A Ghostly Secret
Ghostly Southern Mysteries, Book #7
Tonya Kappes
5 Stars
Synopsis:
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Emma Lee Raines, proprietor of a small-town Kentucky funeral home, Eternal Slumber, is a “Betweener,” helps ghosts stuck between here and the ever-after— only murdered ghosts. After Emma Lee solves who murdered them, only then can they cross over to the Great Beyond, Big Guy In The Sky.
Emma Lee is up against a cold case that happened before she’d even gotten her “Betweener” gift. Not only is the ghost of eight-year-old Betsy Lynn Brady, but Mr. Whiskers Betsy’s cat needs to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Betsy Lynn Brady has no idea who murdered her or why. With her heart in shambles, Emma Lee begs her sexy beau, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross to reopen the cold case because Betsy’s head is always stuck in a book and can’t remember exactly what happened to her.
Emma Lee learns real fast that someone doesn’t want her to snoop around the cold case. Can she help Betsy cross over and get Mr. Whiskers cross the Rainbow Bridge before someone helps Emma Lee check out from the living? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Emma Lee and catching up with what has been going on in her life. She is still suffering from losing her sister, and she can tell that something has changed with Jack Henry, her boyfriend, when he tells her he is planning on changing his job. And to top all of that off, she has a Betweener client who is unlike any she has ever had before. It is a child, Betsy Lynn, who passed away before Emma Lee was ever able to see ghosts and she really has no idea how she became dead. It will take all of Emma Lee’s Betweener skills and tricks if she is going to be able to send this client into the great beyond. I also really liked the inclusion of Mr. Whiskers, a cat that has been protecting Betsy Lynn. That was heartwarming. And of course you have to love Granny, she is quirky and wild and you never know what she is going to say and do.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action take place and eavesdropping on conversations. She is also very talented in creating small town settings, where everybody knows your name and your business. I always love visiting Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky, and spending time there.
The mystery of who killed Betsy Lynn was well plotted and difficult to solve. I liked the fact that Emma Lee did not find a dead body. It is refreshing when the protagonist does not find the murdered victim because in so many of the cozies I read, that is what happens. In this book, the victim has been dead for many years and it is difficult to get a handle on everything that happened years ago. I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy paranormal. I have been very pleased with this entire series, I think the books just keep getting better. Do yourself a favor and get reading this series.
mjbreviewers 