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Ghost Trackers #1
Ghost Trackers
In this spine-tingling new series, the stars of TV's GHOST HUNTERS introduce readers to a team of paranormal investigators who reunite to defeat a sinister force they unleashed long ago. . . .
For fifteen years, Amber, Drew, and Trevor have barely been able to recall -- let alone explain -- what happened the terrifying night they decided to explore the old, abandoned Lowry House. According to local legend, the house was cursed by a dark past and inhabited by evil. It burst into flames on the night of their visit, leaving the friends traumatized and nearly dead with only vague memories of the frightening events they had witnessed inside. Now, on the eve of their high school reunion, they have gathered to reopen their investigation and figure out, once and for all, what took place that fateful night . . . before the supernatural entity they escaped threatens to overtake them again.
For fifteen years, Amber, Drew, and Trevor have barely been able to recall -- let alone explain -- what happened the terrifying night they decided to explore the old, abandoned Lowry House. According to local legend, the house was cursed by a dark past and inhabited by evil. It burst into flames on the night of their visit, leaving the friends traumatized and nearly dead with only vague memories of the frightening events they had witnessed inside. Now, on the eve of their high school reunion, they have gathered to reopen their investigation and figure out, once and for all, what took place that fateful night . . . before the supernatural entity they escaped threatens to overtake them again.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 13, 2011
15 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 5, 2012
Considering the fact that Jason and Grant are some of the best paranormal investigators out there and their nonfiction books scare the s*** out of me, this was extremely disappointing. Obviously this is really Tim Waggoner’s book and they only had a small part in it. I could almost pick out the sections that they had helped with. The story was okay but the characters were flat and the writing was heavy handed and unwieldy. The dialogue was extremely forced to the point of being ridiculous. The supernatural aspect was so blatant that it wasn’t scary at all, it was almost laughable. Not a scary book. Not a particularly informative or interesting book. I guess this is the sort of book I would tell people to read while they are flying or on a train or something else equally boring.
November 23, 2011
What do you think of when you think of high school reunions? Bad music, bad food, and hazy memories blurred by alcohol? Well, what if instead of these things you get to encounter mind-altering illusions that you have no control over? Such is the case for Amber, Drew, and Trevor, the main characters in Hawes and Wilson’s fictitious tale of paranormal terror and mystery, Ghost Trackers.
We open the book by being introduced to Amber, Drew, and Trevor, three friends that have been reunited after many years through their 15 year high school reunion. Amber convinces the two men to attend the reunion after speaking with their old pseudo friend Greg, who hung around the fringes of their friendship during their high school years. Surprised to hear from him, Amber is taken aback by his suggestion to attend the reunion, but finds herself oddly compelled to make Drew and Trevor go. Odd feelings are nothing new to Amber, however, as she suffers from persistent nightmares that lead her to placate her existence via prescription drugs. Additionally, all three friends share another secret: they all have large portions of their memories from high school missing. Amateur ghost hunters at the time, they spent much of their time chasing down tales of the paranormal. Their most spectacular case involved a local home that was long rumored to be filled with negative energy. When the three were younger, the man living there killed his wife and two children in a night of delusional horror. Many years later when they were in high school, they entered the house to investigate the suspected hauntings, yet all they remembered was ending up on the front lawn with minor burns as the home burned to the ground in front of them. Now, as they attend the reunion weekend and attempt to piece together their pasts, they are shocked to find themselves at the scenes of two deaths of their classmates. Who will wind up dead next? Is there something more to Greg? Will they ever get their memories back?
As a disclaimer I have to say I’m not all that familiar with the paranormal and the genre that surrounds it, but I did find this book both interesting and enlightening. I’ve never really had an opinion of the subject of ghosts; that is to say that I’ve always thought that they could exist, but I had yet to see one or definitively know that one was there. The closest I’ve been was in my old apartment, before I moved in with Kim, that definitely had something odd going on. I used to catch odd motions out of the corner of my eye when I was alone, and I often felt a chill in the bathroom when I was doing laundry. As a man of science myself, I didn’t jump to conclusions. I prefer hard evidence and data over conjecture. However, that aside, I learned a bit about how paranormal activities work with this story. You can tell that the writers have years of experience in investigating these matters, and they draw on this experience to create a good story. Despite this, I sometimes felt that the plot dragged slightly. I felt at times that the authors attempted to mold the story around a defined set of psychotic states that the different characters experience. These psychotic states were amazingly well written, and they made my hair stand on end. However, the bridging plot between these series sometimes seemed a bit thin and not as well written as the smaller sub-stories.
Apart from this detraction, I have to commend the authors on a great job creativity-wise. The idea of psychotic mind control is not new, yet they put a fresh spin on the tale that made it seem real, like it could happen to any vulnerable person out to enjoy their 15th high school reunion. The crisp details of the delusions and the crazed actions of the characters in them definitely drew me in. If you enjoy a good paranormal tale that will leave you doubting your own imagination, look no further than this book!
Todd (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-F4
We open the book by being introduced to Amber, Drew, and Trevor, three friends that have been reunited after many years through their 15 year high school reunion. Amber convinces the two men to attend the reunion after speaking with their old pseudo friend Greg, who hung around the fringes of their friendship during their high school years. Surprised to hear from him, Amber is taken aback by his suggestion to attend the reunion, but finds herself oddly compelled to make Drew and Trevor go. Odd feelings are nothing new to Amber, however, as she suffers from persistent nightmares that lead her to placate her existence via prescription drugs. Additionally, all three friends share another secret: they all have large portions of their memories from high school missing. Amateur ghost hunters at the time, they spent much of their time chasing down tales of the paranormal. Their most spectacular case involved a local home that was long rumored to be filled with negative energy. When the three were younger, the man living there killed his wife and two children in a night of delusional horror. Many years later when they were in high school, they entered the house to investigate the suspected hauntings, yet all they remembered was ending up on the front lawn with minor burns as the home burned to the ground in front of them. Now, as they attend the reunion weekend and attempt to piece together their pasts, they are shocked to find themselves at the scenes of two deaths of their classmates. Who will wind up dead next? Is there something more to Greg? Will they ever get their memories back?
As a disclaimer I have to say I’m not all that familiar with the paranormal and the genre that surrounds it, but I did find this book both interesting and enlightening. I’ve never really had an opinion of the subject of ghosts; that is to say that I’ve always thought that they could exist, but I had yet to see one or definitively know that one was there. The closest I’ve been was in my old apartment, before I moved in with Kim, that definitely had something odd going on. I used to catch odd motions out of the corner of my eye when I was alone, and I often felt a chill in the bathroom when I was doing laundry. As a man of science myself, I didn’t jump to conclusions. I prefer hard evidence and data over conjecture. However, that aside, I learned a bit about how paranormal activities work with this story. You can tell that the writers have years of experience in investigating these matters, and they draw on this experience to create a good story. Despite this, I sometimes felt that the plot dragged slightly. I felt at times that the authors attempted to mold the story around a defined set of psychotic states that the different characters experience. These psychotic states were amazingly well written, and they made my hair stand on end. However, the bridging plot between these series sometimes seemed a bit thin and not as well written as the smaller sub-stories.
Apart from this detraction, I have to commend the authors on a great job creativity-wise. The idea of psychotic mind control is not new, yet they put a fresh spin on the tale that made it seem real, like it could happen to any vulnerable person out to enjoy their 15th high school reunion. The crisp details of the delusions and the crazed actions of the characters in them definitely drew me in. If you enjoy a good paranormal tale that will leave you doubting your own imagination, look no further than this book!
Todd (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-F4
August 1, 2020
It's not anywhere near as scary as I had hoped it'd be…but then I put a pretty high expectation on my horror experiences especially when the book has two of my favorite TV personalities as authors on the cover...but that aside I have to say that it's not in any way a bad book. It lays out the story line enough to hold the readers interest…especially if you eat this genre for breakfast, lunch and diner. The characterization is also very good. The reader can actually care about these three friends…Amber, Drew and Trevor, and what happened to them. The build-up of the mystery of what happened in their youth, and the memory they've all blocked out lends a nice chill and an interesting plot to the story. The transition from one author to the others doesn’t have a very smooth flow. At times you are swept up in the events and at other times it reads like a cheesy Sci-Fi TV program. The ending just came across as a little too contrived. Still…first novel by Jason & Grant…I have to say that it was a 4 star effort.
May 31, 2016
Drew, Amber and Trevor were best buds returning to their home town for the 15 year high school reunion of Ash Creek. Greg Daniels was the kid that followed them as their shadow shows up. Good looking and full of energy.
They begin to talk about what had happened to them one night when they where doing an investigation in the old Lowry House.
John Lowry was the original owner and had killed his wife (Lucille Dessick), son, daughter and then himself. The second owner Russell Stockslager, weird things continued in the house and they wonder if the house was haunted. He kidnapped 8 woman and the last one escaped. on Jan 17, 1923 Russell was killed in a shootout by the police. After time the house was demolished and later a recreation center was built on the land.
People start to die that are apart of the reunion Sean Houser and Jerry Cottrill. They both were found with formaldehyde on their skin. After some investigation Drew and Trevor realize that Greg has more to do with this then they noticed. He was carrying the spirit of John Lowry. The night when they decided to go into the house in their high school years Greg had gone ahead of them. He was attacked by the spirit and it attached to his soul taking over his body.
In the end the spirit let his body and He was left aged and scared from the night when the house was set aflame.
They begin to talk about what had happened to them one night when they where doing an investigation in the old Lowry House.
John Lowry was the original owner and had killed his wife (Lucille Dessick), son, daughter and then himself. The second owner Russell Stockslager, weird things continued in the house and they wonder if the house was haunted. He kidnapped 8 woman and the last one escaped. on Jan 17, 1923 Russell was killed in a shootout by the police. After time the house was demolished and later a recreation center was built on the land.
