Raftery's Ghost

A Mac and Millie Mystery

Fiction - Mystery - Murder
178 Pages
Reviewed on 09/01/2022
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

In Raftery's Ghost by JB Michaels, a detective named Mac finds himself sitting in the Tiny Wanderer in Geneva, a kind of all-purpose store where you can have tea, lunch, and buy historical items and is also a hotel. Mac is an ex-detective, author, and currently reading the journal of British detective Wadsworth who was tasked many years back by a family from England to find their daughter, Lady Raftery. Lady Raftery had traveled to the US, and the last place she was seen alive was at the Tiny Wanderer. Mac often frequented the Tiny Wanderer but now he will find himself doing more than merely writing and sipping tea. He will also dust off his old detective senses and get to work with his witch fiancée, Millie, solving the crimes that unfolded on the present cold and stormy day in Geneva.

Raftery's Ghost by JB Michaels is an entertaining, fast-paced, and suspenseful detective story with a good mix of mystery and fantasy that kept me absorbed. I enjoyed the light-hearted dialogue between Mac and Millie, and the well-conceived characters held my attention. I was kept in suspense until the end, wondering who was guilty of the crimes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Raftery's Ghost is a well-written, easy-to-read, easy-to-follow story that gets you absorbed in the plot. JB Michaels is an excellent writer who knows how to keep his cards close to his chest, ensuring that his readers remain engaged from start to finish. Overall, Raftery's Ghost is a creative and gripping detective story.

Pikasho Deka

Raftery's Ghost: A Mac and Millie Mystery by J.B. Michaels is a murder-mystery novella tinged with a bit of the supernatural. Retired police officer Mac O'Malley arrives at The Tiny Wanderer, an antique shop in Geneva, Illinois, with his fiancée and magical banker Millie, eager to solve the mystery of the ghost of Lady Raftery, a British aristocrat. His investigation stalls when one of the patrons is poisoned while drinking her iced tea. With a devastating storm trapping people inside, everyone is a suspect. When two more murders happen in quick succession, Mac must find a way to catch the killer before any more innocent lives are lost. But now Millie is missing. How will Mac respond and will Millie be able to set herself free?

If you're a fan of Agatha Christie's novels, you will have a blast reading Raftery's Ghost as J.B. Michaels weaves a compelling murder mystery yarn that hooks you in from the beginning and refuses to let go until the end. Michaels drops readers into the middle of the action and wastes no time getting into the thick of things. The plot moves at a brisk pace, taking multiple twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout the pages. Mac and Millie have palpable chemistry, and their contrasting personalities and quick back and forth were some of the highlights. I breezed through the book and recommend it to readers who love a cozy murder mystery to occupy their evenings.

K.C. Finn

Raftery’s Ghost is a work of fiction in the murder mystery subgenre and is the latest installment in the Mac and Millie Mystery series. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author JB Michaels. As the city of Geneva is crippled by a devastating storm, Mac and Millie bunker down at the Tiny Wanderer, only for a murder to occur, and the rumors of a ghostly presence incite the guests further. As the threat of Lady Raftery’s ghost grows, and the tensions rise, they must overcome their fears to solve the mystery before it's too late.

This was an absolute thrill ride from start to finish as the pressure cooker of the storm increases the tension and keeps characters and readers alike on the edge of their seats right until the last page is turned. Author JB Michaels once again demonstrates a keen gift for developing deep and involved mysteries that keep readers guessing, and once again absolutely delivers with regards to Mac and Millie themselves, who continue to evolve in response to the often bizarre and always dangerous situations that they find themselves in. I particularly enjoyed how this story introduces the supernatural elements, which perfectly enhance the story and allow for a fun new dynamic to the mystery formula that Mac and Millie have enjoyed so far. Overall, Raftery’s Ghost is an absolute thrill-ride of a novel that will please both fans of the traditional murder mystery and fans of spookier thrillers. I recommend it to all.

Justine Reyes

Raftery's Ghost by J.B. Michaels is part of the Mac and Millie series of cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of magic. Raftery's Ghost follows Mac O'Malley, a former cop, and his fiancée Millie, a witch. The pair are spending time at the Tiny Wanderer when suddenly someone drops dead. I have to admit I'm part of the Harry Potter generation. Therefore reading a book with magic is just a plus for me. J.B. Michaels' series is part of a niche of magical, cozy mysteries. He is up there with Julia Buckley, Ellery Adams, and Bailey Cattrell. But unlike other authors, this series isn't centered around a solo detective. There have rarely been any well-written duos since Tommy and Tuppence. Except perhaps for Mac and Millie.

While reading Raftery's Ghost, I found several literary elements at play in this single installment. Firstly, there are two mysteries. The overarching (and timeless classic) whodunit and the underlying question of "Is the Tiny Wanderer haunted?" The second is the romance between the leading duo. Through J.B. Michael's masterful writing, we can see how much Mac loves Millie and vice versa. It's refreshing. It adds a layer of believability to Mac and Millie's relationship. Lastly, there are many tiny little Easter eggs like Sergeant Jack Yellow. He was an obvious homage to Colonel Mustard from Clue. All I could imagine was Martin Mull. J.B. Michaels executes this well. It was also great to see that Sergeant Yellow wasn't just a static character. I thoroughly enjoyed Raftery's Ghost and will likely go back and read the rest of the series. Fantastic work!

Ammaarah Seboa

Raftery’s Ghost is the fifth book in JB Michaels’ Mac and Millie Series. Set on a dark and stormy night, Mac and Millie make a visit to the Tiny Wanderer but as they’re about to leave, the lights go out and they’re met with terrified screams. Can the retired cop and the good witch find the killer before they strike again? Let’s not forget the fact that the Tiny Wanderer might be haunted. So, on top of having a killer on the loose, Mac and Millie may be facing some ghosts too. Join Mac and Millie in their latest adventure!

This was my first time reading work by JB Michaels, and I loved it! I enjoyed the Cluedoesque qualities that the book had as well as the clever character names that parallel the color markers in the Clue game. This was a really quick read that was easy to follow along and left no room for confusion. I had my suspicions about certain characters when trying to figure out who the killer was. Raftery’s Ghost is a classic take on the murder mystery genre, including the magical aspect it possessed. I liked how the two mysterious stories were presented. The first is about Lady Raftery, hence the title, and the second is regarding the murder which took place. All my questions got answered and this left no room for plotholes, so a well-deserved 5 out of 5! I cannot wait to get my hands on the other books in the series, and I am looking forward to the next one.