What do you think?
Rate this book
Spirit Level
'Charming but unsentimental, Spirit Level is a hilarious and genuinely moving story about grief and friendship' IRISH TIMES
'It's touching, intriguing and GAS! About friendship and anxiety and ghosts and being a man. I enjoyed it very much' - Marian Keyes
'Spirit Level is an outrageously bingeable read. It is surprising, warm, inventive and a lot of fun' - Louise Nealon
'One of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Buy it now and cackle your way through the summer' - Killian Sundermann
'Craven pulled me in with his brilliant humour, only to make me feel genuine emotion. I'll never forgive him for this' - Seán Burke
Danny Hook is a directionless twenty-something year old fresh out of therapy. Dealing with his disappointed family and dead-end career, he's sure things couldn't get much worse, until a drink-driving accident leaves his best friend Nudge dead.
Danny also discovers he can see ghosts - but only when he's drunk. Saddled with a best friend who can't leave his side, they must figure out what's going on and why Nudge can't cross over. Can Danny negotiate family life, therapy and a ghost that refuses to fade into the background before time runs out?
'It's touching, intriguing and GAS! About friendship and anxiety and ghosts and being a man. I enjoyed it very much' - Marian Keyes
'Spirit Level is an outrageously bingeable read. It is surprising, warm, inventive and a lot of fun' - Louise Nealon
'One of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Buy it now and cackle your way through the summer' - Killian Sundermann
'Craven pulled me in with his brilliant humour, only to make me feel genuine emotion. I'll never forgive him for this' - Seán Burke
Danny Hook is a directionless twenty-something year old fresh out of therapy. Dealing with his disappointed family and dead-end career, he's sure things couldn't get much worse, until a drink-driving accident leaves his best friend Nudge dead.
Danny also discovers he can see ghosts - but only when he's drunk. Saddled with a best friend who can't leave his side, they must figure out what's going on and why Nudge can't cross over. Can Danny negotiate family life, therapy and a ghost that refuses to fade into the background before time runs out?
Audible Audio
Published April 25, 2024
39 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
Read
December 1, 2024A new take on the urban-ghost-contemporary story of the Randall and Hopkirk Deceased type (see also Alice Bell's terrific series). Aimless Dublin late twentysomething nearly dies in drunk driving accident, finds self haunted by best friend, but can only see the ghost when somewhat pissed. It's actually a pretty edgy concept but handled lightly, with enormously likeable characters using savage humour and sarcasm to hide their vulnerability, alcohol dependency, grief, fear, and anxiety disorders. Wildly readable; I hope we get more from this author, and I'd absolutely be here if he made it a series.
July 22, 2024
Danny Hook is a young man who feels as though his life is going nowhere. He's stuck in a dead-end job and the girl he likes has moved on to somebody else. And then things get worse. On the way home from a party, the car driven by his best friend Nudge ends up in a canal. Danny survives - just about - but Nudge dies. The thing is, when Danny wakes up in hospital he can see Nudge, though nobody else can. Nudge is a ghost, of course, and he only manifests when Danny is under the influence of alcohol. They team up to figure out what's happening, and why Nudge can't move on to the next place.
This a lighthearted, madcap story. It's quite funny at times even though I felt the plot was a bit all over the place. For example, Danny's love interest Nadine seems like a very significant character at the beginning, but by the end she has faded into the background, almost forgotten about. And I did feel like the finale was bonkers, throwing the kitchen sink at things. The story is at its best in the often hilarious scenes between Danny and Nudge - their friendship is what makes this tale memorable. Richy Craven definitely has a talent for comedy - it will be interesting to see if he can hone those skills on his next effort.
This a lighthearted, madcap story. It's quite funny at times even though I felt the plot was a bit all over the place. For example, Danny's love interest Nadine seems like a very significant character at the beginning, but by the end she has faded into the background, almost forgotten about. And I did feel like the finale was bonkers, throwing the kitchen sink at things. The story is at its best in the often hilarious scenes between Danny and Nudge - their friendship is what makes this tale memorable. Richy Craven definitely has a talent for comedy - it will be interesting to see if he can hone those skills on his next effort.
April 25, 2024
#Gifted
“What IS Twitter?”
“It’s like Teletext but everyone is angry and racist”.
Happy publication day to Spirit Level, the first novel from Irish author @cravenrichy.
Let’s get the gushing out of the way:
I LOVED this book. I inhaled it. I cried. I laughed. I read parts aloud to my husband; so you know it’s good!
Danny is a 20-something-year-old, meandering a bit through life. The rest of his friends seem to have their stuff together but Dan doesn’t have a girlfriend, he can’t drive, and his career prospects seem limited to working in Spar (like an Irish Clueless. Way harsh, Tai).
He gets an almighty shake up however when his best friend Nudge crashes his car into the canal, with Danny in the passenger seat. Danny just about survives but sadly, Nudge doesn’t, and so begins a spiral into grief, guilt, and anxiety, not helped by the fact that Nudge has decided to hang around as a ghost and stay close to his bestie.
The only way Danny can see him is when he maintains a level of drunkenness, so he now is also tipsy on whiskey most of the time, while the two figure out why Nudge is still here and what it means in the general scheme of things.
This is such a warm, funny book. It deals with some tough subjects; mental health issues, death, grief and loss, but also exudes so much Irish humour that it’s a perfectly balanced read.
I loved the focus on men’s friendships and the importance of communication particularly in relation to being open about mental illness. While that’s an area that still has a long way to go in Ireland, I think the subject being introduced into popular culture like this can only help.
This is a well-paced ghost story, packed with adventure, hilarious dialogue, and a poignancy that made me cry several times; something that I wasn’t expecting with this book!
I want more Danny and Nudge! I wasn’t ready to let them go 😭
Highly recommend this to everyone!
With many thanks to @eriubooks for my early copy, all opinions are my own, as always. Spirit Level is now available to buy.
“What IS Twitter?”
“It’s like Teletext but everyone is angry and racist”.
Happy publication day to Spirit Level, the first novel from Irish author @cravenrichy.
Let’s get the gushing out of the way:
I LOVED this book. I inhaled it. I cried. I laughed. I read parts aloud to my husband; so you know it’s good!
Danny is a 20-something-year-old, meandering a bit through life. The rest of his friends seem to have their stuff together but Dan doesn’t have a girlfriend, he can’t drive, and his career prospects seem limited to working in Spar (like an Irish Clueless. Way harsh, Tai).
He gets an almighty shake up however when his best friend Nudge crashes his car into the canal, with Danny in the passenger seat. Danny just about survives but sadly, Nudge doesn’t, and so begins a spiral into grief, guilt, and anxiety, not helped by the fact that Nudge has decided to hang around as a ghost and stay close to his bestie.
The only way Danny can see him is when he maintains a level of drunkenness, so he now is also tipsy on whiskey most of the time, while the two figure out why Nudge is still here and what it means in the general scheme of things.
This is such a warm, funny book. It deals with some tough subjects; mental health issues, death, grief and loss, but also exudes so much Irish humour that it’s a perfectly balanced read.
I loved the focus on men’s friendships and the importance of communication particularly in relation to being open about mental illness. While that’s an area that still has a long way to go in Ireland, I think the subject being introduced into popular culture like this can only help.
This is a well-paced ghost story, packed with adventure, hilarious dialogue, and a poignancy that made me cry several times; something that I wasn’t expecting with this book!
I want more Danny and Nudge! I wasn’t ready to let them go 😭
Highly recommend this to everyone!
With many thanks to @eriubooks for my early copy, all opinions are my own, as always. Spirit Level is now available to buy.
February 11, 2024
This is a really novel concept for a book and Craven pulls it off. The writing is excellent and witty but also extremely moving in parts. The sentence ‘looked like an anaconda who swallowed a basketball’ will live in my head rent free forever. A stellar first novel.
August 30, 2024
I really liked this book, it was sad, funny and an all round nice portrayal of a close male friendship all in one.
March 28, 2024
One of the most uniquely funny books I've read, with real sensitively too
May 21, 2024
Great first half, but took a disappointing turn. Amazing writing but no character growth. The incredible central narrative looses place for a thriller satanic mystery, which isn’t boring, but the book seems to simply forget the strongest part of the core of its purpose. Unfortunate. Brings a good chuckle though.
January 31, 2025
Really enjoyable and quite funny.
August 13, 2024
There are many legitimate reasons to scoff at 4 stars for this book. I scoff at myself. Nonetheless, I brush my self scoffing aside to praise a fun book that works. It takes a lot to get a reader to buy into a story about a best friend ghost and efforts to help said ghost to cross over to the other side. But it worked in this book. Also, at its core this book is about stepping up for friendship and if I can enjoy the fun of a book like I did this one AND pull out a legit “at its core” conclusion, I can stand by my 4 star rating.
June 30, 2024
I picked this up expecting it to be a fun summer read. I didn't expect it to be as funny as it was. I also didn't expect it to be as moving as it was. One chapter with Ian had me welling up but also laughing in equal measure. I absolutely adored the characters and how they interacted. I knew a version of most of the characters in the book in my real life. To sum up I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think this will be in my reading rotation for years to come. I look forward to more books from the author and I will be watching his career with great interest. I'll still give it five stars even though the Cork slander was not warranted. ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2025
Fun read!
Enjoyed this tail from start to finish recommend to anyone who’s interested in Irish life and death and ghost. I give this book 5 shiny whiskey shots!
Enjoyed this tail from start to finish recommend to anyone who’s interested in Irish life and death and ghost. I give this book 5 shiny whiskey shots!
March 24, 2025
20 something year old Danny Hook's life is a bit aimless. He doesn't have a proper career, he works in local convenience store. He can't drive, his love life is non-existent and his mental health is a bit of a shambles. His life is shaken up big time one night when his friend Nudge drives the two of them into the canal. Danny luckily survives but Nudge doesn't. Well, not in the traditional sense anyway, as it turns out Danny can see Nudge's ghost whenever he drinks. It turns out Nudge can't cross over so the two set off to find out why.
If traditional fantasy books are not your thing but you like the idea of something on the spooky side, then a contemporary ghost story like this could be just the thing for you! An urban fantasy story set in Dublin, it's steeped in Irishness and more so Dublin-ness. I loved the sense of humour and fun, the book doesn't take itself too seriously. It does get more and more outlandish as the book goes on but just about manages to prevent it from getting too silly.
While we see glimpses into Danny's character, we don't get to delve too much into it, as the book does focus mainly on solving the big mystery prevent Nudge from crossing over. But the small glimpses, touching on mental issues such as OCD and panic attacks, were nicely handled. Outside of the main plot we see male friendships and the importance of communication being highlighted which I loved.
Spirit Level is a wild ride ghost story, packed with adventure and wit, with a surprising dash poignancy. And while it did make me tear up, that didn't last long as I was often cracking up.
If traditional fantasy books are not your thing but you like the idea of something on the spooky side, then a contemporary ghost story like this could be just the thing for you! An urban fantasy story set in Dublin, it's steeped in Irishness and more so Dublin-ness. I loved the sense of humour and fun, the book doesn't take itself too seriously. It does get more and more outlandish as the book goes on but just about manages to prevent it from getting too silly.
While we see glimpses into Danny's character, we don't get to delve too much into it, as the book does focus mainly on solving the big mystery prevent Nudge from crossing over. But the small glimpses, touching on mental issues such as OCD and panic attacks, were nicely handled. Outside of the main plot we see male friendships and the importance of communication being highlighted which I loved.
Spirit Level is a wild ride ghost story, packed with adventure and wit, with a surprising dash poignancy. And while it did make me tear up, that didn't last long as I was often cracking up.
February 16, 2025
This was a quick and fun ghost story about a guy who has to help his deceased friend, and the dead guy who needs to step up. The characters are believable and lovable, with a basic decency they sometimes try to hide under laddish talk. My friend pointed out the excellent example of normalized therapy; Danny has anxiety and got help for it and is encouraged to go back after the death of his friend.
Parts that were hard for me were the drinking (Danny’s ability see see dead people is tied to his blood alcohol level), especially the bit involving driving. But the sense of place was really good as the sense of these often clueless young people who have a stubborn core of decency.
Parts that were hard for me were the drinking (Danny’s ability see see dead people is tied to his blood alcohol level), especially the bit involving driving. But the sense of place was really good as the sense of these often clueless young people who have a stubborn core of decency.
May 10, 2025
This is a super interesting mix of elements- ordinary unexciting and slightly depressing life in contemporary Ireland, terrible traumatizing fatal car accident, humorous and quirky ghost story. The serious elements are written with compassion and focus, and the humor threads its way through the whole book. Danny’s efforts to help Nudge move on end up really saving his own life in a lot of ways. Highly recommended.
December 21, 2024
Really enjoyed this book, great concept. I’d give it 3.5 only problem is I feel there were a few parts that went unexplained. Really enjoyed the best friend dynamic between the main characters and the twist at the end I did not expect
January 11, 2025
‘Spirit Level’ ended up being better than I thought it would. Started off like a bit of fluff with stereotypical, aimless youth. The alcohol fueled ghost-seeing had me thinking of Ricky Gervais’s ‘Ghost Town’. But the story got more complex as additional ghosts started interacting with Danny and Nudge. The scenes with Ian were really well done. However, the story’s turn at the end changed the whole book into something unsatisfyingly different.
May 23, 2025
Very emotional. Not what I expected plot wise at all but pleasantly surprised, was more action than I had originally thought but didn’t feel out of place whatsoever. The characters were funny in a charming way that felt close to home. Would be a reread for sure already
September 10, 2024
Realistically this is a 2.5 stars, but sure I’ll round up out of the kindness of my heart. I loved the first 20ish chapters, thought the exploration of grief, alcohol and relationships, specifically that of young Irish men was beautiful. I laughed and I cried while listening to the audiobook. At times it’s pure Irish but not in a “what do you get in your chicken fillet roll?” way, just a cosy and homey Ireland where the characters are all familiar.
Genuinely upset that this book that had so much potential to explore these challenging themes in a humorous way fell into this supernatural world and it is the final motif is about a supernatural, ghostly mill! Completely shifted the tone and the negatively impacted my opinion of the remainder of the novel. I didn’t pick this book up to read a ghostly mystery and it did not need to move into Scooby Doo territory
Genuinely upset that this book that had so much potential to explore these challenging themes in a humorous way fell into this supernatural world and it is the final motif is about a supernatural, ghostly mill! Completely shifted the tone and the negatively impacted my opinion of the remainder of the novel. I didn’t pick this book up to read a ghostly mystery and it did not need to move into Scooby Doo territory
May 16, 2024
One of my favourite books this year. Witty and engaging. Well worth a read
January 20, 2025
This was so fun, I’d love to see it on screen one day!
April 24, 2024
‘Would this be his life from now on, falling asleep in a semi-drunken haze as the spirit of his best friend watched telly in the next room? Waking up hungover every morning and grimly consuming spirits? How long could he keep that up?’
Spirit Level by Richy Craven will publish April 25th with Eriu (Bonnier) and is described by Irish comedian and writer Alison Spittle as ‘a charming, zippy and hilarious read’.
Danny Hook is not experiencing his best life. Living in a shared and cramped apartment, while paying the bills by working at the local Spar, Danny is frustrated. He sees acquaintances and old school friends moving on with their lives and he is envious. Danny appears to be stuck in some kind of limbo, unable to motivate himself to take action and make much needed changes.
A homecoming party for an old flame sees life taking a wee turn for Danny. He arrives at the party hoping to reconnect but instead finds his ex now loved up with someone else. With the drink flowing, the party gets into full swing but, after a while Danny is aware that his friend Nudge is missing. Nudge has a habit of drink driving so, in a panic, Danny searches him out. What follows is a tragedy where Nudge loses his life.
Traumatised and riddled with guilt, Danny imagines he can see and talk to Nudge. He contemplates his sanity until the realisation hits him that he is not hallucinating. He can see Nudge. He can talk to Nudge. But there is one major catch. He can only see and communicate with Nudge when he is tanked up. Danny is back home with his parents allowing him the time to recuperate and grieve following the death of his close friend. His drinking has his close family concerned so he returns to therapy, convinced he’s having some kind of breakdown. With a past history of mental health issues and panic attacks, his parents concern is of no great surprise to Danny, but what is a surprise is Nudge’s presence in his life, when he is clearly dead.
Danny has no experience of the afterlife, but he knows enough to be aware that something is amiss and that something is keeping Nudge from crossing over to the other side. Danny and Nudge, in a highly entertaining fashion, partner up in an attempt to discover what is actually happening. They embark on a very unexpected adventure and with plenty of high jinks along the way, the pair become embroiled in some very startling activities.
Spirit Level is littered with comic interactions and conversations throughout but it also highlights some very relevant themes. Male friendship and mental health are central to Spirit Level, with Richy Craven drawing from his own personal experiences and infusing them with a dark, and very distinct, Irish wit. Spirit Level is described as a funny book, which it is, but it is also a poignant, warm-hearted and sensitively written debut. I’m not so sure that the book is fully closed on Danny Hook so we will have to wait and see, but I, for one, am hoping for Spirit Level Book 2!! In a world where chaos currently reigns, sincere creatives like Richy Craven are extremely important to all our sanity, providing much-needed escapism and humour, with just the right amount of reality on top. Charismatic, gratifying and peppy, Spirit Level is a fun read, a terrific debut.
Spirit Level by Richy Craven will publish April 25th with Eriu (Bonnier) and is described by Irish comedian and writer Alison Spittle as ‘a charming, zippy and hilarious read’.
Danny Hook is not experiencing his best life. Living in a shared and cramped apartment, while paying the bills by working at the local Spar, Danny is frustrated. He sees acquaintances and old school friends moving on with their lives and he is envious. Danny appears to be stuck in some kind of limbo, unable to motivate himself to take action and make much needed changes.
A homecoming party for an old flame sees life taking a wee turn for Danny. He arrives at the party hoping to reconnect but instead finds his ex now loved up with someone else. With the drink flowing, the party gets into full swing but, after a while Danny is aware that his friend Nudge is missing. Nudge has a habit of drink driving so, in a panic, Danny searches him out. What follows is a tragedy where Nudge loses his life.
Traumatised and riddled with guilt, Danny imagines he can see and talk to Nudge. He contemplates his sanity until the realisation hits him that he is not hallucinating. He can see Nudge. He can talk to Nudge. But there is one major catch. He can only see and communicate with Nudge when he is tanked up. Danny is back home with his parents allowing him the time to recuperate and grieve following the death of his close friend. His drinking has his close family concerned so he returns to therapy, convinced he’s having some kind of breakdown. With a past history of mental health issues and panic attacks, his parents concern is of no great surprise to Danny, but what is a surprise is Nudge’s presence in his life, when he is clearly dead.
Danny has no experience of the afterlife, but he knows enough to be aware that something is amiss and that something is keeping Nudge from crossing over to the other side. Danny and Nudge, in a highly entertaining fashion, partner up in an attempt to discover what is actually happening. They embark on a very unexpected adventure and with plenty of high jinks along the way, the pair become embroiled in some very startling activities.
Spirit Level is littered with comic interactions and conversations throughout but it also highlights some very relevant themes. Male friendship and mental health are central to Spirit Level, with Richy Craven drawing from his own personal experiences and infusing them with a dark, and very distinct, Irish wit. Spirit Level is described as a funny book, which it is, but it is also a poignant, warm-hearted and sensitively written debut. I’m not so sure that the book is fully closed on Danny Hook so we will have to wait and see, but I, for one, am hoping for Spirit Level Book 2!! In a world where chaos currently reigns, sincere creatives like Richy Craven are extremely important to all our sanity, providing much-needed escapism and humour, with just the right amount of reality on top. Charismatic, gratifying and peppy, Spirit Level is a fun read, a terrific debut.
August 19, 2024
This is a debut novel so I hate to be critical, especially of an Irish author. This book started really strong. I really enjoyed the writing style. It’s *very* funny throughout and it is authentically Irish. I LOVE the characters Danny and Nudge as they are written so well. I live in Dublin and really enjoyed that it was set here. I cried a lot during the first half of the book as it was so emotional.
The story kept me really interested, right up until the very whacky turn of events about 3/4 the way through.
I thought this book would take a critical look or have an underlying theme of alcoholism, depression, anxiety, mental health… anything? Because that is the way the story seems to be heading quite early in the book. This does not happen however, at least in any profound way, and as stated, goes in a totally different direction. Mentions of mental health made me think this book would have a far more substantial, deep and poignant ending, instead it felt like the ending of a Scooby Doo episode. It feels like the book just dipped its toes into profound themes, without coming to any meaningful realisation.
I think the message in this story could have been *more*. At the end of the book, INCREDIBLY little character progression had taken place.
Overall I enjoyed the book but was disappointed by the ending. Maybe I went into the experience with too high expectations? Go into this book with the mindset of ‘this is a quirky comedy’ and you will probably enjoy it more!
The story kept me really interested, right up until the very whacky turn of events about 3/4 the way through.
I thought this book would take a critical look or have an underlying theme of alcoholism, depression, anxiety, mental health… anything? Because that is the way the story seems to be heading quite early in the book. This does not happen however, at least in any profound way, and as stated, goes in a totally different direction. Mentions of mental health made me think this book would have a far more substantial, deep and poignant ending, instead it felt like the ending of a Scooby Doo episode. It feels like the book just dipped its toes into profound themes, without coming to any meaningful realisation.
I think the message in this story could have been *more*. At the end of the book, INCREDIBLY little character progression had taken place.
Overall I enjoyed the book but was disappointed by the ending. Maybe I went into the experience with too high expectations? Go into this book with the mindset of ‘this is a quirky comedy’ and you will probably enjoy it more!
June 6, 2024
If you read one book this summer let it be Craven’s poignant yet hilarious debut ‘Spirit Level’. In this page-turner, the reader follows the misadventures of Danny, down on his luck and weary.
After a drunken night at a house party, Danny’s best friend Nudge meets an untimely end in a car crash that lands them both at the bottom of Dublin’s Grand Canal. Danny awakes heavily medicated in a hospital ward to find Nudge is still around, just not in the way he hoped. As Nudge, now a ghost, summarises ‘Danny gets sixth sense powers when he’s pissed.’
Danny and Nudge’s kooky ‘90s-esque ghost story adventure manages to stay evenly balanced between the supernatural elements of the novel and the more mundane coming-of-age struggles and grief intertwined into the text. The duo’s adventures to solve the novel’s central paranormal mystery assists in kicking Danny out of his rut.
Craven’s writing has a natural comedic flow and a talent for making plot progression look easy without being formulaic. I can easily see this novel being adapted to the silver screen and I look forward to reading his future work.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
After a drunken night at a house party, Danny’s best friend Nudge meets an untimely end in a car crash that lands them both at the bottom of Dublin’s Grand Canal. Danny awakes heavily medicated in a hospital ward to find Nudge is still around, just not in the way he hoped. As Nudge, now a ghost, summarises ‘Danny gets sixth sense powers when he’s pissed.’
Danny and Nudge’s kooky ‘90s-esque ghost story adventure manages to stay evenly balanced between the supernatural elements of the novel and the more mundane coming-of-age struggles and grief intertwined into the text. The duo’s adventures to solve the novel’s central paranormal mystery assists in kicking Danny out of his rut.
Craven’s writing has a natural comedic flow and a talent for making plot progression look easy without being formulaic. I can easily see this novel being adapted to the silver screen and I look forward to reading his future work.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
May 10, 2024
When Danny’s long-term crush returns from her travels with an unbearable boyfriend, and all Danny has to show for the time she’s been gone is the same dead-end job and anxiety issues, he thinks his life can’t get any worse. Then his best friend, Nudge, is killed in a car crash, and Danny is the only one who can still see him … or at least he can when he’s drunk.
I didn’t know what to expect from Spirit Level, but I couldn’t resist that premise. This one took a little while to get going for me, as the plot synopsis reveals something that doesn’t actually happen until a few chapters in. But, from then on, I was hooked. I found this one a really engaging read, and surprisingly realistic despite the presence of a ghost. I liked that it deals with some hard-hitting issues without becoming a tear-jerker, I really enjoyed the supernatural direction it ended up going in, and I loved the humour.
If you enjoyed Edgar Cantero’s Meddling Kids (a book I love), I think you’ll enjoy this one.
I didn’t know what to expect from Spirit Level, but I couldn’t resist that premise. This one took a little while to get going for me, as the plot synopsis reveals something that doesn’t actually happen until a few chapters in. But, from then on, I was hooked. I found this one a really engaging read, and surprisingly realistic despite the presence of a ghost. I liked that it deals with some hard-hitting issues without becoming a tear-jerker, I really enjoyed the supernatural direction it ended up going in, and I loved the humour.
If you enjoyed Edgar Cantero’s Meddling Kids (a book I love), I think you’ll enjoy this one.
May 21, 2024
Spirit Level / Richy Craven
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ “Just trying to figure everything out”, she admitted. “What is Twitter?’, “It’s like Teletext but everyone’s angry and racist”… ~
This book is so unique. I really enjoyed, what a modern and fresh take on a ghost story.
Danny seems to be going nowhere in life, meandering about, until one night changes all. A drunken car crash with his best friend. However, now Danny can see Nudge! As he spirals, they figure out that he can see him and tether along while having some amount of drink in his system. So whiskey galore.
I am not afraid to admit I LOLed hard throughout this book. From the mediums, to the threats, to the humour, all just balanced so well while hitting on hard topics - mental health, Irish drinking mentality, loss and death - It kept me going throughout.
The adventure and the climaxes came just at the right time, and were well thought out.
The topic of men’s friendship is one that is on throughout, and it shines. It is almost a character.
I really enjoyed this, and cannot wait to see what RC does next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ “Just trying to figure everything out”, she admitted. “What is Twitter?’, “It’s like Teletext but everyone’s angry and racist”… ~
This book is so unique. I really enjoyed, what a modern and fresh take on a ghost story.
Danny seems to be going nowhere in life, meandering about, until one night changes all. A drunken car crash with his best friend. However, now Danny can see Nudge! As he spirals, they figure out that he can see him and tether along while having some amount of drink in his system. So whiskey galore.
I am not afraid to admit I LOLed hard throughout this book. From the mediums, to the threats, to the humour, all just balanced so well while hitting on hard topics - mental health, Irish drinking mentality, loss and death - It kept me going throughout.
The adventure and the climaxes came just at the right time, and were well thought out.
The topic of men’s friendship is one that is on throughout, and it shines. It is almost a character.
I really enjoyed this, and cannot wait to see what RC does next.
January 28, 2025
The novel centres on Danny Hook, a twenty-something Dubliner dealing with life's disappointments and mental health issues. Following a drunken night, a car accident claims the life of his best friend, Nudge. However, Danny discovers he can see Nudge's ghost—but only when he's had a few drinks. Together, they go on a journey to figure out why Nudge is a ghost and how he can move on
What I loved most about the book was how authentically Irish it felt. The banter, the quirks, and the way it captures that mix of humour and heartbreak that we Irish do so well. Nudge and Danny’s relationship is the heart of it. It’s highlights the complexities of male friendship. Specifically in relation to communication and mental health.
There were some storylines that did not progress after a build-up of sorts (Nadine anyone?), but I am happy to forgive on this occasion.
Overall, it was a touching exploration of grief, friendship, and redemption. Showcasing the lengths we'll go to for those we care about, all wrapped up in some good irish humour.
What I loved most about the book was how authentically Irish it felt. The banter, the quirks, and the way it captures that mix of humour and heartbreak that we Irish do so well. Nudge and Danny’s relationship is the heart of it. It’s highlights the complexities of male friendship. Specifically in relation to communication and mental health.
There were some storylines that did not progress after a build-up of sorts (Nadine anyone?), but I am happy to forgive on this occasion.
Overall, it was a touching exploration of grief, friendship, and redemption. Showcasing the lengths we'll go to for those we care about, all wrapped up in some good irish humour.
March 22, 2025
This was a good time!! It's a really fun idea, which reads kind of sad (24 yo fella who struggles with anxiety gets into a drunk driving accident which kills his best friend and then whoops he can see his ghost but only when he's a lil drunk) but it's handled with real wit. I found the characters in this easy to like and the progression of the story took me along with it. It made me laugh a fair few times, but I think that it didn't shy away from some more difficult emotions, as well. It felt original and fun.
If I was honest, I'd have liked to see a bit more growth from Danny & I think the turn of the novel felt a bit tonally odd. But also did it? It was quite campy and a bit over the top and it was also a frolic, just not really what I expected. I guess I can't blame it for that. This gave the impression that it might become a series -- I'd almost definitely read another one. I really liked the handling of Danny's mental health and also I just like all the high jinks when only Danny could see his friend. Enjoyable!!
If I was honest, I'd have liked to see a bit more growth from Danny & I think the turn of the novel felt a bit tonally odd. But also did it? It was quite campy and a bit over the top and it was also a frolic, just not really what I expected. I guess I can't blame it for that. This gave the impression that it might become a series -- I'd almost definitely read another one. I really liked the handling of Danny's mental health and also I just like all the high jinks when only Danny could see his friend. Enjoyable!!
May 1, 2024
I was so intrigued by the premise of this book, a ghost story with a difference. Danny Hook is a directionless 20 something year old who is involved in a drink driving accident in which his best friend Paul "Nudge" Nugent is killed. Danny realises that after the crash he is able to see ghosts, but only when he is drunk! The book follows Danny and Nudge as they try to figure out how to help Nudge cross over.
This book was hilarious but also so touching. It deals with grief, loss and mental health issues especially in the context of male friendships which is such an important topic. I laughed and cried my way through this book and it left me just wanting more. The complex relationships between Danny and each of his friends and their families and his own family were so well written.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @eriubooks for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book was hilarious but also so touching. It deals with grief, loss and mental health issues especially in the context of male friendships which is such an important topic. I laughed and cried my way through this book and it left me just wanting more. The complex relationships between Danny and each of his friends and their families and his own family were so well written.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @eriubooks for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 30, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spirit Level by Ricky Craven
Danny is a mid 20-year-old with a life that’s going nowhere. He works stacking shelves in Spar, has no love life and feels like he has hit rock bottom. However, things go from bad to even worse when he is involved in a drunk driving accident with his best friend Nudge who doesn’t come out alive.
Danny is devastated and also thinks he is losing his mind when Nudge appears by his hospital bed. But he is not imagining things. He can now see ghosts and Nudge needs his help to get out of limbo & pass to the other side.
What a wonderful, cozy, feel good story this is. I loved Danny and Nudge’s relationship. They were so funny together and typical men that don’t show how important they are to each other. Some tough topics mentioned including mental health, death and grief but craven manages to deal with these so well and with great respect.
This was an exceptional debut and hope there is more to come from this author.
Danny is a mid 20-year-old with a life that’s going nowhere. He works stacking shelves in Spar, has no love life and feels like he has hit rock bottom. However, things go from bad to even worse when he is involved in a drunk driving accident with his best friend Nudge who doesn’t come out alive.
Danny is devastated and also thinks he is losing his mind when Nudge appears by his hospital bed. But he is not imagining things. He can now see ghosts and Nudge needs his help to get out of limbo & pass to the other side.
What a wonderful, cozy, feel good story this is. I loved Danny and Nudge’s relationship. They were so funny together and typical men that don’t show how important they are to each other. Some tough topics mentioned including mental health, death and grief but craven manages to deal with these so well and with great respect.
This was an exceptional debut and hope there is more to come from this author.
November 24, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5.
I wish I'd read this book sooner. It's been burning my TBR pile for the last year. I saw it on a friend's Instagram story and had to check it out and bought it the first time I saw it in the shop.
Characters are amazing, especially Danny, Nudge and Lucy. The twist at the end was great, although I had an inkling, but it was still a surprise.
Even though it is short and breezy, that doesn't mean you lose out on great, heart-warming moments.
Usually, when I read a book that is sold as comedic, I'm let down but that was absolutely hilarious at points and had me close to both tears of sadness and laughter. I'd love to see this as a TV Series with a fairly large budget. It was that good. One of my favourite ever reads.
(Docked it 0.5 stars because of all the proofreading and copy-editing errors in my copy of the book. Missing full stops and misspellings here and there.)
I wish I'd read this book sooner. It's been burning my TBR pile for the last year. I saw it on a friend's Instagram story and had to check it out and bought it the first time I saw it in the shop.
Characters are amazing, especially Danny, Nudge and Lucy. The twist at the end was great, although I had an inkling, but it was still a surprise.
Even though it is short and breezy, that doesn't mean you lose out on great, heart-warming moments.
Usually, when I read a book that is sold as comedic, I'm let down but that was absolutely hilarious at points and had me close to both tears of sadness and laughter. I'd love to see this as a TV Series with a fairly large budget. It was that good. One of my favourite ever reads.
(Docked it 0.5 stars because of all the proofreading and copy-editing errors in my copy of the book. Missing full stops and misspellings here and there.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews