Goodlow's Ghosts

Ryerson Biergarten #3

by T.M. Wright

Exploring the full potential of his psychic talents when a gateway opens between Earth and a menacing world, Ryerson Biergarten seeks to keep humans and ghosts in their proper dimensions while searching for a particular man's killer.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Occult Detective, Paranormal

ebook

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Terrance Michael Wright (AKA T. M. Wright) is best known as a writer of horror fiction, speculative fiction, and poetry. He has written over 25 novels, novellas, and short stories over the last 40 years. His first novel, 1978's Strange Seed, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award, and his 2003 novel Cold House was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. His novels have been translated into many different languages around the world. His works have been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and many genre magazines.

Reviews

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? As usual, T. M. Wright gave me an excellent read. If I could go 4.5 stars, I would. I'd give it a 5 but that wouldn't be fair to the other T. M. Wright books I liked better. He writes in a way that captures the subtleties of the moment and the characters involved that very few writers can. And he does so with such an efficiency of words.

This book lets the read put the mysteries of the plot together in the way I most enjoy: giving me just enough to make me feel I'm getting closer to the answers, but not too much to ease my urge to keep reading. It's a great little supernatural detective story with a lead protagonist that's worthy of today's most popular TV shows trying to pull off what Wright seems to do with such ease: intrigue, amuse, and capture the audience.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ryerson Biergarten books have always been my favorites of T.M. Wright's works. The first two, The Changing and The Devouring, were published under the pseudonym of F.W. Armstrong in the mid-1980s, and the other two, Goodlow's Ghosts and The Ascending, were published under his own name in the mid-1990s. Biergarten is a psychic who works with the forces of law and order to solve horrific crimes. With his faithful canine companion, Creosote, he helps both the living and the not-so-much who are in need of aid. The books are full of interesting and amusing investigations, along with Wright's usual ambiguous and occasionally seemingly contradictory interactions with ghosts, but Ryerson also deals with werewolves, vampires, and other popular demons of the day. They're a bit dated in spots, I'm sure (the covers of the first two are very much a relic of their era), but skimming through I think they would still hold pretty well. Wright was an excellent writer who excelled at creating a dreamlike quality in his quiet horror novels, an aspect which is present but secondary to rigorous plotting and good pacing in the Biergarten books. Ryerson was a literary descendant of Hodgson's Carnacki and a forerunner of Butcher's Dresden.

[Debra]

Stephen King recommended author: "T.M. Wright is a rare and blazing talent!"

[Carson Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you know if you’re alive? Is it being able to feel tired or sore or emotions? For Sam goodlow it isn’t very clear if he is alive or not. For these reasons he finds Ryerson Biergarten, they discover the truth behind what happened to Sam and try to to stop it from happening to anyone else in the future. This book tells a very interesting story from multiple different perspectives and keeps you hooked. If you are the type of person who is interested in the paranormal and likes a good mystery this book will keep you intrigued and interested. I found this book did a great job at keeping a steady pace that kept my attention well. This book is definitely

[Janet Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephen King rec and it was good. Just my cup of tea.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange book.

[Hazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.

The premise of a psychic detective that sees ghosts is kinda cool, like a proto-Odd Thomas. But it's occasionally jarring and the hero does something really stupid at the end that almost gets him killed.

Probably not the best in the series, but still fun.