Chasing Spirits - The Memoirs of Reginald Weldon

Diary of the Displaced

by Glynn James

What Readers are saying about CHASING "Spooky, captivating mystery." ... "A glimpse of a strange world behind this one." ... "Great story telling!" ... "If you are a fan of this genre give this book a try you will not regret it." ... "I was sorry when it ended." ... "an epic journey through a mans life" ... "This was a wonderful story."There is an old man sitting in a bed on Angel ward, telling stories.He says he has to tell someone, because he is dying.He says he doesn't care if you believe the tales are true or not, because he is not sure that half of them ever happened at all.Reg Weldon claims that he has seen things that would make your skin crawl.He claims a lot of things..."I was born four seconds before the strike of midnight, on the 31st December 1900. As far as I know that makes me the last person to be born in that century. My mother, god bless her soul, she may well have been the first person to die in the century that followed, because no sooner had I taken my first breath, than she took her last."

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery, Zombies, Amazon

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2011

About the author

GLYNN JAMES is an author of science fiction, post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy, horror, and dystopian fiction. His love of science fiction began when he was eight years old after discovering HP Lovecraft and Richard Matheson, and then later on Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, James Herbert, Clive Barker, and Stephen King.

In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.

More info on his writing and projects can be found at -
Website - www.glynnjames.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glynnjamesfi...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/GlynnJames

Reviews

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel of sorts to 'Diary of the Displaced.'

We are pretty much given the life story of Reg Weldon which is told in first-person as he lies on his death bed. From a traumatic experience when he was a young child, Reg goes on to witness and experience terrible things; some of which are related to events in 'Diary..'

Felt so sorry for Reg when he (literally) loses his wife Marie while out on a walk in Edinburgh, and I loved the fact when he got back her possessions after the police had a search, he was actually given items belonging to folk who had vanished in the exact same spot.

I'd love to know what happened to Marie during her three years disappearance (and then again after she vanishes from the summerhouse). Perhaps that could be explained in the next book. Please say there's a next book!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the other books I read by Glynn James, but I didn't like this one nearly as much. The story seemed to have no point; it was merely a list of mostly disconnected moments of fantasy with a lot of narrative in between. Perhaps I am reading too shallowly, but I was unimpressed.

[David Esteban · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the "From Darkness Comes" collection. Even though I liked it, it felt like the written version of "Lost": too many mysteries, too few answers. I guess this book is part of the "Displaced" series, but I expected to be able to read it as a standalone novel. If the aim of it was to make folks read the author's other books, mission accomplished. I just hope they answer the questions this left me with.

Other than that, Chasing Spirits had a certain Clive Barker-esque "Weaveworld" feeling to me, which I enjoyed a lot, being a huge Barker fan. I just read Barker is one of James's biggest influences, so there you go.

3.5/5 because of the "incomplete" feeling.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I literally devoured this novel needing to know more of Reg's story. I was not aware that when I was reading this novel that it is part of a series, regardless it can be read as a stand alone. The horrific tale of this old man is mesmerizing. The method he uses to tell his tale, lures the reader in and before you know it you are hooked. This isn't a happy tale but in the end the main character finds closure. Highly recommend it!

[sandra stiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review .
Reading this felt like I was sitting beside Reg's bed during his final days as he reminisced about his life. He wasn't a very likable character and there was no 'ending' as such, but I felt I'd 'listened' to him. Time for him to go now!

[MRS G · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an usual and totally enthralling book.

The re-telling of an old mans bizarre life, with some really spooky and other worldly experiences. Many of which have no rational explanations.

I thought it was a great read and very thought provoking. The sort of book you'd like to discuss with someone else - to see how they had interpreted what had happened.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried to get into this!

I just couldn't get into this. Not interesting or enjoyable.
I skimmed through it and it took a good ways through
to get to the gist of the story line. So sorry, but I very
seldom not finish a book. It had to be extremely boring
for me to put it down.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent side story in the Diary of the Displaced series and I loved it.

Reggie is an old man who needs to write about his life, especially those inexplicable moments.

No spoilers but I will say that it is fast-paced, well-written (not too many typos), intriguing and imaginative.

A great character-led episode.

Recommended.

[Sharon Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book

I think this is my third or fourth time reading this one. I love how the story starts, everything that happens during the course of his life, his Marie, the decisions he makes. How extraordinary is his life!

[Sue Maynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written story that felt that it was being narrated. The main character spoke simply and clearly about his life and it was fascinating. Definitely an author to follow.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, this book is well written. The main character simply tells his story which is interesting to say the least. I enjoyed it very much and plan to delve into more of this authors imagination.

[Carole Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting, but not my type of book.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the best cure for insomnia that I have tried to read in a long time. BORING!
Did not finish.

[Kaila Karg · Rating 4 out of 5]

spooky and mysterious.. interesting and curious.. it was well written and a good story. it kept me on my toes and kept me interested. i enjoyed it

[Rich Padzik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for my wife

A great story, something different. Keeps you guessing. You feel for the main chacter of the book, I just wish it had a different ending

[Doskoi_panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Chasing Spirits (Diary of the Displaced #2), Reg Weldon, a very old man in a nursing home, recounts his eventful and peculiar life story on a Dictaphone, beginning from an early orphaned childhood of foster homes (and worse), and continuing on to describe life as a street urchin, being illegally drafted onto the front lines of World War I, a vanishing, starting over in post-war London, being part of a landing party during World War II, and so on. During his adventures, he experiences several inexplicable moments involving monsters and madness, extreme cruelty and kindness; strange creatures and beings that cross his path at various times throughout his life. This is a novella that has ties to the world in Diary of the Displaced, but is not a straightforward continuation of that story. It also acts as a bridge to the next part, Last to Fall, utilising a sort of elliptical storytelling, as some of the questions from Diary of the Displaced gradually begin to get answered.

Reg's world is basically our own (taking into account the passage of time) and his landscape is less alien than that of the dark realm in the preceding volume, making it easier to follow and relate to his story. Reg is less confused and disoriented than the narrator in Diary which allows the author more freedom to improve his writing, and also allows for more character interaction. There are nice touches of historical details - the weather in 1908, or the likely items available to soldiers during World War I, for example (though I question the walk by the canal, given what I know of city waterways and plumbing.)

On the downside, Reg presents himself as more willing to reveal things about people other than himself, which is peculiar in this autobiographical tale. Reg does say at the beginning it's meant to be about the weird things he'd seen/experienced, but it feels like a cop out. Unexplained weirdness (e.g., appearances of strange beings/creatures, Marie's mystery, importance of the knife) feel like tease events and are unresolved. While frustratingly vague on the points above, other things have a lot of space devoted to them (e.g., the game with the kids early on),that feels out of balance with the rest. Minor editing is needed to clarify the early villains - their names appear to be interchangeable in places. More development is needed to flesh out relationships, especially Marie (it would be good to know more about her - she has no voice in this) and Joe, who has a voice but feels very much a surface character (until the next installment.)

Overall rating: 4 stars

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reginald Weldon is 102 an in the Angel ward in a section of the hospital where people go to die. He has decided to start recording the evens in his life. It starts with him loosing his parents at an early age and being bounced around between different relatives. Because Reginald was such an angry child, he didn’t stay long at each relative. But he found a home which doesn’t last long when he is a witness to the murder of his uncle. The murderers capture him and try to sell him into the slave trade in early 1900’s England.

Reginald manages to escape and live off the street for a while. He then gets caught stealing and sent to prison. But since it is during World War I, he is selected to be shipped off to the war even though he is only 15. At war he experienced a paranormal event, is wounded, and then gets send to help out in a hospital area until another odd event takes place. While there, Reginald makes a friend and they return to England to start up a cigar store and bar. But Reginald and his friend find women that catch their attention and slowly start to drift apart. But when Regional’s wife disappears, things go down the pot.

I really liked this story. I enjoyed how Reginald managed to survive when everything was always stacked against him. Even when he is shipped away to the war, he managed to squeak by. Then he meets his wife and everything revolves around her. The thing that bothered me is that the story had such great flow. Then it gets to his wife and starts stuttering until it ends with a feeling of incompleteness. Now, there could be another story linked to this. If that is the case, I feel that would be a great way to end the story. If not, then it leaves everything hanging in midair and feeling uncompleted.

Beyond that, this was a really good story. I recommend it to anyone. You have the older guy recounting his life but odd paranormal occurrences that keep you on your toes. I don’t this you will be disappointed in this story.

I received this book for free from the Library Thing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

[Shawn Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reginald Weldon didn't have the best childhood, but he got through it. He was too young to fight in World War I, but he did. And most people would not find the love of their childhood again as an adult, but Reg did. Then he married her. Then she disappeared. Then Reg spent the rest of his life wondering what happened to her.

This is the second book in the Diary of the Displaced series. While the first book was very reminiscent of The Gunslinger, Chasing Spirits was far more cerebral in nature. There was no fighting zombies, no giant slugs, and the action - although some was very... odd, all took place in this world. Or, at least the action we saw did. The story was engaging, but the supernatural took a back seat in this series installment. Although the major conflicts were triggered by supernatural events, the supernatural events were not the focus. The author did this very skillfully, and at only one point (the post-battle scene in World War I) did I feel as though a thread was left dangling. There are further books in the series, though. I'm hoping that it is pursued as I read on.

The character of Reg was very well fleshed out, and the events in his life flowed easily. At no point was I left wondering, "How on EARTH did he get THERE?" I was also very impressed with the portrayals of post WWI Britain. The author painted the scenery as a picture without being overly wordy and distracting. This is something I particularly appreciate, as someone who has married into a Russian family with a bent for the literary - overly wordy and flowery descriptions (generally of hope-sucking bleak scenery and situations) are a dime a dozen around my house.

[Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUTHOR: Glynn James is a writer of Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery & Thrillers. Let me tell you why I like his writing. Oooppps you blinked. You're reading along. So you think you have the hang of the story? He throws in the unexpected. Both intriguing and fascinating. It's the don't blinking parts that make the plot think'n .... sooo, don't blink.

SYNOPSIS – This book is written in first person as per diary of the life of Reginald aka Reg. His mother died. He never really knew his father. He went from house to house UNTIL he ended up on the streets as a impoverished child. Centered around Reginald's "normal" life, he is a witness to the paranormal; a man that looks human but is not human; an object moving underwater at a high speed, teleportation, l'amour and war. Now READ!!!! Well worth it.


(4 out of 5) Stars. Elements of a Science Fiction Book TEST =
Other worldly............................................NO; events take place on earth but otherworldly is spoken of within the events.
Characters easily identifiable...........................YES;
Adventure................................................YES;
Peril................................................... YES;
Plot easy to comprehend..................................YES.


FAVORITE PART: Having a talk with Andre.

LEAST FAVORITE PART: Could not figure out Breaker's Alley.

YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Adventure

[Mirrani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who hasn't, at one point in time, wanted to sit and listen to an older relative telling the story of their lives? War tales are iconic in a way, and that is just what this book brings to mind, memories of listening to my family members talk about the war. The story goes beyond war, though, it tells the life of a man who has suffered an unusual loss and in the telling of his story we discover snips of the world in the previous book in the series.

Though there seemed to be more than a few editorial mistakes through the book, the story was good, well rounded and heartwarming. I was left with the feeling that I have missed something between this book and Diary of the Displaced, which comes before it, and am slightly disappointed that the order seemed somewhat out of place. It is a good story to stand on its own, however, meaning that there is really not an order of one that must follow another. I look forward to reading more about this world, so that my curiosity can be satisfied.

Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.

[Quentin Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my introduction to the series, "Diary of the Displaced" and I enjoyed the story thoroughly. It is the story of Reginald Weldon's life as he dictates his life story from his death bed. He has lived for 100 years, been involved in two wars, and a witness to some criminal behavior. In the process he has come into contact with the spirit world and the story revolves around those times in his life that he was closest to the spirit world. I believe that he gives and very good overview of what life was like in the England of Reginald's life. It is the view of the underside of society as Reginald grew up and then moved through his life between the World Wars.

I will be looking for the first and third of this series to read and also other works by Glynn James. I believe when we all get to the end of our lives we will be thinking back to the ones that we came in contact with and wonder where they went or what are they doing as we come to an end. Maybe we too will have stories of fantastic things that we saw or that occurred to as Reginald did. Very good read.

[Bill Thibadeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had just finished Deary of the Displaced immediately before reading Chasing spirits which is subtitled Diary of the Displaced #2. There was not a whole lot to correlate the two stories and the areas that were referenced in both titles were only a matter of mention. Nothing was done to flesh them out. A lost opportunity perhaps?

I am not a stalwart fan of the dark supernatural fantasy genre. Even so, I preferred the first diary of the Displaced over this title. I felt the first book had more plot twists and interest.

The author has a strong knack of good story telling. I do find the lack of editing a bit wearisome. It is almost as if he is rushing the product out the door. It is also possible that the British vernacular is a cause of the apparent poor editing.

I will be reading his third book starting today now that I have finished the first two. I am looking forward to the third book and hope he writes more.

[Kathryn Merkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing Spirits is the second book in a series by Glynn James, the first is Diary of the Displaced. This book takes us through the life of a man, Reginald (Reg) Weldon, who after living just over 100 years, dictates his memories while lying in a hospital bed. During his long life, Reg experiences many highs & lows, as well as numerous supernatural encounters. The most devastating of his loses is the disappearance of his wife, from which he never really recovers.

Through Reg’s narrative, we learn a bit more about the world James navigated in book one, although many old questions are left unanswered & more new questions arise. This book is less a continuation of the first book, but more a rest stop between Diary & book three, The Last To Fall. Chasing Spirits could easily be read alone, but does give another viewpoint of events in both the other books, which enhances the experience of reading the set.

[David Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this is more of a companion-book to the Diary of the Displaced books, which were completely brilliant, than it's own, stand-alone thing. I read this after reading Diary of the Displaced 1-3, and was let down. It's only mildly interesting, because not much actually happens. The real interest comes in seeing where this book intersects the plot lines of the Diary of the Displaced books, with both characters and particular settings. It does explain a few things I'd been wondering about.

I would actually recommend reading this, and the other book in set in this same world, The Last to Fall, before reading the Diary of the Displaced books. Then you'd be coming across little scenes and people from this book and saying "Hey, I know what that is!" or "Oh, that's this guy!"

Worth reading, but really only to either set you up, or help you come down from, the Diary of the Displaced books.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to get to the next book in the Diary series. I was surprised when the character wasn't the same as the first book. But that's my fault for not reading the book cover. It's says right on it that it's Reggie Weldon's memoirs!

The book was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Reggie and his life. I will say that I expected a deeper connection with the first book. I didn't start to see that until the end. But that didn't really bother me. I was just looking to see how the second book related to the first. Maybe more will be revealed in future books.

This is a great book for anyone looking for weird fiction or spooky stuff. It also passes as historical fiction, at least in that that the turn of the century settings were vividly portrayed. I'm looking forward to reading the next entry in the series.

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and haunting story brilliantly written.
Riveting. Both life affirming and depressing in parts but my, what a gifted writer. From the London slums of the early nineteen hundreds to the muddy, stinking mire that was the trench of WWI. Can smell the homeless in their squalor, hear the whine of shells, the shrieks of the dying and also see the young fifteen year old Reg caught up in the midst of it all.
And then there's the strangeness of the 'others', whatever non-human entities they may indeed be, who make their appearance throughout Reg's story.
Impossible to stop reading until I reached the last sentence and now I really need to read more in this series. And whatever else this author has written.
A very unusual read.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I liked the writing style- it was cohesive and easy to read. The characters were likable and had depth. But the story itself seemed to be missing something. The main character is narrating different stories from his life, and they are pretty interesting life stories. However, I kept waiting for his anecdotes to all tie together somehow or for there to be some big "reveal" in the story arc. I finished the book wondering if this was perhaps a book about a character from a different book; that we were being given inside glimpses to a mysterious life and answers that had only been alluded to in previous plotlines.

[Georgeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard book for me to review. I absolutely LOVED the tie-ins to the Corridor and Glynn's writing style is so comfortable, I fell right into the story. The bizarre, unexplainable things Reg has witnessed in his lifetime come through loud and clear. The only downside for me was that I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor guy. I kept wishing for his life to take an upswing, not just in his finances, but for him to be a happy person. But, perhaps that's a personal failing of mine, and not anything to do with the story. Thank you for sharing with us, Glynn.

[J.H. Sked · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book for me was the most subtle of the three I've just read in terms of strange events/paranormal, but I found it heartbreaking. The tale of a man's life, and the regrets he has for what he missed were extremely poignant. There's a lot going on in this book that I can't describe for fear of spoilers, but I loved the tie-in references to the other Displaced books I've read - something about that just feeds my inner geek - but of all the characters Glynn James has written this one really resonated for me. I think Reg Weldon will haunt me for a little while.

[C.V. Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The protagonist takes us on a journey of an ordinary life filled with unusual and unexplainable events.

The writer does a wonderful job. This is the second book that I have read by Glynn James, and I am reading another of his work now. He has great way of telling stories in a diary type fashion that sucks you in.

I highly recommend his books to people that love the first person POV like I do, and for those that are looking for a different kind of read.