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Bailey Ruth #3
Ghost in Trouble
When Bailey Ruth Raeburn passed over into the great beyond, she was delighted to discover her sleuthing days would last an eternity. Joining Heaven's Department of Good Intentions, she uses her unique advantages as a ghost--sometimes you see her, sometimes you don't--to help those in need and ensure the wicked get their just deserts.
However, on this latest mission, Bailey Ruth finds it more difficult than ever to keep up with her boss Wiggins's rules for good spirit deportment. Not only is the woman she is supposed to save determined to thwart Bailey Ruth's good intentions at every turn, she just so happens to be one of Bailey Ruth's oldest enemies. Not that that should matter to one of Heaven's best and brightest emissaries, but still, there is only so much a person can put up with--living or dead.
But solving Bailey Ruth's toughest case yet means managing a recalcitrant charge, a fraudulent medium, a mother's heartbreak, old passions and new, and a telltale rawhide dog bone. Heaven help her!
However, on this latest mission, Bailey Ruth finds it more difficult than ever to keep up with her boss Wiggins's rules for good spirit deportment. Not only is the woman she is supposed to save determined to thwart Bailey Ruth's good intentions at every turn, she just so happens to be one of Bailey Ruth's oldest enemies. Not that that should matter to one of Heaven's best and brightest emissaries, but still, there is only so much a person can put up with--living or dead.
But solving Bailey Ruth's toughest case yet means managing a recalcitrant charge, a fraudulent medium, a mother's heartbreak, old passions and new, and a telltale rawhide dog bone. Heaven help her!
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2010
85 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn G. Hart
119Ìýbooks937ÌýfollowersAlso writing as Carolyn Hart.
An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29
The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.
Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.
Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.
And for cat lovers:
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart
I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.
In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.
Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;
. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.
A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.
. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.
And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.
Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers
An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29
The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.
Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.
Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.
And for cat lovers:
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart
I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.
In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.
Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;
. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.
A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.
. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.
And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.
Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
December 27, 2021
Another fun adven-mission with Bailey Ruth. The mystery was fun and kept me guessing. It is fun seeing Bailey Ruth pop in and out as she helps investigate.
January 22, 2012
This is the second book I've read in the series about Bailey Ruth Raeburn, the ghost/sleuth who returns to the land of the livng every so often as an emissary of Heaven's Department of Good Intentions in order to help someone in need.
The mystery itself held me captivated. I couldn't wait to see who the murderer was, and I wasn't disappointed. Carolyn Hart wove a very fine, exceptionally detailed web of characters and storyline that kept me interested throughout. She's a master at that.
My only disappointment was the ongoing presentation of Bailey Ruth. For someone who is supposedly sent from Heaven, she seems more concerned with her looks and with describing her outfits than she is in anything else. Bailey Ruth's addiction to talking about her red hair actually became a distraction for me with this story. I became distracted from the actual storyline (which is awesomely good) wondering how soon Bailey Ruth would mention her gorgeous red hair. At one point when Bailey Ruth talked about how she was so distinctive about her red hair, I actually spoke aloud the words, "Oh, come on!!!!" BTW, I am a fellow redhead. I have naturally auburn hair and have, at various times, enhanced the color to more intense shades of red. To be a redhead is to be noticed - I love it! - but as a reader, I'm not into a sleuth who's more into her own good looks than anything else. Besides, the hair color is a kind of WTF. I have never read books in this genre in which the MC glorifies in being a brunette or blonde.
I do plan to read more from this series, but I hope Bailey Ruth and her gorgeous red locks will be tamed down. I love the mystery stories in and of themselves, but *HELLO*, am already clued in that she is a redhead. I'd rather dispense with that distraction and concentrate more on the genius of the story itself. I would have given this book 5 stars if I hadn't been so annoyed at the dozens of times Bailey Ruth preens in the attractiveness of her red hair and new outfits.
The mystery itself held me captivated. I couldn't wait to see who the murderer was, and I wasn't disappointed. Carolyn Hart wove a very fine, exceptionally detailed web of characters and storyline that kept me interested throughout. She's a master at that.
My only disappointment was the ongoing presentation of Bailey Ruth. For someone who is supposedly sent from Heaven, she seems more concerned with her looks and with describing her outfits than she is in anything else. Bailey Ruth's addiction to talking about her red hair actually became a distraction for me with this story. I became distracted from the actual storyline (which is awesomely good) wondering how soon Bailey Ruth would mention her gorgeous red hair. At one point when Bailey Ruth talked about how she was so distinctive about her red hair, I actually spoke aloud the words, "Oh, come on!!!!" BTW, I am a fellow redhead. I have naturally auburn hair and have, at various times, enhanced the color to more intense shades of red. To be a redhead is to be noticed - I love it! - but as a reader, I'm not into a sleuth who's more into her own good looks than anything else. Besides, the hair color is a kind of WTF. I have never read books in this genre in which the MC glorifies in being a brunette or blonde.
I do plan to read more from this series, but I hope Bailey Ruth and her gorgeous red locks will be tamed down. I love the mystery stories in and of themselves, but *HELLO*, am already clued in that she is a redhead. I'd rather dispense with that distraction and concentrate more on the genius of the story itself. I would have given this book 5 stars if I hadn't been so annoyed at the dozens of times Bailey Ruth preens in the attractiveness of her red hair and new outfits.
January 16, 2019
By Book 3 she is oft quoting the OLD testament and the main character is vocally anti-paranormal anything (other than heaven and God). Any more I could say about my thoughts on her frequent quoting and increasingly didactic views may offend. I have created a new shelf due to this series for christian-bible-thumping-righteous, wanted it to be christian-bible-thumping-only-we-are-right, but GR wouldn’t take that many words.
March 10, 2011
Bailey Ruth Raeburn spends part of her afterlife working for Heaven’s Department of Good Intentions where her supervisor reluctantly sends her on an assignment to protect the life of Kay Clark in Bailey Ruth’s hometown of Adelaide, OK. She’s more than thrilled to discover a mystery is afoot; a possible murder ruled as an accident. Kay is someone she hadn’t particularly liked when she’d been alive and the woman isn’t cooperating with Bailey Ruth’s idea to go away where the woman would be safe after someone tries to kill her.
The concept of the story’s heroine is interesting. She’s decided in her afterlife to take on the appearance of when she’d been twenty-seven. Bailey Ruth has the ability to be incorporeal and invisible, or corporeal and can change her clothing in the blink of an eye. She requires food, drink and sleep while on assignment and is supposed to be following 8 precepts; most involve keeping her presence a secret. Apparently this has been a problem in the past and as determined as she is to not let her supervisor down this time, most are broken within minutes of returning to Earth. All of this brings about elements of humor to the story.
The third book in the series, the mystery is well done and there are plenty of suspects with motive and opportunity to keep you guessing. The unveiling of clues is done at a good pace and Bailey Ruth proves to be good at knowing how to pinpoint important details and the right questions to ask.
But I have a difficult time liking the character Bailey Ruth. I hadn’t read the prior books, so perhaps I’m missing something. She comes across as determined but somewhat klutzy at the beginning of the story when she immediately breaks the rules she’s just vowed to uphold. But as the story builds she comes across as manipulative, egotistical and rather vain. She can’t look in a mirror without thinking the word “admiring,� and we’re provided a detailed description of lord knows how many outfits she changes into during the couple of days she’s there. I found the obsession with her looks to be distracting. I can understand that some might consider this to be a charming quirk in her nature, but it dragged me away from the mystery.
Warning - people with metaphysical experiences will most likely have a problem with the idea that if you don't understand or have the ability to do something yourself, it must lead to a path of evil; a concept reiterated a number of times in the story.
The concept of the story’s heroine is interesting. She’s decided in her afterlife to take on the appearance of when she’d been twenty-seven. Bailey Ruth has the ability to be incorporeal and invisible, or corporeal and can change her clothing in the blink of an eye. She requires food, drink and sleep while on assignment and is supposed to be following 8 precepts; most involve keeping her presence a secret. Apparently this has been a problem in the past and as determined as she is to not let her supervisor down this time, most are broken within minutes of returning to Earth. All of this brings about elements of humor to the story.
The third book in the series, the mystery is well done and there are plenty of suspects with motive and opportunity to keep you guessing. The unveiling of clues is done at a good pace and Bailey Ruth proves to be good at knowing how to pinpoint important details and the right questions to ask.
But I have a difficult time liking the character Bailey Ruth. I hadn’t read the prior books, so perhaps I’m missing something. She comes across as determined but somewhat klutzy at the beginning of the story when she immediately breaks the rules she’s just vowed to uphold. But as the story builds she comes across as manipulative, egotistical and rather vain. She can’t look in a mirror without thinking the word “admiring,� and we’re provided a detailed description of lord knows how many outfits she changes into during the couple of days she’s there. I found the obsession with her looks to be distracting. I can understand that some might consider this to be a charming quirk in her nature, but it dragged me away from the mystery.
Warning - people with metaphysical experiences will most likely have a problem with the idea that if you don't understand or have the ability to do something yourself, it must lead to a path of evil; a concept reiterated a number of times in the story.
July 23, 2012
Bailey Ruth Raeburn may have died but that does not mean that her detective days are done. Bailey works for Heaven's Department of Good Intentions. Bailey's boss is sending Bailey to the Castle. There is a woman there named Kay Clark that need Bailey's protection. Bailey will have her hands full with her latest mission as Kay is Bailey's old enemy. Kay also does not need Bailey's help.
I have read several books by this author. This is why when this book came out I picked up a copy to check out. As you can tell I meant to read it but time just flew. I decided to dive into my stack of books and try to eliminate ones that have been sitting around for a while. I could only get to chapter 6 before I gave up on this book. The little bit that I read was like reading the first draft of this book or a Jill and Jack story.
Example:
Kay's eyes widened. "You saw a woman?"
Laverene's stare was haughty. "Of course I saw her. However, I have no intention of intruding upon your meeting. I came down because I heard a big crash. What happened?"
Instead of answering, Kay swung the flashlight toward the heap of dirt and broken procelain. A portion of broken marble bench protruded from the debris.
I just could not over look the writing and proceed on with the book. Which it sounds like I would not have missed much anyways. Dull characters and too much repetition and focus on every little details as you can see for yourself was a problem I had in the above passage. I don't need my murders to literally be spelled out for me.
February 6, 2023
I picked this one up at our local library book sale. It’s book three in a series but it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the main character and her quirky personality.
Bailey Ruth Raeburn is a ghost. She works for the Department of Good Intentions in Heaven. Her boss is an old railway conductor, Wiggins. In this book, he assigns her to go to her old hometown and save the life of a woman who was one of her enemies in life.
The stage is set for some drama, some humor and a murder mystery.
Bailey Ruth was an older woman when she passed away but has chosen to present herself as her twenty-seven-year-old self. With red hair and quite attractive, she’s a clothes horse who can change her wardrobe at will. The reader is treated to all the costume changes, sometimes three changes in fifteen minutes. It becomes a funny part of the tale as she is supposed to be a heavenly entity and past all the vanities of life but she’s still intent on wearing attractive ensembles.
She’s also a rule breaker and Wiggins has to make appearances to scold her over her behavior.
The relationship between her and the women she’s supposed to save was delightful. They banter a lot and the woman initially thinks she’s lost her mind when Bailey Ruth makes herself known.
Eventually, they come to terms with each other and agree to work together to solve the crime that put the woman’s life in danger in the first place.
The story was fun and the mystery was well done. Lots of red herrings included in the tale. I like it when we, as readers, have plenty of fodder to mull over as we try to solve the case along with the sleuth. I recommend this one as a fun, quick read.
Bailey Ruth Raeburn is a ghost. She works for the Department of Good Intentions in Heaven. Her boss is an old railway conductor, Wiggins. In this book, he assigns her to go to her old hometown and save the life of a woman who was one of her enemies in life.
