A review by theavidreaderandbibliophile
Ghosts, Lore & a House by the Shore by Nellie H. Steele

4.0

Ghosts, Lore and a House by the Shore by Nellie H. Steele is the debut of Lily & Cassie By the Sea Mysteries. I enjoyed reading this engaging cozy mystery. I like the author’s writing style (casual). I was immediately drawn into the story. We meet Lily and Cassie who are mother and daughter. They have just lost their husbands in a plane crash. They decide a fresh start is in order. They buy a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian called Whispering Manor in Hideaway Bay which they soon learn has a reputation for being haunted. It is a good thing that neither lady believes in ghosts. While cleaning the house, they find the diary of the original mistress of the home, Henrietta Blanchard. Lily begins reading the book to learn more about the original owner. Cassie learns that a tragedy occurred in Whispering Manor almost thirty years ago. She wants to know more about the tragedy and begins digging for information. Someone is not happy to learn about their inquiries and attempts to warn them off. There are also some strange events happening at the house. Cassie and Lily are determined to uncover the truth. Are there ghosts in Whispering Manor or is someone trying to run the ladies out of their new home? I liked getting to know Lily and Cassie. They are lovely ladies who suffered a terrible tragedy. They have a close relationship which I liked. They drew strength from each other. I loved the descriptions of Whispering Manor (I want this house). I can understand why Lily and Cassie were drawn to the home and the town. Hideaway Bay is a friendly town (with one or two exceptions). People go out of their way to welcome the ladies to the town. Of course, they are all curious to see inside the house and hear about any unusual activity. The mystery was fun. I enjoyed following it. I could not wait to see how it would all turn out. I gathered clues and waited to see if my hunch was correct. I liked learning about the history of the house and the inclusion of the diary entries. I loved Willy, the one-eyed tuxedo cat that the ladies (mostly Cassie) acquired. He is a cute and clever kitty. I like the cozy moments in the story between mother and daughter. I enjoyed the humor in the story as well. I was sorry to reach the end of Ghosts, Lore and a House by the Shore. I am looking forward to Cassie and Lily’s next adventure. Ghosts, Lore and a House by the Shore is a delightful tale with a haunted house, a clever cat, a seaside souvenir shop, frightening threats, whispering winds, and a startling surprise.