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Ghost Eaters
One of Vulture's Best Horror Novels of 2022, this terrifying supernatural page-turner will make you think twice about opening doors to the unknown.
Erin hasn’t been able to set a single boundary with her charismatic but reckless college ex-boyfriend, Silas. When he asks her to bail him out of rehab—again—she knows she needs to cut him off. But days after he gets out, Silas turns up dead of an overdose in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and Erin’s world falls apart.
Then a friend tells her about Ghost, a new drug that allows users to see the dead. Wanna get haunted? he asks. Grieving and desperate for closure with Silas, Erin agrees to a pill-popping “séance.” But the drug has unfathomable side effects—and once you take it, you can never go back.
Erin hasn’t been able to set a single boundary with her charismatic but reckless college ex-boyfriend, Silas. When he asks her to bail him out of rehab—again—she knows she needs to cut him off. But days after he gets out, Silas turns up dead of an overdose in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and Erin’s world falls apart.
Then a friend tells her about Ghost, a new drug that allows users to see the dead. Wanna get haunted? he asks. Grieving and desperate for closure with Silas, Erin agrees to a pill-popping “séance.” But the drug has unfathomable side effects—and once you take it, you can never go back.
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First published September 20, 2022
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About the author
Clay McLeod Chapman
181 books1,732 followersBooks. Children's books. Comic books. Film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,784 reviews
September 18, 2022
Thank you Quirk Books for my beautiful gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
side note: damn it really pains me when I receive a physical book and I just don't vibe with it. I want to like it SO BAD and I am SO grateful, but the hoes (me) cannot lie
SYNOPSIS
Erin is addicted to Silas and Silas is addicted to drugs. After he ODs, Erin is told she can see the dead by poppin a pill called Ghost. But when she starts to see ghosts everywhere, she wonders if the come down is worth the high.
MY OPINION
Unfortunately I cannot make this spoiler free, so the non spoiler version is:
-Three unconnected storylines forced together – one was completely abandoned. Missed opportunity for a truly good book if the author had picked a lane but he was swervin all over the place.
-Seemingly pivotal events were glossed over
-Took almost 40% of the book to get to the first seance, which is the big hook of the synopsis so wtf? If you're gonna put something in the synopsis, it needs to be poppin off immediately because the reader already knows the big "turning point" of the book.
-The ending was doing entirely too much
NOW FOR THE SPOILER DIALOGUE... SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS BOOK
First things first, YES I kept an open mind because ya'll know I'm a lil scaredy cat. But like Hidden Shitshow (Pictures) I was not scared. I know that all horror doesn't have to scare the bejeesus outta ya... but shouldn't there be spooky vibes? A lil ominous feeling? Idk this was just giving me... CONFUSION.
There is a good book in here. In fact, there may be THREE good books. But instead, we have three different storylines mashed together and then one of them was yeeted out the window. On one hand, we have the historical rando ghosts. This book takes place in Richmond and when Erin takes Ghost and starts "haunting" aka tripping, she starts seeing all the ghosts of Richmond's past. I'm like ight this is kinda cool IF we delved into why the ghosts wanted to be seen, their particular backstories, why they were lickin her from her head to her toe, and why they were sitll haunting the same ole place because from my understanding these hoests (hoes + ghosts ya I said it) could zip around town. ANyways. That could've been a whole novel by itself.
Next we have the "I need to find Silas even though he's a mega POS who used me like a crack pipe" storyline. This in itself had strong points and very weak points. I get that this is a toxic relationship, but there was a failure to show why Erin couldn't make up her mind. Even when Silas was dead, within two paragraphs homegirl was like I'm done, nvm pass me the Ghost. There wasn't enough emotional build up about her connection with Silas other than telling the reader "yo she's obsessed with this man" *cue Mariah Carey's Obsessed*
Onto the third storyline... we have a beautiful exploration of how easy it is to fall into addiction and how difficult it is to recover and "break free." This was the strongest of the three storylines IMO. However, I didn't feel the connection between Erin's need to see Silas and her descent into addiction was clear enough because homegirl wasn't even talking to Silas half the time, she's was just chasing some furry ghost baby around the trap house. Within this storyline there was also a half-hearted attempt at exploring her most inner desires (domestic bliss with a bebe) but this also seemed out of left field because she never mentioned wanting to settle down with Silas? They apparently had been "just friends" for years? Idk.
Ok and then in the middle of all this we have the revelation that Amara, Erin's alleged bestie, was shebanging Silas on the low. Here we have the classic wifey vs mistress fight where Mrs. Dummy claims HE KNOWS WHERE HIS HOME IS. Except Silas is dead, so in this case it's HE KNOWS WHO'S BODY HE USES AS A VESSEL TO COME BACK "HOME". This scene had me ROLLING. And then immediately after they bicker about ghost dick, Erin brushes this off and never thinks about it again and continues to go full dummy for Silas??? WTF??? LOL. At least have some inner conflict about whether you should be ruining your life over a guy who's dick was a community pool.
Damn this is long so I apologize but I have THOUGHTS. The basement scene was just TROLOLOLOL. I don't even want to get into it.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: 2/3 storyline were interesting, jokey jokes (but tbh I'm not sure if it was intentionally funny?), powerful depiction of addiction
Cons: there were nuggets of gold in here but the author kept kicking it away from the reader. A solid editing sesh and maybe breaking the storylines into individual novellas would've worked better.
side note: damn it really pains me when I receive a physical book and I just don't vibe with it. I want to like it SO BAD and I am SO grateful, but the hoes (me) cannot lie
SYNOPSIS
Erin is addicted to Silas and Silas is addicted to drugs. After he ODs, Erin is told she can see the dead by poppin a pill called Ghost. But when she starts to see ghosts everywhere, she wonders if the come down is worth the high.
MY OPINION
Unfortunately I cannot make this spoiler free, so the non spoiler version is:
-Three unconnected storylines forced together – one was completely abandoned. Missed opportunity for a truly good book if the author had picked a lane but he was swervin all over the place.
-Seemingly pivotal events were glossed over
-Took almost 40% of the book to get to the first seance, which is the big hook of the synopsis so wtf? If you're gonna put something in the synopsis, it needs to be poppin off immediately because the reader already knows the big "turning point" of the book.
-The ending was doing entirely too much
NOW FOR THE SPOILER DIALOGUE... SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS BOOK
First things first, YES I kept an open mind because ya'll know I'm a lil scaredy cat. But like Hidden Shitshow (Pictures) I was not scared. I know that all horror doesn't have to scare the bejeesus outta ya... but shouldn't there be spooky vibes? A lil ominous feeling? Idk this was just giving me... CONFUSION.
There is a good book in here. In fact, there may be THREE good books. But instead, we have three different storylines mashed together and then one of them was yeeted out the window. On one hand, we have the historical rando ghosts. This book takes place in Richmond and when Erin takes Ghost and starts "haunting" aka tripping, she starts seeing all the ghosts of Richmond's past. I'm like ight this is kinda cool IF we delved into why the ghosts wanted to be seen, their particular backstories, why they were lickin her from her head to her toe, and why they were sitll haunting the same ole place because from my understanding these hoests (hoes + ghosts ya I said it) could zip around town. ANyways. That could've been a whole novel by itself.
Next we have the "I need to find Silas even though he's a mega POS who used me like a crack pipe" storyline. This in itself had strong points and very weak points. I get that this is a toxic relationship, but there was a failure to show why Erin couldn't make up her mind. Even when Silas was dead, within two paragraphs homegirl was like I'm done, nvm pass me the Ghost. There wasn't enough emotional build up about her connection with Silas other than telling the reader "yo she's obsessed with this man" *cue Mariah Carey's Obsessed*
Onto the third storyline... we have a beautiful exploration of how easy it is to fall into addiction and how difficult it is to recover and "break free." This was the strongest of the three storylines IMO. However, I didn't feel the connection between Erin's need to see Silas and her descent into addiction was clear enough because homegirl wasn't even talking to Silas half the time, she's was just chasing some furry ghost baby around the trap house. Within this storyline there was also a half-hearted attempt at exploring her most inner desires (domestic bliss with a bebe) but this also seemed out of left field because she never mentioned wanting to settle down with Silas? They apparently had been "just friends" for years? Idk.
Ok and then in the middle of all this we have the revelation that Amara, Erin's alleged bestie, was shebanging Silas on the low. Here we have the classic wifey vs mistress fight where Mrs. Dummy claims HE KNOWS WHERE HIS HOME IS. Except Silas is dead, so in this case it's HE KNOWS WHO'S BODY HE USES AS A VESSEL TO COME BACK "HOME". This scene had me ROLLING. And then immediately after they bicker about ghost dick, Erin brushes this off and never thinks about it again and continues to go full dummy for Silas??? WTF??? LOL. At least have some inner conflict about whether you should be ruining your life over a guy who's dick was a community pool.
Damn this is long so I apologize but I have THOUGHTS. The basement scene was just TROLOLOLOL. I don't even want to get into it.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: 2/3 storyline were interesting, jokey jokes (but tbh I'm not sure if it was intentionally funny?), powerful depiction of addiction
Cons: there were nuggets of gold in here but the author kept kicking it away from the reader. A solid editing sesh and maybe breaking the storylines into individual novellas would've worked better.
May 22, 2022
I mean...
September 18, 2024
‘I want to live’
Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman is a psychological horror novel with a supernatural twist. A visceral, haunting exploration of grief, addiction, and the terrifying pull of the past.
The novel’s premise is as chilling as it is inventive. The story centers around Erin, who, after the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend Silas, is introduced to a drug that allows the user to see ghosts. Desperate to reconnect with Silas and consumed by her unresolved emotions, Erin takes the drug, only to find herself drawn into a world where the lines between the living and the dead blur in very frightening ways.
Chapman blends eerie, atmospheric horror with deeper themes of loss and dependency, in doing so, this reveals the darker truths about addiction, grief, and trauma. Making the novel as much about inner demons as the literal ones Erin encounters. It's a story of obsession, guilt, and the terrifying consequences of trying to hold onto the past.
Chapman’s writing is razor-sharp, capturing the rawness of grief and the unsettling nature of addiction. The pacing is relentless, drawing readers into Erin’s descent into the supernatural. This is mirrored by her psychological unraveling, and it’s this dual layered horror, both internal and external, that gives Ghost Eaters its potency
For fans of psychological horror with emotional depth, Ghost Eaters delivers a gripping narrative that is equal parts unsettling and thought-provoking. Chapman’s ability to intertwine personal demons with literal ghosts makes this a standout in the horror genre, offering a chilling reminder that some hauntings can never be left behind.
If you like your horror with psychological depth and themes that stick with you long after the story ends, Ghost Eaters would be a great choice.
I Highly Recommend.
4.5
Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman is a psychological horror novel with a supernatural twist. A visceral, haunting exploration of grief, addiction, and the terrifying pull of the past.
The novel’s premise is as chilling as it is inventive. The story centers around Erin, who, after the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend Silas, is introduced to a drug that allows the user to see ghosts. Desperate to reconnect with Silas and consumed by her unresolved emotions, Erin takes the drug, only to find herself drawn into a world where the lines between the living and the dead blur in very frightening ways.
Chapman blends eerie, atmospheric horror with deeper themes of loss and dependency, in doing so, this reveals the darker truths about addiction, grief, and trauma. Making the novel as much about inner demons as the literal ones Erin encounters. It's a story of obsession, guilt, and the terrifying consequences of trying to hold onto the past.
Chapman’s writing is razor-sharp, capturing the rawness of grief and the unsettling nature of addiction. The pacing is relentless, drawing readers into Erin’s descent into the supernatural. This is mirrored by her psychological unraveling, and it’s this dual layered horror, both internal and external, that gives Ghost Eaters its potency
For fans of psychological horror with emotional depth, Ghost Eaters delivers a gripping narrative that is equal parts unsettling and thought-provoking. Chapman’s ability to intertwine personal demons with literal ghosts makes this a standout in the horror genre, offering a chilling reminder that some hauntings can never be left behind.
If you like your horror with psychological depth and themes that stick with you long after the story ends, Ghost Eaters would be a great choice.
I Highly Recommend.
4.5
December 19, 2022
"Ghost Eaters" by Clay McLeod Chapman starts out with a creepy epilogue that easily set the tone for what awaited. I enjoyed all the characters in this novel as they all brought something unique to the novel, especially Erin, the main protagonist. They were all fleshed out well and easily relatable, which added a nice authentic touch to each of them.
The story itself is absolutely wild. I’m talking super crazy, terrifying, and many instances of sheer horror. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but my goodness, this was such a unique twist when it comes to ghosts and well, being haunted. I enjoyed all the scary moments throughout the novel as McLeod Chapman pushed the envelope and then some with the insane descriptions of certain scenes and situations.
I also enjoyed how he added that haunted scary element to this novel while reading. It’s subtle as you read and truly added another layer of creepiness that was fantastic. Again, it’s just another unique way of storytelling that I haven’t seen done before in this way which was refreshing.
Now, the only thing I could say I didn’t like about “Ghost Eaters” is there were some parts while reading that took away from the strong momentum that was being built up. It got a bit boring as I noticed this at around the 35% mark but then McLeod Chapman bounced back big time at the 50% mark. My goodness, from 50% on, this was a genuine page-turner.
The kind of page-turner that will keep you up late reading deep into the night. Guaranteed. That’s how addictive this was as you get close to the ending. That’s when things were kicked up to another notch and got beyond freaky with what was happening. I’ve read a ton of horror novels in my life and from the 50% mark on, I was making all sorts of faces and expressions because it’s that scary.
Then, unfortunately, and once again, McLeod Chapman eased off the gas pedal a bit and it started to drag on at around the 75% mark. The final 25% of any horror novel should be the best and most amazing part since you made it to what should be a climactic ending.
Once I got through that and to the ending, just three words: OH. MY. GOD. That was incredible, horrific, and just flat-out awesome. I loved it and honestly, if this didn’t have those few instances where things dragged on and got a bit boring, this could have been a perfect horror novel.
I give "Ghost Eaters" by Clay McLeod Chapman a 4/5 as this was a very unique horror novel with the kind of original story that most horror readers will appreciate and freak out on. It gave me a bunch of scary moments as this was a solid, memorable read. I’d recommend this to anyone that wants a unique read about being haunted that is taken to a whole different level. You won’t regret reading this novel. ERIN WAS HERE
The story itself is absolutely wild. I’m talking super crazy, terrifying, and many instances of sheer horror. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but my goodness, this was such a unique twist when it comes to ghosts and well, being haunted. I enjoyed all the scary moments throughout the novel as McLeod Chapman pushed the envelope and then some with the insane descriptions of certain scenes and situations.
I also enjoyed how he added that haunted scary element to this novel while reading. It’s subtle as you read and truly added another layer of creepiness that was fantastic. Again, it’s just another unique way of storytelling that I haven’t seen done before in this way which was refreshing.
Now, the only thing I could say I didn’t like about “Ghost Eaters” is there were some parts while reading that took away from the strong momentum that was being built up. It got a bit boring as I noticed this at around the 35% mark but then McLeod Chapman bounced back big time at the 50% mark. My goodness, from 50% on, this was a genuine page-turner.
The kind of page-turner that will keep you up late reading deep into the night. Guaranteed. That’s how addictive this was as you get close to the ending. That’s when things were kicked up to another notch and got beyond freaky with what was happening. I’ve read a ton of horror novels in my life and from the 50% mark on, I was making all sorts of faces and expressions because it’s that scary.
Then, unfortunately, and once again, McLeod Chapman eased off the gas pedal a bit and it started to drag on at around the 75% mark. The final 25% of any horror novel should be the best and most amazing part since you made it to what should be a climactic ending.
Once I got through that and to the ending, just three words: OH. MY. GOD. That was incredible, horrific, and just flat-out awesome. I loved it and honestly, if this didn’t have those few instances where things dragged on and got a bit boring, this could have been a perfect horror novel.
I give "Ghost Eaters" by Clay McLeod Chapman a 4/5 as this was a very unique horror novel with the kind of original story that most horror readers will appreciate and freak out on. It gave me a bunch of scary moments as this was a solid, memorable read. I’d recommend this to anyone that wants a unique read about being haunted that is taken to a whole different level. You won’t regret reading this novel. ERIN WAS HERE
Read
February 15, 2023DNF at 67%. I’m just so beyond disappointed. I was expecting this to be one of my favorites of the year, but I did not vibe with it at all. I just know that if I force myself to finish it I’ll probably put myself in a reading slump, and I have too much I’m excited to read for that. Also, I just know I’m not gonna like whatever happens because I’m so annoyed with the story, and I don’t feel like nit-picking it to death.
I’ll list some things below I disliked that lead me to DNF.
The pacing: this book is SLOOOOOOOOOWWW. So slow. It should not take 50% of the book for it to really start. Like, from the synopsis you know Silas is going to kill himself, but that didn’t happen until like 35% in. Also from the synopsis, you know that they take a haunting drug that causes crazy side effects, but that doesn’t happen until over 50% of the way in.
Cringey phrasing: This happened quite a bit, but most notably an ectoplasmic monster entwines itself in our MC’s legs and says “I’m coming for your coooooch, coochie coochie cooooooooo”. Not even joking. What sucks too is that a genuinely creepy scene directly preceded this, and it just ruined the mood.
Every character: I disliked them all immensely, but especially the main character.
The dialogue: Right from the first page I found it to be grating, and it just didn’t get better unfortunately.
The tone: It seemed to see-saw tonally the entire read- was it a sad grief horror? Maybe, but I’d have to care about the characters for that to work. Horror comedy? It’s hard to tell, or idk if it was purposefully trying to be cringey. Was it supposed to be genuinely scary? I’m honestly unsure, but it just all seemed kinda goofy instead of a terrifying. I don’t know what this book was aiming to be, but it never landed on one thing effectively.
The way the ghosts behaved in general: just weird. Licking up ectoplasmic vomit is not creepy or gross. It kinda just made me 🫤🤨
The descriptions of nakedness for shock factor (couple instances of male private parts being described, one scene with an old woman).
There were a few things I liked, mostly the general premise. A drug that enables hauntings?! Absolutely!! However, the hauntings didn’t really start until around 50%, and then the stuff above just kinda took me out of it. I also love the tagline: Wanna Get Haunted? Whenever that was written it just scratched an itch in my brain idk 😂 There were also a few disorienting sequences where the MC was on a bad trip which were pretty cool to read. But yeah idk.
I feel like this would be a good Cronenburg-esq movie, but the book unfortunately was a miss for me..
I’ll list some things below I disliked that lead me to DNF.
The pacing: this book is SLOOOOOOOOOWWW. So slow. It should not take 50% of the book for it to really start. Like, from the synopsis you know Silas is going to kill himself, but that didn’t happen until like 35% in. Also from the synopsis, you know that they take a haunting drug that causes crazy side effects, but that doesn’t happen until over 50% of the way in.
Cringey phrasing: This happened quite a bit, but most notably an ectoplasmic monster entwines itself in our MC’s legs and says “I’m coming for your coooooch, coochie coochie cooooooooo”. Not even joking. What sucks too is that a genuinely creepy scene directly preceded this, and it just ruined the mood.
Every character: I disliked them all immensely, but especially the main character.
The dialogue: Right from the first page I found it to be grating, and it just didn’t get better unfortunately.
The tone: It seemed to see-saw tonally the entire read- was it a sad grief horror? Maybe, but I’d have to care about the characters for that to work. Horror comedy? It’s hard to tell, or idk if it was purposefully trying to be cringey. Was it supposed to be genuinely scary? I’m honestly unsure, but it just all seemed kinda goofy instead of a terrifying. I don’t know what this book was aiming to be, but it never landed on one thing effectively.
The way the ghosts behaved in general: just weird. Licking up ectoplasmic vomit is not creepy or gross. It kinda just made me 🫤🤨
The descriptions of nakedness for shock factor (couple instances of male private parts being described, one scene with an old woman).
There were a few things I liked, mostly the general premise. A drug that enables hauntings?! Absolutely!! However, the hauntings didn’t really start until around 50%, and then the stuff above just kinda took me out of it. I also love the tagline: Wanna Get Haunted? Whenever that was written it just scratched an itch in my brain idk 😂 There were also a few disorienting sequences where the MC was on a bad trip which were pretty cool to read. But yeah idk.
I feel like this would be a good Cronenburg-esq movie, but the book unfortunately was a miss for me..
June 2, 2023
This is not what I was looking for. Sigh…
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
October 1, 2022
Negative 5 stars. **SPOILER ALERT **- it’s not a ghost story. It’s a story full of detestable characters, all of them, with drug addiction problems. That last FOREVER. There. That’s the book, I saved you hours and left out none of the interesting bits of the story. You know, because there weren’t any.
May 26, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
I feel like I just came down from a hallucinogenic-laced, multi-week, brain-frying bender. And not in the good, fun-loving Big Lebowski way. More like the Fear & Loathing / Natural Born Killers, feel like I want to go take a shower way. Don’t do drugs kids.
This book was a fever dream to say the least, but if you’re looking for something to crawl beneath your skin and make all of your nerves itch, then this is for you. It’s creepy, it’s compelling, and it’s unique. The plot moves, never feeling overly weighted down or mistakenly anchored.
But let’s talk about the four main characters. Holy hell are they awful. Sometimes there’s characters who are awful and remain lovable despite their flaws, and other times you want to grab everything around you in the room and throw them forcefully at their brain houses. These were the latter, especially Silas. But don’t think I’m not talking about you Erin. You are a chaotic, self-hating, manipulatable mess. Maybe chill out on the Silas worship.
All in all, this book was good. It’s worth your time, so go give it.
I feel like I just came down from a hallucinogenic-laced, multi-week, brain-frying bender. And not in the good, fun-loving Big Lebowski way. More like the Fear & Loathing / Natural Born Killers, feel like I want to go take a shower way. Don’t do drugs kids.
This book was a fever dream to say the least, but if you’re looking for something to crawl beneath your skin and make all of your nerves itch, then this is for you. It’s creepy, it’s compelling, and it’s unique. The plot moves, never feeling overly weighted down or mistakenly anchored.
But let’s talk about the four main characters. Holy hell are they awful. Sometimes there’s characters who are awful and remain lovable despite their flaws, and other times you want to grab everything around you in the room and throw them forcefully at their brain houses. These were the latter, especially Silas. But don’t think I’m not talking about you Erin. You are a chaotic, self-hating, manipulatable mess. Maybe chill out on the Silas worship.
All in all, this book was good. It’s worth your time, so go give it.
December 15, 2022
Damn, that was dark. Loved it.
March 14, 2023
Well, that was an enjoyable read. Just think Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas combined with a number of ghost stories, and then you're somewhat close to describing this novel.
An intense supernatural horror story about our addictions, compulsions, fears and how we live on within others.
McLeod Chapman's writing is impeccable throughout and conjures up many a trippy, nightmarish and atmospheric scene.
The plot itself was harder to take, with the majority being based on drug taking and addiction. I think this was the main reason I didn't emotionally connect with a number of the characters, but this doesn't take away from the overall quality of the book, more a matter of personal taste.
Would I recommend this book or the author to others? Yes, I most certainly would, and I'll most definitely be keeping an eye out for future work from Clay McLeod Chapman.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An intense supernatural horror story about our addictions, compulsions, fears and how we live on within others.
McLeod Chapman's writing is impeccable throughout and conjures up many a trippy, nightmarish and atmospheric scene.
The plot itself was harder to take, with the majority being based on drug taking and addiction. I think this was the main reason I didn't emotionally connect with a number of the characters, but this doesn't take away from the overall quality of the book, more a matter of personal taste.
Would I recommend this book or the author to others? Yes, I most certainly would, and I'll most definitely be keeping an eye out for future work from Clay McLeod Chapman.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 24, 2022
I was so excited for this book. The premise was unique and intriguing; take a drug and you’ll see ghosts. However, the more I read the more disappointed I became. I actually found myself bored a lot and debating DNFing it. I didn’t care about the characters or their drama and towards the end it felt like it went in a strange direction and the story fell apart.
Erin has always had toxic, tumultuous relationship with her ex Silas. They frequently engaged in drugs and other reckless behavior. When Silas begs Erin to get him out of rehab yet again, Erin puts her foot down and finally decides to set some boundaries. A few days later Silas is found dead.
Erin is devastated. Her friend tells her about a new drug named Ghost which enables users to see the dead. Drowning in grief and sadness. Erin takes the drug hoping to see Silas again. However, unbeknownst to Erin this drug has unimaginable side effects and you can’t come back from it.
Ghost Eaters is available now.
August 7, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: September 20, 2022
“Ghost Eaters” by Clay McLeod Chapman is a haunting novel in so many ways. The protagonist, Erin (bonus points are given for the lead character and I sharing a name), struggles with immense loss after the death of a lover, and then is forced to battle demons, both through addiction and actual haunting.
After years of being pulled into Silas’ orbit, Erin is trying to break free of his influence. When he calls her to spring him from rehab, she agrees to help him one final time. But Silas is unable to manage on his own and just as Erin is finally moving on from him, Silas dies from an overdose and Erin’s life is completely changed. In the midst of inescapable loss, Erin is willing to do anything to find closure. When her friend Tobias suggests a new drug, Ghost, that allows its user to communicate with the dead, Erin jumps at the chance in hopes of seeing Silas one more time. But Ghost doesn’t just bring Silas to the forefront, and soon Erin is haunted by more than the ghost of her former love.
McLeod Chapman’s novel is a horror story unlike anything I’ve read before. The setting, Richmond, Virginia, is rife with history, and is the perfect place for a ‘haunting’, as ghosts of slaves, Indigenous peoples, and others overflow its borders. The authors’ terrifyingly descriptive language brings terrible, ghostly things to vivid life, and it is absolutely horrifying (in the best way).
The story is written in a unique style as well, in a broken yet cohesive manner that perfectly illustrates the thinking of someone broken apart by loss and addiction. Erin is the narrator throughout, and it is easy to connect and empathize with her.
McLeod Chapman has instantly become my new “author to watch” and I have immediately TBR’ed all of his past horror novels(with a close eye on anything new he releases). He emotionally details the devastating realities of addiction, while still being able to tell a scary-as-Hell ghost story and I couldn’t get enough.
Expected publication date: September 20, 2022
“Ghost Eaters” by Clay McLeod Chapman is a haunting novel in so many ways. The protagonist, Erin (bonus points are given for the lead character and I sharing a name), struggles with immense loss after the death of a lover, and then is forced to battle demons, both through addiction and actual haunting.
After years of being pulled into Silas’ orbit, Erin is trying to break free of his influence. When he calls her to spring him from rehab, she agrees to help him one final time. But Silas is unable to manage on his own and just as Erin is finally moving on from him, Silas dies from an overdose and Erin’s life is completely changed. In the midst of inescapable loss, Erin is willing to do anything to find closure. When her friend Tobias suggests a new drug, Ghost, that allows its user to communicate with the dead, Erin jumps at the chance in hopes of seeing Silas one more time. But Ghost doesn’t just bring Silas to the forefront, and soon Erin is haunted by more than the ghost of her former love.
McLeod Chapman’s novel is a horror story unlike anything I’ve read before. The setting, Richmond, Virginia, is rife with history, and is the perfect place for a ‘haunting’, as ghosts of slaves, Indigenous peoples, and others overflow its borders. The authors’ terrifyingly descriptive language brings terrible, ghostly things to vivid life, and it is absolutely horrifying (in the best way).
The story is written in a unique style as well, in a broken yet cohesive manner that perfectly illustrates the thinking of someone broken apart by loss and addiction. Erin is the narrator throughout, and it is easy to connect and empathize with her.
McLeod Chapman has instantly become my new “author to watch” and I have immediately TBR’ed all of his past horror novels(with a close eye on anything new he releases). He emotionally details the devastating realities of addiction, while still being able to tell a scary-as-Hell ghost story and I couldn’t get enough.
November 6, 2024
“Psst,” the dealers all sigh and murmur. “Wanna get haunted?”
What is a ghost? Is it a shadow of our past clinging to our present? I believe it’s our addictions. The habits we form that end up consuming us if we allow them to take over.
You’re here because you’re haunted. This circle of foldout chairs is our campfire. This is where we share our ghost stories. Think of it as Apparitions Anonymous.
I’ll go first:
Hi. My name is Erin and I am haunted. Here’s my ghost story: I’m living proof that you can survive Ghost.
A haunting and disjointed portrayal of the lengths we might all be willing to go in order to know and get a glimpse into a reality beyond those of our senses.
The writing is an unconventional stream of consciousness which I would have devoured if it was structured better but hey...and there's not much of a plot. This is more of a unified single story and it really hits hard in some places. Recommended.
What is a ghost? Is it a shadow of our past clinging to our present? I believe it’s our addictions. The habits we form that end up consuming us if we allow them to take over.
You’re here because you’re haunted. This circle of foldout chairs is our campfire. This is where we share our ghost stories. Think of it as Apparitions Anonymous.
I’ll go first:
Hi. My name is Erin and I am haunted. Here’s my ghost story: I’m living proof that you can survive Ghost.
A haunting and disjointed portrayal of the lengths we might all be willing to go in order to know and get a glimpse into a reality beyond those of our senses.
None of the bodies on the floor move. Are they even breathing? I count at least a dozen users—maybe twenty. Every shadow hides more bodies. They nestle into one another like a litter of puppies. They seem content to stare vacantly into space, suspended in their own sickness. Each user has the same haunted look on their face—a mass-produced Halloween mask—hollow eyes, waxen skin, a rash of acne cropping along their cheeks and chin. These people brought their trauma into this house. They dragged in their past, the phantoms on their backs, in their bellies. They brought their pain. All their hurt, their loss. Their rage. They brought it in and planted the seed of what haunts them the most inside our home. Now all those seeds are blooming.A new kind of hallucinogenic shroom is making its rounds in the suburbs of Virginia. It makes you see revenants...everywhere. Actually the plot has quite a few more elements but I'll stop here for my synopsis.
Our ghosts. So many ghosts.
The writing is an unconventional stream of consciousness which I would have devoured if it was structured better but hey...and there's not much of a plot. This is more of a unified single story and it really hits hard in some places. Recommended.
November 16, 2022
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! From the haunted characters to the haunted landscapes to the haunted past. I loved it all. I listened to the audio book which is read by Elisabeth Rodgers. She was so good and put so much emotion and intensity into her reading, I did not - no, I could not- stop listening. Like Erin, I was addicted and haunted by her story. There are some parts where we dive deep into Erin's insanity. Think The Yellow Wallpaper (which she even mentions. Oh yes, we go there.) Just ride it out. It's worth it.
Thank you so so so much to my library for carrying this book but I think I'll just buy my own copy now. This is one of my favorite reads of the year.
Thank you so so so much to my library for carrying this book but I think I'll just buy my own copy now. This is one of my favorite reads of the year.
February 16, 2024
Imagine Trainspotting as a ghost story and possession novel.
Ghost Eaters blends hallucinogenic trips with smiling shadows, babies in the walls, fungal infections, mushrooms in the blood, magic symbols and a drug that reconnects us to our dead loved ones. The book at times feels like a comedy, feels like a slice of life piece about growing up and at other times feels like a descent into a dirty, mold-covered toilet that's more haunted than the Overlook hotel.
This book is a treatise on addiction from the perspective of people who have lost loved ones to addiction. And how people who have friends and lovers who are addicts are sometimes just as hooked as the addict.
Y'see. There's lots of different kinds of addictions. There's drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping, social media, there's also relationships and friendships and just routines.
Going cold turkey on a drug can be terrible, but going cold turkey on a relationship can be fatal. Sometimes for one person, sometimes for both.
We human beings, we're social animals. We need each other. And that emotional need isn't always logical, it's not something you can reason with, it's not something you can debate or rationalise.
When we tell each other "there's always more fish in the sea", it's a nice little chanty, but in our heart it's not always true.
Sometimes it's one and done.
When you find someone, really think you've found someone, it feels like forever. And losing it can be like breaking in half. Even if losing it is the healthiest choice you can make.
We can talk about how much our relationships hurt us, and that's fine and dandy like sour candy. That's talk. Abstract. That's not real. That's a whole other animal from actually changing and letting people go. Because what sounds easy on paper can be like severing your own leg when it comes to actually, emotionally doing it.
Surviving an emotionally or physically abusive relationship isn't the same as letting it go. Oh no. You still feel it, in your bones, in your blood, in fleeting glimpses and in every single walk you take, every single move you make, every single thing you say. Like that Police song. That's the truth, even if it's not the literal truth. You'll distrust foot-prints in the snow. You'll be set off by garbage cans knocked over. It could have been an animal. It could have been something or somebody else. Those ghosts appear in all the gaps. All the dark alleys. All the empty rooms. And the more we try to let go, the more space they take, they'll come running into your happiest moments. Haunting your every meal.
The hardest part of surviving is learning to live with your own survival. Not just guilt. You learn habits for controlling pain and nightmares and suspicion and fear that isolate you from others. You carry your own survival like you carry the person you used to be on your back. It's like you died and you are the ghost of your past yourself. Your own body remembers them, your emotions, your dreams, your favourite smells, your favourite foods, they get into everything. Like spores, like mold, like fungus.
You become a haunted house.
That's what this book is about. How our addictions, how our relationships can turn our world inside out. Can infest our lives and chase us into survival mechanisms and routines that are as unhealthy, self-destructive and abusive as any toxic relationship.
We're all haunted to some degree. And we all haunt each other. Sometimes living is about learning to deal with our ghosts.
This one gets a 9/10
Ghost Eaters blends hallucinogenic trips with smiling shadows, babies in the walls, fungal infections, mushrooms in the blood, magic symbols and a drug that reconnects us to our dead loved ones. The book at times feels like a comedy, feels like a slice of life piece about growing up and at other times feels like a descent into a dirty, mold-covered toilet that's more haunted than the Overlook hotel.
This book is a treatise on addiction from the perspective of people who have lost loved ones to addiction. And how people who have friends and lovers who are addicts are sometimes just as hooked as the addict.
Y'see. There's lots of different kinds of addictions. There's drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping, social media, there's also relationships and friendships and just routines.
Going cold turkey on a drug can be terrible, but going cold turkey on a relationship can be fatal. Sometimes for one person, sometimes for both.
We human beings, we're social animals. We need each other. And that emotional need isn't always logical, it's not something you can reason with, it's not something you can debate or rationalise.
When we tell each other "there's always more fish in the sea", it's a nice little chanty, but in our heart it's not always true.
Sometimes it's one and done.
When you find someone, really think you've found someone, it feels like forever. And losing it can be like breaking in half. Even if losing it is the healthiest choice you can make.
We can talk about how much our relationships hurt us, and that's fine and dandy like sour candy. That's talk. Abstract. That's not real. That's a whole other animal from actually changing and letting people go. Because what sounds easy on paper can be like severing your own leg when it comes to actually, emotionally doing it.
Surviving an emotionally or physically abusive relationship isn't the same as letting it go. Oh no. You still feel it, in your bones, in your blood, in fleeting glimpses and in every single walk you take, every single move you make, every single thing you say. Like that Police song. That's the truth, even if it's not the literal truth. You'll distrust foot-prints in the snow. You'll be set off by garbage cans knocked over. It could have been an animal. It could have been something or somebody else. Those ghosts appear in all the gaps. All the dark alleys. All the empty rooms. And the more we try to let go, the more space they take, they'll come running into your happiest moments. Haunting your every meal.
The hardest part of surviving is learning to live with your own survival. Not just guilt. You learn habits for controlling pain and nightmares and suspicion and fear that isolate you from others. You carry your own survival like you carry the person you used to be on your back. It's like you died and you are the ghost of your past yourself. Your own body remembers them, your emotions, your dreams, your favourite smells, your favourite foods, they get into everything. Like spores, like mold, like fungus.
You become a haunted house.
That's what this book is about. How our addictions, how our relationships can turn our world inside out. Can infest our lives and chase us into survival mechanisms and routines that are as unhealthy, self-destructive and abusive as any toxic relationship.
We're all haunted to some degree. And we all haunt each other. Sometimes living is about learning to deal with our ghosts.
This one gets a 9/10
September 5, 2022
Thank you so much to Quirk Books and Clay Mcleod Chapman for my copy of Ghost Eaters. This haunting book was about Erin, a woman who can’t let her ex boyfriend Silas go. Whenever he needs her she is there, even though his drug addiction is causing her and their friends pain. When Silas turns up dead, Erin doesn’t know how to move on with her life. Erin learns about a drug called Ghost that can help her see the dead, and she agrees to a pill-popping seance to ease her guilt and pain. But when she comes back down, Erin’s life is changed. She starts to see ghosts everywhere, and they can see her too. This starts Erin down a path of destruction she isn’t sure how to end.
Thoughts: This was a unique horror book unlike any I’ve read before. This book talks about so many complex topics like grief, addiction, and the ghosts of our past. This book caused me to feel extreme claustrophobia and anxiety and I loved it. The extreme history of Richmond was addressed and played an interesting part of this story.
The tone of this story perfectly described someone experiencing extreme grief, guilt, pain and addiction. The dark story and undertones had me feeling all types of sadness and horror along with the characters. The idea of each of us being haunted and not being able to leave our own haunted houses was so relatable to me and I found so many levels of this book to be speaking to me. This is horror with a twist, and I loved it. 4.5 stars!
September 16, 2022
3.0 stars
I enjoyed the author's earlier work, Whisper Down the Lanez, but I wanted more of a horror story. So I was excited that he was coming out with a new novel that promised to be more supernatural. The premise of this one held promise but I was unfortunately underwhelmed by the actual story. I struggled to connect with the characters and their relationships, which were such a key part of the story. Without that attachment, I struggled to stay invested in the novel.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I enjoyed the author's earlier work, Whisper Down the Lanez, but I wanted more of a horror story. So I was excited that he was coming out with a new novel that promised to be more supernatural. The premise of this one held promise but I was unfortunately underwhelmed by the actual story. I struggled to connect with the characters and their relationships, which were such a key part of the story. Without that attachment, I struggled to stay invested in the novel.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 4, 2025
2.75. I'm so conflicted with this book.
The first 150 pages I actually was enjoying. It was the last half that threw me for a loop.
First off they treated Silas (their friend who died in the beginning) as if he was on some pedestal, when he really was 1: never a good person 2: treated them like they were beneath him. 3: had an ego the size of Antarctica
So it was beyond me why they were all so obsessed with him to begin with?
They also were all heavily drug addicts and I get it, this book is supposed to be centered around the addiction phase and process and what people go through from the beginning and sometimes inevitably die, but I really wasn't grasping this concept of the mushrooms? I couldn't tell what the mushroom (ghost) or if the ghosts were real, or in these people's heads.. no one else who didn't take
Ghost could see them.
I know I know this is also a hallucinogenic type horror so it's suppose to be trippy af.
@ times I was so frustrated with Erin she was making so many terrible decisions to the point I truly couldn't root for her anymore
I think some premise of
The story was Silas was a godlike man in his friends eyes (eye roll for Me) because he truly was a despicable human being.
there was one point in the story They were almost worshipping him, and I just couldn't stand behind it.
the horror aspects of this was so well
Done tho, and I really would enjoy reading another story by this author, it was gory, creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat.
EDIT: also you're trying to tell me, that you have 100s of people going into this housing development(not finished), squatting in these homes, wrecking them, doing drugs everyday, and no one is noticing ? Like come on, police would have already been on that. Esp when you had some of these people just buying "ghost" and leaving. it would start looking suspicious at some point, so that 100 percent did not make sense.
the ending to this book tho truly pissed me off. I had no words for that ending, to me it was a cop out and I wanted to throw the book across the room.
The first 150 pages I actually was enjoying. It was the last half that threw me for a loop.
First off they treated Silas (their friend who died in the beginning) as if he was on some pedestal, when he really was 1: never a good person 2: treated them like they were beneath him. 3: had an ego the size of Antarctica
So it was beyond me why they were all so obsessed with him to begin with?
They also were all heavily drug addicts and I get it, this book is supposed to be centered around the addiction phase and process and what people go through from the beginning and sometimes inevitably die, but I really wasn't grasping this concept of the mushrooms? I couldn't tell what the mushroom (ghost) or if the ghosts were real, or in these people's heads.. no one else who didn't take
Ghost could see them.
I know I know this is also a hallucinogenic type horror so it's suppose to be trippy af.
@ times I was so frustrated with Erin she was making so many terrible decisions to the point I truly couldn't root for her anymore
I think some premise of
The story was Silas was a godlike man in his friends eyes (eye roll for Me) because he truly was a despicable human being.
there was one point in the story They were almost worshipping him, and I just couldn't stand behind it.
the horror aspects of this was so well
Done tho, and I really would enjoy reading another story by this author, it was gory, creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat.
EDIT: also you're trying to tell me, that you have 100s of people going into this housing development(not finished), squatting in these homes, wrecking them, doing drugs everyday, and no one is noticing ? Like come on, police would have already been on that. Esp when you had some of these people just buying "ghost" and leaving. it would start looking suspicious at some point, so that 100 percent did not make sense.
the ending to this book tho truly pissed me off. I had no words for that ending, to me it was a cop out and I wanted to throw the book across the room.
August 2, 2023
I don’t really have anything nice to say, so I’m just not going to say anything 🥶
November 4, 2022
3.5 Stars, rounded down.
The opening scene of a séance inside a mausoleum at a cemetery gave me an atmospheric, spooky vibe, grabbing my attention immediately. Needless to say, I had very high hopes and needed to keep reading. Unfortunately about at about the halfway mark this one veered towards more of a sci-fi feel than necessarily horror (or at least my kind of horror), what with the mushrooms and everything, and I almost had to force myself to finish this one once it went down that path.
This novel was mostly about a group of four post-graduate friends struggling with addiction, and the insanely dark path it leads them down. Except there's this new drug that's different than the rest. This drug is called Ghost, and the trip is called 'getting haunted' and brings them to an all-time out of this world high...possibly close to the veil between the living and the dead? Or are they just hallucinating, and in fact on a particularly bad trip?? When one of them overdoses and leaves behind a message, they're left reeling, leading to one bad decision after another. Can any of them find the light and save themselves in the process? Or will each of them become something else?
I appreciated the creativity of the drug and all it entailed, and there were plenty horrifying moments, that I actually felt were mostly just gross, but it just lacked a little something I can't quite put my finger on at this point. Almost like a sweet dessert you've been looking forward to, only to find out it was made sugar-free, leaving you with a funky taste in your mouth...if that makes any kind of sense?! Don't get me wrong, this was a good horror read, it just didn't live up to his prior release, The Remaking, in my personal opinion. He did set the bar pretty high after that release though. Regardless, I will continue to read Chapman's work, he's definitely got the goods to produce an exceptionally horrific tale, this one just didn't quite knock it out of the park for me. You can't win every time I suppose! I still recommend fellow horror fans give this one a shot, just have tempered expectations.
The opening scene of a séance inside a mausoleum at a cemetery gave me an atmospheric, spooky vibe, grabbing my attention immediately. Needless to say, I had very high hopes and needed to keep reading. Unfortunately about at about the halfway mark this one veered towards more of a sci-fi feel than necessarily horror (or at least my kind of horror), what with the mushrooms and everything, and I almost had to force myself to finish this one once it went down that path.
This novel was mostly about a group of four post-graduate friends struggling with addiction, and the insanely dark path it leads them down. Except there's this new drug that's different than the rest. This drug is called Ghost, and the trip is called 'getting haunted' and brings them to an all-time out of this world high...possibly close to the veil between the living and the dead? Or are they just hallucinating, and in fact on a particularly bad trip?? When one of them overdoses and leaves behind a message, they're left reeling, leading to one bad decision after another. Can any of them find the light and save themselves in the process? Or will each of them become something else?
I appreciated the creativity of the drug and all it entailed, and there were plenty horrifying moments, that I actually felt were mostly just gross, but it just lacked a little something I can't quite put my finger on at this point. Almost like a sweet dessert you've been looking forward to, only to find out it was made sugar-free, leaving you with a funky taste in your mouth...if that makes any kind of sense?! Don't get me wrong, this was a good horror read, it just didn't live up to his prior release, The Remaking, in my personal opinion. He did set the bar pretty high after that release though. Regardless, I will continue to read Chapman's work, he's definitely got the goods to produce an exceptionally horrific tale, this one just didn't quite knock it out of the park for me. You can't win every time I suppose! I still recommend fellow horror fans give this one a shot, just have tempered expectations.
January 1, 2023
Silas says we're better than all the other undergrad lemmings, and who are we to argue? Sounds good to me. He can somehow convince us to forget our inhibitions, to lose ourselves in the white heat of the moment. To hop trains in the dead of night. To embark on random road trips with no destination. To take jaunts through haunted plantations that last until the sun rises over the abandoned tobacco fields.
This city is ours, he always says. The Four Musketeers. All for one and one for Silas...
3.5 if I'm being exact, but Goodreads makes me fudge and the sheer impact of some of the scenes in Ghost Eaters has me feeling like this will stick with me for a while - and that's more than enough to err on the high side.
The blurb for this one pretty much nails the concept, so lets jump straight to what I thought - Ghost Eaters was pretty damn awesome. I will caveat by saying that if you don't connect to the characters, this might be an entirely useless book for you - but I have my own Silas, so I was straight in and eating this up with a spoon.
It's not really outright scary, but it absolutely is horrific - just imagine if ghosts could lick you, and you'll have an idea of just how uncomfortable some of this was to read. I count that as a good thing, by the way - I was thoroughly engaged, and I love it when an author can use that against me. Whether it was the ghosts, the toxic friendships or the sheer wreckage Erin was making of her life, I couldn't look away until I finished.
I did have some quibbles - I thought some of the threads of historical ghosts, or those belonging to the people who go overlooked when violence happens to them, needed further exploring, more attention. We got just enough of them to make it frustrating when we didn't get more. And that was true of some of the end, too - a character comes back just to vanish again almost immediately, which felt unnecessary - the epilogue had a few too many beats, some of which felt like they didn't fit with each other - and a couple of other story threads just sort of vanished on us. Ultimately they weren't annoying enough to outweigh what I thought was a really absorbing and impactful ghost story, though.
2023 is off to a great start if I'll get reads like this - it's the optimism of a new year, but at least it hasn't been taken from me yet :) Happy New Year, friends!
This city is ours, he always says. The Four Musketeers. All for one and one for Silas...
3.5 if I'm being exact, but Goodreads makes me fudge and the sheer impact of some of the scenes in Ghost Eaters has me feeling like this will stick with me for a while - and that's more than enough to err on the high side.
The blurb for this one pretty much nails the concept, so lets jump straight to what I thought - Ghost Eaters was pretty damn awesome. I will caveat by saying that if you don't connect to the characters, this might be an entirely useless book for you - but I have my own Silas, so I was straight in and eating this up with a spoon.
It's not really outright scary, but it absolutely is horrific - just imagine if ghosts could lick you, and you'll have an idea of just how uncomfortable some of this was to read. I count that as a good thing, by the way - I was thoroughly engaged, and I love it when an author can use that against me. Whether it was the ghosts, the toxic friendships or the sheer wreckage Erin was making of her life, I couldn't look away until I finished.
I did have some quibbles - I thought some of the threads of historical ghosts, or those belonging to the people who go overlooked when violence happens to them, needed further exploring, more attention. We got just enough of them to make it frustrating when we didn't get more. And that was true of some of the end, too - a character comes back just to vanish again almost immediately, which felt unnecessary - the epilogue had a few too many beats, some of which felt like they didn't fit with each other - and a couple of other story threads just sort of vanished on us. Ultimately they weren't annoying enough to outweigh what I thought was a really absorbing and impactful ghost story, though.
2023 is off to a great start if I'll get reads like this - it's the optimism of a new year, but at least it hasn't been taken from me yet :) Happy New Year, friends!
June 30, 2022
The first few chapters of Ghost Eaters had me hooked. When something gross would happen the descriptions were fantastic. This is where the book really excelled, but I eventually found myself feeling apathetic to picking it up again. When I did pick it up, it felt like I was on the same chapter every time. The story just…hit a wall at some point. One of the last chapters was the type of insanity I was hoping for throughout the entire book and I loved it. The very last chapter, however…explains the entire point of the book to you although it’s very obvious. I’m pretty bummed I wasn’t in love with this because the premise is very promising.
August 18, 2024
Ghost Eaters
By Clay McLeod Chapman
This was one strange horror novel. Entertaining, involved ghosts, addicts, and the search for the afterlife. I liked it because it was different but I think it needed condensing.
By Clay McLeod Chapman
This was one strange horror novel. Entertaining, involved ghosts, addicts, and the search for the afterlife. I liked it because it was different but I think it needed condensing.
January 5, 2023
I hopped on the hype train with this one and was not disappointed. Fairly introspective horror honestly but still damn good and unique.
January 3, 2023
Wow, I really don’t understand the overall 3 stars for this one. I was enthralled and the writing kept me going and breathless. It’s an exploration of friendship, loss, addiction, and obsession that gets really disturbing. If you or someone you know has ever been addicted to a drug or even a person you’ll feel this like a gut punch. It gets very dark and you’d best be prepared.
October 2, 2022
*Synopsis* Erin hasn’t been able to set a single boundary with her charismatic but reckless college ex-boyfriend, Silas. When he asks her to bail him out of rehab―again―she knows she needs to cut him off. But days after he gets out, Silas turns up dead of an overdose in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and Erin’s world falls apart.
Then a friend tells her about Ghost, a new drug that allows users to see the dead. Wanna get haunted? he asks. Grieving and desperate for closure with Silas, Erin agrees to a pill-popping “séance.” But the drug has unfathomable side effects―and once you take it, you can never go back.
It seems silly to me not to start this review without telling you that this novel is incredibly divisive. The Ghost Eaters is going to be a book you (probably) will either love or hate, and I think that makes the story even more interesting. Eaters intelligently captures addiction and trauma; You become obsessed with the escape. It’s the ability to feel less or to stave those heavier feelings off for as long as possible. Any amount of comfort, in whatever form, is better than desolation, right?
The Ghost Eaters is my first Chapman book, but it’ll by no means be my last. His writing is engaging and conveys the story in such an interesting way. I’m just sad I didn’t read it sooner, though it was an excellent start to the whole spooky season reading extravaganza.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Quirk Books, and Clay McLeod Chapman for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Then a friend tells her about Ghost, a new drug that allows users to see the dead. Wanna get haunted? he asks. Grieving and desperate for closure with Silas, Erin agrees to a pill-popping “séance.” But the drug has unfathomable side effects―and once you take it, you can never go back.
It seems silly to me not to start this review without telling you that this novel is incredibly divisive. The Ghost Eaters is going to be a book you (probably) will either love or hate, and I think that makes the story even more interesting. Eaters intelligently captures addiction and trauma; You become obsessed with the escape. It’s the ability to feel less or to stave those heavier feelings off for as long as possible. Any amount of comfort, in whatever form, is better than desolation, right?
The Ghost Eaters is my first Chapman book, but it’ll by no means be my last. His writing is engaging and conveys the story in such an interesting way. I’m just sad I didn’t read it sooner, though it was an excellent start to the whole spooky season reading extravaganza.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Quirk Books, and Clay McLeod Chapman for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 26, 2022
Unfortunately the only thing I liked about this book was the cover. This one was just not for me.
July 2, 2022
Last year Whisper Down the Lane was one of my favorite reads. I was eager for more Chapman, and while I didn’t love The Remaking as much, I did enjoy it, and I had incredibly high hopes for Ghost Eaters.
I do think one mark of a good writer is that his or her books don’t always sound the same. So kudos to Chapman for capturing such a different tone with Ghost Eaters. He managed to make this very young, immature (not just because of her age) female narrator feel as if she were really telling the story. Yet, even though I know he did an exceptional job with the tone of the story, it was a noise I didn’t enjoy. I wanted depth. I wanted creepiness. I wanted all that I had loved in Whisper Down the Lane and appreciated in The Remaking.
I had good momentum with the story initially, but the novel eventually lost steam. I was flipping the pages, excited for what was to come, and then it felt like nothing was coming at all. It seemed like the same thing kept happening for entirely too long before a bit more development took place.
But that development did not save the story. The book took a very strange path and I suppose we were supposed to feel like we were as drugged as the narrator, but I hated every moment of it. It certainly makes an interesting statement about addiction, about wanting to numb the things that haunt us while consequently making it worse, but I truly did not enjoy the way these important messages played out on paper.
Chapman also aimed to depict the desperation of grief and I love that message. I really do. As I mentioned, the tone was well-depicted for the character he created, but it was not the best choice for a haunting and painful tale. I couldn’t feel what should have had power and purpose. It just wasn’t there.
There was also a message in there about messing with something that isn’t our right to fiddle with. Again, it’s a great message, but it isn’t executed in a way that I found effective. I can recognize it for what it was, but I won’t call it thought-provoking. It was a very extreme, convoluted statement.
My final complaint is that I thought the story was going to go deeper with the historical roots and what, specifically, the ghosts wanted. It seemed like it was hinting at that. The ghosts desired to be seen. They had a past that ached to be known. What a fascinating and terrifying exploration THAT could have been! Ultimately, all purposeful development fell short, but this aspect proved especially dissatisfying.
I appreciate the meaningfulness Chapman tried to pour into the story, even though his methods didn’t work for me. You have no idea how sad I am about this. Ghost Eaters was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I never expected to come out on the other end hating it. I haven’t been turned off from Chapman’s books. He still has one heck of a backlist for me to sift through. Hopefully this book will prove to be the exception, and I will be in awe of everything else he has written and writes in the future.
I do think one mark of a good writer is that his or her books don’t always sound the same. So kudos to Chapman for capturing such a different tone with Ghost Eaters. He managed to make this very young, immature (not just because of her age) female narrator feel as if she were really telling the story. Yet, even though I know he did an exceptional job with the tone of the story, it was a noise I didn’t enjoy. I wanted depth. I wanted creepiness. I wanted all that I had loved in Whisper Down the Lane and appreciated in The Remaking.
I had good momentum with the story initially, but the novel eventually lost steam. I was flipping the pages, excited for what was to come, and then it felt like nothing was coming at all. It seemed like the same thing kept happening for entirely too long before a bit more development took place.
But that development did not save the story. The book took a very strange path and I suppose we were supposed to feel like we were as drugged as the narrator, but I hated every moment of it. It certainly makes an interesting statement about addiction, about wanting to numb the things that haunt us while consequently making it worse, but I truly did not enjoy the way these important messages played out on paper.
Chapman also aimed to depict the desperation of grief and I love that message. I really do. As I mentioned, the tone was well-depicted for the character he created, but it was not the best choice for a haunting and painful tale. I couldn’t feel what should have had power and purpose. It just wasn’t there.
There was also a message in there about messing with something that isn’t our right to fiddle with. Again, it’s a great message, but it isn’t executed in a way that I found effective. I can recognize it for what it was, but I won’t call it thought-provoking. It was a very extreme, convoluted statement.
My final complaint is that I thought the story was going to go deeper with the historical roots and what, specifically, the ghosts wanted. It seemed like it was hinting at that. The ghosts desired to be seen. They had a past that ached to be known. What a fascinating and terrifying exploration THAT could have been! Ultimately, all purposeful development fell short, but this aspect proved especially dissatisfying.
I appreciate the meaningfulness Chapman tried to pour into the story, even though his methods didn’t work for me. You have no idea how sad I am about this. Ghost Eaters was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I never expected to come out on the other end hating it. I haven’t been turned off from Chapman’s books. He still has one heck of a backlist for me to sift through. Hopefully this book will prove to be the exception, and I will be in awe of everything else he has written and writes in the future.
October 6, 2023
I don’t know where to start with this book. I hate giving bad reviews, but this book just wasn’t for me. This book is the literal definition of amazing premise/message, but terrible execution. I had to force myself to finish this book and the number of times I wanted to ‘DNF’ while reading was in the double digits.
The book tries to make the main character relatable, however, I immediately found her to be pretentious and annoying. In fact, I think the writing style made ALL of the characters in this book un-relatable and annoying. The book’s pacing was also not ideal for me. There were large chunks of the book spent on what I feel was absolutely nothing substantial and then by the time something big, substantial, or horrific happened I was so ‘checked out’ that I did not care at all. I was so bored by this book’s writing style I had to purchase a hard copy and the audiobook in order to struggle though it. Also, the use of the phrase “you wanna get haunted?” in the same respect as “you wanna get high?” was so goofy and irritating.
10/10 Cover Art
10/10 Concept
0/10 Characters
1/10 Writing Style/Presentation
The book tries to make the main character relatable, however, I immediately found her to be pretentious and annoying. In fact, I think the writing style made ALL of the characters in this book un-relatable and annoying. The book’s pacing was also not ideal for me. There were large chunks of the book spent on what I feel was absolutely nothing substantial and then by the time something big, substantial, or horrific happened I was so ‘checked out’ that I did not care at all. I was so bored by this book’s writing style I had to purchase a hard copy and the audiobook in order to struggle though it. Also, the use of the phrase “you wanna get haunted?” in the same respect as “you wanna get high?” was so goofy and irritating.
10/10 Cover Art
10/10 Concept
0/10 Characters
1/10 Writing Style/Presentation
December 10, 2022
Drug addiction, obsessive personality disorder, ghost stories, and the afterlife. All of the drug use was difficult to read, for very personal reasons. At several points it was difficult to distinguish if what Erin was experiencing was a bad drug trip, or a haunting. Either way, it was a horrifying read.
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