The Ghost and the Femme Fatale is the 4th book in the Haunted Bookshop mystery series by Alice Kimberly. She also writes the Coffeehouse mystery series as Cleo Coyle.
In this 4th installment, the ghost of Jack Shepard helps Penelope solve a mystery involving a noir film star named Hedda Geist.
Hedda is back in the spotlight after years of being nearly forgotten. She’s in town for the grand opening and restoration of an old movie theater. When Hedda nearly dies in a freak accident, it’s up to Penelope and Jack to identify the killer.
The Ghost and the Femme Fatale just doesn’t have the “it” factor compared to its predecessors. The mystery surrounding the film noir aspect is boring and slow-paced, but I stuck it out anyway. The story isn’t intriguing or glamorous like it should be, and it’s really hard to warm up to any of the new characters.
The best parts of The Ghost and the Femme Fatale are when Jack takes Penelope on detective adventures while she’s dreaming. I wish he were a real, live breathing man so he could hook up with Penelope.
The next few books in the Haunted Bookshop series are:
- #5 – The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion (2008)
- #6 – The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller (2018)
- #7 – The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait (2021)
- #8 – The Ghost and the Stolen Tears (2022)
What do you think about this series?
Last Updated on February 27, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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