Step into the quirky, spine-tingling world of the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series, where a skeptical heroine, a haunted museum, and a charming California wine country town collide in a delightful blend of cozy mystery and supernatural intrigue! Authored by Kirsten Weiss, this series follows Maddie Kosloski, a career-burned woman who stumbles into managing a peculiar museum in San Benedetto, only to find herself solving murders and unraveling paranormal puzzles. With its witty dialogue, colorful characters, and just a hint of the otherworldly, it’s the perfect escape for fans of lighthearted whodunits.
From ghostly grape presses to cursed cowbells, the series captures the charm of small-town life while teasing the possibility that something supernatural lurks just out of sight. Whether you’re a cozy mystery buff or simply curious about a museum with a mischievous cat, this series promises a fun, page-turning adventure.
How Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Began
Kirsten Weiss, a Colorado-based author with a knack for blending magic and mayhem, launched the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series in 2016. Inspired by her love for cozy mysteries and a desire to craft a paranormal tale grounded in everyday life, Weiss created a world where the supernatural feels tantalizingly plausible. The idea of a skeptical protagonist managing a haunted museum in a wine country setting allowed her to explore themes of self-discovery and community, all while keeping readers guessing about what’s truly going bump in the night.
The Heart of Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum
The series kicks off with The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum (2016), where Maddie, reeling from a career setback, returns to San Benedetto and reluctantly takes over the local paranormal museum. A fresh corpse in the museum thrusts her into a murder investigation, complicated by her high school bully-turned-detective and a ghost-detecting cat named GD. In Pressed to Death (2017), Maddie navigates a haunted grape press and a murder at the Harvest Festival, uncovering secrets tied to the town’s wine-making past. Deja Moo (2018) brings a quirky Christmas Cow tradition and a deadly archer, while Chocolate a la Murder (2019) sees Maddie tackling a killer in the world of artisan chocolate.
Themes of self-identity, community, and embracing the unknown weave through the series, set against the vibrant backdrop of San Benedetto’s wine country. Weiss balances skepticism and openness to the paranormal, creating a unique tone that’s both grounded and whimsical. The museum itself becomes a character, filled with odd exhibits and subtle hints of magic, while Maddie’s relationships—with friends, potential love interests like the hunky Mason, and even her overbearing mother—add warmth and humor to the mysteries.
Why Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Resonates
The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series has carved a niche in the cozy mystery genre, captivating readers with its blend of humor, heart, and just enough supernatural spice to keep things intriguing. Fans on Goodreads praise its fast-paced plots, quirky characters, and the way Weiss hints at the paranormal without overwhelming the story. The series’ focus on a strong, relatable heroine and a tight-knit community resonates with readers who crave escapist yet grounded tales. Its lasting appeal lies in its ability to make the ordinary—wine festivals, small-town gossip—feel extraordinary, inviting readers to question what might be hiding in plain sight.
- First Book Published: 2016
- Number of Books: 10 (as of 2024)
- Setting: San Benedetto, California
- Genre: Cozy Mystery with Paranormal Elements
Grab The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum and dive into a world of quirky mysteries, haunted exhibits, and wine country charm! Whether you’re solving murders with Maddie or petting GD the cat, this series is your ticket to a perfectly proper adventure.