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Today I’m sharing a fun character guest post from Marcy Blesy’s Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused. You’ll get a peek into the story through the eyes of Prudence, a rather observant cat who has quite a bit to say about the happenings at the Empty Nest Retreat.
Character Guest Post: Prudence the Talking Cat from Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused by Marcy Blesy
My name is Prudence. I suppose some might call me a talking cat, but I’m really more the observant type. You won’t hear much from me in Marcy Blesy’s new paranormal cozy mystery called Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused. I prefer to stay in the shadows and watch the odd ducks who attend the Empty Nest Retreat that my owner Ms. Esther organizes every summer. Allegedly, these parents are having a rough time with their kiddos growing up and moving out. Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen? I mean, I was on my own after a few weeks. Humans are so weird.
Anyway, this week has been extra odd. There is a very special guest at the retreat this week. Her name is Juli. I’ve heard Ms. Esther and her husband Roger talking about if Juli might be special, specifically if she might be a magical nester. Now, I’ve heard that name before. I have nine lives after all. However, it’s very rare. I’m excited because usually magical nesters kind of wig out as they try to control their newfound powers. It’s comical. But this lady is different. She’s not just haywiring, she’s being accused of murder! That’s a twist I didn’t see coming.
I’m quite disappointed that I don’t have any clue who the real killer is, but I know it’s not Juli. She may be a magical nester, but she’s no killer. She has some equally quirky friends. I think they will figure this all out before the week’s over. I have a sixth sense about things. But I’m going to be extra observant because they might need help.
I have a bit of a sketch life. We don’t need to go into my past. Stop being nosy. However, I’m making amends now. People say I’m cantankerous, whatever that means. I think they are lucky to have me. I’m kind of like a guard dog, but better because…dogs?? EWWW!
Anyway, I can guarantee you will have a fun time with Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused. Some say it pulls at the heartstrings, too, but ick. Let’s not go getting all sentimental.
I’m feeling tired now, so go do your thing. I’m going to curl up in front of the fireplace in the library. There’s a chair that has my name on it. Catch ya on the flip side!
Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused (The Empty Nest Mystical Cozy Mystery Series) by Marcy BlesyAbout Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused
Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused (The Empty Nest Mystical Cozy Mystery Series)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Michigan
Publisher : Independently Published
Publication date : February 25, 2026
Print length : 236 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 : 979-8247248682
ASIN : B0GQBPXL2G
Digital
ASIN : B0GKJBBR79
The Empty Nest Retreat was supposed to help Juli find herself. Not question her sanity—or reality.
When Juli Tully’s kids fly the coop and she takes early retirement, the silence in her house is deafening—and not in a calming, spa-music kind of way. At her mother’s not-so-subtle urging, she signs for the Empty Nest Retreat at the Sand Bur Estate, a stately mansion perched on the windswept dunes of Lake Michigan.
Juli nearly bolts when she learns the retreat is phone-free. No texts. No doom-scrolling. No emergency updates from her kids. Instead, she’s stuck with an unusual group of fellow empty nesters: Nelle, a perpetually cheerful optimist; Kimmie, a bubbly influencer convinced the estate is magical; and Jedd, an arrogant dad who fancies himself Parent of the Year—and takes an instant dislike to Juli.
Then things get… strange.
Temperatures swing wildly. Lights flicker. Objects float. Juli can’t tell if her menopausal symptoms have gone off the rails or if rumors about the estate’s supernatural past are true.
Between meditation sessions and awkward financial-planning talks, one of the estate’s employees dies under suspicious circumstances. Thanks to Juli’s increasingly unpredictable “episodes,” she becomes the prime suspect.
With a murder to solve, a reputation to save, and a sarcastic talking cat who knows more than she’s letting on, Juli must uncover the truth—before this empty nest lands her in handcuffs.
If you love:
- Empty nest reinvention
- Midlife amateur sleuth
- Retreat gone wrong
- Isolated estate near Lake Michigan
- Light paranormal elements
- Self-help retreat chaos
- Haunted (or is it?) mansion
- Sarcastic talking cat
- Humor with heart
- Found family friendships
- Wrongly suspected heroine
- Cozy whodunit
You’ll adore this humorous cozy mystery set along the shores of Lake Michigan!
Empty nests bring new beginnings… and unexpected secrets.
About Marcy Blesy
Marcy Blesy is the author of over thirty books across genres, best known for her Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series and the Monthly Murder Movie Club Cozy Mystery Series —humorous, heartwarming whodunits filled with senior sleuths, quirky characters, and animal sidekicks. Her cozy mysteries spotlight midlife reinvention, found family, and laugh-out-loud amateur sleuthing, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Finlay Donovan, and The Golden Girls.
Marcy also writes the Ghost Texter Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series, starring a kindergarten teacher-turned-reluctant sleuth, and the Secrets romantic mystery duo (The Secret of Blue Lake and The Secret of Silver Beach), transporting readers to the scenic and suspenseful shores of Michigan.
For younger readers, Marcy’s best-selling Be the Vet series offers interactive veterinary mysteries for kids ages 9–13. Her early chapter book series—Evie and the Volunteers, Niles and Bradford, Third Grade Outsider, and Hazel, the Clinic Cat—delight animal lovers and growing readers alike.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find Marcy treasure-hunting along Lake Michigan in search of rare red beach glass. She believes every story should offer heart, humor, and a hint of hope—whether it’s solving a mystery or chasing a dream.
Author Links
Purchase Links
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Thank you to Marcy Blesy for stopping by and sharing Prudence’s perspective with us! If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and a memorable cast of characters, this one is worth adding to your TBR.
Be sure to browse more bookish features, guest posts, and cozy finds while you’re here on the blog.
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! —Michelle❤️
