A Ghostly Secret: A Ghostly Southern Mystery

Welcome!  There are some new books coming out today.  The titles include:  The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, The Dream Keeper's Daughter by Emily Colin, Accidental Sire by Molly Harper, Let the Dead Speak by Jane Casey, Muffin to Fear by Victoria Hamilton, A Toast to Murder by Allyson K. Abbott, Knot What You Think by Mary Marks, The Stepchild by Joanne Fluke, Addressed to Kill by Jean Flowers, Wrong Side of the Paw by Laurie Cass, and A Ghostly Secret by Tonya Kappes.  I hope you find something new to add to your TBR pile!

A Ghostly Secret by Tonya Kappes is the seventh novel in A Ghostly Southern Mystery series.  Emma Lee Raines owns Eternal Slumber Funeral Home in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky.  Emma Lee is a “Betweener”.  She has the ability to help murdered spirits cross over to the other side by getting them closure (bringing their killer to justice).  Betsy, a young girl, and a cat named Mr. Whiskers are Emma Lee’s latest clients.  Betsy has been present for the last six months and has yet to remember what happened to her.  With a little help from Debbie Dually, a medium, Emma Lee discovers that Betsy died twenty years ago.  Sheriff Jack Henry Ross needs new evidence before he can open the case.  Emma Lee gets help from an unexpected source and sets out on the trail of Betsy’s killer.  Emma Lee is still dealing with the death of her sister, Charlotte Rae (why does everyone go by two names in small Southern towns).  She can always count on Granny to liven things up and shake her out of her doldrums.   Emma Lee mistakenly tells Granny a secret which leads to a surprise party (it will have you chuckling and shaking your head in disbelief) and a serious talk between Jack Henry and Emma Lee.  Come to Sleepy Hollow for Emma Lee’s latest ghost adventure in A Ghostly Secret.

A Ghostly Secret is an entertaining paranormal mystery novel.  The story contains good writing with a nice, easy pace. The characters are well-developed and multifaceted.  While I do find Granny annoying and over-the-top at times, she is entertaining.  Granny provides humor (a lightness) that the story needs.  There is romance in the story, but it does not dominate the story (thank heavens).  I really appreciate the well-rounded, balanced story—good characters, mystery, spirits, animals, romance, family, friendship, ghosts and more.  My rating for A Ghostly Secret is 4.5 out of 5 stars.  If the whodunit in A Ghostly Secret had been harder to solve, it would be a 5 star review.   I identified the perpetrator early in the story (insert sigh).   It was great that the mystery was a cold case (and nicely plotted out too). I find that refreshing (instead of the main character stumbling over a dead body in the first chapter).  I liked the new character introduced in A Ghostly Secret (spoiler).  This woman is smart, observant, and friendly.  She is a great addition to the series.  I am not sure if A Ghostly Secret can be read as a stand-alone.  The main details are present (for example:  how Emma Lee obtained her abilities, romantic history with Jack Henry, her families history with Eternal Slumber), but you might be a little lost (not knowing how Charlotte Rae died). A Ghostly Secret captured my attention and held it throughout the whole story (which is so rare).  I look forward to reading the next installment in A Ghostly Southern Mystery series. 

I would love to get comfortable in a chair and read, but I need to do some housework.  The last time my mother "helped" me, she broke the vacuum (I had to buy a new one).  I will be back tomorrow to share my thoughts on Accidental Sire by Molly Harper.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader