Catriona McPherson, in her standalone novels anyway, is a master at creating creepy situations that eventually resolve into the making of warm communities. I guess that makes her the queen of gothic cozies. In A Gingerbread House, she’s hit it with another one.
Tash Dodd has discovered that her family’s transport business is involved in trafficking. She wants to take over the business and put things right, so instead of informing the police, she lodges her proof and presents her father with an ultimatum—retire or else. Then she goes into hiding to give him a week to think it over.
While she’s been away training to turn her business to greater good, she’s caught glimpses of some women just before their lives completely change. Someone is creating elaborate hoaxes to lure one lonely woman after another into a Victorian gingerbread-style house. The first is Ivy, an older woman who would like a friend but would settle for a cat. Instead, she meets Kate, who claims her twin sister looks just like Ivy. Please come to the house to meet her. Kate has a surprise in store for Ivy.
As usual, McPherson creates likable heroines—this time four of them—and there are friendly neighbors and a hint of a love interest. I enjoyed myself very much.
whatmeread 
I still haven’t read anything by Catriona McPherson, but I have a copy of her new book, In Place of Fear, which I’m hoping to read soon.
I don’t have that one yet. I suppose you get them first in Britain.
Looks like I don’t even have a delivery date for it yet. Boo hoo! I hope you enjoy it.
Gothic cozies sounds like a great genre! Must try her books…
I like her standalone books better than her mysteries. The standalones are the gothic cozies.