The Ghastly Ghost of Hillbilly Hollow

Ozark Ghost Hunter Mysteries Series, Book 2

By: Blythe Baker

Narrated by: Rebecca Mitchell

Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

In Hillbilly Hollow, even the dead want the last word...

When an eccentric local artist meets an untimely end during the annual Flower Festival, Emma gets pulled into two cases at once. First, the murder investigation. Second, the hunt for a dangerous burglar who has the whole town on edge.

After all-brawn-and-no-brains Sheriff Tucker declares the death an accident, Emma's search for the killer hits a dead end... until a vengeful ghost comes calling. Can Emma decipher the mad ramblings of the disgruntled spirit?

©2018 Blythe Baker (P)2019 Tantor

Great series with great characters

I am so glad I found these Blythe Baker books. Love the characters and the narration is superb. Love them !!! They are on my Must Read List

hillbilly book2

Very well written, very interesting, very factual. And i'm about the people from here , billy har

Eh....

The first one was included free in the plus catalog. I considered it worth the non-price. I'm from a similar geographic area and did not hate the first one, so I was curious about this one and paid outright for it. I would take back the purchase if I thought it was ethical, unfortunately.
*POSSIBLE VAGUE SPOILERS*
The whole plot revolves (boringly, again) on the basis that the local police department can not ask basic investigation questions and will actively shy away from scientific or concrete forensic practices that are now common place.
The ghosts have yet to know who killed them. They set-up the main cop as a dumb as dirt acquaintance from high school, so that the plot will hold water, but it doesn't hold enough water to support the narrative of this book.
The main character can see ghosts, but two books in, and the ghosts still are not providing any concrete proof for the main character to use to persuade the cops. I'm still not sure how the fact that the MC can see ghosts really ties into the plot of her half-assed gossip led death investigations.
Also, for the love interest, he has gotten some big red flags from her about her disregard for the law, her personal safety, (now after this book) also including people she "cares about" in reckless conversations/actions, and what the potential consequences of this careless nature would mean for those who value her. There were no real romantic fireworks or gains in this book for the MC & guy she is obviously meant to connect with. I would be more motivated to purchase the next book to make sure he finds a more reliable love interest than for any other plot details.
Also, book one very concerningly describes an elderly woman repeatedly climbing on the roof at night during a possible sleep walk phase, with her husband thinking it is healthier for her pride to not mention the episodes to her than thinking it is healthier for her health, safety, and life to speak with her about this and come up with a safety plan. The main character found out about this very frightening situation in book 1, but at no point then or in this book does she step in to suggest or insist on a health and safety plan for the grandma she supposedly ignored and refused to see for half a decade but...*tear*...actually super loves. Given the main character's habit of delving deep into other people's issues, you'd think she'd give a moment to the very immediate and serious issues of the woman who raised her. But nope...however she bought them cable (only because she needed wi-fi to restart remote graphic design work while living as a 30 year old at their house) so award winning grandkid she indeed feels she is!
The main character is VERY self-absorbed. She's ignored all these people for years but then just walks back into the lives of very gracious people who have given her emotional space for years to be away, then giving her physical and emotional space/value when she reappears suddenly, all without them putting up defensive walls against her selfish, dangerous nature. The MC has a tragic back history that I believe is supposed to substitute for any real character motivation or development in books 1 or 2 (for literally everyone mentioned).
I mean, the supposed hometown bestie she hasn't spoken to for years asks her to be her maid of honor. What has that lady been up to for 8 years? She's not made a new friend?
I think this author could write a smash hit at some point, but it isn't going to be in this series with these characters.