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Medium Trouble #3
Ghost of Deceit
Hiro
Seeing the dead has never been easy, but the last thing I expected was to be a pawn in a serial killer’s game.
Moving in with Maddox was supposed to be the only thing we needed to worry about. Not a dead teacher, and not the fact that a serial killer knows my abilities. Following the trail left behind leaves us racing against time to figure out how to stop the murders before the final victim falls. Thankfully, I’m not alone. Maddox and my wonderful team of unusual ghosts are there to make sure that we don’t end up players in this twisted game.
Maddox
Nothing is drawn to Hiro like danger and ghosts, and this time, he’s managed to find himself tangled in both. Suddenly I find myself caught between protecting Hiro and saving the lives of those who are next on a deadly list. The killer’s mistake is that he doesn’t realize just how far Hiro and I will go, and that we’re going to end this game before the final pawn falls.
Seeing the dead has never been easy, but the last thing I expected was to be a pawn in a serial killer’s game.
Moving in with Maddox was supposed to be the only thing we needed to worry about. Not a dead teacher, and not the fact that a serial killer knows my abilities. Following the trail left behind leaves us racing against time to figure out how to stop the murders before the final victim falls. Thankfully, I’m not alone. Maddox and my wonderful team of unusual ghosts are there to make sure that we don’t end up players in this twisted game.
Maddox
Nothing is drawn to Hiro like danger and ghosts, and this time, he’s managed to find himself tangled in both. Suddenly I find myself caught between protecting Hiro and saving the lives of those who are next on a deadly list. The killer’s mistake is that he doesn’t realize just how far Hiro and I will go, and that we’re going to end this game before the final pawn falls.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2022
229 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Alice Winters
62 books2,738 followersAlice Winters started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to turn her ideas into written words. She loves writing a variety of things from romance and comedy to action. She also enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
May 21, 2025
✅ Hilarious moments
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Romance
✅ Some smut
✅ Characters
✅(🆗) Tension in the plot
_______________________
Second read: Still funny and light, and perfect to get my mind off things. I've grown very attached to this little group, and I can't wait for the 4th book to come out this November!
_______________________
When Hiro meets someone who can also see ghosts and interact with them, he is shocked. Even more shocking is that this mysterious man is forcing Hiro and the police to play "his game" to save people. Hiro and Maddox must figure out who this man is, why he's killing people, and most importantly, how he can continue to control his game from inside the prison where he is held in custody.
The plot in this book was very intriguing at first, and I liked it more than the weird sect/possession plot of the second book, but I was expecting something darker or at least something with more tension. The whole chasing after clues part was not bad, but it was not that engaging either. Ghost of Deceit was also more focused on Hiro growing into his powers, and learning to trust himself and his abilities, but at the same time, he seems to forget how to control his abilities when he's under duress and he let the ghosts hurt him more than once. It was a little weird to see him make one step forward, and then two steps backward for most of the book.
The romance also changes in this third book. There is less sexual tension and smut, but more emotional moments between Hiro and Maddox. I like seeing them as a solidly established couple, and there was that ONE SCENE where my heart just stopped for a while because I thought they might now get their HEA.
The over-the-top humor is still there in this book, in true Alice Winters fashion, but while Maddox was more subdued and serious in the first books, he kinda let himself be more silly in this one, and he even rolled with Hiro and Reggie's madness instead of ignoring it or being discouraged by it like he was before. I think he's coming to terms with the fact that his life will never be normal as long as he is with Hiro and that he might as well relax and have some fun because, with Reggie and Natalie, it's just a fact that Hiro's daily life is full of crazy OTT situations and weird sexual talks and situations.
While I liked this funnier side of Maddox, I feel that he lost a part of his personality somewhere between book 2 and book 3. Most of the time, it felt as if he was only there to add an extra layer of fun to Hiro's crazy situations or to add some banter here and there. I mean, he was useful to the plot, of course, but he felt more like a support for Hiro's funny moments than the second main character of the series.
Keaton and Hiro bonding over the fact that they are forced to live with Natalie and Reggie and their stupid plans daily was awesome. I came to like Keaton, and I wish we could see more of him to balance Reggie's silliness at times. I love the crazy dynamic they all have, but after 3 books, the whole "Reggie is making sex jokes and being inappropriate" is getting a little repetitive, and I liked the more serious and thoughtful tone Keaton added to the book. He's a character that I would love to learn more about.
While there are still a lot of crazy, hilarious, and OTT moments in this book, the whole "sexual harassment" from ghosts is not as bad as it was in the previous books. Natalie and Reggie still need to learn about boundaries and the meaning of "no" and "stop", but the author did not push it as far in this book (I was not bothered by it in the previous books, but I know some readers were annoyed by it and saw it as sexual harassment being banalized). Still, if you didn't enjoy the type of humor in the first books, you will most probably not like it in this book either, because it remains an Alice Winters book with its brand of silly and "WTF-just-happened" moments.
Hiro kept finding himself in the most humiliating situations because of Reggie and Natalie, and of course, Maddox was no help at all. It's clear that he takes pleasure in watching Hiro try to get out of these situations, and he decides to just enjoy the crazy show and make fun of Hiro instead of helping. More and more people are starting to believe in Hiro's abilities, and I love how even though they kinda believe him, he always ends up looking like a total whack-job in front of them, ruining all the credibility he managed to slowly gain over the months he worked as a consultant for the police.
Overall, as is the case with every series by Alice Winters I've read so far, this is a quick-paced, fast-read, hilarious, and sexy adventure that I definitely recommend to any fan of MM romance who enjoys an over-the-top ridiculous book every once in a while.
1. Ghost of Lies ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Ghost of Truth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Romance
✅ Some smut
✅ Characters
✅(🆗) Tension in the plot
_______________________
Second read: Still funny and light, and perfect to get my mind off things. I've grown very attached to this little group, and I can't wait for the 4th book to come out this November!
_______________________
When Hiro meets someone who can also see ghosts and interact with them, he is shocked. Even more shocking is that this mysterious man is forcing Hiro and the police to play "his game" to save people. Hiro and Maddox must figure out who this man is, why he's killing people, and most importantly, how he can continue to control his game from inside the prison where he is held in custody.
The plot in this book was very intriguing at first, and I liked it more than the weird sect/possession plot of the second book, but I was expecting something darker or at least something with more tension. The whole chasing after clues part was not bad, but it was not that engaging either. Ghost of Deceit was also more focused on Hiro growing into his powers, and learning to trust himself and his abilities, but at the same time, he seems to forget how to control his abilities when he's under duress and he let the ghosts hurt him more than once. It was a little weird to see him make one step forward, and then two steps backward for most of the book.
The romance also changes in this third book. There is less sexual tension and smut, but more emotional moments between Hiro and Maddox. I like seeing them as a solidly established couple, and there was that ONE SCENE where my heart just stopped for a while because I thought they might now get their HEA.
Parker clears her throat. “Are you allowed to return to work?”
“I was given the okay to do desk work,” I say.
“And it sounds like you’re planning on doing stuff that doesn’t use your desk at all,” she says.
As she scrutinizes me, I pick up the end of the desk. “I’ll just take it with me,” I say until Hiro starts smacking me away from it.
“Dear god, don’t hurt yourself trying to be a smartass. What the hell, Maddox?” he asks, actually looking irritated.
“She said I needed—”
Parker and Hiro lock eyes. “See what I deal with?” he asks.
She nods. “I honestly pity you.”
The over-the-top humor is still there in this book, in true Alice Winters fashion, but while Maddox was more subdued and serious in the first books, he kinda let himself be more silly in this one, and he even rolled with Hiro and Reggie's madness instead of ignoring it or being discouraged by it like he was before. I think he's coming to terms with the fact that his life will never be normal as long as he is with Hiro and that he might as well relax and have some fun because, with Reggie and Natalie, it's just a fact that Hiro's daily life is full of crazy OTT situations and weird sexual talks and situations.
While I liked this funnier side of Maddox, I feel that he lost a part of his personality somewhere between book 2 and book 3. Most of the time, it felt as if he was only there to add an extra layer of fun to Hiro's crazy situations or to add some banter here and there. I mean, he was useful to the plot, of course, but he felt more like a support for Hiro's funny moments than the second main character of the series.
“What the fuck is this?” Keaton asks as he steps into the room. “Oh dear god.”
“Just pretend you’re reading,” I say as the “Ohhh yeah… fuck me, you dirty Daddy” goes on in the background. I turn and lock eyes with Keaton. There’s a long moment where we share something. I’m not sure if it’s pity or maybe it’s shame… but it’s something.
“You enable them,” he decides.
“I don’t! They looked sad and it’s just some porn,” I say.
“I’m going to go read in the other room.”
“No!” Reggie protests as he sits on my lap. “If you leave who will switch it to the next one? I get to pick next.”
Keaton and Hiro bonding over the fact that they are forced to live with Natalie and Reggie and their stupid plans daily was awesome. I came to like Keaton, and I wish we could see more of him to balance Reggie's silliness at times. I love the crazy dynamic they all have, but after 3 books, the whole "Reggie is making sex jokes and being inappropriate" is getting a little repetitive, and I liked the more serious and thoughtful tone Keaton added to the book. He's a character that I would love to learn more about.
A ghost passes through me, the absolute worst feeling, but when I see that it’s Reggie and he’s in the process of shoving them back, I relax as he says, “Back the fuck off, dickhead. I might be small, but I’ll fuck you up. I got my guard dog ready.”
“Am I the guard dog?” Natalie asks as she takes her stance behind me.
“I don’t know but our orders are to protect this booty. Keaton, you get the booty,” Reggie says.
While there are still a lot of crazy, hilarious, and OTT moments in this book, the whole "sexual harassment" from ghosts is not as bad as it was in the previous books. Natalie and Reggie still need to learn about boundaries and the meaning of "no" and "stop", but the author did not push it as far in this book (I was not bothered by it in the previous books, but I know some readers were annoyed by it and saw it as sexual harassment being banalized). Still, if you didn't enjoy the type of humor in the first books, you will most probably not like it in this book either, because it remains an Alice Winters book with its brand of silly and "WTF-just-happened" moments.
“Um… I really regret not knocking,” Barry says.
“I was… sweaty and just trying to air off, and you know how it is,” I say.
“Do we?” Maddox asks as he glances at Barry, like he wants to see if Barry knows how it is. Barry nods.
“Yes. Exactly.” Maddox raises an eyebrow.
“You’re just trying to save his self-esteem, aren’t you?”
“One hundred percent.”
“You deserve a raise,” Maddox decides.
Hiro kept finding himself in the most humiliating situations because of Reggie and Natalie, and of course, Maddox was no help at all. It's clear that he takes pleasure in watching Hiro try to get out of these situations, and he decides to just enjoy the crazy show and make fun of Hiro instead of helping. More and more people are starting to believe in Hiro's abilities, and I love how even though they kinda believe him, he always ends up looking like a total whack-job in front of them, ruining all the credibility he managed to slowly gain over the months he worked as a consultant for the police.
“Smack dat ass!” Reggie shouts.
“I swear to god, if you smack my ass I’m going to—”
“Going to what?” Maddox asks from the doorway.
Grudgingly, I look up at him. “It’s not what it seems.”
“I’m going to be honest… I’m not even sure what it seems… seems uncomfortable if anything,” Maddox says.
“Save me,” I plead.
“From?”
“Antoine wants to ‘rub the tension out of me’ and Reggie wants to smack my ass and Natalie is painting the scene,” I cry.
“Sounds like a rough start to your day.”
Overall, as is the case with every series by Alice Winters I've read so far, this is a quick-paced, fast-read, hilarious, and sexy adventure that I definitely recommend to any fan of MM romance who enjoys an over-the-top ridiculous book every once in a while.
1. Ghost of Lies ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Ghost of Truth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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September 21, 2022
I mostly enjoyed this 3rd book in the series, but I constantly found the extremely-high level of over-the-top banter super distracting.
This time around, not only were Hiro and Reggie pushing the humor/jokes further and further, to the point of trying too hard and coming across as corny, Maddox also did the same, where he'd held back, at least somewhat, in previous books.
I don't mind OTT humor to a point, but this time around, that point was sadly way back in the rear-view mirror.
3.5 stars.
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December 14, 2024
Reread/Relisten #2 December 2024:
Love this group of characters! This did remind me of her other book series a bit “In the Mind”, which is what I said in the original review haha! So if you like this book, you’d enjoy that series!
Reread/Relisten #1 April 2024:
What a ride, I hope there are more books in this series in the future, cause there are way too many adventures these characters can get up to!
Original Read/Listen January 2023:
Audio: 5 stars
Book: 4 stars
Compared to books one and two I didn’t love this one as much. I think if there was a little less OTT humor and more mystery I would have had enjoyed this more.
But it was still great to be with these characters! I wonder if there will be a book four? Haha
This did give me some “In the Mind” vibes (another series from Alice Winters) by playing a game with a killer… but I still enjoyed this book.
Bummed that there isn’t any more books from this series at the moment (fingers crossed)! Now to find the next book!
Love this group of characters! This did remind me of her other book series a bit “In the Mind”, which is what I said in the original review haha! So if you like this book, you’d enjoy that series!
Reread/Relisten #1 April 2024:
What a ride, I hope there are more books in this series in the future, cause there are way too many adventures these characters can get up to!
Original Read/Listen January 2023:
Audio: 5 stars
Book: 4 stars
Compared to books one and two I didn’t love this one as much. I think if there was a little less OTT humor and more mystery I would have had enjoyed this more.
But it was still great to be with these characters! I wonder if there will be a book four? Haha
This did give me some “In the Mind” vibes (another series from Alice Winters) by playing a game with a killer… but I still enjoyed this book.
Bummed that there isn’t any more books from this series at the moment (fingers crossed)! Now to find the next book!
September 13, 2022
Oh my dear goodness...
Listen, I'm a die hard Alice Winters fan. Have been since the first book I read, so this is gonna hurt me to admit that something was off about this one.
In this third installment of Hiro's story, he meets yet another person who can see ghosts like him and this one is actually evil, unlike in book two.
Spoilers ahead
Like omg!! Sorry I had to get that off my chest. I think Hiro is actually forgetting/losing any step forward in regards to his powers. Again he lets ghosts use his own power to hurt him. He figured out how to stop that before. But now could only do it while touching Maddox? Speaking of him, Maddox is now not a full person. He's just there for Hiro to try to be funny with.
The storyline in this would have been awesome, had it gone darker. Sure murders happened but they were off page and there was very little tension. Unlike in the assassin guide and vrc series, which had humor, emotions, drama, murders and sucked you into the story, this one did not. It took me days to finish it.
Also, there was no sexytimes until 97% and that was a quickie that was just stuck in, like oops, I forgot about the sex, here read this scene instead of an epilogue.
Of course I will buy this in audio, as I have with all the other books.
Listen, I'm a die hard Alice Winters fan. Have been since the first book I read, so this is gonna hurt me to admit that something was off about this one.
In this third installment of Hiro's story, he meets yet another person who can see ghosts like him and this one is actually evil, unlike in book two.
Spoilers ahead
Like omg!! Sorry I had to get that off my chest. I think Hiro is actually forgetting/losing any step forward in regards to his powers. Again he lets ghosts use his own power to hurt him. He figured out how to stop that before. But now could only do it while touching Maddox? Speaking of him, Maddox is now not a full person. He's just there for Hiro to try to be funny with.
The storyline in this would have been awesome, had it gone darker. Sure murders happened but they were off page and there was very little tension. Unlike in the assassin guide and vrc series, which had humor, emotions, drama, murders and sucked you into the story, this one did not. It took me days to finish it.
Also, there was no sexytimes until 97% and that was a quickie that was just stuck in, like oops, I forgot about the sex, here read this scene instead of an epilogue.
Of course I will buy this in audio, as I have with all the other books.
October 8, 2025
This was a lot of fun to read, though I would've much preferred to hear it on audible. It was nice seeing Hiro and Maddox working together as a fully established couple. Maddox is just as protective of Hiro as he was in book two and Hiro still trusts Maddox to always keep him safe and grounded.
The case they worked on in this story was a lot easier to follow than that crazy cult/possession thing going on in book two. Even though I was confused as to how Hiro got Peter to move on (body or no body), I still really enjoyed it. Peter was the epitome of an evil villain, and I can't help feeling like he got off way too easy considering all the misery he inflicted on everyone around him. I hope his moving on allows his victims to move on as well.
My only complaint with the story is that we don't find out what happened to all of the prominent side characters, including the man who shot Maddox, Barry's sister, his mother, and all of Peter and Ambrose's victims. We aren't even told what happened to Ambrose. Did he end up in jail or a psychiatric ward?
This was first and foremost a mystery. Though Hiro and Maddox shared many heartfelt moments throughout the story, there really wasn't much romance, and the spice was pretty much nonexistent. If you're already familiar with the MCs and liked the two previous stories, you should enjoy this one as well. 4 stars
The case they worked on in this story was a lot easier to follow than that crazy cult/possession thing going on in book two. Even though I was confused as to how Hiro got Peter to move on (body or no body), I still really enjoyed it. Peter was the epitome of an evil villain, and I can't help feeling like he got off way too easy considering all the misery he inflicted on everyone around him. I hope his moving on allows his victims to move on as well.
My only complaint with the story is that we don't find out what happened to all of the prominent side characters, including the man who shot Maddox, Barry's sister, his mother, and all of Peter and Ambrose's victims. We aren't even told what happened to Ambrose. Did he end up in jail or a psychiatric ward?
This was first and foremost a mystery. Though Hiro and Maddox shared many heartfelt moments throughout the story, there really wasn't much romance, and the spice was pretty much nonexistent. If you're already familiar with the MCs and liked the two previous stories, you should enjoy this one as well. 4 stars
May 5, 2025
Review to come, just put my list in order. Fun series
July 10, 2023
I really hope that's not all we're getting!
This was a complete headrush of mental twists and turns that I vaguely saw coming but then went off again.
The main storyline wrapped up, but there's still loads of questions we haven't had answers for, so I'm really hoping there's going to be more from Hiro, Maddox and their ghostly gang.
This was a complete headrush of mental twists and turns that I vaguely saw coming but then went off again.
The main storyline wrapped up, but there's still loads of questions we haven't had answers for, so I'm really hoping there's going to be more from Hiro, Maddox and their ghostly gang.
September 10, 2022
3.75*
So I loved Ghost of Lies, Ghost of Truth less so. This one falls somewhere between the two. The story was much better than Truth. And while it has its funny moments, including some laugh out loud ones it’s not as funny as Lies.
I enjoyed this one, it’s entertaining and funny but I (unintentionally) compare all Alice’s books to the Hitman series and Leland. And so far some have come close but not close enough.
So I loved Ghost of Lies, Ghost of Truth less so. This one falls somewhere between the two. The story was much better than Truth. And while it has its funny moments, including some laugh out loud ones it’s not as funny as Lies.
I enjoyed this one, it’s entertaining and funny but I (unintentionally) compare all Alice’s books to the Hitman series and Leland. And so far some have come close but not close enough.
September 20, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Ghost of Deceit is the third book in Alice Winters’ Medium Trouble series, and this is turning into one my favorite series from the author. The books are so clever and twisty, and this one is no exception. I am constantly impressed at Winters’ ability to write these complex, multi-layered mysteries that evolve over a long book. Yet at the same time, things never get convoluted or hard to follow. She just leads us along, slowly unveiling new facets of the story until the mystery all breaks open in fascinating ways. As with the last book in this series, I really can’t reveal too much about the mystery for fear of giving things away. But I loved how it sets Hiro up against someone else who has a similar ability to see ghosts, but instead of using that power for good, he is using it for evil. And as we learn more about the motivations behind the murders, it creates even more of a juxtaposition between the characters. Once again, Winters creates a really fascinating mystery that left me guessing until the end just how it would all play out.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Ghost of Deceit is the third book in Alice Winters’ Medium Trouble series, and this is turning into one my favorite series from the author. The books are so clever and twisty, and this one is no exception. I am constantly impressed at Winters’ ability to write these complex, multi-layered mysteries that evolve over a long book. Yet at the same time, things never get convoluted or hard to follow. She just leads us along, slowly unveiling new facets of the story until the mystery all breaks open in fascinating ways. As with the last book in this series, I really can’t reveal too much about the mystery for fear of giving things away. But I loved how it sets Hiro up against someone else who has a similar ability to see ghosts, but instead of using that power for good, he is using it for evil. And as we learn more about the motivations behind the murders, it creates even more of a juxtaposition between the characters. Once again, Winters creates a really fascinating mystery that left me guessing until the end just how it would all play out.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
October 20, 2022
Szczerze mam nadzieję, że to nie koniec przygód Hiro, Maddoxa i ich duchowych przyjaciół. I pomimo ich niewątpliwego szaleństwa, chciałabym aby zbyt szybko nie przeszli dalej do lepszego miejsca ;) Ta część była chyba najbardziej pokręcona i mroczna (o ile przy Reggie i Nat można jakikolwiek mrok znaleźć xD). Cały czas zastanawiałam się, jak z tego wybrną, kiedy połowa przestępstwa działa się w świecie duchów, który policja raczej nie bierze pod uwagę ;) Bardzo podobał mi się moment, kiedy Maddox mógł usłyszeć i zobaczyć Reggiego. Z jednej strony chciałam aby już zawsze mógł ich widzieć, z drugiej, jeden mistyczny Hiro wystarczy ;)
Tę serię naprawdę dobrze mi się czytało. Było zabawnie, śmiesznie, dialogi często były całkowicie absurdalne, ale w naprawdę pozytywny sposób, do tego szczypta horroru (w końcu duchy), kryminału i szaleństwa (Reggie). Czekam na więcej książek z tego świata, w końcu nadal nie wiem nic o naszyjniku znalezionym przez kruka, a bardzo ciekawi mnie jego historia ;)
Tę serię naprawdę dobrze mi się czytało. Było zabawnie, śmiesznie, dialogi często były całkowicie absurdalne, ale w naprawdę pozytywny sposób, do tego szczypta horroru (w końcu duchy), kryminału i szaleństwa (Reggie). Czekam na więcej książek z tego świata, w końcu nadal nie wiem nic o naszyjniku znalezionym przez kruka, a bardzo ciekawi mnie jego historia ;)
December 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this but it is not Alice Winters’ best by a mile. There’s almost no romance and almost no sex scenes. I enjoyed the mystery enough and I do love the OTT banter. There were a couple really emotional scenes that were definitely special and showed how much Maddox and Hiro love each other. Hiro is especially likable but I can’t help but feel like this whole series was mildly missing the author’s usual spark.
September 7, 2022
I loved Hiro and Maddox in the previous books, and that hasn’t changed at all! What I did find myself doing in this one was laughing less. Unfortunately, the ghostly humour just got to be too much for me and I felt like I was reading the same interaction over and over again. They’re great side characters, but the constant interrupting of Hiro and Maddox and immature jokes did take some of my enjoyment away. All I felt it needed was a little more focus on the private, romantic moments between Hiro and Maddox. Because apart from this, the plot is totally engaging, full of twists and turns and a whole heap of intrigue. I couldn’t pick what would happen next! Overall, a solid instalment in this series.
June 22, 2024
4.5 star series. Really great paranormal 3-book-series following the same couple. A police detective and a ghost whisperer team up to solve all the crimes. Reviewed as a series, follows the same couple, from meeting to HEA/HFN. Wonderful world-building, great mysteries in each book with twists and turns, excellent character introductions, entertaining conversations and great writing overall. Same author as The Hitman’s Guide, but this series is WAY LESS OTT, so if Liam’s shenanigans in Hitman were too much for you, give this one a try.
While not so OTT with the snark and sass, this book still made me chuckle quite a few times and was immensely entertaining.
There is a wide range of storytelling throughout the three books, lots of fun, ridiculous situations, quirky Hiro, some sass, great conversations, fun and pervy ghost friends in Reggie and Natalie, adventure, mystery, light grief and sadness, found family, real family, suspense and investigating. Each book has a solid homicide mystery that’s twisty and interesting, each one resolves at the end of its book. Spice is medium, the scenes are detailed but few. Most of the page count is devoted to the case and investigating but peppered with a satisfying amount of relationship.
Curious if there are plans for more in this series as there is plenty that we could still get into, but nothing all that pressing or cliffy. The series could end here and it would still feel finished.
HEA, series, m/m, paranormal, ghost whisperer, homicide detective, t/b.
While not so OTT with the snark and sass, this book still made me chuckle quite a few times and was immensely entertaining.
There is a wide range of storytelling throughout the three books, lots of fun, ridiculous situations, quirky Hiro, some sass, great conversations, fun and pervy ghost friends in Reggie and Natalie, adventure, mystery, light grief and sadness, found family, real family, suspense and investigating. Each book has a solid homicide mystery that’s twisty and interesting, each one resolves at the end of its book. Spice is medium, the scenes are detailed but few. Most of the page count is devoted to the case and investigating but peppered with a satisfying amount of relationship.
Curious if there are plans for more in this series as there is plenty that we could still get into, but nothing all that pressing or cliffy. The series could end here and it would still feel finished.
HEA, series, m/m, paranormal, ghost whisperer, homicide detective, t/b.
September 11, 2022
Is it just me who felt like this wasn't what Hiro and Maddox used to be?
November 8, 2022
Okay, ich nach dem dritten Teil muss ich mir endlich merken, dass es keine Serie zum Einschlafen ist. Am besten in einem durch lesen, dann kann man nicht so dumme Träume haben. Ich weiß ja, warum ich eigentlich keine Thriller oder Mysteries lese.
February 27, 2023
Whelp, I worry the bloom is sliding off the rose for me as far as this series goes. Bummer. I loved both books one and two, but this latest entry completely missed the mark and left me bored and huffy. Ghost stories are the most fun when there is an air of mystery surrounding the ghosts. It’s why I loved book one so much. Hiro saw ghosts but everyone around him was, of course, a disbeliever and it was extraordinarily fun to witness as he had to convince all the naysayers and prove his ability. But now at this point in the series, everyone knows about the ghosts and Hiro’s ability, there’s no novelty or mystery, and the ghosts just read like regular, living people who happen to be a little mischievous and a lot snarky. Charm and novelty and delight in Hiro’s ability have left the building.
Worse, I found the ghosts, whom I loved in the first two books, to be extremely annoying this time around with their goofy, sex-fueled, OTT humor and shenanigans. There was a lot of eye-rolling on my part. The mystery was convoluted, overly contrived, and lacked tension and I got lost more than once, but that was perhaps more attributable to my spacing out than to the tangled threads of the story. The humor didn’t work for me, the writing was less appealing, and even Hiro and Maddox’s relationship felt banal.
It’s been a while since I’ve listed to a story narrated by Greg Boudreaux. He did a great job, although his Reggie voice, while admittedly spot-on for the character, drove me a bit bonkers.
Not sure if my poor reaction is a one-off and not sure whether I’ll continue with the series. Kinda doubting it atm.
Worse, I found the ghosts, whom I loved in the first two books, to be extremely annoying this time around with their goofy, sex-fueled, OTT humor and shenanigans. There was a lot of eye-rolling on my part. The mystery was convoluted, overly contrived, and lacked tension and I got lost more than once, but that was perhaps more attributable to my spacing out than to the tangled threads of the story. The humor didn’t work for me, the writing was less appealing, and even Hiro and Maddox’s relationship felt banal.
It’s been a while since I’ve listed to a story narrated by Greg Boudreaux. He did a great job, although his Reggie voice, while admittedly spot-on for the character, drove me a bit bonkers.
Not sure if my poor reaction is a one-off and not sure whether I’ll continue with the series. Kinda doubting it atm.
October 20, 2024
4.5
Ghost of Deceit was a page turner for sure!
This series is fantastic, I've thoroughly enjoyed each book so far. Deceit kept me guessing as to what was going to happen.
Hiro is really coming into his abilities and this one had less of the humour and steam than the others. It was more emotional though. One scene nearly wrecked me.
I feel like puzzle pieces are coming together and I'm already looking forward to the next one
Ghost of Deceit was a page turner for sure!
This series is fantastic, I've thoroughly enjoyed each book so far. Deceit kept me guessing as to what was going to happen.
Hiro is really coming into his abilities and this one had less of the humour and steam than the others. It was more emotional though. One scene nearly wrecked me.
I feel like puzzle pieces are coming together and I'm already looking forward to the next one
dnf
November 5, 2022I started this book almost three weeks ago, and I’m only at 62%. I’m gonna call it a DNF. Maddox is starting to sound exactly like Hiro. The main characters are now kind of the same, and although there were a few interesting moments in the plot - it has completely lost my attention. 😔
September 24, 2022
I liked it. I feel that anything Alice touches is four star material as far as I'm concerned, by writing style alone.
January 13, 2023
*2.5
Yeah I think I’m done with the serie, everything was super mid :(
Yeah I think I’m done with the serie, everything was super mid :(
December 12, 2025
This book has no business making me cry on my drive into work LOL. I swear, every book in this series so far will be off the walls humor and then BAM it hits you in the feels HARD.
I adore Hiro, Maddox, and Hiro's found family of ghosts. I adore Reggie and Natalie, I love how grumpy Keaton is in all of this. I'd love to see more of him since he's the most sane of the bunch. Yeah it's over the top - I feel like if you are a fan of Alice's then you know what can come with her brand of humor. I would say that this is not as unhinged as Leland and his gang?
There are some sweet moments, some hilarious ones, some incredibly emotional and impactful ones, and I just love listening to this series. I am glad I have the 4th book to read next!
I adore Hiro, Maddox, and Hiro's found family of ghosts. I adore Reggie and Natalie, I love how grumpy Keaton is in all of this. I'd love to see more of him since he's the most sane of the bunch. Yeah it's over the top - I feel like if you are a fan of Alice's then you know what can come with her brand of humor. I would say that this is not as unhinged as Leland and his gang?
There are some sweet moments, some hilarious ones, some incredibly emotional and impactful ones, and I just love listening to this series. I am glad I have the 4th book to read next!
January 31, 2025
I was entertained until the wrap up at the end of the book...and then everything fell apart.
I was entertained until the wrap up at the end of the book...and then everything fell apart. After the whole setup of the "mystery" of why he did it, Ambrose's explanation just felt like, "Oh, he was crazy so we can't understand his reasoning." That seems like a cop-out on author Winters' part, especially when previous books of hers have led me to expect more from the storyline.
I was entertained until the wrap up at the end of the book...and then everything fell apart. After the whole setup of the "mystery" of why he did it, Ambrose's explanation just felt like, "Oh, he was crazy so we can't understand his reasoning." That seems like a cop-out on author Winters' part, especially when previous books of hers have led me to expect more from the storyline.
July 3, 2023
It was torture to finish this...
December 22, 2022
Alice Winter's humor had always been a hit or miss for me. Often times they get a bit much and takes away from my enjoyment of the story and on what it could have been. And this was the case for Ghost of Deceit.
Don't get me wrong, I quickly read through this book as I wanted to know what would happen next. The premise and the overall plot was really interesting and could have been so much more. The humor, funny quips and silly interactions took so much away from what would've been a really awesome creepy story. IMHO, if this was a bit darker and the parallels and contrast between Hiro and the main antagonist for this book was given a bit more focus then it would've been so much better.
I did love a couple of gloomy, dark, atmospheric scenes that really played up with ones emotions. Those parts really made me plow through the rest of the book.
Hiro and Maddox's character development were a one step forward and 2 steps back. It was nice seeing Maddox be more laid back and relaxed in this installment but by the end, he felt like a caricature of a character written just to be Hiro's support.
Hiro had so much growth in the last two books both as a person and with the use of his powers. I understand that there would be times that he wouldn't always have the best grasp on it, however in some of the scenes here, it just didn't work for me. I've seen the trope of the power of love overcoming everything but boy it did miss the mark in this story for me.
Overall, if you like fast-paced, quick read and hilarious story with OTT humor then I do recommend picking up this book and if you haven't started the series go read Ghost of Lies. However, if you want your spooky story to be of the darker and serious variety I'd recommend picking up a different book.
I did enjoy this book overall despite the criticisms mentioned above so this would be 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Don't get me wrong, I quickly read through this book as I wanted to know what would happen next. The premise and the overall plot was really interesting and could have been so much more. The humor, funny quips and silly interactions took so much away from what would've been a really awesome creepy story. IMHO, if this was a bit darker and the parallels and contrast between Hiro and the main antagonist for this book was given a bit more focus then it would've been so much better.
I did love a couple of gloomy, dark, atmospheric scenes that really played up with ones emotions. Those parts really made me plow through the rest of the book.
Hiro and Maddox's character development were a one step forward and 2 steps back. It was nice seeing Maddox be more laid back and relaxed in this installment but by the end, he felt like a caricature of a character written just to be Hiro's support.
Hiro had so much growth in the last two books both as a person and with the use of his powers. I understand that there would be times that he wouldn't always have the best grasp on it, however in some of the scenes here, it just didn't work for me. I've seen the trope of the power of love overcoming everything but boy it did miss the mark in this story for me.
Overall, if you like fast-paced, quick read and hilarious story with OTT humor then I do recommend picking up this book and if you haven't started the series go read Ghost of Lies. However, if you want your spooky story to be of the darker and serious variety I'd recommend picking up a different book.
I did enjoy this book overall despite the criticisms mentioned above so this would be 3 stars out of 5 stars.
March 14, 2024
If the previous two books showed me that ghosts and trouble are drawn to Hiro, this book showed me that sometimes trouble seeks him out on purpose.
Being part of a serial killer's twisted, fucked up game was not part of their plan, but Hiro and Maddox will do what's necessary to try to stop the killing before it happens. Even if Hiro's abilities are going a little haywire. And the killer is taking full advantage of that.
Even with Hiro and Maddox fighting against the clock to thwart the killer - who can also see and manipulate ghosts - other secrets are being revealed. While Hiro struggles to come to terms with everything changing around him, and far too many near-death experiences for my liking, Maddox is always by his side, supporting him, and keeping his head above water.
The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and definitely gave me anxiety. And honestly, I should have seen the main twist coming, but I really didn't. And that made Hiro and Maddox resolving the case feel that much more gratifying to me.
I loved going on this journey with Hiro and Maddox. I loved meeting their rag tag team of ghosts, and watching as their relationship grew and flourished. I would love to see them again - and I can hope for a guest appearance in other series, perhaps. But I am really glad with the way this trilogy played out, and how it all came together in the end.
Being part of a serial killer's twisted, fucked up game was not part of their plan, but Hiro and Maddox will do what's necessary to try to stop the killing before it happens. Even if Hiro's abilities are going a little haywire. And the killer is taking full advantage of that.
Even with Hiro and Maddox fighting against the clock to thwart the killer - who can also see and manipulate ghosts - other secrets are being revealed. While Hiro struggles to come to terms with everything changing around him, and far too many near-death experiences for my liking, Maddox is always by his side, supporting him, and keeping his head above water.
The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and definitely gave me anxiety. And honestly, I should have seen the main twist coming, but I really didn't. And that made Hiro and Maddox resolving the case feel that much more gratifying to me.
I loved going on this journey with Hiro and Maddox. I loved meeting their rag tag team of ghosts, and watching as their relationship grew and flourished. I would love to see them again - and I can hope for a guest appearance in other series, perhaps. But I am really glad with the way this trilogy played out, and how it all came together in the end.
September 13, 2022
Easily my favorite Alice Winters series.
These books are a lot of fun, and always keep me invested with the mysteries sprinkled throughout.
As always with these books, they can get a bit ridiculous. The author definitely leans more heavily in humor than she does in romance.
Truthfully, Alice Winters is a hit or miss for me for that reason. Sometimes, the ridiculous gets just a little too ridiculous, you know?
This book is the typical 75% comedy, 20% mystery, and 5% romance I have come to expect from Alice’s books. Yet, the storytelling is gripping enough to have me hooked on Hiro and Maddox.
I mean, Hiro can see ghosts, there are bound to be shenanigans.
So while this book doesn’t have the romantic energy that I typically crave, it does have a good story and engaging characters. Give this series a shot if you want to be entertained, but don’t expect anything swoon-worthy.
These books are a lot of fun, and always keep me invested with the mysteries sprinkled throughout.
As always with these books, they can get a bit ridiculous. The author definitely leans more heavily in humor than she does in romance.
Truthfully, Alice Winters is a hit or miss for me for that reason. Sometimes, the ridiculous gets just a little too ridiculous, you know?
This book is the typical 75% comedy, 20% mystery, and 5% romance I have come to expect from Alice’s books. Yet, the storytelling is gripping enough to have me hooked on Hiro and Maddox.
I mean, Hiro can see ghosts, there are bound to be shenanigans.
So while this book doesn’t have the romantic energy that I typically crave, it does have a good story and engaging characters. Give this series a shot if you want to be entertained, but don’t expect anything swoon-worthy.
July 17, 2023
Oh Hiro and Maddox you're in it this time. Someone else has the same abilities as Hiro and now even the ghosts can't be trusted. This is an interesting story where the mystery is pushing Hiro and Maddox from the first as they've been told people will keep dying unless they figure out the game. They've got very little to go on and multiple lives on the line.
As always Hiro and Maddox are surrounded by an awesome supporting cast of humorous ridiculousness in Natalie, Reggie and Keaton. At times it felt like there wasn't as much urgency in Hiro and Maddox's investigation as you might expect with everything that was going on, but all of the characters kept me hooked in and interested. Things felt personal and Hiro was determined to save everyone he could no matter how dangerous the other ghosts all seemed to be.
I'm really enjoying this series. I love these characters so much and the mysteries are always interesting.
As always Hiro and Maddox are surrounded by an awesome supporting cast of humorous ridiculousness in Natalie, Reggie and Keaton. At times it felt like there wasn't as much urgency in Hiro and Maddox's investigation as you might expect with everything that was going on, but all of the characters kept me hooked in and interested. Things felt personal and Hiro was determined to save everyone he could no matter how dangerous the other ghosts all seemed to be.
I'm really enjoying this series. I love these characters so much and the mysteries are always interesting.
September 8, 2022
Ghost of Deceit is a hilarious third offering in a wonderful series. Hiro is unwillingly drawn into a dark and twisted game with a mysterious and creepy man who shares the same ghost seeing ability and heaps of ghosts he’s not sure he can trust. His own personal entourage of ghosts are of course minimally helpful in all instances but they would be quick to tell us they’re the brain trust of the entire operation! There’s quite a bit of emotion packed into such a comedy and a scene that hit me hard. I could continue reading about Hiro, Maddox and co for a very long time. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
July 31, 2025
Ghost of Deceit by Alice Winters
💙 Grumpy Homicide Detective MC
💙 Bookstore Owner/Medium MC
💙 Established Couple
💙 Opposites Attract
💙 Age Gap (9 Years)
💙 Paranormal Romance
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭.5
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂.5
Angst: 🥺🥺.5
First person dual pov 👀
CW: threat, violence, gun violence, injury, blood, gore, death, murder, attempted murder, suicide, car accident, hospitalisation, mention of death of a sibling (past), mention of parent death (past), mention of domestic violence and child abuse (side character), hostage situation (side character).
💙 Grumpy Homicide Detective MC
💙 Bookstore Owner/Medium MC
💙 Established Couple
💙 Opposites Attract
💙 Age Gap (9 Years)
💙 Paranormal Romance
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭.5
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂.5
Angst: 🥺🥺.5
First person dual pov 👀
CW: threat, violence, gun violence, injury, blood, gore, death, murder, attempted murder, suicide, car accident, hospitalisation, mention of death of a sibling (past), mention of parent death (past), mention of domestic violence and child abuse (side character), hostage situation (side character).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
Another great book in the series. Great case they have to solve. But oh my, Reggie was at his worst yet and really grated on my nerves. Too over the top. Wish he had been toned down some. Otherwise, really enjoyable. The romance in this trilogy is really great. Loved Hiro and Maddox together. Great narration on the audio.
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