Rating: 4.5🌈
E.J. Russell begins a new series, Ghost Townies, with Ghostridden, a wonderful paranormal mystery that introduces the delightful denizens, mysteriously quirky history of this remote small town that’s Ghost, Oregon.
It begins when ghostwriter Maz Amani, accompanied by his ginger cat Gilgamesh, arrives at the house he inherited from an Uncle Oren he barely knew.
That house, a gorgeous Queen Anne, is its own character and promptly becomes a magnet as it pulls in neighbors and townsfolk to meet the new owner.
Russell does such a splendid job building a sense of community by way a of a great cast of characters. Each one has a special role and warmth to them, whether it’s Tia Sophia, Saul Pasternak and Jerry McHale and their daughter, Taryn, to the other shop owners, these are folk we want to know and spend time with.
The main characters too. Maz Amani who so desperately wants a home, finds himself in the middle of a mystery. The story of the house he inherited is more than it appears. I love that we discover along with Maz as he learns about the house, the couple (his Uncle included), and the town through research and revelations. Some bittersweet and heartfelt.
There’s a few elements that caught me off guard. In one point in a conversation, Maz says
“Are you taking the piss?”
This is a distinctly UK/English phrase, definitely not one you’d hear an American say. So its appearance in a dialogue, from an American to another, in this context is very jarring and took me out of the moment.
Another is that I felt the “villain” of this book was easily tagged. While the motivation behind the villainy isn’t clear until the end (great dramatic scenes), I feel I knew the “who” straight away.
Not a bad element because we get that wonderful storytelling about Avi and Oren in between, and it’s amazing.
I hope for much more of this going forward. Of the main couple and characters too. I think this will be a great series.
Cover design: L C Chase
Buy link
Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Ghostr…Ghostridden – Russell, E.J.: Kindle Store
Blurb
When ghostwriter Maz Amani inherits a house from an uncle he’s never heard of, he offers heartfelt thanks to the universe, packs up his car, his cat, and his skepticism about mysterious uncles leaving all their worldly goods to unknown nephews, and high-tails it to a small town halfway to the Oregon coast.
Anything would be better than week after week of couch surfing his way around Portland. Even if the alleged house is a rundown shack ridden with termites, spiders, and—shudder—rats, he’ll deal. Because hey, he owns a house!
And when his legacy turns out to be a pristine Queen Anne beauty with nary a termite, spider, or rat in sight, he’s ready to stand the universe unlimited vodka shots.
Except not so fast.
Because instead, his house is ridden with something a little more on-brand for a place called Ghost…
- Publisher: Reality Optional Press (September 20, 2024)
- Publication date: September 20, 2024
- Language: English
- Print length: 227 pages
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 