Baby, Take a Bow

By Jane Tesh

"…readers seeking a cozy, feel-good mystery will enjoy this outing to Grace Street. The delightful characters navigate their worldly and otherworldly challenges with affection and humor, and Tesh maintains a whimsical tone that doesn't detract from the serious subject matter." —Publishers Weekly

Camden's friend Rufus Jackson receives a letter from his ex-wife, Bobbi, and he's surprised to learn he's the father of a baby. When Bobbi is found murdered in her home and her baby stolen, Rufus becomes suspect number one. PI David Randall immediately takes the case.

But Randall is almost sidetracked from the case by a series of what appears to be never-ending favors. When he takes his friend Cam to the Carlyle House to sing for a concert, Cam encounters Delores Carlyle, a troubled spirit trapped inside a huge mirror, who wants to see her daughter, Beverly, one last time. Beverly Carlyle will come to the house on one condition: that Randall find a home for her surly teenage son, Kit, and a band for her obnoxious daughter, Frieda. Kit is welcome at 302 Grace, but to secure a spot for Frieda, Randall has to get a local girl group a gig at a local nightclub. The owner agrees, if Cam will pose as a teenager and spy on a rival club. Cam agrees if Randall will take him to Green Valley to answer some questions about his past. And another ghost is haunting the hot dog restaurant, refusing to talk to Cam.

In addition to the tangle of deals, Randall has to contend with Rufus being hell-bent on revenge, the return of Cam's telekinesis, and growing concern that if the baby—a girl named Mary Rose, as it turns out—is found, Rufus, might not want to keep her.

But where is Mary Rose?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Release date: Apr 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781464207990

Jane Tesh

Jane Tesh is a retired media specialist and pianist for the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. She is the author of the popular Madeline Maclin Mysteries and the Grace Street Mysteries.

Reviews for Baby, Take a Bow

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

PI David Randall chases deadbeat dads, wonders why they don’t appreciate their children since his, in some past story, is surely lost, and supports a fascinating community of friends who live in a house on Grace Street. In this novel, that support runs to chasing down his friend Jackson’s ex-wife who claims to have his child. But the ex is dead, not deadbeat, and the child is missing. Meanwhile friend Cam takes Randall to a concert, sees a spirit in a mirror, and sets up a tangle of deals within deals, or wheels within wheels. Another good friend has ghosts in the hot dog stand. Cam’s the one who chases ghosts, though he may soon have help. Jackson’s the one chasing a missing child. And PI Randall might be chasing Kary.The author tells it all with a light touch, making even messy murder and mayhem pleasantly readable. Romance is pleasantly lacking in syrup too, and paranormality has a very normal sense of humanity. Humor runs through this novel most delightfully, as do musical baby-based references. Catch them all and you’ll deserve a prize.Baby Take a Bow is a truly fun story that makes me want to read more the series. A nice blend of mystery, paranormal, romance, coming of age, and more… it’s well worth the read.Disclosure: I won a copy and I offer my honest review.