It was OK but I won't be continuing the series, would prefer to find something more than just OK. ( )

3 stars
This was my least favorite book in the series that I’ve read so far. I have a couple of reasons, number one being that in the third chapter I got quite confused as so many new characters were introduced then subsequently as they were mentioned in later chapters I had to keep going back to recall details about their character. My second reason is personal, I’ve really lost any respect for unverified, untruthful news, conspiracy theories and antiscience. Pish being one of my favorite characters and one were are told time and time again is intelligent turns around and asks for help from an exploitative TV show, when he knows that Merry wants to keep the castle from gaining a reputation for the multiple murders that have occurred there in recent years. Even if a new murder had not occurred you’d expect the TV show to want to capitalize on the murders that occurred since Merry inherited.

I think it fits in with the antiscience movement we’re seeing right now: anti-vaccine, climate change as a hoax, conspiracy theories discussed as though they have factual bases. Haunt Hunt is one of a dozen shows that explores the ‘science’ of ghost hunting. These guys are serious about it.”

Finally there is no “‘science’ of ghost hunting”, it was funny in the 80’s Ghostbusters, but psychics claiming to contact a persons loved one is the lowest form of exploitation. These people should be charged with fraud or sent for help if they are truly deluded enough to believe their own claims. ( )

Muffin to Fear by Victoria Hamilton first grabbed my attention on the shelf because a) it's a cozy mystery and b) it involved a ghost hunting TV team coming to the protagonist's inherited castle (Also because it was an entry in the series from 2017 and in such great shape for only costing me $1 at the thrift store!). Merry Wynter, newly married baker, returns to her home, Wynter Castle, to discover her best friend Pish hosting the cast and crew of Haunt Hunt, a paranormal investigation television show. They are at the castle to film because they feel the many murders that have occurred there have a strong possibility of having left some residual spirits lurking. But this is a group with a lot of residual drama lurking among themselves, which will out itself in homicide.

The first few pages I wasn't really sure I was going to enjoy this book, namely because Hamilton got so caught up in dropping unsubtle innuendos about the narrator's honeymoon. But once the characters got back to the castle, and the drama with the ghost hunters began, I was hooked. I'm always in it for the mystery (and I'm also fascinated by the paranormal and paranormal investigation teams), and this was a good, gripping mystery. I didn't even notice how long it took to get to the first murder, because the dramatics were building up so fascinatingly.

The reoccurring cast of characters and the strength of the plot means I will definitely be coming back for more of this series! ( )