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The Ghost Walk
From the author of The River Mouth and Vertigo, comes a must-read medical thriller.
Did anyone know Dr Gabriel Beaufort better than Ruby Rose Gillespie? They were friends at high school. They are secret lovers now. And because he is also the lung-transplant surgeon who saved her life, Ruby will forever be in his debt.
But then the body of Dr Beaufort is found in the wetlands next to the hospital, on the same day as cystic fibrosis sufferer Ruby is readmitted with a sudden fever.
As the crime scene investigation begins beneath her hospital window, Ruby starts to gather her own clues about her lover’s last movements. But with each new discovery, she is haunted by the question of whether she really knew Gabriel Beaufort at all.
Did anyone know Dr Gabriel Beaufort better than Ruby Rose Gillespie? They were friends at high school. They are secret lovers now. And because he is also the lung-transplant surgeon who saved her life, Ruby will forever be in his debt.
But then the body of Dr Beaufort is found in the wetlands next to the hospital, on the same day as cystic fibrosis sufferer Ruby is readmitted with a sudden fever.
As the crime scene investigation begins beneath her hospital window, Ruby starts to gather her own clues about her lover’s last movements. But with each new discovery, she is haunted by the question of whether she really knew Gabriel Beaufort at all.
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 15, 2025
EXCERPT: Outside my window, the horses swung their heads from the police officer to the entrance to the Ghost Walk. Horses are awful sticky-beaks; they have to know what's going on. The officer and I followed their gaze and watched a white figure emerge from the trees. The Ghost Walk is named for reported sightings of various ghosts in the wetland. There are two main ghosts. A female student, beautiful, of course, who overdosed on campus in the 1970s. She's a happy one. She sways along the boardwalk waving funeral flowers in the air. I heard a student in the tavern once, claiming she'd heard the bells on her skirt tinkling. It had made her feel peaceful and calm, she said, like everything in her life would turn out okay. Later that evening, I saw the same student leaning over the boardwalk railing, wailing about how all men are bastards and throwing her guts up into the swamp, while her friend held her long, glossy hair away from the deluge.
The second ghost is a health-economics professor who hanged himself on the branches of a she-oak after he was caught falsifying research data. The academic journal who published the research withdrew the article and the professor lost his job and his title and took himself into the Ghost Walk with a bottle of rum and a length of rope.
Apparently, the ghost of the disgraced professor doesn't wander about like the beautiful hippie; he just hangs from a selection of trees around the boardwalk, emanating shame and sadness. You never actually see the professor. The legend goes that anyone who senses his presence will be overwhelmed by the memory of their faults and wrongdoings. Every student suicide - and there was at least one each year, poor lambs - was traced by the student body back to that student's supposed journey through the Ghost Walk in the months prior.
I'd never seen any ghosts on my own walks through campus, and the white figure that the police officer and I watched emerging from the wetland's dark mouth wasn't the hippie student or the professor, it was just a forensics dude returning with evidence bags.
ABOUT 'THE GHOST WALK': Did anyone know Dr Gabriel Beaufort better than Ruby Rose Gillespie? They were friends at high school. They are secret lovers now. And because he is also the lung-transplant surgeon who saved her life, Ruby will forever be in his debt.
But then the body of Dr Beaufort is found in the wetlands next to the hospital, on the same day as cystic fibrosis sufferer Ruby is readmitted with a sudden fever.
As the crime scene investigation begins beneath her hospital window, Ruby starts to gather her own clues about her lover’s last movements. But with each new discovery, she is haunted by the question of whether she really knew Gabriel Beaufort at all.
MY THOUGHTS: Firstly, this is not a ghost story, despite the title. It is a mystery relating to just how Dr Gabe Beaufort died. Was it murder most foul, as the police suspect, or was it something else?
The Ghost Walk is a slow burn, brooding mystery which swings back and forth between the present and Ruby Rose and Gabe's earlier lives. I learned a lot about cystic fibrosis, with which our main character Ruby Rose is afflicted. Author Karen Herbert gives us an honest albeit sensitive look into the life of a sufferer and how it affects relationships with family, friends and lovers, of which Gabe Beaufort is one.
While the novel is interesting on many levels, delving into a mysterious death, organ transplants, medical research funding and living with Cystic Fibrosis, interwoven with romance and psychological suspense, I didn't find it riveting. Nor did it have a strong sense of place - it could have been set anywhere in the world. But if you are looking for an interesting medical drama cum mystery with a touch of fraud and realistic characters, you'll be pleased by The Ghost Walk. I liked it enough that I will be picking up other books by this author.
I love the cover art!
The Ghost Walk was published 05 August, 2025.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheGhostWalk @FremantlePress
MEET THE AUTHOR - KAREN HERBERT spent her childhood in Geraldton on the mid-west coast of Australia before moving to Perth.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Fremantle Press for providing a paperback of The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The second ghost is a health-economics professor who hanged himself on the branches of a she-oak after he was caught falsifying research data. The academic journal who published the research withdrew the article and the professor lost his job and his title and took himself into the Ghost Walk with a bottle of rum and a length of rope.
Apparently, the ghost of the disgraced professor doesn't wander about like the beautiful hippie; he just hangs from a selection of trees around the boardwalk, emanating shame and sadness. You never actually see the professor. The legend goes that anyone who senses his presence will be overwhelmed by the memory of their faults and wrongdoings. Every student suicide - and there was at least one each year, poor lambs - was traced by the student body back to that student's supposed journey through the Ghost Walk in the months prior.
I'd never seen any ghosts on my own walks through campus, and the white figure that the police officer and I watched emerging from the wetland's dark mouth wasn't the hippie student or the professor, it was just a forensics dude returning with evidence bags.
ABOUT 'THE GHOST WALK': Did anyone know Dr Gabriel Beaufort better than Ruby Rose Gillespie? They were friends at high school. They are secret lovers now. And because he is also the lung-transplant surgeon who saved her life, Ruby will forever be in his debt.
But then the body of Dr Beaufort is found in the wetlands next to the hospital, on the same day as cystic fibrosis sufferer Ruby is readmitted with a sudden fever.
As the crime scene investigation begins beneath her hospital window, Ruby starts to gather her own clues about her lover’s last movements. But with each new discovery, she is haunted by the question of whether she really knew Gabriel Beaufort at all.
MY THOUGHTS: Firstly, this is not a ghost story, despite the title. It is a mystery relating to just how Dr Gabe Beaufort died. Was it murder most foul, as the police suspect, or was it something else?
The Ghost Walk is a slow burn, brooding mystery which swings back and forth between the present and Ruby Rose and Gabe's earlier lives. I learned a lot about cystic fibrosis, with which our main character Ruby Rose is afflicted. Author Karen Herbert gives us an honest albeit sensitive look into the life of a sufferer and how it affects relationships with family, friends and lovers, of which Gabe Beaufort is one.
While the novel is interesting on many levels, delving into a mysterious death, organ transplants, medical research funding and living with Cystic Fibrosis, interwoven with romance and psychological suspense, I didn't find it riveting. Nor did it have a strong sense of place - it could have been set anywhere in the world. But if you are looking for an interesting medical drama cum mystery with a touch of fraud and realistic characters, you'll be pleased by The Ghost Walk. I liked it enough that I will be picking up other books by this author.
I love the cover art!
The Ghost Walk was published 05 August, 2025.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheGhostWalk @FremantlePress
MEET THE AUTHOR - KAREN HERBERT spent her childhood in Geraldton on the mid-west coast of Australia before moving to Perth.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Fremantle Press for providing a paperback of The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
June 29, 2025
A well written and intriguing murder mystery. Its narrator has cystic fibrosis and the murder victim is her lung transplant surgeon and also her secret lover. It’s a slow burn of a read and includes much about life with a chronic disease and has flashbacks to childhood and University years. (The main characters are also childhood friends). I was a bit surprised by the ending, I was still guessing about the murder but the reveal was also unusual -I’m not sure it entirely worked. Still an excellent read.
June 29, 2025
A slow burn of a novel that leads us deep into the lives of the characters and what drives them, twisting and turning on itself as the characters grow and change but the question of what happened to Gabe hangs over everything.
November 8, 2025
The Ghost Walk is a slow burn mystery from Australian author Karen Herbert.
Ruby Rose Gillespie watches from her hospital window as white suited police officers enter the wetlands opposite the campus. Somewhere in the midst of the mangroves lies the body of her school friend, transplant surgeon, and secret lover, Dr Gabriel Beaufort.
Despite being almost universally admired for his good looks and surgical skills, Gabe was a man of many secrets - among them a fentanyl addiction, a history of clandestine lovers, and a struggling international research project. Flashbacks reveal Ruby’s history with, and without, Gabe whilst she tries to figure out who he was meeting in the Ghost Walk, and why they killed him.
There is a sense of disquiet that underscores the narrative. I thought Herbert created some interesting red herrings but unfortunately I found the mystery underwhelming overall. I also didn’t feel the connections to the conclusion was strong so there was little payoff in the reveal.
The author’s characterisation is excellent however. Ruby, a few months post double lung transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis, is fascinating and I felt she carried the story. Her relationship with her CF, shown through different stages of her life, is complex and depicted with sensitivity and authenticity. Ruby often battles with a sense of fatalism, never quite succumbing but often teetering on the edge, which goes some way to explaining her affair with Gabe and her willingness to accept the limits of their involvement. The supporting characters, most notably Ruby’s sister, Ruby’s friend Nigel, and Gabe, are also well drawn and interesting.
Thoughtfully written with a compelling lead character The Ghost Walk is an engaging
Ruby Rose Gillespie watches from her hospital window as white suited police officers enter the wetlands opposite the campus. Somewhere in the midst of the mangroves lies the body of her school friend, transplant surgeon, and secret lover, Dr Gabriel Beaufort.
Despite being almost universally admired for his good looks and surgical skills, Gabe was a man of many secrets - among them a fentanyl addiction, a history of clandestine lovers, and a struggling international research project. Flashbacks reveal Ruby’s history with, and without, Gabe whilst she tries to figure out who he was meeting in the Ghost Walk, and why they killed him.
There is a sense of disquiet that underscores the narrative. I thought Herbert created some interesting red herrings but unfortunately I found the mystery underwhelming overall. I also didn’t feel the connections to the conclusion was strong so there was little payoff in the reveal.
The author’s characterisation is excellent however. Ruby, a few months post double lung transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis, is fascinating and I felt she carried the story. Her relationship with her CF, shown through different stages of her life, is complex and depicted with sensitivity and authenticity. Ruby often battles with a sense of fatalism, never quite succumbing but often teetering on the edge, which goes some way to explaining her affair with Gabe and her willingness to accept the limits of their involvement. The supporting characters, most notably Ruby’s sister, Ruby’s friend Nigel, and Gabe, are also well drawn and interesting.
Thoughtfully written with a compelling lead character The Ghost Walk is an engaging
July 9, 2025
Neither the sainted Dr Gabe Beaufort, whose body we encounter on page one, nor Ruby Rose Gillespie, his patient, long-term friend and lover, are angels but, or perhaps because of that, it is wonderful to get to know them slowly. To learn the things that are important to them and the people who colour their lives. I found I was much more interested in those things than trying to figure out who or what killed Gabe.
I loved the brilliantly brooding style of writing where we gradually learn more and more about Gabe and Ruby, their complex relationship, the reasons for and the consequences of it remaining secret.
Though I’m usually a great fan of ‘whodunits’, I found I really wasn’t fussed about that aspect of the story though I enjoyed the conclusion which brings the novel to an appropriate and atmospheric end.
For me this was a four and a half star read rounded up to five, partly because of the feelings it left me with and partly because of the gorgeous cover which suits the book so perfectly.
Thank you to Good Reading and Fremantle Press for my Early Bird copy which was much appreciated.
I loved the brilliantly brooding style of writing where we gradually learn more and more about Gabe and Ruby, their complex relationship, the reasons for and the consequences of it remaining secret.
Though I’m usually a great fan of ‘whodunits’, I found I really wasn’t fussed about that aspect of the story though I enjoyed the conclusion which brings the novel to an appropriate and atmospheric end.
For me this was a four and a half star read rounded up to five, partly because of the feelings it left me with and partly because of the gorgeous cover which suits the book so perfectly.
Thank you to Good Reading and Fremantle Press for my Early Bird copy which was much appreciated.
