Laying the Ghost

by Judy Astley

When Nell was a student, she and Patrick were a serious item. They were inseparable, and she really thought he was The One. But then Alex came along - the safer, more restful option - and thanks to her over-controlling mother, she opted for him instead. But now, Alex has left her to live in New York with a younger, blonder woman. Escaping to the Caribbean for a recuperative holiday, she is mugged at the airport and her bag is stolen. It’s crisis time – and she makes two decisions: First – she will take lessons in self-defense. Second – she will try and find Patrick again. Is she trying to put the past behind her...or setting out to ruin her future? 

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction

350 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

Judy Astley started writing in 1990 following several years of working as a dressmaker, illustrator, painter and parent. Her sixteen novels, the most recent of which are Laying The Ghost and Other People¹s Husbands, are all published by Transworld/Black Swan. Judy¹s specialist areas, based on many years of hectic personal experience, are domestic disharmony and family chaos with a good mix of love-and-passion and plenty of humour thrown in. Judy has been a regular columnist on magazines and enjoys writing journalism pieces on just about any subject, usually from a fun viewpoint. She lives in London and Cornwall, loves plants, books, hot sunshine and rock music (all at once, preferably) and would happily claim that listening in to other people¹s conversations is both a top hobby and an absolute career-necessity

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf forever and not sure why. It was an amusing light read - plenty of funny moments along with the trials of teenage children. I can see that there are plenty of books by this author that I haven't read - need to rectify that.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Felt like something light, this wasn't a bad choice. Author has a nice way with words, and this flows along well.
Couldn't overly relate to the main character, who is a newly single mum with a teenage daughter, but I liked her. Was really interested to see how Patrick ended up - to this 80's fan, his description was very attractive. I was disappointed he never actually appears!
I also thought something more could have been done with the Mimi and Tess subplot.
Overall, this was a nice little story which could have been a little more than it was.

[OxoNewbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Women's Commercial Fiction.

I thought I could predict the plot of this book within the first few chapters but actually it has surprised me as the things I thought would happen, didn't. I didn't think the daughter would have such a large role in the novel. One criticism of the writing is how overly descriptive it can be at times (do I really need to know that Nell is eating a M&S sandwich, not just any sandwich but a M&S sandwich?).

Interesting idea naming the chapters after songs. I am trying to listen to the songs on Spotify so it will have introduced me to some "new" music. I don't think the prose has captured the complexity of emotions in those songs but it was an easy, pleasant read.

3 stars.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I read one of Judy Astley's books, and I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy them. The insightful humour that really hits the spot makes these books a very enjoyable read. I could identify with the main character of this book in many ways. I read this as an e-book and the ending came upon me very suddenly. It was quite abrupt, but also quite perfect.

[Hanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea why I thought this was a Christmas book. It wasn't. Bit too introspective every day life for me. Lots of uninteresting scenes. Characters were a bit annoying, and a bit too matter of fact. Everyday pieces aren't my cup of tea. But the British still do them better. What I'm interested in is the daughter. But oh well.

[Sana Merchant · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn’t. Although there are praises for the writer, I am finding it hard to digest. The story is very slow, I can’t relate to the characters nor do I find them interesting so that it can engage me. So I am going to simply shut it and I am only on chapter 3.

[Shaifali Vohra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will give this book a 4/5 stars because it was an interesting read for me but i do have some problems with it such as I really thought we would get some backstory between Alex and Nell but we didn't and one more which if shared than can be spoilers.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I would have like to have met Patrick
To find out how his life had panned out, but was glad she ended up with Ed

[Mandy Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I skim read a lot of this book. It was okay, not overly gripping and amusing in places. Some good characters but just felt it was very much a take it or leave it read.

[Robin Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story of a single mother and three or four men in her life. Ending is unresolving but comfortable.
Good use of hyphenated adjectives.
Not perfect proofreading.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good easy read.
Gentle story of life after divorce, new romance, old romance and family.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read much of this kind of thing but needed a break from violent death and this has been on my bookclub pile for ages and looked like a quick easy read, which it was. Nell returns from holiday with her teenage daughter after her husband has left her for another woman, is mugged at the airport and decides to take a self-defense class and look up her ex. Most of the book is about the trials of having a 15-year old and feeling sorry for yourself, but it's obvious from the first paragraph he's introduced in who she'll end up with. There were lots of mentions of South-west London and references that made me nostalgic - Alpen! - and it made me think about old boyfriends and whether I'd look them up in the same situation - probably not.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Astley has a very clever knack of writing about things that are happening all around us, right this very minute, not last year or last decade like so many writers of contemporary women's fiction do. This funny (but also maybe a little sad) story is about the wisdom of getting in touch with old boyfriends. It's about hope versus reality, told with humour and sensitivity - it's vintage Astley and I loved it!

[Redfox5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Nell from the start. I felt sad for her becuase I feel like I'll end up going through the same thing. It's strange that you never actually get to meet Patrick in the book as he's mentioned loads. I clocked Steve as being a bit off straight away. Good read :)

[Tory · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable enough quick read.

[June Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

To slow for me.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read, slightly over detailed in places especially in description of decor. I enjoyed it and would read more by the same author.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were moments where the book was ok but mostly it was really dull to read.