4.1 (9 ratings)

The Spirit Investigator: A Cozy Paranormal Mystery Romance (The Thornfield Hollow Mysteries Book 1)

Name: The Spirit Investigator: A Cozy Paranormal Mystery Romance (The Thornfield Hollow Mysteries Book 1)
Rating: 4.1 (9 reviews)
Author: Fiona Mapleton
ISBN: B0GJFYZ88N

by Fiona Mapleton

ghosts

About this book

A blind medium. A murdered ghost. A killer who's gotten away with it for seventy years.

When Mara Westfield inherits a cottage in the coastal town of Thornfield Hollow, she's hoping for a fresh start after her divorce and vision loss. Instead, she gets a seventy-year-old mystery—and the ghost of the man at its center.

Nathaniel Thorne was pushed from the lighthouse in 1952, his murder covered up by someone powerful. For decades, his spirit has remained trapped, invisible to everyone. Until Mara arrives. Her blindness, it turns out, allows her to perceive the paranormal world others can't see.

Nate needs justice. Mara needs purpose. Together, they make an unlikely team.

But when a journalist investigating the same historical property fraud is killed at the lighthouse—the exact same way—Mara realizes the danger is present-day. The killer is still alive, still powerful, and willing to murder again to protect their secrets.

Now Mara must: Prove a seventy-year-old murder using a ghost as her witness Navigate a small town where the villain is everyone's favorite citizen Stay alive long enough to expose the truth Decide what to do about the impossible love blooming between her and Nate

As evidence mounts and danger escalates, Mara discovers her "disability" is actually a gift—and that seeing the dead might be exactly what she needs to catch a killer. But will it be enough when that killer has eliminated everyone else who got too close?

A cozy paranormal mystery with a slow-burn ghost romance, a competent disabled protagonist, and a small town full of secrets.

Perfect for readers who love atmospheric mysteries, supernatural romance, and heroines who solve the unsolvable.

Book 1 in the Thornfield Hollow Mysteries

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0GJFYZ88N

Reader Reviews

overall a great read

January 28, 2026

The book started out pretty strong for me. One of my downfalls is I get caught up in details at times. There were contradictions in ages between characters a couple different times which wasn’t a big deal but I find myself rereading and adding, just a distraction is all. I didn’t really come across Grammatical errors to distract so that was a plus. I think the last 15 % of the book or so became repetitive which was a little annoying and found myself skipping and thinking is this ever coming to...

Cozy on the Surface, Shadows in the Corners

February 10, 2026

For me, something about this story felt like stepping into a quiet town where the lights are warm, but you still check over your shoulder. I read The Spirit Investigator on my Kindle late one night and found myself slowing down to reread a few moments, letting the atmosphere settle instead of rushing ahead. What stood out most was the balance, a comfortable, small-town charm layered over a mystery that carries a subtle, watchful tension. The paranormal elements feel woven in rather than...

Cozy, clever, and quietly moving.

February 9, 2026

What I really liked about The Spirit Investigator is how thoughtfully it blends paranormal mystery with genuine heart. Mara is a refreshing protagonist. Her blindness is handled with respect and depth, and the way it becomes a strength rather than a limitation feels both empowering and believable. The ghost mystery is intriguing without being too dark, the small-town setting is full of atmosphere, and the slow-burn connection between Mara and Nate adds a soft, emotional layer that fits the cozy...

Intriguing Start

March 29, 2026

This was an interesting take on a mystery. I thought the author’s writing style was good and the characters, while not terribly deep, were fun to get to know. Mara, the main character, was intriguing. She lost a good deal of her sight and I liked the way the author described her. She wasn’t sitting meekly on the sidelines, but instead adjusting to her new life. The book was most enjoyable for the relationship between Mara and Nate, the ghost of the man killed seventy years ago at the local...

Small-town atmosphere, a genuinely tender love story, and a steady, satisfying pace

February 15, 2026

This is exactly what I want from a cozy paranormal romance—small-town atmosphere, a genuinely tender love story, and a mystery that unfolds at a steady, satisfying pace instead of rushing the emotional beats. I really liked how Mara’s blindness is written not as a weakness but as a different way of perceiving the world, especially in the scenes where she senses Nathan’s presence; those moments feel warm and intimate rather than gimmicky. The writing can lean a little repetitive with certain...