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The Brookwood Boys: A paranormal military thriller
Absorb yourself in a missing person mystery with a ghostly twist! For fans of Myke Cole, Kate Atkinson, Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson.
Can the dead talk to the living?
Surrey, England, 2019
Tennessee soldier Maurice ‘Mouse’ Forsyth has been watching over Brookwood Cemetery ever since his untimely death in 1917. For over a hundred lonely years, he has been the caretaker of lost souls, welcoming the good as well as the evil and the damaged.
But now something strange is happening. For the first time, Mouse seems to be able to interact with the living. The head gardener’s teenage son, Luke, has seen him.
Overwhelmed, Mouse tries to find a way to communicate with him. But before he can, Luke’s friend Matilda — a sad girl who has often been seen alone in the graveyard — goes missing.
Mouse wants to help Luke, but he has never interfered with the world of the living before.
Leaning on the other spirits in the military cemetery, whose sad past lives are gradually revealed, Mouse is determined to find Matilda.
But the outcome may not be what he was hoping for…
Will Mouse find a way to speak to Luke? Can he help him discover what happened to Matilda?
And will the Brookwood ghosts finally find peace?
THE BROOKWOOD BOYS is a moving paranormal fantasy thriller with historical flashbacks to soldiers’ lives in the First and Second World Wars.
Can the dead talk to the living?
Surrey, England, 2019
Tennessee soldier Maurice ‘Mouse’ Forsyth has been watching over Brookwood Cemetery ever since his untimely death in 1917. For over a hundred lonely years, he has been the caretaker of lost souls, welcoming the good as well as the evil and the damaged.
But now something strange is happening. For the first time, Mouse seems to be able to interact with the living. The head gardener’s teenage son, Luke, has seen him.
Overwhelmed, Mouse tries to find a way to communicate with him. But before he can, Luke’s friend Matilda — a sad girl who has often been seen alone in the graveyard — goes missing.
Mouse wants to help Luke, but he has never interfered with the world of the living before.
Leaning on the other spirits in the military cemetery, whose sad past lives are gradually revealed, Mouse is determined to find Matilda.
But the outcome may not be what he was hoping for…
Will Mouse find a way to speak to Luke? Can he help him discover what happened to Matilda?
And will the Brookwood ghosts finally find peace?
THE BROOKWOOD BOYS is a moving paranormal fantasy thriller with historical flashbacks to soldiers’ lives in the First and Second World Wars.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2024
11 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. At times I forgot that most of the characters were ghosts interacting with live people.
Great story lines and background stories of how they died and why they still ghosts was intriguing to say the least.
I can easily say, this is one of my favorites. 5 ***** is not enough.
I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader.
Great story lines and background stories of how they died and why they still ghosts was intriguing to say the least.
I can easily say, this is one of my favorites. 5 ***** is not enough.
I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader.
August 17, 2025
(3.5 rounded down)
A Tennessee soldier (Mouse), long dead but still watching over Brookwood Cemetery, finds himself pulled into the disappearance of a young girl. What follows is part ghost story, part military elegy, and part mystery.
The strongest element here is the atmosphere—Brookwood feels heavy with memory. These glimpses into the past are moving and respectful, a reminder of the weight soldiers carry long after the fighting ends.
The concept is unique, and Mouse as a narrator has a gentleness that makes the story shine. I won’t say anything about the finale, only that it feels fitting for a tale about war, loss, and the thin line between the living and the dead.
A Tennessee soldier (Mouse), long dead but still watching over Brookwood Cemetery, finds himself pulled into the disappearance of a young girl. What follows is part ghost story, part military elegy, and part mystery.
The strongest element here is the atmosphere—Brookwood feels heavy with memory. These glimpses into the past are moving and respectful, a reminder of the weight soldiers carry long after the fighting ends.
The concept is unique, and Mouse as a narrator has a gentleness that makes the story shine. I won’t say anything about the finale, only that it feels fitting for a tale about war, loss, and the thin line between the living and the dead.
April 2, 2025
A unique and poignant tale. I was immediately drawn to the character of Mouse, and all the other denizens of Brookwood Cemetery. Their stories were both powerful and moving. The historical aspects were skilfully woven into the narrative, all thoroughly researched and fascinating. It is an unusual book, quite different from Patrick’s Josh McNabb stories, but still with the strong thread of Military History throughout.
I felt that this book was a wonderful testament to all those brave souls who may linger in other military cemeteries, much like Brookwood.
Do give it a read. You won’t be disappointed.
I felt that this book was a wonderful testament to all those brave souls who may linger in other military cemeteries, much like Brookwood.
Do give it a read. You won’t be disappointed.
August 9, 2025
🔥 BRO vs. THE BROOKWOOD BOYS 🔥
🥊 The Book: Maurice “Mouse” Forsyth, a Tennessee soldier killed in 1917, has been watching over Brookwood Cemetery for more than a century. He’s the unofficial caretaker of the dead—good, bad, and everything in between. When Mouse and the other soldier spirits decide to help find a missing local girl, they learn crossing the line between the living and the dead has consequences.
💪 The Bro: Gotta love a a slow burn ghost story wrapped in military history and ghost story vibes. It reads almost like nonfiction at times—deeply immersive for history buffs, but possibly heavy going for readers expecting a fast-paced paranormal thriller.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• Killer premise—ghost soldiers solving a mystery? Sign me up.
• Setting drips with atmosphere—Brookwood Cemetery feels lived in (and… unlived in).
• Tone leans hard toward historical drama with paranormal elements over horror, and the lite horror elements come not from jump scares but the lingering shadow of war.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Each new spirit gets a detailed, historically grounded backstory—rich, but it sometimes really slows the pacing. As a result, the central mystery takes a backseat to the historical vignettes.
• Niche factor is high—if military history isn’t your thing, you might find yourself wishing Mouse would hurry it up.
• Dialogue and historical details are authentic enough to feel like you’re swapping stories at a VFW hall.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• The climax carries emotional punch, though the path there is a bit winding.
• Fans of history-first storytelling will be deeply satisfied…but thrill-seekers will almost certainly demand more urgency.
• Ends with a sense of bittersweet closure that matches the tone perfectly. It’s sad, but it’s tough to imagine it ending differently.
⸻
🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Split Decision – As niche as they come. Less “ghost thriller” and more “paranormal history lesson,” it rewards patience with rich detail and authentic voices from beyond the grave.
🥊 The Book: Maurice “Mouse” Forsyth, a Tennessee soldier killed in 1917, has been watching over Brookwood Cemetery for more than a century. He’s the unofficial caretaker of the dead—good, bad, and everything in between. When Mouse and the other soldier spirits decide to help find a missing local girl, they learn crossing the line between the living and the dead has consequences.
💪 The Bro: Gotta love a a slow burn ghost story wrapped in military history and ghost story vibes. It reads almost like nonfiction at times—deeply immersive for history buffs, but possibly heavy going for readers expecting a fast-paced paranormal thriller.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• Killer premise—ghost soldiers solving a mystery? Sign me up.
• Setting drips with atmosphere—Brookwood Cemetery feels lived in (and… unlived in).
• Tone leans hard toward historical drama with paranormal elements over horror, and the lite horror elements come not from jump scares but the lingering shadow of war.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Each new spirit gets a detailed, historically grounded backstory—rich, but it sometimes really slows the pacing. As a result, the central mystery takes a backseat to the historical vignettes.
• Niche factor is high—if military history isn’t your thing, you might find yourself wishing Mouse would hurry it up.
• Dialogue and historical details are authentic enough to feel like you’re swapping stories at a VFW hall.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• The climax carries emotional punch, though the path there is a bit winding.
• Fans of history-first storytelling will be deeply satisfied…but thrill-seekers will almost certainly demand more urgency.
• Ends with a sense of bittersweet closure that matches the tone perfectly. It’s sad, but it’s tough to imagine it ending differently.
⸻
🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Split Decision – As niche as they come. Less “ghost thriller” and more “paranormal history lesson,” it rewards patience with rich detail and authentic voices from beyond the grave.
May 6, 2025
The Brookwood Boys is a deeply researched military story that informs as well as entertains. The ghostly cast of characters are soldiers from many different conflicts and different countries, whose spirits remain at the Brookwood Cemetery in Britain. The author uses the ghosts' deaths to educate the reader about the perils of war, sometimes due to military screw-ups that get swept under the rug. A common theme is the shameful treatment of veterans once their service has ended, a timely issue here in America right now. This book is so well-written that you forget these soldiers are ghosts, not visitors at the cemetery. If you're looking for something a little different to read, check this one out. You won't regret it.
January 22, 2025
It has been a long time since I read something I enjoyed as much as I did this book. I was surprised by just how much I liked it and how quickly I finished it. The use of the spirits of the military dead and their individual stories was wonderful and added so much to the book. Niche Reader shared this with me and I will be forever grateful!
March 24, 2025
I read this book as I was given a copy by Niche Readers
I think it is one of the best books I have read. Great characters, “Mouse” is a great narrator.
The storyline flowed and the characters were believable. The history of how each person died, gave the book a different dimension. Great twist at the end. Snuggle up and enjoy.
I think it is one of the best books I have read. Great characters, “Mouse” is a great narrator.
The storyline flowed and the characters were believable. The history of how each person died, gave the book a different dimension. Great twist at the end. Snuggle up and enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews