I waited ages to read this, and now I regret the delay. This was a great read, full of humour and mystery and a little bit of swoon.

What put me off was the cover change. The book I received had a witchy cover featuring a dark sky and bright colours. Soon after, the cover changed to a cartoon pug and a large cake, and the title also changed. I was confused about whether this was a YA read (it's not), and I guess that made me hesitant to read.

I'm not letting the new covers put me off reading the second in the series very soon.

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

Enjoyed this book and loved the characters. I love the cover too it’s so nice! Definitely want to read more books from Kitty French soon.

Great idea for a book and really well executed. A thoroughly good read. Highly recommended. .

I'm afraid I ultimately found this book wasn't for me. Thank you very much for the opportunity though and I do apologise for how long it took me to provide feedback.

The Skeletons of Scarborough House a.k.a. Melody Bittersweet and the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency is the first book in this paranormal, cozy, humourous series. The Bittersweet family are renowned for being able to see ghosts. Twenty-seven year old Melody Bittersweet decides it is time to do something different and is opening her own Ghostbusting Agency. Her idea is to help ghosts who want to leave this plain. In her first case, she is hired to rid Scarborough House of its ghosts so the owner can sell it. With her best friend, Marina in tow, they are ready to go. When Melody is visited by a ghost named Art, he convinces her to hire his son, Little Art, to work with her. It turns out to be a good decision for her.

Throughout the story, there are many laughs at Melody's expense as well as with the interactions of the ghosts with the humans. Marina and Artie are perfect sidekicks and foils for Melody and the ghosts. In this story, the spirits have been hanging around for over 100 years and their personalities are so different from one another. The humans they deal with, Fletcher Gunn and Leo Dark, are also an integral part of the story. Leo is an old boyfriend and Fletcher might become a future one, but there is definitely sexual tension there. The mystery is who killed one of the ghost twins over one hundred years ago. One of the brothers is blames and he claims he is innocent. As the story goes on, we find out more about the family and their past that is quite interesting. This is a great story to relax with. It is highly entertaining, funny and totally different from other cozies I have read. It has great characters, hints at potential romance, has a different mystery to be solved with plenty of humorous interactions, both human and spirits. This is the first in a new series that I will be reading again. I hope it continues.

Sometimes all a girl really needs is a little bit of light-hearted escapism and dammit Kitty French delivers that in style in The Skeletons of Scarborough House (The Chapelwick Mysteries Book 1).

Melody Bittersweet is the daughter and granddaughter of local mediums – Chapelwick’s real life answer to the movie ghost. Melody, too, shares this gift and decides it is about time for her to start using her god given abilities to help the lingering dead pass over.

She is not without competition in this area of business. In fact, she is fighting for a job against her ex – a man who has capitalised on his link to the deceased by getting himself a TV deal.

It is a race against time to see who can sort out the problem of lingering ghosts at Scarborough house.

I genuinely think it is a real skill to be able to write a book that you can get invested in but feel comforted when you turn the final page. Kitty French has done herself proud with the first in The Chapelwick Mysteries series.

The Skeletons of Scarborough House (The Chapelwick Mysteries Book 1) by Kitty French is available now.

For more information regarding Kitty French (@KFrenchBook) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Bookouture (@bookouture) please visit www.bookouture.com/pitch/.

I won't wrap my words in to a cotton and will say straightly - I didn't like this book....like at all...

The story was lacking development from the beginning of the book and the writing style was sloppy and didn't captivated my attention. I was hoping that all of a sudden the story will get better and I will get into it, but it just went down the hill. In few words everything that happened in this book was all over the place

The main character Melody was annoying and acted like a child even though she was 27 year old woman. The company, that she tried to build with her best friend reminded me of a kindergarten. If for some reason I would have to deal with the agency like this, I would run screaming in the opposite direction.

I know it is a comedy or at least the author tried to write it like a comedy, but it wasn't funny for me at all.

Do not recommend.

I couldn't get more than a few pages into this book due to the obnoxious tone and breaking the fourth wall.

"The Skeletons of Scarborough House" is a wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series by Kitty French. My friend Stormi recommended I pick it up and I couldn't wait to start it once I learned of the cute pug named Lestat. Melody Bittersweet, her mother and her grandmother can all see and communicate with ghosts. Melody does not want to follow in the Bittersweet family business and pass on ghostly messages to those left behind so she decides to start a ghostbusting agency. She hires her best friend Marina and a newcomer, Artie, to be her assistants and the fun ensues.

Melody is snarky and quirky and funny - all the things I was desperately in need of at the time of reading. She is hired to get rid of the ghosts at Scarborough House, a local historical home, so the owner has hopes of selling it. However, the owner has also hired Melody's ex, Leo Dark, who can also communicate with ghosts, to do the same thing and the winner gets all the payout. There are three brothers currently haunting Scarborough house and Melody must uncover what is keeping these astral beings tied to the family homestead.

