Audio Book Review: The Skeletons of Scarborough House by Kitty French

I liked this easy, fun, ghostly story.

The Skeletons of Scarborough House:
(The Chapelwick Mysteries #1)
Written By: Kitty French
Narrated By: Cat Gould

Date: February 2018
Duration: 9 hours 28 minutes
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Ghosts, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
Welcome to Chapelwick, a leafy English town in the hills of Shropshire, where chocolate fudge cake comes served with a side of murder.
Scarborough House is haunted, and it's not doing much for Donovan Scarborough's investment portfolio. No one wants to buy a place with levitating crockery, or (the wrong kind of) rhythmic pounding throughout the night.
Luckily, Melody 'I-See-Dead-People' Bittersweet has just launched her own ghostbusting agency with best friend Marina, geeky, keen Arthur, and a one-eared pug called Lestat. They're quick to take the case, even if it has already sort of (definitely) been given to Leo Dark, Melody's rakish, despicable ex.
Melody soon discovers the resident phantoms are three brothers, one who was murdered at twenty, while the others lived to old age. But did the family exile the right person, or did the true killer get away with it?
Donovan Scarborough doesn't care who solves the case. Whoever gets rid of the ghosts gets paid.
Can Melody and her new crew untangle the mystery, and bring the brothers peace, before Leo? Or will his distracting sexiness and Melody's bonkers family cause the agency to fall at its first hurdle?

Review:
Melody is a daughter in a family with the unique ability to communicate with ghosts. Upon reaching the age of thirty, Melody has decided to break away from her mother and grandmother to set up her own “ghost busting” business. She is joined by her very supportive best friend and, on a part time basis, her family’s wizard of an executive assistant. Before the team even gets it’s first case, Melody is confronted by a ghost with a special request. He is devastated that he has to leave behind his socially ill adjusted son. He manages to convince Melody to interview his son and thus Melody ends up with a gentle giant on her team.

The first case the team sort of lands is a local haunted house, the Scarborough House. Melody soon learns that there are three ghost brothers who died at different ages who are tied up due to a family murder. Melody has to compete with the other ghost hunter in town who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend. Leo. Meanwhile Melody is trying to resist her draw to the local journalist, Fletcher, who has nothing but disdain for her skills and with whom she shares an antagonistic rapport.

I actually enjoy stories with characters who can see and talk to ghosts. The three brothers in the home are presented with distinct and interesting characters. Here the ghosthunters must solve the century old murder, with little forensic evidence, in order to send the ghosts off to their ultimate places of rest… or not.

I enjoyed how Melody and her team grew in their investigative skills and confidence. The romantic conflicts added additional tension. I will add the next book to my wish list as a future listen. I recommend this as a fun read for ghost and mystery fans.

Audio Notes: Cat Gould did a pitch perfect voice narration. Her accents capture the characters from tentative Melody to arrogant Leo to the ghostly brothers. The narration added to my enjoyment of the book.

Source: 10/2020 Audiobooks.com Mystery Book Club. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.