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Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #17
Fallen Wishes
Canterbury Gardens is a centuries-old plantation outside Charleston, South Carolina. Its aristocratic founders once hosted lavish banquets and balls among fanciful pleasure gardens, canals, and large-scale follies resembling ancient and medieval ruins.
Over generations of neglect, the winding paths of the gardens have become overgrown, its marble statues and columned buildings abandoned to the wild.
Now a family recovering from tragedy have devoted themselves to restoring the estate, but the ghosts of the past remain strong. Shadowy figures walk the labyrinth of overgrown gardens. A strange wishing well steeped in local legend attracts trespassers who climb walls and gates in their eagerness to throw in a coin and make a wish.
Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan travels there to study and confront the dark entities who stalk the house and grounds by night, terrifying the family who now live there. The secret history of the plantation proves as shadowy and labyrinthine as its maze of gardens. Enchanting on the surface, Canterbury Gardens was founded on the darkest of wishes, and every wish that comes true has its price.
Over generations of neglect, the winding paths of the gardens have become overgrown, its marble statues and columned buildings abandoned to the wild.
Now a family recovering from tragedy have devoted themselves to restoring the estate, but the ghosts of the past remain strong. Shadowy figures walk the labyrinth of overgrown gardens. A strange wishing well steeped in local legend attracts trespassers who climb walls and gates in their eagerness to throw in a coin and make a wish.
Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan travels there to study and confront the dark entities who stalk the house and grounds by night, terrifying the family who now live there. The secret history of the plantation proves as shadowy and labyrinthine as its maze of gardens. Enchanting on the surface, Canterbury Gardens was founded on the darkest of wishes, and every wish that comes true has its price.
Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2022
124 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Bryan
53 books1,035 followersJ.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife and son. He is the author of the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper books and some other assorted novels like Inferno Park, The Unseen, Jenny Pox, and basically a lot of supernatural stories, some of it dark, some of it very dark, some of it less dark than that.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 19, 2023
Ellie and Stacey face a multiple haunting.
A family has bought an old plantation property which in its day had the most amazing gardens and follies. After an earthquake in the late 1800s the estate suffered irreparable damage. The family has bought the estate intending to restore it to its former glory and then open it to guests. A few months after the purchase tragedy strikes me the husband and father Ted dies tragically free falling from a bridge nd drowning. His brother Sam steps in to continue the work concentrating mainly on the gardens (the houses being mostly doine) that's when Brenda the widow and mother starts noticing things which disturb her. The children Cici and Peyton also experience signs of ghosts in the gardens. Enter Ellie and Stacey who quickly dive into what is far from anything they've seen before. There are multiple hauntings all.over the estate with two areas in particular that give off a very dangerous and scary atmosphere, but it's when the ghosts enter the house where the.family is the thing get serious. The girls are struggling to find the information they usually rely on in order to finish these spirits as they all seem to be from over 200 years in the past with not a lot of information left to find. Then when Jacob comes to do hi reading of the grounds things get seriously dangerous.........for everyone..............These books are consistently great nd always give really scary read.
A family has bought an old plantation property which in its day had the most amazing gardens and follies. After an earthquake in the late 1800s the estate suffered irreparable damage. The family has bought the estate intending to restore it to its former glory and then open it to guests. A few months after the purchase tragedy strikes me the husband and father Ted dies tragically free falling from a bridge nd drowning. His brother Sam steps in to continue the work concentrating mainly on the gardens (the houses being mostly doine) that's when Brenda the widow and mother starts noticing things which disturb her. The children Cici and Peyton also experience signs of ghosts in the gardens. Enter Ellie and Stacey who quickly dive into what is far from anything they've seen before. There are multiple hauntings all.over the estate with two areas in particular that give off a very dangerous and scary atmosphere, but it's when the ghosts enter the house where the.family is the thing get serious. The girls are struggling to find the information they usually rely on in order to finish these spirits as they all seem to be from over 200 years in the past with not a lot of information left to find. Then when Jacob comes to do hi reading of the grounds things get seriously dangerous.........for everyone..............These books are consistently great nd always give really scary read.
October 23, 2022
There really are those series that you just adore. The ones that you eagerly await each new installment and jump at the chance to read it. Those you are willing to sacrifice sleep for and don't even regret it the next day. The Ellie Jordan series is that series for me. They are so well written, captivating and so darn good that I can't help but get sucked into the mystery and characters each time I pick one up.
They truly have become one of my go-to series for a good time, a good mystery, and an even spookier story. Each one is so unique and I love them all.
This new installment was a bit different in so many ways between the mystery, the ghosts, the setting and I couldn't of loved it more.
If you are looking for series that will suck you in and keep you on your toes with a great mystery, terrifying ghosts and wonderful writing, you need to try this series. It is so worth your time.
They truly have become one of my go-to series for a good time, a good mystery, and an even spookier story. Each one is so unique and I love them all.
This new installment was a bit different in so many ways between the mystery, the ghosts, the setting and I couldn't of loved it more.
If you are looking for series that will suck you in and keep you on your toes with a great mystery, terrifying ghosts and wonderful writing, you need to try this series. It is so worth your time.
November 26, 2022
another chilling addition to the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper series. <3
I always look forward to a new Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper book and even though I’m behind in reviewing, Fallen Wishes came out just in time to be the perfect Halloween read.
As readers have come to expect, the location in this latest entry was not only sufficiently spooky, it was also totally unique. Part of the draw for me in this series is the strong sense of history attached to all the locations. It gives each story enough authenticity to make the impossible just a tad plausible. Which makes these stories even scarier – at least for me. The other thing that I love about the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper series is the sense of family. Although Ellie is pretty much a loner, she’s come to depend on her makeshift family of friends and co-workers for much more than the cases they unravel.
There were a lot of twists and turns in this story, along with some secrets that were being kept by both the living and the long dead. It was up to Stacey and Ellie to unravel those secrets, which wasn’t an easy task – especially when some of them had been kept “buried” for years.
Basically, Fallen Wishes turned out to be cautionary tale that reinforces the old saying “be careful what you wish for…” Let’s just say, I don’t think I’ll be throwing any coins into any body of water to make even a well thought out wish any time soon.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Fallen Wishes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I always look forward to a new Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper book and even though I’m behind in reviewing, Fallen Wishes came out just in time to be the perfect Halloween read.
As readers have come to expect, the location in this latest entry was not only sufficiently spooky, it was also totally unique. Part of the draw for me in this series is the strong sense of history attached to all the locations. It gives each story enough authenticity to make the impossible just a tad plausible. Which makes these stories even scarier – at least for me. The other thing that I love about the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper series is the sense of family. Although Ellie is pretty much a loner, she’s come to depend on her makeshift family of friends and co-workers for much more than the cases they unravel.
There were a lot of twists and turns in this story, along with some secrets that were being kept by both the living and the long dead. It was up to Stacey and Ellie to unravel those secrets, which wasn’t an easy task – especially when some of them had been kept “buried” for years.
Basically, Fallen Wishes turned out to be cautionary tale that reinforces the old saying “be careful what you wish for…” Let’s just say, I don’t think I’ll be throwing any coins into any body of water to make even a well thought out wish any time soon.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Fallen Wishes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 10, 2023
loved it
More good twists as always. Felt well paced and charters were fleshed out. I loved how utterly terrifying the ghosts looked, reminded me of the hotel soldiers in a previous Ellie book
More good twists as always. Felt well paced and charters were fleshed out. I loved how utterly terrifying the ghosts looked, reminded me of the hotel soldiers in a previous Ellie book
June 11, 2023
Creepy and intriguing. Nothing is straight-forward, there's always moer to discover, and the surrundings are described so well that you can feel yourself walking the haunted grounds. As laways, there's twists an turns to the story that kept me glued to the pages.
July 28, 2023
As with every other book in the series, this is a fast-paced, relatively wholesome horror jaunt, with likable characters, a puzzling mystery, and some truly creepy set pieces. Ellie and her crew are all enjoyable protagonists, and for pure escapist fun, this series is tough to beat.
March 22, 2023
Ellie and her adventures are always so much fun to fall into. I mean, the lady not only gets to explore old houses and creepy ruin-esque buildings, she also gets to put the pieces of very old puzzles together as she works on figuring out what's going on. That appeals to me. I know Stacey grumbles about the research, but I think it's neat how the two of them piece together clues to unravel old mysteries.
But enough about the research side of things. Let's talk about the actual case. This time around, Ellie and Stacey are investigating an old plantation that houses massive gardens that are more creepy than whimsical. A whole lot of seemingly not-interconnected ghostly activity, a wishing well that is almost more creepy than the garden surrounding it, statues, old bits of stories and rumors, and a family trying to move forward after a tragic loss rounds out what they're dealing with.
(As an aside, as creepy as these particular pleasure gardens were, the idea is weirdly compelling. It's like a small scale version of an amusement park with slightly off-kilter statues and terrifying stories instead of rides. I dig it.)
A lot of research, a little minor theft (which is remedied later on, for the record), some dangerous ghosts, and Ellie and Stacey doing what they do best. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
But enough about the research side of things. Let's talk about the actual case. This time around, Ellie and Stacey are investigating an old plantation that houses massive gardens that are more creepy than whimsical. A whole lot of seemingly not-interconnected ghostly activity, a wishing well that is almost more creepy than the garden surrounding it, statues, old bits of stories and rumors, and a family trying to move forward after a tragic loss rounds out what they're dealing with.
(As an aside, as creepy as these particular pleasure gardens were, the idea is weirdly compelling. It's like a small scale version of an amusement park with slightly off-kilter statues and terrifying stories instead of rides. I dig it.)
A lot of research, a little minor theft (which is remedied later on, for the record), some dangerous ghosts, and Ellie and Stacey doing what they do best. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
September 3, 2023
I love this series. I love the dynamic between serious Ellie and goofy Stacy. I love the spooky creepy genre of the series. J L Bryant gets right into story and gives enough detail to keep the reader guessing.
November 4, 2022
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
Seventeen books in and I'm still excited every time an Ellie Jordan book shows up in my inbox. I wasn't expecting another installment in the series so soon, but I'm glad it showed up when it did because it was the perfect read during spooky season!
In Fallen Wishes, Ellie and Stacey investigate a sprawling estate with multiple hauntings, but at the center of it all is a creepy well. I loved the setting of this book! The place was huge and interesting, and of course, super haunted. Lol. I really enjoyed exploring the place and its many themed areas. At the end of the book, there's a note from the author where he listed a handful of real-life places that inspired Canterbury Gardens, and let me tell you, those places are gorgeous! It was really cool how those beautiful gardens were taken and given a creepy twist! I loved it!
The history of the place was also very interesting. I'm all about the ghosts and the action, but I always love the research portion of these books. It’s always so intriguing! And this book was no different! Stacey hates the research, but I love it when they go into the history of places and discover what horrible things happened there. This one was full of legends and wishes with high prices. What happened on that land in actuality was worse than I could’ve imagined! It was horrible and I felt so bad about how this entire mess of a haunting got started. It was sad, but it was a good twist!
I love horror, but the thing about horror books is that they rarely scare me. This book, however, was CREEPY! And I loved it! 😆 There was one entity in particular that was horrifying! I don't want to give anything away, but this entity, at times, showed up as two orbs floating very close together. But that was not the scary form 😰 Oh, and the well itself was also creepy! It gave me serious The Ring vibes and I also loved it! 😆
And I, of course, loved the characters! The banter between Ellie and Stacey is one of my favorite things about the series! And the family that lives on the property was also interesting—they had their fair share of really surprising secrets. And I always love it when Michael and Jacob make an appearance! Ellie and Michael in a scene toward the end? So freaking cute! 🥰
This was SO GOOD! I loved everything about it! It was spooky and fun and the investigation was really interesting! The unraveling of the mystery was great, and it was just another enjoyable and creepy addition to the series!
Seventeen books in and I'm still excited every time an Ellie Jordan book shows up in my inbox. I wasn't expecting another installment in the series so soon, but I'm glad it showed up when it did because it was the perfect read during spooky season!
In Fallen Wishes, Ellie and Stacey investigate a sprawling estate with multiple hauntings, but at the center of it all is a creepy well. I loved the setting of this book! The place was huge and interesting, and of course, super haunted. Lol. I really enjoyed exploring the place and its many themed areas. At the end of the book, there's a note from the author where he listed a handful of real-life places that inspired Canterbury Gardens, and let me tell you, those places are gorgeous! It was really cool how those beautiful gardens were taken and given a creepy twist! I loved it!
The history of the place was also very interesting. I'm all about the ghosts and the action, but I always love the research portion of these books. It’s always so intriguing! And this book was no different! Stacey hates the research, but I love it when they go into the history of places and discover what horrible things happened there. This one was full of legends and wishes with high prices. What happened on that land in actuality was worse than I could’ve imagined! It was horrible and I felt so bad about how this entire mess of a haunting got started. It was sad, but it was a good twist!
I love horror, but the thing about horror books is that they rarely scare me. This book, however, was CREEPY! And I loved it! 😆 There was one entity in particular that was horrifying! I don't want to give anything away, but this entity, at times, showed up as two orbs floating very close together. But that was not the scary form 😰 Oh, and the well itself was also creepy! It gave me serious The Ring vibes and I also loved it! 😆
And I, of course, loved the characters! The banter between Ellie and Stacey is one of my favorite things about the series! And the family that lives on the property was also interesting—they had their fair share of really surprising secrets. And I always love it when Michael and Jacob make an appearance! Ellie and Michael in a scene toward the end? So freaking cute! 🥰
This was SO GOOD! I loved everything about it! It was spooky and fun and the investigation was really interesting! The unraveling of the mystery was great, and it was just another enjoyable and creepy addition to the series!
November 23, 2023
I’ve always thought southern settings are perfect for paranormal horror stories. It could be because I live in the south myself. The author made me feel right at home. We have a lot of old plantation houses and I could easily see Canterbury Gardens, the setting for this next book in the Ellie Jordan series. The huge house, the beautiful gardens with fountains and meandering paths. And I would have loved to be able to attend one of the fancy balls. The glitz. The glamour. Southern style.
Once again a family comes under attack by something unexplained. When they decided to purchase the old plantation and restore it to it’s earlier grandeur, they didn’t know they would be disturbing something from the past. Ghostly apparitions roam the gardens. And when they start entering the house, things turn deadly. Time to call Ellie before someone gets killed.
I’ve loved this series from the very first book. Seventeen books in and I’m still as intrigued and excited. The author has so many different scenarios and settings for his series and that keeps each story feeling new. And I love reading about how Ellie does her research. She’s methodical and thorough. Now Stacey, her partner, is the opposite. She wants to get right to it. Start setting up the cameras and traps and catching some ghosts. It all works to make me a captive audience to the mystery as it unravels. And there’s also some pretty terrifying moments to feed my horror habit. I ended this feeling sated and happy. Bring on the next!
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Once again a family comes under attack by something unexplained. When they decided to purchase the old plantation and restore it to it’s earlier grandeur, they didn’t know they would be disturbing something from the past. Ghostly apparitions roam the gardens. And when they start entering the house, things turn deadly. Time to call Ellie before someone gets killed.
I’ve loved this series from the very first book. Seventeen books in and I’m still as intrigued and excited. The author has so many different scenarios and settings for his series and that keeps each story feeling new. And I love reading about how Ellie does her research. She’s methodical and thorough. Now Stacey, her partner, is the opposite. She wants to get right to it. Start setting up the cameras and traps and catching some ghosts. It all works to make me a captive audience to the mystery as it unravels. And there’s also some pretty terrifying moments to feed my horror habit. I ended this feeling sated and happy. Bring on the next!
