Spectral Revelations

October 27, 2023

Spectral Revelations

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery
by Ellen Butler

About Spectral Revelations

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Williamsburg, Virginia
Power to the Pen (October 5, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C7WQVTNH

Is Karina’s missing aunt on vacation…or on the lam?

Karina is trying to keep her mind on getting a cosponsor for a bill, but it’s tough with her Mom blowing up her phone. By the time Karina finally stops hitting “ignore”, Mom is frantic. It appears Karina’s Aunt Vera has disappeared, fibbed to her employer about the reason for her absence, even abandoned her beloved cat, Nightshade—which is completely out of character. Karina would bet her favorite pair of designer shoes that Vera is in some kind of trouble.

However, when Karina hauls her cookies from D.C. to historic Williamsburg to search Vera’s house, she finds nothing suspicious. Except for a mischievous Civil War ghost who scares the bejesus out of her and keeps trashing Vera’s office. Until Karina realizes his seemingly random ectoplasmic tantrums have a purpose—revealing key evidence.

Something is definitely fishy, but the clues aren’t adding up. And as the spirit’s visitations become more urgent, Karina calls on reinforcements for help—her latest squeeze Rick Donovan and her sister Jillian. Because the cops are following faulty leads, which could put Vera on the wrong end of an arrest warrant … if she’s found alive.

International bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Butler presents book six in the Karina Cardinal mystery series! Fans of Elizabeth Peters and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will adore this gripping mystery adventure.

About Ellen Butler

Ellen Butler is the internationally bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism” and “unputdownable adventures that will take readers on an electrifying yet light-hearted and humorous journey.” Butler also writes historical spy fiction. Her WWII spy novel, The Brass Compass, recently won a 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award for historical fiction. The second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, is Butler’s latest historical fiction. The novel is inspired by true events, and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction. Reviewers are calling it “riveting,” and, “a thrilling adventure.”

Q&A With the Author:

What was your inspiration for writing this book?
Since this book is coming out in October, I wanted to incorporate something paranormal—for the spooky season. I felt taking Karina and her sidekicks out of Washington, DC down to Colonial Williamsburg would be the perfect avenue for doing this. Williamsburg was a pivotal city during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and is full of ghost stories. The Civil War ghost I incorporated into the story was inspired by the ghost who haunts The Palmer House.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I enjoyed researching the Colonial Williamsburg area, as well as learning about the local ghosts. Williamsburg has plenty of ghost stories to choose from. Some are Revolutionary or Civil War soldiers, others were prisoners who died being held in jail, others are simply former residents of the area who have their own sad story. Additionally, my interviews with staff at the Art Museums in Colonial Williamsburg also provided inspiration for the story line.

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?
I’ve just finished a short story for an anthology for Nashville Bouchercon that is themed—music, murder, and mayhem. It’s about the lead guitarist for a famous country music band who is murdered with one of his own guitar strings. There are plenty of suspects, and all of them have alibis.

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?
Since Spectral Revelations is the last book in the Karina Cardinal series, I’m pivoting to focus on a new character and storyline. A young woman in the 1950s with her journalism degree, desperate to become an investigative reporter who is currently stuck at a woman’s fashion magazine. Finally, getting a break from the copy desk, she is sent out of town on assignment to interview a movie star, and ends up finding the innkeeper murdered. In Knives Out style, all the guests and staff are suspects, and our intrepid reporter must determine who is the real culprit.

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thanks for having me at Literary Gold. If your readers enjoy the Stephanie Plum series, then Karina Cardinal’s stories will be right up their alley. If you enjoy historical spy fiction, they may want to check out The Brass Compass, series.