Zoey Matthews, The Undead Ghost, and the Demon

Zoey’s a down-to-earth and highly likable thirty-something who deserves better. After recently dumping her philandering ex, she’s rebuilding her life, enjoying living independently (in a loft apartment), and getting back into playing music—all a great start for me.

It’s no secret that I love small towns as a reader or writer. Zoey lives in Bridgeport, a well-fleshed-out, cosy-feel town with its bookstore, the centre square for events, an inn, and plenty more. Fitting in rather nicely with that setting is the array of Zoey’s family and friends, who all played their part in adding to the atmosphere and helping push the mystery forward.

Zoey’s ex arrives at her door, asking for help before the real story starts. The next time she sees him, he’s deceased and in ghost form! From that moment, her life is interwoven with the supernatural world as she works through suspects, from her ex’s mistresses to the odd ruffians recently appearing in Bridgeport. Then there’s that attractive new artist in town, Renfield Baker.

The story occurs in the US in October, with autumn vibes and Halloween’s approach as a backdrop for the spookiness. In terms of fantasy aspects, as the title says, you can expect ghosts and a demon.

I had meant to read Heather Elizabeth King’s Zoey Matthews, The Undead Ghost, and the Demon for the longest time because I suspected it would fall into my sweet spot genre mix, including treating dark elements with a light touch. And I was correct.

A super enjoyable read with a lovable, independent character I could get behind, light fantasy elements, more weighted towards mystery rather than romance, and set with small-town goodness. Recommended.

There are two other books in the Bridgeport Mystery series. Find out more on Heather Elizabeth King’s website.