An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz – a Review

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Description:
When a fortieth birthday celebration leads to a ghostly visitor, four friends find themselves navigating surprising mysteries and spiritual hijinks, in this clever debut from Melissa Holtz.

Alyssa Mann isn’t adventurous, not since her husband died and she found herself the single mom of a teenage daughter. But there’s no way to avoid celebrating the big 4-0, so when her best friends drag her out for drinks and a tarot reading, she throws caution to the wind and decides to see what the spirits have to say. It’s all fun and games, until she wakes up the next morning with a wicked hangover—and a ghost perched on the edge of her bed.

Sheer panic sends her running to get help from Nick West, the (very attractive) detective who lives next door. When he finds no one inside, Alyssa has to accept that she really did see a ghost. As the dearly departed keep appearing, Alyssa and her friends do their best to learn how to control her newfound power. Trading insults with ghosts, tracking down family heirlooms, and getting closer to the skeptical but helpful Nick is more fun than Alyssa imagined. But when looking into one ghost’s past reveals unexpected—and unwelcome—facts about Alyssa’s late husband’s death, she discovers she just may be in over her head.

Review:

An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz is an enchanting debut with a mystery and romantic story. We meet Alyssa Mann, our heroine, who has just turn 40, with a teenage daughter; and still grieves over the accidental death of her husband.  Her two best friends (Lanie and Nina) drag her out for drinks, and they end up visiting a psychic medium for fun. They are all shocked when a ghostly event occurs, connecting Alyssa and the medium, Collette. The following morning, Alyssa wakes up with a hangover and a ghost sitting on the edge of her bed. At first, she is scared and upset, but she quickly realizes that whatever happened the night before, she now has the ability to see and talk to ghosts.

Alyssa realizes she now can see ghosts, who come to her to help them move on; and in a short time, she knows that the ghosts are in limbo and need help to cross over to the other side.  So, Lanie and Nina, as well as Collette work together with Alyssa to solve why the ghosts cannot move on. With the first ghost still hanging around, two more ghosts will eventually appear; especially with ladies working hard to discover how the three deaths (which could include her husband’s accident) are connected.

Alyssa tries to explain to her neighbor, Nick West, who is a detective (and a hunk), about some clues the ladies have discovered, with help from the ghosts.   Nick, who is attracted to Alyssa, refuses to listen to her suggestions, as he doesn’t believe that she knows something.   But after he gets some facts about those deaths, Nick will slowly begin his own investigations, which will lead him to realize that she does see the dead.  Nick will get his partner to research the deaths of four people locally, which will include the mayor.

What follows is Alyssa, Collette and even Lanie/Nina have a new purpose in their lives, in helping those to move on.  Alyssa and Collette learn to control their power, and their interactions with ghosts were lots of fun; with lots of witty banter with the mischievous spirits. There was a number of intriguing twists and turns, which will also have her discover the truths that also include her husband’s death. To say too much more, would ruin the fun, which you need to read.

An Enchanting Case of Spirits was a fun, delightful, humorous, emotional mystery, with a paranormal element. I also enjoyed the romantic slow build relationship between Alyssa and Nick.  I loved her friends, Lanie, Nina and Collette.  An Enchanting Case of Spirits was so very well written by Melissa Holt.  I really enjoyed reading this book, as it was fun, easy to read and entertaining.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher