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Ghosts in the Glades
WINNER of the KILLER NASHVILLE CLAYMORE AWARDS
WINNER of the MAXY AWARDS
“The underbelly of fear permeates throughout like a malodorous whiff of the unthinkable...excellent writing.” Stewart Carry, Scriptwriter and Editor Ghosts In The Glades treats the reader to a southern account of the life of Jett, a successful businessman who has had to overcome his dreadful sense of self-worth and carve a place for himself in this world while growing up with a debilitating health issue, a growth hormone deficiency, that placed him in the center of bullying nightmares growing up while at the same time, being made to feel responsible for his family losing everything in order to pay for his medical bills.
While his childhood accounts are rather uncomfortable for the reader to witness at times, the light is brought back into Jett’s story by the chance befriending of Jojo and Mags, two self-proclaimed outcasts who fit perfectly into his life and give him a sense of self-worth as well as a reprieve from being alone. He also befriends the local oddity, a man called Mr. Scroggs, who, along with a mysterious entity only referred to as Pencilman, are accused of kidnapping multiple children in their area.
Now, it’s Jett’s life that is on the line while trying to hide their secrets, because, as he had been taught, family protects each other. And, if you go against family, you yourself may become just one of the Ghosts In The Glades . “Ghosts in the Glades is an immersive and thought-provoking read, indicative of Staci Andrea’s skill in blending emotional depth with suspenseful storytelling.” Karen Almeida, Assistant Editor, Literary Titan
WINNER of the MAXY AWARDS
“The underbelly of fear permeates throughout like a malodorous whiff of the unthinkable...excellent writing.” Stewart Carry, Scriptwriter and Editor Ghosts In The Glades treats the reader to a southern account of the life of Jett, a successful businessman who has had to overcome his dreadful sense of self-worth and carve a place for himself in this world while growing up with a debilitating health issue, a growth hormone deficiency, that placed him in the center of bullying nightmares growing up while at the same time, being made to feel responsible for his family losing everything in order to pay for his medical bills.
While his childhood accounts are rather uncomfortable for the reader to witness at times, the light is brought back into Jett’s story by the chance befriending of Jojo and Mags, two self-proclaimed outcasts who fit perfectly into his life and give him a sense of self-worth as well as a reprieve from being alone. He also befriends the local oddity, a man called Mr. Scroggs, who, along with a mysterious entity only referred to as Pencilman, are accused of kidnapping multiple children in their area.
Now, it’s Jett’s life that is on the line while trying to hide their secrets, because, as he had been taught, family protects each other. And, if you go against family, you yourself may become just one of the Ghosts In The Glades . “Ghosts in the Glades is an immersive and thought-provoking read, indicative of Staci Andrea’s skill in blending emotional depth with suspenseful storytelling.” Karen Almeida, Assistant Editor, Literary Titan
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2024
2 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Staci Andrea
7 books68 followersI am a thriller/suspense author who got her start a little later in life. I think that I needed to experience the breathtaking highs and the soul crushing lows on my life's journey before I was able to really give the reader the emotional journey that I aimed to give. My style is to pull back the curtains on the ordinary person, the cookie cutter neighbor and the family that looks like they have it all together. The truth is, we all have secrets to hide.
I have four books currently in production, Fraidy Hole, Lake Laps, Beneath Her Lies and Ghosts in the Glades. (Fraidy Hole and Lake Laps have released, Beneath Her Lies is in preorder and launching April 26th, 2024, and Ghosts in the Glades is slated for later in 2024.
In the past two years that I have been writing, I have been blessed to have been part of some pretty cool awards. I have placed as a finalist in the Killer Nashville Claymore awards in 2022 and 2023, the shortlist on the Hawthorne Awards in 2023, London's Page Turner Awards Longlist for two of my books in 2023, Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Book Festival in 2023 , the Gold Five Star Award through Literary Titan, a quarter finalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition, and a finalist in the Literary Global Book Awards.
This has been a wild journey, and I can't wait to see where it goes!
I have four books currently in production, Fraidy Hole, Lake Laps, Beneath Her Lies and Ghosts in the Glades. (Fraidy Hole and Lake Laps have released, Beneath Her Lies is in preorder and launching April 26th, 2024, and Ghosts in the Glades is slated for later in 2024.
In the past two years that I have been writing, I have been blessed to have been part of some pretty cool awards. I have placed as a finalist in the Killer Nashville Claymore awards in 2022 and 2023, the shortlist on the Hawthorne Awards in 2023, London's Page Turner Awards Longlist for two of my books in 2023, Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Book Festival in 2023 , the Gold Five Star Award through Literary Titan, a quarter finalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition, and a finalist in the Literary Global Book Awards.
This has been a wild journey, and I can't wait to see where it goes!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 26, 2024
‘Ghosts In The Glades treats the reader to a southern account of the life of Jett, a successful businessman who has had to overcome his dreadful sense of self-worth and carve a place for himself in this world while growing up with a debilitating health issue, a growth hormone deficiency, that placed him in the center of bullying nightmares growing up while at the same time, being made to feel responsible for his family losing everything in order to pay for his medical bills.
Don’t let this cover fool you. It looks like somewhere we all might wanna be; like a good time on a beach somewhere… but it's anything but.
Ghosts in the Glades is told from a singular POV (until it's not) by the MMC, Jett, and is largely in reflection of a childhood wracked with sickness and bullying with chapters that are long and expressive, detailing both struggles and how they intertwine to create his own personal hell on earth. Both the premise and atmosphere intrigued me and I was eager to get lost in its pages.
As the story unfolds though, the repetition begins. I understand that getting the point across regarding the relentless bullying is critical, but it became redundant as did the incessant reiterations of Jett’s poor health as well as the guilt he feels about his family’s monetary misfortune after years upon years of hospitals bill in effort of aid and solace. That along with his internal dialogue about how he just wants to be normal, he’s tired of being the freak, etc, etc. I understood early on his feelings on the subject and didn’t need to be reminded every other page. But the majority of the book continues to expound on these things, over and over and over. And it was not just unnecessary for obvious reasons, but also because Andrea is very illustrative and vivid in her storytelling. The superfluous recaps were unneeded and sadly, they wore me down.
I have enjoyed previous reads by this author, so perhaps this is just a me-thing. I’m not sure. Regardless, this will hardly stop me from reading whatever she puts out there in the future.
Don’t let this cover fool you. It looks like somewhere we all might wanna be; like a good time on a beach somewhere… but it's anything but.
Ghosts in the Glades is told from a singular POV (until it's not) by the MMC, Jett, and is largely in reflection of a childhood wracked with sickness and bullying with chapters that are long and expressive, detailing both struggles and how they intertwine to create his own personal hell on earth. Both the premise and atmosphere intrigued me and I was eager to get lost in its pages.
As the story unfolds though, the repetition begins. I understand that getting the point across regarding the relentless bullying is critical, but it became redundant as did the incessant reiterations of Jett’s poor health as well as the guilt he feels about his family’s monetary misfortune after years upon years of hospitals bill in effort of aid and solace. That along with his internal dialogue about how he just wants to be normal, he’s tired of being the freak, etc, etc. I understood early on his feelings on the subject and didn’t need to be reminded every other page. But the majority of the book continues to expound on these things, over and over and over. And it was not just unnecessary for obvious reasons, but also because Andrea is very illustrative and vivid in her storytelling. The superfluous recaps were unneeded and sadly, they wore me down.
I have enjoyed previous reads by this author, so perhaps this is just a me-thing. I’m not sure. Regardless, this will hardly stop me from reading whatever she puts out there in the future.
November 15, 2024
Staci Andrea is a new author to me. Having heard that Ghosts in the Glades had won a few book prizes, I was eager to dive in. Having just finished the book, I’m sitting quietly, reeling.
Jett wants to be just like any other boy. He wants to blend in, and not come to the attention of the bullies. Unfortunately for Jett, his health condition makes him stand out from the crowd. He is fortunate to find two wonderful friends, Jojo and Mags. These three kindred spirits help each other through the hardest of times.
The story takes us through Jett’s life, alternating between his excruciating teenage years, and a small window of his adult life. A life that would be unimaginable to his younger self.
I genuinely didn’t know where the book was taking me. I was eager to know, but also nervous too. A sense of foreboding built steadily, and continuously through the pages. There is a feeling of nobody being who they purport to be, the truth being just beyond your fingertips.
I sometimes see readers and reviewers saying they don’t read prologues and epilogues. Trust me when I say, you MUST read this epilogue.
It’s not often you can say that the ending of a book made your mouth drop open, but this honestly did. My husband asked me what had happened, as I genuinely looked that shocked.
I was hooked and intrigued by this 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ character driven story. I would like to thank Kingsley Publishers for allowing early access to this book, and introducing me to a fabulous new author, Staci Andrea. I’m off to check out her back catalogue, and add them to my teetering tbr tower.
Jett wants to be just like any other boy. He wants to blend in, and not come to the attention of the bullies. Unfortunately for Jett, his health condition makes him stand out from the crowd. He is fortunate to find two wonderful friends, Jojo and Mags. These three kindred spirits help each other through the hardest of times.
The story takes us through Jett’s life, alternating between his excruciating teenage years, and a small window of his adult life. A life that would be unimaginable to his younger self.
I genuinely didn’t know where the book was taking me. I was eager to know, but also nervous too. A sense of foreboding built steadily, and continuously through the pages. There is a feeling of nobody being who they purport to be, the truth being just beyond your fingertips.
I sometimes see readers and reviewers saying they don’t read prologues and epilogues. Trust me when I say, you MUST read this epilogue.
It’s not often you can say that the ending of a book made your mouth drop open, but this honestly did. My husband asked me what had happened, as I genuinely looked that shocked.
I was hooked and intrigued by this 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ character driven story. I would like to thank Kingsley Publishers for allowing early access to this book, and introducing me to a fabulous new author, Staci Andrea. I’m off to check out her back catalogue, and add them to my teetering tbr tower.
December 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This was very much a character driven novel, with far less focus on the story so much as the people and their who, where, when, how, and why. The characters in this jumped off the page, and were incredibly well fleshed-out and expanded on throughout the story. I do feel like the teenagers were better written than the adults in this book, and there is definitely a maintained sense of wonder at the obscure world of the things that adults *do* within this world.
Jett is the main character, a young man with a hormonal growth disorder that has resulted in him having a bumpy road through puberty. I feel like this book is a prime candidate for studying in the classroom at a similar age to the characters, and there's definitely a lot here for younger teen readers to connect with. Him and his friends face a number of bullying incidents, abuse, and many other issues throughout their young lives, and it certainly shapes them into the people they become through the book.
I will say that I found some of the themes a bit repetitive and there was definitely some things that this book faltered in because of the reiterations, but it is definitely a solid character book that is well worth the read.
This was very much a character driven novel, with far less focus on the story so much as the people and their who, where, when, how, and why. The characters in this jumped off the page, and were incredibly well fleshed-out and expanded on throughout the story. I do feel like the teenagers were better written than the adults in this book, and there is definitely a maintained sense of wonder at the obscure world of the things that adults *do* within this world.
Jett is the main character, a young man with a hormonal growth disorder that has resulted in him having a bumpy road through puberty. I feel like this book is a prime candidate for studying in the classroom at a similar age to the characters, and there's definitely a lot here for younger teen readers to connect with. Him and his friends face a number of bullying incidents, abuse, and many other issues throughout their young lives, and it certainly shapes them into the people they become through the book.
I will say that I found some of the themes a bit repetitive and there was definitely some things that this book faltered in because of the reiterations, but it is definitely a solid character book that is well worth the read.
November 24, 2024
TW: domestic and sexual abuse, bullying, suicide/suicidal ideation and mental illness
This was an emotionally compelling novel involving some heavy topics. I was engrossed the moment I opened my kindle and started reading the exceptional prologue.
The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own experiences and beliefs to the story. The combination of human emotions, misconceptions and past/present relationships provided depth as well as making one think about the legacies we leave behind. Our pasts shape our future.
The long-lasting intergenerational friendships were built on trust, mutual respect and love. Mr. Scroggs and the Pencil Man 🥹
The epilogue was a complete shock and blew my mind!!
Being from Florida, I loved all of the familiar references and slang.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was an emotionally compelling novel involving some heavy topics. I was engrossed the moment I opened my kindle and started reading the exceptional prologue.
The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own experiences and beliefs to the story. The combination of human emotions, misconceptions and past/present relationships provided depth as well as making one think about the legacies we leave behind. Our pasts shape our future.
The long-lasting intergenerational friendships were built on trust, mutual respect and love. Mr. Scroggs and the Pencil Man 🥹
The epilogue was a complete shock and blew my mind!!
Being from Florida, I loved all of the familiar references and slang.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 27, 2024
I am writing this as soon as I finished the epilogue and I am stunned. What a beautifully tragic story of a man whose childhood demons never left his soul. The author has created such believable characters that it's easy to get lost in the gritty story and finish it in a night or two, simply because you are unable to put it down.
The descriptive manner in which Andrea writes is something that I really appreciate. What makes the story so realistic is the in your face versions of what the main character's life was like, paired with his internal struggles.
Highly recommend! I look forward to more from this author.
The descriptive manner in which Andrea writes is something that I really appreciate. What makes the story so realistic is the in your face versions of what the main character's life was like, paired with his internal struggles.
Highly recommend! I look forward to more from this author.
November 19, 2024
I was lucky enough to read this one as an ARC and was blown away. The rich character development and painful childhood reflections lent themselves to one beautiful story of survival, while still keeping the suspense palpable. It is the type of book that you reflect upon long after you have turned the last page. I also loved the southern setting!
January 11, 2025
Excellent writing style and engaging prose. I felt as though I got to know the main character and his friends well, and I enjoyed the air of mystery and potential menace that surrounded Pencil Man and Mr Groggs. There were parts that felt as though they were rambling a bit, but overall a solid plot with some decent twists.
January 13, 2025
What a southern flavor of a thriller! At its heart, this story was much deeper than I had assumed it to be and the characters were so well defined. Looking forward to reading more by this up and coming author. I highly recommend.
October 20, 2025
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this. It was a wonderful, well-written book. Jett's story is an emotional one as he talks of growing up. The story just pulled me in.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews