Funny Cozy Mystery Series (Witch Woods Funeral Home Book 1)

The story line and premise were fine, but the writing was rather immature. The author seems to have a fairly limited vocabulary which would be more suitable for a younger reader, but adults or experienced readers will long for polysyllabic words. Some of the characters were unbelievable. The mother, for instance, is an over the top religious fanatic who appeared cartoonish and unrealistic. I finished the book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

I almost couldn't continue reading this. The Mother was so nasty I waited until she was the murder victim or to the very least fired. It never happened and the only part that was funny was ironically the Mother who stopped the murder of her brat.

This book is painfully bad. Premise: woman who can see ghosts inherits funeral home and has to move back with zealot mother. Sounds great, right? Sadly, the entire thing is a let-down. Best's writing lacks continuity (character makes and eats a sandwich at lunch, gets a clue in the mystery, and goes to town where they realize it's almost lunchtime and they haven't eaten all day) and any concept of "show, don't tell". The characters are REALLY one dimensional. The dialogue is just dumb. You have no reason to care about the characters, and the "mystery" is not even a thing. It seems as though Best had a good idea, wrote it out in a weekend, and published it without reading over it or showing it to someone else beforehand. Please save your 99 cents. Ms. Best, I want your stories to be the rich and enjoyable works that they could be; please let me know if you would like a pro bono editor.

I hated most of the characters, especially her mom, Ian, and John Jones. The stuff her mother gets away with are borderline criminal. I realize the other two were created to be hated. Mission accomplished. I don't need to be hit over the head with them.

Normally I like Morgana Best, but I was very disappointed this time! Loved the main character, her abilities and friends. HATED her self-righteous mother and her holier-than-thou friends. It is SO unrealistic to think anyone would put up with such behavior! No normal person I know would allow themselves to be spoken to like that, let alone allowing her to bankrupt MY business. Was constantly frustrated (NOT entertained) by mom's nastiness. Probably won't read the next one unless she can put mom in her place!

Laurel Bay has come home from Melbourne to attend her father’s funeral. Coming home brought her in closer contact with her overly pious mother – and this was not a pleasant thing for Laurel. She much preferred being 3 days’ drive away from her in Melbourne! After the memorial service, Laurel saw her mother outside complaining loudly to everyone about how Pastor Green should have been trying to save souls; instead, all he did was talk about Larry, her deceased husband!

When Laurel and her mother went to hear the Will read, Laurel found out she has just inherited the Witch Woods Funeral Home and its surrounding property! Her mother was upset and said Laurel had no idea how to run that business and that she herself should own it. Laurel agreed and offered to give it to her, but the Will stipulated that the business be sold if Laurel did not take it. Selling it was not acceptable to her mother. It was imperative that she keep watch on Laurel and that she also should be in charge of “the purse strings” – therefore, Laurel would have to make her mother General Manager! As they were leaving, she told Mr. Goddard to change his name because it was blasphemous and he would not get into heaven. She had already spoken to the pastor about that.

At her first memorial service, the Pastor had not yet shown up. She went to look for him and found him with the deceased’s grandson who wanted one last look in the casket. Laurel gazed at the floor until a scream sounded and the grandson fell through the curtain and exposed the casket to all of the chapel guests! Not only was the grandmother there, but another body -- the girl from the café down the street -- was draped over hers with a knife in its back! Because Laurel can see and speak with ghosts, the dead café worker asked for Laurel’s help finding who killed her. Can Laurel solve the mystery? Will she find the killer? Will she save her failing business after this horrible incident?

This was a fun book which was not meant to be taken too seriously (so you are allowed to laugh at the chaos)! As Laurel tackles the serious matter of murder, she does it in a flamboyant way that has the reader stifling a grin behind his or her hand! There are many characters introduced and it can make for a bit of confusion. But truths do come out. Grab a copy and find out how all of this is ultimately resolved! I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I understand when characters don't get along and sometimes this can add to a story, but this mother-daughter hate relationship overshadowed the entire story, plot and other characters. This mother hates her daughter, is a religious zealot, is over the top with being controlling and just plain obnoxious. I was actually hoping she was the murderer so that she would be arrested! I was also disappointed in the main character for not standing up to her. I cannot read another word in this series, it is too negative and annoying.

Laurel Bay came home to Witch Woods from her home in Melbourne just to attend her father’s funeral and help her mother as much as she could during this difficult time.

Her father’s funeral takes place in the family owned, and operated, funeral home. At the reading of the will, Lauren and her mother are in for a few surprises! Laurel’s mother, Thelma, gets the house behind the funeral home and the land it sits on. She also gets her husband’s savings account, but is not satisfied. Laurel inherits the funeral home itself and her father requested that Laurel manage it herself!

Laurel is torn between her life in Melbourne and her desire to honor her father’s wishes. With the first funeral she manages, things start to get interesting. Laurel goes against company policy and allows a young man see his beloved grandmother one last time before she is buried. But there is a problem, Grandma isn’t alone in the casket! Grandma has company, a young woman who was stabbed in the back.

Now, Laurel has her hands full. Can Laurel find who stabbed the young womanand left her in the casket with Grandma? Can she keep her mother out of the funeral home's bank accounts? Can she regain some of the business that was lost to the new franchise funeral home near Witch Woods? Can she resist her attraction for her accountant? Or will she simply move back to Melbourne and turn everything over to her fanatically religious mother? Laurel faces her problems and concerns with squared shoulders and a patience that one doesn’t often see.

Morgana Best has created a unique set of circumstances and characters that create a wonderful read that is very hard to put down. I look forward to reading more of the Witch Woods Funeral Home series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

Laurel inherits her father's mortuary and has to deal with her controlling mother. She can see and talk to ghosts which comes in handy when she tries to solve a murder. The book has some funny moments and I like Laurel the main character, but her mother is too nasty and controlling. Laurel meets the young handsome accountant that worked for her father which has some potential for a future relationship. The series is fun and has potential to get better and I want to see where it leads.

When Laurel Bay attends her father's funeral in Witch Woods she finds out that her father left her the funeral home to run,over her mother's objections. This was the last thing Laurel wanted, as she enjoys the bustle of the big city. She also sees and talks to ghosts, which her mother denies and thinks she in a veil of evil. Her mother is a bit of a religious fanatic. As Laurel is performing her very first memorial service as the owner, she went against policy and opened a casket for a relative. There they find another body inside the casket with a knife sticking in it's back. Can Laurel and the ghosts figure out who did this and why? Read the book to find out. I received a free copy for an honest opinion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

This series shows a lot of promise! I enjoyed the main character, Laurel, but her mother was a totally different story.

This is a willing and truthful review of an advanced copy I requested, and I will definitely be reading the second book in this series. I recommend you do as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

who knew that inheriting a funeral home from your father can be so interesting... and fun even if your mother is a religious,bible thumping yelling fanatic?.. and you have to live with her !!! well thats how Laural Bays life is now..thinking she will just sell the business and move away ..back to her old life.Until she meets the hunky Basil ..the family accountant...and starts to see ghosts....lol. very fun read..few ghosts,and a lot of characters that you cant wait to become friends with..????

Morgana writes such great books, and this one is a good example! Laurel has inherited her fathers funeral home, much to her mothers chagrin, who felt that it should be hers. Laurel, who sees and talks to ghosts, is trying to solve a young girls murder. You want to know more? Then you need to read it for yourself!!!

Laurel Bay came home to Witch Woods from her home in Melbourne just to attend her father’s funeral and help her mother as much as she could during this difficult time.

Her father’s funeral takes place in the family owned, and operated, funeral home. At the reading of the will, Lauren and her mother are in for a few surprises! Laurel’s mother, Thelma, gets the house behind the funeral home and the land it sits on. She also gets her husband’s savings account, but is not satisfied. Laurel inherits the funeral home itself and her father requested that Laurel manage it herself!

Laurel is torn between her life in Melbourne and her desire to honor her father’s wishes. With the first funeral she manages, things start to get interesting. Laurel goes against company policy and allows a young man see his beloved grandmother one last time before she is buried. But there is a problem, Grandma isn’t alone in the casket! Grandma has company, a young woman who was stabbed in the back.

Now, Laurel has her hands full. Can Laurel find who stabbed the young womanand left her in the casket with Grandma? Can she keep her mother out of the funeral home's bank accounts? Can she regain some of the business that was lost to the new franchise funeral home near Witch Woods? Can she resist her attraction for her accountant? Or will she simply move back to Melbourne and turn everything over to her fanatically religious mother? Laurel faces her problems and concerns with squared shoulders and a patience that one doesn’t often see.

Morgana Best has created a unique set of circumstances and characters that create a wonderful read that is very hard to put down. I look forward to reading more of the Witch Woods Funeral Home series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

Laurel inherits her father's mortuary and has to deal with her controlling mother. She can see and talk to ghosts which comes in handy when she tries to solve a murder. The book has some funny moments and I like Laurel the main character, but her mother is too nasty and controlling. Laurel meets the young handsome accountant that worked for her father which has some potential for a future relationship. The series is fun and has potential to get better and I want to see where it leads.

When Laurel Bay attends her father's funeral in Witch Woods she finds out that her father left her the funeral home to run,over her mother's objections. This was the last thing Laurel wanted, as she enjoys the bustle of the big city. She also sees and talks to ghosts, which her mother denies and thinks she in a veil of evil. Her mother is a bit of a religious fanatic. As Laurel is performing her very first memorial service as the owner, she went against policy and opened a casket for a relative. There they find another body inside the casket with a knife sticking in it's back. Can Laurel and the ghosts figure out who did this and why? Read the book to find out. I received a free copy for an honest opinion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

This series shows a lot of promise! I enjoyed the main character, Laurel, but her mother was a totally different story.

This is a willing and truthful review of an advanced copy I requested, and I will definitely be reading the second book in this series. I recommend you do as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny and exciting mystery that was super enjoyable. Great storyline that was easy to follow and fun and lovable characters.