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Ghost Detective
The compliance officer for a First Nations band has been shot in the head and left for dead. Unable to cross over to the great hunting grounds, Billy Ghostkeeper must stay and discover who murdered him and why.
Through strange, funny, and sometimes harrowing adventures, Billy and his gang of “detectives” discover there could be three reasons why he was killed. It could be that the culprit is a dangerous person or group willing to do anything or sacrifice anyone in order to keep control of the band's natural resources.
Through strange, funny, and sometimes harrowing adventures, Billy and his gang of “detectives” discover there could be three reasons why he was killed. It could be that the culprit is a dangerous person or group willing to do anything or sacrifice anyone in order to keep control of the band's natural resources.
Audible Audio
First published October 4, 2012
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 7, 2020
I enjoyed this quick read and found it fairly interesting throughout. 7 of 10 stars
October 28, 2020
This is a gem of a mystery, but heads up that it seems to only be available in audiobook in the U.S. However, that is the format I would highly recommend it in.
It starts with a bear and a crow having a discussion/argument that ends with the bear sending the crow to a man, Billy. We then meet Billy as he thinks he’s waking from a terrible night of falling off the wagon because it is the only thing that would explain his strange state and his inability to remember the previous night. But in fact the crow is his spirit guide because Billy has been murdered. I know!
Billy has to figure out why he’s stuck from moving on and who murdered him. Enter his cousin Dale who makes Billy figure out a way to talk to him through his Bluetooth, and his aunt Tina who sees and talks to spirits. We get taken into life on an unnamed reservation where many of the threats to Native Americans can be behind Billy’s death including an oil company and a gang. Will Billy–with help from the crow, his cousin, and aunt–be able to figure out who murdered him and more importantly find the forgiveness needed to pass on?
The Ghost Detective is a quick read packed with humor and heart that reminds readers of the voices missing in the crime genre. It also opens the door for it to become a series and yes, please.
(TW alcoholism/ brief child abuse/ mentions song about rape, no detail/ fat shaming/ past child cancer deaths, not graphic)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
It starts with a bear and a crow having a discussion/argument that ends with the bear sending the crow to a man, Billy. We then meet Billy as he thinks he’s waking from a terrible night of falling off the wagon because it is the only thing that would explain his strange state and his inability to remember the previous night. But in fact the crow is his spirit guide because Billy has been murdered. I know!
Billy has to figure out why he’s stuck from moving on and who murdered him. Enter his cousin Dale who makes Billy figure out a way to talk to him through his Bluetooth, and his aunt Tina who sees and talks to spirits. We get taken into life on an unnamed reservation where many of the threats to Native Americans can be behind Billy’s death including an oil company and a gang. Will Billy–with help from the crow, his cousin, and aunt–be able to figure out who murdered him and more importantly find the forgiveness needed to pass on?
The Ghost Detective is a quick read packed with humor and heart that reminds readers of the voices missing in the crime genre. It also opens the door for it to become a series and yes, please.
(TW alcoholism/ brief child abuse/ mentions song about rape, no detail/ fat shaming/ past child cancer deaths, not graphic)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
February 21, 2024
I found this book on CLoudLibrary when looking for short books to listen to. I didn't want anything I had to actually think about while reading it.
While I ended up having to think about things because I have a brain that just can't stop thinking about things, this book was actually good. When I usually read these sorts of books - mysterious death, etc I get bored rather quickly. It has enough of the spirit world to entice me & so it did. Also having a crow in it helped a lot. I have a love for crows. I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much as I did if it wasn't an audiobook. Doug Holdham just made the story come alive for me.
While I ended up having to think about things because I have a brain that just can't stop thinking about things, this book was actually good. When I usually read these sorts of books - mysterious death, etc I get bored rather quickly. It has enough of the spirit world to entice me & so it did. Also having a crow in it helped a lot. I have a love for crows. I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much as I did if it wasn't an audiobook. Doug Holdham just made the story come alive for me.
February 4, 2020
Setting: Alberta, Canada
Genre: Mystery, ghost story, folklore
Billy Ghostkeeper, assistant to the Compliance Officer for his First Nations band, wakes with a horrible hangover, thinking that his fall off the wagon of 13 years of sobriety must have been epic, because he can’t remember a thing. Then he notices his surroundings — a ravine in a park where people are known to party, with a talking crow. Oh, and his own corpse. No, he didn’t fall off the wagon, the massive headache he is feeling was caused by a bullet to the brain.
The Crow informs him, in a very irritating manner, that he is Billy’s Spirit Guide, and that he, Billy, must discover who murdered him and why before he can move on to the great hunting grounds. So with the help of his younger cousin Dale (an IT guy and gangsta wannabe who lives in the city), their Auntie Keena (village elder and healer), and Crow, Billy looks for answers. He must also learn to ghost as he goes, to accept that he is dead and no longer subject to the physical world.
The plot of this book, while not unique, is well-developed and kept my interest. The characters are three-dimensional, and I found myself liking and sympathizing with them. And I laughed out loud at much of the dialogue and situations.
This book is a basic cozy mystery with the twist of non-Western cultural perspective and folklore. It is also humorous and violent. But beneath that, it highlights an important issue for many of us. How do we answer the question; what do we give up, who do we become, when we accept “that’s just the way it is” when we see injustice?
This audiobook was originally recorded for the blind. The narration by Doug Holdham was excellent as he caught the personalities of the characters well, and differentiated between them with pitch and tempo.
Genre: Mystery, ghost story, folklore
Billy Ghostkeeper, assistant to the Compliance Officer for his First Nations band, wakes with a horrible hangover, thinking that his fall off the wagon of 13 years of sobriety must have been epic, because he can’t remember a thing. Then he notices his surroundings — a ravine in a park where people are known to party, with a talking crow. Oh, and his own corpse. No, he didn’t fall off the wagon, the massive headache he is feeling was caused by a bullet to the brain.
The Crow informs him, in a very irritating manner, that he is Billy’s Spirit Guide, and that he, Billy, must discover who murdered him and why before he can move on to the great hunting grounds. So with the help of his younger cousin Dale (an IT guy and gangsta wannabe who lives in the city), their Auntie Keena (village elder and healer), and Crow, Billy looks for answers. He must also learn to ghost as he goes, to accept that he is dead and no longer subject to the physical world.
The plot of this book, while not unique, is well-developed and kept my interest. The characters are three-dimensional, and I found myself liking and sympathizing with them. And I laughed out loud at much of the dialogue and situations.
This book is a basic cozy mystery with the twist of non-Western cultural perspective and folklore. It is also humorous and violent. But beneath that, it highlights an important issue for many of us. How do we answer the question; what do we give up, who do we become, when we accept “that’s just the way it is” when we see injustice?
This audiobook was originally recorded for the blind. The narration by Doug Holdham was excellent as he caught the personalities of the characters well, and differentiated between them with pitch and tempo.
December 19, 2012
Ghost Detective is a murder mystery about Billy Ghostkeeper; he is the victim and the primary investigator, who convinces his younger cousin Dale to help him find his killer. Billy can't move on to the Happy Hunting Grounds until he somehow rights the wrongs he commited in life. It's a humorous and thought provoking story. Are YOU guilty of sins of inaction?
December 19, 2020
I just listened to this, and I enjoyed every second of it. My first truly 5 star book of the year. The writing style was right up my alley, as was the dry humor. I liked how the author approached the spiritual elements like it was totally mundane.
Yeah, no, I liked everything about it and I'm glad I found it.
Yeah, no, I liked everything about it and I'm glad I found it.
November 6, 2020
Crow and Bear are talking. Bear wants Crow to do him a favor. Crow owes Bear a favor so he's obligated to help. Crow is called to help Billy who needs to pass over.
Billy and Crow go to his Aunt's house. His Aunt is a Shaman, or what would have been called a Shaman. Billy needs her to get the help he needs.
I enjoyed this story better than I thought it was going to considering I don't like ebooks. But again, this had limited characters and voices so I think that helped. I still would like to try this again with a print book. I recently read Hollow Kingdom and I couldn't help draw comparisons between the animal characters I the two books. I couldn't help think that this, while the ending is questionable was more hopeful.
Really hoping this is going to be a series.
Billy and Crow go to his Aunt's house. His Aunt is a Shaman, or what would have been called a Shaman. Billy needs her to get the help he needs.
I enjoyed this story better than I thought it was going to considering I don't like ebooks. But again, this had limited characters and voices so I think that helped. I still would like to try this again with a print book. I recently read Hollow Kingdom and I couldn't help draw comparisons between the animal characters I the two books. I couldn't help think that this, while the ending is questionable was more hopeful.
Really hoping this is going to be a series.
October 20, 2023
An exceptional whodunit full of subtle humour and depth. The plot is fast-moving but the characters and setting keep it grounded. Philosophical questions are subtly sprinkled throughout and only add to the story without being distracting. The writer offers much more than just a humour/murder mystery. The narration for the audiobook is exceptional (may be available via the Libby library app in some areas).
May 5, 2021
this book sucked, I had to read it for an English project and I was barely able to finish it due to the fact that I didn't even want to read it. all of the issues are presented right away and there is honestly nothing good to say about it other than the fact that the main idea of the story was good but there was a lot of room for improvement throughout the plot and climax
November 13, 2020
* Read for the '2020 Fictionophile Bookbloggers Fiction Reading Challenge' task: Title contains an occupation
February 10, 2021
This book smells like penis
November 20, 2021
Really intriguing. Really good detective story, featuring a dead Native American. Looks at ecological issues.
October 21, 2014
The story its self was quite interesting. Once I started reading I couldn`t put this book down.
I like the way the author moved between the spiritual world and the physical world.
At some points in the story it did get a little confusing.
I didn`t like any of the characters they were hard to relate to.
It made some good points about how society treats certain people its not right and its not fair. Not just society but corporations.
It made me sick.
If you enjoy native mythology then you will like this book.
I like the way the author moved between the spiritual world and the physical world.
At some points in the story it did get a little confusing.
I didn`t like any of the characters they were hard to relate to.
It made some good points about how society treats certain people its not right and its not fair. Not just society but corporations.
It made me sick.
If you enjoy native mythology then you will like this book.
November 14, 2014
I love reading Canadian authors. I found this book at a discount store and it stood out to me because it appeared at first glance to be a part of the 'Ghost Stories' series I collect. The story was a quick read and well written.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews