The venerated Carolyn Hart makes a welcome return after many years to the Severn House list with a new instalment in her long-running Bailey Ruth ghost series. When this series first appeared, over a decade ago, it was introduced as "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...As a member of Heaven's Department of Good Intentions, Bailey Ruth goes back to earth to help solve crimes". So when Professor iris Gallagher is seen standing over a corpse with murder weapon in hand, and with a sceptical old friend and police chief Sam Cobb unconvinced of Iris's innocence, Bailey Ruth needs to intervene quickly. The charm of this series is that some of the cast can see her; others can't. She can appear; disappear; change clothes; change locations - all of which you would think too corny for words but in the hands of the hugely experienced Carolyn Hart works so seamlessly and so well. Wittily too. Great fun.

This is book 9 in the Bailey Ruth series. Bailey is a ghost that is sent back to earth to help the innocent. Iris is certainly in need as the police are sure she murdered her co-worker. This is an interesting concept for a cozy series. Each book can be read as a stand alone because Bailey goes into a new situation every book. The stories are wholesome and fun to read for young and old alike. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was not familiar with this series from Carolyn Hart, and I just loved it. What a great premise, and I love the way she sets up the whole ghost/detective thing. I usually like to read at least the first two or three books in a series first, because it is usually a better experience, but I was truly able to jump right in and understand everything with this one.

Bailey Ruth has been given a promotion in the Heaven’s Department of Good Intentions. Her supervisor, Wiggins, says her intuitive knowledge of people makes her perfect for dispatching emissaries to Earth to help those in need. Either that, or he wants her close by so he can keep an eye on her.

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However, Adelaide is her hometown, and when a last minute request to help not one, but two, people comes in, Bailey Ruth jumps on board to solve the problem.

On second thought, maybe she shouldn’t have been so hasty. Iris and Robert, her two protectees, are in an empty office. Standing over a dead body. Murder weapon in hand. Well, isn’t this just going to get a bit sticky?

Usually her investigations have the backing of Police Chief Sam Cobb. He can only see her when she appears but knows she’s there and is almost used to her appearing/disappearing, presenting theories, and sharing clues. After all, a ghost um, angel, isn’t required to obtain a search warrant. In her persona of Officer Loy (a play on Myrna Loy’s Thin Man role), she’s also able to question suspects.

This time, Sam’s in a cranky mood. He knows Iris knows more than she’s telling and despite Bailey Ruth’s assurances, thinks Iris is guilty, especially since Iris was overheard arguing with the victim not long before the murder. When a second body turns up and another crime is uncovered, things look grim for Iris indeed.

This is book nine in the ghostly mysteries. Bailey Ruth is a delightful character, quick to think on her feet, observant of the rules regarding Heavenly assistance, but sometimes (well, most of the time), she has to break one or two or six to accomplish her goal. She always has a very good reason.

I enjoy this series so much. The tone is lighthearted, but the mystery as challenging as any other. Hart also writes the Death on Demand Mystery Bookstore series, twenty-five in all, plus stand alone books.

Will Bailey Ruth Uncover The Truth.....?
The ninth in the Bailey Ruth Ghost mysteries and Bailey finds herself with a calling for help from her old hometown. There’s murder afoot and Bailey needs to uncover the truth. As always, an entertaining and well written mystery with nicely placed clues and a satisfying plot. Cosy with a touch of the paranormal. Whilst I’ll always prefer the Death On Demand mysteries from this author the Bailey Ruth mysteries are always an enjoyable read.

This is the 9th book in the " Bailey Ruth Ghost Series". I have read several in the series and always enjoy returning to the series. This is a charming series and I was thrilled to read this long awaited book for review. Bailey is a fun protagonist and I love the paranormal aspect of this fun series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

This mystery was so well crafted it kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the supporting charcters and how the sleuth progresses. Bailey is always fun to follow on her ghostly adventures. I look forward to the next in series.

It's quite a long time since last I read a book in this series and I was happy to meet again the characters and the funny setting.
Bailey Ruth is as quirky and well written as I remembered, the cast of characters is well thought and likable.
The solid mystery kept me guessing and I liked the world building.
It was an entertaining and engrossing read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Bailey Ruth Raeburn as a Ghost Ups Her Game when she goes to earth to help people in trouble. A mysterious murder has left multiple suspects and little evidence.. Iris, one of the suspects is Bailey's charge whom she is working to exonerate. What caused the murder? A forced donation? The dead wife of the man was fooling around? Scandals? Bailey has her ghostly work cut out and as usual she is not sticking to heavenly guardian rules. Enjoy.

First, let’s get the fact that this is the nineth book in the series out of the way – it isn’t an issue. While initially I was a bit adrift and do feel that there could have been just a little bit more context as to exactly how Bailey got this particular job, once the investigation got under way, it was fairly easy to work out what was going on. And the fact that this is Bailey’s home patch, where she lived when she was alive made it sufficiently plausible for me to suspend my disbelief.

Besides, I like Bailey. She is generally a very chirpy, upbeat character who seems to thrive on a bit of excitement and chaos going on around her. Although there was a point when everything was going wrong that she became overwhelmed and had a crisis of confidence – I liked that, too. While it was a pleasant change to have a confident protagonist, who wasn’t particularly angst-ridden, I felt Hart successfully avoided her also coming across as unduly smug, which wouldn’t have worked during this particular investigation.

