A Question of Ghosts

by Cate Culpepper

Becca Healy always believed she understood the shameful circumstances of her mother’s death—until the night her mother’s spirit whispers a simple message out of the static of a radio: “Not true.” Becca turns to the terse Dr. Joanne Call, an expert in Electronic Voice Phenomenon—ghost voices—to unravel the mystery of this decades-old tragedy. Joanne can coax messages out of the silence of the grave, but coping with this feisty, emotional Healy person might be completely beyond her. Together, Becca and Jo must tackle childhood grief, a serial killer, Xena withdrawal, and a growing attraction between the two most mismatched women in Seattle.

Genres: Paranormal, Lesbian, LGBT, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural

264 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Cate Culpepper grew up in southern New Mexico, where she served as the state lesbian, before moving to the Pacific Northwest twenty-five years ago. She has won one Lambda Literary Society Award, three Golden Crown Literary Society Awards, one Lesbian Fiction Readers' Choice Award, and an Alice B. Toklas Award for her body of work.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I’m taking a short break from my ARC’s to read some paranormal books this week. It is my favorite genre and I love this time of year. I decided to start with a book that has been on my library shelf for a long time. It’s funny when you read on your kindle and phone so much that when you pick up a physical book you get confused as to why you can’t make the page brighter:) Anyway, this is a book I have wanted to read for a long time and I’m kind of kicking myself for waiting so long. It was good fun and perfect for an October read.

I really liked the premise of this book. Becca has always believed that her mother killed her father than committed suicide. At least Becca believed that until she heard her mother’s voice over the white noise of her radio saying “not true”. Becca needs to learn the truth so she reaches out to a doctor who specializes in EVP’s, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. Can the two women find out the truth before it’s too late?

While this book is not scary, I found it to be a bit creepier than I expected. Between the ghost voices, and even a serial killer, I almost thought this was a little creepier than some of the horror books I have been reading lately. Due to personally experiences I’ve had, I actually believe in ghosts so the fact that this story doesn’t fell so farfetched made it a bit creepy too.

This book has a nice fast pace which I really liked. It seems like something is always happening so there is a good amount of excitement. There is also a romance. The timeline of the story happens over a week or so, so I like that Culpepper didn’t put the romance on fast-forward. While there is kissing and some forms of intimacy there are no explicit sex scenes. And again, because the timeline is fast, and it feels like their relationship is just beginning, I actually didn’t miss the sex scenes in this case.

Considering this book is 8 years old, I thought it held up pretty well. Ghost “hunting” equipment has come a long way since this book, but some of the basics for catching EVP’s are still used. One part I didn’t like was all the Xena references. It was cute at first but it got old pretty quickly. That was really the one main thing that made the book seem a bit dated.

If you are looking for a good Halloween book that has a sweet romance, characters that are different from the norm (I ran out of time to go into that but think likeable characters who are interesting), a good mystery and a little spookiness, then this book is for you. It was a lot of fun and more interesting than I even expected.

[Pin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Great fun to read this one! This is my first Culpepper, but it certainly will not be the last. A perfect blend of mystery, paranormal and romance with a nice dose of humor. An excellent book that goes on my re-read list.

[MaxDisaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.
This was definitely unusual. Unusual but seriously good. And I'm saying this as a person who doesn't like ghosts. Surprisingly enough, this story didn't actually scare me. Was it creepy? Yes, but in a good way.
It's well written, it made sense, I really liked the character of Jo (I like high functioning neuro-divergent characters, they are very relatable to me) and Becca was nice too.
Yup I was happy

[Jem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensitive love story between a spirited, nurturing social worker with a traumatic past and a cold, socially-challenged scientist she hires to help her decipher a 'ghostly' message from her late mother.

There is so much more to it than meets the eye, however, as their quest digs deeper and gets more dangerous as the mystery intensifies.

