5-STAR REVIEW: THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING GHOST by Michele Pariza Wacek

The Description

The Redemption Detective Agency Series: Book 3
Publication Date: August 26, 2025

Emily Hildebrandt is learning to settle into some of the very strange cases that come through The Redemption Detective Agency’s door.

Like Aunt Tilde’s friend Ruth who claims she’s lost a ghost.

How does one lose a ghost? Apparently when the ghost decides to walk out the door.

But, to make matters more complicated, it’s not just any ghost but the ghost of Ruth’s dead husband. Who was murdered decades ago under very suspicious circumstances.

Emily has no choice but to go back in time and figure out what really happened to Ruth’s husband, in order for everyone to rest in peace.

A spin-off from the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series! The Redemption Detective Agency is a funny, twisty cozy mystery series set in the 1990s featuring silver sleuths solving cold cases. Great for fans of the Thursday Murder Club.

Excerpt The Review

Being a private detective means sometimes strange cases come through your door. Like Aunt Tilde’s friend, Ruth, who claims she’s lost the ghost of her dead husband, who was murdered under dubious circumstances. The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost marks book three in Michele Pariza Wacek’s Redemption Detective Agency.

Emily opens this long-dead, pardon the pun, cold case to determine what really happened to Ruth’s husband so that he can finally rest in peace.

I need to start this review off by saying I’m dying to know what is going to happen with Emily and Nick. With the emotions and tension ramping up, I’d really like to see these two get together. If only they could get it together!

The Redemption Detective Agency is one of my favorite series, and this edition just added to my love, devotion, and dedication to it. Aunt Tildy is still a great secondary character. She’s a sharp older lady who doesn’t let any opportunities pass her by. She may be older, but she’s got wisdom, humor, and a whole lot of sass to keep her going.

Emily is still the voice of reason. She’s organized, methodical, and I think she’s cute. She’s funny in her own way, and I believe that she has a charm about her that makes me like her.

Once again, the ladies at Redemption Detective Agency are on the move to take the most impossible cases that no one else wants. I liked the care and compassion Emily and Aunt Tildy used with Ruth. Showing care and understanding can go a long way in assisting someone.

I like that these books are easy to read, they’re funny, and a little bit silly. Despite all that, there are serious themes the author touches upon as well, with care, empathy, and tact.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost is an entertaining, funny, and hopefully, soon romantic, cozy read to help shut out the real world. Buy Links

About The Author

A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but she does spend much of her time writing stories now. Mystery stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she’s an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she’s not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)