Top 10 Reasons to Try the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Cozy Mystery Series by Kirsten Weiss

If you’re like me, you’ve got a stack of cozy mysteries waiting on your Kindle (or your nightstand, or that one chair that’s become a book graveyard). And if you love mysteries with a paranormal twist, quirky small-town vibes, and a heroine who’s figuring life out one murder at a time, I’ve got a series you might love: my Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum books.

Maddie Kosloski runs a museum in San Benedetto, California dedicated to the weird, the cursed, and the downright spooky. Think haunted wine-making artifacts, ghostly apparitions, and a cat named GD who’s got more attitude than half the suspects. Each book is a standalone cozy mystery, but the characters grow across the series. And the romance? Deliciously slow-burn with multiple possibilities, because Maddie’s not rushing anything.

Here are my top 10 reasons to dive in—starting today. (And yes, I’m biased, but I promise these are real reader favorites too.)

1. Cozy Mystery Magic with a Paranormal Kick: Cozy mystery fans love the low-stakes thrills—no gore, no graphic violence, just clever puzzles and satisfying solves. But this series adds just enough “is that really a ghost?” to keep things fun and a little eerie without going full horror. It’s the perfect blend for readers who want cozy mystery comfort with a supernatural sparkle.

2. Maddie Kosloski—Relatable, Smart, and a Little Messy: Maddie’s in her thirties, back in her hometown after adventures abroad, trying to make a go of this oddball museum. She’s clever, stubborn, and doesn’t always have it together—which makes her feel real. Readers tell me they love cheering her on as she balances sleuthing, museum mishaps, and small-town life.

3. GD Cat—A Clever Cat Sidekick: GD (short for Ghost Detecting, naturally) is a black cat with opinions. He never knocks over exhibits (he loves his museum), but he judges Maddie’s choices, and occasionally seems to know more about the crimes than anyone. If you love cats with personality in your cozy mysteries, GD will steal your heart (and probably your snacks).

4. Wine Country Setting That Feels Like Home: San Benedetto is loosely inspired by Central California’s Wine Country—vineyards, historic buildings, quirky locals. It’s got that rural, small-town charm where everyone knows your business, which makes the gossip mill hilarious and the stakes personal. Perfect for cozy mystery lovers who crave community (with a side of murder).

5. Quirky Exhibits = Endless Fun Clues: The museum’s collection includes things like a cursed vineyard press, a supposedly haunted molinillo, and Ouija boards with attitude. Every book features a new exhibit that ties into the mystery. It’s a fresh way to weave paranormal elements into classic cozy puzzle-solving.

6. Slow-Burn Romance That Actually Evolves: Maddie has options—Mason the charming biker, Detective Slate the straight-arrow cop, and more as the series goes on. She dates one at a time, no drama triangles, just real figuring-it-out. The tension builds across books, and readers love the “who will she choose?” anticipation without it overshadowing the mystery.

7. Laugh-Out-Loud Moments Amid the Murders: These are funny cozy mystery novels. Between Maddie’s dry wit, GD’s antics, and the absurd situations (like investigating a murder during a grape stomp), there’s plenty to make you chuckle. Cozy mystery doesn’t have to be all serious sleuthing—sometimes it’s about the joy of the ridiculous.

8. Standalones That Reward Series Readers: Each book has its own complete mystery, so you can jump in anywhere. But if you start at book one (The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum), you get the full character arcs, deepening friendships, and that satisfying series payoff. It’s cozy mystery comfort food with layers.

9. Themes of Reinvention and Second Chances: Maddie’s rebuilding her life, and there’s this quiet undercurrent of hope—proving it’s never too late to start over, chase weird dreams, or solve a murder. It resonates with readers who’ve had their own restarts, making the cozy mystery feel uplifting.

10. Perfect Escapism When You Need It Most: Let’s be honest: life can be heavy. These books are light, entertaining, and just spooky enough to give you a thrill without nightmares. Curl up with tea (or wine), let Maddie and GD handle the detecting, and enjoy the ride. Readers say they’re “addictive” and “feel-good,” which is exactly what a good cozy mystery should be.

The series has 10+ books now (starting with The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, then Pressed to Death, Déjà Moo, Chocolate à la Murder, and on through my brand-new book, A Deathly Display), plus audiobooks if that’s your jam. If you’re hunting for your next cozy mystery binge, give Maddie a try—I think you’ll stick around for the murders, stay for the laughs and the heart.

What’s your favorite kind of cozy mystery protagonist? A baker, a librarian, or someone running a totally bonkers museum? Drop a comment below—I read every one and love hearing what draws you to the genre.

Happy reading, and watch out for cursed objects!

Kirsten Weiss

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A Deathly Display

(A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery #11)
A Small Town Murder Mystery
by Kirsten Weiss
GENRE: Cozy Mystery

A killer stalks her sister.

A mysterious painting holds the key.

Can Maddie unravel the mystery before Melanie meets a deadly fate?

When Maddie and Herb attend a curation class at the upscale Domus Vinea museum, the mood turns darker than a gothic portrait after Maddie’s opera-singing sister, Melanie, discovers the museum director’s body. Now, with a cunning killer targeting Melanie next, Maddie must act fast.

Racing against time, Maddie and friends investigate a gallery of suspects, including a dashing vintner with a haunted painting that may hide a deadly secret. If Maddie can’t crack the case, and fast, her sister’s life could end in one fatal stroke.

A Deathly Display, the latest in the Paranormal Museum series, blends quirky sleuthing, small-town chills, and paranormal thrills with a dash of humor. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries!

Grab A Deathly Display and start reading this hilarious whodunit!

For readers who crave a cozy mystery about a woman finding belonging through small-town wine-country sleuthing and the gentle absurdity of everyday hauntings. Perfect if you like breezy pacing, light supernatural quirks, and warm humor over gritty tension—think vintage charm, quirky neighbors, and just-enough chills to keep pages turning without losing sleep. Book 11 in the series.

AMAZON * B&N * APPLE * KOBO * UNIVERSAL LINK

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There are a few things in life you can be sure of. Death. Taxes. And divas being divas.

“Why?” Melanie sobbed. “Why is this happening to meeeee?”

I jogged to the fallen man and knelt beside him in the courtyard. Pressing a finger to his neck, I tried to find a pulse.

“Another body,” my sister hiccupped. “Why here?”

I sat back on my heel. The dead man faced the pristine marble fountain. And he was definitely dead. Though his skin was still warm, his eyes stared, as blank as the nearby statue of Hermes.

Yanking my phone from the rear pocket of my khakis, I called 9-1-1. The scent of orange blossoms billowed in the warm night air, but now the odor seemed sickening.

My mother appeared at my side. “Oh, my God. That’s—” She gripped my shoulder, her nails digging in. Just as suddenly, she released me and edged the toe of her low camel-colored shoes away from the pooling blood.

“I just f-found him there.” Melanie pointed.

“And it’s a terrible shock,” my mother said in a low voice. “Now, we need to pull ourselves together.” She looped one arm around Melanie’s hourglass waist.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

“Murder, I think,” I said. “My sister found a dead man. His head is—” I swallowed and looked away. “There’s a lot of blood. We’re at the Domus Vinea Museum, in the smaller courtyard.”

“Are you in danger?” the operator asked.

“No. There’s a reception going on here. There are lots of people…” I glanced toward the opening to the courtyard. Guests had begun to gather, staring, in its arched entrance.

“Why does this always happen?” Melanie wailed. “First Sicily and now this. Am I cursed?”

“No, no,” my mother murmured, touching the squash blossom necklace beneath the collar of her denim shirt. “It’s just bad luck.”

“Help is on the way,” the dispatcher said. “Is the man you found breathing?”

“No. He’s dead.” I knew dead, and I knew what came after for the people left behind.

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Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries, and now a Tarot guidebook that’s a work of experimental fiction. Her heroes and heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Website * Goodreads * Amazon

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