I love the perfect juxtaposition of romance developing alongside the mystery. The characters also develop nicely as they interact with one another. The author treats the scientist Jo's 'disability' with respect and nuance. I find it quite endearing how she tries to interpret people's facial expressions scientifically. And she's forever watching out for Becca and learning how to socially interact along the way.

I'm not a Xena fan, but the references to the show, its themes and props and how the characters bond over them are an excellent use of pop culture to further the story.

My only gripe has to do with the ending. The romantic in me wishes for an extra chapter of Becca 101. Also I didn't quite appreciate the villain's motives--they seem too contrived. I know truth is often stranger than fiction, but this is supposed to be fiction.

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very peculiar story and characters. The tone is really different. I can't really decide whether I liked it or not.

It certainly kept me riveted and wanting to read through and find out what would happen next, but I do wonder if it's only because of the strange tone overall and the wanting to understand the greater mystery that compelled me.

Overall the characters were all so abstract to me, as were their emotions - that my feelings for them weren't as strong as my simple desire just to know the facts about the case and the mystery. So I feel detached.

I think the end result means it was all too much with the amalgamation of so many secrets and lies that had been perpetuated through such a very long time. The perpetrators own actions/reactions fell flat, and the MC's own response to it was also flattened and all too easily got over.

So I think I'm erring on the side of it not wholly working for me.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. This book hit some of my favorite genres in one book. The chemistry between Becca and Jo was great. I would have never guessed the ending. I have never read any books by this author and would definitely read some more.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I read the synopsis for this book, I knew it had to be bumped up on my to-read list. I love books that deal with "real world" paranormal subjects like ghost hunting and EVP, and I love when the true believer and the skeptic have to work together to solve a mystery. In this book, we get two believers who approach a case from two angle--Jo is a professional who seeks proof, and Becca is a woman trying to solve the mysteries of her parents' deaths when she was only five.

The mystery plot was awesome in this. It kept me guessing constantly, kept me questioning each characters' intentions as Becca and Jo brought up all the old skeletons in everyone's closets. Even the parts of the book that leaned towards contemporary romance were great--Becca's "clan" of close friends felt like coming home, and all the amazing Xena references sent my little gay heart soaring. It made me incredibly invested in Becca's well-being, her relationship with Jo, and the root of all of her childhood horrors.

I like that the characters feel very real in this. They're flawed and broken and beautiful together. Becca's phobia, PTSD, and status as a recovering addict don't make her any less of an adorable dork who "eats roughly four pounds of chocolate per day" (Jo's words, not mine). She has a wicked sense of laid-back humor and is great in crisis, making her the kind of gal I'd want in my corner. Jo, on the other hand, was a little less fully-fleshed than Becca, but still very enjoyable. I thought she was autistic from the first time we met her, but the story never reveals any kind of diagnosis, just that she has difficulty with social cues and situations. She's smart and capable and completely in over her head as she falls for Becca, and I love that she's a sexy butch who doesn't fall into many of the butch stereotypes still prevalent in lesfic (I love a leather jacket and motorcycle as much as the next girl, but sometimes a dorky scholar butch is just my cup of tea). Even the minor characters, like Rachel Perry or Luther Emerson, are shown to be three-dimensional people even as they battle illnesses that come with old age. It's a small detail, but it's one that I enjoyed.

I use the "paranormal" tag very loosely for this, since this book is only paranormal in that it asks you to believe in the presence of afterlife communication from the first chapter and runs with the idea until the end. It's never in doubt for us that Becca's mother is speaking to us--that's just a given. It's merely one clue into solving a mystery that is much more important than a little spirit-chatting. I think some readers won't like that aspect (either because they're skeptics or they want more of it, but it really worked for me in a subdued horror-story kind of way.

This was a relatively short book with a succinct plot, great characters, and a good mystery. The romance won't work for everyone (and it is kept very PG), and some might be put off by the paranormal-lite aspects, but I thought it was a great read.

[D. Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked Cate's Lambda winning "River Walker," you'll LOVE "A Question of Ghosts." The two main characters are beautifully developed,the dialog is brisk and the writing crisp. Don't miss this one. It's one of those that when you are finished, you close the book and say, "Wow."

[Natsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story! Just when you thought it's going one way, it suddenly shifts the other way.

I had my initial suspicions about what really happened on the night of Becca's 5th birthday... I was right about the Who but wrong about the Why (unexpected plot twist by the way).

I found the initial awkward interaction between Jo and Becca to be tender. This developed into a friendship Jo didn't want to acknowledge. In the process of helping Becca find the truth about the night her parents died, Becca also helped Jo deal with her struggles caused by her condition.

For me, the part where trauma caused Becca to block the memory of who murdered her parents was very realistic. The scenes that were supposed to be disturbing/scary were so well-written that my imagination had a field day conjuring the images. It had some pretty funny scenes too which had me laughing like a crazy woman.

Giving it 5 stars, yeah.

[MEC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first time I read this one, I didn’t like it. But since I re-read River Walker and enjoyed it so much, I gave this one another try. I enjoyed A Question of Ghosts much more than the first go around – I still could have done without all the Xena references; but, that’s really just a personal preference. Overall, this was a humourous paranormal romance with two extremely engaging characters and decent bit of mystery to keep things interesting.

Becca Healey should be a basket case – her parents died in an apparent murder-suicide on her fifth birthday, she has developed a debilitating phobia around dolls or anything that portrays a human representation, she has a ridiculously addictive personality (luckily she’s managed to restrict it to chocolate) and she hears the voice of her dead mother over radio static. Instead she’s empathetic, funny, optimistic and has solid circle of friends who love her dearly – okay, so she has a few panic attacks, but she’s so damned engaging you can’t help but fall for her.

Poor Dr Joanne Call, an expert in Electronic Voice Phenomenon that Becca reaches out to, doesn’t stand a chance. Jo is an odd kind of character – unable to process or understand social queues – she doesn’t quite know what to make of Becca and is dragged from her reclusive and quiet life of scientific study. At first she’s fascinated by the EVP phenomena and the messages from Becca’s mother, but she quickly finds herself swept up by Becca and her feelings for her. The two seem to have an ability to figure one another out, quirks and all and they are a perfect fit. So the romance works – it’s fun, sweet and the two main characters are endearing.

The ghost element is rather original – Becca’s mother’s voice emanates from a radio (EVP), giving hints and warnings that prompt Becca and Jo to question whether her death was an actual suicide or murder – and the resulting investigation moves along at a good clip as they sort through suspects, motives and opportunities.


2012 Review

An interesting premise in too short of a book - which left too many gaps and unanswered questions for me. I'm still a fan of Culpepper - if you haven't already, read Riverwalker. And if you're a X/G uber fan - the Tristaine series is a recommended read. Two and a half stars.

[Chris Paynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really admire Culpepper's writing, especially her storytelling abilities to hook you and take you through the duration of the novel. I've read two of her other novels, the latest being her Lambda-winning "River Walker." "A Question of Ghosts" is along the same lines as "River Walker." Her character development is amazing. She's not afraid to give her characters flaws, which to me makes you even more invested in their lives. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for her next release!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. I really enjoyed this book. It had a great romance, a side of paranormal, but also a mystery with great twists and suspenseful moments.

[Juushika · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Becca hears her dead mother's voice, she reaches out for help from an expert in the supernatural. I admire this on paper--the protagonists have a genuine chemistry, and I love that they're older, with storied, atypical backgrounds and identities; the cast is diverse, the Seattle setting convincing, and it has a fun, kind energy. But in practice, this never worked for me. The social elements are too delineated--characters disclosing information unnaturally, bonding too readily--and I don't buy the final reveal at all; I couldn't grow invested. And this lacks atmosphere, despite the potential for it (particularly in the cover image and the statue's role in the book). The supernatural feels too commonplace, foregoing tiresome disbelief but also losing tension and atmosphere. I tried to like this, but it probably just wasn't the book for me.

[T.J. Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story! This is the first I've read by this author and I'll certainly be reading another. I have never really been interested in ghost stories, and I'll be completely honest and say that the reason I read this one (besides the other awesome reviews) was because I was looking for a letter Q for my A-Z lesfic challenge. I've found so many amazing books that I might not have read otherwise via this method, I would highly recommend it, haha. Like I highly recommend this book! The connection between Becca and Jo is really sweet, and the story is fast-paced with lots of twists and surprises, and it's pretty creepy, lol. I kept thinking I knew "whodunnit" but turns out I didn't, lol. I'm glad I didn't read it in the dark, and I also really feel for people that have the same phobia as Becca! *shivers*

[Jess Faraday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written, well-paced, all-around excellent read. My review here: http://jessfaraday.com/2012/06/25/mor...

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

I must confess that one night I had to stop reading this story and start something else because I felt the creepiness surround me. The book never reaches the peaks of horror books, because the ghost is pretty gentle and not harmful toward one of the protagonists, but I felt impressed. I think it was especially because Becca, the character who was hearing the voice, was living with such a stress that it transferred to me. The tone of the whole story is very funny at times, though, so I can't classify it as a dark read.

Becca was five when her parents died: her mother allegedly killed his husband and then committed suicide. The problem is that Becca's mother has reached out to her through radio equipment to let her know that what Becca knows isn't true. Becca has had a problem of addiction, but she's a sunny woman, fiercely loved and protected by her friends. She decides to ask for help to Joanne, who's an expert in otherworldly voice phenomena. I think Joanne is a very interesting character. It's not clearly explained what her condition is, but basically she has difficulties in social interaction, it's as if she can't emotionally connect with the feelings of the people around her, and she has learned to read the expressions of people constantly to be able to catch the nuances that let her interpret the behavior of others.

In their investigation Becca and Joanne move something that has been buried for a long time and day after day they receive threats or signs that they should desist from it. At the same time, they get closer and they literally learn to interact with each other. Becca gives Joanne a clan of friends and connections that she has never had in her life, Joanne gives Becca a rock to hold on too. They are both flawed and their friendship makes them heal.

The story was very entertaining, with some humor, and I was surprised at the end.

[Cab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read some mixed reviews on this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have no idea if the author intended the first few chapters to be as funny in spots as they were but there were definitely a few places where I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. My absolute favorite scene was the Ghost yelling “Becca Run!!” and the description of the events afterward. I’m still giggling at the visual that was created for me.

I liked the interaction between Becca and Jo and the development of both characters. It’s obvious in the 1st introduction of Jo that she does not do people or emotions well at all, but that’s part of what makes her endearing. I like the fact that Becca and Jo seem to have an inherent ability to figure each other out and can interact in a manner that shows acceptance for each others’ quirks.

I liked it, I liked the story, and I liked the mystery as well. It was a good book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little hesitant to read A Question of Ghosts simply because I am a scaredy cat when it comes to, well, anything scary. Knowing what an excellent story teller Cate Culpepper is, I knew this story would not disappoint in character development as well as having a captivating story line. I was not disappointed in getting scared, in loving the characters dynamic personalities, and getting caught up in the story and wanting to know who did it already! Ms. Culpepper did an excellent job of laying down the clues but keeping the reader guessing until the very end. The characters of Jo and Becca left me wanting to see more of them in future work as Ms. Culpepper gave the reader just enough of their relationship without detracting from the true story but knowing the connection that they made was real. My recommendation- read it during the day when there is still light!

[Baxter Clare Trautman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, as the three stars say, and to be honest I had huge expectations after River Walker.

Culpepper's writing is satisfying on all levels - professional editing, believable characters, a spookily fascinating EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) storyline, and a plot with more red herrings than a North Atlantic fishing fleet. The only thing lacking for me, was that elusive, ineffable quality of heart: the story felt more genre-driven than soul-inspired, but lesfic fans will not be disappointed in A Question of Ghosts.

[Baz MW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This strays very much from my usual genres but I'm pleasantly surprised. I thought this book would be much more about the supernatural and the processes involved in communicating with the other side. While particular scenes do focus on it and it is the general theme of the book, it isn't the focus. I did finish it in a day however, which speaks volumes for its readability.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 12, 2021

The theme of the importance of friendship (clan) really resonated with me on this third read of this very good novel.

June 9, 2019

Really interesting storyline with good characters. I really appreciated the inclusion of a main character on the autism spectrum (or a similar condition).

[K P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly my favorite part of this book was all the Xena references. The mystery got me hooked but I didn't like the solution very much, felt fucked up in an unnecessary way, I think.

[Immy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book, with interesting characters. Lots of ladies loving ladies - which is always good - but also an intriguing storyline revolving around the mystery of ghosts, and our ability to communicate with them (and them with us). Was a little disappointed about the lack of science and explanations about the ghosts, but other than that the book gave me what I was looking for. Not going to lie, a large part of why I read this book was for the Xena refernces, and I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of mentions the show got! I didn't give the book a higher rating because some of the time it seemed a little far-fetched, and sometimes it read a little like fanfiction, so when comparing it to other books I've read it wasn't the best. Still a fun read! Just wasn't always believable (and not because of the ghosts). Nothing wrong with it though, and would recommend for those looking for a pleasant gay ghost story.

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Together, Becca and Jo must tackle childhood grief, a serial killer, Xena withdrawal, and a growing attraction between the two most mismatched women in Seattle"


I liked Jo. At first I thought she was ice queen, so it was cute when Becca talked about her dimples. Because that one thing I have yet to see in ice queens. Later, though, if one insists on naming Jo an ice queen after finding out her diagnosis, then that's being a bully. Jo was something special. Her romance building with Becca was something uninteresting though. Becca is probably one of those people that fall easily, but still.. that was just too quick, without even any sense of connection at all.

The one thing I liked most was the revelation part though, because now baby girl was crazy. Love is crazy but that was too much. Though I doubt the killer's motives very much because she killed her... that scene was just weird but in a good way. She was crazy using her child like that.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the story captivated me since the beginning.

[MJSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all three of Culpepper present day stories (I haven't read her Tristaine series) and while I'm not usually a fan of the paranormal I do like the way Culpepper incorporates these aspects into her stories. This book leaned more on the paranormal than Fireside (my favourite so far) but the mystery was intriguing and the pacing such that it flowed nicely.

I enjoyed the characters, both main and supporting but my only criticism would be that some didn't seem fleshed out enough. We learnt plenty about Becca as the story primarily focused on her, and as such I got to the end without a good handle on Jo. Also a little more back-story on Becca's two best friends would have been nice. And though the two main characters spent a lot of time together, they didn't really discuss anything much of a personal nature, I guess we're to believe the knew enough of each others character to fall in love, without needing to know anything of substance. Culpepper seemed to find the balance between the romance and the paranormal a bit better in River Walker though.

Still the mystery and the subsequent investigation were more than enough to keep me going, the romance between Becca and Jo seemed largely a side plot and I enjoyed it as such. I prefer Fireside and River Walker, but this one is worth a read as well.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good because I wondered if maybe the main character was just crazy and it was all in her mind or if some one playing a trick on her. By the end I was just like "What the hell is going on here?" I really like the relationship the author developed even beyond the two main characters. The friendship seemed really sweet cause the one character didn't even expect to get that kind of acceptance. Plus it has Xena mentioned! Love Xena. lol

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Intrigue and humour, great combo and so finely balanced. Jo is a wonderful quirky, flawed character, one of my all time favourite fictional lesbian. And Becca is just delicious. This book is on my re-read list and has become a treat to dip into.

[Maggie]

I couldn't wait to find out what would happen at the end of the book. And all of the Xena references were a lot of fun - be sure to read this book if you're a fan of the show, as there will be a lot of "winks" and "nods" directed towards it scattered throughout the book.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much, the characters were written to feel real. Maybe I just find the paranormal interesting, it was a great storyline.