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The Ghost Ring: The Haunting of Caligo Farm
#1 Best Seller on Amazon • Simon Moody and Clara Barley, a pair of amateur paranormal investigators, discover that Clara’s freshman dorm room at Harvard is haunted by the ghost of a student murdered in 1841. The two friends set out to solve the mysterious murder, their circuitous quest leading them to a terrifying encounter with the unnaturally tall Head Matron of a historic lunatic asylum, abandoned in 1870.
While attending the showing of Edmund Wilder’s newly discovered paintings at a prestigious art gallery in Manhattan, Simon and Clara encounter a ghostly artist attempting to finish the portrait of a bucolic farmhouse he began in 1934—the year he was murdered. A series of astonishing coincidences draws the friends to a long-abandoned farm, where they face a chilling encounter with the ghostly Brother Adam—the man who dreamed of Caligo Farm in 1929.
While attending the showing of Edmund Wilder’s newly discovered paintings at a prestigious art gallery in Manhattan, Simon and Clara encounter a ghostly artist attempting to finish the portrait of a bucolic farmhouse he began in 1934—the year he was murdered. A series of astonishing coincidences draws the friends to a long-abandoned farm, where they face a chilling encounter with the ghostly Brother Adam—the man who dreamed of Caligo Farm in 1929.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2025
About the author
Tom Hoffman
27 books38 followersA veteran author of thrilling young adult and middle grade adventure stories, Tom Hoffman received a B.S. in psychology from Georgetown University and a B.A from the now-defunct Oregon College of Art. He has lived in Alaska with his wife Alexis since 1973. They have two adult children and four amazing grandchildren. Tom has been a graphic designer and artist for over 35 years. Redirecting his imagination from art to writing, he wrote his first novel, The Eleventh Ring, at age 63.
The Bartholomew the Adventurer Trilogy and the Orville Wellington Mouse adventures are multi-leveled stories and have been compared to classics such as Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, and Neverending Story. The books were written for his grandchildren to first enjoy as thrilling adventure tales; then as adults to discover the underlying themes of ethics, metaphysics, philosophy, quantum physics, and spirituality. A common theme is the idea that there is no magic, only science we don't understand. The books were written to provide an alternate way to view the world we live in. To see all life as a single force, all life equally precious, no matter the form. A world where violence is not necessary, a world where the protagonists are changed forever by their difficult choices, by their own sacrifices. A world of empathy, kindness, and love. And of course, ten foot tall ancient robotic rabbits and gigantic carnivorous centipedes living on post apocalyptic planets!
Visit me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Tom-Hoffman-...
The Bartholomew the Adventurer Trilogy and the Orville Wellington Mouse adventures are multi-leveled stories and have been compared to classics such as Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, and Neverending Story. The books were written for his grandchildren to first enjoy as thrilling adventure tales; then as adults to discover the underlying themes of ethics, metaphysics, philosophy, quantum physics, and spirituality. A common theme is the idea that there is no magic, only science we don't understand. The books were written to provide an alternate way to view the world we live in. To see all life as a single force, all life equally precious, no matter the form. A world where violence is not necessary, a world where the protagonists are changed forever by their difficult choices, by their own sacrifices. A world of empathy, kindness, and love. And of course, ten foot tall ancient robotic rabbits and gigantic carnivorous centipedes living on post apocalyptic planets!
Visit me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Tom-Hoffman-...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 15, 2026
BLURB:
Simon Moody & Clara Barley discover that Clara’s dorm room is haunted by the ghost of an 1841 murder victim, leading them to investigate & uncover a mystery tied to a haunted farm.
REVIEW:
I loved the first two books in this series, and it’s the only series I’ve given five stars to every book so far, so I went into this one with high expectations. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint! It’s possible to read each book as a standalone because the author does a great job weaving in enough backstory to keep new readers oriented, but I’d recommend reading them in order to see how the MCs, Simon Moody and Clara Barley, relationship develops and how the mysteries are interconnected between books. This story picks up shortly after the events of book two, with Simon beginning his studies at MIT and Clara at Harvard after leaving Caligo Falls behind following their intense paranormal investigations. The story begins with a haunting in Clara’s Harvard dorm room involving the infamous “Coughing Ghost,” the spirit of a student murdered in 1841.
What I love most about these books is that the mysteries are always much more intricate than they first appear. What begins as a ghost story gradually becomes multiple intertwined mysteries with historical elements woven in. This story has a big focus on fate, synchronicity, and, more subtly, the concept of reincarnation, all seamlessly woven in and makes some of the dialogue very thought-provoking!
The story is told in a dual POV, following both Simon and Clara. Since they’re together most of the time investigating, you really get to see how much their relationship has evolved and how comfortable they now are with each other. They definitely have a Sherlock and Watson dynamic, constantly bouncing ideas off each other while sharing entertaining banter. I loved how the story opens with conversations about Simon’s studies at MIT and Clara’s psychology courses at Harvard, particularly her fascination with Carl Jung and his theories surrounding synchronicity—it perfectly sets up the recurring theme.
The first mystery involving Henry Whitmore, the Harvard student murdered the night before he planned to elope with his professor’s daughter in 1841, gripped me. I was also impressed by how quickly their investigation into his murder became intertwined with other ghosts and mysteries. Simon and Clara soon encounter the ghost of artist Silas A. Morgan at Edmund Wilder’s gallery exhibition, linking events back to book two, while repeatedly crossing paths with a mysterious man, Joseph. I needed to know why Joseph kept appearing and how he was connected to everything—and it’s slowly revealed through a series of secrets and shocking revelations that are very well laid out. Their investigations eventually lead them back to Caligo Falls, where all the events of books one and two took place—but this time, to the haunted, abandoned Caligo Farm, depicted in a haunted painting. Without giving too much away, they soon uncover another paranormal mystery tied to Simon’s grandfather. I warned you this was intricate, and let me tell you—we’re just getting started here! Just like the previous books, I never had any idea where the story was heading most of the time!
The banter between Simon and Clara is one of the series’ biggest strengths, while the supporting cast—especially their family and found family in Caligo Falls—continues to add warmth and humor. And of course, Simon and Clara again use the Ghost Ring to see, communicate with, and touch spirits, allowing them to relive some of the spirit’s memories from a fly-on-the-wall perspective. The ghost memory sequences transport them to different time periods, including the 1840s and the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and every flashback is immersive and full of clues.
If that’s all not enough, Simon and Clara return to Caligo Falls for Christmas and are drawn into another paranormal mystery involving Mrs. Beasley, who became one of the most intriguing new characters in the series for me, and who I suspect will play a larger role going forward. I also loved how cryptogram puzzles are woven into the investigations, and there’s even a terrifying visit to an abandoned lunatic asylum where Simon and Clara have to decipher more puzzles.
The fast-moving narrative and short-to-medium-length chapters, along with the good mix of banter, thought-provoking dialogue, and puzzle-solving, make this book immersive and hard to put down. If you’re listening to the audiobook, I’d definitely recommend listening at a slower speed because of all the subtle details and clues in almost every chapter that you’ll want time to absorb.
Although this series is marketed as young adult paranormal fiction, its complexity and puzzles make it very suitable for adults. Even seasoned mystery readers will have a difficult time solving all the mysteries in this book. I also loved that just when I thought the story was finished with a few key unanswered questions, the author continued it long enough to close all the plot holes and provide much-needed resolution, particularly regarding Joseph’s true significance—and for that reason, I have zero complaints, and this lands as a true five-star read for me! Hoffman also plants some intriguing threads that have me very excited for the next book!
If anything I’ve written sounds interesting, or you’ve seen these books around and have been wondering whether they’re worth picking up, I can’t recommend them enough! And if you’re an audiobook listener, Christian J. Casas, who narrated books one and two, delivers another fantastic performance here, bringing every character to life. Whether you choose the physical book or the audiobook, don’t hesitate on this hidden gem of a series. It deserves so much more attention!
Simon Moody & Clara Barley discover that Clara’s dorm room is haunted by the ghost of an 1841 murder victim, leading them to investigate & uncover a mystery tied to a haunted farm.
