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The Perfect Ghost: A Novel
In The Perfect Ghost, a stunning breakout novel from the beloved author of the Carlotta Carlyle mystery series, Linda Barnes slowly winds the strings tighter and tighter, leading the reader ever more deeply into the lives of her characters with pitch-perfect pacing and mesmerizing prose.Mousy and shy to the point of agoraphobic, Em Moore is the writing half of a celebrity biography team. Her charismatic partner, Teddy, does the interviewing and the public schmoozing. But Em's dependence on Teddy runs deeper than just the job—Teddy is her bridge to the world and the main source of love in her life. So when Teddy dies in a car accident, Em is devastated, alone in a world she doesn't understand. The only way she can honor his memory and cope with his loss is to finish the interviews for their current book—an "autobiography" of renowned and reclusive film director Garrett Malcolm.Ensconced in a small cottage near Malcolm's Cape Cod home, Em slowly builds the courage to interview Malcolm the way Teddy would have. She finds Malcolm at once friendlier, more intimidating, and much sexier than she had imagined. But Em soon starts hearing whispers of skeletons in the Malcolm family closet. And then the police begin looking into the accident that killed Teddy, and Em's control on her life—tenuous at best—is threatened.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2013
56 people are currently reading
4665 people want to read
About the author
Linda Barnes
81 books225 followersLinda Barnes is an American mystery writer, born and raised in Detroit, and graduated from Boston University"s School of Theater. She is best known for her series featuring Carlotta Carlyle, a 6'1" redheaded detective from Boston. Carlotta Carlyle is often compared to the hard-boiled female detectives created by Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky. Her new novel, "The Perfect Ghost," which will be published in April, 2013, is her first stand-alone mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
June 9, 2013
I wish 0 stars counted as a rating...though I feel particularly harsh saying this, I can't make one single argument for this being a book. It's not well written and it's not entertaining.
Though the book jacket made the plot seem appealing, the book actually lacks detail & development from beginning to end. There's no character development either, nothing learned by the main characters as they progress through their respective struggles. I found it impossible to identify with Em- not only is she completely uncharacteristic of the 20something age group she belongs to, but she's a martyr, not at all a compelling, likable character. Her "relationship" with Malcolm comes out of nowhere, is cheaply constructed, and adds no value to the book. I can't possibly imagine it was intended to be a great romance.
The twist at the end of the book is equally random, and is impossible to intuit based on all the information you receive up until that point; it's completely unexpected. The book suddenly ends with very little build-up, and again, no development. I turned the last page with no understanding of how Em turns from mousy, slight, shy girl to premeditated murderer when nothing in the book leads to that conclusion. Don't get me wrong: I like surprising suspenseful endings but this is just random. Furthermore, I'm bothered by how easy it was for her to do what she did and how cavalier she was about it after the fact. The explanation of the book's "perfect ghost" was clever in that it isn't what you'd expect when one of your main characters has just died, but that's not enough to carry the whole book.
Though the book jacket made the plot seem appealing, the book actually lacks detail & development from beginning to end. There's no character development either, nothing learned by the main characters as they progress through their respective struggles. I found it impossible to identify with Em- not only is she completely uncharacteristic of the 20something age group she belongs to, but she's a martyr, not at all a compelling, likable character. Her "relationship" with Malcolm comes out of nowhere, is cheaply constructed, and adds no value to the book. I can't possibly imagine it was intended to be a great romance.
The twist at the end of the book is equally random, and is impossible to intuit based on all the information you receive up until that point; it's completely unexpected. The book suddenly ends with very little build-up, and again, no development. I turned the last page with no understanding of how Em turns from mousy, slight, shy girl to premeditated murderer when nothing in the book leads to that conclusion. Don't get me wrong: I like surprising suspenseful endings but this is just random. Furthermore, I'm bothered by how easy it was for her to do what she did and how cavalier she was about it after the fact. The explanation of the book's "perfect ghost" was clever in that it isn't what you'd expect when one of your main characters has just died, but that's not enough to carry the whole book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2013
The Perfect Ghost, written by Linda Barnes and due out in April is published by Minotaur books/ St. Martin's Press.
Em, an agoraphobic young woman is part of a ghostwriting team with Teddy. Teddy does the interviews and publicity, while Em does the actual writing. They were working on a biography of the great Garrett Malcolm, a Academy award winner turned director. But, before the book could be completed, Teddy dies in a car accident. The publisher sought to cancel the project, but somehow Em manages to rise to the occasion and pushes herself to complete the book.
Em tells the story of how she slowly comes out of her shell and fights her inner demons and fears to finish this book, in the form of a journal written to her beloved Teddy.
As Em begins to listen to the tapes Teddy has already made, and begins her interviews with the great actor, she falls under the spell of Garrett totally.
In the background of the story is Garrett's work on a production of Hamlet and the parrallels to what Em is doing while conducting interviews with Garrett and transcribing the tapes. Also, we have some questions about Teddy's single car accident. The police have suspicions that it could have been a suicide or that foul play might have been involved. Not only that, Em begins to uncover secrets involving Garrett and his marriage to a famous actress and the mother of his only child. Secrets that Garrett would have done anything to keep them from being revealed. Could Teddy have found out something Garrett was afraid he was about to expose?
Many of you may know Linda Barnes as the author of the Carlotta Carlyle novels. This one may feel like a bit of a departure from what you are used to.
Em, is a fragile little thing. I often felt proud of her for working so hard to overcome her fears and forge ahead in a dog eat dog world of powerful men. I worried about her when it was obvious that she was being taken in by the allure of having intimate dealings with a famous, wealthy and powerful man. I felt sorry for her as she dealt witht the obvious blow of Teddy's death. I was angry on her behalf when men tried to control and manipulate her, using her illess as a way to keep her under their thumb or intimidate her.
The book is written in first person, in the form of a journal. There are also chapters that are written in "interview" form as Em transcribes tapes that Teddy made regarding the book.
As Em finds out that Garrett wants to control what is put in the book and somethings are being hidden, she becomes a bit of a detective.
So, there are really two mysteries at work here. One is in regards to Teddy's death and one in regard to Garrett and his many secrets.
This was an absorbing tale, easy to get into and a very fast read. I was completely taken in by all the twist and turns and felt on edge more than once.
A tense, dark, edgy sort of mystery. I really liked it. Overall a A- Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Em, an agoraphobic young woman is part of a ghostwriting team with Teddy. Teddy does the interviews and publicity, while Em does the actual writing. They were working on a biography of the great Garrett Malcolm, a Academy award winner turned director. But, before the book could be completed, Teddy dies in a car accident. The publisher sought to cancel the project, but somehow Em manages to rise to the occasion and pushes herself to complete the book.
Em tells the story of how she slowly comes out of her shell and fights her inner demons and fears to finish this book, in the form of a journal written to her beloved Teddy.
As Em begins to listen to the tapes Teddy has already made, and begins her interviews with the great actor, she falls under the spell of Garrett totally.
In the background of the story is Garrett's work on a production of Hamlet and the parrallels to what Em is doing while conducting interviews with Garrett and transcribing the tapes. Also, we have some questions about Teddy's single car accident. The police have suspicions that it could have been a suicide or that foul play might have been involved. Not only that, Em begins to uncover secrets involving Garrett and his marriage to a famous actress and the mother of his only child. Secrets that Garrett would have done anything to keep them from being revealed. Could Teddy have found out something Garrett was afraid he was about to expose?
Many of you may know Linda Barnes as the author of the Carlotta Carlyle novels. This one may feel like a bit of a departure from what you are used to.
