A GHOST OF BROTHER JONATHAN’S takes Shannon Delaney on a cold-case quest to investigate a mystery surrounding one of California’s legendary shipwrecks… of 150 years ago:
“More questions? Have at it,” Marta said. Marta’s blue eyes glittered with excitement.
Looking back at that moment, I swear that the paranormal energy in Marta’s little dining room was tactile, and that at any moment it would manifest into a fiery bright orb, consuming all in its path. Was I scared?
Most certainly. Would I back down? Not a chance.
I nodded my understanding. “Marta, earlier this evening you mentioned the others, and said you keep the lights on for them. Who are the others?” She looked perplexed, and avoided direct contact by looking out the window. Marta kept her gaze on the darkness outside, in a low voice she said, “I’m not sure of all their identities.”
I leaned over the table and in a calm voice, I asked, “What did they say to you, most recently, that is?”
Marta turned to face me, and with strong, unwavering eye contact she said, “It sounded like, She’s cagey...see.”
ISBN 978-1-61386-253-7 Paranormal, Mystery, Ghosts
1. Most recently, a collection (not a series) of paranormal mystery novelettes, in all ebook formats. Autumn 2014: RIVER GHOST Winter 2014/2015: WINTER'S GHOST Spring 2015: HUNGRY GHOST Spring 2014: HAUNTED MYSTERIES Autumn 2015: VOODOO GHOST
2. Shannon Delaney paranormal mystery novels, six books. Write Words Inc. / Cambridge Books USA, ebook and paperback.
3. Nonfiction, Ghost Hunters Research Guide to Free Internet Sources, Charles River Press, ebook and paperback.
I received a copy of this book free through Goodreads Firstreads.
I really wanted to like this book a lot more… I found the dialogue stilted and the characters a little flat. I don't know if it's a regional thing or what, but where I come from, people don't call each other by name in conversations only involving two people. It was like the writer kept having the characters use each other's names to hold the reader's hand through the conversation, like we might get lost. The writing itself just needs some polishing. For example: "A faint outline of clouds on the far horizon promised rain by morning. I left the window and began to unpack. Good thing I remembered to bring a few pullover sweaters along with my rain parka, what with a storm coming in, warm clothes will be needed." The phrase "what with" followed by an explanation is in there a lot… the writer seems to feel the reader is incapable of drawing basic conclusions. Another example: "The next morning, on my way to meet Ozzy and Marta Keller for lunch, I stopped at the hotel's front desk and asked the manager to request housekeeping service to please not touch or move the clown figure that is setting on the tall dresser. I told him the clown was a gift and quite old, possibly an antique. I hoped this explanation would justify my unusual request." I just think this could have been a little smoother. The reader already knows where the clown is… and given that there's only one clown figure in the room, I don't know why all the specifics to management. The writing just lacks fluidity. Every paragraph is just like he said this, then I did this, so he did this, then I asked this...
I kept spotting things I thought were really going to turn into plot twists later… then they didn't… I just kept waiting for the twist, but it didn't happen. I would see little details that seemed like clues and I'd think "hmm… I can see where this might be going… file that away for later!" Then they never came up again. Even the paranormal stuff never really went anywhere : ( There were two different points where I felt there was a real chance for a villain to pop up and for the main character to have to save the day, but then before the potential villains could even really be suspicious, it was like they sat down and talked things over and the main character just decides never mind, I thought they might have been suspicious, but they laid out their motives for me and it's ok now, we're all good.
All in all, it was a good, short mystery read. There is a mystery, the characters find clues and ultimately reach the conclusion, I just feel like it could have been much more.
In this book we find our heroine Shannon Delaney on a cold-case investigate a mystery surrounding one of California’s legendary shipwrecks.
Quick paced story following the mysterious Brother Jonathan and hiss many faces from a clown to a member of KFC. Who was he and what role did he play with shipwrecks and the possible booty he might have acquired. There is more to him that meets the eye as Shannon discovers.
This story has a bit of everything from ghosts, pirates and clowns rolled in one.