Spectre's Rest [November 1, 2020]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for Spectre's Rest by Nick Mosely starting November 1, 2020.

[Graeme]

Thanks, Niki, much appreciated.

[Sterling]

One spooky day away 👻🧟‍♂️👺, and back to Brakenford to rejoin the fray 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇺🇲.

[Graeme]

Indeed. Well said, Sterling.

[Anni]

As I wasn't able to finish the series the first time around, I will jump in here :)

[Narilka]

Yay! Good to have you Anni :)

[Graeme]

Sir Anni wrote: "As I wasn't able to finish the series the first time around, I will jump in here :)"

Cool. Great to see you here, Sir Anni.

[Sterling]

Heck yeah! Welcome back into the fold.

[Anni]

Thanks guys :)

[Sterling]

So I cracked open Spectre's Rest during my morning reading session. I'm liking the energy of the book through the first five chapters.

Chapter Five
(view spoiler)[ Starting things off with long awaited confrontation was a nice surprise. I liked the dynamic that was built between Trev and Carter and loved Mosely's interpretation of Banshee's.

The way the writer has reimagined mythical creatures and fantasy tropes for his Brakenford Cycle is a strength of the series for me. Sometimes they're funny, other times a bit grim but it keeps you engaged. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Chapter 1 and (view spoiler)[Oh boy, that vampire that got away in book one is back. That can't be good. What's his name again? Oh, right, Corbyn. (hide spoiler)]

[Sterling]

About a quarter of the way through and I'm starting to get a glimmer as to the shape of things.

Chapter twelve
(view spoiler)[
Spectre's Rest doesn't seem to be that well guarded for a maximum security prison. Watching Trev stuck on assignment there, surrounded exclusively by enemies & unknown elements has made for some entertaining reading. Good thing our boy is known to keep a level head 😅. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Sterling wrote: "So I cracked open Spectre's Rest during my morning reading session. I'm liking the energy of the book through the first five chapters.

Chapter Five..."

I agree, I like that a lot about this series too. (view spoiler)[I honestly don't remember when a writer did anything new with a Banshee. Kudos to Nick!

And now for a date with Miss Pine :D (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

I'm in Chap 4.

I think you'll love the next major book in the series too, it has a wonderfully drawn villain who is another example of refreshing a established mythical figure.

[Sterling]

@Graeme You don't have to threaten me with a good time 🤩.

@Narilka chapter five (view spoiler)[ I had just finished my morning reading goal when I got to the teaser for Miss Pine in chapter six, it really tempted me to extend things another chapter 😊. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Chapter 8.

I was surprised when Feargal Deacon (view spoiler)[revealed to Trev his suspicions regarding a traitor in the Custodians.

Now Trev is off to Spectre's Rest accompanied by the combat expert, Mishti. (hide spoiler)]

I speculate that Seth Lysander is a (possibly the) master villain in this series - his name keeps turning up in shadowy/shady circumstances.

[Graeme]

Regarding Spectre's Rest, I gotta wonder who the architect was?

REF (Ghost Busters 1984 jail scene): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gxCT...

[Sterling]

I'm through chapter twenty now.

(view spoiler)[ This isn't about a specific event, but figured I'd place the thoughts behind a tag just to be safe. I'm starting grow tired with how little anyone trusts Trev. It's no longer surprising that the Custodians are having manpower issues after seeing a bit more about their operatation and how they treat their employees.

I'm also really missing the dynamic between Trev and our usual cast of characters. We got a brief taste with the phone call Granddad Bernard, but I hope Oscar shows up soon. (hide spoiler)]

[Sterling]

@Graeme I think you might be on to something with that, Lysander has been creeping on the fringes since book one. I wonder if he has something to do with The Line as well, I think Sarah might be involved with them.

(chapter six I believe, eight to be safe) (view spoiler)[ When she was talking about family stuff on the phone with Trev I began wondering about that being part of her story. I'm still committed to believing that she helped to summon the demon, but have begun to try to figure out how she justifies her role. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

@Greame, yeah that was a surprise. (view spoiler)[I'm still not sure what to think about Deacon. Hopefully this book helps flesh out his character more. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 11 (view spoiler)[Previous book was a run down sanitarium. This book is a run down prison. The author obviously has a thing for creepy locations :D

Sarah dumping Trev kind of came out of nowhere. Your theory of Sarah being involved with/related to Lysander seems a good one for now. We'll see what happens when Trev is able to talk to her in person.

And the power outage was to kill Corbyn. It would appear he did know real information after all. Pity. I wonder if it was in regards to the cycle? Or just about Lysander. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

@Sterling. (view spoiler)[I have a sneaking suspicion that the furry one will make an appearance. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Yes, Sterling. I think he's behind the Line too. Unless there is more than one player on the bad guy's side, which is possible.

