"Unbridled Hauntings" By Misty Simon: Review/Giveaway

Review by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Burnt out from working as an ER nurse, Iona Hoover returned to Chincoteague Island, Virginia to manage her family’s specialty pet treat store while her aunt went on vacation. It turns out not to be the escape she needed when Iona comes across the body of Eddie Hartzell, who had previously just wandered into Unbridled Bliss after mistaking it for a human café. That unexpected trauma results in Iona once again seeing her childhood “imaginary” friends, who turn out to be the ghosts of four women dressed from an assortment of time periods. The rules about how much they can communicate regarding their knowledge about their ghostly status and what they see has Iona creatively using fridge magnets and scrabble pieces to help them convey clues.

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The rules don’t prevent them from being extremely vocal in their matchmaking attempts though, especially when it turns out that Marianne is the late grandmother of Vance, Iona’s childhood best friend. Calling themselves the Silver Bettys due to their experience with cooking (think Betty Crocker mixed with the Golden Girls), they test Iona’s ability to investigate and not seem crazy due to her invisible conversations with the very opinionated women.

Since the Unbridled Bliss Bakery is inundated with the aromas of beef and venison, Iona prefers to spend time in the neighboring cafe where she and her other bestie Heather are able to discuss motives for the murders and possible suspects. Heather has her own online channel, Wicked Warp, which has her discussing true crimes while also knitting. That means that Heather is an eager participant in their investigation of the mysterious Eddie, whose identity is not as certain as it had appeared to me. When not caring for her Aunt Jillian’s adorable French bulldog Chet, Iona tracks down Eddie’s exes while avoiding the very obvious matchmaking by the enthusiastic, meddling Silver Bettys.

This first in the series by the author of the Tallie Graver mystery series delights with its blend of baking, pets, and ghosts. Readers will be left wanting to know more about Iona and her brief experiences as an ER nurse, which give her a heads up in solving a rather bloody murder. She, Heather, and Vance have a very fun relationship as well, and their banter reflects their long history together and easy camaraderie. The ghosts of the Silver Bettys are woven into the plot as they humorously interfere with Iona’s life, talking to her at inopportune times but always with the best of intentions. The humor that is always present in Misty Simon’s writings is softer than her Tallie Graver books but just as clever, and readers will find themselves enjoying their time with Iona and her pet treat bakery.

To enter to win a copy of Unbridled Hauntings, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "unbridled,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September7, 2024. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

 Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.