Book Blurb:
After the untimely death of her bestselling crime novelist mother, a young woman teams up with the fictional “ghost” of the heroine from her mother’s series in order to solve her mother’s murder.
After the tragic death of bestselling crime writer Annie Morrisey, her daughter, Niamh, moves into her mother’s country cottage to take care of her mother’s estate. Shut away from the world, Niamh doesn’t actually have to deal with the grief of her mother’s untimely passing. Until the day that two things happen: the advance copy of her mother’s final book lands on the doorstep and Leah Rebecca Overton appears in the kitchen.
Having a stranger show up in your house would be concerning at the best of times, but Leah isn’t a stranger—she’s the ultra-competent sleuth heroine from Annie’s novels. The antithesis of Niamh in every way, she’s lived in the fictitious character’s shadow for years. But why (and how) has Leah turned up now? And why can only Niamh see her? Leah is the last thing Niamh wants in her house or in her head, but she can’t ignore the sleuth…especially when Leah suspects there may have been more to Annie’s death than first suspected.
My Review:
I love it when I find a novel with a refreshing and unique plot line…at any rate, this was a new one for me. Of course I was attracted to the title, but even then, the title doesn’t really give away the storyline characters. I started to imagine a kind of Roger Rabbit scenario. Except Leah Overton is no Roger and Niamh is no private investigator.
After best-selling author Anna Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh moves into her cottage to take care of business and quietly grieve. But the circumstances of her mother’s death keep nagging at her. If there is no such thing as a coincidence, then this wasn’t just an accident.
As her anxiety ramps up, she confronts Leah in her kitchen. In the beginning of her mother’s exploration with her new series private investigator, Niamh was included in the forming of Leah, the loner, competent private investigator protagonist of her mother’s new bestsellers. Leah has confidence and skills Niamh could only dream of, and sure her manifestation is her increasing angst, she tries to dismiss it. Explain it away. But Leah won’t be explained away.
A character so well developed, could she actually take on a persona?
Leah is a strong personality. And she’s also sure that her Anna didn’t have an accident.
Trying not to visualize a ghost type appearance, I greatly enjoyed the character of Leah, blithely coming and going when she felt like it, issuing ultimatums, suggesting points of investigation, people of interest. Leah is rough on Niamh, forcing Niamh out of her shell and, (gasp) pro-active? She has to be to perform some of the tasks Leah has proposed for her.
The two characters couldn’t be more opposites. A total wussy as opposed to kick-ass Leah. They are so well developed you can’t help but like both and it’s fun to follow their dialogue and amusing to watch as Leah begins to mellow (just a bit, mind you) and Niamh grow.
The author threw a curve when she introduced a fantasy character in the life of a grief-stricken dropout mouse of a daughter. The sense of humor and plot line weaving in the villages’ characters and possible perps threw in enough twists to keep the reader dying to know what Leah would be doing next.
It’s a fun, fast read. Yeah, I know I’m among the minority here (what’s new?), but this time I apparently appreciated it more so than some of those who read before me. I thought it stirred the imagination. Recommended if you love the suggestion of fantasy, sense of humor, emotive characters and an engaging and entertaining novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars 
Book Details:
Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Women Sleuths, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Title Link(s):
Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
The Author: Sarah Lotz is a novelist and screenwriter with a fondness for the macabre. She is the author of The Three, and lives in Cape Town with her family and other animals.
©2026 V Williams
Rosepoint Publishing 