Eat, Drink, and Be Scary Review: Charming and Witty Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Ready for a quirky, spooky mystery with a dash of humour? Eat, Drink, and Be Scary by Olivia Jaymes takes you into the charmingly paranormal town of Ravenmist, where a cosy mystery unfolds in the most unexpected ways. If you’re into small-town mysteries with a mix of supernatural vibes, this one might just be the perfect autumn read.

My Rating:

❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

"Charming and witty paranormal cozy mystery."

Check Eat, Drink, and Be Scary on Goodreads

What is Eat, Drink, and Be Scary about?

The story centers around Theodosia "Tedi" Hamilton, who runs the Ravenmist Inn in the quirky town of Ravenmist. Everything is going smoothly during the town’s annual Fall Festival until—surprise, surprise—a guest is found dead. What was meant to be a fun and festive time quickly turns into a murder mystery, with Tedi’s inn at the heart of the commotion.

As the protagonist, Tedi is sarcastic, witty, and full of personality, making her feel less like a character and more like your own friend narrating her escapades. The writing, feels personal and conversational, almost like you’re sitting across from Tedi, sipping coffee, and listening to her tell you what’s going on.

What makes Eat, Drink, and Be Scary worth reading?

The strongest aspect of this book is Olivia Jaymes’ writing style. It’s light-hearted and humorous, blending mystery with paranormal elements effortlessly. The sarcastic tone of Tedi keeps you entertained, and the small-town setting of Ravenmist is described so vividly that you feel like a part of the community, enjoying the Fall Festival alongside the quirky characters.

But then… the shine fades a little

After the promising setup, the story begins to lose some of its quirky charm and shifts into a more traditional narrative. Instead of Tedi leading the charge in solving the murder, the focus shifts toward the sheriff’s investigation, with Tedi playing more of a nosey neighbour.

At times, Tedi’s character also becomes a bit irritating. Her meddling in the investigation feels less like clever sleuthing and more like she’s getting in the way, almost causing more harm than help.

To the author’s credit, Tedi does manage to help solve the mystery in the end, saving the day (and the book). And the writing regains its humorous tone, where Tedi goes back to interacting with the reader directly, recapturing that cosy, conversational feel.

To read or not to?

If you love quirky characters, charming small-town settings, and a light mystery, Eat, Drink, and Be Scary is definitely worth a read. Even though it loses its edge for a bit, the overall story is fun and entertaining, with enough spookiness to keep you engaged.

Final Thoughts

Olivia Jaymes does a fantastic job setting the stage with humour, a quirky protagonist, and a vividly drawn small-town setting. While the narrative pace stumbles a bit in the middle, Eat, Drink, and Be Scary redeems itself by bringing back the cosy, humorous tone that made the book so engaging to begin with. It’s a perfect light-hearted mystery for fans of paranormal cosies who enjoy a mix of charm and spook.

Liked this book review?

Join Book Blabbers WhatsApp group to bond over books, memes and quotes.

Subscribe to Book Blabber's Bulletin to get book summaries, reading tips and occasional hugs in your inbox.