Homicide at the Haunted House by Beth Dolgner [Review]

Homicide at the Haunted House (Nightmare, Arizona #1) by Beth Dolgner
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 14, 2025

Nightmare, Arizona
1. Homicide at the Haunted House - Paperback | Kindle
2. Drowning at the Diner
3. Slaying at the Saloon
4. Murder at the Motel
5. Poisoning at the Party
5.5. Headless at Halloween
6. Clawing at the Corral
7. Axing at the Antique Store
8. Fatality at the Festival
9. Terminated at the Trailhead
10. Body at the Bakery

Beth Dolgner
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Murder, monsters, and a midlife crisis in Nightmare, Arizona

Divorced, broke, and broken down in the old mining town of Nightmare, Arizona, Olivia Kendrick is desperate for a job. At forty-two years old, she never thought she would be starting over like this, let alone in a tucked-away town filled with tourists, offbeat residents, and an outspoken UFO hunter. Olivia takes a job at a year-round haunted house, but when she arrives for her first day, she faces real horror: a local man’s body has been dumped at the front entrance.

Olivia is an immediate suspect. After all, she’s a stranger in town. As Olivia tries to find the real killer, she begins to realize her co-workers aren’t just putting on a show every night at Nightmare Sanctuary Haunted House. And why does the “dog” running around have such long fangs?

Things only get worse when Damien Shackleford, the son of the haunted house’s missing owner, shows up. He might be handsome, but his arrogant attitude makes everyone miserable. Olivia must forge a new life, solve a murder, and decide who’s more of a monster: Damien or the actual monsters she works with…

Thoughts on Homicide at the Haunted House: No lie, this book hit the spot for me. Olivia is a lady who is at a bit of a crossroads in her life. Divorced and basically broke, her car ends up breaking down right outside of the town of Nightmare while she's heading to her brother's house to try to pull her life back together. As it turns out, this misfortune might put her exactly where she's supposed to be to do just that.

While things look dire at first glance, Olivia quickly finds a place to stay, a quirky job, and an assortment of individuals who could definitely become friends and who fold her into their oddball family like she was meant to be. Which is something that surprises Olivia, but she kinda rolls with it.

Sure, she also happened to find a dead body and her new co-workers/friends have more than a few secrets, but THESE THINGS HAPPEN. Okay, maybe they don't. Still, Olivia finds her groove with this bunch and is soon working to clear her name since her new-to-town status has some people looking at her with suspicion. Also, there are undercurrents with her kinda-boss. And a story there, but I guess we'll find out what's going on with Damien down the road.

A few secrets, a little murder, some unexpected things Olivia needs to wrap her head around, and the start of something she never saw coming. Good stuff all around!