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
October 24, 2022
Ellie and Stacey are invited to a historic Southern plantation, Canterbury Gardens, with multiple gardens and structures, which the current owner hopes to convert into an event center and hotel. However, Brenda, recently widowed, and her two children, have experienced some unsettling episodes and are seeking professional help in securing the premises. Ellie and Stacey soon find that the gardens and surrounding property are spooky in itself, but there are also multiple ghostly hotspots to contend with. This is the 17th book in the series, and I never would have believed that the author could continue to make each story even creepier than the last, but he does, and with entertaining backstories every time. I love the added depth each story brings to their personal relationships, as well as with Jacob and Michael when they join the crew. I already have the next book on preorder.
January 8, 2023
I stumbled across this series when I was in a reading stand still. I read one book and was hooked. Immediately got my interest and my reading mojo back with one book and I quickly devoured the rest of the series that was available. Ever since I've waited for this series to expand every year. It's a fantastic supernatural series that follows Ellie and her tech manager Stacy as they investigate hauntings around Georgia. It's fantastic and I hoghly recommend. Even a year or so later I still remember each book pretty vividly. Great read, every time. Cannot wait for the next installment in this series!
October 23, 2022
I was so excited to see that this was coming out early so I could read it during Spooktober. Another great Ellie adventure. The atmosphere in this one was perfect and while it didn't have quite the jump out and get you ghosts that usually send chills down my spine it did have some seriously creepy ones that went beyond normal ghosts. The back story of the hauntings were great and the resolution made sense. Really looking forward to the next one!
October 24, 2022
mesmerizing
I was intrigued by Ellie and Stacy leaving Savannah for Charleston in this segment. I love both cities and if you haven’t visited absolutely make vacation plans! This story had wonderful plot twists and historical information that kept me glued to the pages. I read this in 1 afternoon- I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to spoil the plot - just know it won’t disappoint.
I was intrigued by Ellie and Stacy leaving Savannah for Charleston in this segment. I love both cities and if you haven’t visited absolutely make vacation plans! This story had wonderful plot twists and historical information that kept me glued to the pages. I read this in 1 afternoon- I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to spoil the plot - just know it won’t disappoint.
October 27, 2022
5 stars for another great Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper book. While not quite as scary as some of the other stories in the series, this one still had thrills and chills in abundance. I really liked the back stories of all the ghosts and it was fun watching Ellie and Stacey dig up the pieces and put them together. There were some surprises and unexpected twists but everything was neatly tied up in the end. This series just keeps getting better and better. Can't wait for the next book to come out!
January 15, 2023
Fallen Wishes by J L Bryan
Yet another awesome read by JL Bryan in the Ellie Jordan series. I love reading ghost stories & everything about the supernatural. Ellie & her comedy sidekick Stacey out to solve another case which is more complicated than they first anticipated? Interesting story with the usual twists and turns involving multiple ghosts?! I've already ordered the next installment, book 18 due out October 2023, can't wait! :-))
Yet another awesome read by JL Bryan in the Ellie Jordan series. I love reading ghost stories & everything about the supernatural. Ellie & her comedy sidekick Stacey out to solve another case which is more complicated than they first anticipated? Interesting story with the usual twists and turns involving multiple ghosts?! I've already ordered the next installment, book 18 due out October 2023, can't wait! :-))
March 11, 2023
Another gripping ghost story from J.L. Bryan. This book is fast paced, grabbing you on page one like a hand reaching right out of the pages. A ghostly hand that just won't let go. I usually devour these books in one sitting. Strap in and get ready for another spooky ride through a ghostly story. And don't turn out the lights! I highly recommend this book and this series.
August 14, 2023
Another great Ellie Jordan tale!
I love the historical aspect of each of these books. It’s great how all the research Ellie does helps her solve the mysteries surrounding the hauntings and in turn helps her resolve them. I really like the relationship between her and Stacy. Not one story has disappointed.
I love the historical aspect of each of these books. It’s great how all the research Ellie does helps her solve the mysteries surrounding the hauntings and in turn helps her resolve them. I really like the relationship between her and Stacy. Not one story has disappointed.
October 11, 2023
I say it every time and I'm gonna say it again. I just love Ellie and Stacey. No matter what situation they find themselves in, no matter how the haunting may go and no matter how rough things get, I just really love these two. At this point it almost feels like they are my best buddies and I am right there with them.
Now on to our next adventure!
Now on to our next adventure!
October 31, 2023
I've been trying to spread out my reading of this series so I won't run out of books in this fantastic series. Sadly, I'm failing miserably. Getting close to the end of the published books. Must slow down. Ellie and Stacy head to a haunted plantation with dark secrets in this book. Really, the excitement and interest never end.
August 3, 2024
Seriously creepy story in the Ellie Jordan series. Set on an old plantation in Charleston this one is guaranteed to send the shivers up your spine. I love this sort of read, but I have to admit, turning the light off after reading some parts of it at night was difficult! Well done J L Bryan! Although this is the 17th book all the stories are stand alone and can be read as separate stories. Enjoy!
August 17, 2024
There was just a little too much happening in this one. I feel like it needed to be more fleshed out with the sheer number of ghosts, and also I'd love to know more about the spider thing and how that happened because what?
I did find myself getting hungry reading this, so many references to food!
Overall, still enjoyed myself and will continue on, but not the strongest of the series.
I did find myself getting hungry reading this, so many references to food!
Overall, still enjoyed myself and will continue on, but not the strongest of the series.
December 23, 2025
Very intense!!
Loved this addition to the series. The storyline had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Great characters and I totally enjoyed the ghosts. The twists and turns were really interesting and, as usual, kept my attention throughout the entire book. Love this series!
Loved this addition to the series. The storyline had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Great characters and I totally enjoyed the ghosts. The twists and turns were really interesting and, as usual, kept my attention throughout the entire book. Love this series!
October 22, 2022
Awesome!
Like every book in this series Fallen Wishes didn't disappoint. Lots of mystery and excitement. I love learning about the history of the ghosts Ellie and Stacy encounter too.
Like every book in this series Fallen Wishes didn't disappoint. Lots of mystery and excitement. I love learning about the history of the ghosts Ellie and Stacy encounter too.
October 26, 2022
Great spooky stories
I started reading this series a couple years ago. I was hooked immediately! Each book has been great. The characters are likable and funny. I highly recommend this series. I can’t wait until the next one is published!
I started reading this series a couple years ago. I was hooked immediately! Each book has been great. The characters are likable and funny. I highly recommend this series. I can’t wait until the next one is published!
October 29, 2022
Fallen Wishes
This series gets better and better. This one seemed especially creepy, and I finished just 2 days before Halloween. Perfect! I would have liked for Catherine Abbott to have realized she was under a spell, and socked it to the preacher.
This series gets better and better. This one seemed especially creepy, and I finished just 2 days before Halloween. Perfect! I would have liked for Catherine Abbott to have realized she was under a spell, and socked it to the preacher.
November 3, 2022
I loved the whole creepy atmosphere and setting. The mystery of what was going on was great, I was completely captured by the well and all the ghosts. Another great addition to this series! It was a perfect read over Halloween.
November 6, 2022
Great!
I just wish it was longer… I love this whole series and it doesn’t take long for me to read each book. The story this time was unexpected and ghostly thrilling. Highly recommend & I can’t wait for the next book to be released.
I just wish it was longer… I love this whole series and it doesn’t take long for me to read each book. The story this time was unexpected and ghostly thrilling. Highly recommend & I can’t wait for the next book to be released.
November 18, 2022
Best Book series
I was hooked with the first chapter of the very first book. I love your books JL. Bryan! They are the best. Keep going with these adventures into the world of ghosts, and things that bump in the night. I love them.
I was hooked with the first chapter of the very first book. I love your books JL. Bryan! They are the best. Keep going with these adventures into the world of ghosts, and things that bump in the night. I love them.
November 29, 2022
I really can't get enough of the locations in these novels. They're all so inventive and weird but in a believable way, and they're all places you would absolutely believe are haunted. This one was fun and engaging as always, and I really want to see a garden like the one in the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews