Tag Archives: ghosts

Release Blitz: Dead Serious Case #2: Mrs Delores Abernathy by Vawn Cassidy

Dead Serious Case #2: Mrs Delores Abernathy | Vawn Cassidy

Crawshank’s Guide to the Recently Departed #2

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Release Date: October 31st, 2022

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Blurb

In the business of unfinished business…

It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right?

Wrong…

When the spirit of a sweet old lady follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation.

For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him.

Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves.

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series.

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Excerpt

Shoving the shower curtain aside roughly, I let loose a rather unmanly scream as my eyes land on a strange person standing in front of the closed door of the bathroom. I grab the shower curtain as my feet slip out from under me on the wet ceramic bathtub. I roll into the shower curtain, clutching on tightly as I lose my balance and go down, sending the plastic clips pinging off in all directions like tiny missiles knocking bottles off shelves and cracking the corner of the bathroom mirror. Pain clangs through my elbow and vibrates up my arm as, cocooned in clear plastic, I slide into the bath, breathing heavily and looking like I’ve been gift wrapped by a serial killer.

“Owwww,” I croak slowly to no one in particular.

Reaching one arm over the edge of the bath, my body follows and I flop ungraciously onto the rug like a newborn baby seal. Squinting without my glasses on I can just about make out the still figure standing in front of the bathroom door clutching a handbag.

Mrs Abernathy, I realise with a groan of resignation. What is it with ghosts? First Dusty and now the old lady. What part of the bathroom is off limits do they not understand? Is nothing sacred anymore?

I’m about to open my mouth when the bathroom door swings open and Danny strides in, passing straight through Mrs Abernathy and making her disappear into a thin vaporous mist.

“I heard a crash.” Danny’s eyes land on me sprawled out on the floor. “You okay?” His brow quirks as he takes in the assortment of displaced bottles and small plastic shower curtain clips everywhere.

“Slight shower malfunction.” I release a winded breath. “A little help, please.”

He strides toward me and effortlessly scoops me off the floor. His hands are gentle, his eyes filled with concern.

“Did you hurt yourself?” He frowns. “Maybe we should get you looked at, you might have a concussion.”

“I’m fine,” I manage.

“We could call 111.” He turns me slowly, peeling me out of the shower curtain like he’s un-bandaging The Mummy in a Lon Chaney movie.

“I wouldn’t even call 111 for advice on how to remove a splinter.” I wrinkle my nose. “Honestly, I’m fine.”

He wraps the towel around me, pinning my arms to my sides as he drops a kiss on my nose. “Be more careful, I have plans for this gorgeous body later.” He smiles, kissing my lips softly.

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Start The Series

Dead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey

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Blurb

Tristan Everett had always preferred the company of the dead because they were quiet and didn’t talk back. As a slightly awkward introvert working as a pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary suited him just fine. That is, until a freak accident with a rogue ice cube and suddenly he can see ghosts. No longer content to just lie on the table and let him figure out how they died, they’re now peering over his shoulder critiquing his work and confessing their most lascivious sins before skipping off merrily into the afterlife.

Just when he thought his life couldn’t get any weirder, London’s most infamous drag queen, Miz Dusty Le Frey, is wheeled in with a toe tag and she’s not prepared to go quietly into the light. Not only is she furious at the prospect of spending eternity in last season’s gold lamé, she’s determined that he help her solve her murder.

Suddenly Tristan finds himself thrown into a world of sequins and fake eyelashes, and worse still, he may have developed a crush on Scotland Yard’s brand new drool-worthy detective, Inspector Danny Hayes, who’s been assigned to Dusty’s murder. Oh, and the killer now wants him dead too…

All he ever wanted was a simple life but suddenly he’s juggling work, a deliciously sexy detective, a stubborn ghost and a relentless murderer… and things have just gotten dead serious….

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About the Author

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Vawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders, she lives in the UK with her husband and children. She loves all things MM and is an avid reader herself.

As Vawn Cassidy she writes Paranormal/Dark Comedy/Mystery and Contemporary Romance and more recently is branching out into Historical & Supernatural MM/LGBTQ+ Fiction with her upcoming London Gothic series.

She also has an insane love of Lego and pop culture.

Social Media

Website: www.vawncassidy.com

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/VawnCassidyAuthor

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/group/cassidysbayboys

Instagram: www.instagram.com/vawncassidyauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/VawnCassidy

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/vawncassidy

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/vawn-cassidy

Amazon: www.amazon.com/~/e/B098XMW7M1

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Dead Serious 2, Vawn is giving away a signed paperback of Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Deceased Book #2

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A triumphant second entry in this ghostly romance mystery series

62685184._SY475_Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy by Vawn Cassidy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I absolutely LOVED this one!

Tris and Danny are now completely in love with each other, things are going along nicely, with just little hiccups along the way as they deal with whether or not they’re rushing into things having said the I love yous and spending nearly all their available time together.

The wonderful Dusty, of Drag Queen murder fame in book one, is now back as Tris’ spirit guide and she’s as outrageously fabulous as ever and on hand to help when something a little bit odd happens at the care home where Martin, Tris’ father, is being looked after.

With another murder to investigate, another sweet little old lady ghost hanging round with unfinished business, and the occasional accidental spiritual displacement to deal with, this book romps along at a cracking pace without ever feeling like the story is being rushed.

There were so many moments I was chuckling like a hyena to myself, others I got a wee bit teary as the narrative pulls on all the heart strings at times, and ultimately I was cheering my head off as the gang all comes together to try and work out what’s gone on.

Even the ginormous! (not quite cliff hanger-y) type big reveal at the end could spoil my enjoyment of this book.

It’s not really a cliffhanger as such, this story is all wrapped up by the end, but it’s a big massive lead in to what’s going to go down in Book Three and that cannot come soon enough.

Loved it. Also intrigued by two new characters we’re introduced to in this book who I won’t reveal.

PS: This would make an utterly fabulous TV show!

#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours in return for an honest and unbiased review

View all my reviews

Blog Tour: The Sceptic by Lily Morton

The Sceptic | Lily Morton

Arcana Books #1

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Release Date: May 26th, 2022

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Cover Photography: RafaGCatala

Universal Link: https://getbook.at/TheSceptic

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Blurb

As the best friend of a psychic, Will Buchanan can’t help but believe in the dead. It’s the living that he finds to be problematic. However, after a spate of betrayals, he finally has the chance of a new life within his grasp, and he’s not going to risk it for anyone or anything. Staying safe is the name of Will’s game.

Jem Dawson defines the word temporary. A talented cameraman, he’s here today and will undoubtedly be gone tomorrow chasing adventure and danger. But, while he’s in York, he’s made it clear he wants Will, and Will can’t help liking the charming daredevil.

This inconvenient attraction results in Will accompanying Jem to the site of a notorious poltergeist outbreak. A malevolent spirit has targeted a family, and now the ghost hunting team for whom Jem does camerawork are going to be locked down in the house for three days.

The house is strange and filled with sinister and violent undercurrents. One by one, the group experiences threatening incidents, and as events escalate, Will has to ask himself if he’s risking not just his heart but also his life with this impulsive gesture.

This is the first book in the Arcana Books series featuring characters from the bestselling Black and Blue series.

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Excerpt

“What a ridiculous question. Do I look like I have a book on how to reanimate a cadaver? I have enough problems with the living customers without adding dead ones. Go next door.”

I set my pen down on the counter and sigh as Tom’s stertorous tones echo through the building. I’m currently working in an occult bookshop that connects to Tom’s bookshop. The divider between the two stores is a curtain, but even if we had walls the thickness of Fort Knox, it still wouldn’t stop me hearing Tom.

A few seconds later, the curtain lifts, and three startled goths scoot into the room as if their backsides are on fire. I offer them a smile and point to the stairs. “First floor. Shelf by the window.”

Their footsteps echo on the treads, and silence descends again. I pick up my pen and then pause, looking around. The room is full of the scent of old paper and leather, along with a whiff of fresh paint and new carpet. Sun streams through the Georgian window, laying stripes over the shelves of books and painting my skin with warmth. It’s incredibly peaceful in here, notwithstanding the grumpy bookshop owner next door.

As if on cue, the old man’s voice rises through the divider again, muttering something about the problems associated with zombies becoming customers.

I look up as the shop’s front door opens and the bell jingles cheerfully, heralding the arrival of my current boss. Viscount Ingram.

“Dear boy,” he booms, his face lit up. He’s the exact opposite of Tom, being eternally cheerful. The glass isn’t half full of wine with this one. He’s got a whole fucking vineyard in there. “You will never guess what I found at the house sale.”

I open my mouth to respond, but Tom forestalls me. “Not in here,” he booms from the other room. “The death books are all next door in the occult bookshop. No, not there. There. Through that curtain.”

A young man in a long duster coat and a trilby hat sidles through the curtain. He gives us a haunted look and then legs it up the stairs to join the goths, who are probably cowering in a corner.

The viscount sighs. “Oh, dear. Tom is a trifle rusty on customer service, isn’t he?”

“He was probably rusty sixty years ago,” I confidently state. I’ve known Tom for many years. He’s an established figure in York and someone my best friend Blue and I have known since we were young and homeless. Tom is now Blue’s boss, psychic mentor, and a possible glimpse at how Blue will be in fifty years.

“Oh dear,” the viscount says again. He looks towards the table in the corner of the room. “And where is Madame Hecate? I thought she was reading the tarot cards for our customers today.”

“Probably at the pub. She came in, turned over one card, gave a scream that Tom’s still complaining about, and then left.”

“Poor woman. I wonder what the problem is.”

“Gin,” I offer helpfully. “It does seem to influence most of her tarot choices.”

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About The Author

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Lily is a bestselling gay romance author. She writes love stories filled with heat and humour.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

Lily has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – Chocolate Baileys.

Social Media

Facebook | Lily’s Snark Squad Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Website | Newsletter
Amazon Page | Goodreads | BookBub

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Giveaway

To celebrate Lily’s new release, we are giving you a chance to win your choice of any book from Lily’s backlist.

Three winners will be chosen

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