Mrs. Morris and the Vampire

Mrs. Morris Mystery, Book 5

By: Traci Wilton

Narrated by: Callie Beaulieu

It's B&B owner Charlene Morris's second Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, and one she won't soon forget when a self-proclaimed vampire is murdered . . .

Charlene's bed and breakfast is fully booked with guests wanting to experience Salem's wildest holiday—especially the annual Witch Ball, held at the historic Hawthorne Hotel. At the dance, actual witch and winery owner Brandy Flint has her back up over her daughter Serenity's new beau—it's bad enough he's a decade older, he also claims to be a vampire from Romania.

As for Charlene, with handsome ghost Dr. Jack Strathmore haunting her B&B, she has developed an open mind regarding the supernatural. But her mind is blown when the clock strikes midnight, the lights flare and dim, and the vampire vanishes—leaving behind only his cape and a wooden stake with a thick red substance on the sharp tip. The next morning, a naked man washes up on the shore with a hole punched through his chest, and Detective Sam Holden has a homicide on his hands. Now Charlene and Jack must put their heads together to find out who staged the trick to stake a vampire . . .

©2021 Patrice Wilton and Traci Hall (P)2024 Tantor Audio

Entertaining Read

After losing her beloved husband in a fatal accident, Charlene Morris fled Chicago to atmospheric Salem MA, where she fulfilled a dream of owning a Bed & Breakfast. When it turns out that it is actually a haunted B&B, Charlene eschews the idea of cashing in on her resident ghost (former owner of the mansion cum B&B, Dr. Jack Strathmore). Instead, she and Jack find they enjoy one another's company, and a relationship of sorts develops. Of course, her propensity for becoming embroiled in investigating murders that began with her investigation of Jack's murder also brings her in contact with the handsome but often contrary Detective Sam Holden, and a strange love triangle is born. While I am not a fan of love triangles, this one proves interesting given that any relationship between Charlene and Sam is continually dashed by ghosts of her past (her late husband) and present (Jack), not to mention Sam's refusal to accept Charlene for the inquisitive person that she is, i.e., her constant meddling in his murder investigations. One despairs of any hope for a "real" romance, but I wouldn't underestimate the creative genius of Ms. Wilton. In the meantime, the mysteries themselves, as well as the allure of The City of Witches, are enough to keep readers coming back for more.

In this fifth installment in the series, as Charlene continues to grow her fledgling Bed & Breakfast, she also seeks to become more active in her adopted community. The story opens on All Hallows Eve (Halloween), the height of the season in The City of Witches, with Charlene as one of several judges at the Witch's Ball where costumes vary from witches to baseball players to pirates to vampires and more. When one of the attendees, a vampire who contends he is the real thing, is found dead after disappearing (literally) from the Ball, and several of Charlene's friends become likely suspects, Charlene is called upon to help clear their names. The search that ensues is made all the more intriguing by stories of underground tunnels, witchcraft, and vampire lore that are integral to the story, Adding to the tension is Sam's growing frustration with Charlene as she repeatedly inserts herself into the investigation.

Ms. Wilton captures the essence of Salem as she weaves her tale of past and present, reality and paranormal. Her world building sparks a desire to visit Charlene's B&B, walk the streets of Salem, enjoy the various eateries that Charlene recommends to her guests, take the cruises, visit the museums, and roam the shops of Salem. Who wouldn't want to walk the paths of the underground tunnels that were once a part of Salem's rich maritime history? This book and this series have a lot to offer cozy mystery lovers who enjoy rich characters, a touch of the mystical with a trace of history, and intriguing plots. I look forward to the next audiobook release in this series.