THE FIRST THING WE DO...

*****

“How do you solve a hundred-year-old mystery. That is the problem for former investigator William Mills, who just wants a quiet, peaceful place to retire. With the help of Carol, a realtor, and a ghost cat, will he find the answers? I really enjoyed this book and found myself guessing throughout the book. The author reels you in and keeps you engaged. I will definitely be reading more from this author.”

*****

“What an amazing start. Being a Jewish woman with my heart in Israel, what the character William experienced in his past hit me so hard. It was beautiful how he was working so hard to overcome his pain and live again. The closeness he achieved with Carol was wonderful and uplifting, even though they were investigating a murder. And what a quirky murder and town! I think the Achoo cult was hilarious. Dante the ghost cat was one of my favorite characters. I’m looking forward to the next book.”

*****

“A fun cozy ghost mystery. It was a quick read. Enjoyed the ghost. It’s definitely an enjoyable read. Looking forward to more.”

*****

“I’ve been to Ashland and have seen a couple of Shakespeare plays there, and this story brought all that back. I loved the intrigue of the unknown manuscript. The secret plan to “update” Ashland was not only diabolical but downright awful. I loved the added mystery of Ophelia and Dante. I now want a Dante of my own. I loved reading this book and look forward to the next one!”

*****

“William, after the tragic death of his wife in Israel, decided to retire and relocate to a small town where his family vacationed when he was a child. He remembered all the good times he had had with the friends he had made in those summers. The town had changed as surmised. Theatre was alive and well – till the death occurred. Carol, a local, became a valuable friend. The Blue Lady, a ghost, and Dante, a ghost cat, became a big part of the story. Bad things were happening – needed to solve. Enjoy a good read.”

*****

“This was a strong start to the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mysteries series. It had a really unique concept and worked so well in the mystery genre. I was hooked from the first page and was invested in what was happening in this plot. I thought the use of the paranormal element was perfect, and I loved that the mystery was set in a theater. Glenn J Hill has a strong writing style, and I hope to read more in this series.”

*****

“Spooky adventure set in Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This book was quite interesting. I read it through in one sitting.

I enjoyed the paranormal aspects–a ghost seeking answers to how she died, and a spectral cat guardian–and the fact that the protagonist was a man. I also liked that the language was clean, and the central character wasn’t constantly “chasing skirts” while trying to solve the mysteries (one from long ago, one from the present)

William Mills moves to Ashland seeking to find solace and healing in the place where he spent his boyhood summers. Shortly after arriving, he begins experiencing paranormal events and is pulled into a murder mystery. After teaming up with a feisty real estate agent and the lead detective investigating the murder of a prominent citizen, he receives clues and help from two spirits: the Blue Lady, who disappeared in Ashland over 100 years before, and Dante, a supernatural feline. Can the 5 of them solve the murder and find the answers the Blue Lady seeks?

Read the book and find out!

I look forward to more of William Mills’ adventures in Ashland.”

****

“Enjoyed this ghostly mystery. Although it’s not the ghosts you need to be scared of as usual it’s the living humans. I also really enjoyed the recipes that are included at the end of the story. The way the characters were introduced and finding out the connections between them was well written and I felt were believable especially given one of them used to be an investigator and some of them. It’s easy to see there could end up maybe a romance for future books in series, I felt for the main character having lost his wife and the grief is too fresh for romance in this book but we’re happy to be friends. Which I like as I am able to have plastic relationships with men. A lot don’t think it’s possible so was nice to see something in the plot showing it’s possible.”

****

“This is book one in the Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mysteries. The cover initially drew me to the book. I’m glad I checked it out because it was intriguing from the start. The small town setting and all its characters were great. Long buried secrets came to light, and the drama kept me interested, and I was always waiting to see what was coming next. Watching William and Carol unravel this mystery was so entertaining. Throw in a ghost and a ghostly cat, and you have a wonderful cozy mystery. I will definitely be reading the next one in this series. I recommend this if you enjoy cozy mysteries and a bit of Shakespeare.”

****

“The First Thing We Do is Book 1: A Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery by Glen J Hill. I thought that this book was different. It is a paranormal/cozy mystery story. William is returning home to Ashland to retire. His family owns an enchanted bookstore. I liked the characters, and I think the author did a wonderful job introducing them and the town. There is mystery, betrayal, crooks, and a town left in a 50/50 protest. This story has something for every reader to enjoy. “

****

“The First Thing We Do… is the first book in Glenn J. Hill’s Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery series. William Mills returns home to Ashland, Oregon, after the tragic loss of his wife in a bombing that left him clinically dead for five minutes. That brief death leaves him with new abilities, though he doesn’t fully realize it at first. Instead of having a chance to heal, he finds himself caught up in a mystery involving a dead body, a four-hundred-year-old manuscript, a century-old missing person case, and a ghost cat.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the debate over the true authorship of Shakespeare’s plays. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of Henry Carey, son of Mary Boleyn and cousin to Elizabeth I, though the book doesn’t mention those details (that’s just the Tudor nerd in me coming out!). Another highlight is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the daughter of the wealthiest family in town, and how that cold case connects to events in the present.”