July 10, 2023
Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks. Claire and her best friend, Sophie, are headed to a former monastery in the small English town of Wilbourne Major, where Figgy Wellington-Forge, Claire’s university friend, has invited her to entertain the family with her gift. Readers will quickly deduce that Sophie is actually a ghost who serves as Claire’s spirit guide and eavesdrops on her marks to provide information that makes her powers seem more impressive. But Figgy’s plans to hold a séance as a birthday treat for her grandmother go awry when Nana dies suddenly. Her ghost appears to Claire and Sophie to inform them that, while her death was natural, she’s met the ghost of an unknown person inside the house’s library who was recently murdered. Claire decides to help solve the mystery, and enlists some of Figgy’s more trustworthy kin, while heeding Nana’s warning that someone in the family was the killer. The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor. Fans of the British TV series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) will be eager for more adventures from Claire and Sophie. Agent: Stevie Finegan, Zeno Literary.
June 10, 2024
Bell's supernatural cozy debut, the first in a series, follows aspiring psychic Claire, who is hired by Figgy Wellington-Forge to perform a s�ance for her nana's birthday at the family's crumbling English estate. Unbeknown to Figgy, Claire is accompanied by her ghostly partner, Sophie. Claire knew 17-year-old Sophie when she was still among the living. While everyone thinks Sophie ran away, Claire knows she was murdered, as Sophie's ghost has been hanging around ever since. When the two arrive at the manor, they find they've landed in a murder mystery. Figgy's ex-policeman brother and their nonbinary teen nibling, Alex, join them, and together, they delve into the mansion's mysteries. Although they aren't the most skilled detectives, they hilariously and wholeheartedly throw themselves into their quest. Narrator Sophie Roberts gives voice to Bell's many different characters, both dead and alive. She provides unique, appropriate voices for each, from a 165-year-old gardener haunting the grounds to a hip teen. Listeners will appreciate the small moments that lighten the novel, with plenty of nods to Scooby-Doo and playful references to mystery tropes. VERDICT A delightfully funny whodunit with plenty of depth and heart. Share with patrons looking for a ghostly cozy with a millennial bent.--Elyssa Everling
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