How To Catch A Ghost

by Ben Cheetham

How do you catch the uncatchable?

There is a hotel. And in that hotel there is a room. And in that room something terrible happened…

Hugh was only ten at the time. Twenty five years have passed, but he’s stuck in that moment. Every night when he closes his eyes, he sees the blood. So much blood. On the bed, the walls, the carpet…

Now Hugh’s returning to the hotel where his life changed in a horrific instant. Something stole his childhood from him on that stormy night. He’s hellbent on finding out what that ‘something’ was.

But how do you find something that can’t be seen or touched? Hugh thinks he has the answer. He’s made a trap. Not a trap designed for flesh and blood. This trap is designed to ensnare the evil entity that haunts the hotel.

Hugh’s about to risk everything – his marriage, his life, even his soul – to attempt the impossible and catch a ghost.

What Amazon and Goodreads readers are saying about Ben Cheetham’s books

'I love love loved this book! Had me gripped right from the start and just had to keep reading it!'

'A dark and twisting narrative that will keep you turning the pages. Ben Cheetham's characters, though sometimes tainted or, indeed, pure evil, are completely believable.'

'The only trouble with this book is that sleep and work got in the way.'

'I loved this book and continue to think about the characters after I finished.'

'Brilliantly written and had me totally captivated. Didn't want to stop reading as I felt myself getting pulled into the drama and wanting to find out what happened next.'

'Wow! I loved this book. The suspense kept me on the edge of my chair!'

313 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2025

About the author

Ben Cheetham is an award-winning writer and Pushcart Prize nominee. His writing spans the genres, from horror and sci-fi to literary fiction, but he has a passion for dark, gritty crime fiction. His short stories have been published in Swill Magazine, The Fiction Desk, Deadcore (Comet Press), The London Magazine, The Willisden Herald New Short Stories 3, The Grist Anthology of New Writing, Dream Catcher, Staple, Fast Forward: A Collection of Flash Fiction, Voice From The Planet (Harvard Square Editions), The Momaya Annual Review, Transmission, The Chaffey Review, and numerous other magazines.

Ben lives in Sheffield, UK, where - when he's not chasing around after his two-year old son - he spends most of his time locked away in his study racking his brain for the next paragraph, the next sentence, the next word.

Reviews

[John Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

* contains spoilers*
What on earth have I just read. I began by thinking that this was some sort of black comedy. A family, driving home through seriously bad weather, comes upon a mysterious hotel and decides to stay for the night. The proprietors, Dorothy and Arthur, are like a couple straight out of the television series, "The Adams Family." Dorothy could pass for a glamorous and sexy Morticia and Arthur, the lumbering and sinister butler, Lurch. However, things soon begin to turn nasty.
The young son, Hugh, awakes on the following morning to find his father murdered and his hysterical mother, the chief suspect. She is arrested, charged, and sentenced to life imprisonment in a secure mental health facility for the criminally insane.
Twenty-five years later, Hugh is determined to find out the truth as to what happened on that fateful night. He employs two psychic investigators, and together, they return to the hotel. These investigators seemed to be characters straight out of "Ghostbusters."
When they arrive at the hotel, they find it rather rundown, the main clientele being elderly ladies, the staff, surly youngsters, and everywhere smells of cat urine. These are not your ordinary cats either. At this point, the humour ends, and the full-on horror begins.
I've read better!

[David Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sent to my kindle by a friend.
I found myself skim reading, in an attempt to find something serious in terms of plot, characters general writing.

From the title and cover I ought to have realised this book was aimed at a younger market.... surely!?
So many clichés, I'm afraid I just could not take any of this seriously,belongs in the Saturday matinee section, or to be read for what it is; comedic claptrap.
Sorry to everyone involved if I have misinterpreted books aim/ intention.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A miserable night to be driving, a hotel that looks very creepy but your father cant drive any further so a night at this hotel is their only option. This is Hughs story when he was ten – what happened in that hotel has haunted him for years, now married with a child of his own he wants to return to the hotel and find out exactly what happened that night. This was the part of the book that bothered me, would you really risk your wellbeing and that of your family to return to the hotel of horrors. Im not sure, but thats exactly what happened and obviously it was a big mistake.

[carole whittingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disturbing

I thought the introduction of Amazon sounded interesting so downloaded it.
The start was ok and I thought it was going to be one of my excellent rated books, however it turned very dark, and although I did guess how it was going to end, I was wishing it wouldnt. It is a book that will stay in my mind for a very long time.

[Tony Dure · Rating 1 out of 5]

A rubbish book

It takes you on this ride, loads of scientific blar blar.
Then a wife that won't stay home, a demon that helps him, but he has to give it a promise - he does, then weaches on will what do you think will happen?

This could have been really good, but falled on so many levels

[Samantha Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I liked how easy and addictive this was to read. The plot was not what I was expecting but it was interesting and slightly weird. (I love weird stories) I enjoyed the mysterious, supernatural element, although there isn’t a lot of action through the book the strangeness and anticipation kept me engaged.

[S-J · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a bummer

Slow and depressing. Nothing happens for most of the book, I kept reading, hoping for something to happen and then it did but it was just a bummer, not scary or thrilling just meh.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Ben Cheetham

This book kept me reading. I had to know what happened at the hotel as well as what is currently going on. The twist at the end. Oh my goodness. Absolutely recommend this book!

[Lula Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

TERRIBLE

THE most disgusting ever read! How could a printing company disgrace itself by printing anything like this? Did not get any better to the end.

[Roxanne Rampage · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this book is terrible! What a load of rubbish. I skimmed a lot of it and limped to the end. I knew I didn't like cats for a reason. Don't bother with it.

[Paul Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good holiday read .... the characters are believable and the story keeps you wanting to plough on to the end.

A nice plot twist, whilst not unexpected, finished the book off nicely.

[Ang Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

First one I've read by this author. Not a bad read at all for spooky season. Felt a little slow in the middle but I certainly didn't expect the ending!

[Jenny Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was….alright

A bit of a random read but not totally awful. I did like the ending it was fun and I didn’t see it coming.