Secrets Laid to Rest (A Ladies of SPI Mystery) by Catherine C. Hall Review

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A newly minted paranormal investigation group must work through their small town life and a local mystery to get their newly formed group out into the world in author Catherine C. Hall’s “Secrets Laid to Rest”, the first book in the A Ladies of SPI Mystery series!.

The Synopsis

But not just any business. It’s the Golden Girls meet the Ghostbusters when four women find themselves in an unlikely career: Southeastern Paranormal Investigations. Ree Lane, a stylish widow, is more cynic than true believer, while her childhood chum Elle Harper has a knack for getting sensitive info with the help of her homemade pies. The preacher’s wife, Betsy Jones, can’t be seen with SPI unless she’s in her disguise as Nora, a psychic-in-training with a gift for Tarot. And the recently-returned-home Gillian Buchanan is a whiz at technology, especially of the supernatural sort.

Their first case lands on the doorstep when neighbor Doris Tucker is sure her prized vintage dolls are haunted. But there’s hardly time for ghost-hunting when the bank director’s wife mistakes SPI for a private eye venture. Now they’re also hot on the trail of a misbehaving husband. It’s a wild ride as the sixty-something sleuths start digging into the past. But have the Ladies of SPI gone too far? And how far will Sutter go to keep its secrets dead and buried?

The Review

This was an absolutely compelling read. As a paranormal investigator myself, it was a compelling look into the world of paranormal investigations. The detail the author provided for the techniques, the tools, and the thought process behind hauntings, ghosts, and the paranormal field as a whole was so engaging and mesmerizing that you felt transported into the high-stakes world of paranormal television we all know and love.

Yet it was the small-town life aspect of the narrative, as well as the thoughtful character development, that really made this story shine. The chemistry between the women of SPI and the different walks of life they hail from helped elevate the mystery and intrigue of the small town, and the powerful imagery and atmosphere that layered this story made the book feel alive on the page.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, mysterious, and entertaining, author Catherine C. Hall’s “Secrets Laid to Rest” is a fantastic ghost thriller and mystery read. The twists and turns in the narrative and the attention to detail surrounding both small-town life and the paranormal field as a whole made this a compelling read you won’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

There’s a great song, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” made popular by Johnny Cash (and a couple commercials). If you put the song in Georgia, it would be about Catherine C. Hall, starting when she moved to the Peach State at eight-years-old.

She grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where you can’t throw a stick without hitting a ghost. Even when she was a little girl, Savannah was known for its haunted history and she was hooked!

Broadcast Journalism hooked her as well, so she studied at Valdosta State University way down in South Georgia where it is the heat and the humidity. She worked in a few radio stations but it was WNEX Radio in Macon that turned out to be life-changing. She met a cute deejay from Sandersville, Georgia, and married him a year later.

They moved above the Gnat Line (Oh, it’s real) to the Atlanta area, where they grew their family to two boys and a girl, and she took a turn in the teaching world. And then whoosh! She met the half-century mark wondering what to do? Maybe it was the merlot talking but after years of reading mysteries, Catherine thought it was high time she write one. And she did; it was awful. (And way too short. Who knew readers expected 70, 000 words?)

So she learned her craft, starting with flash fiction, then moving on to short fiction, where she won a few awards. She wrote essays that ended up in books like Chicken Soup for the Soul. She penned assorted humor columns and continued to freelance. And then one day, she wrote another story that wasn’t exactly novel-length but it wasn’t a short story, either. It was a children’s book.

She joined SCBWI, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and had a wonderful career in children’s writing, including publishing six books. But in the midst of her last two book contracts, life changed unexpectedly when Catherine’s favorite deejay up and died.

When at last she wanted to write again, she heard four women of a certain age, each seeking purpose and joy in where they found themselves. Which for them was a small town in Georgia called Sutter. For Catherine, it was at home, still in the Atlanta suburbs, revisiting the ghost stories of her youth, and finally getting that mystery written. All 70,000 words of it!

You can find Catherine online at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551890907288

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathychall/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cathyhall55/

Website (Psst! Sign up for Cathy’s Spirited Newsletter and get in on secret giveaways!): https://catherine-c-hall.com/

Blog Tour Calendar

October 13th @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book for yourself.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

October 13th @ Just Katherine

Join Katherine today as she shares an excerpt from Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall.

https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com

October 15th @ Book Divas Reads

Join Vivian for a spotlight of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://thebookdivasreads.com/

October 20th @ The Forgotten Books

Join Heather as she features a review of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://www.instagram.com/The_forgotten_books_/

October 20th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog

Join Anthony for his review of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/category/blog-tours/

October 21st @ A Storybook World

Visit Deirdra’s blog for her spotlight of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://www.astorybookworld.com/

October 25th @ Candid Canine

Join Chris for a review of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com

October 26th @ The Faerie Review

Visit Lily’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://www.thefaeriereview.com/

October 27th @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer

Join Angela as she reviews Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. She shares an excerpt of the book as well!

http://musingsofaliterarywanderer.blogspot.com/

October 30th @ Finished Pages

Join Renee as she reviews Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall.

https://finishedpages.com/

November 1st @ Chapter Break

Don’t miss a guest post by Catherine C. Hall about how to develop a cast of characters over at Julie’s blog today. She also reviews Catherine’s book Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://chapterbreak.net/

November 2nd @ One Writer’s Journey

Join Sue for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall.

https://suebe.wordpress.com/

November 4th @ A Wonderful World of Books

Visit Joy’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest.

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

November 6th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews & Interviews

Visit Lisa’s blog for her interview with Catherine C. Hall.

https://lisahaselton.com/blog/

November 7th @ Pick a Good Book

Join Debbie over her blog for a review of Secrets Laid to Rest.