Give Up the Ghost

By: Juliet Blackwell

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

San Francisco millionaire Andrew Stirling wants to sell his Victorian mansion, but ghostly music, the squeaking of a long-disappeared weathervane, and an angry ghost keep running off potential buyers. After a famous psychic is called in, she informs the Stirlings that their multimillion-dollar renovations to "update" the home have left its resident ghost extremely agitated. So contractor Mel Turner is engaged to track down and replace some of the original features of the house. But when the beautiful psychic is found stabbed, it appears that someone had a very human motive for murder. Now Mel must use her ghost whispering gift to uncover the secrets of the haunted house on the hill and her sleuthing skills to catch a killer.

©2015 Julie Goodson-Lawes (P)2015 Tantor

Funny!

Several laugh out loud moments, excellent murder mystery, with a twist, ghosts! Xe Sands brings it to life. Fully enjoyed this book. I just wish I would have started from the first of the haunted house renovations series. I am now working my way back, but its OK I'm enjoying them too.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Not great literature but sure is a fun read

Could not wait to get my hands on another Juliet Blackwell book and was NOT disappointed. It’s not great literature but sure is a fun read and another exciting “ghost story” with both interesting and believable characters. Mel Turner is a General Contractor who renovates Victorian houses and along the way removes their ghosts. This particular house has some surprises and not JUST the gaudy modernizations made by the current owner. (Now, those I had a hard time swallowing. Who would buy a Victorian house and remodel it THAT much?) That aside, it is still a fun whodunit. I hate to admit it but I picked the wrong person.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Best book in the entire series!

This story kept my complete attention from beginning to end. The setting is an old 4-story mansion in San Francisco that has been remodeled into a "modern monstrosity". A grumpy ghost, classical music, secret passageways and disembodied voices send potential buyers of the $29 million property running from the house vowing never to return. The very wealthy owner, and his heirs, are all desperate to sell and Mel is asked to hunt down as much of the original architectural pieces as possible in hopes of appeasing the grumpy ghost.

During her investigation into the home, Mel finds the murdered body of a very beautiful woman. Standing over the deceased is her oh so handsome brother. Could the brother, or a member of the wealthy family have had a reason to kill this beautiful woman?

On top of that, two more ghosts are present in this story. One is haunting friends of Mel and one is...well, I won't spoil that part of the story for you.

I will say that the ending of the book surprised me, yet delighted me at the same time. Xe Sands did a marvelous job narrating the book and I look forward the Haunted Home Renovation story!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Better and Better!

This series just gets better and better. It seems odd to assign 5 stars to such light lit, but the stars are my measure of the pleasure this delightful author delivers time and time again!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The best of the series so far.

Juliet Blackwell has a way with words that develops a character in the reader's mind. Paired with Xe Sand's wonderful voice and full range of portrayed emotions, the stories about remodeling contractor Mel Turner draw the listener into a world filled with ghosts, murderers and many interesting regular characters. The plot line can be a bit predictable at times, but the great characters in these stories make up for the minor flaws. Well worth a listeners time and a fun way to burn a few hours.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very entertaining.

A quick and engrossing book. Grabs you from the get-go and holds you until the end. Leaving you satisfied yet wanting more.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

How many Ghosts?

Delightful Story! Try to to solve the mystery's of not one but 3 ghosts. The narrator was excellent. There was no difficulty recognizing each character, and no pause between character change. The reading flowed smoothly. i enjoyed guessing the outcome of each ghostly happening. I believe you will too. Oh, and there may be some attraction developing between our crime solver and an interesting character, but she is no good at reading what is going on with her!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Best one yet!

Any additional comments?

I've listened to all the Haunted Home Renovation series. I think this is the best one yet. I love the chemistry with Mel and Landon. And the mysteries were great. Inspector Crawford and Luce are wonderful characters and add so much.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I Love This Series

I have read and enjoyed every book in this series. Give Up the Ghost was no different. There is lots of character development and action. I love the relationship Mel has with her family and friends. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I am never disappointed

Ms. Juliet is one of my favorite authors. I read everything from George R.R. Martin to James Patterson to piles of small, self published cozy writers. Book after book, Juliet Blackwell keeps me pre-ordering as soon as I get a hint that she's going to release a new hit. Her characters are charming and quirky and fabulously not cookie cutter perfect. I'm already anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful