This one was so much fun, I laughed out loud a few times! Ruby Jane, or RJ as most call her and her best friend Veenie work for a detective agency. That is the only way two senior women that love to be nosey can make enough money to buy twinkies and mystery meat sandwiches. When they hear of big butted ghosts dancing in an apple orchard they just can't resist investigating. Which leads to a missing fortune, a murder and con artists.

I really recommend reading for anyone who loves Jana Deleon's work!

Despite its unfortunate name - surely almost anything is better than Ghost Busting Mystery - the book is a cute one.  What it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for with a heaping serving of quirky small town residents and more than a dash of down home humor.  Abbott had Costello, and Ruby Jane has Veenie. The duo make for a unique pair of detectives, which goes a long way towards explaining the unusual cases they end up taking.  In this case Dode Schneider is convinced ghosts are haunting the abandoned Wyatt mansion. Ruby Jane and Veenie are hired to investigate. Of course as luck would have it, they stumble upon a skeleton- the start to a first class adventure.


Ruby Jane and Veenie are not the type of people to let propriety or expectations stand in their way.  These girls are not afraid to admit they wear granny panties. Alone, Veenie would be annoying and RJ dull, but together they make for a fun combo -  Veenie’s hijinks alone are unbelievable. It’s enjoyable to see the duo interact with their friends and neighbors.


Ghost Busting Mystery is far from great, but it shows a lot of promise.  Once the kinks are worked out ( and a catchier title selected) it is likely to appeal to those who enjoy more slapstick comedic mysteries.


3 / 5


I received a copy of Ghost Busting Mystery from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

I laughed so much throughout this book! The two main characters are older ladies named Ruby Jane and Veenie. That Veenie is a mischievous little hoot! I laughed out loud whenever it said she stuck her teeth out at people.

The ladies worked for the only detective agency in Knobby Waters, IN, Harry Shades Private Detective Agency. Money wasn't coming in like it should, so when a local farmer asked if they'd look into his ghost case, and he provided a retainer of $900 in just one old jar he'd dug up, Harry couldn't say no even though he didn't approve. They ended up finding a 100-year-old skeleton in the old mansion where the farmer kept saying there were ghosts in the trees.

There was lots of deception and some side plots going on as well. I have to admit I got the book because of the dachshund on the cover. He was only a small part of the story but it was pretty hilarious picturing these ladies chasing a drunken wiener dog through a dumpster near the local bar. There had also been some local thefts and something told Ruby Jane that maybe their ghost was more of a flesh and blood ghost when rumors of a treasure got the Feds involved.

After much laughter, the book wrapped up and even entertained me more by having the first three chapters of the next book, which I'm sure I'll be wanting to read. The dialogue itself is just so funny, like the description of the one guy was that he hadn't been quite right since his collision with the county snow plow along with other local country phrases and sayings sprinkled throughout.

This first Shady Hoosier Detective Agency book had me laughing out loud and waiting for more. If this is book 1, I know there must be at least one more coming... right?

How nice to find MATURE women with wit and smarts! Since I am one, I know that RJ and Veenie are, too! I enjoyed these two and their antics. Wherever they're going in that old Chevy Impala, I want to ride along.

These two are able to out-cop the cops... in fact, the local cops don't even want to touch this one, so they turn it over to the Shady Hoosier Detective Agency, where Veenie and RJ are working to try to make ends meet.

The author, Daisy Pettles, has an original style that is quirky and engaging. All of the characters are full of life. Ghost Busting Mystery is small town mystery with the heart of Garrison Keillor and the crime cracking wit of Janet Evanovich.

Almost makes me want a mystery meat sandwich!

A really fun and funny read! I was pleasantly surprised, considering it's senior sleuths involved (65+) - judging books by covers, etc. A few little grammar errors, but overall an excellent read, great mystery and entertaining duo. I look forward to more in the series.

Too cliche. The author makes all the characters sound stupid with their wording. One or two characters is fine for backwoods language, but not the whole cast of characters. Couldn’t even get through 2 chapters.

This is a fun book. The characters are a hoot and the mystery is well=done. Definitely will be waiting for the next one. #GhostBustingMystery #NetGalley