People start to die that are apart of the reunion Sean Houser and Jerry Cottrill. They both were found with formaldehyde on their skin. After some investigation Drew and Trevor realize that Greg has more to do with this then they noticed. He was carrying the spirit of John Lowry. The night when they decided to go into the house in their high school years Greg had gone ahead of them. He was attacked by the spirit and it attached to his soul taking over his body.
In the end the spirit let his body and He was left aged and scared from the night when the house was set aflame.
October 19, 2011
I am familiar with the show Ghost Hunters but have never watched it. I love watching movies where the plot revolves around hauntings and possessions. For me, that's more scary than a guy walking around in a mask with a machete in hand.
Ghost Trackers got off to a great start. The plot had me completely enagaged and there were several "ewww" moments that had me anxious to read what was going to happen next. Towards the middle, the story kind of stalled and I started to lose interest. This could be all on me because I was getting impatient wanting to find out what was Greg's deal. I was ready to find out more and in my opinion, it was taking too long. I enjoyed the characters - Amber, Drew and Trevor. Even after not seeing each other for 15 years, their friendship picked up as if they hadn't been apart.
Ghost Trackers was an okay read. I liked it but it didn't wow me. I felt that the book fizzled at the end. This is a book that I normally don't read but the idea of reading about ghosts appealed to me. I enjoyed the majority of the book. After a fast-paced start, I was disappointed that some parts of the book lagged.
If you're a fan of Ghost Hunters or books about ghosts and ghost hunting, then I think you will enjoy this book. Plus, it is perfect for Halloween.
Ghost Trackers got off to a great start. The plot had me completely enagaged and there were several "ewww" moments that had me anxious to read what was going to happen next. Towards the middle, the story kind of stalled and I started to lose interest. This could be all on me because I was getting impatient wanting to find out what was Greg's deal. I was ready to find out more and in my opinion, it was taking too long. I enjoyed the characters - Amber, Drew and Trevor. Even after not seeing each other for 15 years, their friendship picked up as if they hadn't been apart.
Ghost Trackers was an okay read. I liked it but it didn't wow me. I felt that the book fizzled at the end. This is a book that I normally don't read but the idea of reading about ghosts appealed to me. I enjoyed the majority of the book. After a fast-paced start, I was disappointed that some parts of the book lagged.
If you're a fan of Ghost Hunters or books about ghosts and ghost hunting, then I think you will enjoy this book. Plus, it is perfect for Halloween.
February 9, 2018
This had good parts, but overall wasn't nearly as awesome as I thought it'd be. Fell more into the eye-roll, "Oh, like that'd ever happen" category. Yes, it's fiction, but still. Wish there'd been more scary content.
May 7, 2012
Mild suspense through out the book, but the ending was abrupt an obvious. Not a bad read, but not the greatest either.
July 8, 2012
expected more
March 23, 2021
It's obvious Tim Waggoner gets his inspiration for horror from the king himself, Stephen King, but falls a little short. The characters are not as complex, more simplified. The language reads similar to Dean Koontz. The plot development was good, albeit long. A lot of explanation and description, but then King also has that habit. Overall, at times I felt like I was following an RPG as the characters ran into one obstacle after another and had to use whatever tools (weapons) they had (mental or physical) to combat the problem and move on to the next level.
I enjoyed watching Jason and Grant on Ghost Hunters and wonder just how much they really contributed to the story. I prefer to read their books describing actual investigations.
I enjoyed watching Jason and Grant on Ghost Hunters and wonder just how much they really contributed to the story. I prefer to read their books describing actual investigations.
July 19, 2024
I’m a lover of true ghost encounters and with the Ghost Hunter gurus co-writing this book I had high expectations……sadly the book fell short. It was an interesting story but some parts dragged on and it was hard to maintain my focus while reading. And in the end it didn’t have much to do with ghosts at all, a paranormal experience for sure but not what I was looking for.
July 9, 2019
A good ghost story
This was a good ghost story with a trio of friends at the center. As teens they enjoyed investigating local ghost sightings until one night something went wrong. Fifteen years later they come back right I put things right. A quick read with good characters.
This was a good ghost story with a trio of friends at the center. As teens they enjoyed investigating local ghost sightings until one night something went wrong. Fifteen years later they come back right I put things right. A quick read with good characters.
July 21, 2019
I read this book for my 2019 Reading Challenge and the prompt was A Ghost Story. When I picked up this book I clearly did not look passed the authors. I did not realize this was a novel and not like the other books I had already read by Jason and Grant. It was not as good as their other books.
March 7, 2024
I finally quit at page 266. Yes, things were starting to pop off, but I just didn't care.
