Ghost Detective: A Myron Vale Investigation

Myron Vale Investigations #1

by Scott William Carter

After narrowly surviving a near-fatal shooting, Portland detective Myron Vale wakes with a bullet still lodged in his brain, a headache to end all headaches, and a terrible side effect that radically transforms his world for the worse: He sees ghosts. Lots of them. By some estimates, a hundred billion people have lived and died before anyone alive today was even born. For Myron, they're all still here.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Ghosts, Fiction, Ebooks, Urban Fantasy

Paperback

First published June 19, 2013

About the author

Scott William Carter’s first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “touching and impressive debut” and won an Oregon Book Award. Since then, he has published many books and short stories, his fiction spanning a wide variety of genres and styles. His book for younger readers, Wooden Bones, chronicles the untold story of Pinocchio and was singled out for praise by the Junior Library Guild. He is the author of the popular Garrison Gage mystery series set on the Oregon coast, as well as the provocative Myron Vale Investigations, about the private investigator in Portland, Oregon who works for both the living and the dead. He’s also the cartoonist behind the Run of the House comic strip.

If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, in his “day job” life he works as an Instructional Designer and Digital Production & Publishing Specialist at Western Oregon University, where he manages the Digital Media Center and provides training and expertise to the campus community on a variety of topics, including Web page creation, digital video production, print-on-demand and ebook publishing, and many software applications related to publishing, distribution, and education in all its forms. He also teaches occasional classes for both the English department and the College of Education.

In past lives, he has been an academic technologist, a writing instructor, bookstore owner, the manager of a computer training company, and a ski instructor, though the most important job — and best – he’s ever had is being the father of his two children. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Cristy McCormick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a lot of flaws. First and foremost, I really had a hard time following parts of the story because there was a lot of punctuation problems, misspelled words, poor grammar, and other errors that the editors really should have picked up on. There were places that the writer managed to use the same word twice in a row, or inserted some totally random word into the sentence that didn't belong there at all. For me this made for a lot of distractions. Several times I had to go back and re-read the sentence at least once more to try and get the grasp of what was trying to be said. At one point, a character was talking to the main character and called him "holier than thou" only the phrase was written as "hollier then though" and I was so distracted by the fact that the phrase was butchered so badly that I had a hard time getting back into the story. The phrase was used later on in the book and was correct, so I'm not sure what was going on that no one managed to catch these types of problems.

Aside from the errors I just mentioned, I felt that the book was slow to start and the author really seemed to emphasize his own beliefs in a way that I felt like he was trying to really hammer the point home. In my opinion it was totally unnecessary to do so. I like to read books for pleasure and to get away from the constant political/ spiritual beliefs that everyone has in life. I don't mind reading about a character that has different beliefs than my own, but I felt that in this book the author really tried hard to make sure that his own spiritual beliefs were heard all the way throughout the book. This made it even more difficult for me to enjoy the story since I felt like there was an alternative agenda.

Now to address the fact that the book was slow to start. There were only a few introductory characters but it seemed that the author spent almost half of the book on backstories and fluff that was unnecessary. When he finally buckled down and got to the story telling I found myself a little bit more enthralled with the plot. Unfortunately, that didn't happen for me until about three quarters of the way through the book, at which point I was just honestly wanting to finish the book so that I could move onto the next book in my TBR list. If the author would have spent the amount of focus and effort in the first part of the book that he did for the last little bit, I would have been much more likely to continue on with the series.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

In some ways it made me think of a marriage between Dean Koontz’s [Odd Thomas] and the TV’ series, "Ghost Whisperer” ...and that was in a good way. P.I. Myron Vale seems to have been twice cursed. A lingering injury causes him to not only see and interact with the multitude of ghosts everyone else is unaware of, but he also can’t tell them from the living. I can see this being described as a paranormal romance filled with betrayals and heartache. It is a story about a horrible con man, who, through his insidious actions inserts himself into the lives of various people, infecting them with corruption and despair. The saving grace for the tale is that it also contains redemption and hope despite the prevailing atmosphere of sadness. The author struggled a bit in his attempt to bring the reader to the understanding of “how, why where and when” that Myron Vale becomes the “Ghost Detective.” It's a well told, ghostly, paranormal tale that pleased the “Ghost Story Junkie”. The very idea and the originality of this story alone earns it 4.5 stars.

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time there was a man who went to Starbucks and came out with a bullet in his brain. The bullet didn’t kill him, though, miraculously enough, and once he came out of the coma, he discovered he can now see dead people. That’s the origin story of a Myron Vale, ghost detective. Just in case you were expecting an actual detecting ghost.
The thing with dead people is that mostly they look exactly like the live ones, causing constant confusion, disorientation and occasionally hilarious misunderstandings for Myron, the man who has never asked for this. But he does try to make the best of it, which is why he left the police force and, encouraged by the ghost of his wife with whom he is still very much in love, went into business as a private investigator, catering to the noncorporeal elements of society. And when a vivacious dame with curves for days, family money and a sob story hires him to investigate her death, Myron gets into a much murkier mystery than he anticipated, realizing there’s a connection between her dearly beloved and the man who put a bullet in him all those years ago.
Sounds just like one of those paranormal detective stories, doesn’t it? So much so I didn’t go in expecting much at all, it was a random kindle freebie after all. And sure enough first chapter had the exact sort of modern noir cheesiness that didn’t exactly make for a great attention grabber. But as you read on the book improves, dramatically so. In fact, outside of those decidedly cheesy client interactions (curves, curves, more curves), the novel and its protagonist are dimensional, compelling and all kinds of fun. The author took every opportunity to make Myron and his world as real as possible, considering. Myron’s relationships alone, be it with his parents, who are not all there (both meanings apply) to the complex mess of a marriage, are enough to outweigh or at least balance out the cheesiness. There’s also his former partner/potential love interest, hovering on the sidelines, waiting for Myron to get his act together. It’s a lot to juggle for a guy who on daily basis has to contend with his reality not matching up to that of everyone other living person around him.
The corporeal representation of ghosts in the novel is original and quite fascinating, they even have their own representative organization with a hilariously confusing acronym. In fact, for a story with murders in it, it’s pretty funny all around.
Plus Myron is a genuinely likeable protagonist, a refreshingly non macho, Prius driving, temptation resistant (despite being married to someone he can’t physically be with) noir lead you can actually enjoy enough to follow in further adventures. And I actually might, though this isn’t really my typical fare. All in all this was a pleasant surprise. A book that considerably exceeded my expectations of it. It might seem corny and generic on the outside, but rest assured this box contains quality cereal. Quick and fun. Recommended.

This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/

[Cheryl (Super Slump) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 star read.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myron Vale survived the impossible, a bullet to the head and he now he has a special gift, he sees beyond the veil. Welcome to the world of the GHOST DETECTIVE as Scott William Carter takes readers into an ingenious world of murder, madness and mayhem where the living and the dead want the same thing, truth and justice. Will Myron find that sometimes the truth hits too close to home and maybe the ghosts in his own closet will come back to haunt him?

Clever with the right amount of grit for murder mystery lovers and even proof that Elvis still walks the earth, more or less. Witty, edgy and entertaining, this ghostly tale is a well-blended tale that crosses genres with ease.

Series: Myron Vale Investigations - Book 1
Publisher: Flying Raven Press (June 19, 2013)
Publication Date: June 19, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Print Length: 293 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one - I've been in the mood for "I see dead people" types of stories since I watch The Sixth Sense again last month. I found this one in my search. The author wrote a story that intrigued me - however, it was a little choppy and needed some editing. When the MC - Myron Vale - once a cop and now a private detective who sees ghosts after he was shot in the head - sees quite a few ghosts all the time but is talking to real people, it is imperative that dialogue is attributed to the correct person. A few times, the wrong person/ghost is attributed to a statements in interaction - so continuity is important. A few times, I had to re-read the dialogue to make sure I was clear on who was talking...most of the time attributing my confusion to an editing error.

So, what intrigued me? Myron is shot in the head during a botched robbery in a Starbucks. He is in a coma for a while and when he awakes, he sees ghosts. Sometimes, he cannot tell if people are real or ghosts. The medical staff thinks he is nuts. He is confused when his wife does not come to see him until he is in a straight-jacket in a padded room. Yes, Myron's wife is now a ghost. She was very much alive when he was shot. So what happened?

The story is about Myron coming to grips about his new world - he sees ghosts constantly - some ignore him, some confront him, and some want him to do things for them. Myron also struggles with a very angry, silent, bitchy ghost of a wife - there are big secrets. While the secrets are revealed at the end, I will say - I am glad she left him because her betrayal is huge and she is a bitch and I felt bad for Myron. In my mind, for such a betrayal and sequence of events, Myron's reaction is not what I thought it should be - he is too stoic - still in love with her. Hopefully he moves on in the next books.

The next books - will I read them? I'm not sure. 3 stars.

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4 out of 5

This was a surprisingly good book, though not what I expected when I started reading it. I mean, it's classified as a mystery book, and even though yes, we have a private detective investigating a possible murder, the book isn't really about that.

This book is about human connections and ties that bound. About love and hate, and everything in between that can spark between two people and can often transcend death. It's about how we often hurt the people we love, or stay in a toxic relationship because we still love the person hurting us.

I was actually surprised at how much I liked Myron Vale, our protagonist. If you think about it, his life is a bit of a nightmare. He can see ghosts... all of them... all the time. Not only can he see them, but he can also hear them, and smell them, but he can't touch them. But more importantly, he can't tell the difference between the dead and the living. To him, they all feel real. The only way for him to differentiate the living from the dead is to touch them. And touching strangers is kind of frowned upon in our society.

I could understand the depth of despair he descends into after the shooting when he realizes that his not being able to differentiate between the living and the ghosts means he can't do his job as a police detective anymore. When he can't tell which treat is real and which is just a ghost, he can't react quickly and efficiently. Worse, he can put his partner in danger.

I wasn't particularly fond of Billie, but the more I learned about their relationship, the better I understood her as well. Theirs is the perfect example of a love that has turned toxic, but neither is willing to end the torment. In a way, I'm glad about her decision in the end.

The murder mystery case that Myron is paid to investigate in this book isn't really all that interesting or mysterious, but it was never the emphasis of this book, just a vehicle for the story.

I do have some questions though. Like why did the priest want Myron to drop the case? Why did he imply that if he followed through with it, some entities in the ghost world might consider him a threat and might even eliminate him? This is never brought up again. Maybe this will become important in the following books in the series, and I think I will check out book 2.

[Una Tiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had an unusual twist, the protagonist could see and talk to dead people. The problem is that the author continuously put that into play when he could have been developing the characters. The plot was full of twists, and that was good.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a clever book; based on a detective who strangely and uniquely can see and converse with ghosts. In the first outing in this series, it is a rather convoluted struggle to bring the readers up to speed.
So we can understand the author provides the How, Why, Where and When Myron Vale becomes the Ghost Detective. A typical American gumshoe, the recognised PI in a cheap office struggling to cover his bills.

Thankfully there is sufficient care of this genre not to tread on anyone’s toes or offend. This is an American PI at work with additional concept that enables a whole lot of fantasy to develop within the plot and characters Vale works for and the cases he’s offered.

The case he works in this novel is about a ghost who feels she may have been murdered and asks him to trace her husband who is missing to learn the truth.
He is doubly incentivised when he believes the man he is tracking down is the same guy who shot him in the head during an attempted robbery. That bullet lodged in his brain is what enables him to see both the living and the dead. Myron has no hesitation to take on the investigation as he wants answers from this guy of his own.

The Who is what this novel also struggles to convey. The main characters are his parents, his wife - who is dead and his ex-partner. This is all very complicated and the lack of clear chronology in the chapters adds to the confusion. After a while I followed more easily the structure. The plot in real time seems to run in alternate chapters. In between there are earlier snippets, not always linked in sequence or concurrent events that reveal more of the backstory.

His relationship with his wife who is dead was always going to be a tough one, but the mystery ties in with where the plot is heading so that will become clearer.
Other ghostly encounters are more harder to grasp.

What I really enjoyed were the moments with his parents, especially his memories of his times with his dad hiking in the forest as a young kid.

The other additional depth to the story is the many encounters Vale has with ghosts. Firstly no-one living knows he has this ability so he must be careful not to appear crazy when out and about seemingly talking to himself. Secondly, he struggles to distinguish the dead from the general population which is equally difficult for him and gets him into greater trouble.

Overall I would offer just 3 stars; the extra star comes from the idea and the originality of this story. But as often happens with authors struggling to be recognised and published, the professional quality is lacking in the typos and errors it contains. Due to the exceptionally gifted storytelling I found I could easily pass over them but it is something that others may object to, with so much choice in books one can read. For the moment though, I recommend this book to you and to seek out books by this intelligent and engaging author.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts." - Adam Duritz

Five years ago, Myron Vale was a Portland, Oregon cop. Then he happened into a robbery at a Starbucks and was shot in the head. When he wakes up six months later, he can see ghosts. In fact, he finds out that everyone who has EVER died is now a ghost and he's the only live person who can see them.

Move ahead five years and now Myron is a private detective, working for both the living and the dead.

This is a fun concept for this story. Myron's many interactions with ghosts add that special touch that makes this more than a detective novel. It starts out with a definite noirish vibe, with the requisite hot blonde walking into his office to hire him. But as the story progresses, its plotline deepens and the chapters alternate between past days and current times and the reader learns more about Myron and especially about his wife, Billie, and the story takes off.

There is fantastic character development, snappy dialogue, and an interesting, intelligent plotline that kept me guessing up to the last page. If you like detective stories or murder mysteries or novels about the paranormal, try "Ghost Detective."

Try out the short story sequel, too - "The Haunted Breadbox (A Myron Vale Investigation)."

[Kathy Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very rare that find a novel that's funny and sarcastic and poignant and scary, all at the same time. In GHOST DETECTIVE, Scott William Carter pulls all four off with amazing aplomb. Ostensibly, this is the story of a private detective who sees dead people. Myron Vale was shot in the head five years before GHOST DETECTIVE takes place, and the bullet - which the doctors were unable to remove from his brain - somehow enables him to see the scores of walking dead that inhabit the world with us. Since he's pretty much the only living person to be able to see the ghosts among us, he has earned a reputation among them as the "Ghost Detective," and many of his clients are actually dead. This novel, the first in what will undoubtedly be a series, begins in classic noir detective fashion when a gorgeous blond walks into Vale's office with a case she hopes he'll take - she wants to find out whether her husband, Tony Neuman, was responsible for her death three months earlier in a suspicious car accident. Tony has disappeared, and Karen hopes Vale can find him and prove his innocence - she really wants to believe he was (and still is) a loving husband. Vale, who was a day away from a Hawaiian vacation with his wife, Billie, doesn't want to take the case. Even Karen's promise of a big paycheck can't sway him. That is until she shows him a photo of her missing husband. Tony Neuman, it turns out, is a dead ringer for the man who shot Vale five years earlier. And although Vale is warned by several well-meaning people not to get involved in this case (including a dead priest who says, "The need for revenge is an inferno that consumes all, leaving nothing and no one unburned"), the chance to solve his own personal mystery is just too enticing.

What makes GHOST DETECTIVE such a fascinating read is the world Carter has created, a world in which the dead far outnumber the living. When Myron Vale walks down the street, he can never be sure whether those he sees are living beings or ghosts. For example, it's only when he realizes that no one else can see the old guy trying to hand out bibles outside an office building that he understands the man is actually dead. Vale sees these ghosts everywhere, and he sees them all the time. As in Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense," they come to him for help, they seem to gravitate to him because he alone among the living knows they're there. But it can be exhausting. Some of the ghosts he encounters don't know they're dead. And more than a few times Vale has appeared insane when he finds himself in conversation with someone the rest of the living world can't even see.

This is a world that seems to have rules and bureaucracy of its own, although Carter only drops hints of these in this first Myron Vale novel. There's an organization called the "Department of Souls," which keeps track of the so-called "dead census," and the "Immortal Living Adjustment Bureau" works to help the dead acclimate with their new "non-corporeal" condition. As Carter explains it, ghosts are somehow able to create whatever they want, including clothing, jewelry, food, and drink. The dead fat guy with the hot dog cart, who calls himself Elvis, may or may not be the real thing - his hot dogs smell fabulous to Vale, but he can't touch or taste them. And Karen, the gorgeous blond with the bodacious chest, is nothing but thin air when he reaches out to touch her.

While GHOST DETECTIVE is definitely a noir-style mystery novel (with all of the expected sarcasm and witty repartee), and the case of the missing Tony Neuman is at the heart of the plot, it's also a romance (Vale's relationship with his wife is bittersweet and deeply affecting). Billie is a fascinating character, and she becomes even more fascinating as we learn more about her. She plays a central role in the novel's final act, which is both satisfying and unexpected.

Beyond that, GHOST DETECTIVE is mind-bogglingly fascinating on a philosophical level. What if the dead really do move among us, sitting in the backseats of our cars, watching us as we work, walking beside us, visiting us in our homes? How would it affect our belief in God, or in Heaven and Hell? Vale is a self-proclaimed atheist, but he does believe in ghosts - he has no choice but to believe. One of the ghosts, the would-be bible peddler, tells Vale that he still believes in God, even though death has brought him no closer to any real proof. "Have you ever met him?" Vale asks, and the dead man admits that "nobody has." Vale asks him, "Why do you believe in [God] if you've never met him?" The man responds, "Well, I hadn't met him when I was alive either. I believed then. It just took a little faith. Why should I stop now?"

It's fair to say that GHOST DETECTIVE is a novel about faith - faith in possibilities, faith in surviving, faith in forgiveness. It wouldn't be easy to live in a world that so openly reveals what happens to us after death, as well as how few answers we are likely to find in that afterlife. I understand how hard it is for Myron Vale to keep himself sane. That he is able to help the dead resolve the mysteries in their lives has given him a purpose that his own near-death experience almost took from him. I found GHOST DETECTIVE to be a gripping, wonderful read - and I definitely look forward to the next Myron Vale novel. Highly recommended.

[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]

[Janina s. Asselin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story

Not a bad story. There were parts where the chapters felt out of sequence which was confusing and distracting. Wasn't sure if it was the author or the person who transferred the story to e version. Made it hard to follow. Characters were one dimensional and wasn't Myron lucky that every woman he dealt with was beautiful in face and body? Please!

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an unusual twist, the protagonist could see and talk to dead people. The problem is that the author continuously put that into play when he could have been developing the characters. The plot was full of twists, and that was good.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read, I enjoyed the story and some characters and while it could have been edited better that didn't take away as much from the story for me as I thought, I would definitely try another book from this author.

[RoseLabyrinth Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid

This book was like just about every detective movie/book I’ve ever read. Overly descriptive. A mixture of expected and unexpected twists. A crummy, half there ending. Some interesting aspects, such as all the ghosts and their stories. Overall, I wouldn’t read this again and halfway feel like I wasted my time.

[David Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative take on a genre.

How does one write an interesting and creative story in a genre that is flooded with good and bad efforts? Scott Carter found the way. He created marvelous characters that pulls empathy right out of the reader.
Spoiler Alert!:
I was disappointed that there was a ghost Elvis; Dean Koontz has one in his books too. Nothing against Elvis, but it stretched the suspension of disbelief. (That sounds silly as I write it about a detective/ghost story, I know)
But one of the best quotes I've ever heard of finding happiness is said by him, so I guess I can forgive that.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Tara Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad yarn, but it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped. A lot of this was about setting the stage for future books - the chapters flipped back and forth between the past (how Myron suddenly became able to see ghosts and how he struggles to cope) and current day where he tries to find the killer for a ghost that has requested his services. So most of the story is about the living and the ghosts are only supporting characters. I'd like to read more about the ghost world that the author is beginning to create... maybe in the next book.

[Reyna Favis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read that kept me engaged. While another reviewer disliked the story line about Myron's wife, stories are about people, and this part of the story rounded out the character of the ghost detective. I enjoyed this unique blend of noir detective meets paranormal investigator. The sprinkling of humor was a wonderful counter balance to the pain and desolation Myron Vale experienced when all vestiges of his normal life were ripped away. Recommended reading.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick thoughts: Fascinating supernatural concept with a decent hard boiled detective core. A little heavy on plot convenient coincidence, but still a compelling read.

[Daniel Šturm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the guy. I like the story. Looking forward to see the next book.

If you like ghost stories or you can imagine Phill Marlow who can see ghosts, it is book for you.

[Teresa Barrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myron Vale doesn't believe in ghosts, not until he's shot one day and wakes up from a coma to see his world has changed.
A former cop, he's now a private investigator, helping both the living and the dead.
As he's still struggling to get a grip of telling the difference of the dead from the living, he's taken on another case that ties in with his own life.
This was an interesting read, but the misspellings and other errors kind of were a distraction. It also would of been nice to have chapter headings of whether it was a past or present moment as time would switch to before and after. This made it a little confusing until reading further into the chapter.
It did drag a bit for me in the beginning, but it picked up towards the end.
I do love a good ghost story, so I'm gonna give the next book a go.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the concept, the execution left a bit to be desired.

The back and forth from past to present would have worked better (for me) if it was marked. Every time it shifted it took me a good page to "get back into" that timeline. It broke up the flow for me.

There were a couple of "glitches." Like, in one scene he puts down all the windows in his car and two sentences later he puts down his window again. Again, broke up the flow.

Mostly, otherwise, the story was well written, the character development was well done, and, with a couple of tweeks it could be a great story.

I have not decided if I'll read the next book yet. Part of me wants to know how Myron is doing but part of me is afraid that the writing hasn't improved. We'll see.

[Suzanne Mack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this in my Kindle library. Not sure why I had it because I do not indulge in paranormal reading. I can never wrap my head around those concepts. I read this and yes it was strange to me. Then, the back and forth from present to future annoyed me a little… not to mention the awful editing. HOWEVER, it turned out to be okay. Not sure though, if I could read another installment. Just too many dammed ghosts.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvis is selling hot dogs now

I'm sure Elvis's afterlife is a whole lot calmer.
I enjoyed the whole ghost aspect. I felt sorry that Myron couldn't tell a ghost from a live person. That made everything so much more difficult.
This book was definitely written by a man. The explanation of the women were pathetic. We got to read how hot and sexual the women were or weren't many times over. I was reading a review that said a younger lady falls for Myron and there is a lot of sex in it. So, I won't be continuing.

[Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyable

This is exactly what I hope for in PI novels. A fast paced, engaging read with likeable characters. I'm very much looking forward to the next book.

[Anee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book over a year ago... the fact that it’s taken me this long to finish it says a lot. It starts off well, few spelling errors here and there. But nothing I noticed too often.

Then comes the actual story. And this DRAGGED. Riddled with spelling mistakes. Using the wrong names for people at the wrong time. Wasn’t even too sure at one point if we were still in the present or reading about something in the past. It was just so unclear I had to keep re-reading and ignoring stuff that wasn’t relevant to the main story. Stuck with it anyways. Twist was alright at the end. But predictable and rushed so felt a bit lazy for my liking.

I think the author tried to develop Myron and his background so much that they didn’t really pay much attention to the actual story at hand which just seems like a bit of a let down. And his obsession with his wife is just off-putting. No one in their right mind would stick around for someone who treats them like she treats him. I won’t ruin it but god I hated Billie so much it was unreal.

[Imjussayin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Detective : Myron Vale 1

In A Nutshell: A clever story that bridges the hard boiled and paranormal genre. It delivers an equally good mystery and ghost story, with thrills, spills and laughter.

The Plot: Myron Vale has a bullet lodged in his head. Since then he can see ghosts. The bullet ends his police career but triggers his journey to a PI. His new client Karen springs a surprise and not because she is a ghost. She wants to know if her husband Tony Neuman is her murderer. Vale recognises Tony Neuman as the man responsible for the bullet in his brain. This time it's personal, especially as his late wife assists him on the case.

The Protagonist: Vale is a keen detective who is funny and forgiving. He is fiercely loving, devoted and protective, but he doesn't share his problems.

The story unfolds like a thriller and has interesting characters. There is ample opportunity for romance, of the meaningful kind, and suspense. The plot is clever, perhaps if I were not so caught up in the reading, I would have sussed the end.

The ghost world is well-developed, but a little scary. The premise is our lives continue where they left off. In spirit form, There is an inconsistency. Vale cannot tell the living from the dead. So how can he drive if he does not know the ghost cars from the reals ones? Is it a mystery for book 2.

The novel is well-paced, but the timeline slips between the current and past. That can be disconcerting but is not a reason not to read this entertaining book. The dialogue can be petty and the stereotypes disappointing. Vale's partner Alesha calls him 'honkey' and 'cracker'. Blah blah blah. It feels forced and unrealistic.

Gripping I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a rollercoaster ride of surprises - unexpected directions. With it ending on a cliffhanger I am off to read book 2.


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Book Rating

Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one or reread ?: Yes Please

My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
Two* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or plot.
5* A great read. A prominent example of the genre.

[Kathy Manns055 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up on a 99 cent deal from Amazon because I was intrigued at the idea of a detective who could see ghosts and take them on as clients. Sometimes these bargain deals don’t work out, but in this case, I found a winner.

Myron Vale, a former cop, was shot in a robbery and the bullet lodged in his brain. In a coma for six months, he awakens to find out his life has drastically changed. Not only can he see ghosts, he often has trouble distinguishing them from the living. With encouragement from his wife, he sets up his own detective agency and begins working with the living and the dead - and trying to get his life back in order.

The book sometimes has an almost noir feel to it in the descriptions of places and people (and ghosts) and it manages to walk the line between humor and sadness quite nicely. There are some genuinely amusing moments; there are also moments when you feel the pathos associated with Myron’s life as he deals with an aloof, moody wife, a father suffering from dementia, an overbearing mother and, of course, the ghostly inhabitants on the planet.

I gave the book 4 stars because it was a good read - I was into it from page one and my interest held to the end. My only criticisms are the repeated or missing words that a good proofreader should have caught. These errors didn’t occur often, but when they did, they took me out of the story for a few seconds and I hate that. Also, initially, I was confused when alternating chapters dealt with the past. I caught onto it quickly, but there should be a better way to indicate that a chapter concerns actions or events that are not occurring in the present. Perhaps a beginning phrase in bold italics such as ‘Six months ago...’ or a date for those chapters. Anyway, for me this is a minor quibble; it may bother others more.

I recommend this book for those who like paranormal and detective novels. I enjoyed it very much - so much that I am reading the next book in the series!

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am slowly trying to get through my list of books to read, and this was one of those books. I liked the premise of this book is the fact that Myron can communicate with ghosts. The only bad thing about that is he cannot tell you if the person is dead or not unless he tries to touch them. Which was repeated a lot. Another neat thing about Myron is he use to be a cop, so by opening up his own investigation business and using those skills, he can help those that are ghosts. I found it bittersweet that he still got to see his wife, and you can tell he has so much love for her. Though I know, it had to be heartbreaking at the same time. With this newest case that Myron takes on, it ends up being more than he expected. The answers he seeks will come to light, and he will have to face the truth on certain things. The storyline with Myron can see ghosts, helping ghosts even to the point that it probably drives him crazy, I liked. What I did not like, and I had to drop my rating, was describing people, especially black people. 'He was a tall and black, impressively tall and black, the kind of height and skin color that would have made heads turn.' This was just one of the many descriptions that bothered me with describing characters, no matter how small they were. I understand why an author describes characters, but I felt it was overly done. The back and forth between the past, the recent past, and the now really threw me off at times. I had to stop and reread what I read to make sure that I was reading it correctly.

My favorite quote: "She was a book written in braille, and I was a blind man who'd never been taught to read."

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting story. I liked the premise. I like that the dead are organised into their own agencies etc. I like that they can right some of the wrongs that the living wouldn't be able to. It's a nice, short read.
I did, however, think that the protagonist spent way too much time describing the appearance and clothing of the female characters. I mean, I get a male protagonist noticing women, I really do.....but does he have to describe her figure and her clothing etc. almost every time he sees Karen? We get it; she's a bombshell...no need to go that far.

Then the part about all these women just throwing themselves at him. Really? One main female was his wife....three out of the other four relevant female characters aside from her all propositioned him in some way. It was just irritating to read four out of five female characters in this book who apparently would dearly like to sleep with Myron. Though he so heroically resists the urge to give in which negatively affects their self-esteem of course... It just seems like wish fulfillment or some sort of fantasy. Why was it necessary to have almost all the relevant female characters being into him?

Then there were some grammatical errors and continuity errors. I noticed a scene where Aleasha was talking but one sentence had it as Billie...who wasn't even a part of that scene. Maybe it was because the kindle edition had typos?

Anyway all in all it was an enjoyable, casual read.