July 26, 2025
When the body of Ruby Gillespie's high school friend and now secret lover, Dr Gabriel Beaufort, is discovered in the "Ghost Walk" wetlands, the story begins. With the investigation revealing a suspicious research fund in Africa, dubious medical connections and a few odd relationships, Ruby begins to question if she knew her boyfriend after all.
Switching between vignettes from their shared teenage years to young adulthood and the present day, the novel is described as having 'twists', however, I would describe them more as red herrings, of which there are many.
The character developments of those from the past and present are solid. In particular, Ruby's reality of living with cystic fibrosis is depicted sensitively. An integral part, it is woven into the story without overpowering it.
Switching between vignettes from their shared teenage years to young adulthood and the present day, the novel is described as having 'twists', however, I would describe them more as red herrings, of which there are many.
The character developments of those from the past and present are solid. In particular, Ruby's reality of living with cystic fibrosis is depicted sensitively. An integral part, it is woven into the story without overpowering it.
July 11, 2025
Where to start? I'm not sure how to rate this, as it wasn't what I was expecting. Sold as a medical thriller, I was looking forward to getting stuck into this novel. The cover is atmospheric, and the opening chapter had me interested in reading more. But this disappointed in the thriller category, at most it could be classified as a mystery, with the tension of the mystery not coming into play until the last 20 or so pages.
I was also thrown by the setting, based in Perth, I couldn't geographically place any of the places this book mentioned (other than the mention of City Beach), reading the afterwards at the back, it's because most of it is made up to suit the story.
This was the story of a woman, Ruby, who has cystic fibrosis. After the initial chapter where we find out Gabe, her lover, has been found dead, it becomes the story of her life, alternating between past and present, talking about her illness and her relationships with her family, friends, and, of course, with Gabe. If this had been touted as contemporary fiction with a mystery, then I would have enjoyed it a lot more than I did. As it is, I kept waiting for the 'thriller' part of the story to happen, and it never did unless you count the tension near the end. Because of this, it just didn't hold my attention, and I would read a couple of chapters, put it down and come back to it.
Coming at it from the view of being contemporary fiction, it was an enjoyable read if somewhat slow; the ending and the last 60 pages were probably the most interesting part for me, uncovering the mystery behind Gabe and his death. I also found learning about cystic fibrosis interesting; it's not an illness I knew a great deal about before reading this book.
If you go into this not expecting a thriller and expect the mystery to only be a small part of the storyline, then I think you'll find it an enjoyable read.
I was also thrown by the setting, based in Perth, I couldn't geographically place any of the places this book mentioned (other than the mention of City Beach), reading the afterwards at the back, it's because most of it is made up to suit the story.
This was the story of a woman, Ruby, who has cystic fibrosis. After the initial chapter where we find out Gabe, her lover, has been found dead, it becomes the story of her life, alternating between past and present, talking about her illness and her relationships with her family, friends, and, of course, with Gabe. If this had been touted as contemporary fiction with a mystery, then I would have enjoyed it a lot more than I did. As it is, I kept waiting for the 'thriller' part of the story to happen, and it never did unless you count the tension near the end. Because of this, it just didn't hold my attention, and I would read a couple of chapters, put it down and come back to it.
Coming at it from the view of being contemporary fiction, it was an enjoyable read if somewhat slow; the ending and the last 60 pages were probably the most interesting part for me, uncovering the mystery behind Gabe and his death. I also found learning about cystic fibrosis interesting; it's not an illness I knew a great deal about before reading this book.
If you go into this not expecting a thriller and expect the mystery to only be a small part of the storyline, then I think you'll find it an enjoyable read.
September 23, 2025
The Ghost Walk by Australian author Karen Herbert is a fiction psychological medical mystery filled with death, danger, and dark secrets.
Ruby Rose Gillespie has lived with cystic fibrosis all her life, constantly navigating the emotional and physical strain of living with the disease. She was fortunate enough to have a lung transplant performed by her long-time high school friend and secret lover Dr Gabriel Beaufort. Ruby will forever be indebted to him for a second chance at life.
When Ruby is admitted to hospital for an infection due to her lung transplant, Dr Gabriel Beaufort is found dead in the wetlands near the Ghost Walk next to the hospital. As the investigation begins grief-stricken Ruby begins to piece together her own clues, she knew Gabe better than anyone or so she thinks.
The Ghost Walk is an exciting and engaging read, with action kicking off from the very first page and never letting up. The narrative flows smoothly, it lures readers in and makes them want to stay just a little longer. With numerous twists and turns, it wasn't easy to foresee what would happen next, and I found myself surprised at every turn.
Never has my brain been given such a workout in a murder-mystery tale, it had me glued to every single page, determined to spot any clues to try to solve the mystery. I applaud the authors technique in presenting such a complex tale.
Herbert has done an exceptional job of balancing the cast of characters, all are well developed, and the details of their lives and their backgrounds seep out throughout the story. By the end of the book, you know those characters as if they were people you met with daily.
Ruby is a character that many readers will fall in love with, her realistic qualities and struggle living with cystic fibrosis make her unique and her complex relationship with Gabe provide the story with something original. This also makes her desire to solve his death more personal while at the same time engaging you in the mystery as you want her to succeed.
This cover manages to hit so many notes; it’s atmospheric, taut, beautiful, ominous, inviting. Every time I look at the cover it catches my eye, the illustration is gorgeous, and the minimal colours are used so well. You could not walk past this on a shelf and not pick it up.
The book’s strength lies in how it continues to build steam, making each new revelation feel earned. With a well-developed plot that keeps readers guessing, this is a satisfying and unpredictable read for mystery fans. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Fremantle Press, for the opportunity to read and review.
Ruby Rose Gillespie has lived with cystic fibrosis all her life, constantly navigating the emotional and physical strain of living with the disease. She was fortunate enough to have a lung transplant performed by her long-time high school friend and secret lover Dr Gabriel Beaufort. Ruby will forever be indebted to him for a second chance at life.
When Ruby is admitted to hospital for an infection due to her lung transplant, Dr Gabriel Beaufort is found dead in the wetlands near the Ghost Walk next to the hospital. As the investigation begins grief-stricken Ruby begins to piece together her own clues, she knew Gabe better than anyone or so she thinks.
The Ghost Walk is an exciting and engaging read, with action kicking off from the very first page and never letting up. The narrative flows smoothly, it lures readers in and makes them want to stay just a little longer. With numerous twists and turns, it wasn't easy to foresee what would happen next, and I found myself surprised at every turn.
Never has my brain been given such a workout in a murder-mystery tale, it had me glued to every single page, determined to spot any clues to try to solve the mystery. I applaud the authors technique in presenting such a complex tale.
Herbert has done an exceptional job of balancing the cast of characters, all are well developed, and the details of their lives and their backgrounds seep out throughout the story. By the end of the book, you know those characters as if they were people you met with daily.
Ruby is a character that many readers will fall in love with, her realistic qualities and struggle living with cystic fibrosis make her unique and her complex relationship with Gabe provide the story with something original. This also makes her desire to solve his death more personal while at the same time engaging you in the mystery as you want her to succeed.
This cover manages to hit so many notes; it’s atmospheric, taut, beautiful, ominous, inviting. Every time I look at the cover it catches my eye, the illustration is gorgeous, and the minimal colours are used so well. You could not walk past this on a shelf and not pick it up.
The book’s strength lies in how it continues to build steam, making each new revelation feel earned. With a well-developed plot that keeps readers guessing, this is a satisfying and unpredictable read for mystery fans. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Fremantle Press, for the opportunity to read and review.
June 24, 2025
Karen Herbert has succeeded in writing a well-constructed and clever novel. The book is promoted as a psychological medical thriller, however it will appeal to lovers of other categories as the themes in the story cross over several genres. This is not your typical murder mystery!
The characters in the book are true to life and have strong individual personalities; the background narrative is tight. The dialogue between the various characters is witty, modern and relevant to the plot - I found myself cheering for Ruby Rose who displays a pragmatic and courageous outlook on the disease that has impacted her throughout her troubled life. The side stories that contribute to the story are well researched - the author has delved into topics that include medical trials and funding.
I devoured this book. Overall it is a hugely enjoyable and riveting story that kept my interest to the last page. The book will appeal to a wide range of readers who enjoy whodunits, contemporary fiction, thrillers, crime, mystery and medical dramas.