The stage is set for some drama, some humor and a murder mystery.
Bailey Ruth was an older woman when she passed away but has chosen to present herself as her twenty-seven-year-old self. With red hair and quite attractive, she’s a clothes horse who can change her wardrobe at will. The reader is treated to all the costume changes, sometimes three changes in fifteen minutes. It becomes a funny part of the tale as she is supposed to be a heavenly entity and past all the vanities of life but she’s still intent on wearing attractive ensembles.
She’s also a rule breaker and Wiggins has to make appearances to scold her over her behavior.
The relationship between her and the women she’s supposed to save was delightful. They banter a lot and the woman initially thinks she’s lost her mind when Bailey Ruth makes herself known.
Eventually, they come to terms with each other and agree to work together to solve the crime that put the woman’s life in danger in the first place.
The story was fun and the mystery was well done. Lots of red herrings included in the tale. I like it when we, as readers, have plenty of fodder to mull over as we try to solve the case along with the sleuth. I recommend this one as a fun, quick read.
June 16, 2018
Around the Year in 52 Books 2018 Reading Challenge. A ghost story.
Bailey Ruth is once again sent by Wiggins to Earth to save someone. She arrives just in time to shove a young lady out of the way of a very large vase falling from above. Kay Kendall Clark is determined to investigate what she believes was the murder of her long time friend Jack Hume and apparently the murderer wants her gone. She doesn't want the police to investigate the attempt on her life because she believes that IF she says it was just an accident she can continue to ask questions about Jack's last days. Apparently he had become upset by something he discovered and IF she can find out what that was she can determine who killed him. Bailey Ruth tries to convince her to leave, but she is determined. I love Bailey Ruth and Wiggins!
Bailey Ruth is once again sent by Wiggins to Earth to save someone. She arrives just in time to shove a young lady out of the way of a very large vase falling from above. Kay Kendall Clark is determined to investigate what she believes was the murder of her long time friend Jack Hume and apparently the murderer wants her gone. She doesn't want the police to investigate the attempt on her life because she believes that IF she says it was just an accident she can continue to ask questions about Jack's last days. Apparently he had become upset by something he discovered and IF she can find out what that was she can determine who killed him. Bailey Ruth tries to convince her to leave, but she is determined. I love Bailey Ruth and Wiggins!
July 17, 2019
This was a fun mystery, I really enjoyed the characters and the situations. And the mystery was pretty good, it kept you guessing until the end.
March 28, 2013
While Bailey Ruth Raeburn is enjoying her time in Heaven, she still feels like she can be helpful on earth so she is happy to receive another mission from the Department of Good Intentions. She is delighted to be able to visit her beloved Adelaide, Oklahoma again but less delighted to discover she will be helping Kay Clark, a woman Bailey Ruth knew and disliked when she was alive. Still, Bailey Ruth pledges to be on her best behavior and she at least tries, but it is not easy as she finds herself knee-deep in a suspected murder, an attempted murder, an actual murder, and a woman who resists her attempts to help. This may be Bailey Ruth's toughest case yet.
"Ghost in Trouble" is another great entry in Carolyn Hart's delightful cozy mystery series featuring Bailey Ruth. There are a lot of things I love about this series starting with the irrepressible Bailey Ruth. I love her character - she really means well even if she has a hard time obeying the precepts during her visits to earth. Her preoccupation with her wardrobe adds a great deal of humor to this book and the entire series. Her interactions with Kay are wonderfully done and I love Kay's reaction to Bailey Ruth. Another thing I love about this books (and series) is Hart's version of Heaven where you can catch Elvis in concert or watch Bob Hope's latest comedy routine (wouldn't it be wonderful if Heaven really is like that?) The paranormal aspects are well done as Bailey Ruth zips from place to place, can go straight through a ceiling, choose what "age" she wants to be, and can appear and disappear at will. The mystery aspects are also well done with plenty of suspects and I was kept guessing as to the identity of the killer until the end. This was the type of book where I came to care for certain characters and hoped they weren't the guilty party.
"Ghost in Trouble" is another great cozy mystery by Carolyn Hart.
