What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl Who Speaks to the Dead
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An incredible edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'More dark brilliance from Mr Colt.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Had a Stranger Things vibe that I absolutely loved.'
Astrid is a thirteen-year-old girl with a powerful gift. She can talk to the dead. When her and her mom move to a sleepy town to escape their shattered city life, they hope for a clean start - but they're about to find anything but.
Cole, the local deputy, is out to impress his sheriff, who is out-of-action whilst recovering from cancer. So when a girl goes missing in the county, Cole will go to any length to find her - including employing the help of a teenage medium.
Meanwhile, two dangerous criminals arrive in the area. They're looking for something. Something only a dead man knows where to find. And in their desperation, they'll resort to brutal, violent means in order to contact him.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'More dark brilliance from Mr Colt.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Had a Stranger Things vibe that I absolutely loved.'
Astrid is a thirteen-year-old girl with a powerful gift. She can talk to the dead. When her and her mom move to a sleepy town to escape their shattered city life, they hope for a clean start - but they're about to find anything but.
Cole, the local deputy, is out to impress his sheriff, who is out-of-action whilst recovering from cancer. So when a girl goes missing in the county, Cole will go to any length to find her - including employing the help of a teenage medium.
Meanwhile, two dangerous criminals arrive in the area. They're looking for something. Something only a dead man knows where to find. And in their desperation, they'll resort to brutal, violent means in order to contact him.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2025
9 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Jon Colt
8 books20 followersJon Colt is a novelist based in Edinburgh, known for his debut book, What Happened Next.
Writing has always been his passion, and he draws inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, James Herbert and Dan Brown.
When he's not writing, he can be found walking his charcoal labrador, Ringo, re-watching TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Mr Robot or What We Do in the Shadows, reading, or playing the guitar.
Writing has always been his passion, and he draws inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, James Herbert and Dan Brown.
When he's not writing, he can be found walking his charcoal labrador, Ringo, re-watching TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Mr Robot or What We Do in the Shadows, reading, or playing the guitar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 5, 2026
With the title “The Girl Who Speaks to The Dead” I was sold straight away and couldn’t wait to pick this one up and get stuck into it.
This felt like a really cosy crime read but with some really dark aspects thrown in as it progressed and it wasn’t too cosy!
I really loved the main characters in the book, Astrid & Cole. They were a great pair to lead the storyline. The supernatural take was unique too and was done brilliantly, it wasn’t too unrealistic like other books I have read, it felt believable.
Told through multiple timelines that all effortlessly drifted into each other and came together. There were a few wee twists that I didn’t see coming either which is always bonus points from me!
Overall, a really enjoyable read and that epilogue for the next book has left me wanting to read on!
This felt like a really cosy crime read but with some really dark aspects thrown in as it progressed and it wasn’t too cosy!
I really loved the main characters in the book, Astrid & Cole. They were a great pair to lead the storyline. The supernatural take was unique too and was done brilliantly, it wasn’t too unrealistic like other books I have read, it felt believable.
Told through multiple timelines that all effortlessly drifted into each other and came together. There were a few wee twists that I didn’t see coming either which is always bonus points from me!
Overall, a really enjoyable read and that epilogue for the next book has left me wanting to read on!
January 24, 2026
Jon Colt’s "The Girl Who Speaks to the Dead" handles the supernatural with remarkable narrative restraint, avoiding both sensationalism and interpretive overstatement. The novel sustains a persistent state of ambiguity between the real and the uncanny; the latter, however, is rendered relatively easy for the book’s society to accept and is swiftly integrated as a functional narrative device. The alternation between the almost affectless routines of small-town life and sudden supernatural intrusions establishes a carefully controlled rhythm of tension that continually undermines the reader’s sense of certainty. Atmosphere is constructed through suggestion, silence, and recurring motifs, in an approach that recalls the Gothic. The spare, almost musical prose allows themes of loss, absence, and emotional alienation to surface organically, without symbolic coercion.
At the same time, the novel is structured as a multi-voiced narrative of high internal coherence, in which each character is developed through specific incidents and relationships rather than external description. Characters reveal their dynamics primarily in pairs, through alliances or conflicts, that function as narrative nuclei and catalysts for development, shaping the conditions of the evolving dramaturgy. The plot sustains its momentum throughout, while the small-town setting, where everyone knows everyone else, intensifies the sense of a community that offers both protection and threat. This dual atmosphere, familiarity coupled with latent terror, renders the environment an active agent of the narrative, heightening the feeling of a constant, almost imperceptible, suffocation.
Within this framework, ghosts acquire a crucial narrative and social function, operating as traces of human presence and as carriers of memory and trauma. Evil is displaced from the supernatural to the social realm; poverty, marginalisation, familial stigma, and the intergenerational traumas that shape lives long before individuals are able to exercise choice. Crime is presented as a classed phenomenon, the product of social structures and inequalities rather than individual pathology. Through a deft parallel, traumas passed down from one generation to the next emerge as "living ghosts," just as present and determinative as those Astrid can see. In this way, the novel captures with rare tenderness and acuity the injustice of a world in which children are made to pay for the "sins" of their parents, trapped in an unforgiving cycle of social and moral condemnation that relentlessly reproduces itself.
At the same time, the novel is structured as a multi-voiced narrative of high internal coherence, in which each character is developed through specific incidents and relationships rather than external description. Characters reveal their dynamics primarily in pairs, through alliances or conflicts, that function as narrative nuclei and catalysts for development, shaping the conditions of the evolving dramaturgy. The plot sustains its momentum throughout, while the small-town setting, where everyone knows everyone else, intensifies the sense of a community that offers both protection and threat. This dual atmosphere, familiarity coupled with latent terror, renders the environment an active agent of the narrative, heightening the feeling of a constant, almost imperceptible, suffocation.
Within this framework, ghosts acquire a crucial narrative and social function, operating as traces of human presence and as carriers of memory and trauma. Evil is displaced from the supernatural to the social realm; poverty, marginalisation, familial stigma, and the intergenerational traumas that shape lives long before individuals are able to exercise choice. Crime is presented as a classed phenomenon, the product of social structures and inequalities rather than individual pathology. Through a deft parallel, traumas passed down from one generation to the next emerge as "living ghosts," just as present and determinative as those Astrid can see. In this way, the novel captures with rare tenderness and acuity the injustice of a world in which children are made to pay for the "sins" of their parents, trapped in an unforgiving cycle of social and moral condemnation that relentlessly reproduces itself.
March 21, 2026
Thank you for the copy of this and a chance to read it.
I went into this one mostly blind 😅 figured I'd switch it up a bit and what a book to choose.
Astrid can speak to the dead, sounds cool right?
Nope, being 13 and having this uh gift while also picking up and moving to a completely different place??
Small town cheif Cole is desperate to solve a missing girl case and no help at all, but here's Astrid and talking to the dead when solving crimes sounds extremely useful.
This was one of those books that really blends the lines of horror and thriller and tosses in a little but of police procedural in a way that had me hooked, is this just the evil of man or is something supernautal going on.
There are multiple timelines to keep up with but Jon manages to write in a way it's not hard to keep up with and your desperate to get to that next time jump, to find out what happens next.
When two criminals are desperate to find something they will do anything to get it, are Astrid and Cole a match for them??
Let's hope so...
I went into this one mostly blind 😅 figured I'd switch it up a bit and what a book to choose.
Astrid can speak to the dead, sounds cool right?
Nope, being 13 and having this uh gift while also picking up and moving to a completely different place??
Small town cheif Cole is desperate to solve a missing girl case and no help at all, but here's Astrid and talking to the dead when solving crimes sounds extremely useful.
This was one of those books that really blends the lines of horror and thriller and tosses in a little but of police procedural in a way that had me hooked, is this just the evil of man or is something supernautal going on.
There are multiple timelines to keep up with but Jon manages to write in a way it's not hard to keep up with and your desperate to get to that next time jump, to find out what happens next.
When two criminals are desperate to find something they will do anything to get it, are Astrid and Cole a match for them??
Let's hope so...
February 14, 2026
I received a message from the author, asking if I would be interested to read a copy of his book, The Girl Who Speaks To The Dead, of course I happily obliged!
14 year old Astrid had the gift to speak to the dead and has visions when physically touched by another person. Cole is acting sheriff when trouble arises with a new resident of their small town, with refusal from outside help, he decides to ask a teenager willing to step into her grandmothers footsteps. An unlikely duo but perhaps a good team!
✨ I love a good thriller, mixed in with some supernatural elements and something a little different makes an exciting story! I have really enjoyed following Astrid and Cole on their adventures, I was always wanting more and couldn’t stop reading come the second half of the book! I am so excited to see what the unlikely duo get up to in the next book! Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book 😍✨
14 year old Astrid had the gift to speak to the dead and has visions when physically touched by another person. Cole is acting sheriff when trouble arises with a new resident of their small town, with refusal from outside help, he decides to ask a teenager willing to step into her grandmothers footsteps. An unlikely duo but perhaps a good team!
✨ I love a good thriller, mixed in with some supernatural elements and something a little different makes an exciting story! I have really enjoyed following Astrid and Cole on their adventures, I was always wanting more and couldn’t stop reading come the second half of the book! I am so excited to see what the unlikely duo get up to in the next book! Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book 😍✨
February 27, 2026
I discovered this book through a recommendation in one of my Facebook groups, even though I hadn’t previously heard of Jon Colt. From the very beginning, I was impressed by how original and engaging the story was. The main character was especially likable, which made it easy to become emotionally invested in the journey.
I particularly enjoyed the way each character’s storyline intertwined and gradually came together. The connections were sometimes surprising, adding depth and intrigue to the overall plot. The pacing kept me fully engaged—I enjoyed the book so much that I finished it in just three days because I simply couldn’t put it down.
I’m already looking forward to reading more by Jon Colt, especially continuing with this series. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I particularly enjoyed the way each character’s storyline intertwined and gradually came together. The connections were sometimes surprising, adding depth and intrigue to the overall plot. The pacing kept me fully engaged—I enjoyed the book so much that I finished it in just three days because I simply couldn’t put it down.
I’m already looking forward to reading more by Jon Colt, especially continuing with this series. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
March 25, 2026
Received an ARC copy from the author for a review. I found this book to a subtle blend of horror, crime, and the supernatural. It basically tells the story of a young girl called Astrid and the town's deputy sheriff Cole. It explains how Astrid's psychic abilities help solve several crimes that have plagued the local area for some time, and also how Astrid learns to control and explore her abilities. A book that I highly recommend for someone who likes their books out of the ordinary. Thanks to the author @joncolt
January 14, 2026
Nice, easy read
This is the first Jon Colt book I've read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I liked the plot, the characters and the pacing which is why I've given it five stars. However, there are a few terminology errors (born of a British author setting the story in the USA) and some glaring typos. That being said, I'm still about to buy another Jon Colt book, and hope I like it as much (or more) as this one.
This is the first Jon Colt book I've read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I liked the plot, the characters and the pacing which is why I've given it five stars. However, there are a few terminology errors (born of a British author setting the story in the USA) and some glaring typos. That being said, I'm still about to buy another Jon Colt book, and hope I like it as much (or more) as this one.
February 15, 2026
incredible, following Astrid who has moved back to the small town of Winterwood with her mum to start a fresh. So many side stories, character build up it was a thriller with an intersting grip tense and everything making sense in the end. if you enjoy a good story that makes you feel so many different emotions for each character especially as you get further in! i recommend this one :) looking forward to reading book 2
September 14, 2025
Should come with a trigger warning IMO for SA (small scene but it's in there). Didn't appreciate the 'C' word being in it that many times- to me it just didn't add to the story/characterisations
Had so much potential. Was ok and possibly would read the next one - if it had same characters. Liked the story line. Liked the many narrative approach - still easy to follow.
