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.
Laura Meehan returned to her hometown borough of Sea Breeze, New Jersey, to take over the Breezeway Paint and Wallpaper store left to her by her late father, but she found more than just a niche retail business. It turns out that the former Atlantic police detective isn’t as late as she thought, as Amos Meehan’s spirit still haunts the paint – and wallpaper, he always reminds her – store, most recently helping her solve a murder that occurred there. Laura isn’t entirely sure that he’s not imaginary, and while working with a therapist she’s also spending one day a week keeping busy volunteering at her local public library. That’s why Laura is so incensed – pun intended – when a fire breaks out in the library and the library director disappears, with conclusions being made that she was either the target or the culprit.
 |
| Image Source Severn |
As a professional librarian, even if I didn’t love this book I would recommend it to everyone to read for its appreciation and celebration of libraries and the right to read. Never more than now have public and school libraries been under attack for promoting “controversial” materials, with librarians and staff threatened and bullied out of their jobs. Off my soapbox.
Here, Laura handles herself with humor, wit, and a lot of overconfident enthusiasm to protect the institution she loves for a librarian she only sort-of knows. Her loving husband Roy genially supports her effort with impressive IT skills, but it’s her ghostly father who provides the more investigative insight into allowing her to track down the truth. Admittedly, Laura has a rather shotgun approach to her investigation, tracking down everyone linked to the case and questioning them whether they want to be questioned or not. What she discovers is that people lie, not because they may be guilty of a crime, but because they are ashamed, protective, or simply don’t want to answer her. Relatable. Laura isn’t entirely sure that her father’s ghost truly exists or “lives” entirely as part of her subconscious, but all the clues are leading towards him being a corporeal presence who plans to stick around. Which is very fortunate for readers, as this team of Laura, Roy, and her ghostly father are a delightfully unique and entertaining team full of Jersey humor, snark, and so much clever banter. This is another winning mystery by an always reliable author.
To enter to win a copy of Where There’s Smoke…, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "smoke,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 3, 2026. 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.
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.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.
Comments
Post a Comment