The Jane Doe Ghost: An Elspeth Barclay Novel, Book 3

by Karla Brandenburg

Now that Elspeth “Elle” Barclay’s mother has retired from “clearing” haunted houses, Elle steps in to evaluate disturbances. She debunks a haunting, but finds spiritual energy outside the house. The victim of a recent hit and run accident demands that Elle “tell them,” but tell whom what? The accident victim, a young woman, lies in the morgue as a Jane Doe. Details in the ghost’s visions send Elle to Bar Harbor, Maine, to tell Jane Doe’s family about the accident, but they aren’t interested in talking to her.

Jane Doe grows more aggressive in her pleas. When the man Jane came to Illinois to find turns up dead, Elle fears her own life may be in danger. She has never encountered a spirit who can manifest energy physically before, but this one grabs her arm, leaving burns. What more does she want?

Audible Audio

Published September 5, 2024

About the author

Karla Brandenburg is an award-winning author of contemporary romance novels which include paranormal elements. Now that her children have settled into lives of their own, she loves to go out into the world on adventures with her husband, from Milwaukee to the French Riviera, but the Chicago suburbs have always been “home.” She is an avid reader across multiple genres and is a card-carrying cookie-holic (we all have our vices). Sign up for her newsletter

Reviews

[Jennifer L LeClair · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the Elspeth Barclay series! I enjoyed all of the characters and the trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. Karla has a real knack for making the setting and the characters come to life. If you like a good ghost story and a bit of travel, don't miss this one!

[Kathy Kornatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karla has given us another story in the Elspeth Barclay paranormal/romance series. I don’t know or understand all the paranormal “stuff”, but Karla describes it for readers well. I feel like I know the characters because they are well developed. I do want to tell Elspeth to have more self confidence and learn to make a decision! I also want to tell Laine to back off! I guess getting involved with their stories shows Karla’s ability to draw me in! Great weekend book to settle in with.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Elspeth Barclay can’t connect with Gordon, her go-to ghost, she asks if anyone out there needs help, and her world changes. A bloody female ghost appears. She’s very upset and gives Elspeth a message of “tell them,” only the ghost is a recent Jane Doe in the morgue.
The ghost keeps hounding Elspeth and others with paranormal sensitivity, demanding their help. Then Elspeth’s sister and business partner wants to make substantial changes to their business.
Elspeth tilts from crisis to crisis as she tries to help Jane Doe, make peace with her sister, spend time with her boyfriend, and keep her business afloat. No one could keep so many balls in the air at once, and Elspeth flounders, shaking her confidence and self-esteem.
As a reader, I was so invested in this character, I had to know what she’d do next.
If you love paranormal romance with a side dish of family drama, you will savor Elspeth’s adventures as much as I did.