Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini (A Granny Apples Mystery #2) by Sue Ann Jaffarian

                                                            
                                                       
Back of the Book Blurb: 
Imagine spending eternity with your backside hanging out—that's what Emma Whitecastle and Granny Apples can't help but think when they meet the ghost of Tessa North frolicking in the surf off Catalina Island. Tessa, a young starlet who died on the island in the 1960s wearing nothing but a polka dot bikini, won't cross over until "Curtis" comes for her. To help the winsome, bikini-clad spirit, Emma and Granny must find out who Curtis is and how Tessa died. Their investigation takes them from the grit and glamour of Hollywood to Kennedy-era political intrigue-before hitting dangerously close to home.
Along with a sprinkling of history, this spirited new mystery series features the amateur sleuth team of Emma Whitecastle and the spirit of her pie-baking great-great-great-grandmother, Granny Apples.

Review:  This was a highly enjoyable, quick reading mystery.  I would describe it as a cozy with a paranormal twist.  The main character, Emma Whitecastle, is a forty-something, recently divorced Hollywood "starter wife", who has discovered a gift for seeing and communicating with ghosts.  She has her own paranormal talk show, her ex-in-laws are Hollywood royalty and still adore her, and she has a handsome, manly-man lawyer boyfriend who is also a cowboy.  Her great-great-great grandmother, Granny Apples, is her partner in crime solving and very funny.
The mystery begins on Catalina Island, where Emma and  her boyfriend have gone for a romantic getaway.  They are accompanied by Granny Apples because it's hard to get rid of a ghost.  On the beach they meet the ghost of a young starlet named Tessa, who was apparently murdered on the island shortly after the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968.  Emma and Granny Apples feel badly for Tessa and want to help her cross over.  But to do so they need to convince her that "Curtis" is not coming back so Emma begins to investigate Tessa's short life and film career.  She discovers that her former father-in-law knew Tessa, and pretty soon Emma's questions result in another murder and threats.
This really was a delightful book.  Emma is very likeable, and most readers will admire her for her strength and grace in dealing with a sleazebag ex-husband.  She's like a grown-up Nancy Drew, with fabulous clothes, a great lifestyle, and a ghost grandmother.  Her boyfriend is supportive, sexy and dependable.  Her best friend is dating her mentor, a medium named Miles.  Reading this story was like hanging out with a best girlfriend.  And to make things even better, the mystery was well-constructed and intriguing, and the pace of the book was just right and kept things moving along.
I have not read the first Granny Apples book, but had no trouble figuring things out - this is easily a stand-alone novel.  Highly recommended for a delightful escape!

For more information, visit the author's website at http://sueannjaffarian.com.

Possessed by Kate Cann (Young Adult)

                                                    

Back of the Book Blurb:  Escape....or trap?  When she finds a job at a secluded country estate, Rayne jumps at the chance to escape from her controlling boyfriend and her mother's tiny apartment in London.  A quiet summer is just what she needs.   But Rayne's retreat feels like another prison.  The ancient estate is filled with spooky relics and a strange, stifling energy.  Rayne wants to believe it's all her imagination, but the longer she stays, the more she can feel something evil at work...something that wants to keep her there...forever.

Review:  Possessed is an exceptionally spooky novel that weaves a chilling web of encroaching menace around the reader.  The story's heroine is sixteen year old Rayne.  She feels trapped and smothered in London, where she takes care of her little brother for her irresponsible mother, and by her boyfriend who wants more than she is ready to give.  She also craves silence and space, so she applies for a waitress job at an ancient estate in the countryside near the Wales border. 

When she arrives, Rayne is almost overwhelmed by the natural beauty, the silence of the country, and by the strange and unsettling energy swirling around the thousand year old building.  The kindly housekeeper, Mrs. Driver, gets Rayne settled into her room, and after her first terrifying night in the strange place, Rayne is ready to head for home.  But after her first day of waitressing, followed by a quiet and peaceful walk through the grounds and woods, Rayne experiences feelings she has never had before.  She feels free, content, and strangely at home in the natural setting, and feels like she can finally be herself. 

All is not as peaceful as it seems, however, and Rayne begins to feel as though something more is going on.  Mrs. Driver insists that Rayne always lock her door at night, and mentions that so few people can "sense" the house energy.  The few locals Rayne meets are shocked she is willing to stay at the Manor, but nobody will tell her anything specific.

The author is a master at slowly building a feeling of dread, as though an invisible trap is being slowly sprung around Rayne.  The prose is so evocative I felt as if I was walking with Rayne through the woods, feeling the sunshine on my skin, and sensing the evil presence of something unseen in the ancient manor.  The imagery is very effective at enhancing the theme of a trap and freedom being a matter of perspective.  From the geese living on the tiny island in the lake, isolated but safe from the fox, to the magnificent palm tree that has shattered the greenhouse roof that sheltered it and allowed it to grow, and is now reaching for the sky.  A major secondary theme is that appearances can be deceiving and all is definitely not what it seems.  A pair of beautiful leather gloves embroidered with flowers, except on closer inspection those flowers are actually tortured faces in agony.  A handsome local boy who is infatuated with Rayne but who has a seemingly hypnotic hold on those around him.  A local fire festival group that may or may not be devil worshippers.  And a mother and boyfriend who didn't seem to care about Rayne, yet they call and text constantly, frantic with worry at her silence.

As Rayne struggles to learn who she can trust, and tries to discover the secrets held by the locals, she is also gaining a sense of self.  Her journey is full of confusion, fear, exhilaration, and a little of the supernatural.

Possessed is a rare treat, and well worth your time.  Very few books capture a feeling so completely, transporting the reader to a different place and a different mood so thoroughly.  I will be reading the sequel, Consumed and reviewing that as well.

For more information, visit the author's website at http://www.katecann.com/.