Devi Nair
š±š Read as an ebook š 216 pages ā± 3 hours š·ļø Publisher: Scoripus Carta Press āØ ARC provided by NetGalley
The premise had me curious from the start. Gourmet ghosts is such a fun hook. The idea that Vivās three ancestors only appear when food is served and basically critique her culinary life from beyond the grave is peak paranormal cozy mystery energy. The vibes are undeniably cute. The small-town sleuthing, the culinary chaos, the ghostly sidekicks floating into dinner service like they own the place. Jane Elzey stirs together culinary charm, a sprinkle of humor, and a haunted-family dynamic thatās equal parts endearing and exasperating.
That said, I struggled to stay fully engaged. For a book this short, the pacing couldāve used more spice. The concept of a hexed chef and gourmet ghosts is deliciously unique, but the execution felt under-seasoned. I liked the concept a lot more than I liked the execution though. The pacing felt uneven, and I caught myself drifting out of the story more often than I wanted to. Even speed reading didnāt fully fix that disconnect. The mystery itself is cozy and serviceable, but it didnāt quite grip me.
Still, the quirky small-town setting had its appeal. Crystal Bay felt like a perfect background for budding romance, meddling spirits, and culinary mayhem. I can absolutely see this series finding its audience among readers who adore light supernatural mysteries with foodie flair. I just wasnāt the right diner for this particular dish.
Would I recommend it? If you love foodie cozy mysteries with a dash of magic, ghostly sidekicks, and small-town drama, this might be your flavor. The concept is creative and definitely unique in the cozy mystery space. Personally, it didnāt quite satisfy my literary appetite (too slow in parts, even with speed-reading) but the concept is genuinely clever.
š±š Read as an ebook š 216 pages ā± 3 hours š·ļø Publisher: Scoripus Carta Press āØ ARC provided by NetGalley
The premise had me curious from the start. Gourmet ghosts is such a fun hook. The idea that Vivās three ancestors only appear when food is served and basically critique her culinary life from beyond the grave is peak paranormal cozy mystery energy. The vibes are undeniably cute. The small-town sleuthing, the culinary chaos, the ghostly sidekicks floating into dinner service like they own the place. Jane Elzey stirs together culinary charm, a sprinkle of humor, and a haunted-family dynamic thatās equal parts endearing and exasperating.
That said, I struggled to stay fully engaged. For a book this short, the pacing couldāve used more spice. The concept of a hexed chef and gourmet ghosts is deliciously unique, but the execution felt under-seasoned. I liked the concept a lot more than I liked the execution though. The pacing felt uneven, and I caught myself drifting out of the story more often than I wanted to. Even speed reading didnāt fully fix that disconnect. The mystery itself is cozy and serviceable, but it didnāt quite grip me.
Still, the quirky small-town setting had its appeal. Crystal Bay felt like a perfect background for budding romance, meddling spirits, and culinary mayhem. I can absolutely see this series finding its audience among readers who adore light supernatural mysteries with foodie flair. I just wasnāt the right diner for this particular dish.
Would I recommend it? If you love foodie cozy mysteries with a dash of magic, ghostly sidekicks, and small-town drama, this might be your flavor. The concept is creative and definitely unique in the cozy mystery space. Personally, it didnāt quite satisfy my literary appetite (too slow in parts, even with speed-reading) but the concept is genuinely clever.