REVIEW:
I loved the first two books in this series, and it’s the only series I’ve given five stars to every book so far, so I went into this one with high expectations. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint! It’s possible to read each book as a standalone because the author does a great job weaving in enough backstory to keep new readers oriented, but I’d recommend reading them in order to see how the MCs, Simon Moody and Clara Barley, relationship develops and how the mysteries are interconnected between books. This story picks up shortly after the events of book two, with Simon beginning his studies at MIT and Clara at Harvard after leaving Caligo Falls behind following their intense paranormal investigations. The story begins with a haunting in Clara’s Harvard dorm room involving the infamous “Coughing Ghost,” the spirit of a student murdered in 1841.
What I love most about these books is that the mysteries are always much more intricate than they first appear. What begins as a ghost story gradually becomes multiple intertwined mysteries with historical elements woven in. This story has a big focus on fate, synchronicity, and, more subtly, the concept of reincarnation, all seamlessly woven in and makes some of the dialogue very thought-provoking!
The story is told in a dual POV, following both Simon and Clara. Since they’re together most of the time investigating, you really get to see how much their relationship has evolved and how comfortable they now are with each other. They definitely have a Sherlock and Watson dynamic, constantly bouncing ideas off each other while sharing entertaining banter. I loved how the story opens with conversations about Simon’s studies at MIT and Clara’s psychology courses at Harvard, particularly her fascination with Carl Jung and his theories surrounding synchronicity—it perfectly sets up the recurring theme.
The first mystery involving Henry Whitmore, the Harvard student murdered the night before he planned to elope with his professor’s daughter in 1841, gripped me. I was also impressed by how quickly their investigation into his murder became intertwined with other ghosts and mysteries. Simon and Clara soon encounter the ghost of artist Silas A. Morgan at Edmund Wilder’s gallery exhibition, linking events back to book two, while repeatedly crossing paths with a mysterious man, Joseph. I needed to know why Joseph kept appearing and how he was connected to everything—and it’s slowly revealed through a series of secrets and shocking revelations that are very well laid out. Their investigations eventually lead them back to Caligo Falls, where all the events of books one and two took place—but this time, to the haunted, abandoned Caligo Farm, depicted in a haunted painting. Without giving too much away, they soon uncover another paranormal mystery tied to Simon’s grandfather. I warned you this was intricate, and let me tell you—we’re just getting started here! Just like the previous books, I never had any idea where the story was heading most of the time!
The banter between Simon and Clara is one of the series’ biggest strengths, while the supporting cast—especially their family and found family in Caligo Falls—continues to add warmth and humor. And of course, Simon and Clara again use the Ghost Ring to see, communicate with, and touch spirits, allowing them to relive some of the spirit’s memories from a fly-on-the-wall perspective. The ghost memory sequences transport them to different time periods, including the 1840s and the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and every flashback is immersive and full of clues.
If that’s all not enough, Simon and Clara return to Caligo Falls for Christmas and are drawn into another paranormal mystery involving Mrs. Beasley, who became one of the most intriguing new characters in the series for me, and who I suspect will play a larger role going forward. I also loved how cryptogram puzzles are woven into the investigations, and there’s even a terrifying visit to an abandoned lunatic asylum where Simon and Clara have to decipher more puzzles.
The fast-moving narrative and short-to-medium-length chapters, along with the good mix of banter, thought-provoking dialogue, and puzzle-solving, make this book immersive and hard to put down. If you’re listening to the audiobook, I’d definitely recommend listening at a slower speed because of all the subtle details and clues in almost every chapter that you’ll want time to absorb.
Although this series is marketed as young adult paranormal fiction, its complexity and puzzles make it very suitable for adults. Even seasoned mystery readers will have a difficult time solving all the mysteries in this book. I also loved that just when I thought the story was finished with a few key unanswered questions, the author continued it long enough to close all the plot holes and provide much-needed resolution, particularly regarding Joseph’s true significance—and for that reason, I have zero complaints, and this lands as a true five-star read for me! Hoffman also plants some intriguing threads that have me very excited for the next book!
If anything I’ve written sounds interesting, or you’ve seen these books around and have been wondering whether they’re worth picking up, I can’t recommend them enough! And if you’re an audiobook listener, Christian J. Casas, who narrated books one and two, delivers another fantastic performance here, bringing every character to life. Whether you choose the physical book or the audiobook, don’t hesitate on this hidden gem of a series. It deserves so much more attention!
February 15, 2025
This series just keeps getting more entertaining!
Love that we are still being tempted with tantalizing hints of things to come. Like hopefully finding out more about the spooky matron of the asylum they visited.
Also really enjoy how seemingly disparate threads of the story all weave together in the end providing a satisfying conclusion to each story.
Kudos! and anxiously awaiting the next outing of Barley & Moody -or- Moody and Barley Paranormal Investigations!
Love that we are still being tempted with tantalizing hints of things to come. Like hopefully finding out more about the spooky matron of the asylum they visited.
Also really enjoy how seemingly disparate threads of the story all weave together in the end providing a satisfying conclusion to each story.
Kudos! and anxiously awaiting the next outing of Barley & Moody -or- Moody and Barley Paranormal Investigations!
February 20, 2025
A GREAT SERIES CONTINUES!
The Ghost Ring series by Tom Hoffman is developing nicely. This third installment - The Haunting of Caligo Farm - finds its main characters, Clara Barley and Simon Moody, becoming inseparable partners in life and already deeply involved in a beckoning - if initially unsought - future profession. In daily life, these two captivating and entertaining youngsters are on the edge of adulthood. They attend college, divert themselves with healthy salads and spicy beer-battered fries, and dart each other kindly with affectionate little barbs. Their endearing romance continues to blossom well. Meanwhile, the expanded vastness that envelops our daily world haunts these two lovebirds with the realer reality of ghosts - both sleepers and awakened spirits - super synchronicities, and most significant to the duo, unsolved murders. With paranormal abilities bestowed by an inherited gemstone ring, Clara and Simon have become extraordinary investigators who solve crimes no one else can.
Of import to his loyal fans, Tom Hoffman notes that things are becoming dicier for his charming protagonists. To be more direct, evil is becoming eviler, murders are becoming murderier, and ghosts are becoming ghostlier, sometimes to the point of unapproachable ghastliness. Clara and Simon find themselves embroiled in ever tanglier events, following connections that make no sense until they mutually employ the unique ring. Then, the ordinary world they see around them becomes less understandable but better explained. Based on these greater understandings, the two evolving lover-detectives promise to delight their fans and beguile their peers for many years to come.
The Ghost Ring series by Tom Hoffman is developing nicely. This third installment - The Haunting of Caligo Farm - finds its main characters, Clara Barley and Simon Moody, becoming inseparable partners in life and already deeply involved in a beckoning - if initially unsought - future profession. In daily life, these two captivating and entertaining youngsters are on the edge of adulthood. They attend college, divert themselves with healthy salads and spicy beer-battered fries, and dart each other kindly with affectionate little barbs. Their endearing romance continues to blossom well. Meanwhile, the expanded vastness that envelops our daily world haunts these two lovebirds with the realer reality of ghosts - both sleepers and awakened spirits - super synchronicities, and most significant to the duo, unsolved murders. With paranormal abilities bestowed by an inherited gemstone ring, Clara and Simon have become extraordinary investigators who solve crimes no one else can.
Of import to his loyal fans, Tom Hoffman notes that things are becoming dicier for his charming protagonists. To be more direct, evil is becoming eviler, murders are becoming murderier, and ghosts are becoming ghostlier, sometimes to the point of unapproachable ghastliness. Clara and Simon find themselves embroiled in ever tanglier events, following connections that make no sense until they mutually employ the unique ring. Then, the ordinary world they see around them becomes less understandable but better explained. Based on these greater understandings, the two evolving lover-detectives promise to delight their fans and beguile their peers for many years to come.
March 4, 2025
I can't get enough f this series! Why? The characters continue to charm. The plot of this edition, and the entire series, is so inventive. And the humor of the author is sublime. There is a wink and a smile at every turn, with a side order of actual quantum physics. I hope the author doesn't tire of these stories, but if he does, I'm sure the next series will be equally engaging. Read these books. You will not be disappointed!
Read
September 1, 2025The Ghost Ring is a hauntingly atmospheric read that perfectly blends mystery, history, and the supernatural. Simon and Clara’s ghost-hunting adventures are both eerie and compelling, with just the right mix of suspense and intrigue. A must-read for fans of chilling paranormal tales with a clever twist.
April 9, 2025
This mystery ghost story series hold my interest. The books are hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews