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James J. Cudney
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Haunted House Ghost: Murder at the Fall Festival (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 5) Kindle Edition

by James J. Cudney (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 94 ratings
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It’s Halloween, and excitement is brewing in Braxton.

While others carve jack-o’-lanterns, go on haunted hayrides, and race through the spooky corn maze at the Fall Festival, Kellan is moving into a mysterious old house. When a ruthless ghost promises retribution, our fearless professor turns to the eccentric town historian and an eerie psychic to investigate.

Meanwhile, construction workers discover a skeleton after breaking ground on the new Memorial Library wing. While Kellan and April dance around the chemistry sparking between them, a suspicious accident occurs at the Fall Festival.

As the true true history and dastardly connections of the Grey family come to light, can Kellan capture the elusive killer - and placate the revenge-seeking ghost?

Praise:

★★★★★ - "If you like cozies, you’re sure to enjoy this charmer."

★★★★★ - "A real halloween treat!"

★★★★★ - "The perfect combination of suspense and thrills to the reader. The hilarity and heartwarming relationships of family, plus the drama of small town living makes for a fun read."

Previous page
  1. Book 5 of 8
    Braxton Campus Mysteries
  2. Print length
    371 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    October 1, 2019
  6. File size
    639 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07WGKGZ9J
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Next Chapter; 1st edition (October 1, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 639 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 371 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 94 ratings

About the author

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James J. Cudney

James J. Cudney

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James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island, lived in New York City for over a decade, and currently live in Stamford, CT, but I've traveled all across the US (and various parts of the world). After college, I began working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment, media, retail, and hospitality industries. Although I enjoy my job, I also want to re-focus on my passions: telling stories and connecting people through literature.

In 2017, I published my debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. The sequel, Hiding Cracked Glass, released exactly three years later in 2020. I've also written another family drama novel, Father Figure, and created the Braxton Campus Mysteries, a light investigation series about a humorous thirty-something guy dealing with murders and the drama of a small town. I've also co-authored a book, Weathering Old Souls, with the wonderful Didi Oviatt.

Most of my books are available in hardcover, paperback, electronic, and audiobook formats, as well as in a variety of bookstores. We've begun translating into Portuguese, Spanish, German, Greek, and Italian for some of the books too. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com.

Outside of writing, I'm an avid genealogist (discovered 2,500 family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have over 1,000 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I share several fun features, including the Book Bucket List, Tips & Advice, Author Spotlights & Book Alerts, and the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. You'll find tons of humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers... where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

A bit of humor: Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment, where more than just my cooking is on display! As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs & animals) inspire me to write. Baxter, a two-year-old shiba inu, constantly tries to stop me from writing so I can play with him and keep him amused. How else can you pen the best story possible without these things by your side?

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
94 global ratings
Fascinating Read
5 Stars
Fascinating Read
Dollycas’s ThoughtsKellan Ayrwick is staying in Braxton and has purchased the old Grey House. A big Victorian that is said to be haunted. Kellan doesn’t believe the rumors until some weird things start to happen as the crew finishes up renovations on the main floor. Kellan gets advice from a psychic and the town’s historian to learn more about the Grey’s family history. He finds himself a rich old mystery to delve into.Braxton is also having a Halloween festival complete with haunted hayrides and the college is making way for a new library wing. When one of the buildings is demolished to open space a skeleton is discovered in the debris. The timing is peculiar but many believe the skeleton and Kellan’s “ghost” are connected. As the festival draws near Kellan is on the trail for answers and the truth. But he puts himself in peril as he starts to put the clues together.I have read each book in this series and each one tops the last. This time the author includes a cast list which I just glanced at as I started reading but soon I was very thankful for that list. While my favorite characters from previous books returned readers are introduced to a vast number of new characters that connect to others, sometimes in a myriad of ways.What I really enjoy about these stories in the family dynamics at play. Kellen has had a lot of drama in his life but he is working hard to provide a stable home for his daughter. He is trying to move his personal life forward too and I loved the new beginnings of romance in his life but I don’t believe his past love is totally behind him. They will always be connected by their daughter and that leaves a door open for plenty of drama. The Ayrwich family continues to be revealed and evolve as the series continues. Nana D. continues to be my fave.Again, the mystery is complex and filled with twists on top of twists. A skeleton, a missing woman, a ghost . . . at times I thought I should have a flowchart just to keep track of all the players and their deeds, but Mr.Cudney does an excellent job of keeping readers on track and in the know. He also lets humor shine in all the right places. The book has a complicated and intricate plot that will keep readers on their toes. Several times I slowed down my reading so I didn’t miss a single clue. I still was unable to solve this one totally without everything spelled out. While the mystery is wrapped up at the end of the book Cudney again sets up another cliffhanger.Haunted House Ghost is a perfect Halloween read with such a touch of paranormal. It is well-plotted and hard to put down. I found the entire story fascinating.Now, I find myself tapping my foot waiting for the next Braxton College Mystery. The sneak peek at the end of the book was just unfair. Mr. Cudney, please finish it up soon!
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Top reviews from the United States

E. Denise Billups
5.0 out of 5 stars A page-turner that kept me guessing.
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2022
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Haunted House Ghost is the fifth book I’ve read in James Cudney’s Braxton Campus Mysteries Series. This one, I must confess, was right up my alley. With a haunted house, unearthed skeleton, family secrets, and a persistent amateur sleuth all revolving around the Halloween season, you can’t go wrong.

Again, the author introduces new characters (members of the Grey Family) into the regular dramatis personae. Kellan, now an ensconced member at Braxton, and an amateur sleuth with several murder mysteries under his belt, is now the owner of the county's most haunted homes. Yet again, he’s the center of a murder mystery when a fifty-year-old skeleton materializes at the new Memorial Library construction site. Many believe it’s Prudence Grey, the previous owner of Kellan’s new home, who went missing years ago. When strange things happen around the house, they think it’s Prudence Grey’s ghost or someone trying to scare Kellan away from the property.

Kellan puts on his sleuthing hat and whittles a list of potential suspects down to the most likely assailant. As Kellan closes in on the Grey family mystery, someone else meets a grisly fate during the annual hayride. With his new girlfriend, Sheriff April Montague, they devise a plan to snare the killer. For me, this wasn’t an easy murder mystery to figure out, a true sign of excellent writing. Positive I’d guessed the killer amongst the Grey family, I was surprised to learn the real culprit at the end.

This cozy mystery is a page-turner that kept me guessing. I was also thrilled to see the progression of Kellan and April's relationship and was eager to see more romance. Maybe in the next book. There’s a definite growth in Kellan as a father and overall man. I enjoyed this story, and I'm eager to read book 6 of the series.
2 people found this helpful
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D.L. Finn
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an entertaining cozy mystery set in a town I wouldn’t mind living in, minus all the murders.
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
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I wanted to get into the Halloween mood and chose this book to kick it off! Not having read the Braxton Campus Mysteries, it worried me I’d be lost in the story, but Mr. Cudney does an excellent job making sure the reader keeps up with the extensive list of characters and relationships. I enjoyed meeting Kellan, the college professor who seems to run into many murders that need solving. He’s moving into a house that needs some TLC, so contractors are fixing it up, but things happen that seem to point to a ghost. While Kellan works on that mystery, there is the planning of the local festivities for fall and Halloween, which is a favorite time of year for me, so I enjoyed that. There’s a budding romance with the local Sheriff and lots of interaction with family, my favorite being Nana D who adds humor. When there’s a body found, then a murder, there’s a long list of suspects. I changed my mind several times about who the killer was, and my final guess was incorrect. This is an entertaining cozy mystery set in a town I wouldn’t mind living in, minus all the murders. It will be fun to go back and read the other books in this series.
2 people found this helpful
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Lynda Conway
4.0 out of 5 stars Like the characters
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2019
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Wish I lived in Wharton County!
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L. Higgins
5.0 out of 5 stars You'll Love this Convoluted Plot
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2020
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For readers who enjoy a complex mystery, I recommend Haunted House Ghost for a plot that is intricate and convoluted, but in the best possible way. Author James J. Cudney takes plot complexities to a whole new level with family relationships taking center stage as past and current marriages and paternity issues come to light when victim remains from cold murder cases are discovered.

Murder and intrigue play out in the setting of a haunted house that the main character Kellan is trying to restore as a home for his growing family. Weird sightings, threatening messages, and a locked basement set the stage for a ghostly mystery. Is a ghost actually haunting the house? Is Madam Zenya really a psychic medium? In true Agatha Christie style, the main players in the mystery are gathered to force the truth to emerge.

There are so many surprises in Haunted House Ghost that I watched in amazement as the mystery developed. Fortunately, the author helps with a recap of possible suspects and motives as Kellan meets with the sheriff (his girlfriend April) and the case detective (his best friend Connor) to convince them to try his clever idea to force the murderer into the open. The murderer’s identity is surprising and unpredictable as are the final pages that make the perfect setup for the next book in the series.
3 people found this helpful
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Connie Schroth
3.0 out of 5 stars Another cute one
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
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I love this series. I love the characters and the setting. This is a fun addition to the group. I will say that the story was kind of convoluted, but fun nonetheless. A nice little break for my brain.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Ghost, Halloween Festival, and Secrets Long Buried Exposed
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2019
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I’ve gone over the previous stories in this series while looking at the map included in this book and placed everyone and all the action in the various locations. The list of characters and how they relate in the story is a great idea too. The map and list of characters creates a great foundation.

As the story progresses, Cudney continues to build the personalities of his characters, their interactions among themselves, their lives, and how they tie to Braxton Campus. Through all of Cudney’s stories, his humor rings true.

It’s Halloween and once again, Kellan finds himself investigating a murder. First, we learn Kellan had purchased the Old Grey House that is supposedly haunted. But are they rumors or is it really occupied by one or more ghosts of residents past? This story and its surprising and unsettling twists can be classified as light horror. It’s a perfect plot with a Halloween setting.

As Kellan renovates the old home and moves in, secrets about the house, its past residents, and even the relatives are laid bare. A skeleton is discovered buried in the Memorial Library wing of Braxton Campus as the burned out Library is being renovated and rebuilt after a devastating fire. Are those remains tied to the ghost of the Grey House with its disturbing historical past? So many threads tie to the remains.
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Top reviews from other countries

Sashadoo
5.0 out of 5 stars Supernaturally splendid
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 19, 2020
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The first page of Haunted House Ghost was simply scary in a way that had me immediately hooked and I knew I was in for a treat, a correct assumption as it turned out. Kellan Ayrwick returns once again, our well practised amateur once again on the trail of a killer from 50 years ago, following the discovery of skeletal remains during building work on a new Braxton Collefe library extension.
A supernatural thread runs through the book, and in keeping with rumours surrounding the disappearance of a woman 50 years ago and the discovery of the bones Kellan isn't sure what to believe. Surrounded as usual by his loving but often dysfunctional family and finding himself gradually falling for April, the local sheriff, April, Kellan finds himself wrapped up in his most complex investigation to date. When a second murder takes place, plus an attempted murder, Kellan finds himself drawn to the mysterious Madame Zenya who perhaps knows more than she should about recent and past events, and what does she know about the so-called ghost, haunting his soon to be new home.
This is a beautifully complex tale that kept me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly moved from page to page, feeling unable to put the book down in case I missed something important. I never saw the ending coming. It was truly a very big surprise to me. This is a five star read, written by an author who just seems to get better and better with each book he writes. An excellent read!
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Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Haunted House Ghost
Reviewed in Canada on October 1, 2019
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This season we are back with Kellan as he’s once again pulled in a million different directions what with parenting not only Emma but his cousin as well, along with teaching, other family obligations with Nana D, Violet, Eleanor, etc., and being co-chair of a Halloween/Fall Festival being held at Danby Landing, all while trying to complete fixing up his newold house so they can move in. But all is not smooth sailing for the Ayrwick family as strange things have been happening during the renovation process. Conveniently, Gabriel has been away so they’ve been able to stay in the cottage. And the possibility that these things are being caused by the supernatural causes Kellan (though he doesn’t believe) to agree that Eleanor can contact her psychic friend Madam Zenya to see if she can help.

The renovations for the Braxton Campus library also get underway in this book but those are put on hold when during the demolition a body is discovered in the foundation. So now Kellan feels compelled to investigate that situation as well.

I quite enjoyed reading this story, and it’s always good to catch up with my friends in Braxton. I also often emulate Nana D, as I also bake pie the first weekend of October. And I think this story has just enough suspense and mystery and humour and just Fall fun to make it the perfect read to curl up with on a cool Autumn night, along with a blanket and a hot chocolate.
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Eileen Thornton
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Brilliant Read by this Author.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2021
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Having read and enjoyed the first four books in this series, I simply had to read this one and I wasn't disappointed. Kellan Ayrwick is back on the case when a fifty year old skeleton is discovered while building work is being carried out on the new library extension at Braxton College. First thoughts by the locals are that it is the body of a woman who went missing fifty years previously, but it turns out that the remains are that of a man.
Then, when Kellan discovers messages painted on a door in an old house he is having renovated, he begins to get concerned as to whether the place is haunted and is talked into having a chat with Madame Zenya, a psychic well known for her abilities. However, Kellan finds Madame Zenya to be just as mysterious as the ghost haunting his house. I could go on, but it would only spoil it for the readers.
The author managed to keep me in the dark about what was going to happen next, which meant I couldn't put this book down. I simply had to know. Another Brilliant read from James J Cudney.
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Jan Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful classy read by James Cudney
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2020
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What do remodelling a house, The Fall Festival, Nana D's wonderful baking, threatening messages on your own basement door, being told that there are no such things as ghosts when you know very well that there are, a mafia princess, being back at Braxton, a venomous cad, Madame Zenya at St. Mary's and the Grey's all have to do with it?
Well. if you read this wonderfully written book by James J Cudney then you will find out.
As with his other books, here, James Cudney has written another classy cozy mystery book which kept me riveted to the spot throughout. The characters were believable, fun, serious at times, intriguing and so much more.
The story was one which kept giving, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thank you for another wonderful read James.
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Tandy
5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent Braxton Campus mystery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2019
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A fantastic series that just gets better. Kellan just seems to attract dead bodies. His family is a typical family who all have different characters which are well written and you feel that you know them and you just want to be there with them. I don't like to say what goes on in a book as I wouldn't want to give anything away. I can't wait for book 6 and just hope that Amazon let me know as soon as it is published. If you like good mysteries with interesting characters then you will not be disappointed with this series.
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