What you won’t get with this one is a foot-to-the-floor action-filled adventure. It’s a steady accumulation of clues, as the suspects are each lined up and eliminated. I very much enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of this story – it was well handled with a reasonable number of suspects. And unlike some cosy mysteries, there was a real sense of loss and outrage at the death of a couple of the victims – at the cutting short of their lives and the waste of what they had to offer. Overall, this is an entertaining, enjoyable murder mystery written by an experienced author who knows what she is doing – recommended for fans of cosy mysteries with a paranormal twist. While I obtained an arc of Ghost Ups Her Game from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

Ghost Ups Her Game by Carolyn Hart is the 9th 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 is a ghost who is supposed to be sending other ghosts to help those in trouble but when she sees that her old friend Iris Gallagher might be in trouble- she's found with the corpse of Matt Lambert- she opts to return to the town of Adelaide, Oklahoma. And what a return it is! Her boss Wiggins is upset that she's gone, Sam Cobb is about to arrest Iris, and there's lots of unrest in the atmosphere. This is a cozy- paranormal though it may be- and you now that Iris didn't do it, that Matt had more than one person who didn't like him, and that Bailey will solve the case. Bailey is a terrific character- she may be new to me but she's got a long track record. This was fine as a standalone and now I'm going to look for others. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read!

Bailey Ruth, an emissary from Heaven (think ghost) is back, in the ninth book in the Bailey Ruth Ghost Novel series by Carolyn Hart. This time Bailey Ruth has returned to her hometown in Oklahoma. When she arrives, she discovers that a murder has been committed and a professor from a local college is the prime suspect. Once again, Bailey Ruth finds herself in the middle of a dire situation.

The Ruth Bailey mysteries are great fun. She is a gentle ghost who enjoys fashion and helping others (not necessarily in that order). Carolyn Hart has created a series that is easy reading and, even when murder is involved, makes the reader feel good. I always enjoy the time I spend with the heavenly Bailey Ruth.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Carolyn Hart provides a delightful mystery with a twist in 'Ghost Ups Her Game'. Bailey Ruth from Heaven's Department of Good Intentions is a thoroughly likable character. In this case she goes to her former home town in Oklahoma and teams up with policeman Sam Cobb to solve a murder. The mystery is engaging with plenty of suspects and interaction between Bailey Ruth and her supervisor Wiggins was charming. I will look for earlier books in the series to enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Good, solid book. Easy to follow. Would recommend to anyone who likes a thriller or mystery book. Liked the characters and it was difficult to put down!

I am familiar with Carolyn Hart from her other books, so I was looking forward to this one. After reading it, I thought the beginning was a bit slow, but the plot was kind of cool. Murder and the ghost plot fit perfectly for those who like suspense and paranormal genre. Solid 4.5 stars here!

A Bailey Ruth Ghost Novel #9

Bailey Ruth Raeburn is back in Heaven's Department of Good Intentions. Busy dispatching heavenly emissaries to those in need of a bit of help. Satisfied with herself for doing such a heavenly job matching everyone up, she suddenly gets an emergency call for help from her hometown of Adelaide, Oklahoma. 

Bailey wastes no time jumping aboard the train engine, she heads out quickly with Wiggins yelling in her ear!

All she knows is Iris Gallagher is in trouble and Bailey must help her.

A fun twist in this one is that Iris can see Bailey! All the time. And while Bailey Ruth tries to stick to the rules, she is barely skating by on this one. And when her good friend Sam arrests Iris for murder, Bailey does whatever she must to find a killer before he kills again!

Oh, Bailey Ruth! I do love this ghostly character. These characters are so well written and I can't wait for the next one!

NetGalley Reviews/August 4th, 2020 by Severn House Publishers

After a long break from the Bailey Ruth series, Carolyn Hart is back with The Ghost Ups her Game. Though the novel seems to get weighed down in the middle, with little forward momentum, Carolyn Hart does pull it all together by the end even though she needs to do too much recapping to bring her excessive number of characters together.

Bailey Ruth Raeburn, called in by the Department of Good Intentions, is sent back to her much loved Adelaide, Oklahoma to help Iris Gallagher after she is discovered holding a murder weapon over a dead body. Bailey Ruth must rally the troops, much to Wiggin’s dismay, to prove the innocent are innocent even if they need a little heavenly help.

Though there are murders and a ghost, there is also a wholesomeness to this series. No offensive lines are crossed, no bits or parts that would make a person blush, just a well-dressed ethereal spirit that comes in to help those in need.

This is the first book in the series that I've read so I was a little lost to begin with. There is a lot of descriptions about clothes so that also didn't catch my attention to begin with. However, I did end up enjoying this book, since I do enjoy paranormal cozies. I liked the secondary characters and the mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who you gonna call when an innocent earthling needs heavenly help?

Bailey Ruth Raeburn.

Late of Adelaide, Oklahoma, Bailey Ruth returns to earth whenever someone in her hometown needs her. She and her husband, who perished with her in a boating accident some years ago, love heaven, but it's nice to go home for a visit.

Book nine in Carolyn Hart's celestial series, Ghost Ups Her Game, is a delight. The murder is a real puzzler: Who killed a college fundraiser at an awards banquet and why? The principals are well drawn.

As always, the supporting cast -- the regulars -- are always engaging. There's Adelaide Police Chief Sam Cobb, who has learned to appreciate the clues provided by a stylishly dressed red head who appears and disappears in a flash. Wilkins, in charge of earthly assignments, grows more lenient as the cases go by. The comfort-food laden menu at Lulu's Diner makes the eatery a character too.

What an interesting plot/idea! This is my first time reading Hart, and it held my attention and couldn't wait to keep reading. The main character seemed a bit over the top at times, but all in all, this is a unique interesting book.