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Informationen zum Autor Jessica Fletcher i s a bestselling mystery writer who has a knack for stumbling upon real-life mysteries in her various travels. Donald Bain , the author of more than 120 books, collaborates with Renée Paley-Bain on this bestselling series. Klappentext Now in paperback in the USA Today bestselling series-Jessica Fletcher cleans house to catch a killer who hasn't got a ghost of a chance. UNREAL ESTATE Jessica's friend, Eve Simpson, has recently taken on the task of selling one of Cabot Cove's oldest properties-the Spencer Percy House. Its current occupant, Cliff Cooper, is convinced he's about to die and wants the house sold so he can give the proceeds to his grandson. But Eve's got quite a challenge on her hands. Not only is the building in deplorable physical condition, it is also rumored to be haunted. When Cliff's deadly premonition becomes a reality, some people aren't sure he died of natural causes. Now, as Jessica tries to get to the bottom of Cliff Cooper's death, a medium hired by Eve attempts to rid the house of the alleged apparition. But if Jessica isn't careful, she may be the one who joins the ranks of the dearly departed.Chapter One "I'm dying and I know it." Cliff Cooper stretched out a hand to me. "Will you help me, Jessica?" "Of course, Cliff," I said, taking his hand in both of mine. "But Seth Hazlitt says you still have plenty of good years ahead of you." Cliff pulled back his hand and shook his head. "I know the truth." He pressed his body forward and coughed into the pillow he'd been hugging. His pale face turned crimson with the exertion. "See?" he said, falling back against the raised mattress. "Dr. Hazlitt's a crazy optimist." "Can't say as I've ever been called that before, Cliff," Cabot Cove's favorite physician said as he folded the stethoscope he'd just used to listen to Cliff's chest. "If you'd take the medicines the nurses give you instead of tossing the pills in the flowerpot, you'd feel a lot better, and so would that plant." Seth gestured toward a drooping geranium next to vases of flowers lined up on the windowsill. "You can't fool an old carpenter. I know when my sanding days are over." Seth tucked his stethoscope into his black medical bag. "Probably breathing in all that sawdust instead of wearing a mask-which, by the way, I suggested to you years ago-landed you where you are. Too late to fix all the damage, but with your cooperation, we'd stand a chance of getting you out of here and back home into your recliner." "Sounds nice." Cliff sighed. "Thanks, Doc." Seth closed his medical bag and gave Cliff a pat on the arm. "I'll stop by later. In the meantime, try to be a good patient." "I'll try." Cliff gave Seth a wan smile. I accompanied Seth into the hall. "Is there really a chance for him to be able to return home?" "I wish I could say for sure. There was a good chance when he was first admitted, but he's refused to follow medical orders, rejected all the therapies we've recommended. And the longer he stays here lying on his back, the farther away his chances are of getting better. He's becoming weaker, getting frail. You have to use your muscles, or they atrophy." "That cough sounds terrible. It must take a lot out of him." "He has a bad cough, yes, but there's no underlying malignancy. In his case, getting well looks to be as dependent on willpower as it is on medicine. I hate to say that he's giving up, Jessica, but that's how it appears to me." "Oh, Seth, that's terrible. What can I do to help?" "Maybe you can talk some sense into him. He's turned away most of his visitors. Far as I know, you're among the few he's agreed to see." "I am? I can't imagine why. We're only casual friends. Haven't Lettie and Lucy been here to call on him?" "I don't believe so." "That's odd. T...
