Benjamin's Ghosts

Enid Gilchrist Mysteries #1

by Sylvia A. Nash

Benjamin Alexander dug into the past to uncover its secrets. His housekeeper guarded his secrets with her life. Now Enid Gilchrist must draw on her experience as a genealogist to replicate that search and protect those secrets while she unravels the clues that have crossed the years to spawn a new criminal and threaten those she loves. She also must draw on her strength of will to prevent her feelings for Chief of Police Patrick Mulhaney from hindering their mutual efforts to solve the mystery, bring peace to the dead, and protect the living.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

350 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2014

About the author

Sylvia A. Nash lives in West Tennessee. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts with a major in English and a minor in philosophy. In another life, she taught high school English. Now she spends part of her time wrestling the stories in her head onto paper and part of her time chasing down the stories of her ancestors. To learn more about the author, visit her website at http://sylviaanash.com.

Reviews

[Ajoyful1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good the second time around

A beautiful melding of family intrigue and faith. I’d read this awhile ago but needed to read it again before starting the next in the series. It’s filled with family history, secrets, revenge and reconciliation. I really enjoyed getting to know so many characters so well. The author is an expert on character development. I really enjoyed reading this again.

[Tracey S Choat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1\2 Stars

I like genealogy mysteries and have read several through the years. This book has a very good plot, but I found it too wordy, and repetitive. I liked the main character Enid and the chief of police Patrick, her first love. I may read the next book in this series. This book should be considered Christian literature.

[Cynthia A. Casby · Rating 1 out of 5]

No really a fan of this author. Her writing is mostly extemporaneous. He did this. She said that. Characters don’t do the business- they just talk about it. Boring. The genealogy is predictable and little mystery to the story. I hate to rake someone but it just doesn’t engage me.

[Judith Rainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually read geneology fiction books which are set in places outside the UK, as I like familiarity with my own country,but having read a book recently set in places in the US, I thought I'd give 'Enid Gilchrist' a try.
I loved it. I'm ready to read the next one.

[Katheryn Haddad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Jessica Fletcher of "Murder She Wrote", and add the research staff on "The Good Wife", and you have the heroine of "Benjamin's Ghosts" ~ Enid Gilchrist. The fact that no one in town liked the murder victim adds intrigue to the big question: Who did him in? Hot on the trail of the perpetrator, Enid uncovers clues in the most unlikely places, thus luring the reader to turn the page to see what surprises will pop up next.

An underlying theme is how decisions of family members long past influence decisions of family members in the present, whether or not they even remember the original ancestral decision. I think it is this underlying theme that will most powerfully remain with the reader.

Then there's Enid's friendship with the chief of police.... Read the book and find out about that.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of genealogical mysteries lately, many of them on Kindle. This one was reasonably good and I would certainly read more in the series. Readers who can't stand any mention of church or religion would have trouble with this book; otherwise, I could recommend it to people who have some interest in genealogy and like somewhat cozy mysteries.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. Uncertain of the 'bad guy' until the last chapters. A little long in the tooth, author could have shortened the book by about 75 - 100 pages. I would read another novel by this author. Right now she has only written short stories though. Maybe that is what she is best at as this book could have been a short story.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoroughly good read, can’t wait to read the next one !