The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum

Maddie Kosloski, the narrator of this diverting series debut from Weiss (The Hoodoo Detective), plans to spruce up the museum side of Chuck’s Chicken Shack and Paranormal Museum in her hometown of San Benedetto, Calif., while her friend Adele Nakamoto transforms the chicken side into a tea house. When Maddie and Adele spot a dead woman sprawled in the passage connecting the museum and the shack, the body turns out to be that of the cheat-mate of Adele’s former fiancé, and Adele is arrested for murder. Dieter Finkielkraut, Adele’s contractor, has some explaining to do, as Maddie discovers, particularly about his constant flow of on-the-job visitors. Meanwhile, Maddie has to contend with the members of the ghost-hunters group who meet in the museum, as well as nasty Laurel Hammer, one of the detectives investigating the murder, who has bullied Maddie since their early school years. Humor, hints of romance, and twists and turns galore elevate this cozy about the average. (Mar.)