Melissa is a nine-year-old prosecuting attorney who's the perfect sort of child to have live in a haunted house. Alison's mother, her friends, the police detective she runs to constantly, and the ghosts, Maxie and Paul, all add color, depth and humor to the story.

When I wasn't laughing or telling Alison to "Check there! Check there!", I was appreciating the fact that this mystery with the home renovation theme actually had quite a bit of DIY detail. Alison kept to her bargain and managed to wear her deerstalker cap while she refinished cabinets. So often in themed mystery series, the theme seems to be a thin veneer that's easily cast aside. Not so in this book, and that's refreshing.

I tired of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series long ago, and I've felt the lack of a truly funny mystery series in my reading life. No more-- and I have E.J. Copperman to thank for it! show less

I love this book! It was fun and humorous as well as a wonderful character study. Of course, I've enjoyed everything that E.J.'s alter-ego has written so it wasn't much of a surprise.

Alison Kerby has purchased a house and is working to renovate the seven (!) bedroom house into a guesthouse. She's a pretty fair carpenter and "handywoman" who is doing most of the work herself. She is trying to build a new life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter. When she is hit on the head by a bucket she suddenly finds that she can see and talk to ghosts. These ghosts are trapped in her house because they were killed there. Paul, the male ghost, talks her into helping him solve the murders. Murder and hilarity ensue.

I can't wait for the next in show more the series, this is a lot of fun and I'm not the biggest fan of the paranormal craze. If you haven't gotten a copy of this one, do yourself a favor and run out (or use the Internet) to get a copy! show less

This is the first in the new Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries (Paranormal Cozy). The main character is Alison Kerby, recently divorced mother of nine year old Melissa and is set on the New Jersey Shore.

Alison Kerby moves back to her hometown to start over after divorcing "the swine". She acquires an old Victorian fixer-upper mansion with the express mission of restoring it and turning it into a guesthouse to support herself and her daughter, Melissa. She quickly finds out this Victorian has "lots of character" in the form of two resident ghosts, the former owner and the private investigator she hired to protect her and find out who was threatening her. Alison is soon pressured to help the ghosts uncover who killed them - particularly when show more she begins getting death threats herself.

Alison is a truly likable character with a sense of humor and a touch of sass. She is handy with power tools and knows her way around a saw horse and Spackle. She has a "can-do" attitude and doesn't shy away from a lot of hard work. I enjoyed her quirky way of looking at things which made the story a pleasant ride.

The interactions with the two ghosts can be either humorous interchanges or frustrating situations - for both Alison and them. Imagine having a ghost chiming in on your design/decoration plans or being a conflicting influence for your child! The ghosts, Maxie and Paul, are wonderful characters who appear to be permanent fixtures in the house and possibly the series. Alison's mother adores her daughter, which is a pleasant change from so many cozies that have obnoxious mothers. But as we get to know her, mom has a bit more spunk than even Alison realized. Some nice touches there!

It wouldn't be a cozy without the ensemble of interesting town's people. The mayor who was a prior beautician, the "perfect" mother who works for Alison (and coincidentally Maxie's) real estate agent, the developer wanting to snatch up Alison's house and Melissa's history teacher who is over-eager to explore the house in spite of repairs being done. A stand out minor character is the local newspaper's one-and-only staffer, Phyllis who has been around long enough to know the goings on.

The plot is solid without being overdone. The story moves along easily and before you know it the story is wrapping up. The writing is smooth and flows expertly. Told from Alison's viewpoint, it is easy reading and funny. I enjoyed the wrap up which set up the next works to be equally as enjoyable. As a cozy it is spot-on and entertaining and as a debut novel it foretells a delightful series I am looking forward to reading each addition to.

For added mystery, this prior-published author is apparently assuming a pen-name to keep his/her identity quiet. Hmmmmm, who could it be???

Please read the review in its entirety here:
http://mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/2010/09/review-night-of-living-deed.html show less

I was looking for a book set in New Jersey and picked up Night of the Living Deed, the first book in the Haunted Guesthouse cozy mystery series.

After her divorce Alison Kerby wants to start over with her nine year old daughter Melissa. Her plan is to open up a guest house so she buys a seven bedroom fixer upper in Harbor Haven, New Jersey and plans to do all her own repairs. Her project is moving along when a bucket of compound falls on her head, knocking her unconscious. When she comes to, she sees the ghost of former owner, Maxie Moline and her bodyguard private detective, Paul Harrison. They both died in the house with the official verdict being a double suicide. Paul insists they never took the sleeping pills that caused their show more deaths and claims someone poisoned them. They plead with Alison to investigate their murders, but she says no until Maxie's shenanigans begin to drive her crazy. Soon Alison is receiving the same threatening emails and phone calls that Maxie did prior to her untimely death.

It was a charming little cozy mystery. I thought the humor elements and witty conversation by the ghosts were entertaining. I don't think it will appeal to fans to true 1Cparanormal 1D mysteries but it had cute, quirky characters that made me chuckle. I probably won't continue the series because I prefer a more intense mystery experience but I definitely will buy some more of the series for my mother in law who enjoys the cozy mystery genre. show less

I was looking for a book set in New Jersey and picked up Night of the Living Deed, the first book in the Haunted Guesthouse cozy mystery series.

After her divorce Alison Kerby wants to start over with her nine year old daughter Melissa. Her plan is to open up a guest house so she buys a seven bedroom fixer upper in Harbor Haven, New Jersey and plans to do all her own repairs. Her project is moving along when a bucket of compound falls on her head, knocking her unconscious. When she comes to, she sees the ghost of former owner, Maxie Moline and her bodyguard private detective, Paul Harrison. They both died in the house with the official verdict being a double suicide. Paul insists they never took the sleeping pills that caused their show more deaths and claims someone poisoned them. They plead with Alison to investigate their murders, but she says no until Maxie's shenanigans begin to drive her crazy. Soon Alison is receiving the same threatening emails and phone calls that Maxie did prior to her untimely death.

It was a charming little cozy mystery. I thought the humor elements and witty conversation by the ghosts were entertaining. I don't think it will appeal to fans to true “paranormal” mysteries but it had cute, quirky characters that made me chuckle. I probably won't continue the series because I prefer a more intense mystery experience but I definitely will buy some more of the series for my mother in law who enjoys the cozy mystery genre. show less

I loves me a fab cozy, yes I do. And this one is it. Cozy mysteries are fun and cozies with ghosts are even more so. This one has two ghosts in the house and one is a supreme smartass former owner of the house and the other is the staid private investigator trying to solve the case of their death. They're confined to the house and grounds so they cant' do much until Alison shows up, gets bonked on the cranium (by the smartass former owner ghost) and reluctantly agrees to do the field work. Hilarity and action ensues.
My favorite character, besides the smartass ghost, is Alison's daughter Melissa. She is a well-written nine-year-old, eye rolling exasperation and all.
Five meddling ghosts beans....