Salem B & B #8
There are very few places more ideal for supernatural themed cozies than Salem, Massachusetts. Traci Wilton takes full advantage of the town’s mystical air, and has based each of her eight books around some sort of mythical being. Her eighth Salem B&B Mystery, Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid, highlights the town’s first ever Mermaid Parade. Charlene Morris’ B&B is bursting with people eager to participate and compete in the parade. There is also a local, and retired, Hollywood celebrity mermaid, Trinity Powers, who will be making her first public appearance in years. She is famous for her role in the movie Sirena, which has a massive fan base. But she isn’t the only big name to show up. Sirena got a remake, and the star of that movie is shimmying her way to center stage with her own fan mob. Needless to say, the opposing fan groups are pretty opinionated, and are unfortunately more than willing to escalate things. Luckily, the stars themselves are more interested in making their own public appearances a success then sending their fans after each other.
With emotions running high, Charlene Morris’ talent for talking and calming others is utilized to its full extent — soothing egos and panic amongst parade organizers, participants, guests, and even artists. One never expects to stumble onto a murder just by lending a hand, but poor Charlene finds one mermaid murdered. Given how the murder affects the town, her friends, and her guests, Charlene can’t help but be drawn in. Luckily local Salem Detective Sam Holden also happens to value Charlene’s opinions and ability to gather information. It doesn’t hurt that they are also dating. Although it’s under the radar for now, as Charlene isn’t quite ready to go public. Also on team Charlene is her ever helpful B&B ghost Doctor Jack Strathmore, always ready to use his spectral skills to utilize the mighty computer search engines. But all the manic fans and people from the victims past do not make it easy for the team to sift through the suspects. There is also added pressure with the Mermaid Parade event drawing to a close. Charlene tries her best to stay out of danger, but she is savvy enough to also be prepared. She brings pepper spray with her, discretely of course. She might not want to believe someone she could be questioning could be a killer, but better safe than sorry.
I would say that new readers to the series will enjoy Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid. The setting and characters are all well set up and there is very little risk of getting lost and confused. However, to really appreciate some of the relationships Charlene has about town, as well as her own personal growth, I suggest reading the start of Traci Wilton’s Salem B&B mysteries. Charlene solves mysteries, but she is also on a journey of healing and creating her new life in Salem Massachusetts. Starting over after tragedy is difficult, and far from a short process, and she did so while also coming to terms with the fact that not only are ghosts real, but one is hanging around her B&B. Not that he’s a scary ghost, Jack in fact has become one of Charlene’s closest friends, and he even has deeper feelings for her that they both have to reconcile. There are many different plotlines going in Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid, and readers won’t find themselves bored or lost with any of them. – Carla Schantz