She's Got Gams Right Up to Her Neck

Re: The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library by Alice Kimberly

Reminds me of the 1970's Rod Stewart song "Hot Legs". Only the statement above was uttered by hard-boiled 1940's big-city private-eye ghost Jack Shepard, and he's referring to a pretty nurse at the local hospital. He is astounded to find out that there are male nurses too and thinks it's a shame. Jack has attitudes and uses language that many women today might find offensive and even sexist. But they were common for his time and among his peers.

The reason Jack and Penelope are at the local hospital is that her friend J. Brainert Parker was robbed and physically attacked in his home. Brainert thinks he has deciphered the Poe Code and obviously someone else thinks that too, because they broke in and stole Brainert's notes.

Backing up a bit, you may ask how Jack's ghost could be at the hospital with Penelope. One day Penelope found a buffalo nickel amongst Jack's possessions and absent-mindedly put it in her pocket. She found that when she left the bookstore, she could still hear Jack's voice! They surmised that Jack's presence was somehow transferred to the nickel, so now when Penelope leaves the bookstore she makes sure to always have the nickel with her.

Sexist comments or not - I would too. I kinda like Jack!