fuonlyknew

Be My Banshee

by Joyce and Jim Lavene

I loved, loved this book, the story, the characters. I couldn’t out it down once I started reading. This is a great start to a new series.
~Tea and A Book

I think this is going to be an interesting series! It is more on the fantasy side with witches, werewolves, shape shifters and the like.
~Storeybook Reviews

The best way to describe this book is paranormal meets cozy mystery. You get the best of both worlds with this one.
~Socrates’ Book Reviews…

I love this book. The cast of characters are incredible and the story line so well written you will be instantly caught up in what is going on and you won’t be able to take your eyes of the pages.
~Shelley’s Book Case​

Be My Banshee
(Purple Door Detective Agency Book 1)

Paranormal Cozy Mystery
File Size: 367 KB
Print Length: 196 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (September 1, 2015)
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
ASIN: B010VZO1QM

My Review

A new cozy series by two of my favorite authors. I had to read this book. And I love the title for the series, Purple Door Detective Agency. I have a page on Pinterest that’s all about doors and have many pictures of purple ones.

I also was excited this was a paranormal cozy. I like the themes of cozies. Pets, sewing, books, and food. And now Paranormal!

I’m entering the door now.

One thing I know I’ll get when I read a cozy by Jim and Joyce Lavene is colorful characters. Not only are they colorful, they aren’t all humans.

Meet Sunshine Merryweather. A private investigator. She handles all of the paranormal cases while trying to keep it from the public eye.

The authors description of Sunshine reminded me of Penelope (baby girl) from Criminal Minds. She never leaves the house without make-up on, hair perfectly poofed, and some kind of spangled outfit. Her favorite color is purple, hence the agencies name, and she wears it, works in it, and lives with purple.

Sunshine is young for a witch, only 75 years old. She’s got some serious powers though. While a good, witch, you don’t want to get on her bad side. Watch her hair. When you’ve annoyed her, her golden locks start to look more like a strawberry blond. You never want it to go red.

Once through the purple door, you’re greeted by Jane, the receptionist. The agency is looking for a new associate, and the waiting room is filled with werewolves, hags, vampires, and other scary characters. I didn’t blame Jane for hiding in the closet. Especially after I learned more about her.

Jane is the victim of a spell gone wrong. One cast by none other than Sunshine. She’s still trying to fix it. Jane is a mouse, literally. She can shift to human form. I had such fun with her. She is timid like a mouse, always hungry like one, and likes to nibble on things.

Some scenes that had me laughing:

Sunshine talking to Jane:

“Stay out of the cereal.”

“Take messages and try not to nibble on them.”

A new client walks through the purple door.

Meet Aine, a beane sidhe, or banshee. She needs help and her scream insures she gets it. Aine is looking for the last surviving member of the O’Neill line. She must find him, be there to warn him of his impending death, and lead him to the other side. Woken from a two hundred year sleep, she finds a whole new world. The technology bewilders her but she quickly starts catching on.  She’s not there for the job opening, but she gets the job.

There’s a job opening because Sunshine’s lover, a werewolf, was torn to pieces several days ago. She not only needs to fill the vacancy. She needs help tracking down his killer. She wants vengeance, in blood.

There’s one door at the agency that stays closed. It’s the office of Mr. Bad. That’s what Sunshine calls him. He just showed up one day. Her associate, John, says he’s staying and don’t ask questions. Just who and what is Mr. Bad? And why is he there? She’s never seen his face as he keeps his office blacked out. Very mysterious.

And I don’t want to forget Detective Sean O’Neill. He has no clue about his ancestral bloodline or the beane sidhe. Things get interesting when he meets Aine and Sunshine. They keep bumping into each other as bodies continue to pile up. First, he views them as suspects, then as crazy ladies. A visitation from Aine in his bedroom only makes things crazier.

What do a witch, a banshee, a mouse, and a detective have in common? They’re all smack dab in the middle of a paranormal investigation and they’re foe is not of this world.

The opening of this story was such fun. I snuggled in with a cuppa tea and some snacks, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop until I finished this book.

And once again, these authors kept me hostage as their characters came to life on the pages. Their writing is fast and fun, seems almost effortless how easily it flows. They are prolific writers and have numerous books and series. It may take years, but I’ll read every single one.

5 Stars

Synopsis

The Purple Door Detective Agency is hiring.

Those without magic need not apply.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Apply at the agency. No phone calls or psychic links.

Sunshine Merryweather is a young witch with a passion for colorful clothes and good food. She is the owner/operator of the Purple Door Detective Agency. Her partner, John, was brutally murdered three days ago, and she won’t stop until she finds his killer.

Aine is only interested in one thing when she walks into the building with the purple door–locating the last man alive in the branch of the O’Neill family she haunts as a beane sidhe. She has been asleep for 200 years in a ruined Irish castle and realizes that the world has moved on without her. She needs to find the O’Neill heir and encourage him to start a family or she will pass from existence when he dies.

Sunshine sees a potential partner when she looks at the powerful beane sidhe – they could be the next Dynamic Duo! But Aine isn’t interested in Sunshine’s schemes – until the witch agrees to help her locate O’Neill. Even then, it will be a short-term association at best from Aine’s point of view. She has no need of witchcraft.

Neither woman is aware of the danger they face as an ancient assassin stalks the old port city of Norfolk, Virginia. It will take more than simple witchcraft or beane sidhe magic to stop the killer. They will have to work together and combine their talents.

But can Sunshine and Aine put aside their differences to stop the murders without tearing each other apart?

Authors Joyce and Jim Lavene

.Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Amazon / Twitter

Purchase Link
Amazon

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Follow the tour for more fun posts.

September 8 – Tea and A Book – Review

September 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

September 10 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Review

September 10 – Babs Book Bistro – Spotlight

September 11 – A Blue Million Books – Interview

September 12- Shelley’s Book Case – Review

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