Ashes to Ashes is the first in a series of mystery novels featuring Rebecca Reid a historian working on her doctorate. When Rebecca is offered a job evaluating the estate of a man who collected many items of Scottish historical value, she is unable to resist despite the protests of her rather stodgy fiance. Rebecca find her new home intriquing as the estate is a replica of a real Scottish castle. But it appearts to be haunted by its deceased owners. Or is it? Why are so many antiques disappearing? Rebecca is easily able to believe that ghosts might move perfume bottles around, but when valuable items disappear, she suspects an outside hand. Two gorgeous guys complicate the plot as does Rebecca's own desire to find a letter that may help her thesis. Rebecca's engagement is soon broken off as she attempts to solve the mystery of where the antiques are going and which one of these hunks she is interested in.

Fans of Ms. Carl will recognize this book. It was published in paperback in 1990 and has been (thankfully) brought back by Fictionwise in electronic form along with many other Lillian Stewart Carl books--both scifi and mystery.

Lillian Stewart Carl is a master hand at providing light, entertaining reading. The haunting of the castle adds tension but is not the sort of thing to keep the timid reader up nights. Ashes to Ashes is a fun read and I look forward to reading more of the series.