Ghost at Work

If you like a light-hearted mystery then you’ll get a kick out of Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart.  Bailey Ruth Raeburn our narrator and detective is dead.  She’s explored the afterlife and has come around to volunteering at the Department of Good Intentions.  She’s sent back to her hometown for her first case and told to help Kathleen, the pastor’s wife.  She arrives to find Kathleen standing over a body, in full panic mode so helps Kathleen dispose of the body.  Now this is not quite as bad as it seems in the long run because Kathleen actually was being framed. Bailey Ruth then proceeds to figure out who the murderer is and get that person caught. 

Now I’ll admit the whole time Bailey Ruth was investigating I was wondering why she didn’t just go back to heaven and find the victim and ask him who killed him… but that must not have been an option for some undisclosed reason.  I also found Bailey Ruth’s impetuousness and sort of mid 20^th century sexism a bit daunting.  However the overall story was amusing & I enjoyed Bailey Ruth’s exploration of technology that hadn’t been around during her life.  Recommended for mystery lovers who enjoy a bit of whimsy.