A Haunted Paint Store Mystery: Book 2
Publication Date: August 4, 2026
Paint store owner Laura Meehan must prove her amateur sleuthing skills (again!) when her small town’s public library starts burning in this installment of the Haunted Paint Store cozy mystery series.
Don’t mess with a paint store owner’s safe haven!
Laura Meehan has her hands full with her paint store, but also with another case (that she will definitely leave to the police to solve)! The Sea Breeze Public Library is burning and it’s clear from the beginning that it must be arson.
Who would want to burn a library down and why? Was it a group of moms protesting what they see as inappropriate book content? Maybe it was someone who didn’t like a title they lent? Or is there something more alarming going on?
As a library volunteer, Laura simply has to find out, and together with her IT-savvy husband Roy and her ex-detective father’s ghost (real or imagined still yet to be determined), she stumbles upon a lot of obstacles on her quest to find the truth—and maybe even an arsonist who might strike again!
A light-hearted cozy mystery with a paranormal twist and Copperman’s signature wit, humor, and zaniness. Perfect for fans of Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries and Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, as well as funny and cozy mysteries by Janet Evanovich, Elle Cosimano, and Amanda Flower.
When the local public library catches fire, and it’s clear the source was arson, paint store owner and amateur sleuth Laura Meehan is on the case in E.J. Copperman’s Where There’s Smoke.
Though I didn’t read the first book in the series, I was easily able to pick up where it left off in this second book. I enjoy Copperman’s writing style. The book is written in first person, so the audience gets the protagonist’s viewpoint. I personally enjoy getting their point of view as they are carrying the story through to the end.
I thought the dialogue was entertaining. Copperman has a sharp sense of humor, and the characters are just as sharp and funny. I enjoy a little sarcasm and sharp wit.
I like the supernatural element with the ghost of Laura’s dad. It brought an extra element to the story that ramped up the fun and craziness.
For a zany, funny, and even silly cozy paranormal mystery read, Where There’s Smoke will be the perfect read for you.
E.J. Copperman is a figment of someone’s imagination. Sometimes E.J. writes as Jeff Cohen. Where There’s Smoke is his 36th published mystery. But he says he doesn’t write mysteries; he writes comedies that have a mystery in them. It’s up to you to decide if that’s true.
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August 3 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
August 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 4 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
August 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
August 9 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 10 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 10 – Because I said so – adventures in parenting – REVIEWÂ
August 10 – From the TBR Pile – REVIEW
August 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 11 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 12 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
