Kooky Spooky Love Summary, Characters and Themes

Kooky Spooky Love by Josie Silver is a delightful blend of paranormal investigation and romance. Melody Bittersweet, a young woman with the unique ability to see ghosts, runs a ghost-busting agency in Chapelwick.

She’s determined to carve out her own niche in a family business that’s steeped in tradition. In her latest assignment, Melody is called to Maplemead Castle, which has become a hotbed for paranormal activity. As she faces off with restless spirits, including the ghosts of a tragic circus troupe, she also grapples with her complicated relationships, particularly with a former lover and the enigmatic reporter Fletcher. In this charming, whimsical tale, Melody must confront not only the ghosts of the past but also the emotional ghosts in her own life. It’s the 2nd book in the Melody Bittersweet series.

Summary

Melody Bittersweet comes from a family of women with a special gift — the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. However, while her family has long been involved in the more traditional work of acting as intermediaries between the living and the dead, Melody decides to break away and start her own ghost-busting agency.

She aims to prove herself in the paranormal world and establish her own reputation. Her latest case takes her to Maplemead Castle, a grand yet eerie estate bought by an American couple, Lois and Barty Letterman.

The couple plans to turn the castle into a venue for parties and movies, but they’ve been plagued by strange, paranormal occurrences, including moving objects and unsettling noises.

Upon arriving at the castle, Melody is joined by her assistant Artie, a young man with a unique connection to her, and her longtime friend Marina, who’s always ready to offer a witty comment or a helping hand. The trio meets the Lettermans, whose personalities are as contrasting as the castle itself.

Lois is eccentric and full of energy, while her husband Barty is quiet and more reserved. Together, they explain the haunting experiences they’ve been facing, and they want Melody’s agency to clear out the ghosts before they have a film crew scheduled to shoot at the castle.

As Melody and her team explore the castle, they immediately notice the strange presence of the spirits. One ghost, in particular, catches their attention: a woman in a flapper-style dress, followed by a grumpy ringmaster and an aggressive man with a lion.

While some of the ghosts appear harmless, others, like the powerful lion, are deeply unsettling, causing Melody to briefly flee the castle. The next day, after some setbacks, Melody regroups with her team and prepares for a more professional approach to handling the situation.

However, things become complicated when Leo Dark, a former lover of Melody’s who also works in the ghost-hunting business, arrives at the castle with a television production crew, making the already difficult case even more challenging.

Despite the awkward tension between them, Melody and her team continue their investigation. They soon realize that the haunting is tied to the ghosts of a circus troupe, including the ringmaster, the lion, and other performers who died under mysterious circumstances in the castle.

As they attempt to help the spirits find peace, the pressure intensifies, particularly as media attention, fueled by a local journalist named Fletcher Gunn, grows. Melody’s complicated feelings for Fletcher add another layer of distraction as she tries to balance her professional responsibilities with her personal emotions.

With advice and support from her family, Melody pushes forward, determined to prove she is capable of solving the haunting and restoring peace to the castle. As the investigation progresses, tensions between Melody and Leo rise, especially when it becomes clear that Leo may still have unresolved feelings for the ghost of Britannia Lovell, a tragic acrobat from the circus troupe.

Melody becomes frustrated with Leo’s emotional entanglement, particularly since she feels that his attraction to the ghost is complicating the case.

Through a series of intense ghostly encounters and personal challenges, Melody and her team uncover the tragic backstory of Britannia Lovell. They learn that she was caught in a love triangle between her husband, Bohemia, and her lover, Dino.

Her death during a circus performance, under mysterious circumstances, left these spirits in a perpetual loop, unable to move on. Melody’s task becomes not only to help these spirits but to uncover the truth of Britannia’s death and free them from their ghostly bondage.

As the investigation reaches its climax, the team prepares for a final confrontation with the ghosts. During a grand ball at Maplemead Castle, Melody puts her plan into motion, hoping to provide Britannia with the closure she needs.

She arranges for Leo to be present during a reenactment of Britannia’s final performance, where he catches her as she falls from the trapeze, offering her a brief moment of peace. However, the resolution is bittersweet.

While Britannia finally finds closure, the ghosts of Bohemia and Dino are left heartbroken, unable to reconcile their unrequited love for her.

Melody, having completed her mission, reflects on the complexities of love, loss, and the emotional baggage that even ghosts carry. As she prepares to leave the castle behind, she shares a tender moment with Leo, acknowledging their shared history and the unresolved emotions between them.

The story ends with Melody moving on from the case, but carrying the weight of the experiences she’s had, both with the spirits and with the people in her life. The castle, though now free of its haunting, will always hold the memories of those who once roamed its halls, both living and dead.

Through her work, Melody not only helps the spirits of Maplemead Castle find peace but also learns valuable lessons about herself and the complicated nature of relationships. As the ghosts fade into the afterlife, Melody’s journey continues, offering a bittersweet but hopeful resolution to the story.

The ghosts may have moved on, but Melody’s own journey of personal growth and emotional healing is just beginning.

Characters

Melody Bittersweet

Melody Bittersweet is the central character of Kooky Spooky Love, a young woman who juggles the pressures of running a ghost-busting agency with her deep-rooted family legacy of communicating with the dead. Hailing from a long line of women gifted with the ability to see ghosts, Melody is determined to carve out her own path and make a name for herself, despite her family’s more traditional business of acting as intermediaries between the living and the dead.

She is a complex character, combining professionalism with vulnerability. Her commitment to helping people and confronting supernatural forces is evident in her work at Maplemead Castle, where she faces increasingly intense paranormal activity.

However, Melody’s personal life is equally complicated. She grapples with past romantic entanglements, especially with Leo Dark, an ex-lover who reappears in the midst of her investigations, causing emotional turbulence.

Her internal struggles—between love and loss, professional pride and self-doubt—add depth to her character. Despite moments of insecurity and humiliation, Melody shows great resilience, learning to navigate the delicate balance between her personal emotions and her responsibilities as a paranormal investigator.

Artie

Artie is a young man who works as Melody’s assistant at her ghost-busting agency. Though initially naive and somewhat earnest, Artie plays a significant role in supporting Melody throughout her investigations.

He was brought into the agency due to a personal connection to Melody’s deceased father, who requested that she look after him. Artie’s character brings a touch of warmth and innocence to the otherwise tense and eerie atmosphere of the story.

He admires Marina, one of the other key characters in the story, and often provides comic relief with his well-meaning but sometimes awkward demeanor. Artie may not have the same supernatural abilities as Melody, but his loyalty to her and his growing understanding of the ghostly phenomena are key to the success of their investigations.

Despite being somewhat inexperienced, he shows bravery and determination when faced with the challenges at Maplemead Castle.

Marina

Marina is Melody’s long-time friend and another key member of the team. Known for her quick wit and confident demeanor, Marina serves as a grounding force in the chaotic world of ghost-hunting.

She often acts as a sounding board for Melody, offering advice and much-needed humor in moments of tension. Her practical and no-nonsense approach to ghost-hunting balances out the more emotional aspects of the investigation.

Though Marina’s role may seem more supportive than central, her loyalty and unwavering support for Melody are crucial to the success of their mission. She is the kind of friend who, despite occasional banter, remains steadfast in the face of danger and uncertainty.

Her character highlights the importance of friendship and trust, especially in high-pressure situations.

Leo Dark

Leo Dark is a former lover of Melody’s, whose reappearance in the story adds emotional complexity to the narrative. He is a professional in the ghost-hunting business and has his own team, which causes tension with Melody, especially when he arrives at Maplemead Castle with a TV crew.

Leo’s presence is a source of both romantic and professional conflict, as Melody is forced to confront unresolved feelings and lingering jealousy over his apparent attraction to Britannia, one of the ghosts at the castle. Despite their shared past, Leo’s attitude towards Melody is often distant, and his involvement with the ghostly figure of Britannia deepens the rift between them.

His professional detachment and reluctance to share important information further frustrate Melody, but as the investigation progresses, Leo’s emotional turmoil becomes more apparent. His connection to Britannia complicates his relationship with Melody, as he struggles with his feelings of guilt and unrequited love.

Leo is a tragic character, torn between the past and his inability to move forward, especially in his interactions with Melody and the ghosts that haunt Maplemead.

