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Lady Justice #23

Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure

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Is there really a spirit world? And if there is, can those disembodied souls communicate with the living? Can departed love ones speak to family from beyond the grave? These are questions Walt must ponder when a bizarre series of paranormal events lead his friend, Mary, to a treasure hidden away for seventy years, and a family she never knew existed. Walt’s ultimate answer lies in the words of the Professor, “There are still many things beyond the comprehension of mortal man.” A light-hearted look at things that go ‘bump’ in the night.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2016

58 people are currently reading
145 people want to read

About the author

Robert Thornhill

66 books367 followers
Award-winning author, Robert Thornhill, began writing at the age of sixty-six and in eleven short years has penned forty-five novels in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, the seven volume Rainbow Road series of chapter books for children, a cookbook and a mini-autobiography.
Lady Justice and the Sting, Lady Justice and Dr. Death, Lady Justice and the Vigilante, Lady Justice and the Candidate, Lady Justice and the Book Club Murders, Lady Justice and the Cruise Ship Murders, Lady Justice and the Vet and Lady Justice and the Pharaoh’s Curse won the Pinnacle Award for the best new mystery novels of Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring of 2013, Summer of 2013, Spring of 2014 and Fall of 2014 from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.
Twenty-four volumes in the series reached #1 on Amazon in the past twenty-four months.
Many of Walt’s adventures in the Lady Justice series are anecdotal and based on Robert’s real life.
Although Robert holds a master’s in psychology, he has never taken a course in writing and has never learned to type. All 52 of his published books were typed with one finger and a thumb!
His wit and insight come from his varied occupations, including thirty-three years as a real estate broker. He lives with his wife, Peg, in Independence, Missouri.
Visit him on the Web at: http://BooksByBob.com

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5 stars
56 (51%)
4 stars
35 (32%)
3 stars
10 (9%)
2 stars
5 (4%)
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3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Christina Jones.
97 reviews5 followers
June 1, 2016
Cozy means something that’s comfortable, warm and familiar. A cozy mystery is one where the reader likes the characters, feels justice is served at the end, and has enough twists and turns to the plot that their mind is actively engaged in helping solve the crime.
In my opinion, this is one of Robert Thornhill’s best novels in his Walt Williams Mystery/Comedy series. Lady Justice and The Ghostly Treasure is the 23rd book in this series and is full of mysteries: hidden gold; spooky specters; providential coincidences; and a cast of characters that interweave around and about each other.
While trying not to give away any spoilers, the reader will discover Mary, the manager of Walt’s Three Trails Hotel, finds a long lost relative who has a son who has rescued a damsel in distress. All tie into a plot of buried treasure with the usual cast of characters in Thornhill’s books helping Williams. Tension comes from the run-ins with a Russian brute, some low-life thugs, deals that must be made with the Kansas City mafia, Ozark hooligans, and a thieving raccoon. All these factors are woven together in a tale that takes in familiar landscapes around the Kansas City Metro area: The Levee at 43rd & Main in KC, the old Odd Fellows Home in Liberty, MO that is now a brewery, and even a stop at Osceola Cheese on the way to a real Ozark cabin.
The pace of the story is quick and quirky. There are several funny scenes that may cause the reader to laugh out loud and the paranormal episodes will give even the non-believer pause. The characters are well defined and realistic. At the end, Thornhill posts pictures of the actual locations: the Three Trails Hotel (actually found on Maple Street just west of the Presbyterian Church in Independence, MO); the ruins of the Odd Fellows Home in Liberty, now the site of Belvoir Brewery; and the old foundation and stone wall of a fishing cabin on the dam and lake in the Ozarks. No picture, but The Levee is still a thriving part of KC night life between the Plaza and Westport areas just south of downtown Kansas City. It’s those use of landmarks that bring realism to Thornhill’s writing. A definite thumbs-up and five stars, this is one of the coziest mystery cozies he’s written!
Profile Image for Gail.
1,544 reviews
July 14, 2016
Love Walt and the Gang and all the trouble they seem to get into. Mary is a hoot! Just love her in this book. A cozy, fun loving mystery story. This time it involves the spirit world and do they really exsist? Makes you wonder. Full of twists and turns that keep you guessing.
I loved every minute of the story and hated to see it end. This is my new favorite in the Lady Justice series.
Profile Image for P.S. Winn.
Author 105 books366 followers
May 18, 2016
If you haven't read a novel by this author, especially one with Walt Williams as the star, you are missing out. Walt is quite the character and does investigations, but none like the one he is caught up in this book. Beginning with uncovering a meth lab, Walt gets caught up in a series of complex situations that end up taking him on a hunt through an old ghost filled hospital and in a quest for gold. The author adds humor to the suspense in this story and makes it a fun read that is hard to put down. I have read other novels starring Walt Williams and am a big fan of him and of the incredible writing of Robert Thornhill.
Profile Image for Heather.
689 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2016
This is a fun ghost story with a treasure hunt. Walt is staying busy with his brother in law, Kevin, working as a PI. He still gets in trouble at times but as usual, he has Lady Luck on his side. We have more Mary in this story. She is great and deserves the surprise that she receives.
Profile Image for Grampy.
869 reviews48 followers
June 3, 2016
Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorites.

I loved it!

“Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure” by Robert Thornhill is a fun story sure to entertain the most jaded reader. The latest entry in Thornhill’s popular “Lady Justice” series, “The Ghostly Treasure” is one of those rare volumes one can simply enjoy, without feeling offended, manipulated, or otherwise required to think too much.

This adventure/comedy/mystery tale begins with a ghostly visitation to the residents of Three Trails Hotel, the boarding house owned by Walt Williams. Walt naturally suspects a bad burrito is behind the first sighting, but when another resident also sees the specter, Walt hires a local ghost-buster to investigate.

The ensuing adventure is well worth the time you will invest in reading it. In fact, this is a tale your younger teens and ‘reluctant readers’ will enjoy reading. There is nothing ‘scary’ about this story, so nightmares won’t be a concern.

“Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure” is, I believe, the twenty-third “Lady Justice” novel penned by Robert Thornhill, and I’ve read nearly all of them; there isn’t a lemon in the whole bunch. As a bit of added attraction, Thornhill has included several supporting photographs in this book.

The places he writes about truly do exist, and the images he shares in “The Ghostly Treasure” place you, the reader, right in the thick of the action. If you already are a fan of Thornhill’s “Lady Justice” series, don’t miss this latest introduction. If you haven’t yet read one of these wonderfully entertaining stories, “Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure” will amuse and delight you, and no doubt make you a fan of this author and this series.

With summer almost upon us, this is the perfect ‘feel good’ summer read! You will have a smile firmly planted on your face when you reach The End.
Profile Image for Sheri.
2,111 reviews
May 20, 2016
Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure (Lady Justice #23) by Robert Thornhill

Walt is back in the new and exciting installment of the Lady Justice Series. He uncovers a meth lab, and then begins a very unusual case. He (and friends) embark on a quest to find a treasure. But what happens is not very typical, he comes upon some paranormal occurrences. He leaves us questioning do ghosts really exists?

Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure is a fantastic story with an original plot, rich (often comical) dialog and amazing photos. I really got a feel of what was going on, as if I were there. Robert Thornhill really knows how to grab you attention and not let go. A definite five-star read! I highly recommend to all.

Profile Image for Cynthia Coer butcher.
25 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2016
NOT JUST ANOTHER LADY JUSTICE CONSPIRACY


Bob Thornhill told me there were no conspiracy theories in LADY JUSTICE AND THE GHOSTLY TREASURE, but he was oh-so wrong! In his newest work of fiction, Thornhill has given us proof of a conspiracy from the other side of the veil. Forces beyond the grave have come together to lead us on a roller coaster ride of a read.

Join Walt and the gang as they find that treasure comes in many forms if one is willing to open their eyes and hearts to the idea that ghosts may just be real after all…

…and bring a hard hat…Mary leads with her bat throughout this great adventure. You really don’t want to be her next victim, I mean, target.

Cynthia Butcher
Blue Springs, MO
Profile Image for Conny.
1,137 reviews35 followers
July 10, 2016
I long have been a fan of Robert Thornhill, and whenever I pick up one of his books I know I will be in for a fun read. One of the things I especially love about this series is that all the characters are older and yet life still offers fun, excitement, mystery, humor and plenty of action. As usual I was not disappointed and this time the motley crew was on a ghostly treasure hunt. You don't have to read the books in order to enjoy them, but I usually like to get to know all the players right from the beginning. I wonder what trouble Walt and gang will find next time around?
Profile Image for Janice Spina.
Author 46 books110 followers
February 6, 2017
An Entertaining and Witty Mystery!

Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure is another enjoyable read by this talented and creative author. Robert Thornhill has the innate ability to write a mystery that is not only entertaining but also humorous.

The author draws from life experiences and to these he intertwines his sense of humor and comic timing to create incredibly entertaining books. I have read several books by this author and always feel uplifted by his humor. I would highly recommend all Mr. Thornhill's books.
70 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2016
Hilarious characters, quick storyline

This book had me from go! It's hilarious crew of characters and the various tie ins to the plot kept me wondering "which number" was coming next. I firmly believe in the spirit world and love reading about the experiences others have with the spirits, Angels and guardians of our spiritual world. Job well done Sir! Now onto Amazon to find the next in the series!
Profile Image for Georgiann Hennelly.
1,960 reviews25 followers
August 23, 2016
I love this series. In this story Walt is working as a P.I with Kevin his Brother in law. When he gets called to the Three Trails Hotel because some of the residents seen a Ghost and they want Walt to get rid of it. There is more about Mary in this book such as she discovers a nephew she never knew she had and there is a hidden treasure which they have to find. A laugh out loud roller coaster ride of a book.
188 reviews
June 23, 2016
Who you gonna call?

This series is crazy - in a good way! This installment is a quick, funny read that kept my interest right up to the last page! Sure, parts of it are silly and/or ridiculous - that's the point! It's not meant to be a serious novel, but a lighthearted story! It more than fills the bill!
9 reviews
July 2, 2016
Another Winner

Robert Thornhill writes mystery/comedy stories that are not simply entertaining, but make you think about the world around you. I have loved every single one that I have read so far, and this one is no exception.
2,522 reviews
June 22, 2016
very good, loved the characters
Profile Image for David Richardson.
788 reviews7 followers
June 30, 2016
Thornhill hits another home run with this book. A lot of humor and a lot of research in this book. Please keep 'em coming. I'll be ready to read.
30 reviews
February 5, 2017
Finally getting back into reading. This is the first book I have read in several months. I wanted to start with something familiar, light and fun. This is another book that is well-researched, funny, sad and entertaining throughout. I was missing all the old characters and the trouble they always seem to find. And so much of this book had familiar settings and history that it was especially appealing. I still have a couple more in this series to be caught up and am looking forward to reading them as well. I laughed and cried....mostly laughed, though. I loved all the local color involved. Again, if you haven't read Robert Thornhill's series...you will not regret it. Great characters and lots of fun. Looking forward to my old habit of reading a couple of kinds of books a week!
Profile Image for Laura May.
Author 6 books53 followers
July 23, 2016
DNF at 32%. I just couldn't handle it anymore: it's all dialogue, with no substantive content nor description. Maybe it would work as a play (I don't know, as obviously by not finishing it, I can't estimate know how successful the story arc would be). But I don't especially enjoy reading plays.

It had a promising start, but the writing style was too off-putting to go on.
Profile Image for Jan Miller.
732 reviews7 followers
May 7, 2018
I love the new direction Lady Justice is heading. Robert Thornhill is such a wonderful writer and adds so much to each book. Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure is a treasure of a listen. The story flows so well and has many elements woven into it. I loved how all of the co-incidents were added together and brought so many characters into the book. Walt continues to have center state, with glimpses of Judy, Ox, Amanda, Kevin, the Professor, Mary and the rest of the gang. This story is a lighter listen than the last, yet it will definitely stick with me. I so enjoy the imagery and humor in this book, the tidbits of previous stories, and the inclusion of real places and historical events. Most of the characters are great, some are intriguing, some are ruthless, and some I want to hear more of in a future adventure. For some reason Carmine (Kansas City Don) intrigues me. I so want to see the good in him. George Kuch continues to perform the characters in a delightful way and with distinguishable voices. I also enjoy how thought provoking some of the actions in this book are. Without giving away spoilers, I thought justice was served with this listen.
Profile Image for Lisa Harris.
142 reviews2 followers
October 29, 2018
I was really glad to get back to stories more of my interest. Who doesn't love a good ghost story, right? Walt and his buddies, as always, find themselves in trouble several times throughout the story. Mary had a major role in this one. I love Mary's character. She seems to think she's invincible and that makes her a badass. She's always been a fun source for me in these stories. Ghosts come a knockin' and she's not afraid. She has such a big and beautiful heart but don't get on her bad side or you'll likely be looking down the wrong side of her bat. I love the introduction to family in this book because all these years she's thought she didn't have any family. Good call on this Mr. Thornhill. Thank you George Kutch for doing another great job. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,600 reviews28 followers
August 27, 2019
Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure is my twenty-third enjoyable read/listen from author Robert Thornhill. Another entertaining clean read, filled with puns & one-liners. Throughout the book I found myself smiling a lot & at times laughing out loud. Each book in the series seems better than the last as Thornhill continues to up his game. Narrator George Kuch again adds greatly to the listening enjoyment with his wide variety of entertaining voices & inflections, Kuch IS Walt Williams! I’ll definitely be reading more from Thornhill! I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. Since I own both the Audible & Kindle versions I was able to follow along while being read to Up next is Lady Justice and the Ghost Whisperer. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Profile Image for Suzan.
1,642 reviews17 followers
May 28, 2018
Robert Thornhill has done it again. Book 23 in his wonderful series just might be my favorite yet. Walt and the clan come across ghostly help. I would have not thought of these encounters as ghosts but as guardian angels. I have had a few experiences in my life with guardian angels and you will never forget them. Thank you Robert for reminding me. This series just keeps getting better and better. Once again George Kuch does a wonderful job of narrating this series. He is the voice of Walt for me.
Profile Image for Deborah .
839 reviews3 followers
January 21, 2018
Lady Justice and the ghostly treasure

No I personally do not believe in ghosts I found this story very entertaining . Just imagine spirits from the other world intervening to save someone's life . Just imagine spirits from the other world leading to hidden treasure . These were some of the occurrences in this story . Walt and his senior crew never cease to amaze me . I can't wait for the next Walt installment .
Profile Image for Jan.
6,531 reviews102 followers
May 14, 2018
In medicine and police work there is no such thing as coincidence. This installment is more unorthodox than the others, but that's still a good thing. And we still get a well researched history lesson to boot! The publisher's blurb gives hints, but maybe a subtitle could be Walt Williams and the Series of FORTUNATE Events. A wonderful read, not to be missed!
George Kuch continues to be excellent as narrator.
Profile Image for Curly's  Ramblings.
2,034 reviews6 followers
October 20, 2018
Audiobook review: This story is probably my favorite so far in the series! A humorous mystery involving a treasure hunt with a touch of other worldly characters! I love it that many of the characters we know and love make appearances with Mary’s back story shared. Mr. Kuch did a fantastic job narrating as always! I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Brooke.
1,390 reviews6 followers
August 20, 2020
Adventure awaits for the crew this time and we meet some really cool and interesting people as well as some crooked ones. I loved the treasure hunting part of this book with the comedy parts that were involved at the time. This group just get better every time I listen to them.
2,955 reviews
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this selection from the Lady Justice series. It was a fast read, includes many likeable characters and is a refreshing change from most of the mysteries I usually read. I rate this one 4.7 stars.
Profile Image for Emilija.
1,900 reviews31 followers
November 2, 2025
This was a decent installment in the Lady Justice series, and I enjoyed it much more than the previous few books in the series. This was entertaining, enjoyable, and an all-round cozy mystery novel with a treasure hunt.
Profile Image for April.
2,201 reviews58 followers
December 7, 2023
Lady Justice and the Ghostly Treasure
: Robert Thornhill

Walt Williams and the gang face a new challenge when Mary Murphy meets a long lost relative. The listener gets to go along on a mysterious treasure hunt where paranormal characters help lead them to the next clue. All things circle around to complete the story.

The author also works in real world problems both from the past and present. I never get to the end of these books without thinking about the things that have been highlighted. The humor adds just the right touch to keep it cozy.

I can't wait for the next adventure, as they keep getting better and better.



The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. George Kuch is perfect for this series!!!



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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