Rating: 5š
If A Spooky Legacy is the finale novel for Rainbow āRainā Christiansen and his husband, fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, then itās a fabulous story and sendoff to a compelling pair of characters and supporting cast that I have come to adore.
Five books that have taken them through all the stages of a remarkable relationship that has involved adapting to two widely different in-laws with their unique backgrounds, great law enforcement teams, and investigations into cold cases, and ghosts. Lots of ghosts, of the malignant, the uncooperative , and of the helpful kind.
Itās been such a great pleasure and one imaginative, magnificent journey.
So of course the last case will be that of a heartbreaker. For everyone involved.
Just as Rain and Danny are waiting to hear from the adoption agency on their application for approval and potentially getting a child, they will be handed a cold case of missing family.
So many feelings here. Harmon has Rainās personal doubts and insecurities/fears over being a parent running concurrently with the real painful emotions of the investigation into a case that involves two young children and their parents. One we know didnāt end well.
As the case develops into something dark and far more complicated than expected, so does Rainās feelings about the adoption and extending their family to include a child. Itās a realistic, emotionally tough but touching storyline. It takes work and commitment and communication on both sides of the relationship. Thatās something I really appreciate here.
Thereās also an unexpected helpful aspect for Rain to act as a bridge to understanding how it would feel to have someone else in the relationship.
Thereās so many touching, moving elements and scenes here. I honestly felt both satisfied and wishing for more at the end.
Does this feel right? Yes. But, how I want a glimpse into their future lives.
This series has been distinguished by extraordinary characterizations, well woven storylines, and remarkable relationships that showed emotional maturity and growth.
Thatās rare no matter the genre and Iāll miss them.
Read this in the order of release so not to miss out on the development of characters and relationships.
The Spectral Files:
ā P.S. I Spook You #1
ā Principles of Spookology #2
ā Spooky Business #3
ā The Spooky Life #4
ā A Spooky Legacy #5
Buy link:
A Spooky Legacy (The Spectral Files Book 5)
Blurb:
Rain Christiansen is settling into married life with fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, and life is good. Better than good, even. But when it comes to the topic of expanding their family, Rain isn’t so sure he’s ready. Yes, a new addition could enrich their lives. But it could also tear down the delicate balance theyāve worked so hard to achieve. Do they really want to take that risk?
Heād love to brood over that a little more, but murder never takes a day off. A decade-old mystery of the missing Parker family is heating up. Most seem to think the Parkers pulled a disappearing act to get out of financial debt. It isnāt before the PTU finds out the reality is far grimmer than that. It seems that Quinn stumbled upon something better left hidden. Now that Rain has stumbled upon it, too, he has to be careful that he doesnāt meet the same fate.
Sometimes it amazes him how far heās come from strait-laced FBI agent who couldnāt admitāeven to himselfāthat he saw ghosts. Heās done the work, learning to get some measure of control of his paranormal side. And while his relationship with ghosts may not be perfect, itās evolved into something symbiotic…which is a very good thing. Because in order to protect himself from the living, he might need a little help from the dead.
ā¢ Publication date: April 9, 2024
ā¢ Language: English
ā¢ Print length: 382 pages