Date published: February 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0446616027
Mystery
Mass market paperback
Reviewed by Gina
A year after her brush with death and proposal of marriage to Tommy Kennedy, ghost writer Lee Bartholomew journeyed from England to the Hamptons on Long Island, New York for her mother’s commitment ceremony to the Phillionaire. Her parents aren’t divorced and the Phillionaire’s name is Phil and he’s rich and Lee certainly doesn’t call her mother’s intended by her private pet name for him. Before the couple can exchange their vows a body washes up on the beach and it’s not just any body. It is the son of the famous rock star, Shotgun Marriott, the subject of Lee’s latest ghost writing project. Well she doesn’t quite have the job, yet. As it turns out another ghost writer client, Bettina, of her agent is also hoping to get the job. That is, until Bettina shows up dead the day after Shotgun’s son, Sean’s body washed up on the sand. Did I mention Sean was wearing a wedding gown? Well yes. The question is why. The couple quickly changes their plans and pledge their troth in a modified ceremony and quickly whisk off on their honeymoon. Lee avails herself of the opportunity to stay in a cottage on the Phillionaire’s property and begins work on Shotgun’s book. With murders seeming to happen on a daily basis and a strange car sitting just outside, in view of her cottage, Lee pines for Tommy. Unfortunately days before their wedding Tommy decides that he wanted to wait a bit…eight years courtship suddenly didn't seem all that short a time. Hurt, yet pragmatic, Lee has gone on with her life until she learns Tommy has lost his job with the BBC. Without a word, in true Tommy fashion, he shows up on her doorstep, once again filling her life and home. When it begins to look like one of Lee’s new friends may be behind the murders, Lee digs in to investigate only to find a daisywheel puzzle being woven before her eyes.
HOW TO MARRY A GHOST is the second of Hope McIntyre’s “how to with a ghost” series. I almost did not finish the first book, HOW TO SEDUCE A GHOST, but was glad I did because it led me on to this wonderfully told tale. The Lee character definitely comes into her own in this story and has an active part in solving the crimes. This time when Lee became the target of the killer I found myself holding my breath and clenching my fists hoping she’d make it out alive and unscathed. I was sorry Tommy had gotten cold feet and pleased when he showed up. There is something so very endearing about Tommy. In HOW TO MARRY A GHOST readers are treated to Ms. McIntyre’s humor from the very beginning when we meet the Phillionaire. Each character is well defined and true to life. Without missing a beat the author introduces her readers to the rich and protective enclave of the rich in the Hampton’s along with their foibles and often silly rules. When she moves the tale back to England the language shifts to the Notting Hill environs with ease. The villains lair is cunningly devised and had me holding my breath from the moment Lee entered the door.
I thoroughly enjoyed HOW TO MARRY A GHOST and immediately looked for the third book in the series, HOW TO COOK FOR A GHOST. Unfortunately it is not available in the United States and the cost of purchasing and shipping it from Europe is a bit prohibitive. I looked for an ebook version and sadly it isn’t available for the Kindle or other electronic form either. I hope at some point HOW TO COOK FOR A GHOST becomes available because, as with most series, Lee and Tommy have taken on a life of their own in my imagination.
Waste no time and cozy up with HOW TO MARRY A GHOST.
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