Halloween is Murder

Carolyn Arnold

Oct 2017 · Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc.

About this ebook

“A spooktacular holiday tale, with lots of tricks and treats and an intriguing cast of characters.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sean and Sara McKinley are excited about the haunted house they’ve set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser, but things take a ghoulish turn when the reporter covering their story is found dead. With the media keeping mum about how she died, Sara’s curiosity is piqued, and she convinces Sean to take on the investigation.

With the police actively investigating and with no clear indication that the woman was murdered, the McKinleys will need to take a cloak-and-dagger approach if they’re going to carve out the truth. As they troll for leads and work through the skeletons in the reporter’s closet, they unearth a few suspects. If they’re able to narrow them down fast enough, there might even be time for a little trick-or-treating. 

McKinley Mysteries are short & sweet just like that coffee you crave. Savor the perfect blend of romance, humor, and murder with zero additives such as foul language, graphic violence or sex. These international bestselling cozies are bound to hit the spot and keep you coming back for more. This is an addiction you can afford to have. Get started today.

Readers love Halloween is Murder:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A well written mystery with fun for the Halloween days.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It's got an ending I didn't expect. Highly recommend.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Another fast-paced and fun book by Carolyn Arnold.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A great story, quick read.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A fun, old-fashioned murder mystery.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I love fun, cozy, mystery books and this book totally fits the bill!”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “There are some very comedic sequences.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I would recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Another Wow book from Carolyn Arnold!”

Ratings and reviews

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of HALLOWEEN IS MURDER. Opinions expressed here are unsolicited, unbiased and entirely my own. The McKinley's are all exhilarated over their Haunted House as a fund raiser. They've got all the decorations in place inside and out. The local bakery is selling spooky treats. Donations are taken at the door. And everyone is in their favorite costumes. They even have a reporter and cameraman from the local newspaper to do a piece for the local news the next day. Unfortunately .... the reporter is found dead that night. Murder .. or something else? The police don't see to know .. or care that much. Sara and Sean take on the investigation with the help of their other team members. They find there is no shortage of suspects. The recent ex-boyfriend? Her boss who has refused to promote her? Someone who is jealous of her successes? Sean and Sara McKinley are back just in time for Halloween. Yes, readers, Halloween is just around the corner. There's nothing better than this cozy mystery to get one in the mood for all things dark and spooky. Well-written story with funny, likeable characters. It was a fast read and I found it hard to put down ... so I didn't. I'm not normally a fan of cozies, but I sure would take a gander at the other books in this series.

A seasonal joy to highlight one of the spookiest nights of the year and what better way to celebrate it with a really good murder mystery set around a haunted house. In this novel we met Sean and Sara Mckinley who can be likened to one of the most famous married detectives duos created by Agatha Christie, Thomas and Tuppence. Reading this book took me back to my youth and reminded of all the Alfred Hitchcock books I used to read. The excellent setting around creating a haunted house leads to the lead reporter being murdered and it’s up to Sean and Sara to find out why. The storyline is a very easy one to follow and will be loved by young teens and adults who like a really good murder mystery with page turning events and clues to help you solve the case before the detectives can. With the clever writing and red herring leads that are put in place to mislead you it makes for a fantastic read at a special time of year. This is the first book I have read in the series but easily followed it and would love to peruse the others in order to enhance and embellish the characters. Praise for Carolyn Arnold and look out for other works by this author as they are just as intriguing and powerful as this novel.

---4.5 Stars--- I really enjoyed reading this book! Another successful book from Carolyn Arnold! I love fun, cozy, mystery books and this book totally fits the bill! I had so much fun playing along, trying to solve the crime with the McKinley’s! This book revolves around Sara and Sean McKinley, their PI Firm, and their team of investigators. Sara and Sean are interviewed by reporter Chloe Parsons about the haunted house they set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser. While the whole crew is at home waiting to watch their interview on TV it is announced that Chloe, the reported who interviewed them has died and their interview is not aired. Everyone is in complete shock, especially Sara who wants to go investigate Chloe’s death. However, Sean is resistant and thinks they should wait and see what the police turn up. Unfortunately, the police and medical examiner seem to be leaning towards Chloe dying of natural causes! Sara is outraged and is dead set on proving it was murder! Sara is finally able to convince Sean to partake in the search to prove Chloe was murdered and to find her killer. This is not an easy feat and Sara and Sean encounter many obstacles along the way. But the McKinley’s and their team are on the case and they’re going to find the truth and bring Chloe justice. I really liked the main characters – Sean and Sara McKinley! They were well developed, likable, and genuine. They had great chemistry and really played well off each other. They pushed and pulled each other’s buttons, but also helped and supported each other – like a real married couple! I enjoyed the supporting cast for the most part – the PI firm team. I think if I had read the other books in this series I might have had a better, stronger connection or relationship with them. Don’t get me wrong they were fine – but easily forgettable characters. The pace of this book is fast to steady. It keeps you fully engaged and entertained to the last page! I felt that some of the passages were a bit wordy, which detracted from the story and the pace. But overall it was an excellent read! This book is book eleven in the McKinley Mysteries Book Series. I had not read any of the books in this series before reading this book and I had no problems following this story and did not get lost or confused. So, this book can absolutely be read as a standalone book. Although this book has a strong seasonal Halloween background it can absolutely be enjoyed year-round! I happened to have read it around Halloween, but I could totally see myself enjoying it in February as well! All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a fun, exciting, cozy, mystery book! Carolyn Arnold has become one of my favorite authors for her ability to write accurate and authentic police procedural scenes while still keeping her creative flair of adding mystery, intrigue, and suspense to every page! **Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**