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Ghostly Southern Mystery Books in Order

8 Books
2013 – 2019 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order for Ghostly Southern Mystery

If you are looking to dive into the quirky, southern gothic world of Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky, the best way to do so is by following the publication order. Because the series builds significantly on character relationships, Emma Lee's evolving paranormal powers, and town dynamics, reading the books chronologically is highly recommended. Below is the complete reading path to follow:

  1. A Ghostly Undertaking (2013)
  2. A Ghostly Grave (2015)
  3. A Ghostly Demise (2015)
  4. A Ghostly Murder (2015)
  5. A Ghostly Reunion (2016)
  6. A Ghostly Mortality (2017)
  7. A Ghostly Secret (2017)
  8. A Ghostly Suspect (2019)

An Overview of the Ghostly Southern Mystery Books

Written by USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes, the Ghostly Southern Mystery series centers on Emma Lee Raines. Emma Lee runs the Eternal Slumber Funeral Home in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky. After a bizarre accident involving a falling plastic Santa Claus, she gains the ability to see and communicate with the ghosts of murder victims. As a "Betweener," she must help these restless spirits find justice so they can cross over to the Great Beyond. Here is a closer look at each book in the series:

1. A Ghostly Undertaking (2013)

In the debut novel that started it all, Emma Lee Raines suffers a concussion after being struck by a flying plastic Santa. When she wakes up, she discovers she can see the dead. Her first client is Ruthie Sue Payne, a local woman who insists her death wasn't an accident but a murder. To solve the mystery, Emma Lee must team up with her high school sweetheart, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, while keeping her new ghostly gift under wraps.

2. A Ghostly Grave (2015)

In the second book, Emma Lee is back to running the funeral home when she is confronted by the spirit of Chicken Teater. Chicken has been murdered, and he refuses to move on until Emma Lee finds his killer. The investigation gets weirdly specific when Emma Lee has to protect Chicken's prized possession: an award-winning hen named Lady Cluckington. Tensions rise as Emma Lee balances small-town gossips and her growing feelings for Jack Henry.

3. A Ghostly Demise (2015)

The third installment brings another restless spirit to Eternal Slumber Funeral Home. Cepheus Hardy is dead, and his ghost is determined to find out who cut his life short. Emma Lee finds herself digging into the dark underbelly of Sleepy Hollow's business dealings. As the body count threatens to rise, Emma Lee's status as a Betweener becomes harder to hide from the town—and from the suspicious sheriff.

4. A Ghostly Murder (2015)

When the local hypochondriac, Mamie Sue, actually dies, the town of Sleepy Hollow is shocked to learn she was murdered. Even more shocking is the massive estate she left behind, which sparks a greedy family feud. Mamie Sue's ghost immediately recruits Emma Lee to find the culprit. With millions of dollars at stake, Emma Lee must sift through a family full of suspects, all while dealing with her grandmother's eccentric antics.

5. A Ghostly Reunion (2016)

Emma Lee faces a personal nightmare when her former high school nemesis and prom queen, Jade Lee Peel, becomes the latest murder victim. Jade Lee was a classic "mean girl" in life, and death hasn't changed her attitude. As a ghost, Jade Lee is determined to stay in Sleepy Hollow and even tries to sabotage Emma Lee’s relationship with Sheriff Jack Henry Ross. Emma Lee has to solve the murder quickly just to get the annoying spirit out of her life.

6. A Ghostly Mortality (2017)

The stakes become deeply personal when Emma Lee's estranged sister, Charlotte Rae, suddenly shows up at her house. Emma Lee is initially happy to see her, only to realize that Charlotte Rae is actually a ghost. Making matters worse, Charlotte Rae has no memory of how she died or who killed her. Emma Lee must team up with Sheriff Jack Henry Ross to piece together her sister's final hours, reconciling their complicated relationship posthumously.

7. A Ghostly Secret (2017)

Emma Lee tackles a heartbreaking cold case in the seventh book. The ghost of Betsy Lynn Brady, an eight-year-old girl who died years before Emma Lee became a Betweener, appears at the funeral home alongside the ghost of her cat, Mr. Whiskers. Betsy is too distracted by her books to remember her murder, forcing Emma Lee to dig into Sleepy Hollow's past. The investigation reveals that some secrets in the town are meant to stay buried, and the killer is still watching.

8. A Ghostly Suspect (2019)

The eighth book finds Emma Lee in the worst position possible: as the prime suspect in a murder case. When her beloved mentor and local psychic, Debbie Dually, is killed, Debbie's ghost asks Emma Lee to find the murderer. To investigate, Emma Lee goes undercover as a fake psychic, which floods her funeral home with new ghost clients. Sheriff Jack Henry Ross must return to Sleepy Hollow to crack the case and clear Emma Lee's name before she ends up behind bars.

Chronological vs. Publication Order & Reading Caveats

For the Ghostly Southern Mystery series, publication order and chronological order are identical. There are no prequels or companion short stories that disrupt the timeline. However, readers should avoid picking up later books as standalones. While the individual murder mysteries are resolved in each installment, the overarching relationships, romantic subplots, and the evolution of Emma Lee's mediumship are serialized. Jumping straight into a book like A Ghostly Mortality or A Ghostly Suspect will spoil major plot points, including the fate of Emma Lee's family members and the status of her relationship with Jack Henry.

What to Know Before You Start

Before stepping into Sleepy Hollow, here are a few things to keep in mind to enhance your reading experience:

  • The Cozy Tone: Tonya Kappes is known for blending lighthearted humor, romance, and low-stakes mysteries. Despite the presence of ghosts and murder, the tone remains light, cheerful, and filled with southern charm.
  • The Betweener Lore: In Kappes' universe, being a "Betweener" is a specific calling. Spirits cannot cross over to the "Great Beyond" until their unfinished business (usually their murder) is resolved. The ghosts retain their living personalities, which often leads to comedic clashes.
  • The Kentucky Setting: Sleepy Hollow is a fictional small Kentucky town, but it feels incredibly authentic. Kappes incorporates local culture, foods, and dialect, making the town itself a central character.
  • Series Continuity: While there was a ninth book rumored under the title A Ghostly Alibi, the series has remained inactive since 2019. The author has focused on other series, but the existing eight books provide a complete and satisfying character arc for Emma Lee.

What to Read Next: Exploring Tonya Kappes' Cozy Universe

If you finish the Ghostly Southern Mystery series and want more of Tonya Kappes' signature style, you are in luck. The author is incredibly prolific and has written several other cozy mystery series set in nearby Kentucky locations. Fans of the paranormal elements will enjoy her Magical Cures Mystery series, which features psychic elements and magic in the town of Whispering Falls. For those who prefer a more traditional small-town cozy mystery without the supernatural, the Camper & Criminals series (set in Normal, Kentucky) and the Kenni Lowry Mystery series (featuring a sheriff with a ghostly grandfather) are excellent next steps.

Frequently Asked

QCan the Ghostly Southern Mystery books be read as standalones?

While each book features a self-contained murder mystery that is resolved by the end, the overarching character relationships, romance between Emma Lee and Jack Henry, and Emma Lee's development as a "Betweener" progress significantly. It is highly recommended to read them in order.

QWhat is a "Betweener" in the series?

A "Betweener" is a paranormal term used in the series for someone who can see, hear, and talk to the spirits of individuals who have been murdered. These ghosts are stuck "in between" the living world and the afterlife, and they cannot cross over to the Great Beyond until their murders are solved.

QWhere should I start reading the Ghostly Southern Mystery series?

You should start with the first book, A Ghostly Undertaking (published in 2013). This book introduces Emma Lee Raines, explains how she got her supernatural abilities after a freak accident with a plastic Santa Claus, and establishes her relationship with Sheriff Jack Henry Ross.

QAre there any novellas or short stories in the Ghostly Southern Mystery series?

No, unlike some of Tonya Kappes' other cozy series, the Ghostly Southern Mystery series consists entirely of eight main novels with no officially published companion novellas or short stories.

QIs the Ghostly Southern Mystery series finished?

The series is currently considered inactive but not officially finished. The eighth book, A Ghostly Suspect, was published in 2019. While a ninth title, A Ghostly Alibi, has been listed in some databases, author Tonya Kappes has focused on her other series, leaving the future of Sleepy Hollow open.

QWhere is the series set, and is it a real place?

The series is set in the fictional town of Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky. The setting is heavily inspired by Tonya Kappes' own Kentucky roots, filled with southern hospitality, nosy neighbors, and plenty of small-town gossip.