Home For the Haunting: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery

Praise for the Novels of Juliet Blackwell

The Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries

Murder on the House

“A winning combination of cozy mystery, architectural history, and DIY with a ghost story thrown in . . . this well-written mystery has many different layers, offering something for everyone to enjoy.”

—The Mystery Reader

“Juliet Blackwell successfully blends house renovation and ghosts in . . . this delightful paranormal mystery.”

—Lesa’s Book Critiques

Dead Bolt

“Juliet Blackwell’s writing is like that of a master painter, placing a perfect splash of detail, drama, color, and whimsy in all the right places!”

—Victoria Laurie,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Psychic Eye and Ghost Hunter Mysteries

“Cleverly plotted, with a terrific sense of the history of the greater Bay Area, Blackwell’s series has plenty of ghosts and supernatural happenings to keep readers entertained and off-balance.”

—Library Journal

“Smooth, seductive. . . . Fans will want to see a lot more of the endearing Mel.”

—Publishers Weekly

“This is a great ghost book . . . a strong second entry that is developing the characters and laying a solid foundation for a strong series. If you enjoy some spooky with your cozy, this will delight you and have you anxious for more.”

—Mysteries and My Musings

If Walls Could Talk

“A riveting tale with a twisting plot, likable characters, and an ending that will make you shudder [at] how easily something small can get totally out of hand. [It] leaves you wondering what you just saw out of the corner of your eye . . . a good, solid read.”

—The Romance Readers Connection

“Ms. Blackwell’s offbeat, humorous book is a fun, light read. . . . Mel makes a likable heroine. . . . Overall, a terrific blend of suspense and laughter with a dash of the paranormal thrown in makes this a great read.”

—TwoLips Reviews

“Kudos and high fives to Ms. Blackwell for creating a new set of characters for readers to hang around with as well as a new twist on the ghostly paranormal mystery niche. I can’t wait to see what otherworldly stories Juliet has in mind for us next!”

—Once Upon a Romance

“Melanie Turner may well be one of the most exciting, smart, and funny heroines currently in any book series. . . . There’s enough excitement to keep you reading until late in the night.”

—Fresh Fiction

The Witchcraft Mysteries

Tarnished and Torn

“Blackwell has another winner with the fifth installment of her Witchcraft Mysteries . . . a great entry in a really great series.”

—
Romantic Times

In a Witch’s Wardrobe

“Funny and thoughtful. ”

—The Mystery Reader

“Another engrossing story by an author with marvelous storytelling skills.”

—Lesa’s Book Critiques

“A really entertaining read. . . . I look forward to the next installment. ”

—Cozy Crimes

“[Blackwell’s] writing is creative and wickedly imaginative.”

—Once Upon a Romance

“A wonderful paranormal amateur sleuth tale. . . . Fans will enjoy Lily’s magical mystery tour of San Francisco.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

Hexes and Hemlines

“This exciting urban fantasy murder mystery . . . is an entertaining paranormal whodunit. . . . [Lily’s] familiar, Oscar, half goblin-gargoyle, becomes a cute potbellied pig who adds jocularity to the fast-paced story line as part of the quirky cast (benign, kind, and evil) that help make this spellbinding tale a fun read.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

“
Hexes and Hemlines
carries you along with an unconventional cast where nothing is out-of-bounds. Extraordinarily entertaining.”

—Suspense Magazine

“This is a fun and totally engrossing series that hooks you instantly and makes you want more. . . . I love the mix of vintage clothes, magic, and a lingering possibility of romance combined with mystery.”

—Fang-tastic Books

“Juliet Blackwell has created a series that will appeal to mystery fans as well as paranormal enthusiasts.”

—Debbie’s Book Bag

A Cast-off Coven

“If you like your mysteries with a side of spell-casting and demon vanquishing, you’ll enjoy the second title in Blackwell’s Witchcraft Mysteries.”

—Romantic Times

“This awesome paranormal mystery stars a terrific heroine.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

Secondhand Spirits

“Juliet Blackwell provides a terrific urban fantasy with the opening of the Witchcraft Mystery series.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

“An excellent blend of mystery, paranormal, and light humor, creating a cozy that is a must-read for anyone with an interest in literature with paranormal elements.”

—The Romance Readers Connection

“It’s a fun story, with romance possibilities with a couple hunky men, terrific vintage clothing, and the enchanting Oscar. But there is so much more to this book. It has serious depth.”

—The Herald News
(MA)

Also by Juliet Blackwell

HAUNTED HOME RENOVATION MYSTERIES

If Walls Could Talk

Dead Bolt

Murder on the House

WITCHCRAFT MYSTERIES

Secondhand Spirits

A Cast-off Coven

Hexes and Hemlines

In a Witch’s Wardrobe

Tarnished and Torn

HOME FOR THE HAUNTING

A HAUNTED HOME RENOVATION MYSTERY

Juliet Blackwell

OBSIDIAN

Published by the Penguin Group

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penguin.com

A Penguin Random House Company

First published by Obsidian, an imprint of New American Library,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC

Copyright © Julie Goodson-Lawes, 2013

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

OBSIDIAN and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

ISBN 978-1-101-62684-9

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To Bee Green Enos,

Amiga verdadera.

We will always have the snuggery!

Acknowl
edgments

Every book published depends on the time, talent, support, and hard work of many people. Thanks are due, as always, to Kerry Donovan, Jim McCarthy, and Kristin Lindstrom for being such advocates for me and for my work. Also, to all the copy editors, artists, and assistants who made this book a reality.

I thank the Rebuilding Together organization and its clients for teaching me so much about organizing volunteers, as well as for giving me so much hands-on construction experience. Special thanks go to my cocaptain, Shay Demetrius, Bruce “I’ll Do It” Nikolai, Suzanne “Safety” Chan, Anna “Tool Czar” Cabrera—as well as to the dozens of volunteers who showed up for work weekend—for all their energy and hard work.

As usual, my sister Carolyn was an indispensable reader/cowriter for this book. She and I shared many a laugh over the sibling rivalry in
Home for the Haunting
, though our own relationship is one of unflagging support and true friendship. You are such an important part of my writing. I can never thank you enough.

Thanks, as always, to the ever-encouraging writing cabal: Sophie Littlefield, Rachael Herron, Nicole Peeler, Gigi Pandian, Victoria Laurie, Mysti Berry, Adrienne Miller, Cecilia Gray, Lisa Hughey, and L. G. C. Smith. What would I do without you? To my neighbors and all the members, near and far, of the Mira Vista Social Club: J. C. Johnson, Pamela Groves, Anna Cabrera, Mary Grae, Karen Thompson, Susan Baker, Jan Strout, Bill Logan, Brian Casey, Claudia Escobar, Kendall Moalem, Wanda Klor, Antonio Jimenez, and Gomez Gomez for their unflagging friendship.

To my father, who is the inspiration for Mel’s dad; and to my sister Susan for all her support. And thanks to my son, Sergio, for making me so proud to be called Mom. And finally,
merci à
Eric for putting such a song in my heart.