Christine Pope Does It Again: Dead to Rites Book Review

Christine Pope delivers a well-written paranormal cozy mystery filled with ghosts, family secrets, unexpected twists, and just a hint of romance. Dead to Rites, the first book in the Last Call series, introduces readers to an unconventional heroine, a haunted wine bar, and a murder mystery where even the dead don’t necessarily have all the answers.

A Fresh Start with a Supernatural Twist

Lorelei Cosgrove isn’t your typical cozy mystery heroine. A twenty-something gothabilly enthusiast who favors black clothing, Lorelei is still recovering from the sudden loss of her parents in a plane crash a year earlier. Although their deaths left her financially comfortable, the emotional toll has been significant. Her once-promising Etsy business, where she upcycles vintage clothing, has fallen by the wayside as she struggles to find her footing again.

Then her Great Aunt Hazel passes away, leaving Lorelei an unexpected inheritance: a beautiful Victorian home in Prescott, Arizona, vintage jewelry, a classic Cadillac, and ownership of Copper State Cellars, a local wine bar.

It’s an opportunity for a fresh start, but Aunt Hazel has left her something else, too.

After a bee sting sends Lorelei into anaphylactic shock, she discovers that she’s inherited a rather unusual family ability: she can communicate with ghosts.

And apparently, Prescott has a few ghosts with stories to tell.

As Lorelei settles into her new life, she begins learning the ins and outs of Copper State Cellars from Roz, the longtime manager. She also gets to know some of the regular customers, including Father Frank, a beloved local priest who was a close friend of Aunt Hazel’s.

Then there’s Mack, a Prohibition-era federal agent who was killed on the property nearly a century earlier. Unlike the living customers, Mack isn’t going anywhere.

When Father Frank is murdered in the wine bar’s restroom, Lorelei suddenly finds herself investigating a crime with an unusual advantage: she can actually speak to the victim.

Unfortunately, Father Frank doesn’t know who killed him. And the secrets he learned in the confessional aren’t necessarily secrets he’s willing to share, even in death.

As Lorelei begins piecing together the clues, she also starts wondering whether her great-aunt’s death might be connected to the murder.

What Makes Dead to Rites Different?

One of the things that makes Dead to Rites stand out is Lorelei herself. She’s not your typical cozy mystery heroine, and that’s a refreshing change! With her all-black wardrobe, love of the gothabilly scene, and creative, independent spirit, Lorelei brings a wonderfully unconventional personality to the story.

She’s quirky without feeling like a caricature, and her alternative style is simply part of who she is rather than something that needs explaining or changing. I especially appreciate that Pope allows Lorelei to be unapologetically herself, proving that a cozy mystery heroine doesn’t have to fit the traditional mold to find herself at the center of a good mystery.

One of the details I particularly appreciated was Lorelei’s Etsy business, where she upcycles vintage clothing. It’s such a unique and interesting occupation for a protagonist, and I hope we get to see more of her creative side in future books.

There’s something appealing about a heroine who has an identity and interests outside of solving mysteries. Lorelei isn’t a detective by profession, and she certainly didn’t move to Prescott intending to become one. She’s a young woman trying to rebuild her life, figure out what to do with an unexpected inheritance, and perhaps rediscover the creative spark she lost after her parents’ deaths.

The fact that she happens to see ghosts just makes things a little more complicated.

Ghosts, Secrets, and a Murder Mystery

One of the interesting elements of Dead to Rites is how Pope incorporates the supernatural into the mystery. Lorelei’s ability to communicate with ghosts might seem like it would make solving a murder relatively easy. After all, wouldn’t it be convenient if the victim could simply identify the killer?

But Pope doesn’t make things quite that simple.

Father Frank may be dead, but he still has secrets. His position as a priest adds another layer of complication, particularly when information revealed during confession might help explain his murder.

Mack, meanwhile, brings a completely different perspective to Copper State Cellars. As a federal agent who met his end during Prohibition, he’s a reminder that the building has a history extending well beyond Lorelei’s arrival.

I like the idea that a place can hold onto its past, sometimes quite literally. The ghosts aren’t simply there to provide spooky atmosphere. They have histories, personalities, and connections to the mysteries unfolding around Lorelei.

Pope also does an excellent job of keeping readers guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured out who committed the murder, another twist comes along and sends your suspicions in an entirely different direction. The twists and turns kept me turning pages, and the eventual revelation challenged my assumptions about the mystery.

A Little Romance Along the Way

Of course, what’s a cozy paranormal mystery without a little romantic complication?

Following her allergic reaction, Lorelei meets Adam, the handsome emergency room doctor who treats her. He’s attractive, successful, and seemingly perfect on paper. When he asks her out, she agrees.

But sometimes perfect on paper doesn’t translate into butterflies in your stomach.

Enter Jude, a young man who has left the priesthood and is grieving the loss of Father Frank, someone who meant a great deal to him. His first encounter with Lorelei is anything but smooth, yet there’s an undeniable attraction between them.

What makes Jude particularly interesting is his backstory. The circumstances surrounding his decision to leave the priesthood give his character an additional layer of complexity, and his connection to Father Frank provides a natural reason for him and Lorelei to work together.

Their shared determination to uncover the truth creates an opportunity for their relationship to develop beyond that rocky first impression.

I’m particularly interested in seeing how Pope handles their relationship in future books. There’s clearly more to explore with Jude, and I’m curious to see where things go between him and Lorelei.

Final Thoughts on Dead to Rites

Dead to Rites combines an unusual heroine, an atmospheric Arizona setting, supernatural elements, family secrets, and a mystery filled with enough red herrings to keep readers questioning their theories until the end.

The combination of Lorelei’s unconventional personality, the history surrounding Copper State Cellars, and the ghosts who inhabit her new world gives the series plenty of possibilities for future stories.

I’m especially curious to see what comes next for Lorelei and Jude, whether she’ll find her way back to her creative pursuits, and what other secrets might be waiting in Prescott.

Looking for more Christine Pope?

If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries with quirky characters, ghostly encounters, and a little romance, check out my review of Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun, another Christine Pope mystery featuring a heroine with supernatural abilities, a haunted house, and a ghost who has a mystery of his own to solve.

Because apparently, I have a thing for ghosts who refuse to rest in peace. 👻