Haunted Vintage Mystery Books In Order

Publication Order of A Haunted Vintage Mystery Books

Writing American fiction that’s largely focused on romance, fantasy, mystery and thriller, the highly versatile author Rose Pressey has been releasing her books for quite some time now. Keeping her readers constantly guessing throughout, she has been able to craft a writing career that has been taken notice of on a worldwide scale. With more and more discovering her work every day, she continues to grow in popularity, as people from far and wide are finding that her work resonates with them. One particular franchise that she’s well known for is that of her ongoing ‘Haunted Vintage Mystery’ series that’s been running for some time now. Featuring the mysteries of one Cookie Chanel, it provides a new investigation each book for the vintage boutique owner. It also features supernatural elements, as many of these cases involve voices from beyond the grave, something which she must deal with on a daily basis throughout her day-to-day life.

Running for over five titles so far and counting, the series has managed to achieve a large amount of popularity in a relatively short amount of time. Basing themselves around the main character of Cookie Chanel, they’re easy-going and accessible, whilst also being highly entertaining. Knowing her audience, they manage to perfectly convey what they’re about, allowing the reader to pick-up the series anywhere for a light, casual and fun read.

If You’ve Got It, Haunt It

Originally published through the Kensington label, this title was first brought out in 2014 on the 2nd of December. Setting up the series of ‘Haunted Vintage Mystery’ novels, this marks the franchise’s debut title, as it establishes the action and the premise. Introducing many of the characters for the first time as well, it also works at bringing about many of their arcs, as well the narrative overall.

There are a lot of the ideas that those familiar with Rose Pressey’s work will come to recognize here in this novel. Working at her peak, it’s an exemplary example of her work, as it allows both fans and newcomers alike into its world with the greatest of ease. Bringing in a lot of her more familiar themes and ideas, it’s the perfect starting point for anybody hoping to get more in-depth look at her novels. Set in deep in the heart of Georgia, this series manages to bring the small and charming town of Sugar Creek to life for the reader. Evoking the life of the small-town, it conveys a sense of warmth and community, something that leaps up from the page. Creating the closeness that such a town brings, it works at building upon its initial premise by elevating the location to the foreground. The character of Cookie Chanel herself is an enduring one as, like with many of Pressey’s other characters, she has a warm and fun personality. This makes her easier to relate to for the reader, as many start to feel that her grounded personality resonates with them.

Opening up a vintage clothing boutique, Cookie Chanel feels like she has finally made it, achieving her life-long goal of owning a business. Heading to the estate of the recently deceased socialite Charlotte Meadows, she hopes to find a bargain, but instead she finds the ghost of Charlotte herself. Asking her to find her killer, Cookie sets about trying to uncover the mystery of who murdered Charlotte, before getting back to her shop. Will she be able to find the killer? Can she keep herself out of harm’s way in the process? Is the ghost of Charlotte ever going to be put to rest, despite realizing that ‘if you’ve got, haunt it’?

All Dressed Up and No Place to Haunt

Brought out in 2015 through the Kensington publishing house once again, this was released less that one year after the first on the 15th of July. Providing another case for the ever intrepid vintage boutique owner Cookie Chanel, it heads straight into the action, developing her character even further. Following on in much the same style and tone of what came before as well, it also manages to provide some twists and turns of its own along the way.

Whilst it may follow on from the first novel, with an over-arcing theme and narrative between the two, it is possible to start here. It’s probably best, though, to start with the original novel so as to gain the full story and get everything available from it. With a new mystery each novel, it does work as a stand-alone, but there are major narrative and character developments between the two. Bringing the location of Sugar Creek into the foreground once again, it really manages to convey the ambiance of Georgia. Acting as a character in of itself almost it works at drawing the reader in, allowing them to feel that they themselves are a part of the community as well. Breeding a sense of familiarity, Pressey has also managed to perfectly evoke the atmosphere of Georgia itself too.

In her small Georgia town, a film shoot is being shot on a plantation there, something which is great for Cookie as it gives her the chance to do business with the production crew. That’s when the highly temperamental leading lady is suddenly discovered dead in the nearby lake and she is wearing one of Cookie’s dresses. Given advice by a ghost once again, the ghost informs her that the dress was originally hers, leaving it up to Cookie and her psychic cat to solve the case. Will they find the killer? Can she keep herself safe in the process? What will become of the dead when they find themselves all dressed up and no place to haunt?

The Haunted Vintage Mystery Series

Going along at an easy-going pace, these books are great for anybody looking for a quick, light and casual read. With mysteries that are engrossing and that keep the reader guessing right until the last page, as well as creating an iconic character in that of Cookie Chanel. Showing Rose Pressey at the height of her career, this is some of her best work, as it’s a series that will stick around for some time to come.