Merry, Merry Ghost

Bailey Ruth #2

by Carolyn G. Hart

Merry, Merry Ghost by Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award winner Carolyn Hart, is the spirited second appearance of spectral sleuth, Bailey Ruth Raeburn, who would never let a little thing like being dead keep her from enjoying the Yuletide holiday or solving a dastardly crime. The light and funny follow up to Hart’s critically acclaimed Ghost At Work, Merry, Merry Ghost is a  true Christmas treat, and Bailey Ruth is a most welcome addition to Carolyn Hart’s coterie of beloved series protagonists, joining septuagenarian sleuth “Henrie O” Collins and the Darlings of “Death on Demand” fame.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Audiobook, Holiday

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Also writing as Carolyn Hart.

An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart


DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29

The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.

Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.

Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.

www.CarolynHart.com

And for cat lovers:

DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart

I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.

In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.

Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;

. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.

A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.

. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.

And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.

Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was wrong - by Book 3 she is oft quoting the OLD testament. Any more I could say about my thoughts on her frequent quoting and increasingly didactic views may offend. I have created a new shelf due to this series for christian-bible-thumping-righteous, wanted it to be christian-bible-thumping-only-we-are-right, but GR wouldn’t take that many words.

[Olga Godim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know there are a Department of Good Intentions and a Rescue Express in Heaven? According to Ms. Hart, the author of this novel, both serve the same purpose: to facilitate dispatching of friendly ghosts to earth on temporarily assignments to right some wrongs.
Bailey Ruth works for the department, although she is not a model seraphic employee. She is too prone to breaching the heavenly rules. She repeatedly becomes visible to mortals (a decidedly ‘no-no’), meddles with a police investigation, breaks the speed limit while driving a purloined car, and plays pranks on unsuspecting bureaucrats. On the other hand, she gets things done, murderers exposed, and orphans protected, so the department head Wiggins might just overlook her infractions. She hopes.
Her current job is to watch over a four-year-old boy Keith and his grandmother, a super rich but very sick woman Susan. There is Susan’s will involved, a car chase (or two), a couple murders, and a bunch of Susan’s greedy relatives, but with Bailey Ruth on the case, justice will prevail.
Despite the heroine’s wit and common sense and her assorted otherworldly abilities – she can materialize at will or whiz through walls – the writer also makes her believable and vulnerable. Ghost on no ghost, while on earth, Bailey Ruth needs food, sleep, and warm clothing. She misses her children. She can be hungry, thirsty, upset. She doesn’t know what anyone is thinking; their minds are close to her. To investigate a murder, she has no other recourse but intense eavesdropping and lots of legwork, just like a living PI. Well, fly-work in her case – she doesn’t need to walk – but it comes to the same thing for a ghost. She wouldn’t give up until the murderer is caught and the innocents’ safety assured. She is a real guardian angel…with a sharp tongue and a wicked sense of the ridiculous.
Of course, the story of this ghostly PI was spiced with a healthy dose of humor. Some scenes are hysterical, for example, the episode of Bailey Ruth’s ghost vying for a phone directory with a cat and a cook.
The plot is well constructed, the writing clean and pithy, and the tension rises steadily. Overall, an enjoyable read. The only problem I had with this book concerned clothing. The author describes everything everyone is wearing in details and colors – in almost every scene. After a few scenes, it gets tedious and detracts from the quality of the novel.
3.5 stars

[Susan Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 did not disappoint me! It was every bit as good as the first in this series. I love Bailey Ruth's character!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Hart’s Merry Merry Christmas (Bailey Ruth, #2) is fun. This is the second book by this author that I have read, but this is the first book in this series. I read this one first as I wished to read a Christmas story. Bailey Ruth is a member of the Department of Good Intentions, Heaven. Bailey Ruth is dead, but she loves Christmas. Thus, this holiday-loving ‘spirit’ is on her way to Adelaide, OK to assist the matriarch who has just discovered that she has a grandson, and she desires to change her will in order to leave the majority of her estate to this charming 4 year old, the son of her son who is deceased. Susan Flynn has another problem. She is ill, very ill. Living with Susan are relatives, but not blood relatives. She did not know about her grandson. Susan calls a family meeting, and she phones her lawyer. She wants to inform the rest of the family that she is changing her will in favor of her grandson, but she plans to be fair to everyone. Unfortunately, one of the heirs does not like Susan’s plan and makes sure Susan does not sign this new will.
Enter Bailey Ruth. Bailey Ruth Raeburn arrives to help Susan achieve her goal. How Bailey Ruth does this is the fun part! The reader also gets to meet Wiggins, her supervisor in the Dept. of Good Intentions,Heaven. These two characters, these spirits, will definitely make you laugh. A fun Christmas read. 4.25 stars.

[HannaLee Kingstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the concept, a ghost who solves murders!!! I did not know this was the second book in a series but the book stood alone just fine and I didn’t feel like I was missing any information. The mystery was great kept me guessing who the murderer was for the whole book!

[Stina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book #3 for 2018
Better World Books:
- A book set in the current season (winter)
- A book involving magic
The Legendary Book Club of Habitica's Ultimate Reading Challenge: A book featuring a profession you are unfamiliar with
Books Inter Alia: A book picked up on a whim and without prior knowledge
Full House Bingo Square: Holiday season
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
PopSugar's Ultimate Reading Challenge: Your favorite prompt from the 2016 PopSugar reading challenge (A murder mystery)
50 States Challenge: Oklahoma
Book Bingo Square: Free Space!

This was a free audio download from the publisher back in December. They were pushing their audiobook app, but it was available only for iOS, so I had to listen to it on my laptop's DVD player, which provided no progress bar, chapter info, or speed control. That sucked.

So did the book. I was giving Hart one last chance, despite my better judgment, because hey, free book. When will I learn? Hart gets no more chances from me, though. I have already gone through my shelves and located the one book I'd been hanging onto as Hart's last chance, and it gets the heave-ho.

This book was ridiculously cheesy and I hated pretty much all of the characters, but especially the protagonist, Bailey Ruth. So, so vain and full of herself and obsessed with designer clothes and furs, and just plain, flat-out annoying. It didn't even seem to me that she had good taste in expensive clothes.

The whole set-up was just as tacky and vulgar. Human ghost-angels (um, hello, ever cracked open your Bible?) and fluffy clouds and heavenly express trains and curmudgeonly bureaucrats and whatever her stupid "job" title was -- UGH! Even as an atheist, I can appreciate stories about ghosts returning to Earth to solve mysteries or right wrongs -- but only if they are done with wit, intelligence, and style. This story had NONE of those. There was nothing compelling or engaging about it, not even the murder mystery. I got so bored that I didn't even really pay attention to the solution of the mystery. And I don't care. I was just praying for the thing to be over.

However, if you are/were a fan of Touched by an Angel, well, you will probably love this.

[Cassie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was incredibly disappointing. I tend to think that, no matter the genre, any book can be rewarding to read as long as it is constructed well by the author, from Brideshead Revisited to Inspector Morse. Unfortunately, Carolyn Hart failed miserably in constructing this novel. I have a few major problems with this book. First, there is nothing "cozy" about a child as a potential murder victim. In the end, he was only marginally in danger but the main character is given the assignment to protect the little boy because "something might happen to him." Secondly, while I understand this kind of book is mostly whimsical, there are some things that go too far for my liking--such as the ghost faking a crime scene in order to see that the first death is investigated as a murder, or the same ghost going out for a midnight drive with the ghost of the first victim in order to get a holographic will signed. Thirdly, I did not care for Bailey Ruth Raeburn as a character. She was extremely irritating. Also concerning the characters, they are all massive cliches.

I know, I know--it's a cozy mystery and not Shakespeare, but even this genre does not have to be earth-shatteringly poetic in order to be readable. Thankfully, this was my first Caroyln Hart novel, and it will be my last.

[T · Rating 1 out of 5]

So the mystery part of the book was o.k. It was quite interesting to see what someone not acquainted with the biblical description of angels thought of them. Humans can become angels. Not according to the Bible. Angels can be ghosts. Wrong again. I also did not like the in dept descriptions of what was to be eaten or worn by the angel who came to save the day. Who cares if she wore Prada?

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like Bailey Ruth and her ghostly adventures. I enjoyed this mystery and it kept me guessing.

[Gizzard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outdated and definitely not merry. Ok mystery.

[Georgann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid cozy paranormal mystery. I couldn't figure out whodunnit, but I may have been distracted by Bailey Ruth's unending descriptions of every single character's clothing.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm struggling with how to rate this book. I listened to the audio version.

On the one hand, I love a fun ghost story, and this one is told from the point of view of the ghost. I love a murder mystery, and a story where the ghost helps the police solve the crime is pretty cool. I can go along with ghosts making themselves visible and invisible, heard and unheard. The plot was decent and I pretty much liked it.

On the OTHER hand, though..... I hate when an author takes what is traditionally known about something and turns it on its head. (For example, I hated Twilight because vampires have been known to be evil for centuries, and the author made them sweet and loving. Ugh! There were some meta-messages in that which I could not reconcile with.) This book at least doesn't have any meta-messages, but it made me twitch every time the ghost had to eat something because somehow being on earth makes them subject to earthly "whatevers." Ghosts by definition are people who died. They don't have bodies. Why would they need food??? And she can materialize into a physical, tangible person. Not just a visible ghost, but a PERSON. And she can take off her materialized coat and hang it on a hook and the coat doesn't disappear. And the endless descriptions of the stylish ensembles that she materialized with were irrelevant and irritating after a while. Instead of "I swirled into being wearing a police uniform," It was a police uniform of french blue with a ruby red stripe and blah blah blah, down to the style of shoes. Who CARES? Ugh! Oh, and let's not forget that HUMANS can sometimes see ghosts when they're invisible, but apparently ghosts can't see each other outside of heaven unless they "swirl into being." AARGH! Inconsistencies like this just drive me bonkers.

Having said that, though, I find that I not only couldn't put this down until I got to the end, I decided I liked the characters enough that I've reserved the next book in the series. We'll see how that goes. So I gave it 3 stars, pretty good with some irritating points.

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bailey Ruth Raeburn, a ghost, is on assignment from Wiggins and Heaven's Department of Good Intentions. Her mission is to keep the people who murdered four-year old Keith’s grandmother, Susan, from murdering him. Keith, with both parents dead, was sent to live with his grandmother, a grandmother he never knew he had.

Susan lost her daughter Ellen in an automobile accident that both Ellen and Mitch, Susan’s son, were involved in. Thomas Flynn, Mitch and Ellen’s father and Susan’s husband, blamed Mitch for Ellen’s death. Mitch left after Ellen’s funeral. Susan and Thomas hired private investigators to look for Mitch but he’d disappeared without a trace! Susan and Thomas learned of Mitch’s whereabouts the day the military arrived to tell them that their son had died a hero in Iraq.

Keith’s dad Mitch met Marlana, Keith’s mother, while stationed in Germany where they married. After Marlana died from pneumonia, Keith lived with his mother’s friend, Lou and her husband but when Lou’s husband received orders to deplore, she thought the best thing to do was to drop Keith off on the doorstep of his grandmother. A few of the in-laws who lived with Susan and who depended upon her financing their lifestyles were not happy about Keith’s arrival because they knew Susan would change her Will leaving the bulk of her estate to Keith.

There was a lot going on in Merry, Merry Ghost but it’s so well written that you never get lost in the story. Ann Marie Lee is the voice of all the characters.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right off the bat I had two problems with this book. First, I hate Christmas and the main character (angel/ghost) absolutely loves it. And second, it's very religious in nature - God and angels. Having said that I did enjoy the book but it took a long time (almost halfway) to get to the meat of the story. Angel/ghost Bailey Ruth Raeburn is dispatched from Heaven to ensure that Keith isn't murdered. Susan Flynn was sickly and didn't have long to live. She unexpectedly finds her grandson (Keith) on her front porch. A grandson she didn't know she had since her son disappeared years ago and was later killed in the war. Her entire estate ($12 million) was to be divided between her husbands family since she had none of her own until Keith arrived. The very evening that Susan told her "family" she was going to change her will so that Keith inherited most of it, she was murdered.

Unfortunately, there really isn't a single family member that is nice, they are all greedy, money hungry creatures who are certainly capable of murder. The hunt is on for her murderer and it is a round-robin was suspects and motives. Here is where Bailey Ruth makes her mark. She helps with the investigation, behind the scenes for the most part.

[Brad]

I don't know why I decided to read this second book in this series. The first book was not good and the second was even worse. I really wanted to read this series because I LOVE the plot idea--ghost is called down to earth to save lives and keep people safe/solve a murder. However, the writing in this series is truly truly truly terrible. For instance, in Merry Merry Ghost, it takes Hart 9 chapters to get to the incident that is described in the second or third line of the summary on Goodreads--that Susan is murdered. A majority of the book talks about how Susan rewrites the will (another aspect of the Goodreads summary). The other half of the book is describing what characters are wearing (this is an exaggeration, but still, that's what it felt like when I was listening to this book on audiobook). I refuse to read the next in the series, no matter how adorable the illustrations are on the cover of the book. And I think I may stay away from Hart's writing altogether. Not trying to be rude, but it just doesn't fit my personal interests in books, let alone cozy mysteries (which I love). Sorry Hart, I'm out.

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book off a shelf of Christmas books in the library and am glad I did. It is a fun cozy mystery with a ghost as a main character.
Bailey Ruth doesn't know she is famous in her church but the qualities the church women venerate about her are the ones that make her good at being a ghostly emissary. Her assignment is to protect a little boy as he is moved back into his birthright as the grandson and sole family heir of Susan Flynn. The relations through marriage are not thrilled as they find their inheritance shares plummet from millions to two hundred thousand each.
Murder most foul. Bailey Ruth must see the murder is investigated and solved even as she breaks all the Precepts or rules of being an emissary, enjoys the Christmas season and attempts to achieve her mission.
The concept is fun. The writing is easy reading and well done. The culprit is suspected before the end but red herrings abound until the final unveiling. A delightful read, this book is worth enjoying at any time of year but especially at Christmas.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book -- I did. I bought it to read at Christmas-time especially because I wanted something light and, well, merry, in which I could count on everything turning out all right. But, unfortunately, it was just TOO light for me. The plot was predictable, the characters (read: suspects) were stereotyped to the point of being entirely uninteresting, and the child -- the potential heir to millions that has caused all the mayhem in the first place -- was so well-behaved and unrealistically charming as to make one suspect he was, in fact, a Stepford child. I found myself actually sympathizing with the suspects (including the murderer) which I'm pretty sure was not the intent of the author. I wanted to like this book -- I did -- but sadly, I did not.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to find holiday stories for the month of December...this was just ok. It seemed juvenile and sugary to me. There was a bit too much emphasis on the angel's attire, I really didn't care what she wore when she decided to materialize. There was just enough twists to keep me interested to the end.

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother - not even mildly interesting and when I htiught that it couldn't get any more boring, it did.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun to read.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful character. Great holiday read. Carolyn Hart never disappoints.

[T.L. Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the storyline and characters in this book. I just can't get past a ghost consuming food and needing to sleep.

[Merry · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF to unearthly for my taste, could not get through this even though the premise was interesting.

[Lali & Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and loved every book in the Death on Demand series by Carolyn Hart and enjoy some paranormal in a mystery, so was excited to begin the Bailey Ruth series. Bailey Ruth died with her husband when their boat capsized on a fishing trip. While Bailey Ruth appreciates heaven (and what a comforting take on the afterlife!), she misses the earthly delights of a physical body, nice clothes and tasty food. She also seems to have been quite bossy in life and is bored with eternal peace. In book one of the series, she came to earth to help a family member deal with a dead body on the porch. The series is set in Oklahoma, a state that doesn't get much love in cozy mysteries, and as someone born and raised there, I appreciate the representation.

Now, in book 2 in the series, Bailey Ruth has returned, still unable to abide by the rules that govern ghosts that return to earth, particularly the rule about not appearing to the living, something she does over and over. The plot is excellent, centering around a four year old boy named Keith who is left on the porch of a wealthy family's home right before Christmas. The boy has a note claiming he is the grandson of the home's wealthy owner, Susan, who is very ill. Susan has no blood family, having lost her husband and both of her children, but she has welcomed her husband's family into her home and made them her heirs. Each of them is desperate to keep what they feel is owed to them and are worried when Susan states her intention to change her will to make her grandson her heir. So when Susan is murdered, there are a plethora of suspects.

As with all Carolyn G. Hart books, the plotting is compelling and the characters are complex. This would have definitely been a 5 star for me, but Bailey Ruth became quite annoying. I read the first book in the series over a year ago and remember liking her, but this time around she is so vain that it frequently took me out of the story. Once Keith arrived, I was thinking you need to protect Susan, but Bailey Ruth had been told to watch out for Keith, so that's what she did, without any thought that Susan was the one most at risk. Then, when she found Susan dead--and Susan is struggling not to leave because she hasn't had time to provide for Keith--Bailey Ruth takes corporeal form and can't help but take a moment to admire how lovely she looks with her red hair against the black dress. And that was repeated over and over. Bailey Ruth would change outfits continually--with each one described in detail--and then she would take time to admire how lovely she looked. And her beautiful singing voice. And all the men who admired her. And her dancing. And how clever she was. I think it's supposed to be funny, but here there was so much sadness to the plot that it was jarring. But overall I really enjoyed the book and will definitely read the next in the series. Just hoping Bailey Ruth learns a little humility.

[Catherine Yezak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Bailey Ruth is such a great character. She may be a ghost, but she still knows how to get things done. In this book, she is sent to protect a young boy who has been orphaned and is left on the doorstep of the family he has never met. His grandmother, who is very ill, is thrilled to know that she has a grandson, though it is overshadowed by the fact that his father, who ran away from home at a young age, is dead. Living in the house is the extended family of her husband's who has been there for her all these years. She is a wealthy woman and the family expects to inherit a lot of money and property. The presence of the grandson changes that.

Someone wants to make sure that their original inheritance remains intact. As a result, the benefactress and then a woman who wants to get rich quick by blackmailing the heirs. It is up to Bailey to not only bring the killer to justice, but to make sure the proper heir inherits. It means breaking the rules (just a tad, as Bailey would say) in order to bring a happy Christmas in a time of grief and heartache.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bailey Ruth Raeburn loves Christmas. Bailey is a ghost who has been sent back to earth to make sure a 4 year old boy survives the holiday. This little boy has been left on his rich grandmother's doorstep. She had no idea he even existed until that moment. She is dying and now needs to change her will so that he can inherit and be taken care of. However, those around her who were originally set to inherit millions of dollars are not too happy about it. A new will is created but not signed before she is murdered. It is Bailey's job to keep the little boy safe and find out who the murderer is but as a ghost she has to break many of the rules to get it done. However, her "boss", Wiggins, must scold her for some of her transgressions but inwardly he is smiling.

A fun read. I hope to read more in this series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute one. I suppose if I read a lot more of these I'll get tired of them, since they seem to be somewhat in the cookie-cutter vein. But since I've only read two so far, it's too early to tell. They are still enjoyable light reads. Bailey Ruth is dead, but she is sent back to earth to help people. However she often exceeds her assignment, and ends up solving murders before she gets sent back to Heaven. This book has a Christmas theme, which made it even more fun. A little boy is dropped off on the doorstep of his purported grandmother, and Bailey Ruth is sent to protect him. But when his grandmother dies before she can sign her new will in his favor, Bailey Ruth gets suspicious.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around the Year in 52 Books 2018 Reading Challenge. A ghost story.

Bailey Ruth is sent to Earth to protect a young boy named Keith. He has just arrived at the home of his grandmother Susan Flynn with a note indicating that he is the son of Susan's long lost son Mitch. Unfortunatley, she doesn't realize that she should also be watching over Susan. Keith's arrival has caused Susan to contact her lawyer to change her will. Most of those who were going to inherit are quite disturbed by this news, but one was so disturbed he or she murdered Susan before the lawyer could return with the will for her to sign. What can Bailey Ruth do now to protect Keith?

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light cozy mystery for a seasonal read. I am a fan of the author's other series, so I had to give this one a try. I didn't read the first in this series, but it seemed to work fine as a stand alone. As always, Hart's writing is professional and smooth. The mystery is not as convoluted as some, but the characters are enjoyable. And who doesn't want to believe that ghosts can come back from heaven to rescue people in need of help? This particular ghost keeps breaking the rules and appearing to people, and writing notes to the police, which seems to be cheating a bit, but she's so darn likable you just can't get too upset about it.

[Kristie J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. The story started a bit slow, but the second half of the book was really good, once Bailey Ruth started investigating the murder. I still think it's kind of odd the way a "ghost" has to eat and sleep, but it's really cool to pop places and go through locked doors, etc. In this story, Bailey Ruth openly ignores several of the precepts, due to the urgency of needing the police chief's help. I really liked the way she communicated with the chief. Now that the chief knows she exists, I anticipate her "helping" him much more in future books. Should be fun! Overall, an entertaining mystery to read at Christmas. I listened to the audiobook.