The characters in the book are true to life and have strong individual personalities; the background narrative is tight. The dialogue between the various characters is witty, modern and relevant to the plot - I found myself cheering for Ruby Rose who displays a pragmatic and courageous outlook on the disease that has impacted her throughout her troubled life. The side stories that contribute to the story are well researched - the author has delved into topics that include medical trials and funding.
I devoured this book. Overall it is a hugely enjoyable and riveting story that kept my interest to the last page. The book will appeal to a wide range of readers who enjoy whodunits, contemporary fiction, thrillers, crime, mystery and medical dramas.
June 26, 2025
The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert is a compelling and beautifully written novel that combines mystery, medical drama, and the impact of personal relationships. The protagonist, Ruby, is a woman living with cystic fibrosis. Her life is turned upside-down when the doctor who once saved her life, and who was also her secret lover, is found dead. The story delves into the mystery surrounding his death, as well as into the issues of trust, vulnerability, and the secrets we all carry.
The novel is sensitively and insightfully written, particularly when exploring Ruby’s experience of illness and disability. The characters are well developed and believable. The Coastal Western Australian setting adds to the atmosphere, enhancing the sense of isolation and intensity.
The novel is well-paced, letting the tension build naturally, while drawing the reader into a web of secrets that slowly reveal themselves. The interplay of a suspenseful plot with characters that are complex, flawed, and easy to relate to make for a highly engaging reading experience.
Highly recommended!
The novel is sensitively and insightfully written, particularly when exploring Ruby’s experience of illness and disability. The characters are well developed and believable. The Coastal Western Australian setting adds to the atmosphere, enhancing the sense of isolation and intensity.
The novel is well-paced, letting the tension build naturally, while drawing the reader into a web of secrets that slowly reveal themselves. The interplay of a suspenseful plot with characters that are complex, flawed, and easy to relate to make for a highly engaging reading experience.
Highly recommended!
August 18, 2025
The Ghost Walk is a slow burn mystery with intriguing characters who could all have been in the frame for the murder of Dr Gabriel Beaufort.
We meet Ruby Rose Gillespie, the secret lover of Dr Beaufort, the day she is admitted to hospital with an infection. The same day his body is found in the wetlands next to the hospital.
Through a then and now storyline the reader is immersed in the history of Ruby and Gabriel, their friend group, family ties, university years, Ruby's life with cystic fibrosis and subsequent lung transplant, Gabriel's glittering career and their secret love affair.
Many secrets are uncovered about Gabriel and a research project he was heading and Ruby is determined to find out why he died.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story. There was an almost sinister undertone and I had no idea how this was going to pan out. The build up to the ending was well done and oh my gosh those last two chapters were amazing.
Many thanks to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for a copy of this prior to publication.
We meet Ruby Rose Gillespie, the secret lover of Dr Beaufort, the day she is admitted to hospital with an infection. The same day his body is found in the wetlands next to the hospital.
Through a then and now storyline the reader is immersed in the history of Ruby and Gabriel, their friend group, family ties, university years, Ruby's life with cystic fibrosis and subsequent lung transplant, Gabriel's glittering career and their secret love affair.
Many secrets are uncovered about Gabriel and a research project he was heading and Ruby is determined to find out why he died.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story. There was an almost sinister undertone and I had no idea how this was going to pan out. The build up to the ending was well done and oh my gosh those last two chapters were amazing.
Many thanks to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for a copy of this prior to publication.
October 10, 2025
The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert is a psychological crime thriller that blends mystery, medical drama, and emotional depth. The story follows Ruby Rose Gillespie, a woman living with cystic fibrosis, whose life is upended when Dr Gabriel Beaufort—her former friend, secret lover, and the surgeon who saved her life—is found dead. Confined to a hospital bed, Ruby begins unraveling the truth, turning her vulnerability into strength as she investigates a crime intertwined with secrets, trust, and ethics. Set against the haunting wetlands of Western Australia, the novel offers an atmospheric backdrop that amplifies the tension. Herbert’s strength lies in crafting flawed, authentic characters and delivering a fresh take on the genre—this isn’t a formulaic whodunit but a slow-burn psychological thriller exploring resilience, morality, and the hidden lives we lead. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries, medical thrillers with an Australian twist, and stories that prioritise psychological depth over action.
August 18, 2025
The Ghost Walk by Vivien Carter is essentially a murder/mystery with a twist.
