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Little Ghosts
One moment my beautiful daughter, her face flushed from the sun, her curls still wet from splashing in the ocean, was waiting in line for a strawberry ice cream, the next she was gone… As I sit in her dimly lit bedroom, surrounded by flickering candles, I feel the crushing weight of my daughter’s absence. It's been two years since Layla was murdered. The police have searched tirelessly for her killer, but they've found nothing – it's like whoever did it vanished into thin air. My once-perfect marriage is falling apart, we can hardly look at each other anymore. Our ten-year-old son Gale is struggling. He’s changed since she died. He’s more secretive and also… I can’t quite put my finger on it. They were so close, is this Gale coming to terms with her death? Still, unease creeps over me as I watch him. He just stares past me at something I can’t see. Then one day, as I butter his toast for breakfast, my son tells me something that stops me in my tracks. " I know who killed Layla .” I can barely get the words out to ask how. Looking at me with his serious little boy expression, he puts a hand on my arm. “She told me.”
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2023
1916 people are currently reading
5113 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Dunnett
39 books499 followersGregg Dunnett is a British author writing psychological thrillers and stories about travel and adventure, usually with a connection to the coast or to the oceans. Before turning to novels he worked as a journalist for ten years on a windsurfing magazine, briefly owned a sailing school in Egypt, taught English in Thailand, Portugal, Turkey and Italy, taught sailing in Greece and Spain, and also had several rather duller jobs along the way.
His brother is the adventurer Jono Dunnett who in 2015 windsurfed alone and unsupported around the entire coastline of Great Britain, and who is currently windsurfing around the coastline of Europe.
Gregg lives in Bournemouth on the south coast of England with his partner Maria. They have two young children, Alba and Rafa, for whom the phrase “Daddy's working” has absolutely no effect.
Gregg's debut novel was an Amazon top 100 best seller in the UK and was downloaded over a quarter of a million times.
Gregg on why he writes:
"I’ve always wanted to do two things in life, to write, and to have adventures. When I was a kid I imagined grand affairs. Kayaking across Canada, cycling to Australia. Whole summers in the Arctic. Did it happen? Well, partly.
I’ve been lucky, I spent some years abroad teaching English. I worked in sailing schools in Greece and Spain. I really lucked out with a job testing windsurfing boards for the magazine I grew up reading. I made a questionable decision (ok, a bad decision) to buy a windsurfing centre in Egypt. I’ve also done my fair share of less exciting jobs. Packing and stacking potatoes on a farm, which got me fitter than I’ve ever been in my life. I did a few years in local government which taught me that people really do have meetings that result only in the need for more meetings, and they really do take all afternoon. I spent a pleasant few months in a giant book warehouse, where I would deliberately get lost among the miles of shelves unpacking travel guides and daydreaming. I’ve done a bit of writing too, at least I learned how to write. Boards Magazine isn’t well known (it doesn’t even exist today) but it did have a reputation for being well written and I shoe-horned articles in my own gonzo journalism style on some topics with the most tenuous of links to windsurfing. But the real adventures never came. Nor did the real writing.
Then, in 2015, my brother announced he was going to become the first person to windsurf alone around Great Britain. I don’t know why. Apparently it was something he’d always wanted to do (news to me). It was a proper adventure. It was dangerous, it was exciting. Even before he set off he was interviewed on TV, in the papers etc... Some people thought he was reckless, some thought he was inspirational. Lots of people thought he’d fail.
But he didn’t. He made it around. He even sailed solo from Wales to Ireland, the first to make the crossing without the aid of a safety boat. I was lucky enough to be involved in a planning level, and take part in a few training sails, and the last leg of the trip. But he did ninety nine percent of it on his own. One step at a time, just getting on with it. That was quite inspiring.
In a way it inspired me to pull my finger out. I’d been writing novels - or trying to write novels - then for a few years. But it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be one of those ‘writers’ with a half-finished novel lost on a hard drive somewhere, rather than someone who might actually manage to finish the job.
I’ve now got two lovely, highly demanding children, so real adventures are hard right now. I still try to get away when I can for nights out in the wilds rough camping, surf trips sleeping in the van, windsurfing when the big storms come. I love adventures with the kids too.
I hope in time to get around to a few real adventures. I want to sail across an ocean. I want to bike across a continent. I definitely want to spend more time surfing empty waves.
But fo
His brother is the adventurer Jono Dunnett who in 2015 windsurfed alone and unsupported around the entire coastline of Great Britain, and who is currently windsurfing around the coastline of Europe.
