Ghost Ups Her Game by Carolyn Hart

Welcome!  It is the first day of August which means the hottest days of the summer are ahead of us in Florida.  The perfect time to stay inside with a cool drink and an ereader full of books.  The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis is out today along with Across the Winding River by Aimee K. Runyan, and Trust No One by Debra Webb.  Castelmezzano, The Witch is Dead by Adriana Licio is now out.  It is the prequel to the author's new Italian cozy mystery series, The Homeswappers.  What is next on your TBR list?

Ghost Ups Her Game by Carolyn Hart has Bailey Ruth Raeburn heading back to Adelaide, Oklahoma when an urgent call comes through the Heaven’s Department of Good Intentions.  She quickly hops aboard the Rescue Express with Wiggins calling out that this case is “Irregular.  Problematic.  Out of the Ordinary.” He issues a final warning about following the Precepts.  Bailey Ruth arrives to find Matt Lambert, Vice President of Outreach at Goddard College, dead on the floor with Professor Iris Gallagher standing near the victim with the murder weapon in her hand.  Newly minted attorney, Robert Blair also in the room.  Bailey Ruth quickly starts searching for clues.  She knows Police Chief Sam Cobb will soon have Iris at the top of his suspect list.  The clues are few, but it turns out that there are several people who were not happy with the victim.  Unfortunately, the evidence is stacked against Iris who soon finds herself behind bars.  Bailey Ruth needs to save Iris before the local prison becomes Iris’ permanent home and Bailey Ruth finds herself out of a job.  

Ghost Ups Her Game by Carolyn Hart is the 9^th A Bailey Ruth Ghost Novel.  Bailey Ruth Raeburn is a delightful character.  Bailey Ruth is a woman who loves her heavenly job as well as fashionable clothes.  When an urgent call from Adelaide arrives at the Department of Good Intentions, Bailey Ruth knows the assignment is for her.  I always enjoy the Bailey Ruth novels because they have humor, mystery, and a fashionable female sleuth from Heaven.  I thought Ghost Ups Her Game was well-written with steady pacing.  I do not believe this would make a good standalone book because some key details are missing for new readers.  I suggest beginning with Ghost at Work.  The mystery was fun to solve.  I can always count on Bailey Ruth to diligently search for clues and question witnesses.  I like that she keeps Sam Cobb, the Adelaide Chief of Police, up to date.  They get along for the most part.  It is great how they bounce ideas off each other when they are not eating unhealthy food.  The mystery is not hard to solve, but that did not diminish my reading pleasure.  Ghost Ups Her Game is one of those books that you just sit back, start reading, and enjoy the ride.  My favorite line from Ghost Ups Her Game comes from Bailey Ruth when she says, “A ghost must do what a ghost must do.”  The only thing I dislike about the book is the descriptions of every outfit.  I do not need to know what each and every one of Bailey Ruth’s outfits look like especially since she changes so often.  I look forward to Bailey Ruth’s next adventure.  Ghost Ups Her Game is an entertaining tale with a mystifying murder, a curious clue, a weighty weapon, a careful cop, a pushy politician, and a heavenly emissary riding the rails to the rescue.  

Bailey Ruth standing in front of murder board

Ghost Ups Her Game is available from major booksellers including Amazon*.  You can find the other eight A Bailey Ruth Mystery series here.  Thank you for visiting today.  I will be back next time with The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis.  I do hope that you have a heavenly day.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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