Murder at Blackwood Inn is the first book in the new cozy mystery series, Haunted Dead and Breakfast, by Penny Warner.
Carissa Blackwood has come to Pelican Point to help her aunts start a new business, Blackwood Bed and Breakfast Inn, in the old family home. From the moment she arrives it’s apparent to the reader that something strange is going on at Blackwood Bed and Breakfast Inn, and that’s even before the death of a local realtor after she attends a party at the inn.
While I did enjoy the overall story, I found it quite slow until fairly close to the end of the book which made it a very slow read for me, I just couldn’t stay engaged for long reading sessions, which is not normal for me.
The setting was great for a spooky autumn read, a house rumoured to be haunted, and decorated with spooky themed rooms. Not to mention, the owners are fairly heavily involved in the occult, and there are weird things happening in the house.
With blackmail, family secrets, murder, and the spooky setting, I think cosy mystery lovers will enjoy this book, as long as they don’t mind the slower start. I will give the next book a try to see if the pace picks up a bit, as I did like the characters in the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Life, Tea, and Everything 