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Ludo Carstairs #3

The Ghost Machine: A Terrifying and Uncanny Haunted House Thriller!

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A proposition stretching from beyond the grave.

The Picasso Twins were well known twenty years ago. Glamorous siblings who courted notoriety and scandal, until it exploded in their faces. Since the moment of their shame, they’ve been seemingly mouldering in the wilds of Ireland, but they have been far from idle.

This night the two of them have invited Ludo Carstairs and Michael Garris to their dilapidated mansion. They have an uncanny creation they wish to sell. Something borne in the obscure pages of a half-mad author of the occult, now made reality. An invention which will alter man’s relationship with the afterlife.

A Ghost Machine!

But it’s soon clear any transaction won’t be straightforward. Not only is there a brutal and long dead ancestor roaming the corridors, but there are other potential buyers at the door. Armed men far more ruthless than Ludo or Garris. Cut-throat rivals who will do anything to get what they want, even if it means creating new ghosts.

With a storm raging outside, the machine is switched on. But the power of the ghosts within the house might be nothing in comparison to the rage of those spirits about to arrive…

Ludo and Garris find themselves caught in a life and death situation, in more ways than one.

A brand new and haunting supernatural thriller! Tap the link, grab your copy, and discover the third standalone adventure in this incredible series!

218 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2023

17 people are currently reading
11 people want to read

About the author

F.R. Jameson

37 books221 followers
F.R. Jameson was born in Wales, but now lives in London with his wife and young daughter. He writes both historical thrillers and supernatural thrillers.

His books are, at the moment, mostly sorted into two different – but complimentary – series. The first, ‘Screen Siren Noir’, currently comprises of three novels: ‘Diana Christmas’, ‘Eden St. Michel’ and ‘Alice Rackham’. All of which tell the stories of beautiful British film stars caught up in Noir tales of blackmail, obsession, scandal and death. He is currently working on both the fourth and fifth books in the series.

The second series is more disturbing and scary, and lives under the moniker: ‘Ghostly Shadows’. Right now there is only one book published, a tale of supernatural revenge – ‘Death at the Shadows’. However, 2019 will bring four more entries to terrify and intrigue.

His blog - https://frjameson.com/ - is regularly updated with information about his writing, as well as film and book reviews. You can follow him @frjameson on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and you can find him on Facebook.

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5 stars
7 (31%)
4 stars
10 (45%)
3 stars
3 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for DA.
Author 3 books134 followers
June 2, 2023
Sometimes a series will lose momentum, but not this series! This book was just as fantastic as the first two. I did find this one to be darker than the others which is not a bad thing at all.
I loved how Garris was more of a prominent character. Ludo Carstairs is my favorite, but it was great to get more of a feel for Garris.
Another great thing about this series is you don't necessarily need to read the books in order. Each book is independent of the others with small references to events in previous books.
So far I'm going to call this one my favorite. Very excited to know that there are two more coming!
Profile Image for Ella.
50 reviews4 followers
May 24, 2023
I’m officially obsessed with this series! I think this might be my favorite of the three released so far. The dynamic between Ludo and Garris gets more entertaining with each book and I love how we’re slowly being given more information on the people behind The Organisation as well as its relationships with other groups like it.

In the first book, Ludo and Garris were playing the roles of detectives, in the second they practically became spies, and in this one they’re ghostbusters - their skills have no limits (which Ludo seems to be hilariously aware of). This book can be read on its own, but it’s definitely more enjoyable with the context of the last two.

Similar to the other books, The Ghost Machine was fast-paced and I couldn’t put it down as more and more of the mystery regarding the house and ghosts was revealed. After a stressful, busy day, this series is something that I look forward to picking up! The concepts are so fun and keep me engaged, and the characters have become very familiar. Needless to say, I’m very excited to see what unfortunate situation Ludo and Garris get mixed up in next!

Thank you F.R Jameson for sending me the ARC!
Profile Image for Todd Simpson.
833 reviews35 followers
May 27, 2023
Brilliant, I love it. F.R. Jameson has done another brilliant job with his latest novel ‘The Ghost Machine’ it was thoroughly captivating, and certainly entertaining from start to finish. The plot is edgy, and I like how different all the characters are from each other. The best part for me is never knowing what’s going to happen from one moment to the next. Once you read this wonderful story, you’ll want to read all his books.
Hands down worth the 5/5 Star Rating
Profile Image for Jenny.
188 reviews
August 10, 2023
Prominent was a man with the skull of a wolf and hands which had snake heads for each finger; something (or someone) was cowering on the ground in front of him. There was a giant bird with a huge wingspan (maybe a pterodactyl), while elsewhere were three men walking despite the fact there were arrows poking from their throats.

The Ghost Machine: A Terrifying and Uncanny Haunted House Thriller! (A Ludo Carstairs Supernatural Thriller)
by F.R. Jameson

They’re back!!! (Said in the tone of Poltergeist 2) This is the 3rd book in the Ludo Carstairs series and my favorite so far. And again, this can be read as a stand alone book, but will give you such a better experience if you start at the beginning. The first one will get you hooked on the Carstairs - Garris supernatural case solving duo.

Ludo Carstairs and Michael Garris have made it to Ireland. They’re brought to a broken down mansion by twin brother & sister who have in their position a creation, a ghost machine. Here they are plagued by the angry & violent ghost of one of their ancestors. A vying group of men arrive, armed and ready to take what they want for their own. How will our duo be able to beat the unbeatable this time?

This book had all the eerie and creepy vibes. The never ending undead monsters that can’t be killed. I stayed up late with some major anxiety at the end of this one, it kept me on the edge of my seat! This is such a fun series, I can’t recommend it enough. For more details on this monster of the week series check my feed for reviews of the first two books and check back as I’ll be starting the 4th book in the series soon!

Thank you to FR Jameson for the opportunity to read this one!
Profile Image for Leona.
65 reviews8 followers
May 26, 2023
When the Organisation receives an unspecified offer from two apparent fraudsters, Ludo Carstairs and Michael Garris are dispatched to investigate. In the Irish countryside lies Killamurray Castle. Within the walls of this home, The Picasso Twins have been busy. They have an invention inspired by the works of occult author Jacob Ravens. A Ghost Machine containing the once Lord of the castle who has a mean streak to say the least. The siblings are eager to sell... But Carstairs and Garris aren't the only buyers invited.

This was such an enjoyable fast paced read. Ludo and Garris are quickly becoming some of my favourite characters. It's been a while since I read a good ghost story and this one was right up my alley.

Another thing I love about Jameson's stories is that you don't have to read everything to know what's going on but if you have read his stuff before, there are plenty of references and characters who cross over. I love that Ravens was mentioned in this one.

This being set in Ireland was a nice touch for me because I rarely find these kinds of stories set in my home country.
234 reviews6 followers
June 28, 2023
The Ludo Carstairs series is a guilty pleasure of mine. This is the third in the series, and I've highly enjoyed all of them. F.R. Jameson is a fantastic storyteller and I'm invested in seeing what comes next.

In Ghost Machine, there are a few enjoyable callbacks to the previous 2 novels. Ludo and Michael find themselves dealing with the eccentric Wain twins and the unethical machine they built. Dramatic events led to me wondering if this was going to be the end of the two agents. (Although, I had faith that it would work out on the basis that a fourth novel will be coming out next month.)

Check out the Ludo Carstairs series when you are looking for entertaining storylines that are unpredictable. They are my go-to suggestion for readers in a slump.

Many thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Josette Thomas.
1,260 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2023
Carstairs and Garris are off and running to a new paranormal adventure. This time the duo are asked to come and look at some contraption that may or may not trap ghosts. Of course the contraption is located in a mansion that has seen better days. Are there loads of ghosts on said land? Yes. Many. Some are more dangerous than others. Garris also discovered he has a newly found power. The two siblings we meet at this manor are either crazy or have found the way to trap ghosts. There is danger and a chance meeting with opposing hunters of the paranormal. This adventure was almost too much for the duo. Luckily the two survive semi-unscathed and ready for a new case. This duo is turning out to be a favorite of mine to read about.
Profile Image for Lauren K.
808 reviews59 followers
May 24, 2023

In, The Ghost Machine, we travel to a castle in the Irish country where generations of a family had lived and the ghost of the paternal ancestor haunts. The siblings claim to experience severe Poltergeist activity, and summon Ludo and Carstairs to come see some wonder of unspeakable fame. Little do our dynamic duo of investigators know, this might be their most dangerous challenge yet!

Another incredibly fun supernatural thriller from F.R. Jameson. The Ludo Carstairs series is such a fun series of books. It has mystery, humor, and a little spooky! I truly enjoy this series and can’t wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Tam.
2,179 reviews54 followers
May 25, 2023
So, so, SO good! Wildly imaginative! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very unique plot. Vivid descriptions. Kept me glued to the pages from start to finish! A REALLY great read! Can't wait for this series to continue!!! Bring on The Crimson Snake!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Profile Image for Isaiah.
Author 1 book87 followers
May 24, 2023
To see a full review check it out MI Book Reviews.

This is not your typical ghost story. Instead it goes deeper to the true horror, people.

Profile Image for Valerie.
657 reviews17 followers
May 24, 2023
Ludo Carstairs and Michael Garris, expert paranormal investigators extraordinaire are back at it. They are invited to check out a contraption made from the pages of a half-mad author of the occult! What could go wrong? They run into malevolent ancestral spirits, a haunted house and possession. And the contraption is a machine that catches and holds ghosts! That’s right up their alley. I really enjoy the 3 books in the series and look forward to more!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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