Gregg lives in Bournemouth on the south coast of England with his partner Maria. They have two young children, Alba and Rafa, for whom the phrase “Daddy's working” has absolutely no effect.
Gregg's debut novel was an Amazon top 100 best seller in the UK and was downloaded over a quarter of a million times.
Gregg on why he writes:
"I’ve always wanted to do two things in life, to write, and to have adventures. When I was a kid I imagined grand affairs. Kayaking across Canada, cycling to Australia. Whole summers in the Arctic. Did it happen? Well, partly.
I’ve been lucky, I spent some years abroad teaching English. I worked in sailing schools in Greece and Spain. I really lucked out with a job testing windsurfing boards for the magazine I grew up reading. I made a questionable decision (ok, a bad decision) to buy a windsurfing centre in Egypt. I’ve also done my fair share of less exciting jobs. Packing and stacking potatoes on a farm, which got me fitter than I’ve ever been in my life. I did a few years in local government which taught me that people really do have meetings that result only in the need for more meetings, and they really do take all afternoon. I spent a pleasant few months in a giant book warehouse, where I would deliberately get lost among the miles of shelves unpacking travel guides and daydreaming. I’ve done a bit of writing too, at least I learned how to write. Boards Magazine isn’t well known (it doesn’t even exist today) but it did have a reputation for being well written and I shoe-horned articles in my own gonzo journalism style on some topics with the most tenuous of links to windsurfing. But the real adventures never came. Nor did the real writing.
Then, in 2015, my brother announced he was going to become the first person to windsurf alone around Great Britain. I don’t know why. Apparently it was something he’d always wanted to do (news to me). It was a proper adventure. It was dangerous, it was exciting. Even before he set off he was interviewed on TV, in the papers etc... Some people thought he was reckless, some thought he was inspirational. Lots of people thought he’d fail.
But he didn’t. He made it around. He even sailed solo from Wales to Ireland, the first to make the crossing without the aid of a safety boat. I was lucky enough to be involved in a planning level, and take part in a few training sails, and the last leg of the trip. But he did ninety nine percent of it on his own. One step at a time, just getting on with it. That was quite inspiring.
In a way it inspired me to pull my finger out. I’d been writing novels - or trying to write novels - then for a few years. But it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be one of those ‘writers’ with a half-finished novel lost on a hard drive somewhere, rather than someone who might actually manage to finish the job.
I’ve now got two lovely, highly demanding children, so real adventures are hard right now. I still try to get away when I can for nights out in the wilds rough camping, surf trips sleeping in the van, windsurfing when the big storms come. I love adventures with the kids too.
I hope in time to get around to a few real adventures. I want to sail across an ocean. I want to bike across a continent. I definitely want to spend more time surfing empty waves.
But fo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 638 reviews
October 22, 2025
4.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ May 11, 2023
Page Count ~ 426
Audio length ~ 11 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ Katie Villa
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ kidnapped child, dead child, ghost (obvi), snakes
Well, this was pretty heartbreaking and disturbing, as dead children plots are.
Layla has been gone for 2 years and her case is still not solved, but luckily, Gale, her brother, can see and talk to her, so they work together to take down her killer. But will anyone believe where Gale is getting his inside scoop from? Not bloody likely, which is not surprising.
We hear from Clarke, the detective on the case and parents Rachel & Jon, which kept the story flowing along nicely and kept me gripped. I didn't get a big paranormal vibe, which was good since I'm not super big on that genre.
Overall, I was totally taken by surprise with who the killer was. We didn't have to wait until the bitter end to find out either, which worked really well. It was fast paced and well done, and that ending, wow, cue the tears.
Side note ~ my biggest fear is snakes, so I hated that they were in the story, yuck! Just had my first one slithering along on my back porch the other day, and he came back the next night, too, UGH! First one we’ve ever seen in 9 years living here.
Narration notes:
I thought she did a great job. Her male voices were fine, except Gale sounded a little older than 10.
*Thanks to Gregg Dunnett, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ May 11, 2023
Page Count ~ 426
Audio length ~ 11 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ Katie Villa
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ kidnapped child, dead child, ghost (obvi), snakes
Well, this was pretty heartbreaking and disturbing, as dead children plots are.
Layla has been gone for 2 years and her case is still not solved, but luckily, Gale, her brother, can see and talk to her, so they work together to take down her killer. But will anyone believe where Gale is getting his inside scoop from? Not bloody likely, which is not surprising.