Lois and Barty Letterman

Lois and Barty Letterman are an eccentric American couple who have recently bought Maplemead Castle and plan to transform it into a venue for parties and films. Lois is bubbly, enthusiastic, and often overbearing, while Barty is more reserved and focused on the grandeur of the castle.

Their motivations for hiring Melody’s agency are less about genuinely seeking help with the paranormal and more about the publicity it can bring them. Lois is particularly obsessed with the spectacle of the haunting and often insists on staying at the castle despite the increasing danger.

Barty, on the other hand, is more concerned with the castle’s aesthetics and comfort, often appearing indifferent to the paranormal occurrences. Their relationship with Melody’s team is a mixture of tension and business-like interaction, as they pressure the team to deal with the ghosts swiftly and efficiently in order to meet their personal goals.

Despite their superficial concerns, Lois and Barty add a layer of complexity to the story, embodying the contrast between the ghosts’ tragic histories and the living’s more trivial concerns.

Britannia Lovell

Britannia Lovell is one of the primary ghosts haunting Maplemead Castle. A tragic figure, Britannia was a beautiful acrobat who died under mysterious circumstances, and her ghost is stuck in a repetitive loop, reenacting her death in a trapeze accident.

She is part of a complicated love triangle with Bohemia, her husband, and Dino, her passionate lover, both of whom still harbor deep emotional attachments to her even after death. Britannia’s character is both haunting and heartbreaking, as her unresolved emotional conflicts are reflected in her restless spirit.

Throughout the story, Melody uncovers more about Britannia’s past, including her troubled relationships and the possibility that she may have intentionally caused her own death, possibly due to the emotional turmoil she was facing. Britannia’s connection to Leo adds another layer of complexity, as Leo’s unresolved feelings for her cloud his ability to focus on his work and complicate his relationship with Melody.

Despite her ghostly presence, Britannia is portrayed as a deeply human character, caught in the tragic consequences of her choices and unable to find peace until Melody unravels the full truth of her death.

Fletcher Gunn

Fletcher Gunn, a local journalist with whom Melody has a complicated history, is another central figure in the story. Though he initially appears as a somewhat intrusive reporter, his relationship with Melody evolves throughout the narrative.

Fletcher often flirts with Melody, despite her clear disinterest, and his presence only heightens the emotional tension surrounding her investigations. As the story progresses, Fletcher opens up about his own personal struggles, particularly his strained relationship with his alcoholic mother, which provides some insight into his character.

This vulnerability leads to a deeper emotional connection between him and Melody, and they share several intimate moments throughout the story. Fletcher is an intriguing character because, while he initially seems like a mere distraction, he ultimately becomes a source of emotional support for Melody as she navigates the ghosts and the complications in her personal life.

His relationship with Melody is complex, moving from flirtation to a more genuine emotional bond, making him a key figure in her emotional journey.

Themes

The Struggle Between Professionalism and Personal Emotions

In Kooky Spooky Love, Melody is faced with a constant tug-of-war between maintaining a professional demeanor in her ghost-hunting business and navigating her deeply tangled personal emotions. As a paranormal investigator, Melody is expected to maintain control over chaotic and often unsettling situations involving restless spirits.

However, her personal relationships complicate this professional obligation. The arrival of Leo Dark, her ex-lover and rival in the ghost-hunting business, stirs up unresolved feelings, forcing Melody to confront the emotional baggage that clouds her focus.

This tension is further heightened by the media circus surrounding the haunting, particularly the presence of Fletcher Gunn, a journalist with whom Melody shares a complicated flirtation. Despite these distractions, Melody strives to keep the investigation on track, learning how to balance her emotional turmoil with her responsibilities.

Her internal conflict mirrors the challenges that anyone in a professional environment faces when personal issues encroach upon their work, forcing her to find a delicate equilibrium between duty and emotion.

Love, Loss, and Unresolved Relationships

At the heart of the ghostly happenings in Maplemead Castle lies the theme of love, loss, and the unresolved emotions that linger even after death. The tragic love triangle between Britannia, Bohemia, and Dino serves as a central narrative, with the ghosts repeating their painful pasts, unable to move on due to their unresolved feelings.

Britannia’s tragic death, possibly by her own hand, becomes a focal point for Melody’s investigation as she uncovers the complexities of her relationships and the reasons behind her sorrow. The ghosts’ inability to find peace until their stories are understood reflects the powerful grip that love and loss can have, not just on the living but on the dead as well.

Melody’s role in helping these spirits find closure mirrors the real-life need for individuals to address unresolved feelings in order to move forward. Through Melody’s interactions with the ghosts, particularly her empathy towards Britannia, the novel explores how love can be both a source of immense joy and overwhelming sorrow, leaving emotional scars that transcend the boundaries of life and death.

Friendship and Teamwork

Melody’s journey is not a solitary one. Throughout the investigation at Maplemead Castle, her friends and colleagues play a pivotal role in supporting her both emotionally and professionally.

Artie, the earnest and somewhat naive assistant, and Marina, the quick-witted and confident friend, stand by Melody through the ups and downs of the haunting. Despite the eerie atmosphere and the increasing danger from the spirits, Melody’s team sticks together, providing a sense of solidarity that helps her stay focused on the task at hand.

The importance of teamwork is evident as they collaborate to uncover the truth behind the haunting, each contributing in their own way to the investigation. The bonds of friendship, loyalty, and mutual respect provide a steady foundation for Melody as she faces the challenges of her work and her personal life.

The novel suggests that while individual strength is necessary, the support of a dedicated team can make all the difference in overcoming obstacles, both supernatural and emotional.

The Intersection of Past and Present

In Kooky Spooky Love, the ghosts of Maplemead Castle are trapped in a cycle of reliving their pasts, their unresolved issues preventing them from moving on to the afterlife. The theme of the past’s influence on the present is explored through the ghosts’ constant reenactment of their deaths, and through Melody’s investigation into their lives.

The connection between the present-day paranormal activity and the castle’s tragic history becomes clear as Melody digs deeper into the lives of the spirits, particularly the circus troupe whose members are still bound to the castle by the tragedies they experienced. The theme of the past influencing the present is further highlighted through Melody’s personal journey, as she confronts her own unresolved relationships, particularly with Leo.

Her work to uncover the mysteries of the past mirrors her own need to come to terms with her past in order to move forward. This intersection between past and present highlights how unresolved history—whether it be personal or supernatural—can shape one’s current reality, influencing decisions, emotions, and actions.

Redemption and Closure

The theme of redemption and closure is crucial to the resolution of Kooky Spooky Love, particularly in the case of the ghosts that haunt Maplemead Castle. For Melody, the ultimate goal is not just to investigate the supernatural occurrences but to help the spirits find peace and move on from their tragic pasts.

This process of redemption is particularly poignant with the ghost of Britannia, whose tragic life and death are shrouded in love, regret, and loss. Melody’s efforts to uncover the truth about Britannia’s death and her subsequent involvement in a final, redemptive moment—catching her ghostly self during the fatal performance—offer closure to both the spirit and to Melody herself.

The novel suggests that redemption is not just about external events but also about internal resolution, as seen in Melody’s evolving relationship with Leo and her ability to finally address the lingering tension between them. Closure, both for the spirits and for Melody, comes through the understanding and acknowledgment of past wrongs, with the characters finding the strength to let go and move forward.

The Power of Belief and Skepticism

Throughout the investigation at Maplemead Castle, Kooky Spooky Love also touches on the tension between belief and skepticism, particularly in how people approach the supernatural. Melody, raised in a family of ghost seers, is well-versed in the paranormal and approaches her work with a professional yet open-minded attitude.

However, others around her, including the eccentric Lois and the media-driven Leo, tend to be more skeptical or exploitative in their approach. The contrasting perspectives on the supernatural—Melody’s grounded belief in her abilities versus Leo’s showmanship and Lois’s obsession with publicity—highlight the differing ways people interact with the unknown.

Melody’s unwavering belief in the reality of the ghosts contrasts with the more commercialized approach that Leo represents, and this tension forms a part of the broader theme of how belief, whether in the supernatural or in one’s abilities, shapes one’s actions and interactions. The novel suggests that while skepticism is healthy, true understanding and resolution come from a belief in the unseen, whether it be in ghosts, in love, or in one’s own capacity to overcome challenges.