Ghost Gone Wild

August 19, 2013
At the start of Agatha-winner Hart’s whimsical fourth novel featuring departed spirit Bailey Ruth Raeburn (after 2010’s Ghost at Work), Bailey Ruth of heaven’s Department of Good Intentions arrives at the Adelaide, Okla., home of video-game millionaire Nick Magruder just in time to prevent a gunman from shooting him. Since the shade of Nick’s doting Aunt Dee engineered this mission on the sly, Bailey Ruth must operate on earth without her otherworldly powers. When Nick is accused of a murder, she must rely on her wits alone to clear him. Though not fully developed, the secondary characters have some amusing quirks, and even the villain, who’s not readily identifiable, has a certain charm. The well-constructed plot offers an ample supply of red herrings. Fans of benign ghosts such as those in Blithe Spirit and Topper will find a lot to like. Agent: Deborah Schneider, Gelfman Schneider.