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Ghosts
When Academy Award-winning actress Annette Carlson buys an old house in Nantucket, she discovers that the place is haunted by a malevolent spirit, who threatens not only Annette, but the entire community. By the author of Zigzag.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1993
124 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
About the author
Noel Hynd
62 books218 followers I've been a published novelist for longer than I care to admit, since 1976. I'm frequently asked, however, how I first got published. It's an interesting story and involved both Robert Ludlum and James Baldwin, even though neither of them knew it --- or me --- at the time.
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 23, 2012
hi! my name is Ghosts by Noel Hynd and i really, really want to be a movie! i am really cinematic! in fact, i am about an Academy award-winning actress! a diva! i'm also about the very scenic Nantucket Island! beautiful and atmospheric scenery - possibly to be had at a surprisingly low price for the producer on a budget! there are ghosts on this island... and lots of flashbacks - just take your pick! even better, a haunted house! my prologue is awesome, it really sets the mood plus it has sexed-up teenagers being slaughtered! later, there's a studly and serious police enforcement type hero to boldly protect my emotional heroine who has a troubled past! well, at least as much as my feisty, independent heroine will let him, she's such a classic and attractive diva of a certain age who tries to be strong, but she really needs a man too, she just doesn't want to admit it, fortunately he's a strong silent supportive type who eventually breaks down her barriers with his innate goodness, but not right away so there are many scenes where she still gets to be terrified and he does a lot of catching up, and my gosh the ghost can even follow them around, it's mobile - a great twist right - but don't worry (and no spoiler here)... let's just say that by the end you definitely won't be surprised about how things turn out! not one bit! my narrative is full of unsurprising surprises and my prose is clear, straightforward, basically inoffensive - all the better for literally any screenwriter to adapt me with ease! hey guess what, i have a "quirky oddball sidekick/ black character/ mysterious guy with a haunted past/ and also a kind of exorcist" type character - and as far as wacky, offbeat characters who only exist in the movies go, i KNOW that's a winner! also, religion is both bad and good! classic, right? it all sounds super-cinematic, right? okay then, Why haven't you made me into a movie yet for chrissakes its been 20 flippin' years!! come on already!!! i'm getting a little desperate here.
November 17, 2014
Ghosts by Noel Hynd is a 2013 Red Cat tales publication.
This book was published originally back in 1993. This book is the kindle edition which was updated in 2013.
I read this book back when it was first published and it became an instant favorite of mine. I outgrew horror novels many years ago but I still enjoy a good old fashioned chiller. Every October I pull out a scary book to read for Halloween and this year's choice was Ghosts. I had the best of intentions to have this one read in time to feature it on my blog for Halloween, but my review schedule got in the way, so I am just now getting the book finished. Even after so many years, this book still packs a punch. One part horror/ghost story, one part mystery, and even a little romance thrown into the mix makes this novel a real classic.
Annette Carlson is an academy award winning actress looking for a nice out of the way retreat. She decides on the island of Nantucket and moves into a quaint cottage style home. Needing to spend some time alone and away from her demanding career this looks like a perfect location. But, after one or two nights in the house it becomes clear Annette will not be getting her much needed R&R.
Thinking she has a prowler, Annette calls the local sheriff's department and Timothy Brooks is assigned to her case. It doesn't take long for the pair to realize that something very sinister is taking place on the island of Nantucket and the spirit world is trying to send them a warning.
Some folks may not understand the novel's understated quality. This is not poltergeist or the Peter Straub or Stephen King sort of horror novel. This book has a slow build up, adding layers at a time until all pieces of the puzzle fit. There is one huge plot twist that took my breath away the first time I read the book. It still gave me the chills reading it the second time.
This is my kind of horror novel because it is so layered and psychological in nature.
The one thing I would change would be to shorten the book just a bit. This one was written back in a time when this style of writing was the norm, but today it's just a little too drawn out.
I wish more chillers were written these days, but they seem to have gone out of style and not too many are willing to attempt a slow moving atmospheric sort of tale. But, if you are looking for a really spooky and more traditional sort of ghost story I highly recommend this one. 4.5 rounded to 5.
This book was published originally back in 1993. This book is the kindle edition which was updated in 2013.
I read this book back when it was first published and it became an instant favorite of mine. I outgrew horror novels many years ago but I still enjoy a good old fashioned chiller. Every October I pull out a scary book to read for Halloween and this year's choice was Ghosts. I had the best of intentions to have this one read in time to feature it on my blog for Halloween, but my review schedule got in the way, so I am just now getting the book finished. Even after so many years, this book still packs a punch. One part horror/ghost story, one part mystery, and even a little romance thrown into the mix makes this novel a real classic.
Annette Carlson is an academy award winning actress looking for a nice out of the way retreat. She decides on the island of Nantucket and moves into a quaint cottage style home. Needing to spend some time alone and away from her demanding career this looks like a perfect location. But, after one or two nights in the house it becomes clear Annette will not be getting her much needed R&R.
Thinking she has a prowler, Annette calls the local sheriff's department and Timothy Brooks is assigned to her case. It doesn't take long for the pair to realize that something very sinister is taking place on the island of Nantucket and the spirit world is trying to send them a warning.
Some folks may not understand the novel's understated quality. This is not poltergeist or the Peter Straub or Stephen King sort of horror novel. This book has a slow build up, adding layers at a time until all pieces of the puzzle fit. There is one huge plot twist that took my breath away the first time I read the book. It still gave me the chills reading it the second time.
This is my kind of horror novel because it is so layered and psychological in nature.
The one thing I would change would be to shorten the book just a bit. This one was written back in a time when this style of writing was the norm, but today it's just a little too drawn out.
I wish more chillers were written these days, but they seem to have gone out of style and not too many are willing to attempt a slow moving atmospheric sort of tale. But, if you are looking for a really spooky and more traditional sort of ghost story I highly recommend this one. 4.5 rounded to 5.
March 21, 2021
Overall, a decent read by Hynd, but one that really wanted to be a B movie instead a novel; perhaps Hynd, who is a screenwriter, had visions of this on the big screen with a big bowl of popcorn. That would be fitting, as this is definitely a popcorn read! The story takes place largely on Nantucket island, with the two main characters Tim Brooks, a local cop/detective and Annette, a lovely movie star. Annette bought an old home on Nantucket as a place to get away while Tim ended up there largely by chance. In any case, they seem to have a ghost problem.
As the title suggests, this is a ghost story with lots of ghosts! The story kicks off with a murdered coed who, with her boyfriend, were camping 'rough' on the island. She was found with her neck broken while he had passed out in the trees trying to take a leak. Tim is not assigned the case, but he thinks the boyfriend is innocent anyway. As it turns out (mild spoiler here) the college couple opened up a can of worms, or at least ghosts, when they chose their spot to sleep...
Meanwhile, Annette is seeing ghostly images of women in white walking around her house and Tim is hearing a voice in his head. Tim and Annette meet when she called the cops about her strange visitors. Enter stereotypes stage one: Tim, a firm ghost non-believer, gradually starts to come to the conclusion that yes there are ghosts around. Annette, our lovely movie star, starts to fall for Tim and the feeling is mutual. The hardass police chief at first dismisses Tim's story of ghosts only to come around later. It felt like Hynd had just read a book of cliches and was itching to get as many of them into one story as he could. Add on a strange priest/minister who is Tim's buddy and who also believes in ghosts and can sense them and we have a story all set for a midnight move somewhere.
I keep mentioning that this felt like reading a screenplay for a movie and that sense only built as the novel progressed; lots of cinematic scenes that would look great on the screen are described in detail. The final denouement felt scripted as well, and added quite a bit to the cheese factor. 2.5 stars rounding down due to the ending.
As the title suggests, this is a ghost story with lots of ghosts! The story kicks off with a murdered coed who, with her boyfriend, were camping 'rough' on the island. She was found with her neck broken while he had passed out in the trees trying to take a leak. Tim is not assigned the case, but he thinks the boyfriend is innocent anyway. As it turns out (mild spoiler here) the college couple opened up a can of worms, or at least ghosts, when they chose their spot to sleep...
Meanwhile, Annette is seeing ghostly images of women in white walking around her house and Tim is hearing a voice in his head. Tim and Annette meet when she called the cops about her strange visitors. Enter stereotypes stage one: Tim, a firm ghost non-believer, gradually starts to come to the conclusion that yes there are ghosts around. Annette, our lovely movie star, starts to fall for Tim and the feeling is mutual. The hardass police chief at first dismisses Tim's story of ghosts only to come around later. It felt like Hynd had just read a book of cliches and was itching to get as many of them into one story as he could. Add on a strange priest/minister who is Tim's buddy and who also believes in ghosts and can sense them and we have a story all set for a midnight move somewhere.
I keep mentioning that this felt like reading a screenplay for a movie and that sense only built as the novel progressed; lots of cinematic scenes that would look great on the screen are described in detail. The final denouement felt scripted as well, and added quite a bit to the cheese factor. 2.5 stars rounding down due to the ending.
August 5, 2015
Dear Lord in Heaven, this was a slog. I kept looking at the "percentage read" and thinking that what the ghosts were actually doing was making sure this book lasted forever, because they really didn't seem to be doing much of interest in the story.
Annette Carlson is an Oscar-winning actress (who seems to attract little attention despite this). Tim Brooks is a local cop. There are murders. Strange things are happening in Annette's house. There's a local priest who tries to help. The priest has a secret (which you'll figure out immediately). And, God help us, the end of the book sums up with that "Footprints" poem or whatever it is.
Several staffers at Book Riot had voted for this book on their lists of the scariest books ever. I'm assuming that was tongue in cheek.
Annette Carlson is an Oscar-winning actress (who seems to attract little attention despite this). Tim Brooks is a local cop. There are murders. Strange things are happening in Annette's house. There's a local priest who tries to help. The priest has a secret (which you'll figure out immediately). And, God help us, the end of the book sums up with that "Footprints" poem or whatever it is.
Several staffers at Book Riot had voted for this book on their lists of the scariest books ever. I'm assuming that was tongue in cheek.
April 20, 2014
This is one of the scariest ghosts stories that I have read in a long time. Reverend George Osaro is a ghosts hunter. He has a special gift for tracking down spirits. Timothy Brooks is a detective on the island of Nantucket. Annette Carlson, award winning actress buys the house on 17 Cort St. The house that Annette bought of course is haunted. This tale takes the three of them through hell and back, trying to remove the evil spirit that haunts this house. This story had a twist at the end that I did not see coming. Noel Hynd is a good writer and a excellent storyteller. I will be checking out other novels by this author.
December 11, 2008
Mine. What more can I say? ;-)
March 20, 2008
This is another excpetional book!! If you're are into ghost stories, this one is great. This is another one that my husband totally loved!! He is reading it for a second time...I've read it three times!!
October 30, 2011
“Ghosts” Author’s Revised Edition
Author: Noel Hynd
Publisher: Damnation Books, LLC
ISBN# 978-1-61572-064-4
A Tale of “Mysticism, Ghosts, Supernatural, Intrigue and Romance”
“Ghosts” by Noel Hynd is a chilling supernatural thriller, without a doubt! This is not your basic bump in the night – cold touch on the shoulder ghost story. I believe the best ghost stories are those written that make the reader think about the story long after the book has been placed away on the shelf – Hynd does just that with “Ghosts.” Hynd combines several crucial elements, such as realism, mystery, danger, and suspense - deliciously frightening. I particularly liked the depth he gave to each of his characters, strong – independent – intelligent, not weak and weepy. I found myself reading the entire book in one setting – could not put it down!
Annette Carlson is an award-winning actress looking for some peace and quite away from the paparazzi. She manages to find the perfect place – a Victorian mansion in paradise on the island of Nantucket. Sound like heaven – think again! Far away from snooping fans and prying eyes, she now finds herself beleaguered by an evil entity. Unbeknownst to her a murder has taken place on the island, a murder in which the perpetrator is not of flesh and blood but something much sinister. Out of desperation she calls upon Nantucket’s’ lead detective Timothy Brooks. Detective Brooks, a firm skeptic of such things as ghosts or the supernatural, turns to his closest friend for help, Reverend George Andrew Osaro – whose ministry is somewhat unconventional. As the three embark on a terrifying journey to uncover the mystifying occurrences, which are happening at 17 Cort Street, two more unsolved murders occur. Together they are confronted by evil in its worst form.
Traveling to the mainland by air, Brooks visits a library and begins doing research on the subject of ghosts and the supernatural. This is where I think the author uses a clever tactic in his writing to further draw the reader in. The author shows detective Brooks sifting through several articles and books on the subject, such as, ‘The Ghosts of Pennsylvania’ by Dr. Frederick Mann – ‘The Spirits’ Book’ – a paper by William James, the philosopher – and a pamphlet by Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytic psychiatry. It might sound ridiculous, but I found myself googling these author’s. I had to know if they and their work were real! I give ‘Ghosts’ by Noel Hynd five stars and highly recommend this ghostly read.
Noel Hynd is the author of twenty-two published books and three produced screenplays. He writes in several different genres including espionage and suspense. He can be found on Facebook and loves to hear from his fans.
Author: Noel Hynd
Publisher: Damnation Books, LLC
ISBN# 978-1-61572-064-4
A Tale of “Mysticism, Ghosts, Supernatural, Intrigue and Romance”
“Ghosts” by Noel Hynd is a chilling supernatural thriller, without a doubt! This is not your basic bump in the night – cold touch on the shoulder ghost story. I believe the best ghost stories are those written that make the reader think about the story long after the book has been placed away on the shelf – Hynd does just that with “Ghosts.” Hynd combines several crucial elements, such as realism, mystery, danger, and suspense - deliciously frightening. I particularly liked the depth he gave to each of his characters, strong – independent – intelligent, not weak and weepy. I found myself reading the entire book in one setting – could not put it down!
Annette Carlson is an award-winning actress looking for some peace and quite away from the paparazzi. She manages to find the perfect place – a Victorian mansion in paradise on the island of Nantucket. Sound like heaven – think again! Far away from snooping fans and prying eyes, she now finds herself beleaguered by an evil entity. Unbeknownst to her a murder has taken place on the island, a murder in which the perpetrator is not of flesh and blood but something much sinister. Out of desperation she calls upon Nantucket’s’ lead detective Timothy Brooks. Detective Brooks, a firm skeptic of such things as ghosts or the supernatural, turns to his closest friend for help, Reverend George Andrew Osaro – whose ministry is somewhat unconventional. As the three embark on a terrifying journey to uncover the mystifying occurrences, which are happening at 17 Cort Street, two more unsolved murders occur. Together they are confronted by evil in its worst form.
Traveling to the mainland by air, Brooks visits a library and begins doing research on the subject of ghosts and the supernatural. This is where I think the author uses a clever tactic in his writing to further draw the reader in. The author shows detective Brooks sifting through several articles and books on the subject, such as, ‘The Ghosts of Pennsylvania’ by Dr. Frederick Mann – ‘The Spirits’ Book’ – a paper by William James, the philosopher – and a pamphlet by Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytic psychiatry. It might sound ridiculous, but I found myself googling these author’s. I had to know if they and their work were real! I give ‘Ghosts’ by Noel Hynd five stars and highly recommend this ghostly read.
Noel Hynd is the author of twenty-two published books and three produced screenplays. He writes in several different genres including espionage and suspense. He can be found on Facebook and loves to hear from his fans.
January 22, 2008
I can't remember where I had gotten a recommendation for this one. It wasn't that great. The story line was pretty good, good enough to keep me interested in finishing it, but now that it's over I wish I hadn't bothered with it. This isn't a very well written book. Well, maybe that's a bit harsh.
What this book is is very formulatic. I get very annoyed when writers follow the oh-so-cliched rule of referring to characters in a multitude of names. For example: Timothy Brooks was on a healthy rotation of
Brooks, Tim, and Timothy Brooks throughout. Usually I don't notice this...all writers do this, but for some reason it was really annoying in this novel. Also, there were points of dialogue that were very inconsistant with the characters.
Bottom line: not scary, not that great a novel.
What this book is is very formulatic. I get very annoyed when writers follow the oh-so-cliched rule of referring to characters in a multitude of names. For example: Timothy Brooks was on a healthy rotation of
Brooks, Tim, and Timothy Brooks throughout. Usually I don't notice this...all writers do this, but for some reason it was really annoying in this novel. Also, there were points of dialogue that were very inconsistant with the characters.
Bottom line: not scary, not that great a novel.
April 26, 2015
This book gets really high reviews and I don't know why to be honest. I LOVE paranormal stories, it's just a fascinating subject. I wanted to like this book so bad, the reviews make it seem so good. Sadly and much to my disappointment, I was so bored and unattached that I couldn't waste anymore time on it. I even got the audio book to listen to while running, didn't help, wasn't any better. Just my opinion, but thank you audible for letting me return it.
June 4, 2014
I found this book on discounted offer a few days ago, looked at some reviews, and I went for it. My bad. I got through the first nine chapters and part way through Ch. 10 (I stopped just after "Heather was in her late twenties, a woman with slow-burning eyes and very fair skin") and then deleted it from my Kindle with the thought that my summer is just not long enough for me to force myself through this book. The characters are tritely-drawn and of conventional types (the loose cannon cop and the colleagues who hate him); the prose is plodding at best; the plot is not exactly propulsive. Maybe if I read beyond Ch. 10 I would get to the throat-gripping horror part that so many others describe, but I'm not hopeful. And since Cemetery of Angels was free, I feel little compunction in deleting it too. I just don't see in Ghost what so many others clearly have found.
January 25, 2015
Wow! A great read. Certainly tempted to read the next in the series. The book ended with just the right amount of "dramatics". The first half of the book moved along at just the right pace, enough to keep your interest and the desire to learn more of where the book was headed. The second half picked up the pace and started tying up loose ends with answers to questions that still remained. This is the first time I have read this author. I understand he is or "was" originally known more for his writing in a different genre. If the other books in the series are as good as this I would have to say that he has done well in tackling this new genre.
September 25, 2012
I tried so hard to give this book a chance but when a plot moves at the pace of a glacier, its very hard to stay interested. I finally gave up nearly 2/3's of the way through it. I know the book was written in 1993 when sensibilities were a little different in terms of pacing, but they were not that different. If the book every truly became scary it must have happened in the last 1/3 after I'd passed out from boredom.
February 8, 2015
I just finished reading this book last week, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. I got Noel Hynd's name either from a horror anthology (I have been reading so many here lately) or it was recommended on the kindle. Either way I am very happy I stumbled upon his writing. I felt that this book was suspenseful and kept me on edge regularly which is something that isn't hard to do for me. I would highly recommend Ghosts for anyone who likes a good ghost story with a twist!
October 20, 2007
Need something good to read this Halloween season? I'd recommend Ghosts as a great choice. Though slow to get started, this one eventually takes off, weaving a creepy ghost story that had me making sure that my apartment was free from otherworldly visitors every night I was reading it.
October 17, 2019
One of the best ghost stories I have ever read! Annette Carlson is an award-winning actress who buys an old house on Nantucket Island to escape from her stressful life. She soon learns that her new home is not going to allow her any peace at all. Tim Brooks is a local detective just about burnt out with his job, but he soon faces his biggest challenge ever when gruesome murders begin to occur. He enlists the help of his best friend, George Osaro, a pastor who is also a believer in spiritualism, when he becomes convinced that the murderer does not come in human form. What follows is a great story full of frightening images and events, all leading to a terrific ending. A perfect addition to my October reading list!
December 18, 2024
Dark horse of the year. Begrudgingly bought at a thrift store for 75 cents to get a BOGO deal. 0 expectations and totally surprised. Suspenseful and lots of braiding.
October 7, 2022
Well. That was unpleasant. For all that I was supposed to be reading the updated "2014" edition of Hynd's Ghosts, the writing was obviously set decades earlier. Replacing some of the dates and pop culture references doesn't change the dated dialogue, clothing descriptions, and the complete lack of modern technology including cell phones. I have no idea why the author/publisher thought this was a good idea but I found it extremely distracting.
This was also supposed to be an extremely scary book. I'm immediately skeptical when a book waxes ecstatic on how awesome it is in its description. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. In this case, I was not. Does it have some spooky moments? Yeah, I guess. Is it even close to the same ballpark as Peter Straub or Stephen King? Good lord, no. It's more Scooby-Doo than The Shining. And I feel like I might be doing a disservice to Scooby-Doo by saying that.
Also, for those who like to know such things, one of the male protagonists refers to who I'm assuming is a lesbian priest as a "militant bull dyke". This doesn't add to the plot in any way. He's just angry his bishop is picking on him and yet condones the ordination of a militant bull dyke. So, that was a fun little gem. It made me feel like I was reading something my prejudiced grandpa wrote. Good times.
This was also supposed to be an extremely scary book. I'm immediately skeptical when a book waxes ecstatic on how awesome it is in its description. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. In this case, I was not. Does it have some spooky moments? Yeah, I guess. Is it even close to the same ballpark as Peter Straub or Stephen King? Good lord, no. It's more Scooby-Doo than The Shining. And I feel like I might be doing a disservice to Scooby-Doo by saying that.
Also, for those who like to know such things, one of the male protagonists refers to who I'm assuming is a lesbian priest as a "militant bull dyke". This doesn't add to the plot in any way. He's just angry his bishop is picking on him and yet condones the ordination of a militant bull dyke. So, that was a fun little gem. It made me feel like I was reading something my prejudiced grandpa wrote. Good times.
December 5, 2020
What I love about this book is the author actually stayed in Nantucket in a house that was actually haunted. He also spoke with residents who lived around him and heard real-life stories about their hauntings and ghosts. Some kind and some malicious.
Without giving away any spoilers, the ghosts in the book were awesome I just wish there was more action based around them. There was one malicious ghost and that storyline, I feel, could have been so much more than what was provided.
It took me over a month to finish because it was super super slow moving in my opinion. There would be excitement and then it became slow. Besides those parts that dragged for me, I still feel the story is worth four stars.
Without giving away any spoilers, the ghosts in the book were awesome I just wish there was more action based around them. There was one malicious ghost and that storyline, I feel, could have been so much more than what was provided.
It took me over a month to finish because it was super super slow moving in my opinion. There would be excitement and then it became slow. Besides those parts that dragged for me, I still feel the story is worth four stars.
July 11, 2016
Painfully badly written. Embarrassing in some places, just plodding and awful in others. Literally the scariest thing about this book is that it got published.
It's predictable, sloppy, incoherent, badly edited, badly plotted, incredibly heavy-handed, shallow while thinking itself deep, and otherwise annoying. Here are two examples: If these two quotes don't make you want to weep for the days before you'd read them, then you might like the rest of the book:
"a slow stampede of anxious feet"
"[he felt a feeling] like strong wings in his chest and he knew it was fear"
That's the best warning I can give you. That, and the 1000+ other clunkers just as bad or worse.
It's predictable, sloppy, incoherent, badly edited, badly plotted, incredibly heavy-handed, shallow while thinking itself deep, and otherwise annoying. Here are two examples: If these two quotes don't make you want to weep for the days before you'd read them, then you might like the rest of the book:
"a slow stampede of anxious feet"
"[he felt a feeling] like strong wings in his chest and he knew it was fear"
That's the best warning I can give you. That, and the 1000+ other clunkers just as bad or worse.
April 6, 2014
Couldn't put it down!!
I really can't believe that anyone who actually read this book front to back,not skipping a word would not be totally immersed in it.
I loved the characters alive and passed. The passion to fight good against evil. Not quite sure who would triumph.
My best advice is to get the book and judge for yourself, in the end that's all that really matters.
GREAT READ !! LOVED IT AND MAY READ IT AGAIN SOON!
I really can't believe that anyone who actually read this book front to back,not skipping a word would not be totally immersed in it.
I loved the characters alive and passed. The passion to fight good against evil. Not quite sure who would triumph.
My best advice is to get the book and judge for yourself, in the end that's all that really matters.
GREAT READ !! LOVED IT AND MAY READ IT AGAIN SOON!
January 8, 2015
A great read and hard to put down. It combines spooky paranormal experiences with suspenseful murder mysteries, and throughout the book there are chilling moments that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck! Well written and the characters are believable and like able. I hated to see the book end.
March 7, 2014
After I started reading this book, I realized that I'd read it sometime in the past. I pushed on because I remember liking it so much. Glad I did! The twists and turns, the connections just below the surface egg me on to find out what happens next. Loved it!
April 30, 2014
Very chilling page-Turner.
This is a top notch mystery and great ghost story. I loved it all the way through to the end. It has many layers of intrigue skillfully woven through it. You may end up sleeping with your light on. Highly recommended.
This is a top notch mystery and great ghost story. I loved it all the way through to the end. It has many layers of intrigue skillfully woven through it. You may end up sleeping with your light on. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2015
I listened to this book through audible and the narrator was fantastic. It's not the kind of horror novel you think about later (except that one time...2am folding laundry) and it inspires fear, but while listening, I was extremely jumpy. Heart stoppingly so! Horror fans should definitely read.
December 15, 2017
The story dragged on a little in the middle, so I won't bump to to 4 stars. But you know the author did something right when I got chills twice in the last 100 pages. Perhaps I should have seen the final twist, but didn't. A very satisfying read!
February 16, 2012
This book was not a bad read. It was probably more 3 1/2 stars than 3. It has a couple of tired horror motifs and predictable plot lines. But, in general was not a bad book at all.
March 20, 2012
Good spooky ghost story without gore and including a mystery
February 24, 2014
Clunky and predictable. Trite writing and poorly updated for a 20th anniversary edition. Loaded with typos.
October 30, 2014
It takes place in New England on an island. What more can I say. This book is spooky and interesting. The characters are more normal than usual and the story is believable. Good read.
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