Three books already and I still can't feel myself to warming toward Charlene Morris and the Salem's residents. The story happen in the Christmas time, three months after Charlene moved into Salem and open her own B&B, and baaam, another dead body! I don't know if Charlene is really unfortunate or Salem have a high count of dead body, but yeah, another time for Charlene to play Nancy Drew. The poor victim is David, the owner of local Italian restaurant named Bella and Charlene always think David is a good and charming man. David also recently winning a lottery which make things awkward with his second wife and his kid from David's first marriage. Thing turn deadly when David become victim of run over and many people have motives to cause David bodily harm.

Honestly, I really dislike Charlene's mother. I know that mother, no matter what how old their children are, still think them as "child". But, Charlene's mother take it to a whole new level. Charlene is already in her 40-ish, she apparently still processing her grief after her husband died two years ago, but what Charlene's mom aka Brenda did? Constantly criticize and belittle Charlene, always gaslighting because she think Charlene didn't love her enough. Charlene's father, Michael, seems to tolerate his wife, but if I have mother like Brenda, I will do everything in my power to go away. Heck, even if my relationship with my Mother kinda rocky when I'm in my twenties, when I already in my thirties she just let me do as I please. Brenda's insufferable attitude toward Charlene kinda left a bitter taste for me and why Charlene although she also angry but still try to love her mother speak volume. Charlene indeed, is too kind.

The mystery kinda simple but what I like from this series is how the culprit always not what they seems to be and the red herrings were well written. As for Charlene and Sam's budding relationship, although Sam still hesitant to share his investigation surprisingly there's no wuss from him regarding Charlene's sleuthing. In opposite, he try to wooing her and maybe Charlene finally start to thaw and want to pursue a romantic relationship. But what about our charming resident ghost, Jack Sthratmore? I really like Jack and I think one of the highlight of this series is Jack's presence. I wish Jack appear more often and I like his platonic relationship with Charlene. While from the start the love triangle possibility is high, I don't think it can be called as love triangle at all. Jack is dead and any romantic pursuits with Charlene seems impossible while Sam is a living being. But, if I can choose, I like Jack and Charlene's platonic relationship more.

Mrs Morris and The Ghost of Christmas Past tend heavily into Charlene's relationship with her parents rather than the mystery. What make me disappointed is the "ghost" that mention in the title more like figuratively speaking rather than the real deal. The ghost still only Jack and maybe Jack is a special case because only Charlene who can see him. The book pace itself was pretty fast and also light. However, since I already collect the series up to book 8 (lol, bad habit of mine!), I will read them all but will not buy any new books after I feel certain that I can connect to Charlene and the Salem's citizen.