The only thing standing between Central Massachusetts and the forces of darkness is this group of underfunded, over-caffeinated investigators. How screwed are we, really?
The North County branch is one of the best paranormal investigation and cleanup teams employed by the Foundation for Paranormal Research. They keep the residents of Northern Worcester County, Massachusetts safe from the things that secretly live among them. That is, if they can avoid killing each other in the process.
In this special collection, get to know the world of North County Paranormal Unit through two volumes.
A novella set one year before the main series, The Vanishing House has the team tackling what should be a simple haunted house case. Madelyn, a young agent still recovering from a horrible work accident, badly wants to be back in the field while her friends want to keep her safe. But when one of their own disappears inside the building, the team quickly learns that they’re on their own to bring her back. And Madelyn might hold the key.
Then, in North County Paranormal Unit #1, Gabriella, a recent college graduate, gets an invitation to join her cousin at the local branch of the Foundation for Paranormal Studies. Hunting ghosts and monsters isn’t what she had in mind after school. But she needs a job and this one is available, so she takes it.
But then her first case goes horribly wrong. Injured and confused in the aftermath, Gabriella is forced to choose sides within the team. All her life, Gabriella's been told to be nice and trust her higher-ups, that by not making waves she’ll be kept safe. But is that the right decision in a situation when it pits her against her team? And what's the price if she chooses incorrectly?
"North County Paranormal Unit Special Series Starter" by Amanda McCormack offers readers an enthralling introduction to a world where the forces of darkness lurk just beneath the surface of Central Massachusetts, and the only thing standing between them and chaos is a group of underfunded, over-caffeinated investigators.
In this special collection, readers are immersed in the thrilling adventures of the North County Paranormal Unit through two volumes. In "The Vanishing House," set one year before the main series, the team embarks on what should be a straightforward haunted house case. However, when one of their own disappears inside the building, the team must navigate treacherous supernatural forces to bring her back, with young agent Madelyn holding the key to their success.
Then, in "North County Paranormal Unit #1," recent college graduate Gabriella finds herself thrust into the world of ghost hunting when she accepts a job at the local branch of the Foundation for Paranormal Studies. But when her first case goes awry, Gabriella is forced to choose sides within the team, grappling with questions of loyalty, trust, and the price of making the wrong decision.
McCormack skillfully blends elements of paranormal investigation, suspense, and interpersonal drama to create a series starter that is as gripping as it is entertaining. With its dynamic characters, fast-paced plot, and tantalizing mysteries, "North County Paranormal Unit" promises readers a captivating journey into the supernatural realms of Northern Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Perfect for fans of paranormal fiction and urban fantasy, this series starter sets the stage for a thrilling exploration of the supernatural, where danger lurks around every corner and the truest enemies may be those closest to us. Dive into the world of the North County Paranormal Unit and prepare for an unforgettable adventure.
Don't let the cover with a ghost with the smiley face balloon fool you. Although the cover is lighthearted the stories are treated seriously. This is definitely not like any of the Ghostbuster movies.
This book contains an introductory novella and a full novel. They are told from the point of view of Amelia, an experienced team member, in the novella and of Gabriella, a young woman starting a new job at the North County Paranormal Unit under the umbrella of The Foundation in the longer story.
In some ways the novella is more action packed than the novel. It is about one of the cases that the NCPU has to handle. There are some serious problems in the case because of lack of complete information from the parent Foundation. The novel gets more into the more mundane aspects of doing paranormal "clearings" as a company. There are training sessions, team meetings, mandatory workouts in the gym, and budgetary issues that make life hard for the local teams. There are also a few times various team members have to go out to remove ghosts and other paranormal entities from locations. Although the cover fooled me into thinking it would be more humorous, I really liked the stories and the interaction of the team members.
Spooky, sometimes funny with a solid cast of characters. I really liked how close the group was – their friendship and camaraderie really brought a great feel to their otherwise unconventional job. It almost seemed like a cozy mystery, just with more ghosts and creepy crawlies, but that's why I enjoyed it! I do wish there was more said about Madelyn’s accident – there are bits and pieces, but nothing completely definitive, and I liked the plot twist near the end. Overall, a great paranormal read and would be interested in the following books in the series!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Amanda McCormack for my copy! I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All above thoughts and opinions are my own.
"North County Paranormal Unit Special Series Starter" is a very engaging read! The characters are well-developed to the point that the reader can relate to the story's relationship's interactions. The plotline is well done. At first I couldn't figure out where the book was going and thought it was a series of short stories. It didn't take long for me to figure out that idea was wrong and then understand where the story was going. YMMV The plot held my interest and I wanted to keep reading until the end. It's a good book!. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this story and thought the premise was intriguing. I liked James, Amelia and Madelyn quite a bit; Bradley, too, even - I found him interesting and I look forward to learning more about what makes him tick. Gabriella I wasn't so sure about - I saw some good things in her character, yet there were aspects of her that were not so likable or sympathetic for me.... I mean, I didn't actively dislike her, so I look forward to book two and wonder if she'll be redeemed as the series continues.
A missing colleague... An attack by an entity... Just another day for the team of North County Paranormal Unit! Join Madelyn, Amelia, Brad and James as they discover there's more going on than just the paranormal...
These are interesting PNR/horror mysteries with well developed characters and well written dialogue and storylines. I may not sleep well after reading them!
Amanda always writes fun, even when the vampires are hanging around-yeah! Hanging around your neck is not a good place to find them. Well written with a fun plot, great character development and a unique look at horror.
I enjoyed this engaging and entertaining paranormal read. Plenty of action, spookiness, and suspense with relatable characters. I look forward to more in the series.
This story has some very interesting characters and I'm enjoying getting to know them. Lots of creepy fun. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.