The dead don’t usually ask for help. Well, around me they do.
But when the silent spirit of Sir Nathan Trimbolt appears in my café, I don’t have much choice.
Sir Nathan returned home from the Battle of Waterloo only to be murdered days later. Now he’s cursed to roam the grounds of Trimbolt Manor, unable to rest until he uncovers the truth behind his death. The problem? He remembers almost nothing about how he died.
Rumours swirl that it’s the ghostly hound of the Trimbold mire that killed him.
Locals insist it’s only a legend—an old ghost story tied to the decaying estate at the edge of Misty Valley. But legends don’t stalk the grounds at night. And they don’t leave behind very real signs of violence.
As a fledgling witch in the middle of the Wobblies—that delightful stage where magic misfires more often than it behaves—I’m already struggling to keep my powers under control. A limiter bracelet keeps my magic dampened for everyone’s safety, including my own. Unfortunately, it also means I’m investigating a centuries-old murder and a very present supernatural threat with one hand tied behind my back.
The deeper I dig into the history of Trimbolt Manor, the clearer it becomes that the hound isn’t just haunting the estate.
It’s guarding something.
And if I make the wrong move, I won’t just condemn a restless spirit to wander forever—I’ll unleash something Misty Valley was never meant to face.
Coffee Grounds and Ghostly Hounds is a gothic-tinged urban fantasy mystery filled with cursed estates, restless spirits, and a witch forced to choose between safety and power. Perfect for readers who enjoy high supernatural stakes wrapped in a cozy mystery atmosphere—where even the quietest ghosts have deadly secrets.
Alyn Troy is American from the Midwest (Indiana) who writes The Mystic Brews and Pixie Twist series of Cozy Mysteries. In addition to Indiana, he's lived in Southern California, where the Pixie Twist series is set, and has served as a history docent on notable pier in SoCal. In his past lives, he's been a journalist, a wedding photographer, and an adjunct professor. Alyn gets daily assistance from his fuzzy familiar (AKA "Lord Fuzzbutt"). When not helping his human with the writing of paranormal cozy mysteries, Lord Fuzzbutt likes to sit out outside and watch the hummingbirds dart about like pixies. He often yowls at the door, waiting to head to the patio for chipmunk duty. Fortunately, the little rodents are craftier than Fuzzbutt is. Alyn's beverage of choice is dark roast coffee with a dash of honey, and a splash of half-n-half. In addition to being half-way competent with his home espresso machine, Alyn makes a mean Mai Tai.