French weaves a very interesting mystery tale effortlessly with a wonderful cast of zany characters. Melody is 95% over Leo Dark, especially when she realizes she has "the hots" for Fletch, the skeptical journalist, who has spent his entire career trying to prove the Bittersweets are frauds. In fact, Lestat, the adorable yet obnoxious pug, enters the scene because in a fit of anger with Fletch, Melody tells him she has a dog, when she doesn't. Therefore, she rescues Lestat from a local shelter and is soon convinced he is the embodiment of an old gangster out to get her and further complicate her life. All this being said, my favorite character hands down, besides Lestat, has to be Artie. Melody is convinced to hire Artie after a visit from Artie's deceased father asking that she help provide his son with a purpose in life. Artie starts the book with low self esteem but through the course of the book, grows and evolves into a lovable character who is best compared to Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.

If you haven't already figured it out, there is a whole cast of nutty and offbeat characters in "The Skeletons of Scarborough House." The mystery is exciting and I was pleased with the ending of the book. If you don't like love triangles or romantic interests in books, then this one might annoy you somewhat but basically it's not overdone and Melody really is trying to move on from Leo. Plus she and Fletch as such an unlikely couple that one can't help but cheer them on. Of course, it remains to be seen if he and Melody will get past their differences. I'm anxiously wanting to read book two and can see it being done sooner rather than later.

Oh my, it seems Kitty French has just shot straight to the top of my MUST READ list! Many of you know I am a fan of the romantic comedy type books but this...well I don't know where you would out this in terms of genre but it definitely needs to have humour somewhere in the category. I'm not really a lover of 'ghost type' stories so to be honest I was reluctant to read this as the synopsis made me unsure. After cajoling from my friend Tara and the lovely Kim the Bookworm, I relented and clearly they knew exactly why I would like this and they were 100% correct. From the very first few pages I was chuckling. Melody Bittersweet is a character you absolutely fall in love with. Her and her clearly bonkers and eccentric family. The opening chapter had me messaging both my Mum and my sister to explain they HAD to start reading this.

Melody has decided to leave the family business consisting of her Mum and Gran and start her own alternative business which is helping people get rid of ghosts. She enlists the help of her long time friend Marina and ends up hiring a young lad names Art. The first quarter of the book I read on one commute and ended up trying to squeeze a few pages in whilst walking from the tube to my office (FYI, that's probably not a good idea). When Melody's ex-boyfriend Leo Darke works a case involving Scarborough House, Melody is determined to try and win the business. Of course what ensues is a hilarious tale of Melody and her two super-awesome sidekicks Marina and Art trying to beat Leo to the job of getting rid of the ghosts currently staying at the House.

Now I am aware that this all sounds very airy fairy, and believe me when I say I was ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ROLLED THEIR EYES WHEN READING THE SYNOPSIS! Yes, I am shouting it as I need to explain that I was sorely mistaken. This book is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time made extra special by all the quirky characters that you fall in love with. The ghosts also become part of the story-line and it was one that was done with style and finesse. Kitty French is my new hero and I am desperate to read the second book so I will waste no more time on telling you how much I loved this current one (I think you get it), and I am off to read the second book Mystery at Maplemead Castle! Do yourself a favour...DON'T roll your eyes like I did, and give it a try...it's bound to put a smile on your face at the very least. HIGHLY recommended!

This is a DNF for me. I tried several times and just can't get into this story.

This book is equally romantic and witty. I loved the humour. Such a light hearted and easy to read book!! Thank you netgalley.

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars, I liked it, but...

I have to say that the description on the cover of the book calling it "An absolutely hilarious cozy mystery" made me a bit skeptical, it's a pretty lofty claim, haha. And truly, it was amusing, but I would never say absolutely hilarious... But I did enjoy it. It was a light, fluffy read that went quickly.

The biggest drawback to this book was the stupid love triangle. Both guys were jerks, and I am so over the whole, "Will she, won't she," crap of cozies lately. And as a result, Melody and Marina often come off like they're still in junior high, rather than 27!

I'd read another book in the series for sure, but I'd certainly be happy to see the love triangle disappear.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book! Ghosts and friends & nonnie's biscuits. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Absolutely Fabulous.
What a brilliant book, so easy to get into and such a smooth read.
Melody Bittersweet is just the right amount of weirdo, I loved her, in fact she reminds me of me, even down to her questionable taste in men.
The story flowed nicely and was interesting with plenty of humour and a good dose of supernatural, fabulous characters that I couldn't help but love, my only bugbear was how she painted my hometown of Hull as grey and bland which was a bit harsh, but still I can't wait to read more of the Bittersweet mysteries.
Great Author

It was such a fun, hilarious read.

Melody Bittersweet and her family are a bit on the different side as they can see ghost. Melody knows she won't ever be normal so at the age of twenty-seven she decides it's time to branch off from her mother and grandmother and have her own ghostly business. She decides she wants to help get rid of ghosts, kind of like a ghostbuster but no strange vacuum thing. She will just talk to the ghost and see what is keeping them in the home, etc and see if she can help them move on.

Her rival is her ex-boyfriend Leo Dark who left her when he got his own television show, when she sees his show and it's feature of the Scarborough House and it's ghost, she decides that will be their first case. Donovan who wants to sell the house doesn't care who gets rid of the ghost so he pits Leo against Melody and her crew of two.

The ghost in the house are three brothers, one is only 21 while the other two are old ghost. They all have their reason for not leaving. Douglas wants to know which brother really killed him, Isaac won't leave till he is found innocent and Leo his a bitter, bitter ghost with lots of problems. Melody is determined to help them and goes on trying to solve a century-old murder case.

As Melody and her crew consisting of her friend and a young boy she hires because a ghost ask her too are in for a fun adventure. Melody is so much fun, she is really snarky but determined to make a go at her new business. She has two hot guys to try and figure out, her ex Leo and a reporter Fletch who can't stand her one moment and wants to kiss her the next. If I had to choose right now I think I like Fletch the best.

Her friend is hilarious and a bit odd but she needs to be to hang out with a woman who sees ghost. Artie is kind of shy at first but the more he hangs out with the two ladies they more they bring him out of his shell and he can be really funny. About halfway through the book a cool pug named Lestat comes into the picture and he brings a lot of laughs too.

I really loved this one and can't wait to read the next one!

Melody has just turned 27 and she feels she needs to do something with her life so she decides to open her own ghostbusting agency with her best friend Marina. Melody, her mum and gran can all see dead people.

Melody is hired to clear Scarborough House of ghosts but finds there is a reason for three brothers to still be haunting the house. One of the brothers was murdered over a 100 years ago and she needs to find out who killed him before they can move over to the other side. Her ex-boyfriend can also see ghosts and they are in competition to see who can rid the house of the ghosts first.

This is one of those books that makes you smile when you begin reading and continue to smile until the last page. This was a great book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot wait for the next one.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in return for an honest review. I haven't read any of kitty french's books before but when I saw this on the bookouture page I just had to read it. It is absolutely brilliant so funny and lighthearted and I fell in love with all of the characters esp Melody's hilarious granny. This book is so well written I just loved it and I'm delighted it's not a standalone... can't wait to Read their next adventure!!!

"Do you read cozy mysteries?" asked one of my bookish friends awhile ago.
"What the fig is a cozy mystery? I spluttered incredulously (I may be paraphrasing). Cozy and mystery just didn't​' sound like two words that should be together. So she tried to explain already knowing I wasn't listening, I'd made my mind up already.....I'd had the same reaction to friends recommendations to read Fifty Shades of Grey....of course in that instance I was right it sounded like torture and was torture (I'll never get those reading hours back). But gradually a few ended up on my TBR pile and would you credit it I quite enjoyed them. For me they've become a bit like Bake Off or Artist of the Year. Relaxing escapism.
So when this popped up on my radar it sounded like something to break up my usual diet of murder, death and errrmmm well that's it really, pretty much murder and death. So as a break let's read about a ghost busting agency.....oh wait. OK still with the death but this has one blinding difference.....it's funny as fig.
Melody Bittersweet (you can't get a more 'cozy' name than that) sees dead people. In fact her whole family does. Until now she's been working at Blithe Spirits with her mother and grandmother, acting as a conduit between the departed and those left behind. Buts she's just turned 27, the age her own father died. Her boyfriend has dumped her recently and gone onto daytime TV glory in the very field she so excels in. So she decides to set up a ghost busting agency with her best friend Marina ( what she lacks in medium skills she makes up with a vague threat of violence) Arthur (he makes up his lack with enthusiasm) and Lestat the pug. Their first job is at Scarborough Hall where the ghosts of three brothers are terrorising estate agents. Melody works out pretty quickly she needs to work out which one of the elder brothers killed the younger but she has to contend with competing for the job with the aforementioned ex and also a cynical, myth busting but incredibly sexy journalist.
I just loved this book. It's funny, and clever and just a little bit sexy (but not so sexy it puts me off my lemon drizzle). It has loads of laugh out moments and at no point takes itself seriously at all. I have the next installment to read soon (it's out in March so review to follow then) and am thoroughly looking forward to it.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this review copy.

Other reviews can be found at www.dejaread.simplesite.com.