Death by Pumpkin Spice

Finished October 24 

Death by Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson

This is part of a series featuring bookstore/café owner Krissy Hancock in the fictional town of Pine Hills. This is the third book in the series, but the first I've read, so some of Krissy's backstory comes out here. She has moved relatively recently to this town, coming from California, and opened a combination bookstore and café with her best friend Vicki Patterson. One of the things that she left behind in California was an ex-fiancé named Robert, who pops up in this book, having tracked her down and wanting a second chance. But Krissy isn't interested and as the book opens she gets invited to a fancy costume Hallowe'en party at a house that seems almost purpose-built for such festivities. The young doctor who invited her seems to be a potential new relationship and Krissy is very attracted to him. But she's also attracted to a young local police officer, Paul Dalton, who also is attending the party. Krissy seems to have a bad lack of self-confidence around her body and looks and that was one aspect of the book that I didn't like. Everyone around her kept reassuring her that she looked good, but she just kept putting herself down. However that doesn't stop here from getting involved when a dead body is found in the house, the body of a woman dressed as Marilyn Monroe. 

Many questions arise from this discovery and as Krissy tries to help with the investigation, she puts herself in danger as well as exposing other activities that people haven't been upfront about. 

The house and the recently deceased owner seem surreal. Could anyone actually live year round in such a house? I think it would drive one crazy. Lots of interesting characters with potentially interesting stories crop up, and I can see potential for more stories for this series. 

A light seasonal mystery.