Victoria Laurie's What's a Ghoul to Do? — A Paranormal Cozy Worth Haunting Your TBR
If you've ever wished that cozy mysteries came with a little more ectoplasm and a lot more sass, What's a Ghoul to Do? by Victoria Laurie might just be the supernatural page-turner you didn't know you needed. This paranormal cozy kicks off the Ghost Hunter Mystery series with a winning combination of ghostly thrills, sharp humor, and a protagonist who is genuinely fun to spend 281 pages with. It's the kind of book that makes you want to cancel your evening plans, curl up under a blanket, and read straight through to the end.
Victoria Laurie brings a fascinating real-world authenticity to this fictional universe — she is herself a professional psychic intuitive and former police psychic, and that lived-in understanding of the paranormal gives the story a texture that sets it apart from more generic ghost-themed cozies. Rather than feeling like a gimmick, the psychic elements here feel grounded and specific in a way that's genuinely refreshing. It's the difference between a writer who researched ghosts for a weekend and one who has actually sat across from grieving families and tried to communicate with the dead.
Ranked #26 on Goodreads' Best Cozy Mystery Series list and holding a solid 3.89 out of 5 based on nearly 9,000 ratings, this debut installment has clearly found its audience. That rating reflects a genuinely enthusiastic readership, and once you meet M.J. Holliday and her gloriously chaotic partner Gilley, it's easy to understand why readers keep coming back for more.
M.J., Gilley, and a Lodge Full of Restless Spirits: Plot and Setting Breakdown
The story centers on M.J. Holliday, a no-nonsense psychic medium who has channeled her abilities into running a professional ghostbusting business out of a Boston brownstone. When the wealthy and undeniably handsome Dr. Steven Sable hires M.J. and her partner Gilley to investigate the apparent suicide of his grandfather at the sprawling Sable family lodge, what begins as a routine job quickly becomes anything but. The lodge turns out to be teeming with restless spirits, each carrying their own unresolved story, and M.J. must untangle a web of old secrets to bring peace to the dead — and answers to the living.
The setting of the Sable family lodge is one of the novel's quiet strengths. It has that classic haunted-house atmosphere — isolated, grand, and full of shadows — that fans of paranormal fiction will find immediately satisfying, while the cozy mystery scaffolding keeps things from ever veering into outright horror territory. Victoria Laurie strikes a careful balance here, making the ghost encounters genuinely eerie without losing the lighthearted tone that defines the series. Think "horror-lite" in the best possible way.
The dynamic between M.J. and Gilley is the engine that keeps the plot humming. While M.J. ventures into the haunted lodge to commune with spirits using her psychic gifts, Gilley — who is absolutely terrified of ghosts — manages their technical equipment from the relative safety of their van. It's a clever division of labor that gives the story a procedural feel unusual in the cozy genre, and the push-and-pull between M.J.'s bravery and Gilley's spectacular cowardice generates some of the book's best comedic moments.
First in the Ghost Hunter Mystery Series: Where to Start and What Comes Next
Good news for readers who hate diving into a series mid-stream: What's a Ghoul to Do? is absolutely the place to start the Ghost Hunter Mystery series, and Victoria Laurie makes it easy to jump straight in without any prior knowledge of her other work. While M.J. Holliday did make a brief cameo appearance in Laurie's Psychic Eye series, you don't need to have read a single page of those books to fully enjoy this one. Everything you need is right here in book one.
The Ghost Hunter Mystery series runs a satisfying eleven books in total, which means you have plenty of ghostly adventures ahead of you if this first installment hooks you — and it very likely will. The sequels include Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend, Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun, Ghouls Gone Wild, and several more, each continuing M.J. and Gilley's paranormal investigations with the same blend of humor, mystery, and supernatural intrigue. The series even eventually gives M.J. and Gilley their own in-universe reality TV show called Ghoul Getters, which feels like a perfectly logical evolution for these two.
For readers who finish this book and immediately want more of Victoria Laurie's voice, her Psychic Eye Mystery series featuring psychic intuitive Abby Cooper is the most natural next step — same warm, witty tone, different protagonist and premise. She has also written the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mystery series (yes, that Gilley), the Magical Trinket Mysteries, and several young adult novels, including When, which was optioned by Warner Bros. for a television adaptation. There's a lot of Laurie universe to explore once you're hooked.
Ghostbusting Humor, a Scene-Stealing Parrot, and the Tone That Sets This Series Apart
Let's talk about Doc. M.J.'s African Grey parrot is, without question, one of the most delightful supporting characters in recent cozy memory. He serves as the unofficial mascot of M.J.'s ghostbusting business, and his talent for dropping perfectly timed, wildly inappropriate one-liners elevates virtually every scene he appears in. Reviewers consistently single him out as a highlight, and those who have listened to the audiobook report that the narrator's comedic voice work for Doc is particularly inspired. He's the kind of character that makes you wish parrots were a standard feature of every cozy mystery series.
The humor throughout the book is consistent and well-deployed, rooted primarily in character rather than situation. M.J.'s wit and sarcasm give her a voice that feels genuinely distinct — she's headstrong and competent, a professional who takes her unusual job seriously even when the world around her is being ridiculous. Dr. Steven Sable, the wealthy client turned potential love interest, provides another comedic layer through his habit of mangling English idioms, a running gag that lands differently depending on the reader. Some find it charming; others find it grating after a while — it's worth knowing going in that this is a recurring feature of his dialogue throughout the book.
What truly sets the Ghost Hunter Mystery series apart from the broader cozy landscape is its procedural backbone. M.J. isn't an amateur who stumbles over dead bodies at the local bake sale — she runs a legitimate paranormal investigation business, complete with technical equipment and a clear methodology. This gives the storytelling a satisfying structure that cozy readers who also enjoy procedural mysteries will particularly appreciate. It feels fresh without abandoning the warmth and humor that define the genre.
Who Should Read What's a Ghoul to Do? — Verdict, Ratings, and Reader Recommendations
This book is an easy, enthusiastic recommendation for readers who love their cozies with a paranormal twist. If you enjoy stories where the supernatural is treated as a genuine, working part of the protagonist's everyday life rather than a quirky one-off element, M.J. Holliday's world will feel like a natural home. Fans of ghost-centered fiction who find pure horror too intense will find the balance here just right — creepy enough to be exciting, warm enough to be comforting.
It's worth being upfront about the book's limitations, because a good recommendation is an honest one. Gilley's characterization has aged unevenly, and some readers will find his portrayal as the flamboyantly gay sidekick more one-dimensional than they'd like. A handful of reviewers also noted some plot holes around evidence handling and felt the romance between M.J. and Dr. Sable was slightly rushed. These are real criticisms, but for most readers in the target audience, they're unlikely to significantly diminish the fun of the reading experience.
Comparable reads include the Haunting Danielle series by Bobbi Holmes for that inherited-haunted-house atmosphere, and the Chintz 'n China Mystery series by Yasmine Galenorn if you enjoy protagonists who communicate with the dead. Fans of Diana Rowland's work in the paranormal space will also likely find plenty to enjoy here. Ultimately, What's a Ghoul to Do? is a charming, fast-paced series opener that delivers exactly what it promises: ghosts, laughs, a swoon-worthy client, and a parrot who absolutely steals the show.
Quick Facts
- Series: Ghost Hunter Mystery (Book #1)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Subgenre: Paranormal cozy mystery
- Setting: Sable family lodge (primary); Boston, Massachusetts (home base)
- Main Character: M.J. Holliday, professional psychic medium and ghostbuster
- Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5 (8,829 ratings)
- Top 100 Rank: #26
- Best For: Fans of paranormal cozies who enjoy humor, ghost-hunting procedurals, and sassy protagonists
- Content Warnings: Mild paranormal peril; some dated LGBTQ+ character stereotyping
- Bonus Content: N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is What's a Ghoul to Do? about?
Psychic medium turned professional ghostbuster M.J. Holliday and her partner Gilley are hired by the wealthy Dr. Steven Sable to investigate the mysterious apparent suicide of his grandfather at the Sable family lodge. When they arrive, they discover the lodge is haunted by multiple restless spirits, each with their own story, and M.J. must uncover the truth behind the deaths to bring peace to the dead and answers to the living.
Is What's a Ghoul to Do? the first book in the Ghost Hunter Mystery series?
Yes — this is Book #1 in the Ghost Hunter Mystery series and the perfect place to start. No prior reading of Victoria Laurie's other series is required, and the book fully establishes M.J.'s world and supporting cast from the ground up.
How many books are in the Ghost Hunter Mystery series?
The Ghost Hunter Mystery series runs to eleven books in total, beginning with What's a Ghoul to Do? and continuing through titles including Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend, Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun, and beyond. Check Goodreads for the complete reading order.
Is What's a Ghoul to Do? worth reading?
For fans of paranormal cozies, absolutely. With a 3.89 out of 5 rating from nearly 9,000 Goodreads readers and a spot at #26 on the Best Cozy Mystery Series list, this book has proven its appeal to a wide audience. It's not without its flaws — some character portrayals feel dated and the romance moves quickly — but the fast pacing, genuine humor, and unique ghostbusting premise make it a very entertaining series opener.