Had so much potential. Was ok and possibly would read the next one - if it had same characters. Liked the story line. Liked the many narrative approach - still easy to follow.
March 29, 2026
This was a very well written story that was a definite page Turner. I would recommend this to anyone who has a interest in Clarvoincy. Starts out with a young girl who has the gift. Her Grandmother was well known for using her gift to help others. Now passed on she still talks with her granddaughter since they moved into her home.
August 19, 2025
Wow, just wow! I loved his first series and didn't think he could come up with yet another great series. But this new one is amazing! I've already finished it and am itching for the next book in the series. Already pre-ordered it.
February 17, 2026
The very first chapter made me interested in the rest.
This book had a moment in the first chapter that
made me say "Wow, sure didn't see that!" This book
also had one of the most gruesome manners of death
that I've ever read. So beware. I liked this book very much.
This book had a moment in the first chapter that
made me say "Wow, sure didn't see that!" This book
also had one of the most gruesome manners of death
that I've ever read. So beware. I liked this book very much.
March 23, 2026
Really swept up in 13 year old Astrid’s journey. Enjoyable treatment of the supernatural. Loved the blending of the creepy, spine-chilling supernatural and details of small town life; there’s something extra creepy in tying a child to horrible murders.
March 27, 2026
This isn't my normal read, but I really enjoyed it. There were times I couldn't put it down. At first I wasn't sure how all of the different parts were connected, but it all came together with a satisfying end.
August 5, 2025
A chilling, fast-paced supernatural thriller with a gritty edge, this story masterfully blends suspense, the paranormal, and heart-pounding tension through the eyes of a fearless young medium.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
only managed to put this down once, going to struggle to wait a year for the second of the series
March 17, 2026
Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read - February 1, 2026
Publication - Available Now!
*I received an e-copy for free in exchange for an honest review*
The Girl Who Speaks to the Dead is a young adult paranormal mystery with horror. The creepy and foreboding atmosphere is really enhanced by the slower pace and I loved it. The horror comes in with some graphic and gruesome scenes that fit the atmosphere and 90s vibe. While some of the writing took me out of the story, the plot brought me back. The action parts are my favourite because they are very thrilling and had me at the edge of my seat! I also enjoyed the paranormal parts and the little bit of sweet romance in the mix. Overall, this book is a fun mix of spooky genres that would be great for a Fall or Winter night!
*Please check trigger warnings*
Read - February 1, 2026
Publication - Available Now!
*I received an e-copy for free in exchange for an honest review*
The Girl Who Speaks to the Dead is a young adult paranormal mystery with horror. The creepy and foreboding atmosphere is really enhanced by the slower pace and I loved it. The horror comes in with some graphic and gruesome scenes that fit the atmosphere and 90s vibe. While some of the writing took me out of the story, the plot brought me back. The action parts are my favourite because they are very thrilling and had me at the edge of my seat! I also enjoyed the paranormal parts and the little bit of sweet romance in the mix. Overall, this book is a fun mix of spooky genres that would be great for a Fall or Winter night!
*Please check trigger warnings*
February 25, 2026
I received a message from this author over on Instagram asking if i'd be interested in reading his book and giving my honest thoughts on it, of course i said yes.
Here are my thoughts -
I love a good thriller, thrillers are my go-to genre at the moment, there are some super natural elements to this book which made it more interesting to read and gripping. I enjoyed following the characters Astrid and Cole on their journey. I was wanting more and more and couldn't stop reading the book. Cannot wait for your next book! A massive thank you to Jon for reaching out and sending me a copy of this book.
Here are my thoughts -
I love a good thriller, thrillers are my go-to genre at the moment, there are some super natural elements to this book which made it more interesting to read and gripping. I enjoyed following the characters Astrid and Cole on their journey. I was wanting more and more and couldn't stop reading the book. Cannot wait for your next book! A massive thank you to Jon for reaching out and sending me a copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews