Review of The Ghost Detectives
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[Following is a volunteer review of "The Ghost Detectives" by Charles Townsend.]
I had so much fun reading this book, The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend. I could see that Charles modified his name a bit to create the name of the main character, Charlie. Also, in the section where Charles writes about himself, he says he is a member of the Magic Circle and enjoys devising new magic tricks. In the book, Charlie describes himself as an amateur magician who also enjoys doing magic tricks, and that significantly influences how he experiences and adapts as a ghost. Of course, I can't say too much; I would be a very bad person if I spoiled anything significant for a potential reader. This book was so fun to read, and honestly, I feel like I’d miss Lizzie so much. She just had so much energy, and her conversations were often cringeworthy but also very humorous.
The plot of the book is basically about Charlie Benson, who, after a moment of darkness, sees himself floating over his body. Yes, he was dead—to his greatest shock. He finds himself hovering above his own dead body in his locked spare room. He then meets another ghost, Lizzie (a quirky, humorous, experienced, and my favorite ghost), who sensed that he hadn’t passed on, and that’s where the whole adventure begins. Suspecting that he was murdered, Charlie and Lizzie investigate what really happened. In the process, they also try to influence Inspector Anderson and Sergeant Jane Hart to ensure the case continues to be investigated and not closed as a suicide, all while an evil, ghost-hunting spirit named Malice tries to force Charlie to pass on. There are lots of characters involved: Fay, Charlie’s long-term partner; Edward Benson, Charlie and Fay’s son; John Erikson, his business partner and friend; Dr. Alex Enderby, Charlie’s doctor and friend; Helen Enderby; Carl Myers; and more. It’s a lot of names, which makes it fun trying to figure out who actually did it, with plenty of surprises along the way. This book is really nice, easy, and fun to read, and I recommend anyone reading this review to try it out.
I liked so much about this book, especially how easy it is to read and how well it flows. It’s also really hard to put down, since it takes almost zero effort to read and understand, which makes it even more addictive. I really liked Lizzie as a character, and I wish the author had talked more about her history, or maybe that will happen in the sequel. I also liked how the author described the ghosts and their features, even how it took Charlie time to start seeing other ghosts properly, which made the storyline not feel shallow. The book was also quite naughty in terms of sexual remarks and content, and I honestly actually liked that. It was a good addition, as it seemed the book was intended for a mature audience right from the point where Fay was described as voluptuous. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to make this into a movie; there would definitely be lots of laughs.
As for my dislikes, there weren’t many. The Hart family’s grieving wasn’t written very well; it felt like the author was trying to force the emotion rather than really capturing it. I didn't actually feel the grieving; I just had to believe the author that they were. I also felt that Poppy’s deductive abilities were a bit exaggerated; that’s just my opinion, though I tried to convince myself it was possible. Also, some of Charlie’s responses to Lizzie’s humorous and sexual remarks didn’t quite match what I would expect. That was a little disappointing, especially since the author handled even more complex parts so well; I wouldn’t expect difficulty in finding more suitable replies for Charlie.
The professional editing was good, though it needs a bit more work to reach an exceptional level, as I noticed a few errors while reading. I know I mentioned some dislikes, but they are mainly for the author’s improvement. I’m still giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars, as it met all my personal requirements for that rating, and honestly, Lizzie played a big role in that. I feel like we’d be besties in real life, although the whole ghost thing complicates that statement. I would recommend this book to readers who like detective stories that involve solving a murder while also making you smile and laugh.
******
The Ghost Detectives
View: on Bookshelves |
I had so much fun reading this book, The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend. I could see that Charles modified his name a bit to create the name of the main character, Charlie. Also, in the section where Charles writes about himself, he says he is a member of the Magic Circle and enjoys devising new magic tricks. In the book, Charlie describes himself as an amateur magician who also enjoys doing magic tricks, and that significantly influences how he experiences and adapts as a ghost. Of course, I can't say too much; I would be a very bad person if I spoiled anything significant for a potential reader. This book was so fun to read, and honestly, I feel like I’d miss Lizzie so much. She just had so much energy, and her conversations were often cringeworthy but also very humorous.
The plot of the book is basically about Charlie Benson, who, after a moment of darkness, sees himself floating over his body. Yes, he was dead—to his greatest shock. He finds himself hovering above his own dead body in his locked spare room. He then meets another ghost, Lizzie (a quirky, humorous, experienced, and my favorite ghost), who sensed that he hadn’t passed on, and that’s where the whole adventure begins. Suspecting that he was murdered, Charlie and Lizzie investigate what really happened. In the process, they also try to influence Inspector Anderson and Sergeant Jane Hart to ensure the case continues to be investigated and not closed as a suicide, all while an evil, ghost-hunting spirit named Malice tries to force Charlie to pass on. There are lots of characters involved: Fay, Charlie’s long-term partner; Edward Benson, Charlie and Fay’s son; John Erikson, his business partner and friend; Dr. Alex Enderby, Charlie’s doctor and friend; Helen Enderby; Carl Myers; and more. It’s a lot of names, which makes it fun trying to figure out who actually did it, with plenty of surprises along the way. This book is really nice, easy, and fun to read, and I recommend anyone reading this review to try it out.
I liked so much about this book, especially how easy it is to read and how well it flows. It’s also really hard to put down, since it takes almost zero effort to read and understand, which makes it even more addictive. I really liked Lizzie as a character, and I wish the author had talked more about her history, or maybe that will happen in the sequel. I also liked how the author described the ghosts and their features, even how it took Charlie time to start seeing other ghosts properly, which made the storyline not feel shallow. The book was also quite naughty in terms of sexual remarks and content, and I honestly actually liked that. It was a good addition, as it seemed the book was intended for a mature audience right from the point where Fay was described as voluptuous. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to make this into a movie; there would definitely be lots of laughs.
As for my dislikes, there weren’t many. The Hart family’s grieving wasn’t written very well; it felt like the author was trying to force the emotion rather than really capturing it. I didn't actually feel the grieving; I just had to believe the author that they were. I also felt that Poppy’s deductive abilities were a bit exaggerated; that’s just my opinion, though I tried to convince myself it was possible. Also, some of Charlie’s responses to Lizzie’s humorous and sexual remarks didn’t quite match what I would expect. That was a little disappointing, especially since the author handled even more complex parts so well; I wouldn’t expect difficulty in finding more suitable replies for Charlie.
The professional editing was good, though it needs a bit more work to reach an exceptional level, as I noticed a few errors while reading. I know I mentioned some dislikes, but they are mainly for the author’s improvement. I’m still giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars, as it met all my personal requirements for that rating, and honestly, Lizzie played a big role in that. I feel like we’d be besties in real life, although the whole ghost thing complicates that statement. I would recommend this book to readers who like detective stories that involve solving a murder while also making you smile and laugh.
******
The Ghost Detectives
View: on Bookshelves |
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