P. J. AldermanRecensioni

I think I liked this one better than the first book, or I'm just getting used to the conceit, the switching between past and present. A bit excessive with the OMG, I SEE DEAD PEOPLE element of the main character's character, but so be it.

A fun read by an author who knows how to mix mystery, ghosts, history and most importantly, can infuse her characters with life, even the dead ones. I really enjoyed this book.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: Where there's smoke...
Kaz Jorgensen is used to fear--the anxiety of negotiating treacherous currents as she captains her family's fishing trawlers, the terrifying nightmares of the day she almost lost her life on the river. But now a man is dead, an arsonist has set the Anna Marie ablaze, and her brother is missing.
There's fire...
Michael Chapman knows how to take the heat--as the new fire chief of Astoria, Oregon, he's dealt with more than his share. No way can he afford to get involved with the sister of a suspect. But the scorching attraction between him and Kaz burns out of control, and when someone takes a shot at her, his protective instincts kick in. Whatever happens, he can't allow another woman to die because of him.½

Even ghost need to have help to solve murders , especially their own. Hattie and Charlotte need to find justice for Charlotte even if she was murdered over one hundred years ago. I had greater hopes for this book. I can't say I didn't like it but there were things about Jordan that I just didn't like. She came across as naive and sometimes a bit ditsy. Supporting characters such as Jace and Darcy, the Chief of Police were very believable. I gave it 3 stars because it was better than 2 stars would indicate.

Can't finish, this book is inane and an insult to anyone with a functioning brain.

There were two different mysteries (present and past) that were being solved. Although both were interesting the older mystery didn't hold my attention through all of the background information. I enjoyed the present day people (not much too that mystery) and would have liked to know more about them. Since this was the first book in the series I can only hope those characters get more time in the spotlight.

Wow, I really love this series! I wasn't sure about it when I started reading the first book, because of the flashbacks and the foreshadowing. But honestly, halfway through the first, I was thoroughly hooked! I love the characters and the dialogue is great, witty and lively. This second book is a fantastic addition to the series - it didn't disappoint at all. The historical mystery and the current one we both well done and I didn't figure out the bad guy(s) until the very end. I really think this is one of the better paranormal mysteries currently in print and I hope this is the beginning of a long, fruitful series.

An excellent book! I was instantly drawn to the characters and Port Chatham, where the story takes place. The ghosts were likeable and the plot was great! I'm going to give it 4 stars only because the flashbacks were hard to read - I dreaded reading about the events that led up to the ghost's death. But in spite of that I seriously enjoyed this book and I've just pre-ordered the follow up, GHOST SHIP.

I don't know if I'll read anything else by this author.

Okay. Light reading, Some Port Townsend WA history. But, not great literature.

A good continuation of the Port Chatham series. It certainly doesn't hinder you from wanting to read another installment. There's a lot going on with this cozy mystery, it's fast paced, and there's never a dull moment.

Jordan sets out to solve the murder of not only the local womanizer, Holt, but also Holt's infamous ancestor, Michael Seavey, who has come back from the dead to haunt Jordan into finding out the truth. Her home is still being renovated (and partially destroyed thanks to dry rot). Jase is still in her sights, though Jordan is in denial over her feelings for him.

I hope there's a third book out soon. Cozy and lots of fun!

Refreshingly simple, cozy mystery that soothed my book-weariness. It's clunky in some places, but it restored my faith in cozy mysteries. I hope this is the beginning of a series because the potential fun is breathtaking. Much recommended for mystery lovers such as myself who sometimes get tired of the more intellectual stuff.½

First Line: He was a damned fool.

Jordan Marsh, a recent transplant to Port Chatham on the coast of Washington State, is still renovating her marvelous old Victorian house... and still getting used to the ghosts with whom she must share it.

Talked into a hike out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse, Jordan finds the body of Holt Stillwell lying on the beach. Jordan hasn't even had a chance to calm down from this discovery before she stumbles over yet another dead body. This time, the body belongs to Michael Seavey, Holt's ancestor. The spectral Seavey wants to solve his own death in a suspicious shipwreck in 1893. With two murders to solve, it's all Jordan can do to keep herself from running straight into the arms of pub owner, Jase Cunningham-- the man who just may be Mr. Right.

For no other reason, I would snap up the books in this series for their setting alone. Port Chatham is Port Townsend, Washington, in disguise. Port Townsend is a wonderful old town filled to bursting with beautiful examples of Victorian architecture. Its history is better than most fiction on the market today, which makes it the perfect setting for a mystery series.

The icing on the cake is the fact that there is much more to this series than its setting. Alderman combines an old mystery with one in the present day, much like British author, Kate Ellis (another favorite of mine). Like Ellis, Alderman combines her history and mystery to very good effect.

Jordan Marsh and the other characters populating Port Chatham are well drawn. Jordan may have her eye on a certain pub owner, but she isn't rushing into anything, which is something I like to see. She's also currently unemployed and living off savings. The house is taking more money than she planned. A financial solution is dangled in front of her, much like a carrot on a stick, and I was happy to see how that particular carrot was dealt with. As you can see, I've come to care for her and feel invested in how her life turns out.