Still speculating here, as I don't know.

[Graeme]

Frankly, Sarah's a bit of an enigma.

[Graeme]

@Narilka,

I find Nick's settings to be a strength too.

Regarding Sarah, (view spoiler)[I'm pretty sure I didn't indicate that Sarah was working with Lysander. I just said that I think Seth Lysander looks like a major villain to me.

As I mention above, Sarah is a bit of an enigma. (hide spoiler)]

[Sterling]

Chapter 25 in the bag.

(view spoiler)[ Now that people are starting to work with Trev they're beginning to put the pieces together. Also Oscar!

I'm struggling with the mystery here, but loving it none the less. If Lysander is the nefarious figure we suspect him to be, it's possible he'd have been able to uncover the secrets behind Spectre's Rest as he's been operating out of there for years. He could also have set up some backdoor to mess with the generator.

If Lysander's truly had dealings with Corbyn in the past, and he got wind from some of his employees that the vampire wanted to deal with the custodians, he could have activated something in order to silence Corbyn.

That doesn't explain why the other prisoners were killed, why Trevor been targeted, the weirdness around the doctor or what's going on with the Wolf-like figure.

It's possible the presence had been sealed away, and that by using it once it was released. But that doesn't explain everything. I wonder who employees the doctor? Could he have been leaking info to Lysander about the mystious origins? Maybe that's why he's afraid to talk to Trev and company. I don't know, but I'm definitely enjoying Spectre's Rest (: (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Cool. So am I

[Sterling]

@Narilka I agree with both of you the settings in this series have been wonderful. Mosley loves to ramp up the creepy factor with aware graveyards, haunted ponds, creepy asylums and living prisons. Keep them coming, we're loving it.

[Narilka]

I think my Sarah comment was aimed at Sterling from his spoiler in message 20. I left his name off though so looked like you Graeme. Sorry about that.

[Graeme]

Narilka wrote: "I think my Sarah comment was aimed at Sterling from his spoiler in message 20. I left his name off though so looked like you Graeme. Sorry about that."

Of course, NP. Color me having a confused expression for a moment or two... :-).

[Graeme]

Of course, Narilka. If we were located in another time and place, reading hardcover copies within a delightful tea room, with the afternoon sun gracing the gardens beyond the bay windows... with the full advantage of face to face communication, body language, tone of voice, etc...

Now that would be a reading group.

[Sterling]

I think we would rock that tea room into the stratosphere 😁.


(I'm pretty sure the only thing this is an actual spoiler for is location, location, damnation. The rest is a collection of random thoughts that I've attempted to string together.)
(view spoiler)[

It's really hard to understand Sarah's actions in Hangman's Pond (assuming of course our suspicions about her are correct). In LLD she was the new kid in town, Trev's dark side balance come to Brakenford on a mission. Trevor Irwin would have simply been an unknown obstacle who stood in the way. In the months since Sarah's gotten to know him and had opportunities to get rid of Trev, or attempt to sway him to her side.

Nothing of the like has happened, Sarah's been the supportive friend and confidant. No obviously she could be spying, but it's feels like she should have tried to capitalize a bit more.

Figuring out the true motivation for why Sarah might have conspired with Kolley is key. Is it about the Brackenford cycle conspiracy from A Ghost's Story? Could her family be members of The Line? Could The Line be dedicated to more than just human centric bigotry and be the same group that's involved in the Brakenford Cycle? Maybe I'm completely missing the mark on potential motives. That's putting aside that Sarah could be entirely innocent in all of this or a bit player in a grander scheme.

I do like this theory that Lysander might be a hidden mastermind figure, stiring up trouble from the periphery. That he could be the money/power behind The Line or the Brakenford conspiracy. In which case he'd be related to Sarah in some way.

And I've created another text wall of speculation 0_o (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Hi Sterling. All interesting and pertinent thoughts. However, (view spoiler)[While I think that Sarah is quite genuine in her affection for Trev, there is clearly another agenda in play within her life, as to what that might be - your guess is as good as mine. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Chapter 10, (21% in on kindle).

The penny just dropped. (view spoiler)[ Surely the 'looney,' that Trev talks to in the Ops center was the traitor.

Hence the traitor is male. (hide spoiler)]

[Sterling]

Graeme wrote: "Chapter 10, (21% in on kindle).

The penny just dropped.

It definitely seemed that way, that whole scene confused me though.
(view spoiler)[ The person sounded very unofficial, almost like Trev was talking to a crank caller. I had initially wondered if the call had even been routed out of the prison, it seemed like he could be talking to a nosy guard (who's on the take). That thought was clearly dispelled though. Since Trev was seemingly talking to the traitor, it's alarming that he's wasn't more covert. I'm still voting Big Jeff as the turncoat! (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Graeme wrote: "Of course, Narilka. If we were located in another time and place, reading hardcover copies within a delightful tea room, with the afternoon sun gracing the gardens beyond the bay windows... with th..."

