Ghosted

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a preteen and teen, Stephen King was my favorite author. I loved his twisted horror stories. I eventually broaden my reading interests and found myself straying away from horror. I think the last King book I read was 11/22/63, and none of his other books published after piqued my interest. Perhaps his writing style and my tastes diverged into different paths, but I still have a fondness for his later works.

Jess Whitecroft is an amazing storyteller; she could write about anything and make it interesting. Her humor is sharp, her characters have depth, and her plot twists are engaging. She has written about drag queens, aging pop stars, and chefs. She has mastered contemporary romance, comedy, fantasy, and historical. She could master any genre or topic.

Which brings us to Ghosted, a fantastic horror/paranormal story that hooked me from page one. And this is where Stephen King rears his head again. (I bet you were wondering what that tangent at the beginning of this review was about, huh?) Jason and Ange’s adventures are very much reminiscent of what I loved about Stephen King. The story is complex and warped, and there are so many aspects that reminded me of Mr. King…with one very big difference.

Ghosted is hella funny. The one-liners hit a the right moment without taking away from the anticipation for the terror that is right around the corner. A few of my favorites:

“Whole damn country’s darker than a Joy Division B-side.”

“I think I’m having a nervous breakdown.” “You’re not. You’re just lactating.”

“Arkansas is just one of those things that happens to you.”

A good portion of the story is set in New Orleans, and I am a massive snob when it comes to non-residents using the city as a backdrop. Because I’ve lived here all my life, I hold authors to a high standard when describing NOLA, and any little discrepancy can turn me off of a story. Readers, Whitecroft f—king NAILED IT. She got the atmosphere right, and even shouted out a neighboring city, Metairie.

On a serious note, I appreciated the references to Hurricane Katrina and one of the character’s first hand experiences. The trauma was handled with delicate candor. Those who lived through Katrina will never forget.

I highly recommend Ghosted for anyone looking to be horrified and tickled simultaneously. Trust me, Whitecroft makes the combo work.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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