DNF
DNF
January 4, 2013
The first time I learned SyFy was airing a show called Ghost Hunters, I remember being so excited. I mean, as a kid, that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be the next Hans Holzer. I couldn't wait to see it. And half way through it, I remember thinking, What a crock of shit! I know, I know. It's SyFy. But still... So when I saw that Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson teamed up with Tim Waggoner (author of Pandora Drive and Darkness Wakes, the only Waggoner books I've read to date), to write what promises to be a supernatural series, I groaned. Literally. I know Tim can write, but what was he thinking teaming up with these jokers? Were they doing novelizations of their "cases"? If so, I figured they would be good for a laugh. I could already hear the dialogue in my head: Did you see that?, What was that?, Did you hear that?, with nothing manifesting. If you've ever seen their show, you'll know what I'm talking about. Curiosity got the better of me, so I investigated further and read the jacket copy — and it didn't sound bad at all. In fact, it kinda reminded me of my own teenage years when I wanted to go poking around the supposedly haunted houses in my neighborhood. So... Against my better judgement, I took the plunge and bought it.
Fifteen years ago, three friends who shared an interest in the paranormal ventured into the infamous Lowry House. What happened while they were in there was so traumatic, they were robbed not only of their memories of that night, but also huge blocks of their high school memories. But whatever happened that night runs far deeper. Amber never fully recovered. She's plagued by nightmares, keeps herself heavily medicated, and can't seem to hold down a steady job. Drew, a psychologist, entered his chosen field with an ulterior motive — that somewhere along the way, while treating his patients, he would find the key to unlock his own lost memories. Trevor continues his pursuit of the paranormal with the hopes that a chance encounter will trigger the lock box in his mind and allow his memories to be rediscovered. That night in Lowry House, something else was lost as well, the chain that bound the three friends together. After that night, they drifted apart.
One night, a voice from their past reaches out to Amber. A fellow misfit, Greg, calls her and invites her to attend their 15 year high school reunion. She's reluctant at first, but before she can talk herself out of it, she's reaching for the phone and reconnecting with her old friends, friends she hasn't spoken to since that night.
From the moment they arrive, it's obvious that whatever entity traumatized them as teenagers isn't finished with them. Nothing overtly frightening, more like a cat playing with a mouse. Some of their memories start to filter back to them, but not nearly enough to prepare them for what's to come. Will they recover their memories in time, or will the evil of Lowry House, even though the house itself no longer stands, finish what it started 15 years ago?
One of the problems you have when dealing with a book like this is you never know just how much the known author, in this case, Waggoner, had to do with it. Did he do a majority of the writing, or did the television personalities do the writing with the author only on hand to offer suggestions and help shape things up? Without knowing the answers to these questions, I went into Ghost Trackers not expecting much, and sometimes it's best going in with minimal expectations. This way I wouldn't be disappointed if it sucked too much, and I'd be pleasantly surprised if it turned out better than expected. I'm happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised, to the point where I did not want to put it down. I usually go to bed between 3 and 4 am, and some nights (mornings?) the sun was starting to shine through my bedroom window and I was still reading. I had to force myself to put it aside so I could get a couple of hours sleep before starting work for the day.
The story flowed evenly and at a rapid pace, and I couldn't help but be swept up in the events as they unraveled, even if, at times, it felt like I was watching one of those cheesy SyFy Original Feature Films. The Biology Lab scene actually had me chuckling because I was having mental flashes of Haunted High. If you've seen it, you'll know what I'm talking about. The characters, for the most part, are fully fleshed out, believable, and likable. The only thing that didn't sit well with me was the ending; it was a little too sentimental, almost as if the book was being targeted for a Young Adult audience. I even had an "Awwww" moment — for the BIG BAD GHOST!! And while plausible for the novel, the ending came across as a little too contrived. Another "Awwwwwwwww" moment here.
Problematic ending aside, I enjoyed Ghost Trackers and intend to read the next in the series. If you enjoy genuinely creepy ghost stories, I would highly recommend picking up this one.
Fifteen years ago, three friends who shared an interest in the paranormal ventured into the infamous Lowry House. What happened while they were in there was so traumatic, they were robbed not only of their memories of that night, but also huge blocks of their high school memories. But whatever happened that night runs far deeper. Amber never fully recovered. She's plagued by nightmares, keeps herself heavily medicated, and can't seem to hold down a steady job. Drew, a psychologist, entered his chosen field with an ulterior motive — that somewhere along the way, while treating his patients, he would find the key to unlock his own lost memories. Trevor continues his pursuit of the paranormal with the hopes that a chance encounter will trigger the lock box in his mind and allow his memories to be rediscovered. That night in Lowry House, something else was lost as well, the chain that bound the three friends together. After that night, they drifted apart.
One night, a voice from their past reaches out to Amber. A fellow misfit, Greg, calls her and invites her to attend their 15 year high school reunion. She's reluctant at first, but before she can talk herself out of it, she's reaching for the phone and reconnecting with her old friends, friends she hasn't spoken to since that night.
From the moment they arrive, it's obvious that whatever entity traumatized them as teenagers isn't finished with them. Nothing overtly frightening, more like a cat playing with a mouse. Some of their memories start to filter back to them, but not nearly enough to prepare them for what's to come. Will they recover their memories in time, or will the evil of Lowry House, even though the house itself no longer stands, finish what it started 15 years ago?
One of the problems you have when dealing with a book like this is you never know just how much the known author, in this case, Waggoner, had to do with it. Did he do a majority of the writing, or did the television personalities do the writing with the author only on hand to offer suggestions and help shape things up? Without knowing the answers to these questions, I went into Ghost Trackers not expecting much, and sometimes it's best going in with minimal expectations. This way I wouldn't be disappointed if it sucked too much, and I'd be pleasantly surprised if it turned out better than expected. I'm happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised, to the point where I did not want to put it down. I usually go to bed between 3 and 4 am, and some nights (mornings?) the sun was starting to shine through my bedroom window and I was still reading. I had to force myself to put it aside so I could get a couple of hours sleep before starting work for the day.
The story flowed evenly and at a rapid pace, and I couldn't help but be swept up in the events as they unraveled, even if, at times, it felt like I was watching one of those cheesy SyFy Original Feature Films. The Biology Lab scene actually had me chuckling because I was having mental flashes of Haunted High. If you've seen it, you'll know what I'm talking about. The characters, for the most part, are fully fleshed out, believable, and likable. The only thing that didn't sit well with me was the ending; it was a little too sentimental, almost as if the book was being targeted for a Young Adult audience. I even had an "Awwww" moment — for the BIG BAD GHOST!! And while plausible for the novel, the ending came across as a little too contrived. Another "Awwwwwwwww" moment here.
Problematic ending aside, I enjoyed Ghost Trackers and intend to read the next in the series. If you enjoy genuinely creepy ghost stories, I would highly recommend picking up this one.
February 10, 2013
If you have no idea who Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson are, and you have relatively little knowledge of the paranormal, then I think you would enjoy this novel. The characters are likable, the plot is decent and moves along, and the imagery can be positively chilling at times. Nothing great, but definitely a fun, thrilling, easy read.
Unfortunately I'm jaded....
I love reading both paranormal fiction and non-fiction and I've watched more paranormal reality shows and documentaries than you've even heard of. When I realized 'Ghost Trackers' was written by Jay and Grant of Ghost Hunters fame (a show I frequently watched before they sold out, but that's another tale for another time) I was so eager to start reading.I expected great things from the minds of two men who have been knee deep in the world of the paranormal for so long. Not to mention it was co-authored by Tim Waggoner, who has written a number of thriller and horror pieces. With such a team behind it, how could the the novel go wrong?! Well....
I was very disappointed with how the three main protagonists handled the upsurge of supernatural events that began to occur around them. I brushed it off the first few times, but it became a running theme. It seemed to me extremely unrealistic that they would all carry on in their denial of the paranormal activity for such a prolonged stretch of time. If you have any experience with the supernatural there is no way you would not sense something was deeply amiss. Apparently not so for Amber, Drew and Trevor, who shrugged off the most blatant examples of paranormal events as if they were commonplace. Jay and Grant know better. I know better.
Additionally, I found the climax of the novel a complete let down. The whole time I was reading I could not wait to reach the end to discover what happened to Amber, Drew and Trevor at the Lowry House. I knew it must have been absolutely horrific when they first went inside, and I knew that fifteen years later it would most likely be even more terrifying than before. I was so excited to be scared out of my mind. I've read horror fiction, so I know it can be done, but this just didn't do it for me personally. It was disappointing considering I was so looking forward to some truly frightening stuff.
For all its flaws, major or otherwise, the novel wasn't absolutely horrendous. My knowledge of the authors and the subject were ultimately what made the novel difficult to swallow. I'm going to try the second in the series to see if perhaps the kinks are worked out. We shall see.
Unfortunately I'm jaded....
I love reading both paranormal fiction and non-fiction and I've watched more paranormal reality shows and documentaries than you've even heard of. When I realized 'Ghost Trackers' was written by Jay and Grant of Ghost Hunters fame (a show I frequently watched before they sold out, but that's another tale for another time) I was so eager to start reading.I expected great things from the minds of two men who have been knee deep in the world of the paranormal for so long. Not to mention it was co-authored by Tim Waggoner, who has written a number of thriller and horror pieces. With such a team behind it, how could the the novel go wrong?! Well....
I was very disappointed with how the three main protagonists handled the upsurge of supernatural events that began to occur around them. I brushed it off the first few times, but it became a running theme. It seemed to me extremely unrealistic that they would all carry on in their denial of the paranormal activity for such a prolonged stretch of time. If you have any experience with the supernatural there is no way you would not sense something was deeply amiss. Apparently not so for Amber, Drew and Trevor, who shrugged off the most blatant examples of paranormal events as if they were commonplace. Jay and Grant know better. I know better.
Additionally, I found the climax of the novel a complete let down. The whole time I was reading I could not wait to reach the end to discover what happened to Amber, Drew and Trevor at the Lowry House. I knew it must have been absolutely horrific when they first went inside, and I knew that fifteen years later it would most likely be even more terrifying than before. I was so excited to be scared out of my mind. I've read horror fiction, so I know it can be done, but this just didn't do it for me personally. It was disappointing considering I was so looking forward to some truly frightening stuff.
For all its flaws, major or otherwise, the novel wasn't absolutely horrendous. My knowledge of the authors and the subject were ultimately what made the novel difficult to swallow. I'm going to try the second in the series to see if perhaps the kinks are worked out. We shall see.
October 29, 2011
I admit it, when I saw the authors of this book, I was more inclined to buy it. Having experience being ghost hunters, I figured Grant and Jason would have a good idea what would make a pretty good ghost story. I'm not sure whether it was the mood I was in or the story itself, but the book really, really creeped me out!
The story follows Amber, Drew, and Trevor reconnecting after a scary night 15 years ago. After all three connected in high school over a joint fascination with the paranormal, the three were inseparable. However, after investigating the infamous Lowry House, all three drift apart and lose their memories of the house and chunks of high school. When Amber is contacted by her old friend Greg Daniels, all three of the friends decide to reconnect at the 15 year high school reunion. Deep down, they all hope that getting back together will help them recover the memories they lost and find some closure. However, they are in for a more sinister reality.
I liked how seamlessly the three friends were able to fall into old routines after so long apart. The three characters were well thought out, and I felt they had their own unique stories. Even though he wasn't fully revealed until the end, I liked the growing mystery around Greg. It was obvious that something was up with him, and the mystery made it all the more creepy. However, I felt that Amber's depression and Drew's work as an author should have been fleshed out a little more. Due to Drew's occupation, I felt that it was really played up while the others were kind of lost.
The missing memories, not thinking of each other while away, etc. really reminded me of It by Stephen King. Also, the children coming back together as adults to face something they didn't conquer when they were young rang true with Stephen King as well. However, I felt that the authors did a good job making it their own story.
It was obvious that this was their first work of fiction. A lot of places the story kind of halted, the diction was awkward, too many adjectives, and a few other things. Aside from that, the story worked very well. My reason for giving it less than five stars is because of the ending. I really didn't like it. I felt it was kind of anti-climatic and a cop out. It was as though they built and built the story and had no idea where to go once it got to the end.
I'm really curious how they are going to build future books.
The story follows Amber, Drew, and Trevor reconnecting after a scary night 15 years ago. After all three connected in high school over a joint fascination with the paranormal, the three were inseparable. However, after investigating the infamous Lowry House, all three drift apart and lose their memories of the house and chunks of high school. When Amber is contacted by her old friend Greg Daniels, all three of the friends decide to reconnect at the 15 year high school reunion. Deep down, they all hope that getting back together will help them recover the memories they lost and find some closure. However, they are in for a more sinister reality.
I liked how seamlessly the three friends were able to fall into old routines after so long apart. The three characters were well thought out, and I felt they had their own unique stories. Even though he wasn't fully revealed until the end, I liked the growing mystery around Greg. It was obvious that something was up with him, and the mystery made it all the more creepy. However, I felt that Amber's depression and Drew's work as an author should have been fleshed out a little more. Due to Drew's occupation, I felt that it was really played up while the others were kind of lost.
The missing memories, not thinking of each other while away, etc. really reminded me of It by Stephen King. Also, the children coming back together as adults to face something they didn't conquer when they were young rang true with Stephen King as well. However, I felt that the authors did a good job making it their own story.
It was obvious that this was their first work of fiction. A lot of places the story kind of halted, the diction was awkward, too many adjectives, and a few other things. Aside from that, the story worked very well. My reason for giving it less than five stars is because of the ending. I really didn't like it. I felt it was kind of anti-climatic and a cop out. It was as though they built and built the story and had no idea where to go once it got to the end.
I'm really curious how they are going to build future books.
October 18, 2011
This is a work of fiction brought to you by the same guys who investigate ghosts in Syfy's Ghost Hunters. In this book you have 3 teens who loved to investigate hauntings within their town. One night they went to the scariest house in town. Afterword, the house burned down and the three friends ended up in a comatose state for a short while. However, it resulted in all of them losing their memories of what happened that night and even some of their high school years.
In the years to come they all dealt or ran away from the holes in their memory. Traumatized, even by what they do not remember, it all affected them in some way. Then out of the blue a friend starts the ball rolling in getting the three back together for a high school reunion. What happens next is what will put you on the edge of your seat.
In this book you know who is messing with them and even some of the whys. However, you don't know how it is all going to play out in the end. That is what made this book fun. There are scary parts, but it wasn't what struck me about this book. It was the characterizations. You got to know many of the characters from their childhood in a complete way. You got to see their teenage black and white view of them (and of their world) and then you got to know how mistaken you were. It really made the book more emotional that way. Oh and those that miss these types of books because of the lack of romance won't be dissatisfied. There is a sweet budding romance that had be brewing for their whole lives. It was a sweet contrast to the darkness going on about them.
I give this book 4 stars. It is a great character book and it has it's on the edge of your seat moments. The ending is fulfilling and looks like there could possibly be more in a series. I would pick up the next one when it comes calling. :)
In the years to come they all dealt or ran away from the holes in their memory. Traumatized, even by what they do not remember, it all affected them in some way. Then out of the blue a friend starts the ball rolling in getting the three back together for a high school reunion. What happens next is what will put you on the edge of your seat.
In this book you know who is messing with them and even some of the whys. However, you don't know how it is all going to play out in the end. That is what made this book fun. There are scary parts, but it wasn't what struck me about this book. It was the characterizations. You got to know many of the characters from their childhood in a complete way. You got to see their teenage black and white view of them (and of their world) and then you got to know how mistaken you were. It really made the book more emotional that way. Oh and those that miss these types of books because of the lack of romance won't be dissatisfied. There is a sweet budding romance that had be brewing for their whole lives. It was a sweet contrast to the darkness going on about them.
I give this book 4 stars. It is a great character book and it has it's on the edge of your seat moments. The ending is fulfilling and looks like there could possibly be more in a series. I would pick up the next one when it comes calling. :)
October 8, 2011
Back in high school, Amber, Drew and Trevor were good friends. They had all hear rumors of the Lowry House but they decided to check the house out for themselves. It was a night that they will never forget. Something evil was lurking into the house waiting for them. They barely escaped.
Now, fifteen years later, Amber, Drew and Trevor reunite for their high school reunion. The house may be gone but the evil still lurks. Only this time the evil wants Amber, Drew and Trevor for good.
I have watched a few episodes of Ghost Hunters, so I knew what Jason and Grant encounter. I thought this book would be about a real life situation that they dealt with. I was wrong; though I am sure they could stumble across a situation like this. This book is fiction. I would say this book was more on the horror side than it was scary. This is why I was disappointed not because I did not like the story or the characters but I was expecting to be scared and have to keep looking over my shoulder, which neither happened. Amber, Drew and Trevor played well off each other’s weakness and strengths.
Now, fifteen years later, Amber, Drew and Trevor reunite for their high school reunion. The house may be gone but the evil still lurks. Only this time the evil wants Amber, Drew and Trevor for good.
I have watched a few episodes of Ghost Hunters, so I knew what Jason and Grant encounter. I thought this book would be about a real life situation that they dealt with. I was wrong; though I am sure they could stumble across a situation like this. This book is fiction. I would say this book was more on the horror side than it was scary. This is why I was disappointed not because I did not like the story or the characters but I was expecting to be scared and have to keep looking over my shoulder, which neither happened. Amber, Drew and Trevor played well off each other’s weakness and strengths.
November 8, 2011
I liked this book, even though it was a bit slow at the beginning. Three friends begin paranormal investigations during high school. They eventually decide to check out one of the most talked about places in town, the Lowry house, but what happens that night, changes all of them forever. Amber spends countless hours with a therapist and takes many pills. Trevor travels around the world investigating haunted places, and Drew becomes a psychiatrist. None of them have close relationships or remember much of their past. When they get invited to their 15 year high school reunion, they decide to go and maybe be able to put the past behind them for good.
While at the reunion, classmates start ending up dead. The three of them think it's something paranormal and try to find out what's going on. They know that they will have to come together and deal with what happened, but find that instead of making them feel worse, they feel better. They also discover that one of their classmates may be to blame for the recent deaths.
While at the reunion, classmates start ending up dead. The three of them think it's something paranormal and try to find out what's going on. They know that they will have to come together and deal with what happened, but find that instead of making them feel worse, they feel better. They also discover that one of their classmates may be to blame for the recent deaths.
October 26, 2012
A paranormal novel that is much more than the title suggests. Drew, Amber and Trevor come back together after fifteen years for a class reunion. As teenagers, they were interested in everything unnatural and the Lowry House was their prime target. They went in the house, but when they came back out were unable to remember what occurred. But now, many years later Greg, another classmate who wanted merely to be their friend, not only led them to but put them smack dab in the middle of a very dangerous road to a paranormal discovery. The memories they weren’t able to recall attacked their conscious as did the evil presence itself. And Greg is the host for the Darkness.
An eerily magnificent portrayal of evil at its best being fought by three people who seek to put an end to Greg’s murderous quest. An excellent read, one you will find hard to put down.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “One Major Mistake”
An eerily magnificent portrayal of evil at its best being fought by three people who seek to put an end to Greg’s murderous quest. An excellent read, one you will find hard to put down.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “One Major Mistake”
December 9, 2011
Trevor, Amber and Drew were friends in high school, pulled together by their common interest in the paranormal. All that ended in their senior year when they investigated the local haunted house – Lowry House. Something happened that night – something so traumatic that none of them have any memories of that night. Now, 15 years later, they’ve come together again for a reunion, but weird things are happening. Is the evil of the Lowry House still there? Will they remember what happened in time?
This was a very entertaining supernatural thriller – while the characters could have been developed more, this is the first book in a new series, so I expect we’ll see a great deal more development over time. The plot flowed very smoothly and moved quickly. Those interested in ghosts, the paranormal and supernatural, and those enjoying a suspenseful story should all enjoy this book a great deal. Check it out!
This was a very entertaining supernatural thriller – while the characters could have been developed more, this is the first book in a new series, so I expect we’ll see a great deal more development over time. The plot flowed very smoothly and moved quickly. Those interested in ghosts, the paranormal and supernatural, and those enjoying a suspenseful story should all enjoy this book a great deal. Check it out!
September 19, 2012
We read a lot of paranormal books; anything from fiction to memoirs. When my fiance' and I picked this book up we had minimal expectations, only to put it down three chapters into it. We were highly unsatisfied, and thoroughly disappointed. We had hoped that the famed duo Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes would have been able to create a better story than this.
The major area of frustration was what seemed to be a lack of editing. The words seemed thrown together creating a rough and bumpy ride. There were numerous times I had to go back and read certain paragraphs over again. As a couple we tend to read a book together in bed at night. We found this one as a mutual exciting topic, the paranormal. We took turns read it, and both seemed to struggle through the structure of the writing. When something is written that bad, it makes it hard to actually focus on the subject.
We just couldn't choke it down any further. :: sad faces ::
The major area of frustration was what seemed to be a lack of editing. The words seemed thrown together creating a rough and bumpy ride. There were numerous times I had to go back and read certain paragraphs over again. As a couple we tend to read a book together in bed at night. We found this one as a mutual exciting topic, the paranormal. We took turns read it, and both seemed to struggle through the structure of the writing. When something is written that bad, it makes it hard to actually focus on the subject.
We just couldn't choke it down any further. :: sad faces ::
August 27, 2013
The story had its fair share of cliches, but at the same time it had enough interesting content that I wanted to find out what happened at the end (and I wound up reading it in about a day and a half, so it wasn't too wordy or long either). The writing itself was also fine, aside from a few descriptions that could have been cut down or cut out entirely. The dialogue could have used a lot of editing. At times it felt like the author(s) threw in bigger words just for the sake of it, and the characters wound up sounding really unnatural. I think the authors were trying more to make the characters -- especially Drew the psychologist -- sound more intellectual, but instead he came off as sort of clumsy.
December 6, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. Of course I am partial to Jason and Grant, it would have crushed me if the story was really bad.
It's about a group of 3 30 something friends that get invited to their high school reunion by a guy that used to tag along with their group because he had a crush on the girl, Amber. Murders start happening and the 3 friends had lost all memories of going to investigate the paranormal at The Lowry House. They decide to find out what's going on and how to get their memories back. What they find out shocks them to the core.
I'm now starting on the second book.
November 21, 2011
I was given this book and was very excited to read it due to the authors and their amazing non-fiction writing. The plot was fairly interesting, although I was often distracted by excessive descriptions and ;inclusions not important to the plot. Overall, however, I really did like this book. I think that with a little more practice with fiction this might turn out to be a good series. Some of the dialogue, especially the one-liners, are VERY true to Hawes and Wilson. That is much of what would allow me to give their next book a try.
September 10, 2013
Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes are connected with a television program that I've never made the occasion to watch, but I suspect the only substantial connection is the syfy channel logo on the cover; it reads like a nice Tim Waggoner novel. It takes two of the most common tropes of popular horror movies of bygone years, the outcast-kid-who-gets-violent-revenge-at-the-high-school-reunion and the-haunted-house-that's-built-on-an-evil-place, and combines them into a fine, spooky tale with a nice sin-and-redemption twist at the end. It's a nice and easy fun to read book.
February 16, 2013
Boring....slow.....really tried to get into this book. It just barely plodded along. The plot was very good, quite original which is why I gave it three stars instead of two. I'm truly disappointed because I love the Ghost Hunter series and the paranormal/horror genre, I really thought I'd love it and never want to put it down. I wanted to put it down alright, unfortunately it was before I was finished and I had to fight with myself to finish the damn thing!
July 6, 2015
I picked up this book because I've been a fan of the show "Ghost Hunters" for a while now and had read their two books that told their own experiences. The plot of the book was interesting, but unfortunately the writing didn't quite cut it. There was an awful lot of description, especially regarding what the characters were wearing and I found this distracting. However, I still enjoyed the book for what it was, and fun ghost story, and I'll be keeping an eye out for any other books they write!
November 29, 2011
For the life of me, I can't figure out why the guys aren't promoting this book. Look on all their sites, you can't find it mentioned anywhere!! I tripped over this book accidently! I loved their non-fiction books and this one was right up there! It was good and creepy reading, which took a bit to take off, but once it did, I loved it. This is def. a series I will continue on with.
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