Looking for a book set in a quirky small town with a hot grumpy doctor hero, a haunted bookshop and its reluctant ghost whisperer book shop owner, witty banter, unforgettable side characters (both living and dead), murder mystery and laugh-out-loud mayhem? Look no further…
Discover Cadaver Lab by Cat Johnson: A paranormal cozy mystery rom-com featuring a reluctant psychic, a grumpy doctor, and a ghost who won’t stop talking.
If you’ve been hunting for a paranormal cozy mystery rom-com that balances high-stakes intrigue with laugh-out-loud humor, you’ve just found your next obsession. Cadaver Lab is the first installment in a series that readers describe as a “lighthearted gem” filled with the perfect amount of steam, mystery, and small-town charm.
What it’s about…
A Shocking Start to a New Life
Natalie Chase thought the hardest part of her day was keeping her historic train depot bookstore, Once Upon a Vine, from going into the red. That was before she stepped into a high-voltage puddle during a Mudville monsoon. Technically, Natalie was dead for three and a half minutes before the town’s resident “hot, grumpy doctor,” Liam Walsh, restarted her heart.
Now, Natalie has a “gift” she never asked for: she can see and hear the dead. And Mudville’s ghosts are surprisingly chatty.
The Grumpy Doctor and the Reluctant Psychic
Natalie’s new reality involves a grumpy/sunshine dynamic with her neighbor, Dr. Liam Walsh, a man who prefers the company of cadavers to living people. While the town gossips that he’s anything from a Navy SEAL to a serial killer, Natalie discovers he’s actually running a Human Institute research lab—which is currently housing the body of Gabe, a ghost who insists he was murdered.
Who This Book is For
If you love the the CBS television show GHOSTS, or the spectral sleuthing of Ghost Whisperer but wished it had more romantic comedy and small-town quirks, this is your next read. It’s perfect for fans of the found family trope who enjoy watching a reluctant protagonist navigate her “new normal” with the help of a snarky ghost, a “stuck-up” cat named Mr. Darcy, and a brilliant but antisocial doctor. Whether you are looking for a cozy autumn read or an unputdownable paranormal mystery, Mudville welcomes you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Cadaver Lab a standalone novel? Yes, Cadaver Lab is a standalone story with a complete mystery arc and a Happy Ever After (HEA), though it serves as the first book in the Cadaver Lab series. The series continues with the same heroine and hero, but a new murder mystery that gets solved and completely wrapped up by the last page of each book.
Does this book have romance? Absolutely. It features a central Grumpy/Sunshine romance with a “slow burn” tension that develops between Natalie and the brilliant, military-medic-turned-researcher, Dr. Liam Walsh.
What is the spice level of Cadaver Lab? Readers have praised the book for having the “perfect amount of steam,” moving from witty banter to heartfelt, romantic moments.
The Graveyard Secrets Series Order
- Cadaver Lab: A Rom Com…with Corpses
- Cadaver Lab 2: Ghostly Hearts & Body Parts
- Cadaver Lab 3: Spirited Shenanigans
- Cadaver Lab 4: Grave’s Anatomy
- Cadaver Lab 5: Mind Over Murder
Ready to visit Mudville? Begin your journey HERE with Cadaver Lab, Book 1 of 5 in the Graveyard Secrets Series.
Genre and Tropes:
Paranormal Romance, Cozy Mystery, Rom-Com, Grumpy/Sunshine Trope, Found Family, Small Town Mystery, Ghost Whisperer, Bookstore Romance, Romantic Comedy with Ghosts, Female Sleuth, Amateur Sleuth, Witty Banter and Quirky Side Characters.
The Graveyard Secrets series at a glance…
She Died for Three Minutes—Now the Local Ghosts Won’t Shut Up.
After a near-death experience leaves her seeing ghosts, a small-town bookstore owner must team up with her grumpy, cadaver-dissecting, hot doctor neighbor to solve a murder only she can see. It’s a spooky, steamy, and hilarious dive into a town where the secrets are as dead as the neighbors.