Perhaps it's my knowledge of geneaology, but I found the killer a bit too obvious, and if there was anything else that didn't quite set well with me, it was Jordan's resident ghosts. Hattie, Charlotte and Frank live for drama, and if they'd wrecked my library twice, I'd be reading up on how to evict them all. Permanently. If those three can calm down and stop fussing, fighting and feuding, I'll be a very happy camper!

If you're in the mood for mysteries with a good blend of setting, history, crime, the paranormal, and a bit of romance, I recommend P.J. Alderman's Ghost Ship and the first book in the series, Haunting Jordan. I'd also recommend that you read them in order to get all the nuance in story and characterization.

Outstanding debut. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

- Series: 2nd in Port Chatham Mysteries

- Sensuality: historical brothel and mention of occurrences, sprinkled cursing

- Main Character: Jordan Marsh, a psychologist recently relocated from Los Angeles who sees ghosts everywhere.

- Setting: both 1893 and Modern day Port Chatham, Washington

Jordan is on a strenuous walk (read forced march) on the Dungeness Spit with police chief Darcy Moran. Not only does she find Holt Stillwell, the town Don Juan, dead but she finds that her abilities to see ghosts now extends to seeing the "spirits" of downed ships. Interestingly Jordan sees the ghost ship of the Henrietta Dale that ran aground very close to that area and Holt Stillwell was descended from the ship's notorious owner Michael Seavey. The scuttlebutt over the ages claims that a false light imitating the lighthouse purposely led the luxury ship to its death.

By the time Jordan makes it home she finds Michael Seavey's spirit in her house trying to court Hattie, one of her resident ghosts. Hattie must decided between two suitors, both dead. Hattie insists that Jordan find out the circumstances to Michael's death to make up for having said bad things about his character. Jordan is very reluctant to investigate, but having shanghaier Seavey's ghost around makes her uneasy, no matter how suave he is. Thus she starts looking into old records to unravel who led the ship to its watery grave and who murdered Seavey even after he survived the wreck. She becomes convinced that Holt Stillwell's death was connected with the sunken ship and begins unearthing the details of Seavey's last months alive. But her investigation is angering the living and she gets threats and even a break in.

Jordan was an okay character for me. I am rather neutral about her, she wasn't great and yet she wasn't terrible either. I thought it was interesting that Jordan has a hard time walking or driving because she doesn't want to hit the spirits she sees - of course townspeople are known to dress in period clothing which doesn't help her distinguish the living from the dead. For a psychologist she did not come across as having much polish that I would have expected from such a serious and educated professional. I will concede that she had moved recently so she was out of her element, she was recovering from the last story in which her ex-husband was murdered and she is doubting her abilities as a psychologist. I get all that was happening for her, but she still came across a touch immature like a college kid caught breaking dorm rules and explaining herself.

The romantic interest in the story is Jase, a former high profile celebrity who lives next door and owns the local watering hole. The story makes it clear that they are not even dating yet, just mutual interest that Jase is willing to take to the next level. I was starting to warm up to Jase's character, until he starts demanding Jordan not get involved because it could be dangerous. If you have followed this blog much you know I can't stand the main character getting harassed over sleuthing when that is the entire point to the whole story.

With the first pet peeve down let me get the second one out of my system. I grew tired of "when are you just going to sleep with him and get it over with" attitude that occurred several times in the story. Speaking for myself, that isn't "romantic", that is just hormones on a page. This would be one of those instances where, as a psychologist I would have expected more maturity from Jordan and the others. I felt there were several missed opportunities for romantic moments that could have occurred between Jordan and Jase that just didn't. It is as if there is no spark because it is so expected they will hook up so why bother with any of the heart pounding stolen moments or romance.

I did like how some of the story was told from Michael Seavey's perspective in 1893. It brought the mystery of who among many people would have wanted the charming Opium smuggler dead. I found I liked those scenes because I was looking for clues to add to what Jordan was finding.

The plot itself mixed the past and present for two murders to solve that had a connection in the present. I enjoyed guessing who I thought did it and why in both instances, and I was mostly correct. This is an entertaining lite read with a clever concept of mixing past and present, and where the ghosts are mostly the comic relief. The combination is a pleasant beach read that cozy fans should enjoy.

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Jordan is still getting used to sharing her slightly rundown historic house with ghosts after making a recent move to Washington State's seaside town of Port Chatham. And now she' s found a corpse, as if living with the deceased isn't enough to consume her time. The body belongs to a notorious womanizer by the name of Holt Stillwell and she found him lying on the beach with a bullet in his head.

Before Jordan can solve the crime, Holt's ancestor Michael Seavey, an infamous shanghaier, has materialized in Jordan's home, seeking to solve his own death in 1893. With two murders to solve and a killer at large, Jordan faces the growing attraction to the very much alive Jase Cunningham.

What a wonderful blend of ghosts and crime as therapist Jordan Marsh digs deep into the past to solve a modern murder.

Leaving L.A. behind for some much needed R&R, Jordan Marsh trades it in for Port Chatham. As the prime suspect in her unfaithful husband's murder, she had been hoping to immerse herself in the restoration of the Victorian mansion she bought--and fnally put all talk of homicide investigations in her rear view mirror. She soon discovers, the coldest of cases cry out to be solved.

This old house comes fully furnished with two ghosts who have a century-old murder of their own they want her to solve. If Jordan can keep the L.A. police at bay and sort through a list of characters from 1890, she might just clear a wrongly accused man's name and her own in the process.

This RITA nominated author has woven a present-day supernatural who-done-it with nineteenth-century intrigue in this enchanting mystery. A must read.

Loved this book. Started reading on my Nook at B&N during my free, regular Saturday morning, in store one hour reading session. Got hooked so went home and ended up purchasing for my Kobo (best price for the eBook) to finish breading that weekend! Also purchased the prequel to this book.and read it the following weekend. Enjoyed both books!

First novel in a good paranormal cozy series. Parallal mysteries, present time and 1890s ghosts.

HAUNTING JORDAN could be a paranormal amateur sleuth, but there is a grit to it that moves it to paranormal suspense. Jordan has been accused of the murder of her soon-to-be ex and there's a cop on her who won't believe she's innocent. All she wants is peace and quiet and thinks that life will be different and, hopefully, better, in Port Chatham.

That's not about to happen with ghosts in the house, the chief of police who already knows too much about her, a handyman/pub owner too charming for Jordan's own good, and a dog who has invited himself to be hers.

It took me a bit to get used to the way the story was told in long flashbacks, but getting the backstory of the two ghosts 'living' with Jordan made the enjoyment of the book that much better. I hope to see development of the demenor of the two sisters in future books in the series. They seemed completely different when they were alive than they do as spirits.

I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. Glad I have GHOST SHIP on standby.

Five spirits from the past sparkly diamonds.....

Jordan Marsh, the prime suspect in her soon to be ex-husbands muder, left L.A. to move to a small town where she bought a Victorian home in need of restoration. The murder of her ex isn't the only mystery that needs to be solved. Two ghostly sisters, Hattie and Charlotte are Jordan's new housemates and they need her assistance in solving a murder, Hattie's, and to clear the name of the man Hattie loved. Quirky characters abound in this lovable mystery.

I really enjoyed this book. There are lots of likable characters and I didn't guess who killed the ex, although I was much more interested to find out Hattie's story. As soon as I was done reading I went online to see if there were anymore books in the series and I'm glad to say there is another and hopefully more to come. I would highly recommend this novel!

Therapist, Jordan Marsh is seeking solace and a major change of scenery when she purchases a quaint Victorian in the small town of Port Chatham, Washington leaving her long-time home in LA. Not fully recognizing the challenges she has created for herself in her haste to change her life, she is shaken to find that she is not the only resident of this beautiful home. As her already crazy life takes an unusual turn, readers begin to meet the quirky cast of characters ¬¬¬– both living and dead – with a small few offering assistance in helping her transition while others simultaneously request her help.

Blending a small measure of romance and a healthy dose of comedy into the suspenseful plot kept me up all night while I secretly attempted to figure out the “who-dun-it”. “Haunting Jordan” is a breath of fresh air!

Reviewed by Suspense Magazine
www.suspensemagazine.com

First Line: Her satin shoes left damning footprints in the pearlescent dew on the moonlit garden path.

Jordan Marsh is the prime suspect in her cheating husband's murder. The police allow her to leave Los Angeles, and she heads for Port Chatham, Washington, where she's purchased the old Longren House. She intends to renovate the old Victorian house, and find the peace and the balm for her soul that she so desperately needs. Once she's moved in, she quickly learns that Longren House is fully furnished with two very active ghosts who have a hundred-year-old murder they want her to solve.

Although I normally don't let the cover of a book persuade me to buy it, I have to admit that the cover of Haunting Jordan spoke to me. When I found out that the setting of the book is "Port Chatham", Washington, I let it and the old Victorian house on the cover tell me that Port Chatham is really one of my favorite places: Port Townsend. As I read, I discovered I was right, so I had the added bonus of picturing that lovely old town as I read.

At first, I was wary. The very first sentence seemed a bit over the top in its descriptive powers, but that, thankfully, disappeared. Although Alderman is a romance writer, and I am most decidedly not a romance reader, it was used to enhance only and took a backseat to the characters and plot. Besides the setting, I enjoyed Alderman's characterizations and thought she caught the nuances of life in a small town perfectly. Am I willing to read more about Jordan Marsh in Port Chatham? Yes-- bring 'em on!½

Fun read

Still under suspicion for the death of her estranged husband, Jordan decides to go ahead with her plans and move from Los Angeles to the small town of Port Chatham, Washington. She soon learns that her charming Victorian fixer-upper is haunted by two charming sisters, Hattie and Charlotte. The sisters are determined to solve Hattie's murder of over 100 years ago.

This book was delightful despite the grim topic. The cast of characters is lots of fun and I look forward to more entries in the series.½