Dead to the World: An E.J. Pugh Mystery

In Cooper’s lightweight 12th E.J. Pugh mystery (after 2013’s Gone in a Flash), the romance writer and unlicensed PI books a surprise weekend at a quaint B&B, in a small town in the Texas hill country, to celebrate the 20th wedding anniversary of her and her husband, Willis. On arrival, the B&B’s distraught owner confides in the couple that her father, who died during the D-day invasion, has returned from the dead. E.J. and Willis cheerily deal with the supposedly haunted house and a couple of murders, outguessing the local bumpkin police chief, who, sans Internet connection, seems trapped in the mid-20th century. Series fans may find comfort in the pleasant characterizations, as well as the descriptions of the B&B’s antiques and its sumptuous meals threatening E.J.’s recent weight loss. But newcomers may want to start by reading previous, more substantial entries. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Literary Agency. (Mar.)