crime · Ghost story · mystery · paranormal · suspense · thriller

The Sun Down Motel – Simone St. James ★★★★

Blurb; The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn’t right at the Sun Down, and before long she’s determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…

My Review; This one took me a while to read through the borrow box library app but well worth every page. It’s a mystery/paranormal/Thriller/crime all in one. It’s told between two characters aunty Viv back in the past who vanished into nowhere with no answers to where she went or if she is even alive. Then in the present day through her niece seeking answers about what happened to her aunt Viv and what really happened all those years before. She finds herself following her aunties footsteps but everything is not as it seems. Ghosts. Hauntings. Deaths. A travelling sales man. Can she figure it out all these years later? Can she reveal all the hidden secrets. Is her aunt still alive? A brilliant outcome, unexpected and jaw dropping. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me. Brilliantly written. Gripping.

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Ghost story · Graphic Novels · Young adult

The Sad Ghost Club 2 – Lize Meddings ★★★★

Blurb: Ever felt anxious or alone? Like you don’t belong anywhere? Like you’re almost… invisible? Find your kindred spirits at The Sad Ghost Club. (You are not alone. Shhh. Pass it on.)

When two strangers meet at a party and realise they both feel different from everyone else there, they start the The Sad Ghost Club – a secret society for the anxious and alone, a club for people who think they don’t belong.

But when a third ghost wants to join the club, things get a bit more complicated. Can the two ghosts overcome their insecurities and uncertainties in their new friendship, and find a way to welcome new members to the club?

Stunningly illustrated, this is Volume 2 in a new graphic novel series, for fans of Heartstopper and Jennifer Niven, and for anyone who’s ever felt invisible.

My Review; This is a graphic novel meaning an easy read, beautifully illustrated throughout, not many words as such. But after loving book one I had to see what happened in book two. It’s such a simple story, but a beautiful one. I felt I could really relate to this story this morning. I just wanted to be left alone, shut the world off and read. Still do. But it’s a reminder you’re never alone. Things do get better. Someone is always there whether you know it or not.

It’s bringing together a community of people who feel alone. Left out. Forgotten and I love it. Would highly recommend to everyone. A well deserved four stars. We love the ghost club.

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Children's · Ghost story · mystery

Best Nerds Forever – James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein ★★★★

Blurb; Finn McAllister was a normal middle school nerd–now he’s a ghost with a big mystery to solve.

One minute, Finn was biking home from school, and the next, he was run off the road by a maniac in a big van. Now, he’s a ghost. He can do lots of fun things, like try every ice cream flavor in the store, sneak up on people, and play as many video games as he wants. Finn even has a new ghost friend, Isabella, to show him the ropes. But he also has a lot of BIG questions, like: who wanted him dead? And can he stop the maniac from striking again? 

Packed with hilarious moments, epic friendships, and fun art, Best Nerds Forever celebrates the nerd in each of us and the joy of living life to its fullest. 

My Review; I absolutely loved this one the most recently. At 250 pages it is an easy read and beautifully illustrated throughout. Devoured it. It’s kind of a ghost story with a twist. Finn is stuck in the inbetween… Between life & death. His grandfather keeps coming to help him pass through to the other side but he has to figure out why he died, who did it before he is happy.

Along the way he meets Isabella another ghost in the inbetween and they become friends while he helps her solve her death too. It’s a brilliant story that highlights the importance of life. How fear can literally kill you and the importance of friends and family. They’re busy teleporting to their friends, family, school & death spots to get all the answers they need while having a bit of fun here and there. Being a ghost has its advantages.

Life’s too short. Highly recommend. One that will stick with me for a while. Powerful. Emotional in parts. A well deserved four stars from me.

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