Em, is a fragile little thing. I often felt proud of her for working so hard to overcome her fears and forge ahead in a dog eat dog world of powerful men. I worried about her when it was obvious that she was being taken in by the allure of having intimate dealings with a famous, wealthy and powerful man. I felt sorry for her as she dealt witht the obvious blow of Teddy's death. I was angry on her behalf when men tried to control and manipulate her, using her illess as a way to keep her under their thumb or intimidate her.
The book is written in first person, in the form of a journal. There are also chapters that are written in "interview" form as Em transcribes tapes that Teddy made regarding the book.
As Em finds out that Garrett wants to control what is put in the book and somethings are being hidden, she becomes a bit of a detective.
So, there are really two mysteries at work here. One is in regards to Teddy's death and one in regard to Garrett and his many secrets.
This was an absorbing tale, easy to get into and a very fast read. I was completely taken in by all the twist and turns and felt on edge more than once.
A tense, dark, edgy sort of mystery. I really liked it. Overall a A- Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
June 24, 2013
The Perfect Ghost, by Linda Barnes, is the closest I've ever come to flouncing a book. I couldn't recommend it in good conscience.
The story centers on Em Moore, one half of a writing team hired to write an authorized biography of Hollywood actor and director Garrett Malcolm. Her partner Teddy Blake dies in a car crash before the book can be finished. He’s the interviewer, Em’s former lover, and to honour his memory, Em convinces her editor to let her complete the book by herself. This is not an easy task professionally or personally since she’s never written alone and she’s an agoraphobic. What she uncovers in Cape Cod isn’t what she expects. Garrett has a few skeletons in his closet.
Blargh. I’ll keep this short and sweet. This book is all tell and no show, and far too much of the story happens in the main character’s head. The writing is way too descriptive for my taste, so much so that I began to scan sections to avoid it. The book is written in first person and much of it as though Em is speaking to her dead lover. It’s strange and awkward. We’re told she’s an agoraphobic. Bullshit. Nothing she did convinced me it was true, and aside from struggling with meeting her editor at the opening of the story, it’s really a non-issue in the book. The characterizations are cliché. I didn’t care about any of the characters. Even the Shakespeare references grew to be annoying, and I love Shakespeare. The only reason I finished the book was because I was curious how on earth the author could improve the story so as to deserve such praise as: “outstanding,” “bravo,” and “astonishing,” all of which are included on the back of the book. The punch came too little too late, and I use the term “punch” with air quotes. I found the ending stupid. Surprising, but stupid.
If you enjoy overly descriptive writing that lacks substance relevant to the plot, or if you don’t mind being told everything instead of shown, then you might enjoy this book. It just wasn’t for me.
The story centers on Em Moore, one half of a writing team hired to write an authorized biography of Hollywood actor and director Garrett Malcolm. Her partner Teddy Blake dies in a car crash before the book can be finished. He’s the interviewer, Em’s former lover, and to honour his memory, Em convinces her editor to let her complete the book by herself. This is not an easy task professionally or personally since she’s never written alone and she’s an agoraphobic. What she uncovers in Cape Cod isn’t what she expects. Garrett has a few skeletons in his closet.
Blargh. I’ll keep this short and sweet. This book is all tell and no show, and far too much of the story happens in the main character’s head. The writing is way too descriptive for my taste, so much so that I began to scan sections to avoid it. The book is written in first person and much of it as though Em is speaking to her dead lover. It’s strange and awkward. We’re told she’s an agoraphobic. Bullshit. Nothing she did convinced me it was true, and aside from struggling with meeting her editor at the opening of the story, it’s really a non-issue in the book. The characterizations are cliché. I didn’t care about any of the characters. Even the Shakespeare references grew to be annoying, and I love Shakespeare. The only reason I finished the book was because I was curious how on earth the author could improve the story so as to deserve such praise as: “outstanding,” “bravo,” and “astonishing,” all of which are included on the back of the book. The punch came too little too late, and I use the term “punch” with air quotes. I found the ending stupid. Surprising, but stupid.
If you enjoy overly descriptive writing that lacks substance relevant to the plot, or if you don’t mind being told everything instead of shown, then you might enjoy this book. It just wasn’t for me.
April 23, 2013
We’re fans of Linda Barnes and have read her every book: including the now early, relatively obscure, and somewhat mediocre Michael Spraggue 4-book set; and the very popular and entertaining Carlotta Carlyle 12-book series (so far) about a feisty private eye and part-time Boston taxicab driver! We wondered what to expect from “Ghost”, billed as a standalone mystery thriller.
Unfortunately, we found little intrigue or thrills from this new story. The novel opens with a well known celebrity biographer, Teddy Blake, recently killed in an auto crash. Teddy was part of a two-person writing team, including his partner and (despite having a wife) sometime bedmate Em Moore. What then follows is 200 pages of mental meanderings narrated first-person by Em, detailing her ongoing efforts to finish the interviews and the writing of their work in progress about a famous film director, Garrett Malcolm. Malcolm eventually takes a shining to the rather low-profile, “plain” Em, and spends many a nighttime with her in his mansion. A wayward gossip columnist as well as one of Malcolm’s former actor stars have minor roles; but frankly, we were almost at a loss to see where the whole tale was headed. Then in a rapid-fire thirty pages or so at book end, the author clears up what little mystery there was, providing a twist we hardly saw coming, but almost didn’t care about by the time we got there. Even the final details of who did what to whom were tedious and unexciting, and were it not for the twist, we might not even have accorded this novel its second star.
We are beginning to tire of first person narration, as if one doesn’t care much for the narrator, you get sick of spending so much time with them. We hope this effort, which apparently did somewhat please other readers, will be a one-time event – we’d rather read about our quirky friend Carlotta any day!
Unfortunately, we found little intrigue or thrills from this new story. The novel opens with a well known celebrity biographer, Teddy Blake, recently killed in an auto crash. Teddy was part of a two-person writing team, including his partner and (despite having a wife) sometime bedmate Em Moore. What then follows is 200 pages of mental meanderings narrated first-person by Em, detailing her ongoing efforts to finish the interviews and the writing of their work in progress about a famous film director, Garrett Malcolm. Malcolm eventually takes a shining to the rather low-profile, “plain” Em, and spends many a nighttime with her in his mansion. A wayward gossip columnist as well as one of Malcolm’s former actor stars have minor roles; but frankly, we were almost at a loss to see where the whole tale was headed. Then in a rapid-fire thirty pages or so at book end, the author clears up what little mystery there was, providing a twist we hardly saw coming, but almost didn’t care about by the time we got there. Even the final details of who did what to whom were tedious and unexciting, and were it not for the twist, we might not even have accorded this novel its second star.
We are beginning to tire of first person narration, as if one doesn’t care much for the narrator, you get sick of spending so much time with them. We hope this effort, which apparently did somewhat please other readers, will be a one-time event – we’d rather read about our quirky friend Carlotta any day!
March 11, 2013
This is from an ARC sent to me by Netgalley for review.
This is one of those perfectly written mysteries that slowly, slowly unfolds, dropping little nuggets of gold along the path, while keeping you turning pages at a break-neck speed, desperate for that big pot of gold at the end. It's the kind of book that can cause physical injury from the build-up of tension. Perfect pacing. It involves a biography-writing duo - one of them deceased - literary agents, actors and directors, Cape Cod and its changeable - at times violent - scenery, several different interpretations of 'ghost', and a whole lot of Hamlet. Oh yeah! The nerve of yet another modern writer attempting to outdo the bard himself - haha! Irreverent, with a unique POV (the narrator is speaking not to the reader but to her deceased writing partner, effectually keeping the 'audience' at a remove), Shakespearian devices abound to brilliant effect. Take this tome up at your own peril, dear reader, lest ye succumb to its dangers! And now, I must go get a massage...
This is one of those perfectly written mysteries that slowly, slowly unfolds, dropping little nuggets of gold along the path, while keeping you turning pages at a break-neck speed, desperate for that big pot of gold at the end. It's the kind of book that can cause physical injury from the build-up of tension. Perfect pacing. It involves a biography-writing duo - one of them deceased - literary agents, actors and directors, Cape Cod and its changeable - at times violent - scenery, several different interpretations of 'ghost', and a whole lot of Hamlet. Oh yeah! The nerve of yet another modern writer attempting to outdo the bard himself - haha! Irreverent, with a unique POV (the narrator is speaking not to the reader but to her deceased writing partner, effectually keeping the 'audience' at a remove), Shakespearian devices abound to brilliant effect. Take this tome up at your own peril, dear reader, lest ye succumb to its dangers! And now, I must go get a massage...
August 12, 2016
The set up
Em Moore is one half of the ghost writing team of T.E. Blakemoore. She and her writing partner, Teddy Blake are working on the autobiography of a legendary actor and director, Garrett Malcolm. Teddy was just killed in a car accident and the emotionally and socially inept Em is left to finish the project.
The issues
Em is very close to being labeled an agoraphobic (fear of public places) and suffers from panic attacks. Teddy was the interviewer and she did the writing. Everyone (her publisher, Garrett) is concerned about her ability to finish the project without Teddy.
The mystery
Teddy may have discovered some information he wasn't supposed to know about the complex world of Garrett Malcolm. Was his crash really an accident and who might have something to hide?
What works
The story is told through Em's voice so events are captured through her lens but you can also see them differently not matter what her perspective. This is a really skillful piece of writing where the first person narrative permits you to actually experience alternate points of view because of Em's naïveté. Characters initially seem flat and one dimensional but later begin to take on vibrancy and color. I didn't know where the story was going and though sometimes it was a bumpy journey it was compelling.
Anything special
The story is told using three formats: Em's musings to the dead Teddy, almost as if she were writing in her journal; Teddy's interviews with the people in Garrett's world as background for the book; and the police report updates to the chief by the detective investigating Teddy's accident.
What didn't work
The beginning was a bit bumpy for me because of the story format. I didn't know who anyone was, where the story was beginning, etc. BUT! If you hang in there, the payoff is huge.
Bottom line
This was one of the more fascinating stories I've read in a while. While the format slowed me down in the beginning, it really ended up being a brilliant device to tell this story. The ending was incredible and could only be pulled off in how it was delivered. It's a humdinger. This is my first book by Linda Barnes and it's definitely not my last. A fine piece of writing.
Em Moore is one half of the ghost writing team of T.E. Blakemoore. She and her writing partner, Teddy Blake are working on the autobiography of a legendary actor and director, Garrett Malcolm. Teddy was just killed in a car accident and the emotionally and socially inept Em is left to finish the project.
The issues
Em is very close to being labeled an agoraphobic (fear of public places) and suffers from panic attacks. Teddy was the interviewer and she did the writing. Everyone (her publisher, Garrett) is concerned about her ability to finish the project without Teddy.
The mystery
Teddy may have discovered some information he wasn't supposed to know about the complex world of Garrett Malcolm. Was his crash really an accident and who might have something to hide?
What works
The story is told through Em's voice so events are captured through her lens but you can also see them differently not matter what her perspective. This is a really skillful piece of writing where the first person narrative permits you to actually experience alternate points of view because of Em's naïveté. Characters initially seem flat and one dimensional but later begin to take on vibrancy and color. I didn't know where the story was going and though sometimes it was a bumpy journey it was compelling.
Anything special
The story is told using three formats: Em's musings to the dead Teddy, almost as if she were writing in her journal; Teddy's interviews with the people in Garrett's world as background for the book; and the police report updates to the chief by the detective investigating Teddy's accident.
What didn't work
The beginning was a bit bumpy for me because of the story format. I didn't know who anyone was, where the story was beginning, etc. BUT! If you hang in there, the payoff is huge.
Bottom line
This was one of the more fascinating stories I've read in a while. While the format slowed me down in the beginning, it really ended up being a brilliant device to tell this story. The ending was incredible and could only be pulled off in how it was delivered. It's a humdinger. This is my first book by Linda Barnes and it's definitely not my last. A fine piece of writing.
February 5, 2013
Em Moore is half of the ghostwriting team T. E. Blakemore - the writing half, since she's agoraphobic. Teddy was the other half, the interviewer, the face and charm of the pseudonym. He had been Em's professor, and then became her lover, partner, and caregiver. But he dies in a car wreck halfway through Blakemore's latest project, a book about famous actor/director Garrett Malcolm. The book must be completed, so Em has to travel from Boston to Cape Cod to finish Teddy's work. She's been transcribing his tapes all along, but now it's her own voice she records asking the questions. She has Teddy's notes, but some of them are confusing, some of them seem like he was on the way to solving a mystery, but Em can't even figure out what the mystery was, much less what solution the notes are giving. This is a book where the narrator is barely a character, which actually worked in this case. Em is so passive and mousy, that you hardly realized she was the one telling the book. The main character was the story itself, multilayered and unfolding into something impossible to predict.
February 8, 2013
I'd never read anything by Linda Barnes, but thought this book sounded interesting. I received an advanced copy through the first reads giveaway and couldn't wait to get started.
Em is the narrator of the story and is extremely shy. Her character is fleshed out nicely through her actions and reactions. I could relate to Em because I was once extremely shy, though not to the agoraphobic point that Em is. I also prefer being at home and around people I'm comfortable with. Though Em's transition from being practically unable to leave her apartment to embracing new and exciting revelations seems expeditious, it was wholly unbelievable given the loss of Teddy.
The story moved along at a clipping pace as Em expanded and learned more about Teddy and the famous Malcolm Garret. The true climax was at the end where Barnes throws the twist that I didn't see coming at all.
Em is the narrator of the story and is extremely shy. Her character is fleshed out nicely through her actions and reactions. I could relate to Em because I was once extremely shy, though not to the agoraphobic point that Em is. I also prefer being at home and around people I'm comfortable with. Though Em's transition from being practically unable to leave her apartment to embracing new and exciting revelations seems expeditious, it was wholly unbelievable given the loss of Teddy.
The story moved along at a clipping pace as Em expanded and learned more about Teddy and the famous Malcolm Garret. The true climax was at the end where Barnes throws the twist that I didn't see coming at all.
May 15, 2013
This book moved slowly, but I enjoyed listening to it and following along as the heroine revealed the puzzle. I thought the quality of the writing was superb. I've been to Boston and Cape Cod and was captivated by the setting.
I liked this protagonist, Em, a mousy, withdrawn writer who tells the story as if she is speaking to her dead writing partner. I loved how the perception of characters in the book shifts as the narrator gathers information to complete a biography of a famous (imaginary) director and actor, Garrett Malcolm.
One criticism I had was that the male characters were almost all shallow cads--they began to feel two dimensional. Also, a major piece of the mystery puzzle was shown early on, and I spent the rest of the book waiting for the heroine to wise up.
Still, I liked the ending of the book because there was a surprise that I didn't guess, so that was fun.
The story reminded me a bit of Joy Fielding's Whispers and Lies, one of my favorite psychological suspense novels.
I liked this protagonist, Em, a mousy, withdrawn writer who tells the story as if she is speaking to her dead writing partner. I loved how the perception of characters in the book shifts as the narrator gathers information to complete a biography of a famous (imaginary) director and actor, Garrett Malcolm.
One criticism I had was that the male characters were almost all shallow cads--they began to feel two dimensional. Also, a major piece of the mystery puzzle was shown early on, and I spent the rest of the book waiting for the heroine to wise up.
Still, I liked the ending of the book because there was a surprise that I didn't guess, so that was fun.
The story reminded me a bit of Joy Fielding's Whispers and Lies, one of my favorite psychological suspense novels.
May 11, 2013
First Sentence: Teddy, you would have been proud of me.
Somewhat agoraphobic Em Moore was part of a writing team focused on the biographies of the famous. Now that her partner, Teddy, is dead from a single-person automobile crash, it is up to Em to finish the book on film director Garrett Malcolm. It takes all her resolve, but Em travels to Cape Cod and finds Malcolm is more than just a story; he’s a very appealing man, with secrets. Em tries to learn more about his late wife and about his connection to alcoholic actor Brooklyn Pierce. In the meantime, Detective Snow isn’t ready to sign off on Teddy’s death as accidental.
One of the most important elements of a story is the character. Are they interesting? Can you empathize with them. In the case of Em, the answer to the first is “yes”. However, for me, the answer to the second is “no”, which is a shame. It’s not necessary to particularly like a character, which is a good thing in this case. Although the descriptions of her panic attacks and insecurities were compelling but they weren’t enough to keep her interesting and, after a time, became quite tiring.
Perhaps it was partly due to the story being told in first person with very long passages of narrative and very little dialogue that caused the story to feel very, very slow. What’s worse is that most of what dialogue there is, is internal and directed toward the dead Teddy. Garrett was the most interesting character, exemplifying all the ego, and fickleness ascribed to that persona, correctly or not. Unfortunately, of Detective Snow, we see almost nothing.
The setting is wonderful, and there were good description and pieces of historical information. However, I suspect unless you know the area, details of driving Route 2 to Storrow Drive or around Fresh Pond Circle wouldn’t mean much to most readers unless they had a map. Descriptions should allow the reader to see, hear, feel and smell a location. There was sadly little of that.
“The Perfect Ghost” isn’t without merit. It did keep me interested enough to read through to the end without putting it aside. For me, the “surprise” ending wasn’t particularly surprising, but it was nice to have my suspicion confirmed. Ms. Barnes is a good writer, her early Michael Sprague and Carlotta Carlyle books are proof of that, and it is nice to see her back. I am very interested to see what she’ll write next.
THE PERFECT GHOST (Novel/Mys-Em Moore-Cape Cod, MA-Contemp) – Okay
Barnes, Linda – Standalone
Minotaur Books, 2013
Somewhat agoraphobic Em Moore was part of a writing team focused on the biographies of the famous. Now that her partner, Teddy, is dead from a single-person automobile crash, it is up to Em to finish the book on film director Garrett Malcolm. It takes all her resolve, but Em travels to Cape Cod and finds Malcolm is more than just a story; he’s a very appealing man, with secrets. Em tries to learn more about his late wife and about his connection to alcoholic actor Brooklyn Pierce. In the meantime, Detective Snow isn’t ready to sign off on Teddy’s death as accidental.
One of the most important elements of a story is the character. Are they interesting? Can you empathize with them. In the case of Em, the answer to the first is “yes”. However, for me, the answer to the second is “no”, which is a shame. It’s not necessary to particularly like a character, which is a good thing in this case. Although the descriptions of her panic attacks and insecurities were compelling but they weren’t enough to keep her interesting and, after a time, became quite tiring.
Perhaps it was partly due to the story being told in first person with very long passages of narrative and very little dialogue that caused the story to feel very, very slow. What’s worse is that most of what dialogue there is, is internal and directed toward the dead Teddy. Garrett was the most interesting character, exemplifying all the ego, and fickleness ascribed to that persona, correctly or not. Unfortunately, of Detective Snow, we see almost nothing.
The setting is wonderful, and there were good description and pieces of historical information. However, I suspect unless you know the area, details of driving Route 2 to Storrow Drive or around Fresh Pond Circle wouldn’t mean much to most readers unless they had a map. Descriptions should allow the reader to see, hear, feel and smell a location. There was sadly little of that.
“The Perfect Ghost” isn’t without merit. It did keep me interested enough to read through to the end without putting it aside. For me, the “surprise” ending wasn’t particularly surprising, but it was nice to have my suspicion confirmed. Ms. Barnes is a good writer, her early Michael Sprague and Carlotta Carlyle books are proof of that, and it is nice to see her back. I am very interested to see what she’ll write next.
THE PERFECT GHOST (Novel/Mys-Em Moore-Cape Cod, MA-Contemp) – Okay
Barnes, Linda – Standalone
Minotaur Books, 2013
July 7, 2013
I *almost* loved this book. It starts strong, with real tension. Our narrator/heroine, Em, is one desperately troubled girl. Her writing partner and mentor, Teddy, just died in a tragic car crash. He was more than her colleague, he was her closest friend and her most important link to the outside world. For Em suffers from a form of agoraphobia, and Teddy's death has made it worse. One of the early passages that hooked me involved how terrifying it was to merely ride an elevator.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away -- because the ending really did take my breath away -- but the story takes Em to Cape Cod and the Beautiful People of film and stage who summer there so she can finish the last project she'll ever do with her dear Teddy. No one there is as they seem. Many characters are introduced and, since Em is a nervous and suspicious type, any one of them could mean her harm. Or not.
Unfortunately it's the middle bit bored me. Partly because there were sooooo many red herrings strewn about, but mostly because the Em who began the book by feeling physically and emotionally overwhelmed shopping for a cardigan at the mall suddenly becomes Nancy Drew, bravely looking for clues. The transformation didn't ring true. Besides, she was a more interesting and unusual heroine at the beginning, when she crippled by fear but courageously venturing out.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away -- because the ending really did take my breath away -- but the story takes Em to Cape Cod and the Beautiful People of film and stage who summer there so she can finish the last project she'll ever do with her dear Teddy. No one there is as they seem. Many characters are introduced and, since Em is a nervous and suspicious type, any one of them could mean her harm. Or not.
Unfortunately it's the middle bit bored me. Partly because there were sooooo many red herrings strewn about, but mostly because the Em who began the book by feeling physically and emotionally overwhelmed shopping for a cardigan at the mall suddenly becomes Nancy Drew, bravely looking for clues. The transformation didn't ring true. Besides, she was a more interesting and unusual heroine at the beginning, when she crippled by fear but courageously venturing out.
April 16, 2013
When celebrities want to write their “Autobiography”, but, cannot write it themselves they call upon ghost writers like Em Moore and her partner, Teddy Blake. Under the pseudonym, T. E. Blakemore, Em is the writer and prefers to spend her days indoors listening to taped interviews with their current subject. Teddy is the charismatic, outgoing, charming other half of the partnership who is responsible for arranging, taping and conducting the interviews. He has received many accolades for his “writing” and is well known and trusted to do a good job, while Em, on the other hand, is not so well known, choosing to live in the shadows of her tiny apartment (which she rarely leaves) and of Teddy, who she adores.
When Teddy dies in a bizarre road accident, Em decides to finish their current work, an autobiography of Garrett Malcolm, a reclusive and extremely famous film director whose star is still rising. First though, she has to get from her apartment in Boston to his Cape Cod home to do the final interviews. When she eventually gets there, after a terrifying journey, she finds Garrett to be a lot nicer and far more attractive than she had previously thought he would be. He notices her timidity immediately and is very kind to Em offering her a room in his house so she can slot into his hectic schedule and finish the interviews. Soon, it becomes clear to Em that there are troubling questions about the Malcolm family fortune and their history is filled with a mystery which she believes Teddy was onto before he died. As Em digs deeper into the Malcolm story, slowly but surely, things begin to unravel.
None of the characters in this book are quite what they seem and I found some of them quite disturbing. The story is narrated by Em as she has an on-going dialogue with the recently departed Teddy. She is a very shy and mousy character and it becomes clear how much she relied on Teddy as a link to the world outside. She cannot let him go even after he dies.
Other than what I have said already it is very difficult to add more detail here without giving too much away. What I will say though, is that it is a chilling tale and I was almost at the end of the book when I realised what was actually happening. Linda Barnes has written a clever thriller with lots of twists and turns in the plot. It is a real page turner and I couldn’t put it down. I still remember the “Oh My God” moment I had when I put two and two together and the shock that came with it.
If you like thrillers and stories which keep you wanting to know more and more this is the book for you.
The Perfect Ghost
When Teddy dies in a bizarre road accident, Em decides to finish their current work, an autobiography of Garrett Malcolm, a reclusive and extremely famous film director whose star is still rising. First though, she has to get from her apartment in Boston to his Cape Cod home to do the final interviews. When she eventually gets there, after a terrifying journey, she finds Garrett to be a lot nicer and far more attractive than she had previously thought he would be. He notices her timidity immediately and is very kind to Em offering her a room in his house so she can slot into his hectic schedule and finish the interviews. Soon, it becomes clear to Em that there are troubling questions about the Malcolm family fortune and their history is filled with a mystery which she believes Teddy was onto before he died. As Em digs deeper into the Malcolm story, slowly but surely, things begin to unravel.
None of the characters in this book are quite what they seem and I found some of them quite disturbing. The story is narrated by Em as she has an on-going dialogue with the recently departed Teddy. She is a very shy and mousy character and it becomes clear how much she relied on Teddy as a link to the world outside. She cannot let him go even after he dies.
Other than what I have said already it is very difficult to add more detail here without giving too much away. What I will say though, is that it is a chilling tale and I was almost at the end of the book when I realised what was actually happening. Linda Barnes has written a clever thriller with lots of twists and turns in the plot. It is a real page turner and I couldn’t put it down. I still remember the “Oh My God” moment I had when I put two and two together and the shock that came with it.
If you like thrillers and stories which keep you wanting to know more and more this is the book for you.
The Perfect Ghost
April 3, 2013
This being the first novel I've read by Linda Barnes makes me anxious to see what else I have missed by this author. The novel is told primarily from the main character Em Moore's point of view. She is faced with going forward with the biography she and her recently deceased partner Teddy Blake are writing. The only problem is that Em is extremely afraid of leaving her home. Linda Barnes ability to capture her fear in the beginning of the book had me hooked and interested in finding out more about this Em Moore.
After Teddy's death by car accident, Em is completely shut off from any source of life. Without any real friends or love interests (besides Teddy), she's left to her own devices to navigate through a world she feels is no longer safe or as she left it. Melodramatic I know, but it works well. Em builds up the courage to interview Garrett Malcom in order to complete the biography. She is totally smitten by his Hollywood good looks and charm but there's so much more she needs to learn about him and the people who are in his life.
Barnes does a great job at setting up the character of Em that almost too suddenly I knew there was something wrong with this woman. Besides the obvious fact that she's almost agoraphobic, there is just something totally nutso about her. I find the biggest mystery of the novel is figuring out our heroine and what is going on with all the people surrounding her.
One other thing I appreciated in this novel was the use of police reports and tape recorded conversations between Teddy and the interviewee. Without these elements, the story would not have worked as a mystery. The recorded conversations also bring to life characters other than Em allowing them to be just as real as her. The juxtaposition of one of Shakespeare's most famous works and this novel work so well together.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more by Linda Barnes.***
After Teddy's death by car accident, Em is completely shut off from any source of life. Without any real friends or love interests (besides Teddy), she's left to her own devices to navigate through a world she feels is no longer safe or as she left it. Melodramatic I know, but it works well. Em builds up the courage to interview Garrett Malcom in order to complete the biography. She is totally smitten by his Hollywood good looks and charm but there's so much more she needs to learn about him and the people who are in his life.
Barnes does a great job at setting up the character of Em that almost too suddenly I knew there was something wrong with this woman. Besides the obvious fact that she's almost agoraphobic, there is just something totally nutso about her. I find the biggest mystery of the novel is figuring out our heroine and what is going on with all the people surrounding her.
One other thing I appreciated in this novel was the use of police reports and tape recorded conversations between Teddy and the interviewee. Without these elements, the story would not have worked as a mystery. The recorded conversations also bring to life characters other than Em allowing them to be just as real as her. The juxtaposition of one of Shakespeare's most famous works and this novel work so well together.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more by Linda Barnes.***
February 25, 2016
Em Moore is half of a writing team that includes Teddy Blake. She's young at 26, he's older and married. Em is just a bit socially and emotionally immature, probably from being raised in multiple foster homes. She's quite brilliant though and this whole story is Em "speaking" to Teddy who has just died in a fiery car accident in the dark of night on a twisty Cape Cod road.
The title of Perfect Ghost is hints (strongly) at the imagery of ghosts throughout the story. T. E. Blakemoore is the pseudonym for Teddy Blake and Em Moore who are ghost writers. Actually, Em is more the writer and Teddy is the interviewer and editor, so Em ghost writes for Teddy in a way. Em is bracing herself to finish the book they had both started to write for a well-known actor-turned-director. The story is Em's constant dialog with Teddy makes the reader feel as though Em is talking to a ghost (and, since we are reading her internal dialog, we are Teddy) but there are no visions nor apparitions of Teddy. The actor-turned-director Garrett Malcolm is about to put on a stage production in Cape Cod of Hamlet and the ghost in that story is mentioned often in this one. There are several good quotes and allusions to Shakespeare, his life and work, but it is not overpowering.
Barnes is a terrific author. I always enjoyed her Carlotta Carlyle series also set in Massachusetts. This is a complete stand alone and very different from her series. The reader is always aware that there might be a mystery in this story but it isn't clear what it is, you are always anticipating a revelation. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
The title of Perfect Ghost is hints (strongly) at the imagery of ghosts throughout the story. T. E. Blakemoore is the pseudonym for Teddy Blake and Em Moore who are ghost writers. Actually, Em is more the writer and Teddy is the interviewer and editor, so Em ghost writes for Teddy in a way. Em is bracing herself to finish the book they had both started to write for a well-known actor-turned-director. The story is Em's constant dialog with Teddy makes the reader feel as though Em is talking to a ghost (and, since we are reading her internal dialog, we are Teddy) but there are no visions nor apparitions of Teddy. The actor-turned-director Garrett Malcolm is about to put on a stage production in Cape Cod of Hamlet and the ghost in that story is mentioned often in this one. There are several good quotes and allusions to Shakespeare, his life and work, but it is not overpowering.
Barnes is a terrific author. I always enjoyed her Carlotta Carlyle series also set in Massachusetts. This is a complete stand alone and very different from her series. The reader is always aware that there might be a mystery in this story but it isn't clear what it is, you are always anticipating a revelation. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
April 24, 2013
Set farther on the blustery coast New England coast, Linda Barnes' psychological thriller, "The Perfect Ghost" (Minotaur, $24.99), blew me away. I knew I was in for a twisty tale of distorted family rivalries and deep-seeded revenge after I read the prologue. Excerpted from Hamlet's letter to Ophelia where the angst-driven Dane tells her that even if she "doubt truth to be a liar" his love is steadfast, the prologue hints truth may be hard to find among what lies are ahead.
The novel's narrator, Em Moore, is the agoraphobic half of a successful celebrity biography writing team. Reeling from the death of her partner, Em pushes her publisher to let her finish their unfinished project on her own. Dry-popping Xanax and "silently reciting sonnets . . . to counter" the terrors of the world beyond her Boston flat, Em travels to the sprawling Cape Cod estate of the reclusive Hollywood director Garret Malcolm, "an outsized personality" with patrician good looks and a pedigree from acting royalty.
Em narrates her journey from Jane Eyre-like innocence to becoming Malcolm's eager lover as if she's talking to her dead partner. While Malcolm prepares a production of "Hamlet," Em narrates a story seeped in cuckoldry, malevolence and mystery. Many readers know Barnes for her tall, red-headed PI Carlotta Carlyle, and as much as I love that series, this stand-alone has to be Barnes' best book yet.
The novel's narrator, Em Moore, is the agoraphobic half of a successful celebrity biography writing team. Reeling from the death of her partner, Em pushes her publisher to let her finish their unfinished project on her own. Dry-popping Xanax and "silently reciting sonnets . . . to counter" the terrors of the world beyond her Boston flat, Em travels to the sprawling Cape Cod estate of the reclusive Hollywood director Garret Malcolm, "an outsized personality" with patrician good looks and a pedigree from acting royalty.
Em narrates her journey from Jane Eyre-like innocence to becoming Malcolm's eager lover as if she's talking to her dead partner. While Malcolm prepares a production of "Hamlet," Em narrates a story seeped in cuckoldry, malevolence and mystery. Many readers know Barnes for her tall, red-headed PI Carlotta Carlyle, and as much as I love that series, this stand-alone has to be Barnes' best book yet.
June 19, 2013
I used to read the Carlotta Carlyle series and always enjoyed them so when I saw that Linda Barnes had come up with a novel, I grabbed it. Em Moore brings new meaning to "shy and retiring", always staying in her writing partner, Teddy's shadow and letting him enjoy the spotlight. But when Teddy is killed in a car accident, right in the middle of their latest biography, Em feels she has no choice but to step up and finish their joint project, even though it means leaving her safety zone of Boston, staying in the "wilds" of Cape Cod, and dealing with the rich and famous.
Nothing is quite what it seems though. There are so many unanswered questions about Teddy's tragic accident. The people she meets all seem to be hiding secrets. Getting cooperation on this book should have been a piece of cake but what story is Em really telling? And who can be trusted?
Unlikable characters and hard to believe situations. Without giving away any spoilers, let's just say it wasn't hard to see where this was going from a long way off. It simply didn't feel to me like a story that needed to be told. I think I'll just stick with my memories of Carlotta.
Nothing is quite what it seems though. There are so many unanswered questions about Teddy's tragic accident. The people she meets all seem to be hiding secrets. Getting cooperation on this book should have been a piece of cake but what story is Em really telling? And who can be trusted?
Unlikable characters and hard to believe situations. Without giving away any spoilers, let's just say it wasn't hard to see where this was going from a long way off. It simply didn't feel to me like a story that needed to be told. I think I'll just stick with my memories of Carlotta.
May 27, 2013
Well-constructed mystery featuring one half of a celebrity ghost-writing team, Em, whose partner has died in a car accident. (Oddly, the book is written as a letter / narrative to him.) Em suffers from panic attacks and anxiety disorder, but makes the case to the publisher that she can finish the team's latest book with a celebrity director. As she interviews him and learns more about him, it's clearer that he harbors secrets and that her partner's death was actually murder.
The book is really well-done, making me want to read Barnes again. I like that the protagonist has to overcome her anxiety in order to write. Barnes provides good motivation for all of the characters, but by the end none of them are particularly likable, even the protagonist, and it's not pleasant to reside in their world as a reader.
The Hamlet references are really well-crafted (the celebrity director is mounting a play), especially with ghost imagery (hence the title).
The book is really well-done, making me want to read Barnes again. I like that the protagonist has to overcome her anxiety in order to write. Barnes provides good motivation for all of the characters, but by the end none of them are particularly likable, even the protagonist, and it's not pleasant to reside in their world as a reader.
The Hamlet references are really well-crafted (the celebrity director is mounting a play), especially with ghost imagery (hence the title).
March 31, 2013
I'm sorry to say that I just could not get into this book at all, I had to force myself to read even the first few chapters. It sounded like it would be something I would enjoy and I"m sure that if I were able to force my may through it I might have even rated it a two star instead of one. I however, am not going to force myself to read something that I am not enjoying. There are far too many books out there that I can enjoy. I thank the publisher and author for the chance to read it though.
October 31, 2025
2.5 stars
Em and Teddy were jointly writing a biography about famous actor/director Malcolm Garrett when Teddy is in a car accident and dies. Teddy was the more outgoing, charming one who was out doing all the interviews to get the material for their book, but Em insists she will be able to finish. She is very much out of her element when she starts approaching people to continue the interviews.
I don’t think I liked the way this was written. I actually didn’t mind the chapters that were a little different: the police reports, interviews, etc, but for the “regular” chapters, I was often confused, not sure what was happening. Maybe “often” is an exaggeration, but there were a lot of times when I was confused. The story seemed ok, but I think I just didn’t like the execution of it. I also got tired of all the Hamlet references. (Hmmm, it seems Em was agoraphobic! Summaries are telling me this. I knew there was something “off” about her, but I completely missed this very important detail!)
Em and Teddy were jointly writing a biography about famous actor/director Malcolm Garrett when Teddy is in a car accident and dies. Teddy was the more outgoing, charming one who was out doing all the interviews to get the material for their book, but Em insists she will be able to finish. She is very much out of her element when she starts approaching people to continue the interviews.
I don’t think I liked the way this was written. I actually didn’t mind the chapters that were a little different: the police reports, interviews, etc, but for the “regular” chapters, I was often confused, not sure what was happening. Maybe “often” is an exaggeration, but there were a lot of times when I was confused. The story seemed ok, but I think I just didn’t like the execution of it. I also got tired of all the Hamlet references. (Hmmm, it seems Em was agoraphobic! Summaries are telling me this. I knew there was something “off” about her, but I completely missed this very important detail!)
December 1, 2018
I was often impatient with this main character, Em, who was shy, socially awkward and worried about not being pretty. Her confidence is so significantly bolstered by the purchase of a new bra that she mentions the darned thing several times throughout the narrative. However, she does have confidence in herself as a writer and when her writing collaborator dies in a car crash, she continues their work on a biography of a famous actor by herself. She seems naive but earnest, and her unassuming nature leads others to believe that she doesn't understand a lot of what is going on. Through overheard conversations, offhand comments and some quiet research, she discovers the facts behind the story the actor wishes to present of himself. It is she who draws the actor's story to a complex and intriguing end.
February 19, 2020
I grabbed THE PERFECT GHOST off a library shelf thinking I was getting a ghost story. Not so. This is a mystery/psychological thriller that is darker than it appears at first glance. The characters are not very likable, but the mystery is intriguing enough. I didn't, however, care for the ending. While it surprised me, it didn't feel very satisfying. THE PERFECT GHOST is engrossing and compelling, but also depressing. It kept me reading, but I can't say I loved it.
May 30, 2018
- knowledge on Hamlet would assist in the reading of this book due to the plethora of theatrical references.
- highly descriptive and enticing language.
- a couple of plot twists ensured intrigue in the reader but maintained the subdued, melancholy tone.
- detailed characterisation of main characters brought them to life.
- would read again simply to extract more hints towards the ending.
- highly descriptive and enticing language.
- a couple of plot twists ensured intrigue in the reader but maintained the subdued, melancholy tone.
- detailed characterisation of main characters brought them to life.
- would read again simply to extract more hints towards the ending.
Read
August 30, 2020A good book with a couple of real twists. Not just a usual Linda Barnes mystery.
October 15, 2013
Alrighty then. I enjoy Linda Barnes as an author quite a bit. However, I found this book somewhat disappointing. At first, it was like crack. I had a hard time putting it down and had no problem picking it back up.
Later it was more like healthy leftovers. Sometimes to eat (read) cause I needed it but not really that compelling.
Then at the end I felt cheated. The book description, the first person narrative, the depiction of our heroine rang untrue for the ending. My mind raced back to see if the author had LIED to me but she didn't, she just lead me on. Still it felt like a cheap trick rather than an enjoyable plot twist.
I had wondered about Em's complicity but her panic attacks and agoraphobia were so pronounced at the beginning, that even though Ted has been quite a jerk to her (a worse word comes to mind), I rejected her as a murderer. Also I don't think this type of twist works as well with first person narrative. For me, it's like she's been talking to me all along, although I was actually reading over her shoulder as she wrote to Teddy... but what it felt like more like she was talking to ME conversationally and then throwing in asides to Teddy .... or just a first person narrative with asides to Teddy....
I mostly bought the transformation as she blossomed but it did seem a little too fast....but not enough that it distracted me. More I was distracted as the mystery stalled. I felt like, oh how can she solve this in enough time?
Basically for me I see how this story worked for some people but for me, it was .... just a big trick and that ruined my enjoyment...
I did like the tie in's to Shakespeare, like this was what would've happened if Ophelia went mad and murdered Hamlet .... and then the King and his retainers. Kudos for that. And the ghost imagery. And the painting of Cape Cod. If the plotting had remained as tight for the end as the beginning it would've kept me keepin' on but because it was a TRICK it couldn't retain its driving force and that's why it ultimately lost me... because the author had to spend so much time distracting me from her final plot twist that she couldn't sustain the rhythm of the unsolved mystery.
She couldn't let on.... that Em was trying to solve the mystery of what Teddy had uncovered while we were trying to solve Teddy's murder. And because of that... we lost momentum.
This might've worked better as a third person omniscient or told from the detectives point of view.... in that case, Em could've even been made sympathetic but in this case, I felt as ugly and betrayed as ever a friend was...
However, I still, having said all that, rate it as good because of the aforementioned kudos and because I admire the balls to try to carry it off....
Later it was more like healthy leftovers. Sometimes to eat (read) cause I needed it but not really that compelling.
Then at the end I felt cheated. The book description, the first person narrative, the depiction of our heroine rang untrue for the ending. My mind raced back to see if the author had LIED to me but she didn't, she just lead me on. Still it felt like a cheap trick rather than an enjoyable plot twist.
I had wondered about Em's complicity but her panic attacks and agoraphobia were so pronounced at the beginning, that even though Ted has been quite a jerk to her (a worse word comes to mind), I rejected her as a murderer. Also I don't think this type of twist works as well with first person narrative. For me, it's like she's been talking to me all along, although I was actually reading over her shoulder as she wrote to Teddy... but what it felt like more like she was talking to ME conversationally and then throwing in asides to Teddy .... or just a first person narrative with asides to Teddy....
I mostly bought the transformation as she blossomed but it did seem a little too fast....but not enough that it distracted me. More I was distracted as the mystery stalled. I felt like, oh how can she solve this in enough time?
Basically for me I see how this story worked for some people but for me, it was .... just a big trick and that ruined my enjoyment...
I did like the tie in's to Shakespeare, like this was what would've happened if Ophelia went mad and murdered Hamlet .... and then the King and his retainers. Kudos for that. And the ghost imagery. And the painting of Cape Cod. If the plotting had remained as tight for the end as the beginning it would've kept me keepin' on but because it was a TRICK it couldn't retain its driving force and that's why it ultimately lost me... because the author had to spend so much time distracting me from her final plot twist that she couldn't sustain the rhythm of the unsolved mystery.
She couldn't let on.... that Em was trying to solve the mystery of what Teddy had uncovered while we were trying to solve Teddy's murder. And because of that... we lost momentum.
This might've worked better as a third person omniscient or told from the detectives point of view.... in that case, Em could've even been made sympathetic but in this case, I felt as ugly and betrayed as ever a friend was...
However, I still, having said all that, rate it as good because of the aforementioned kudos and because I admire the balls to try to carry it off....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2013
Normally if a book does not attract my attention, I move on to another read. I was morally bound to review this book because, as a disclaimer, this book was given to me by the publisher in return for my honest review and I was going to write that review even if I had to spend a ridiculously long time reading the book itself. I hope that neither the publisher nor the author will be deterred from another try based on this book or my review. Here is why.
Although I don't have a personal familiarity with The Cape or Boston, people who are familiar with specific landmarks or locations or streets will be drawn in by detailed written links to there. I have no experience in cinema or theater but those who do, will probably be nodding their heads in those "ah, yes" moments. This story is like a long journey. The scenery is nice on the way but the real fun begins when you get to the end. The author picks the end point very carefully and successfully.
I believe that even the sharpest reader will not be intuitive enough to figure out those last notes that are the symphony's finale. The development of the characters seemed to be less important than drawing the reader to the interesting twist at the end. I didn't like Em, our narrator and protagonist, as she does not come off as likable even from the start. I am guessing that the intent was to find her genial in a "Gee, I like her but I wouldn't want to be her" kind of way. She is supposed to be mild, a bit pathetic and perhaps a bit more sweet than I found her to be. A washed up actor turned director from a family of theater royalty, a washed up, alcoholic movie star, an unwashed Internet celebrity gossip blogger, a sickly police officer, a handful of minor characters such as neighbors and publishers and the ghost of Em's writing partner round up the crew of this production.
If you can slog through the first three quarters of this book you will be pleasantly rewarded. Not because it is a good ending but because it is a surprising ending that you could not have had the tenacity of spirit to have formed if you were not this specific author. If Em's true character is revealed at the end of this book, so is Ms. Barnes'. I can only hope that she will take the path that her talent has taken her to and write as she did in the finale of this novel. If she does, lucky are we her readers to be.
Although I don't have a personal familiarity with The Cape or Boston, people who are familiar with specific landmarks or locations or streets will be drawn in by detailed written links to there. I have no experience in cinema or theater but those who do, will probably be nodding their heads in those "ah, yes" moments. This story is like a long journey. The scenery is nice on the way but the real fun begins when you get to the end. The author picks the end point very carefully and successfully.
I believe that even the sharpest reader will not be intuitive enough to figure out those last notes that are the symphony's finale. The development of the characters seemed to be less important than drawing the reader to the interesting twist at the end. I didn't like Em, our narrator and protagonist, as she does not come off as likable even from the start. I am guessing that the intent was to find her genial in a "Gee, I like her but I wouldn't want to be her" kind of way. She is supposed to be mild, a bit pathetic and perhaps a bit more sweet than I found her to be. A washed up actor turned director from a family of theater royalty, a washed up, alcoholic movie star, an unwashed Internet celebrity gossip blogger, a sickly police officer, a handful of minor characters such as neighbors and publishers and the ghost of Em's writing partner round up the crew of this production.
If you can slog through the first three quarters of this book you will be pleasantly rewarded. Not because it is a good ending but because it is a surprising ending that you could not have had the tenacity of spirit to have formed if you were not this specific author. If Em's true character is revealed at the end of this book, so is Ms. Barnes'. I can only hope that she will take the path that her talent has taken her to and write as she did in the finale of this novel. If she does, lucky are we her readers to be.
February 28, 2013
My review posted to MADreads
http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/m...
Though she'd already been writing for while, Linda Barnes broke out in the late 80s when she became part of the wave of women mystery writers that included Marcia Muller, Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton. Barnes' protagonist was Carlotta Carlyle, a fledgling private investigator in Boston who also worked as a cab driver to make ends meet. Carlotta was 6'4" tall, an ex-cop and a force to be reckoned with. The complete opposite of the woman who takes center stage in Linda Barnes' new standalone novel.
Em Moore is just thisclose to being an agorophobic. She is the silent half of a successful writing team named T. E. Blakemore. T.E. Blakemore is the "as told to" co-author of a slew of successful celebrity autobiographies. Em's collaborator on those "as told to" books is Teddy Blake. While introverted Em does most of the actual writing, the more outgoing Teddy conducts the interviews and does the legwork. Their partnership has worked. But now Teddy has been killed in a car accident and Em fears that she will lose the chance to finish the biography they'd been working on (and the advance that came with it).
The subject of their current biography is hollywood director Malcolm Garrett. The Garretts are acting royalty and Malcolm has lived up to the family name (think Scorsese or Tarantino if they'd come from Barrymore family). In recent years, since the death of his wife, Malcolm has become more reclusive. The chance to finish the book - and perhaps cement her own career - is one that Em cannot let go, no matter how difficult it will be. Pursuing her goal will push Em far, far out of her comfort zone and force her to confront the mystery of Teddy's death as well as the dark secrets Malcolm Garrett would rather keep hidden. Along the way she (and the reader) will discover that Em has hidden depths.
Em's quiet narration works well to slowly build the story and tension in this change-of-pace outing from Barnes. Though I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Carlotta, I'm happy to see that Barnes is exploring new mystery avenues. Can't wait to see what she writes next.
http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/m...
Though she'd already been writing for while, Linda Barnes broke out in the late 80s when she became part of the wave of women mystery writers that included Marcia Muller, Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton. Barnes' protagonist was Carlotta Carlyle, a fledgling private investigator in Boston who also worked as a cab driver to make ends meet. Carlotta was 6'4" tall, an ex-cop and a force to be reckoned with. The complete opposite of the woman who takes center stage in Linda Barnes' new standalone novel.
Em Moore is just thisclose to being an agorophobic. She is the silent half of a successful writing team named T. E. Blakemore. T.E. Blakemore is the "as told to" co-author of a slew of successful celebrity autobiographies. Em's collaborator on those "as told to" books is Teddy Blake. While introverted Em does most of the actual writing, the more outgoing Teddy conducts the interviews and does the legwork. Their partnership has worked. But now Teddy has been killed in a car accident and Em fears that she will lose the chance to finish the biography they'd been working on (and the advance that came with it).
The subject of their current biography is hollywood director Malcolm Garrett. The Garretts are acting royalty and Malcolm has lived up to the family name (think Scorsese or Tarantino if they'd come from Barrymore family). In recent years, since the death of his wife, Malcolm has become more reclusive. The chance to finish the book - and perhaps cement her own career - is one that Em cannot let go, no matter how difficult it will be. Pursuing her goal will push Em far, far out of her comfort zone and force her to confront the mystery of Teddy's death as well as the dark secrets Malcolm Garrett would rather keep hidden. Along the way she (and the reader) will discover that Em has hidden depths.
Em's quiet narration works well to slowly build the story and tension in this change-of-pace outing from Barnes. Though I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Carlotta, I'm happy to see that Barnes is exploring new mystery avenues. Can't wait to see what she writes next.
June 8, 2013
This is the first novel by Linda Barnes I have read and I will tell you that I was drawn into purchasing it due to the Title and synopsis. I truly thought there would be ghosts in the tale and they were, just not the type I thought of.
Em Moore is a phobic but excellent author. She, and her partner, Teddy, who does the actually interviewing, write autobiography's of celebrities. Teddy has died. And not without a cloud over him.
This novel explores Em's journey into the 'world' and compulsion to finish the current project.
Garrett Malcolm, an award winning actor, director and more, is the current project of Em's. He is resistant of working with the young Em and you begin to wonder why.
This novel seemed to plod on for me. However, I soon found I had read a quick sixty pages between the interviews that Teddy had taped, and the struggle of Em to enter the world as a complete competent woman.
Em is a compelling character filled with flaws but you soon find yourself rooting for her success.
Interesting finale and filled with surprises.
Em Moore is a phobic but excellent author. She, and her partner, Teddy, who does the actually interviewing, write autobiography's of celebrities. Teddy has died. And not without a cloud over him.
This novel explores Em's journey into the 'world' and compulsion to finish the current project.
Garrett Malcolm, an award winning actor, director and more, is the current project of Em's. He is resistant of working with the young Em and you begin to wonder why.
This novel seemed to plod on for me. However, I soon found I had read a quick sixty pages between the interviews that Teddy had taped, and the struggle of Em to enter the world as a complete competent woman.
Em is a compelling character filled with flaws but you soon find yourself rooting for her success.
Interesting finale and filled with surprises.
February 25, 2015
Touted as a novel of suspense, "The perfect ghost" was a prime example of unrealized potential. A good premise, a great setting, an attractive cover, yet.... blah.
The protagonist was a flat, unlikeable, unemphatic character whom I really didn't care about. Since she narrated the entire book (with the exception of the interview sequences), that was a critical failing. Emily, the ghost writer of the title, was self-deprecating, and supposedly mentally ill... or was she? She turned out to be narcissistic and manipulative.
The Cape Cod setting was well portrayed and described. In fact the author handled the setting better than the characters. The characterizations were lacking depth and made the reader unable to invest much interest in them.
The twists were there, but seemed to be thrown in the novel with little build up to maximize tension. Therefore they felt anti-climatic.
All in all, I cannot really recommend it.
The protagonist was a flat, unlikeable, unemphatic character whom I really didn't care about. Since she narrated the entire book (with the exception of the interview sequences), that was a critical failing. Emily, the ghost writer of the title, was self-deprecating, and supposedly mentally ill... or was she? She turned out to be narcissistic and manipulative.
The Cape Cod setting was well portrayed and described. In fact the author handled the setting better than the characters. The characterizations were lacking depth and made the reader unable to invest much interest in them.
The twists were there, but seemed to be thrown in the novel with little build up to maximize tension. Therefore they felt anti-climatic.
All in all, I cannot really recommend it.
April 14, 2013
I f you have read other Linda Barnes books this one is nothing like them but her writing is just a s good and compelling a read. Em Moore is half of a ghost writing team who narrates the story to her dead partner Teddy Blake. Teddy was killed in a car accident early in the story. They had a complex relationship starting with student, lover, caretaker as that Em was an acrophobia. But with Teddy's death she had to take over not only the writing but interviewing aspects of their current project to meat the deadline. As the story unfolds Barnes reveals clues along the way, teasing the reader about the mystery that is unfolding. But it is not until the very end that she grabs you with the clincher you had no idea was coming yet it ti a perfect fit. Great read --once again Linda Barnes has written an enjoyable book.
May 29, 2013
I loved this book. It literally kept me guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I had mystery unraveled, there was another twist, and I was forced to try to figure things out again. In many ways this novel is a classic mystery; there is a (maybe) murder and the possibility that the main character will get herself killed as she attempts to figure out what happened to her ghost writing partner. But unlike most murder mysteries, I also think Barnes did a terrific job describing the growth of the main character, Em Moore, over the course of the book. Moore, a ghost writer, begins the book crippled by agoraphobia, which she gradually overcomes as she begins to fully embody her own life and write her own story. I was really rooting for her! I wanted to know who-done-it, but honestly, I was more intrigued by Moore's transformation and what she might do next.
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