Eaten Alive — Cathryn Grant

In the eighth novella, Madison feels she's being “eaten alive” with thoughts about her past, but when she asks Pastor Joe for time off to look for closure, he questions her commitment to her job.

When she discovers her murdered neighbor's body, she resorts to minor crimes herself to find out more about his life. An ugly ghost with cryptic messages and an uncertain identity drives her curiosity to the point of obsession.

Both the living and the dead like to reveal their secrets to Madison. As the administrative assistant in the basement office of a suburban church, she gets plenty of opportunity to hear from both. Through it all, Madison offers up a steady stream of opinions on everything from the subject of religion and ghosts to finding a soul mate.

Other novellas in the series are UNHOLY CHILD (#3), STONE COLD (#4), and DEADLY STREETS (#5), LONELY GHOSTS (#6), and LAST CHANCE (#7).