Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern: A Mary O'Reilly Short Story

Mary O’Reilly

by Terri Reid

The lights are out, the jack-o-lantern is lit and the O’Reilly clan is enjoying their family tradition of sharing ghost stories on Halloween night. Set ten years before Mary moves to Freeport, this novelette offers five unique ghost stories that will leave you checking over your shoulder just to make sure no one “uninvited” is in the room with you. Happy Halloween!

Genres: Paranormal, Short Stories, Mystery, Fiction, Ghosts, Fantasy

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Terri Reid is the author of the Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mysteries. An indie author, Reid uploaded her first book “Loose Ends” in August 2010. By the end of 2012, “Loose Ends” had sold over 82,000 copies and, as of the writing of this bio, was the number one bestselling book in Amazon’s ranking of Ghost Stories in the Book/Literature & Fiction/Genre Fiction/Horror/Ghosts section and the number two in the same area in the Kindle eBooks section. She has eight other books in the Mary O’Reilly Series and has enjoyed Top Rated and Hot New Release status for many of them in the Women Sleuths category through Amazon US. Her books have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese and are also now available through CreateSpace and Amazon in print versions. She is also working on an audiobook for “Loose Ends.”
Reid has been quoted in several books about the self-publishing industry, including “Let’s Get Digital” by David Gaughran and “Interviews with Indie Authors: Top Tips from Successful Self-Published Authors” by Claire and Tim Ridgway. She was also honored to have some of her works included in A. J. Abbiati’s book “The NORTAV Method for Writers—The Secrets to Constructing Prose Like the Pros.” She has also had the distinct privilege of guest blogging for Joe Konrath.
Reid is from Northwest Illinois, near the town of Freeport, the home of her fictional characters. Her background is in marketing and public relations. She is married, the mother of seven children, and the grandmother of twenty-three.
She has her grandchildren convinced that she talks to fairies and animals - and they talk back.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost stories

This was a cute quick read with some mystery. After all the candy is given out for the night. Mary and her family sit down, each take turns telling their ghost stories in candlelight.

[~Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this quick easy book .... and best of all it's ghost stories! What more could a girl want at Halloween! I'm going to look for more by this author!!

[Patricia Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting to know that the whole O'Reilly clan can see and talk to ghosts. I liked this one.

[KyBunnies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story needs to be a .25 and not between books 14 and 15.

[Donna Lubanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, fun read

Liked the idea of a family tradition of sitting together to tell ghost stories. This sharing showed the depth of caring and support of their family unit.

[Anwnh5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun Halloween Stories

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky

I love a good ghost story. This proves you don't have to be gory to be scary. I got chills.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

The perfect read with Halloween creeping up. Can’t wait to read the others. I love a good ghost story and Ms. Reid is the best at telling them.

[Theresa Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read!

I love Terri Reid and her amazing ghost stories. Always fun with a twist and unforgettable characters. Please keep then coming!

[s.elle.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat!

This was an interesting ghostly short story with a Halloween theme if that is the kind of book you enjoy!

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little Halloween read if you are already a fan of the Mary O-Reilly series. This book is set before the series--Mary has just joined the Chicago police force and before her shooting and her ability to see ghosts on a regular basis. The O'Reilly family spends Halloween night telling ghost stories--none are particularly scary but for 99 cents, it was a sweet holiday treat.

[Bun Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't day enough how much I love the Mary O'Reilly series! This short was no exception. I love the fact that it takes place before Mary was shot and that all of the family including Mary had experiences with ghosts before Mary could actually see them. All of thr ghost stories were great but the one with the twins was most touching I think.

[Roxie Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay!

There are few things I love more than a good ghost story, so I especially enjoyed this. It also helped me to better understand why Mary's family was able to so easily accept her ability to see/communicate with spirits after her shooting. It's hard to choose, but my favorite story would probably have to be Margaret's.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have not read this series, I could not resist a timely Halloween tale.

This is a short story, but not short on humor or scary!

The O'Reilly family sit around on Halloween evening and tell ghost stories. Did they really happen? Did they really see ghosts? Read and find out. :-)

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

I love a good ghost story and here i got five.

Each story was told by a different person on halloween night. They are good stories full of hope.

I highly recommend this short story for anybody that loves a good story.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Halloween stories

I really enjoyed the spooky stories! Good book to read around Halloween. And Terri Reid is such a great storyteller!

[Matthew Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great but too soon over book

Awesome as always. I absolutely love my Mary O'Reilly books and CAN NOT get enough. Hopefully next one will be out SOON!

[Jo Ann Reinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Terri Reid, thank you for a quick fun read! Love Mary and her family and a good ghost story for Halloween!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, I loved these ghost stories!!

[Jessica Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Stephanie Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terri Reid is one of my favorite authors! I love the Mary O'Reilly Series!!

[Diane Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Mary O'Reilly series and this was a fun read about the family.

[Jenny Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read. Tales the O'Reilly's have regarding their experiences with ghosts. Good for the Halloween season!

[Paula Bilbrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the insight to the O'Reilly family!

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ghost stories around the jack o'lantern.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for Halloween

I've read several books in the Mary O'Reilly series. All have been very good. Truly enjoyed this collection of short stories.

[Little Red Readinghood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween ghost stories. Not too scary.

[Suzi Creme Cheeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous ghost stories.

Perfect for Halloween!! Terri does a great job once again!!! Would be great to share these stories on Halloween night!

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Really a short story. Entertaining read for Halloween time