We hear from Clarke, the detective on the case and parents Rachel & Jon, which kept the story flowing along nicely and kept me gripped. I didn't get a big paranormal vibe, which was good since I'm not super big on that genre.
Overall, I was totally taken by surprise with who the killer was. We didn't have to wait until the bitter end to find out either, which worked really well. It was fast paced and well done, and that ending, wow, cue the tears.
Side note ~ my biggest fear is snakes, so I hated that they were in the story, yuck! Just had my first one slithering along on my back porch the other day, and he came back the next night, too, UGH! First one we’ve ever seen in 9 years living here.
Narration notes:
I thought she did a great job. Her male voices were fine, except Gale sounded a little older than 10.
*Thanks to Gregg Dunnett, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
June 16, 2023
Actual Rating 3.5
TW: Kidnapping, Murder, Rape (Underage [off page]), Abuse
It’s been almost two years since Layla was found dead after disappearing from a day at the beach with her family. Her family has been struggling with their new reality and the lack of leads in the case. But Gale, Layla’s younger brother, has recently felt a presence about the house. And that presence appears to be his sister, Layla. As the police decide it’s time to mark the case as inactive due to the lack of progress, Layla’s presence speaks to Gale. Is it possible that Layla will be able to tell Gale what happened two years ago? And even if she did, would anyone believe him?
This psychological suspense/mystery is written from the third person POV of several characters, one of which is Gale’s (the GR book blurb is a misrepresentation). I think the author did a decent job at writing from the POV of a child – Gale did feel a little old for his age, but after going through that kind of grief and trauma, that’s not entirely unreasonable. Much later in the book, we get chapters from the POV of the killer. I did like this as it gave much insight into the motives and the person behind the crime. But these chapters get dark. Darker than I’d expected – nothing too graphic, but the thoughts and reasonings of the person are intense and horrifying, giving these portions of the book a much heavier tone and feeling.
The book begins in a relatively standard way, but the tension and suspense increase as it goes along, creating an overwhelming feeling of dread and heaviness. Although the book is 420-ish pages, it felt shorter. The pacing, atmosphere, and writing kept the read engaging, though I do think the length kept this work from feeling like an actual thriller. The reveal wasn’t mind-blowing or completely a surprise, but that wasn’t a bad thing in this case – knowing something is coming but not knowing why or how is its own sort of dread and suspense.
This was a tense, suspenseful mystery that was well written. I can’t emphasize enough that this is quite a dark read, but it’s worth it if you are in the right mindset. Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
TW: Kidnapping, Murder, Rape (Underage [off page]), Abuse
It’s been almost two years since Layla was found dead after disappearing from a day at the beach with her family. Her family has been struggling with their new reality and the lack of leads in the case. But Gale, Layla’s younger brother, has recently felt a presence about the house. And that presence appears to be his sister, Layla. As the police decide it’s time to mark the case as inactive due to the lack of progress, Layla’s presence speaks to Gale. Is it possible that Layla will be able to tell Gale what happened two years ago? And even if she did, would anyone believe him?
This psychological suspense/mystery is written from the third person POV of several characters, one of which is Gale’s (the GR book blurb is a misrepresentation). I think the author did a decent job at writing from the POV of a child – Gale did feel a little old for his age, but after going through that kind of grief and trauma, that’s not entirely unreasonable. Much later in the book, we get chapters from the POV of the killer. I did like this as it gave much insight into the motives and the person behind the crime. But these chapters get dark. Darker than I’d expected – nothing too graphic, but the thoughts and reasonings of the person are intense and horrifying, giving these portions of the book a much heavier tone and feeling.
The book begins in a relatively standard way, but the tension and suspense increase as it goes along, creating an overwhelming feeling of dread and heaviness. Although the book is 420-ish pages, it felt shorter. The pacing, atmosphere, and writing kept the read engaging, though I do think the length kept this work from feeling like an actual thriller. The reveal wasn’t mind-blowing or completely a surprise, but that wasn’t a bad thing in this case – knowing something is coming but not knowing why or how is its own sort of dread and suspense.
This was a tense, suspenseful mystery that was well written. I can’t emphasize enough that this is quite a dark read, but it’s worth it if you are in the right mindset. Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 10, 2023
Although this is a tough disturbing read at times I like the original way the story is presented and parts definitely break your heart. It’s well written, suspenseful with plenty of twists to keep you reading on. Much is told through the eyes of ten year old Gale, brother of murdered girl Layla and this is done extremely well. It’s a disbelief suspender of a novel but somehow the author gets me to buy into it and it’s compelling. I like the end… it fills me with hope.
February 13, 2025
That was really good!
Even if ghost stories are not your thing don't let that put you off what, in effect, was an excellent psychological murder mystery. The ghost aspect is secondary to the main theme of the story. A violent paedophile abducted and murdered a young child and then sat back and laughed at the police's futile efforts to identify and apprehend him. The story is told through numerous POVs, the murdered child, the leading police officer, the child's brother, her distraught mother and even the killer himself. This was a fast moving story, full of twists and turns, that had me riveted all the way through to the end. The conclusion was most unexpected and I cannot rate this story highly enough!
Even if ghost stories are not your thing don't let that put you off what, in effect, was an excellent psychological murder mystery. The ghost aspect is secondary to the main theme of the story. A violent paedophile abducted and murdered a young child and then sat back and laughed at the police's futile efforts to identify and apprehend him. The story is told through numerous POVs, the murdered child, the leading police officer, the child's brother, her distraught mother and even the killer himself. This was a fast moving story, full of twists and turns, that had me riveted all the way through to the end. The conclusion was most unexpected and I cannot rate this story highly enough!
May 10, 2025
This book made me cringe AND cry. 4 stars!
August 16, 2024
Little Ghosts
By Greg Dunnett
Wow, what a wonderful ghost story! Heartache, suspense, heartwarming, and loving, all in one book. A little girl is kidnapped and murdered. Two years later, she appears to her still grieving little brother. No one else can see or hear her.
No one has found her killer, so she still can't go on. She wants her brother to help her. So two kids, one of those a ghost, try to find a killer without getting the brother thrown in a mental institute or killed also!
Very suspenseful at times. It kept me reading and page turning! Loved the plot, characters, and ending.
By Greg Dunnett
Wow, what a wonderful ghost story! Heartache, suspense, heartwarming, and loving, all in one book. A little girl is kidnapped and murdered. Two years later, she appears to her still grieving little brother. No one else can see or hear her.
No one has found her killer, so she still can't go on. She wants her brother to help her. So two kids, one of those a ghost, try to find a killer without getting the brother thrown in a mental institute or killed also!
Very suspenseful at times. It kept me reading and page turning! Loved the plot, characters, and ending.
June 18, 2024
This is the first time I’ve ever wondered who writes a synopsis for a book. Do they have to read the book first? Apparently not in this case. No spoilers, I’m just correcting what readers find out in the first part of the book. The mother’s POV sounded intriguing in the synopsis, but the POV was mostly Gale, her son, the 10 year old brother of the little girl, Layla, who was murdered. Even the title is not accurate, as there’s only one ghost. Also Layla doesn’t know who killed her, as the synopsis suggests. Gale NEVER said to his mother, “ I know who killed Layla because she told me”. If “they” can’t even get these things right, then how good could the book be? I will now write an accurate synopsis (you’re welcome).
A ten year old girl, Layla, is murdered. She comes back as a ghost and silently hangs out all the time with her brother, Gale. She doesn’t speak for two years. Then, when her brother turns the same age as she was when she was murdered, she begins to talk. Nonstop. Gale has conversations with her as if she were still alive, and together they attempt to figure out who killed Layla, as the police make a last ditch effort to solve the case.
This part was less paranormal, more fantasy. It’s like The Lovely Bones meets Encyclopedia Brown. At least for the first part of the book.
When the POV changes from Gale to the murderer, the book becomes a Dean Koontz knock off. Koontz is the master of creating super evil, super intelligent psychopath villains. (After reading about a million of his books, I’m now burnt out). If child torture floats your boat, you’ll like this one. I did not. I read through to the end just to find out what happened, although I admit to skimming frequently to save my own sanity because I was so bored. After all this detective work and evil stuff, the end actually managed to be predictable and sappy.
The real torture for me was having to read over 400 pages of slow-as-molasses pacing, and dim-witted adults that take forever to catch on to clues in the case.
I’m sorry, but I have to speak the truth as I see it. This just isn’t worth the time. One star.
A ten year old girl, Layla, is murdered. She comes back as a ghost and silently hangs out all the time with her brother, Gale. She doesn’t speak for two years. Then, when her brother turns the same age as she was when she was murdered, she begins to talk. Nonstop. Gale has conversations with her as if she were still alive, and together they attempt to figure out who killed Layla, as the police make a last ditch effort to solve the case.
This part was less paranormal, more fantasy. It’s like The Lovely Bones meets Encyclopedia Brown. At least for the first part of the book.
When the POV changes from Gale to the murderer, the book becomes a Dean Koontz knock off. Koontz is the master of creating super evil, super intelligent psychopath villains. (After reading about a million of his books, I’m now burnt out). If child torture floats your boat, you’ll like this one. I did not. I read through to the end just to find out what happened, although I admit to skimming frequently to save my own sanity because I was so bored. After all this detective work and evil stuff, the end actually managed to be predictable and sappy.
The real torture for me was having to read over 400 pages of slow-as-molasses pacing, and dim-witted adults that take forever to catch on to clues in the case.
I’m sorry, but I have to speak the truth as I see it. This just isn’t worth the time. One star.
December 2, 2023
This was such a wild ride. I loved that Layla could still talk to her twin and they could see one another. Such a sad story as to why Layla was a ghost but I loved how determined her twin was to get her justice. The ending was shocking! The last bit of the book truly had me on the edge of my seat. Worthy read, but very heartbreaking.
November 20, 2024
I feel very conflicted about this book. On one hand, the story itself is pretty good and while the twist is a little obvious if you’re a fan of thrillers, it’s still not so in your face that it’s boring. I wasn’t bored while reading this and I read the whole thing in one sitting. On the other hand, I’m thrown by the fact that what occurs in the book blurb never actually occurs in the book itself and randomly there will be references to something that occurred, but the reference won’t exactly match what occurred, or a name would be wrong. The book is 95% well written and the other 5% has these random and jarring mess ups that are so obvious that I’m baffled that editors didn’t address them.
Overall, the book was good. It would make an excellent airplane book/other king transportation and you won’t be bored while you read it
Overall, the book was good. It would make an excellent airplane book/other king transportation and you won’t be bored while you read it
April 25, 2023
Admittedly it took me a couple of tries I think because I had to be in the right frame of mind to read this book. You do have to be in a certain mood to read about the murder of a 10 year old little girl, especially when a few years later her little brother announces to his mother that he knows who killed his sister because “she told me.” No spoilers here as the book reviews share this same information.
Once you do get into the book, it’s a solid fast paced 3.5 ⭐️ with a twist that’s a little predictable but still good. I personally would have loved more from Gale’s and Layla’s perspectives but that’s probably just me. It felt vaguely like The Lovely Bones. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Once you do get into the book, it’s a solid fast paced 3.5 ⭐️ with a twist that’s a little predictable but still good. I personally would have loved more from Gale’s and Layla’s perspectives but that’s probably just me. It felt vaguely like The Lovely Bones. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
March 29, 2025
3,0 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
June 7, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll start by saying that Katie Villa was a perfect fit for narrating this book! She seamlessly jumps from one character to the next and I was always able to easily identify which character was talking. I normally am not a fan of books with too much police procedural involvement, but this was one of the few books I will make an exception for! It was reminiscent of The Lovely Bones only more focused on the surviving younger brother solving his sister’s murder years after the fact. It was incredibly well written and had so many twists that I didn’t see coming! If you like suspenseful stories about hunting down child killers, this book is for you!
I’ll start by saying that Katie Villa was a perfect fit for narrating this book! She seamlessly jumps from one character to the next and I was always able to easily identify which character was talking. I normally am not a fan of books with too much police procedural involvement, but this was one of the few books I will make an exception for! It was reminiscent of The Lovely Bones only more focused on the surviving younger brother solving his sister’s murder years after the fact. It was incredibly well written and had so many twists that I didn’t see coming! If you like suspenseful stories about hunting down child killers, this book is for you!
June 27, 2024
4.5 rounded up. Ugh I’m still crying!!
September 26, 2025
I just finished this one, but am still processing it. Heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, and more emotional than anything I’ve read in quite some time. At its heart, it’s a story about a sister, her little brother, and their unbreakable bond. Highly recommend!
October 14, 2023
This is a haunting story about a boy who, with the help of his sister’s ghost, brings her captor and murderer to light. I don’t usually read paranormal stories, however this was so well written and had me hooked from the beginning. The brother/sister relationship between Gale and Layla was heartwarming and breaking at the same time. It had the right amount of surprising twists just as any thriller should. I definitely recommend.
May 8, 2025
I found it readable but formulaic and despite the blurb promising more it becomes rather obvious and lacked the emotional intensity implied.
December 4, 2023
This didn’t hook me right away, but hang in there because it gets thrilling fairly quickly. I set it down to go do some cleaning, and I’m glad I did. I only set this down after I restarted it to get a couple hours of sleep. My dishes would still be dirty if I hadn’t taken that break 😅 if this was cleaned up a bit better, it would have easily been 5 stars. The blurb was from the mom’s POV, which doesn’t happen in the book. It threw me off a bit, that and the fact that there is only one ghost. I kinda kept waiting for at least one more to enter the picture. There were some bits that didn’t line up with what was written earlier in the book, but they were minor details. The big twist happens at the end of the first section, and after that it was a no holds barred, action packed ride. At one point, I felt like there would have been evidence to catch the killer sooner (the second kidnapping) but it didn’t happen. Overall, once Layla’s ghost showed up, it was a great read.
It’s been two years since Layla was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered, and there is still no answers. Her family is still in a tailspin, grieving and drifting farther from each other. The grief counselor tells Gale that the visions of sister he is seeing is normal, and is his subconscious at work grieving. Until she talks. And she tells him where his toy that he thought he lost is, something he shouldn’t know. In all the stories they heard, ghosts stay because they need something. Layla must need her killer to be found. So they start trying to solve the case with what Layla remembers. But how can Gale tell adults how he figured this information out? No one will believe he is talking to his sister’s ghost.
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy to review!
It’s been two years since Layla was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered, and there is still no answers. Her family is still in a tailspin, grieving and drifting farther from each other. The grief counselor tells Gale that the visions of sister he is seeing is normal, and is his subconscious at work grieving. Until she talks. And she tells him where his toy that he thought he lost is, something he shouldn’t know. In all the stories they heard, ghosts stay because they need something. Layla must need her killer to be found. So they start trying to solve the case with what Layla remembers. But how can Gale tell adults how he figured this information out? No one will believe he is talking to his sister’s ghost.
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy to review!
January 11, 2024
A haunting and tragic paranormal story about a family whose 10 year old daughter was murdered. The case is still unsolved two years later. After Layla was killed, her younger brother Gale starts seeing her ghost. When the police tell the family they are labeling Layla’s case inactive, she begins to speak with Gale. The two then try to solve the case, but will anyone believe Gale is getting his information from his dead sister?
The plot seemed pretty straightforward at first, but there were quite a few twists I didn’t see coming. The story is emotional and suspenseful. I love Katie Villa as a narrator and she does a great job voicing the characters here. I’m surprised I haven’t seen more attention for this one on Bookstagram as it’s very good.
April 20, 2023
When Layla is kidnapped and murdered, DI Clarke takes on the case. Two years later, there is still no suspect. But Gale, Laylas younger brother has a secret; one that he hasn’t told anybody… yet. He can see Laylas ghost, and she’s told him who her killer is.
I fell in love with the characters in this book straight away, and found it a very compelling read. In a way, it is a simple story, with shocking twists as it progresses.
It’s an easy read and the type of book in which you pray for a happy ending. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more from this author.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.
I fell in love with the characters in this book straight away, and found it a very compelling read. In a way, it is a simple story, with shocking twists as it progresses.
It’s an easy read and the type of book in which you pray for a happy ending. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more from this author.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.
June 10, 2023
Heartbreaking
That ending was hard to read. I am still crying but it was beautiful too. I couldn't put this book down. It was so compelling and thought out and incredibly moving. The villain is terribly evil. Really evil. Layla was his sister she died and then two years later she appears to him and talks to him. She tells him who murdered her, not the name but what happened. He does his own detective work and comes up with the killer himself. I loved that someone, a police beat cop, was dragged into the drama and kept searching for the truth. I really loved this story and that ending was so good but heartbreaking too.
That ending was hard to read. I am still crying but it was beautiful too. I couldn't put this book down. It was so compelling and thought out and incredibly moving. The villain is terribly evil. Really evil. Layla was his sister she died and then two years later she appears to him and talks to him. She tells him who murdered her, not the name but what happened. He does his own detective work and comes up with the killer himself. I loved that someone, a police beat cop, was dragged into the drama and kept searching for the truth. I really loved this story and that ending was so good but heartbreaking too.
September 11, 2023
this was okay for me... not great... just okay.
pet peeve: the blurb doesn't happen in the book. not even a little bit. and the title. little ghosts. there's ONE ghost. why the plural? i feel deceived 😆
it was just a little too long.... storm publishing didn't do great editing (lots of small errors, needed to be trimmed down, etc. etc.) ... and just a little too predictable for me.
if you're an avid thriller reader, this one probably isn't for you.
if you're not an avid thriller reader, give it a shot. the story line will probably be new to you.
pet peeve: the blurb doesn't happen in the book. not even a little bit. and the title. little ghosts. there's ONE ghost. why the plural? i feel deceived 😆
it was just a little too long.... storm publishing didn't do great editing (lots of small errors, needed to be trimmed down, etc. etc.) ... and just a little too predictable for me.
if you're an avid thriller reader, this one probably isn't for you.
if you're not an avid thriller reader, give it a shot. the story line will probably be new to you.
November 7, 2023
boring
January 2, 2025
all the "suspended-belief"
elements worked well in this
adventurous drama about a
child in danger: bittersweet,
original, deeply touching. ♡
elements worked well in this
adventurous drama about a
child in danger: bittersweet,
original, deeply touching. ♡
August 21, 2023
Murder Mystery ►►► Mostly
Ghost Story ►►► Just a little bit.
Audible Audio is a great version, highly recommended.
Ghost Story ►►► Just a little bit.
Audible Audio is a great version, highly recommended.
May 16, 2023
This is a tough one to rate. Overall I liked it, but there were too many gaps in logic and common sense for my taste. I can suspend disbelief when necessary, but it was working overtime here. Several actions by the characters just didn't jive and I had a hard time believing a lot of the actions taken. What was much better was the way Dunnett handled the conversations between Gale and his dead sister Layla on life and death. They were the best parts of the book, and the ending was very emotional. If only the police procedural aspect had been written better. I like Dunnett, have read most of his books, and he definitely knows how to handle younger characters, as evidenced by his Rockpool series. He's equally adept here but needs to work on the lapses in logic that crop up too often when dealing with adult behavior. It's a book worth reading just for the scenes between Gale and Layla alone and their efforts to get the adults to arrest the person responsible for murdering her. I just wish there had been more focus on the efforts of the adults. Recommended for fans of Dunnett's work.
August 17, 2024
Okay so I wasn’t expecting to get my heart broken like that 🥹
November 1, 2023
This book truly gutted me!! Such a compelling page turner every step of the way!
October 4, 2023
A super good read that’s a mix of suspense, police procedural, and the paranormal.
Little Ghosts by Gregg Dunnett is one of those little surprises I happened upon while browsing hoopla for an audiobook. I wasn’t looking for it, had never heard of it… but it randomly popped up and caught my attention. I then checked Goodreads for its average rating (what book nerd doesn’t?) and seeing lots of glowing reviews, I decided to take a chance. So glad I did!
It’s been two years since ten year old Layla Martin was kidnapped and murdered. Without any leads or clues to Layla’s disappearance and death, it feels as if the case has officially hit a wall. Layla’s parents, especially her mother Rachel, continue to grieve and struggle with moving forward. Rachel still seeks to know what happened to her daughter and desperately wants to keep Layla’s case open.
Gale Martin is Layla’s younger brother, who is now age ten, the same age as Layla was when she died. Gale is quiet, reserved, withdrawn. And then suddenly the Martin family’s world shifts drastically when Gale announces that he knows who killed Layla. When asked how he knows this, Gale tells his mother that Layla told him. (I feel going further would be a huge spoiler, so stopping here!)
This book kept me totally hooked. I listened to the audio, and if you’re an audiobooker this is one you don’t want to miss. The narrator, Katie Villa, is excellent. Little Ghosts is eerie and dark. It is sad, intense, suspenseful, and tugs at the heartstrings. It kept me on edge and engaged the entire time.
Highly recommend for fans of thriller/suspense/dark/paranormal reads. If you read and enjoyed Jason Rekulak’s Hidden Pictures, check out Little Ghosts.
Little Ghosts by Gregg Dunnett is one of those little surprises I happened upon while browsing hoopla for an audiobook. I wasn’t looking for it, had never heard of it… but it randomly popped up and caught my attention. I then checked Goodreads for its average rating (what book nerd doesn’t?) and seeing lots of glowing reviews, I decided to take a chance. So glad I did!
It’s been two years since ten year old Layla Martin was kidnapped and murdered. Without any leads or clues to Layla’s disappearance and death, it feels as if the case has officially hit a wall. Layla’s parents, especially her mother Rachel, continue to grieve and struggle with moving forward. Rachel still seeks to know what happened to her daughter and desperately wants to keep Layla’s case open.
Gale Martin is Layla’s younger brother, who is now age ten, the same age as Layla was when she died. Gale is quiet, reserved, withdrawn. And then suddenly the Martin family’s world shifts drastically when Gale announces that he knows who killed Layla. When asked how he knows this, Gale tells his mother that Layla told him. (I feel going further would be a huge spoiler, so stopping here!)
This book kept me totally hooked. I listened to the audio, and if you’re an audiobooker this is one you don’t want to miss. The narrator, Katie Villa, is excellent. Little Ghosts is eerie and dark. It is sad, intense, suspenseful, and tugs at the heartstrings. It kept me on edge and engaged the entire time.
Highly recommend for fans of thriller/suspense/dark/paranormal reads. If you read and enjoyed Jason Rekulak’s Hidden Pictures, check out Little Ghosts.
April 28, 2023
4.25⭐️
My first read of this author.
Layla was brutally murdered. Two years later there are no suspects, and her parents and younger brother Gale are struggling to deal with her tragic death.
DI Kieran Clarke wants to do a reconstruction to jog people’s memories.
However her brother knows who killed Layla, because she told him.
I have to say it was the supernatural element of the storyline that persuaded me to read it.
We get Gale and Layla’s POV, the parents Rachel and Jon, and the police. I enjoyed Gale and Layla’s interaction, they are just ace. The uncomplicated writing style suits the young protagonists POV.
In the second half we get a different POV emphasis.
There are some aspects that I felt were over described and not relevant, where as there are other more crucial areas that get less description.
It’s dark but in no way graphic. graphic. It’s different, and I loved that. I found the ending moving.
I loved the premise of the story, I had an arc, there’s some editing issues which I hope will be rectified before publication.
If you enjoyed The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold I think you’ll like this.
My first read of this author.
Layla was brutally murdered. Two years later there are no suspects, and her parents and younger brother Gale are struggling to deal with her tragic death.
DI Kieran Clarke wants to do a reconstruction to jog people’s memories.
However her brother knows who killed Layla, because she told him.
I have to say it was the supernatural element of the storyline that persuaded me to read it.
We get Gale and Layla’s POV, the parents Rachel and Jon, and the police. I enjoyed Gale and Layla’s interaction, they are just ace. The uncomplicated writing style suits the young protagonists POV.
In the second half we get a different POV emphasis.
There are some aspects that I felt were over described and not relevant, where as there are other more crucial areas that get less description.
It’s dark but in no way graphic. graphic. It’s different, and I loved that. I found the ending moving.
I loved the premise of the story, I had an arc, there’s some editing issues which I hope will be rectified before publication.
If you enjoyed The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold I think you’ll like this.
June 9, 2023
Eeeek. This book was pretty darn good. Ok, the part about her coming back as a ghost isn’t very believable but it made for a dang good tale. I don’t want to spoil too much but the ending was super intense. I was glad it ended the way that it did though, sad but not too sad.
🌀Synopsis
Gale’s sister Layla was murdered two years ago and their family is struggling. Gale is struggling. Which is why, when his sister reappears as a ghost it’s actually a good thing! They are no closer to solving the murder than they were two years ago but Layla being there is about to change all of that.
She’s about to show Gale who her killer is.
The problem is, he happens to be a big part of the investigation and pinning this on him is going to be darn near impossible.
Once suspicions arise though, the murderer starts to get nervous. Not only does he get nervous, he gets angry. Angry and hungry to kill again he decides on a plan to get rid of Gale so he can take more girls in the future. Only, there are other people on to him and his elaborate scheme might just fail.
🌀Synopsis
Gale’s sister Layla was murdered two years ago and their family is struggling. Gale is struggling. Which is why, when his sister reappears as a ghost it’s actually a good thing! They are no closer to solving the murder than they were two years ago but Layla being there is about to change all of that.
She’s about to show Gale who her killer is.
The problem is, he happens to be a big part of the investigation and pinning this on him is going to be darn near impossible.
Once suspicions arise though, the murderer starts to get nervous. Not only does he get nervous, he gets angry. Angry and hungry to kill again he decides on a plan to get rid of Gale so he can take more girls in the future. Only, there are other people on to him and his elaborate scheme might just fail.
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