The Case Files of GG Michaels

by J.L. Meredith

GG Michaels isn’t afraid of the dark.

Things that go bump in the night
Monsters that lurk in the shadows
The odd, the weird, the bizarre, the creepy
As a paranormal investigator, she’s seen her share,

Join her as she pulls back the curtain in this trio of

The Face in the An uninvited guest crashes a tween sleepover. With her best friend’s life at stake, GG must confront the fiend in its lair.

The Padded GG attends a college Halloween party at an abandoned asylum and confronts more than she bargained for.

What Lies A realtor hires GG to prove a Victorian mansion isn’t haunted, she finds something that even terrifies its ghosts.

Grab your flashlight and come along—if you're not afraid...

Genres: Paranormal

211 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2024

About the author

Born and raised in a rural community in Ontario, Canada, and practically living in the classics section of the children’s library, Lance began writing tales of adventure and heroism in the fourth grade. An old soul, he tries to sing, and dance, and play, a little each day. He has degrees in political science and psychology.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I think it's possible that I would have loved this book had I read it when I was a teenager, but this really wasn't the book for me. Which is fine, not everyone is going to like the same books. Really went back and forth on how to rate it. Went with a four, though, because I think tons of people will love it. I absolutely loved the illustrations.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case Files Of GG Michaels by JL Meredith, from vampires to ghost the one thing Gigi Michaels has always been interested in his paranormal and the macabre the one constant in Guinevere‘s life has been her love and investigation of the other. this collection of stories covers her case files where she investigates ghost stops a vampire and she still has time for classwork and a little bit of romance. I really enjoyed the stories I thought Guinevere weather being queen or the fancy of two hot guys she always is respectful and someone you really want to root for. I do believe these books are mainly for middle grade or even fourth and fifth grade readers but I myself enjoyed them just the same. If you know someone who would like goosebumps then they would definitely like these stories as well. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#JLMeredith, #TheCaseFilesOfGGMichaels,

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guenevere ‘Guen’ Grace Michaels, the GG of the title, first encounters the paranormal when Hannah Schaeffer, a dead 16yo schoolgirl, appears to her as a vampire in 'The Face in the Window'. Guen is only 12 years old at this time.
Her second brush with the paranormal, 'The Padded Cell', takes place in college on Halloween night when she espies a ghost, who has not been able to move on. This Halloween party is being held in an abandoned asylum for the mentally ill. The asylum is not haunted by just one spirit. Something far more ancient and evil lurks in the dark. This is her roommate and best friend, Janet Yamashita’s, first experience of the paranormal. This is also where we meet Izaak Washington, a strapping footballer who saves Guen from the asylum and becomes her boyfriend.
In 'Ouroboros Charm', Izaak is away but Guen and Janet have been invited to a spring festival being held in a quaint town called Ouroboros Charm. Guen has been chosen as a princess of sorts for the main festivities. But the truth is that this is a dangerous cult, in thrall of a 100-yard worm. Will Guen and Janet get out of there alive?
In 'Beldam and the Belle', Janet and Izaak are both away meeting their respective families. Guen takes up what promises to be a quick assignment. A black businessman, Xavier Fox, wants to buy a defunct old ship called the Belle, and convert it into a hotel. He wants Guen to check out the ship and get rid of the ghosts that haunt it. The townsfolk are not pleased with his intention. One woman, in particular, Mrs Eunice Beldam, who runs a derelict charm store and operates as a witch, enchants both Fox and Guen through a powerful spell. Will Guen be able to resist the spell and release the ghosts? And what will happen when Eunice Beldam invokes a zombie?
In 'What Lies Beneath', Guen and Janet are called to the nearly 200-year-old Monahan House to release the ghosts reported to be haunting the place. There they discover something far more frightening than a few lost ghosts.

The book is written as several connected short stories, which describe a series of encounters that Guen has with the paranormal at various stages of her life.

WHAT I LIKED: The author did a fine job with the descriptions, filling them with active imagery that helped me picture the scenes.
The paranormal creatures featured in each story are depicted by well-drawn black and white sketches at the end of each story.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: There were parts in at least two of the stories, where the writing seemed to aspire to become some kind of erotica writing. Not something I want to read.
The book needed better editing. There were many grammatical errors. A character’s ‘imposing’ strength is described as ‘interposing’.
The dialogue between Guen and Janet in Ouroboros’ Charm could have been edited better. It was hard to follow exactly who was speaking.
I found it odd that the 3rd person PoV omniscient narrator referred to Guen as a blonde several times in the story. There was no need to objectify her like that. It’s the sort of thing a man writing a female character would do. The frequent references to her movie-star looks and calling her the blonde immediately got me out of the story.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK: Guen was too focused on growing her showbiz career. Her previous successes seemed to have made her blasé about the danger posed by the paranormal. In the last story, she was fixated on the episode she was recording than on what should have been her calling.
Also, she is a Catholic, but her faith seems to be a mere peg on which to hang the premise. Throw in a few Hail Marys, carry a rosary in her purse, say the prayer to the Archangel Michael to prove that she’s a good Catholic. But then the moment she’s given a charm necklace, she takes off her chain which has a cross without a second thought. Not a smart move for someone who is Catholic and aware of the Evil One’s power. Also, not a smart move to insist on wearing heels while out on the job.
In the last story, she has the arrogance to wonder "if He put her into these situations to foil His enemy."
Why introduce a new character, the boyfriend, Izaak, and never let him feature in any of the remaining stories?

ALL SAID AND DONE: The book had its moments, but there were sections that didn’t quite work.

(I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of writing this review. Thanks to the author and publisher.)

[Literary Titan · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.L. Meredith’s The Case Files of GG Michaels: Paranormal Investigator delivers a gripping mix of supernatural suspense, investigative drama, and sly humor. Each short story follows Guenevere "Guen" Michaels, a fearless paranormal investigator, and her steadfast partner, Janet Yamashita. Together, they tackle eerie mysteries, confronting everything from ghosts and vampires to legendary creatures, all while juggling their professional cases and personal challenges.

Meredith paints each scene with precision and atmosphere. Whether it’s an abandoned asylum cloaked in shadow or a creaking Victorian house steeped in ghostly whispers, the locations feel alive and dripping with supernatural tension. The chemistry between Guen and Janet shines brightly, with Guen’s daring and resourcefulness playing perfectly against Janet’s down-to-earth practicality and skeptical humor. Their moments of banter and camaraderie bring a lighthearted charm that balances the book’s darker, chilling tones. The pacing of each short story keeps the suspense tight, pulling readers into one eerie case after another. Every tale builds anticipation as Guen and Janet piece together clues and face malevolent entities. Meredith seamlessly weaves historical details into the paranormal fabric, such as the haunting ties of the Monahan house to the Underground Railroad, adding a sense of realism and depth. The fusion of folklore with modern investigative techniques creates a refreshing and inventive take on paranormal sleuthing.

Despite its many strengths, the collection's brisk momentum sometimes works against it. The sheer variety of supernatural cases can feel somewhat overwhelming, with transitions between stories occasionally losing clarity. Some climactic moments resolve too quickly, leaving a hunger for deeper exploration of these terrifying encounters.

The Case Files of GG Michaels: Paranormal Investigator is an engrossing read for fans of paranormal mysteries. Meredith’s knack for atmospheric storytelling, sharp character dynamics, and the interplay of horror and humor make this book an exciting and memorable entry into the genre. It’s perfect for readers who love their chills with a dash of wit.

[litandcoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith’s episodic novel of paranormal investigations follows Princeton-trained magician and engineering-anomalies expert Guenevere Grace Michaels through five escalating “case files,” each heightening the moral and supernatural stakes of her work. Beginning with a Halloween party in an abandoned asylum and ending in a cavern beneath a former Underground Railroad house, the book tracks how a young investigator’s precision tools—EMF meters, thermal cameras, lock-picks—meet the unpredictable violence of spirits, demons, and human evil.

Guen is a striking creation: a Scream-Queen turned serious investigator, a Catholic who prays the St. Michael prayer while testing electromagnetic fields, an escape artist whose most daring feats involve resisting temptation and negotiating with the dead. Janet Yamashita, skeptical and quick with a sidearm, provides a witty counterpoint. Early investigations follow a disciplined pattern of testing and prayer; later ones erupt into folk-horror seductions, a steamboat sorceress’s love-hex, and a final confrontation with a West African spider demon. Clear, tactile prose grounds the escalating mythology, and the book’s moral clarity—mercy over spectacle—makes this engrossing supernatural procedural unexpectedly humane. Fans of eerie ghost tales and high-octane supernatural adventures will be gratified.

[Deepi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case Files of GG Michaels By JL Meredith is a collection of three short stories about Guenevere's paranormal encounters at different stages of her life.

I love the concept of showing her three life stages, like high school, college, and career, in the story. It made me feel connected to the main character and invested me in her journey. After finishing the book, I really wish it were a full novel instead of a novella.

The stories involve a vampire, an entity, and a monster from another world. I love how the author packed three distinct horrors into so few pages and executed them brilliantly. The writing kept me hooked until the very end of each story.

If you are a horror/paranormal lover, then you should try this novella. It has rich characters, a thrilling plot, and heart-pounding scenes, all within a fast-paced and engaging read. Also, the supernatural elements keeps you on edge, making it a must-read for fans of eerie, suspenseful storytelling.

[Antoine Monks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot's of page turning fun from J.L. Meredith as per usual, this time of the spooky sort.

Paranormal investigator stuff is outside my usual reading habits but I really enjoyed these five stories. Each one has clever idea at its core and lively characters around it to keep things moving and there's a solid variety of tales and sufficient familiarity to give it a series flavor. Meredith also does a good job creating atmosphere with locations and intrigue with the new faces that pop up in each story not to mention some truly chilling situations... but for the rest, you'll have to read them for yourself.

I hope Meredith won't be keeping us waiting long for another batch.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urban fantasy ghost hunter stories. An easy , entertaining short read. We enter the life of GG Michaels in a series of short stories as she grows up, and picks up a number of haunting cases. They are fun, and she comes out of the other side of each case. Which is interesting, as unlike her normal side kick, she seems to be unable to discern the life threatening danger that she seems to just walk right into. By chance, skill or rescue she manages to help those people that employ her. Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Debbie Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guen, a paranormal investigator, and her partner, Janet, investigate various crimes. Read the adventures of Guen and Janet.