"Ghost in Trouble" is another great entry in Carolyn Hart's delightful cozy mystery series featuring Bailey Ruth. There are a lot of things I love about this series starting with the irrepressible Bailey Ruth. I love her character - she really means well even if she has a hard time obeying the precepts during her visits to earth. Her preoccupation with her wardrobe adds a great deal of humor to this book and the entire series. Her interactions with Kay are wonderfully done and I love Kay's reaction to Bailey Ruth. Another thing I love about this books (and series) is Hart's version of Heaven where you can catch Elvis in concert or watch Bob Hope's latest comedy routine (wouldn't it be wonderful if Heaven really is like that?) The paranormal aspects are well done as Bailey Ruth zips from place to place, can go straight through a ceiling, choose what "age" she wants to be, and can appear and disappear at will. The mystery aspects are also well done with plenty of suspects and I was kept guessing as to the identity of the killer until the end. This was the type of book where I came to care for certain characters and hoped they weren't the guilty party.
"Ghost in Trouble" is another great cozy mystery by Carolyn Hart.
July 9, 2013
Everyone else has covered the synopsis so I won't get into that. I really like this series. It is a light, easy read and typically not too predictable. I love the author's take on heaven. It is creative and gets you thinking. I would recommend the series, but I do have one beef with it. The paragraph-long mention of her red hair every 10 pages has got to stop! I can understand describing her outfit in detail because to the character, her outfits are important and they change. Her red hair does not change. We get it, she has striking red hair. Describing rooms, outfits, and even vehicles in relation to Bailey Ruth's red hair drives me crazy. Did the author used to have red hair and is really missing it or something? I just don't get the purpose other than to fill up pages... The book would probably be at least 15 pages shorter if the author only mentioned the red hair a few times. Anyways, despite this rant, I do recommend the books for a quick, fun read.
July 29, 2016
I love the Bailey Ruth stories. She's an emissary from the Department of Good Intentions in Heaven and she always solves the mystery. She isn't good at following the Precepts of the department but she means well. One of her heroes is Myrna Loy and she reminds me a lot of some of Myrna Loy's best know characters. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun mystery.
May 31, 2016
This series continues to please. The character of Bailey Ruth just becomes better and better. The mystery itself had enough red herrings and 'look over heres' to keep you guessing, but the solution still made sense.
October 10, 2016
This was a fun mystery! Took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, it was a humorous story!
May 2, 2023
Another low key, pleasant, leisurely read! I think the author has a nice formula going with this idea of Heaven sent emissaries! Higgins is funny! I can just picture him in my mind with the old fashioned mustache and outfit, manning the train station sending heavenly emissaries to earth on assignment! At least Heaven won’t be boring!
Bailey Ruth is a very flamboyant main character. I had a friend read one of the books and she did not like how Bailey Ruth had to change her outfits all the time. I personally think it’s rather charming and kind of fun to picture her and her colorful personality!
The mystery was very engaging I thought. The author does a nice job creating different personalities that are believable. She does get a bit overly complicated and the books could be a little shorter. That does seem to be her writing style in her other series.
I listened to this book as an audiobook, and it was enjoyable. The narrator did a nice job distinguishing the different characters with voice changes.
Also, this book could be read at any point in the series. The author does a lot of introduction to the main character and the situation in heaven, so you aren’t lost if it’s the first book you’ve read. There are some references to previous mysteries, but not necessary to understand the plot.
Bailey Ruth is a very flamboyant main character. I had a friend read one of the books and she did not like how Bailey Ruth had to change her outfits all the time. I personally think it’s rather charming and kind of fun to picture her and her colorful personality!
The mystery was very engaging I thought. The author does a nice job creating different personalities that are believable. She does get a bit overly complicated and the books could be a little shorter. That does seem to be her writing style in her other series.
I listened to this book as an audiobook, and it was enjoyable. The narrator did a nice job distinguishing the different characters with voice changes.
Also, this book could be read at any point in the series. The author does a lot of introduction to the main character and the situation in heaven, so you aren’t lost if it’s the first book you’ve read. There are some references to previous mysteries, but not necessary to understand the plot.
November 18, 2019
In this story, Bailey Ruth is sent to home town to keep someone safe, and gets drawn into another murder to solve.
I like ghost stories. It's fun to think that unseen people from the other side are helping us out (not haunting us). I voiced several objections in my last review to the way this author handles ghosts:
- Ghosts can't see each other unless they materialize or are in heaven.
- When Bailey Ruth materializes ("swirls into being"), she is solid, with a body and clothes.
- Ghosts have to eat when they are on earth (and get hungry) even though technically they don't have bodies.
- Some people (and animals) can see ghosts when they are invisible, but ghosts can't see each other???
And the list goes on. Still, it's a pretty fun story, and it adds fun that Baily Ruth can go anywhere and observe people who don't know that they're being watched. One thing that I have to take a star off for is the endless wardrobe changes and descriptions of how beautiful she looks in each outfit with her beautiful red hair, not that she's being vain or anything. Ugh.
And with my swiss cheese memory these days, I found it helpful to make a written list of the characters and their relationships to each other. Keeping up with the story line is a lot easier that way.
I like ghost stories. It's fun to think that unseen people from the other side are helping us out (not haunting us). I voiced several objections in my last review to the way this author handles ghosts:
- Ghosts can't see each other unless they materialize or are in heaven.
- When Bailey Ruth materializes ("swirls into being"), she is solid, with a body and clothes.
- Ghosts have to eat when they are on earth (and get hungry) even though technically they don't have bodies.
- Some people (and animals) can see ghosts when they are invisible, but ghosts can't see each other???
And the list goes on. Still, it's a pretty fun story, and it adds fun that Baily Ruth can go anywhere and observe people who don't know that they're being watched. One thing that I have to take a star off for is the endless wardrobe changes and descriptions of how beautiful she looks in each outfit with her beautiful red hair, not that she's being vain or anything. Ugh.
And with my swiss cheese memory these days, I found it helpful to make a written list of the characters and their relationships to each other. Keeping up with the story line is a lot easier that way.
June 2, 2018
Wiggins sends Bailey Ruth back to Adelaide, OK to watch over Kay Clark, who is stirring things up in the Hume family. She arrives just in time to push Kay out of the way of a huge falling vase and save her life. She discovers that Kay is someone she knew before and didn't like much, but has to force herself to work with with Kay, once Kay convinces herself that Bailey Ruth is not a figment of her imagination. Kay is bent on proving that Jack Hume was murdered, so BR pretends to be Kay's assistant and gathers information. When another death occurs, BR realizes that it is not natural, and stages a scene to be sure that the police will investigate it properly - and of course she has to help with that one, too. After two more deaths, things get complicated, but BR and Kay stick it out. The ending was telegraphed a bit, but the novel was enjoyable - lots of interesting characters.
August 24, 2019
I had read several dark, depressing books and felt the need for something light and fluffy. This filled the bill nicely. It has more depth than many cozy mysteries. I didn't know who done it till our intrepid ghost figured it out at the very end. This is book 3 in a series but I didn't feel I missed anything by not having read 1 and 2. If I could give half stars, I'd say this is a 3-1/2, but I feel it would be an insult to good literature to call it a 4. However, I do think it was worth the time it took to read it. It's very enjoyable. If you like cozy mysteries at all, you should like this book.
March 31, 2022
Another adventure for a good member of Heaven's Dept of Good Intentions. Bailey Ruth returns to earth to assist another resident of Adelaid, OK, her hometown. Another resident is in trouble and Bailey Ruth manages to prevent her demise, and the two of them go about solving another murder. The entire neighborhood seems to involved. One scrape after another in this fun romp!
*This time I listened to the audio book, and at first found it difficult to distinguish the reader with two more people talking or expressing thoughts. I would have liked a little more inflection to tell the difference between people.
*This time I listened to the audio book, and at first found it difficult to distinguish the reader with two more people talking or expressing thoughts. I would have liked a little more inflection to tell the difference between people.
September 6, 2017
Bailey Ruth Raeburn is sent as an emissary from heaven to help Kay Clark. Kay is investigating the death of her old boyfriend at The Castle in Adelaide, Oklahoma and now the murderer is after Kay. I enjoyed the previous books in the series more than this one. Bailey Ruth's constant outfit changes got a bit obnoxious this time around. I also figured out the murderer and the reason for the crime very early in the story. There was also a lot of repetition of characters telling their version of events.
February 25, 2018
Carolyn Hart is such an entertaining writer. Bailey Ruth, having been discovered by accident by me, has become my favorite Ghost - haha. This time she returns to her hometown on Earth to protect an old acquaintance. This lady and Bailey have always had a conflicting relationship. Trying to discover the cause of a man's death - the lady's boyfriend -leads us to meet all the people in this palace of a large household. Great, fun story.
June 26, 2017
This story was good. I did enjoy reading it and following the antics of Bailey Ruth. It is just towards the end, a double murder seemed rushed. There wasn't a lot of reasoning explored and as Bailey Ruth had her ah-ha moment, we were supposed to as well? Anyway, it was still a good book. Wiggins, as Bailey Ruth's 'boss' has his hands full !
March 31, 2020
I plan to finish the series but Bailey Ruth is becoming more and more self-absorbed with each book. I am growing tired of her fashionista attitude. She is supposed to have an attitude of in the world but not of the world. But she is very much of the world and her supervisor is a a definite pushover.
July 21, 2021
I enjoy Bailey Ruth even though she is a ghost, she likes to look good, and Wiggins is so much fun. This mystery, was about a family of wealth and how each character could be strange and trying to figure out who done it and making sure Bailey Ruth doesn't show herself, but you know her she always does something to upset Wiggins. If you like a good cozy mysteries these are great.
December 4, 2021
Bailey Ruth Raeburn, an emissary from the Department of Good Intentions, returns to earth to assist a woman in dire straits. Kay is nearly killed until Bailey Ruth intervenes. Bailey Ruth breaks most of the precepts that Wiggins has laid down. Bailey Ruth makes herself known to Kay which she should never do. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
November 10, 2022
This was just an okay read for me and my least favorite of the first three. I love the misadventures of Bailey Ruth however I kind of found this one a bit of a snooze and was just anxious for it to be over. I am not discouraged from continuing on to the next in the series so hopefully it will be better.
May 27, 2024
I picked up this book not really knowing what it was about and nearly gave up when I discovered it was about how heaven sends "emissaries" to earth to solve mysteries but it was not as silly as I feared. Other than Bailey Ruth's habit of changing clothes every time she sees something she admires, the mystery itself was pretty good.
August 11, 2018
Bailey Ruth is at it Again
Love Bailey Ruth! She has a knack of getting in trouble with Wiggins of the Department of Good Intentions, but manages to do what needs to be done to solve the case! She is delightful!
Love Bailey Ruth! She has a knack of getting in trouble with Wiggins of the Department of Good Intentions, but manages to do what needs to be done to solve the case! She is delightful!
February 18, 2018
Ripi
This is becoming one of my favorite series! I love Bailey Ruth. She is such a great character! I love the outfits she changes into. She's really a fashion diva. And she certainly is good at solving the mysteries she is sent to earth to solve!
This is becoming one of my favorite series! I love Bailey Ruth. She is such a great character! I love the outfits she changes into. She's really a fashion diva. And she certainly is good at solving the mysteries she is sent to earth to solve!
March 17, 2018
Bailey Ruth is once again sent to earth to help a mortal through a troubling time. As usual, Bailey does not heed the rules and goes her own way to assist this person, causing as much trouble as she is trying to solve.
February 3, 2019
Ghost in Trouble
I enjoy these books. Just light hearted reading that I can put down and pickup again without referring to the beginning to remember what it’s about. Just love Bailey Ruth.
I enjoy these books. Just light hearted reading that I can put down and pickup again without referring to the beginning to remember what it’s about. Just love Bailey Ruth.
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