Casey Daniels, The Chick and the Dead

The Chick and the Dead

Casey Daniels

Avon, March 2007, $6.99, 336 pp.

ISBN 0060821477

Pepper had a comfortable lifestyle until her doctor father was sent away to prison for Medicare fraud. Needing to pay bills she took a job as a tour guide at the Garden View Cemetery. While leading a tour, she tripped and got knocked out when she hit her head on the marble steps of a mausoleum. Now she can see and talk with the dead as she did with Mafia Gus whose murder she solved.

Now she sees the ghost of Didi Bowman who died in the 1950's and claims she wrote the mega bestseller, So Far the Dawn, that her sister took credit for authoring. Merilee is coming to Cleveland for the digitally recorded movie premier and to dedicate a museum devoted to memorabilia of the book and move. Didi wants Pepper to prove that she wrote the book so her grand-daughter in foster care will get the royalties and have a chance for a good life. Dangerous happenings begin when Merilee gets to town including a mugging of a photographer and the theft of his pictures, the murder of Merilee's assistant and attempts on Pepper's life. Pepper thinks all these events are linked but she doesn't realize that a killer is watching her every move.

Casey Daniels writes an exciting paranormal mystery showcasing a heroine who manages to talk with and work for ghosts as if it was an everyday occurrence. One of her most endearing traits is that she knows she isn't a detective which is why she needs a little ghostly help to move the investigation along. Readers will care and feel sorry for Didi who had a heart of gold and died before she had a chance to live. Ms. Daniels' has a hit series on her hands.

Harriet Klausner