I'm in! A tea room sounds delightful :)

[Narilka]

I have exactly 0 theories on who the traitor is :) That's not a bad guess though Sterling in message 35. And I totally agree Greame (view spoiler)[Trev spoke to the traitor on that call. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Through Ch 18 (view spoiler)[I'm not sure Trev was having a dream. There is something off with that building. I wonder if it was built on that world's version of a ley line or something. It's channeling, funneling, being warped or something by power through how it's constructed. I haven't quite puzzled it out yet though.

I am rather irritated at Desai not believing Trev after all the build up in the last book where the custodians are impressed by how strong his sight is.

What if Trev wasn't being hunted by the wolf thing either time. It chased him because he ran not because it wanted to kill him. Communication is hard for a creature that can't speak human words. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 18 ..."

Insightful comments, Narilka.

[Graeme]

Sterling wrote: "It definitely seemed that way, that whole scene confused me though..."

I honestly have no idea.

[Anni]

I was trying to keep up this time, but have already fallen behind... Just finished chapter 7. The bright side is, there are a lot of comments to open :)

(view spoiler)[ As I read the rest of the series over a year ago, I might miss little hints. I'm pretty impressed by how easy it was to get back into the story, the little "what happen before bits" were placed very well :)

As often as Seth Lysander is mentioned, I'm quite sure he will play a bigger role, I'm wondering if we might have met him already using another name.

As for Sarah, I also foubd her suspicious in the previous books, but I agree you Graeme in thinking that she truly likes Trev. The family business still sounded fishy, I like the theory that her family might be involved in with the line or another enemy group. Maybe she was brought up with some of their beliefs, but now get to know the other side through Trev? But I guess that would be a bit cheesy :D (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Hi Anni, glad to see you here. I'm only at ch 14, and Sterling and Narilka are approx. 1/2 way through.

Yes, Nick does salt the early chapters with tidbits of previous events to enable easier uptake of the story.

[Sterling]

We got the green light to re-open our cardroom today, so I'm officially back in the banking business 😁. Unfortunately I was distracted and didn't make time to read today. I'm going to read a chapter or two tonight and hopefully get back on track for tomorrow.

[Sterling]

@Narilka I'm picking up what you're putting down. (view spoiler)[ I think your spot on about the building of Spectre's Rest and The Wolf creature.

(message 37) (hide spoiler)]

@Anni I hope you're right, I enjoy a little cheese when appropriate! Though my heart's set on Miss Pine for our boy Trev.

@Graeme I hadn't noticed that about the opening chapters, but it definitely resonates. It's done in a really good way, as it's never felt like retread ground. Another plus in the Mosely writing collum.

[Sterling]

Chapter forty in the books. I've been truly enjoying the qualities that differentiate Spectre's Rest from the rest of the series.

Chapter forty (view spoiler)[ While I got a glimmer at it, I didn't put everything together before the reveal. I like the mystery Mosely built here, and think that there was definitely enough clues for someone to solve it.

Though I do think the doctor would have revealed the bit about the chapel earlier. Forty ends on such a cliffhanger, again my resolve is tested! (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

I'm not sure what chapter I'm at, I'm at 59%, but everyone has begun to realize that (view spoiler)[Trev was telling the truth. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Through Ch 33 (view spoiler)[Excrement is starting to hit the fan.

Sooo great that Oscar showed up :) It's disconcerting that this is something new to his experience. Same for the Twins.

I'm glad they've started to bust open the walls to see exactly what's wrong with the building. It took them long enough!!!

Frustrating that now that Trev's convinced Desi and the prison staff to call the Custodians for help that the Custodians refuse to vacate the place /facepalm And so typical of us humans. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

No rush Anni. We love talking about these books at whatever pace everyone reads at :D

[Sterling]

~Fin
(view spoiler)[

Three paragraphs into this post I realized I was writing a review 😅. That's not what I want, so I've copied those thoughts down and will start again.

I projected an expected lightness onto this story, and when it didn't come I got caught in my feelings a bit. A Ghost's Story changed the direction of the Cycle a bit, and should have served notice that Mosely would be striving for a more realistic balance between light and dark content.

I loved Oscar's sacrifice and watching his friends grieve his death. His entire storyline here was incredible. Our suspicions regarding Sarah were confirmed, and Anni's hope for her also might also prove true!

The odd phone call and the alcoholic Doctor's actions make much more sense now. I was close to figuring out many of the key details of the story, but kept barely missing 🥺.

I'm excited to see what you all think. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

I'm in Ch 28, and things are getting chaotic.

[Graeme]

Glad you enjoyed it, Sterling. I look forward to your review.