Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1)

Author - Carolyn Hart ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from William Morrow was reviewed on 10-Dec-2008.

Search ISBN:0060874368 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) Reference Book. Classifications : General Mystery Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books General AAS Mystery Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books General Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books General AAS Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books Hard . Click the following link to view the cover of Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1).

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1) Hardcover Book Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) by William Morrow. In Carolyn´s new series, the Bailey Ruth Raeburn series, Bailey Ruth comes from the Department of Good Intentions in heaven as a "ghost", although her boss in heaven would beg to differ with us earthlings about the terminology, to help those in need of help. In "Ghost at Work", Bailey Ruth finds herself plopped right down in the middle of a major mess with the preacher´s wife and a dead body found on the back porch of the rectory.

"Ghost at Work" is a rather quick read, and being that this is a new series, I feel that Ms. Hart tried to cover a lot with all the descriptions and not leaving anything to the reader´s imagination. I think this can be a fun series, so I´ll have to keep an eye on it as it develops.

Having read some of both her Annie Darling and Henrie O. series, I think I am going to like the Bailey Ruth Raeburn series the best. I´d have to say that the Death on Demand series becomes very predictable after a couple of books. The Henrie O. series is fun because she at least travels and finds her mysteries in places that are away from home, and now with the Bailey Ruth series, we are getting the prespective from the ghost herself.¤

2) Hardcover Book Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) by William Morrow. Carolyn Hart has come up with an interesting twist on the mystery story: Her detective is a ghost. Bailey Ruth Raeburn is sent back to earth several decades after her death to help out a relative in a fix -- a pastor´s wife who has discovered a dead body on her back porch. Unraveling the mystery of who shot the victim is done in a satisfying way, culminating in a suspenseful climax. I have only a couple of reservations about the book: First, it tries to strike a light comic tone, but, unfortunately, nearly all of the humor falls a little flat. Second, I think fantasies work best when they fit in neatly with the world as it actually is. It turns out that Bailey Ruth is not alone in coming back to provide help from beyond the grave. Apparently, there is a whole department in heaven that dispatches ghosts back to help those of us in trouble. Given that Bailey Ruth is visible to the pastor´s wife -- and the pastor´s wife´s daughter -- and periodically becomes visible to others, presumably the other ghost helpers are visible as well. If this were the way things worked, wouldn´t we have endless reports of people not only seeing ghosts, but seeing them in their roles as divine helpers? It would be more consistent with the world as it is for Bailey Ruth to be unseen by those she is trying to help. But, of course, that would have been a much harder book to write.¤

3) Hardcover Book Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) by William Morrow. I have read every "Death on Demand" book with great enjoyment. Not having enjoyed the "Henry O" series as much I was a bit apprehensive about a new one. What a DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE!!! Bailey Ruth is a hoot of a character who seems to find herself in more unusual predicaments with every passing moment.....and trying hard to justify her breaking of the Precepts to her mentor Wiggins. As a ghost she has a special knack for investigating the suspects in a murder case, even helping some of them to redeem themselves while she appears and disappears with seeming abandon. I loved this book and this character and can´t wait for the next Bailey Ruth adventure!¤

4) Hardcover Book Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) by William Morrow. Bailey Ruth Raeburn has been dead for quite awhile. She and her husband died when their cabin cruiser "serendipity" lost a run in with a thirty foot wave. However, Bailey thinks she has more to offer, she wants to offer her help to people in need. So she applies to Heaven´s Department of Good Intentions, where she meets Wiggins, her new boss.

Wiggins is in the middled of telling her the rules when they get an emergency call and Bailey is sent to earth without knowing the rules, without knowing what she´s allowed to do. She appears at a murder scene, knowing only that she´s to help the woman who appears to have committed the crime, but a quick perusal of the crime scene and Bailey can tell the victim died elsewhere and that her new charge is being set up.

Bailey has to find the murderer and granted she has the ability to walk through walls, what ghost doesn´t, she still has to apply a detective´s skill in this novel that will have you glued to your chair. Carolyn Hart has put a new spin on mystery, it´s ghostly and deliciously entertaining.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne¤

5) Hardcover Book Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) by William Morrow. This murder mystery has some things going for it: a large number of suspects, great pacing, well-placed summations and reminders. It introduces a new ´detective´ character, and is a good set up for an ongoing series.

But I found it far too light for my taste. It´s all plot and gimmick, with not enough character development, subplot, or exploration of issues/themes. I´ve had similar reactions to popular mystery titles by Lillian Jackson Braun, Rita Mae Brown, and Sue Grafton. Perhaps fans of those authors would also enjoy this new series.

I really disliked the main character, Bailey Ruth. She reminded me of Angela Lansbury, and I never found that TV series appealing.
¤

6) Hardcover Book Ghost at Work (Bailey Ruth Mysteries, No. 1) by William Morrow.

Bailey Ruth Raeburn has always been great at solving mysteries. Why should a little thing like her death change anything? In fact, being dead gives her more of an opportunity to be on top of events. Bailey Ruth is delighted that her unique position as a ghost makes it possible for her to lend a helping hand, sometimes seen and sometimes not. And if anybody needs a little help, it´s Kathleen, the pastor´s wife. There´s a dead man on her porch, and once the body is discovered, the pastor is sure to become a suspect.

Uncharitable people might call it meddling, but Bailey Ruth knows Kathleen needs her help! As a member of Heaven´s Department of Good Intentions, Bailey Ruth goes back to earth to extricate Kathleen from a dire situation. If Bailey Ruth has to bend a few rules to help Kathleen save her family, Wiggins, her fussbudget supervisor, will make sure it all turns out right in the end.

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 7-Jan-2009, 00608743689780060874360, 680-390-3X0-000-530-660-640-8

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