Set in the ‘hippy days’ of free sex, drugs and rock & roll in Australia; it follows the life and love of a Cystic Fibrosis sufferer who has a successful lung transplant and falls heavily for the highly talented and handsome surgeon who performed the operation. Unfortunately for her, she isn’t the only one to fall for him and he happily shares the love of life with a number of his female patients.
When he is discovered face down in a nearby swamp, dead, the rumours and suspects are everywhere; was it an accident or was it murder, and were drugs involved?
Keeps you guessing right to the end. Most enjoyable.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book at no cost in return for an honest and unbiased review, and what I have written above is wholly my own opinion and recommendation.
Set in the ‘hippy days’ of free sex, drugs and rock & roll in Australia; it follows the life and love of a Cystic Fibrosis sufferer who has a successful lung transplant and falls heavily for the highly talented and handsome surgeon who performed the operation. Unfortunately for her, she isn’t the only one to fall for him and he happily shares the love of life with a number of his female patients.
When he is discovered face down in a nearby swamp, dead, the rumours and suspects are everywhere; was it an accident or was it murder, and were drugs involved?
Keeps you guessing right to the end. Most enjoyable.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book at no cost in return for an honest and unbiased review, and what I have written above is wholly my own opinion and recommendation.
August 20, 2025
The quote on the cover of this novel describes it as a “brooding, breathtaking thriller”. My experience was that it’s more of an exploration of the life of our narrator, Ruby, who has Cystic Fibrosis and a secret relationship with her doctor, Gabe, whose death is the mystery.
Those seeking a thriller may be disappointed; the pace doesn’t pick up until the last few chapters, but I thoroughly enjoyed this slow, contemplative exploration of life as a young person with a disability in modern-day Australia. The writing is evocative and i found myself immersed in the world on the pages.
The last chapter was a bit incongruous and I’ve marked it down for that reason. I understand why she did it that way, but it didn’t really work for me.
I received a free preview copy from Better Reading in exchange for an unbiased review.
Those seeking a thriller may be disappointed; the pace doesn’t pick up until the last few chapters, but I thoroughly enjoyed this slow, contemplative exploration of life as a young person with a disability in modern-day Australia. The writing is evocative and i found myself immersed in the world on the pages.
The last chapter was a bit incongruous and I’ve marked it down for that reason. I understand why she did it that way, but it didn’t really work for me.
I received a free preview copy from Better Reading in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 8, 2025
An Aussie mystery tale, The Ghost Walk (2025 by Karen Herbert, is set in contemporary Perth. Ruby Rose Gillespi is a lung transplant recipient whose doctor, Gabriel Beaufort, was discovered dead in the Ghost Walk nature reserve, outside her hospital window. A well-kept secret, Ruby had been in a relationship with Gabe since high school. As the police investigate the death, Ruby is keen to find out what exactly happened to Gabe. Although a supposed crime mystery regarding the death of a specialist doctor, this story focuses mainly on the past and Rose and Gabe’s relationship. So overall, it's more of a character study with a medical condition-based narrative that has an average three star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.
September 3, 2025
The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert is a well written book which follows Ruby Rose Gillespie both through past and present times as the mystery of her secret lover’s death remains unsolved. I learnt about cystic fibrosis and how chronic illness affects many aspects of life. The complex nature of all the relationships in the story were compelling. The ending was a different approach and left me wanting more explanation. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Fremantle Press for a copy of this book to preview. All opinions are my own and reflect my experiences with the publication.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Fremantle Press for a copy of this book to preview. All opinions are my own and reflect my experiences with the publication.
October 2, 2025
A psychological medical mystery. It's told through the eyes of Ruby Rose Gillespie, a women with cystic fibrosis.
A transplant doctor is murdered. The doctor is the doctor who performed a lung transplant on Ruby, and Ruby is also in a (largely) secret relationship with him.
A slow burn.
A transplant doctor is murdered. The doctor is the doctor who performed a lung transplant on Ruby, and Ruby is also in a (largely) secret relationship with him.
A slow burn.
September 19, 2025
Quite a slow burn but an interesting and infuriating tale. I enjoyed the focus on health and the character development, but it felt a bit slow for me.
November 14, 2025
A bit boring
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