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The Ghost Detectives
Can a ghost solve his own murder? Charlie is dead, but he doesn't understand what's happened. He thinks he may have been murdered. Together with another ghost, Lizzie, they set out to investigate his death. As ghosts there are only two things that they can do that can affect alive people. They can change the temperature, and they can blow gusts of cold wind. But being ghosts, they are able to go where they want without search warrants and listen in to conversations without people knowing that they are there. Using just these, will they be able to find out what really happened, and if they do, will they be able to guide the police to the murderer? Things are complicated by an evil ghost that seems to be also interested in Charlie's death.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 16, 2026
4.25 stars for me.
Charlie wakes up after a party as a ghost.He's dead in his spare room,and he's convinced it was a murder.Lizzy is a ghost who will help him to solve his murder and steer detectives in a right direction.Learning how to be a ghost,uncovering some betrayals and grieving his life cut shorter then he would like Charlie have some tough job to do.Lizzy and some other ghost may be just the help he needs.
Who wanted Charlie dead?
His wife?His buisness partner or one of his friends?
It was an engrossing paranormal mystery,time goes by and I could not put it down.Charlie was such a likable character,his prudish ways were fun to read about.Lizzy compliment Charlie perfectly,her naughty ways had Charlie blushing,but after a while he starts enjoying her company,and both form a really good friendship with a lot of trust.Other characters,especially the living ones were really complex,I really feel for Charlie when he uncovers some hard betrayals.I liked Charlie even more with his acceptance of everything,and even then he was still genuinely nice guy,I don't think I would be so forgiving as a ghost.That's why it was hard for me to figure it out,such a nice person,who would wanted to hurt him?The mystery itself had me realy working at who's the killer,I could not make up my mind,and it was a surprise.All get wrapped up very nicely with a hint of another case in the future.My first book by this author and hope to read more,it was a fun read and I din't expected to like it so much.
If you enjoying cozy paranormal mystery with some amusing situation I would definitely recommend this one.
I got my copy from Amazon while it was free,my review is honest and my own.
Charlie wakes up after a party as a ghost.He's dead in his spare room,and he's convinced it was a murder.Lizzy is a ghost who will help him to solve his murder and steer detectives in a right direction.Learning how to be a ghost,uncovering some betrayals and grieving his life cut shorter then he would like Charlie have some tough job to do.Lizzy and some other ghost may be just the help he needs.
Who wanted Charlie dead?
His wife?His buisness partner or one of his friends?
It was an engrossing paranormal mystery,time goes by and I could not put it down.Charlie was such a likable character,his prudish ways were fun to read about.Lizzy compliment Charlie perfectly,her naughty ways had Charlie blushing,but after a while he starts enjoying her company,and both form a really good friendship with a lot of trust.Other characters,especially the living ones were really complex,I really feel for Charlie when he uncovers some hard betrayals.I liked Charlie even more with his acceptance of everything,and even then he was still genuinely nice guy,I don't think I would be so forgiving as a ghost.That's why it was hard for me to figure it out,such a nice person,who would wanted to hurt him?The mystery itself had me realy working at who's the killer,I could not make up my mind,and it was a surprise.All get wrapped up very nicely with a hint of another case in the future.My first book by this author and hope to read more,it was a fun read and I din't expected to like it so much.
If you enjoying cozy paranormal mystery with some amusing situation I would definitely recommend this one.
I got my copy from Amazon while it was free,my review is honest and my own.
April 11, 2026
4/5⭐️ stable book
Was the mystery heart-wrenching and stilling? No. But was it going for that? Also no. So in my book, that’s a success.
The story revolves about an ordinary guy, literally “just a dude”, named Charles that suddenly realises that he’s looking at his body, instead of from his body. He starts trying to rearrange the pieces of his latest memories and it slowly dawns on him that he has, unfortunately and mysteriously, died!
However, he is standing, floating above his lying body, actually, inside of a locked room, that no one outside of him has access to, so how has he died with no visible outside interference? Was he secretly suicidal? No… then how come is he not waking up?
Just as he’s pondering these heavy questions he meets Lizzie. Lizzie is a fun, light-hearted, curious, a little flirty 😉, friendly ghost, that seems entirely too interested into u ravelling the mystery of the death of Charlie.
Together they try to figure out what dominoes had to fall so that Charlie could end up a little see-through and a lot more float-y than before. They are forced to deal with heavier topics such as affairs, intimacy, sense of self and great questions like “what parts of you are you and what are just a product of your upbringing and circumstance?
There are also, per usual for any good mystery, bad guys (ghosts) tangled motives and a lot of decisions that weave together to show the intricate connections between people.
Overall I really enjoyed the book, the only downside that I see is that there was a slightly awkward air around the flirty remarks between the two main characters, and also the narration was a little wonky for my taste, but I concede that’s on me for choosing to listen to it, rather than read the book.
I’d definitely come back to this book at a later date to physically read it as I think I’ll definitely enjoy it more then. I think I’ll reread it in autumn though, it feels like a good season to read a cozy mystery like this one.
Was the mystery heart-wrenching and stilling? No. But was it going for that? Also no. So in my book, that’s a success.
The story revolves about an ordinary guy, literally “just a dude”, named Charles that suddenly realises that he’s looking at his body, instead of from his body. He starts trying to rearrange the pieces of his latest memories and it slowly dawns on him that he has, unfortunately and mysteriously, died!
However, he is standing, floating above his lying body, actually, inside of a locked room, that no one outside of him has access to, so how has he died with no visible outside interference? Was he secretly suicidal? No… then how come is he not waking up?
Just as he’s pondering these heavy questions he meets Lizzie. Lizzie is a fun, light-hearted, curious, a little flirty 😉, friendly ghost, that seems entirely too interested into u ravelling the mystery of the death of Charlie.
Together they try to figure out what dominoes had to fall so that Charlie could end up a little see-through and a lot more float-y than before. They are forced to deal with heavier topics such as affairs, intimacy, sense of self and great questions like “what parts of you are you and what are just a product of your upbringing and circumstance?
There are also, per usual for any good mystery, bad guys (ghosts) tangled motives and a lot of decisions that weave together to show the intricate connections between people.
Overall I really enjoyed the book, the only downside that I see is that there was a slightly awkward air around the flirty remarks between the two main characters, and also the narration was a little wonky for my taste, but I concede that’s on me for choosing to listen to it, rather than read the book.
I’d definitely come back to this book at a later date to physically read it as I think I’ll definitely enjoy it more then. I think I’ll reread it in autumn though, it feels like a good season to read a cozy mystery like this one.
March 17, 2026
Thank you to Online Book Club and Charles Townsend for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend is an entertaining and mysterious page-turner, offering a delightful twist on the classic murder mystery. Charlie has just found himself dead and is quite convinced that his demise is a result of foul play, so he embarks on a fun and occasionally dangerous journey with fellow-ghost Lizzie who introduces him to the world of ghosts and his new supernatural existence. The premise of this book is very unique, as we do not often get a chance to see the "victim" of the story also being the hero. Nonetheless, I did feel like at the end of the day the book did not live up to its full potential.
But let's start with the best parts. It was undoubtedly a very fun and light-hearted read, easily finished in one sitting since it is quite fast-paced. I personally listened to the audiobook, so even though I cannot account for any misspellings or typos in the text, I can definitely say the voice actors did a lovely job holding the listeners' interest and bringing the characters to life. The story itself had some very interesting elements, such as the creative use of the ghosts' powers and classical conditioning. Seeing Charlie adopt to his new life while at the same time everything he knows seems to fall apart is one of the main things that kept me intrigued.
Unfortunately, this is also where the story started to disappoint me. I felt that for a man who just died (possibly murdered) he never took a moment to come to terms with the fact, nor did he experience any particular feelings about it. He just seemed to pretty much just immediately accept it and jump straight into detective mode. As for Lizzie, a clearly comedic addition to the story, I found her unnecessarily sex-driven, in a way that stopped being funny very early on. When it comes to the rest of the characters, they felt more like plot devices to help move the story forward than actual fleshed out characters, a fact that made the plot twists quite predictable and lessened the suspense. There were plenty of points in the story where I thought that the author was telling me what to feel instead of take me through the story and allow me to make my own conclusions.
Overall, I truly believe that the author's idea is very unique and creative and I would love to see how he continues with this series. What brought down the rating for me was how superficial the story felt, perhaps since the book was fairly short as well. If the author had taken more time to explore the characters and deepen our connection to them, instead of simply just telling us how to feel about them, the story could have easily been a 4 - 4.5 star read.
The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend is an entertaining and mysterious page-turner, offering a delightful twist on the classic murder mystery. Charlie has just found himself dead and is quite convinced that his demise is a result of foul play, so he embarks on a fun and occasionally dangerous journey with fellow-ghost Lizzie who introduces him to the world of ghosts and his new supernatural existence. The premise of this book is very unique, as we do not often get a chance to see the "victim" of the story also being the hero. Nonetheless, I did feel like at the end of the day the book did not live up to its full potential.
But let's start with the best parts. It was undoubtedly a very fun and light-hearted read, easily finished in one sitting since it is quite fast-paced. I personally listened to the audiobook, so even though I cannot account for any misspellings or typos in the text, I can definitely say the voice actors did a lovely job holding the listeners' interest and bringing the characters to life. The story itself had some very interesting elements, such as the creative use of the ghosts' powers and classical conditioning. Seeing Charlie adopt to his new life while at the same time everything he knows seems to fall apart is one of the main things that kept me intrigued.
Unfortunately, this is also where the story started to disappoint me. I felt that for a man who just died (possibly murdered) he never took a moment to come to terms with the fact, nor did he experience any particular feelings about it. He just seemed to pretty much just immediately accept it and jump straight into detective mode. As for Lizzie, a clearly comedic addition to the story, I found her unnecessarily sex-driven, in a way that stopped being funny very early on. When it comes to the rest of the characters, they felt more like plot devices to help move the story forward than actual fleshed out characters, a fact that made the plot twists quite predictable and lessened the suspense. There were plenty of points in the story where I thought that the author was telling me what to feel instead of take me through the story and allow me to make my own conclusions.
Overall, I truly believe that the author's idea is very unique and creative and I would love to see how he continues with this series. What brought down the rating for me was how superficial the story felt, perhaps since the book was fairly short as well. If the author had taken more time to explore the characters and deepen our connection to them, instead of simply just telling us how to feel about them, the story could have easily been a 4 - 4.5 star read.
April 7, 2026
I love the concept of a character being a ghost and solving their own murder or maybe why they are still wandering around but I think it’s good if the author makes it seem the character is alive or tricks you into thinking they are.
When it comes to the writing style it feels very juvenile but it’s easy to read and follow. There’s quite a lot of context missing at the beginning, for example Lizzie, she showed up and they just started working together, it was never mentioned why her or where she came from, not even what’s her connection to Charlie, which in my opinion feels like a plot hole. In the span of an hour he’s dead and working his homicide with an unknown ghost that happened to appear out of nowhere, it never went into detail about him processing or dealing with the fact that he is dead, leaving behind his kid, his friends and Fay which was supposed to be the woman he was spending his life with. The writing is also a bit repetitive, for example “I had to think and decide what should I do. The first thing I had to do, I decided […]”. Those two sentences are one after the other one, and they might be built like different sentences but they use the same words, making it feel the same. Also, every time one character referred to a different person with their name, they would list them and then add ‘that’s’; for example, ‘Alex, that’s Doctor Alex Enderby.’ , which made everything a bit repetitive.
Plot is interesting, characters are not very likeable, and I still can’t get the fact that everyone is sleeping with everyone and that the ghosts are, often, making sexual remarks or ‘jokes’. Things are still not very clear even though I am halfway through the book which is kind of annoying, a lot of the time was spent seeing Charlie trying to develop ghost abilities instead of actually solving his murder, which is the premise of the book. Yes, he is following the detectives and giving them little pushes but that’s about it. The writing is decent, still a bit repetitive but it can be overlooked at times, it just feels like you go over and over the same things. Now the murderer was a surprise, which raised my rating of the book.
The only thing that I can’t overlook is the sexual connotations in the interactions between Lizzie and Charlie and the few mentions of Fay’s breasts. I feel like that didn’t add anything to the scenes or the story and could have been left out. You can mention an affair without having to mention the character’s breasts while she is having sex with a man, specially since it wasn’t a full scene with importance to the story or the plot. He lost me when he talked about the FMC’s breasts, which to me as a reader and a woman felt totally unnecessary and irrelevant. Going with the comment about Fay’s breasts, we have Lizzie with the “picture me as your ideal woman”. Add to the fact that Lizzie wanted to have sex with him at the end of chapter 2, again, fully unnecessary to sexualize ghosts, it’s supposed to be a mystery and not a romance. I just can’t understand what is it with the thirst on Lizzie’s behalf? Why is she so sexual?
‘naturally sexy and seductive temptress, complete sex kitten’ was the quote that annoyed me the most, again we are talking about a ghost, he makes her sound too sexual and it stopped being funny after the first time.
When it comes to the writing style it feels very juvenile but it’s easy to read and follow. There’s quite a lot of context missing at the beginning, for example Lizzie, she showed up and they just started working together, it was never mentioned why her or where she came from, not even what’s her connection to Charlie, which in my opinion feels like a plot hole. In the span of an hour he’s dead and working his homicide with an unknown ghost that happened to appear out of nowhere, it never went into detail about him processing or dealing with the fact that he is dead, leaving behind his kid, his friends and Fay which was supposed to be the woman he was spending his life with. The writing is also a bit repetitive, for example “I had to think and decide what should I do. The first thing I had to do, I decided […]”. Those two sentences are one after the other one, and they might be built like different sentences but they use the same words, making it feel the same. Also, every time one character referred to a different person with their name, they would list them and then add ‘that’s’; for example, ‘Alex, that’s Doctor Alex Enderby.’ , which made everything a bit repetitive.
Plot is interesting, characters are not very likeable, and I still can’t get the fact that everyone is sleeping with everyone and that the ghosts are, often, making sexual remarks or ‘jokes’. Things are still not very clear even though I am halfway through the book which is kind of annoying, a lot of the time was spent seeing Charlie trying to develop ghost abilities instead of actually solving his murder, which is the premise of the book. Yes, he is following the detectives and giving them little pushes but that’s about it. The writing is decent, still a bit repetitive but it can be overlooked at times, it just feels like you go over and over the same things. Now the murderer was a surprise, which raised my rating of the book.
The only thing that I can’t overlook is the sexual connotations in the interactions between Lizzie and Charlie and the few mentions of Fay’s breasts. I feel like that didn’t add anything to the scenes or the story and could have been left out. You can mention an affair without having to mention the character’s breasts while she is having sex with a man, specially since it wasn’t a full scene with importance to the story or the plot. He lost me when he talked about the FMC’s breasts, which to me as a reader and a woman felt totally unnecessary and irrelevant. Going with the comment about Fay’s breasts, we have Lizzie with the “picture me as your ideal woman”. Add to the fact that Lizzie wanted to have sex with him at the end of chapter 2, again, fully unnecessary to sexualize ghosts, it’s supposed to be a mystery and not a romance. I just can’t understand what is it with the thirst on Lizzie’s behalf? Why is she so sexual?
‘naturally sexy and seductive temptress, complete sex kitten’ was the quote that annoyed me the most, again we are talking about a ghost, he makes her sound too sexual and it stopped being funny after the first time.
May 25, 2026
The Ghost Detectives had a premise that honestly could have worked really well for me: a man dies unexpectedly, becomes a ghost, and slowly learns how the afterlife and ghostly abilities work. There are moments where the book almost taps into something fun and comforting, especially during the scenes where they experiment with ghost powers. I could genuinely see this working better as a cozy paranormal movie or even a quick RPG-style game. But as a novel, it just didn’t have enough substance.
The biggest issue for me was the writing itself. The dialogue and scene descriptions felt extremely flat and emotionally detached, even during moments that should have carried weight. Characters move from one event to the next, but there’s very little emotional texture behind anything happening. It made the entire reading experience feel slow and oddly empty.
There’s also a noticeable inconsistency in the narration. The book is written in first person from Charles’ perspective, and while he naturally refers to his wife and friends with familiarity, when his son enters a scene he suddenly describes him like a complete stranger, focusing on things like his clothes and appearance as “a young man of about…” instead of as his son. It completely pulled me out of the story because it felt less like intentional narration and more like lazy characterization.
Lizzy was another major problem for me. Her hypersexual behavior felt excessive, immature, and honestly bizarre considering the circumstances. The man literally just died and openly talks about his wife, yet the story constantly pushes this “carefree sexy ghost girl” dynamic that never felt natural. The explanation that ghosts are supposedly “enhanced versions” of themselves didn’t make it better either, if anything, it just made the characterization feel more shallow.
The reveal near the end also didn’t help much. It was predictable and lacked impact, not because predictable twists are inherently bad, but because this one never developed enough depth to elevate itself beyond the obvious.
What frustrates me most is that the book is readable. It’s not offensively messy or poorly edited (I only noticed one typo), and the paranormal concept itself has potential. But the execution feels extremely underdeveloped. There simply isn’t enough story or emotional depth here to sustain a full novel.
✨ Overall ✨
The Ghost Detectives feels like a simple paranormal concept stretched far beyond what its plot and characters can support. While some ghost-related ideas were enjoyable, the flat writing, weak emotional engagement, and shallow characterization made this a difficult book to stay invested in.
April 21, 2026
Imaginative and suspenseful
Charles Townsend’s The Ghost Detectives is an absolute triumph of imagination, suspense, and atmospheric storytelling. From the very first page, Townsend pulls readers into a richly layered world where the boundary between the living and the dead feels tantalizingly thin. It’s the kind of book that demands to be devoured in long, uninterrupted stretches partly because it’s so gripping, and partly because putting it down feels like leaving a mystery unsolved.
What truly sets this novel apart is its masterful blend of genres. It’s not just a ghost story, it’s a clever detective tale infused with supernatural intrigue. Townsend balances eerie tension with sharp investigative logic, creating a narrative that feels both chilling and intellectually satisfying. The pacing is spot on; moments of quiet dread build seamlessly into shocking revelations, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, the story twists in a fresh and unexpected direction.
The characters are another standout element. The team of ghost detectives is vividly drawn, each with distinct personalities, motivations, and emotional depth. Their interactions feel authentic and engaging, adding warmth and even humor to what could otherwise be an overwhelmingly dark premise. You find yourself genuinely invested in their journey, not just in solving the mystery, but in their personal struggles and growth.
Townsend’s writing style deserves special praise. His prose is evocative without being overindulgent, painting hauntingly beautiful scenes that linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading. The settings are particularly well crafted; every shadowy corridor and abandoned space feels alive with history and hidden secrets. It’s easy to visualize every detail, making the experience deeply immersive.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of The Ghost Detectives is how it handles its supernatural elements. Rather than relying on cheap scares, Townsend builds a sense of unease that seeps into the reader’s consciousness. The ghosts are not mere plot devices they are integral to the story’s emotional core, adding layers of meaning and poignancy.
In short, The Ghost Detectives is a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries, supernatural fiction, or simply a well-told story. Charles Townsend has crafted a novel that is as thrilling as it is thoughtful, and it’s one that will stay with readers long after the final page.
Charles Townsend’s The Ghost Detectives is an absolute triumph of imagination, suspense, and atmospheric storytelling. From the very first page, Townsend pulls readers into a richly layered world where the boundary between the living and the dead feels tantalizingly thin. It’s the kind of book that demands to be devoured in long, uninterrupted stretches partly because it’s so gripping, and partly because putting it down feels like leaving a mystery unsolved.
What truly sets this novel apart is its masterful blend of genres. It’s not just a ghost story, it’s a clever detective tale infused with supernatural intrigue. Townsend balances eerie tension with sharp investigative logic, creating a narrative that feels both chilling and intellectually satisfying. The pacing is spot on; moments of quiet dread build seamlessly into shocking revelations, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, the story twists in a fresh and unexpected direction.
The characters are another standout element. The team of ghost detectives is vividly drawn, each with distinct personalities, motivations, and emotional depth. Their interactions feel authentic and engaging, adding warmth and even humor to what could otherwise be an overwhelmingly dark premise. You find yourself genuinely invested in their journey, not just in solving the mystery, but in their personal struggles and growth.
Townsend’s writing style deserves special praise. His prose is evocative without being overindulgent, painting hauntingly beautiful scenes that linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading. The settings are particularly well crafted; every shadowy corridor and abandoned space feels alive with history and hidden secrets. It’s easy to visualize every detail, making the experience deeply immersive.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of The Ghost Detectives is how it handles its supernatural elements. Rather than relying on cheap scares, Townsend builds a sense of unease that seeps into the reader’s consciousness. The ghosts are not mere plot devices they are integral to the story’s emotional core, adding layers of meaning and poignancy.
In short, The Ghost Detectives is a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries, supernatural fiction, or simply a well-told story. Charles Townsend has crafted a novel that is as thrilling as it is thoughtful, and it’s one that will stay with readers long after the final page.
April 4, 2026
My honest review on “The Ghost Detectives” By: Charles Townsend
My honest review on “The Ghost Detectives”
By: Charles Townsend
The author of “The Ghost Detectives” did an amazing job at keeping my attention as a reader. This book was funny and suspenseful. I really enjoyed the book a lot the author definitely knows how to keep a readers attention especially from the beginning and that’s what I like to see when I’m reading books because if it doesn’t grab me within the first chapter or so I know I’m won’t be into the book. It was a very fast pace book. The story was based around a guy named Charlie who died unexpectedly an him and another ghosted he meet name Lizzie are trying to figure out what happened to him. These two characters together were very entertaining together an it definitely made me not want to put the book down at all. Charlie’s character was kinda on the shy side at first but later on he opened up an joked around more and Lizzie she was very outgoing and always joked about sex throughout the whole book. There was one part in the book that was spicy but only rating it a 🌶️ in the spicy department.
This book definitely pulls you and keeps you on the edge of your seat on whats gonna happen next because who doesn’t love a good murder mystery book that gets you thinking an keeps your guessing what’s gonna happen next. There was always something happening in the story like an evil ghost coming along and trying to interfere with there investigation on who murdered Charlie, there was so many suspects involved an different theories of what an who could have murdered Charlie.
The character build and the character growth by the end of this book was good. Charlie and Lizzie definitely became the power duo on solving the mystery of who murdered Charlie. The author put a lot of detail into his writing so when you read you can definitely picture each sentence and how things played out. Definitely a great little short read book and I seen there was another book after this so I will definitely be checking it out!. 4.5⭐️
My honest review on “The Ghost Detectives”
By: Charles Townsend
The author of “The Ghost Detectives” did an amazing job at keeping my attention as a reader. This book was funny and suspenseful. I really enjoyed the book a lot the author definitely knows how to keep a readers attention especially from the beginning and that’s what I like to see when I’m reading books because if it doesn’t grab me within the first chapter or so I know I’m won’t be into the book. It was a very fast pace book. The story was based around a guy named Charlie who died unexpectedly an him and another ghosted he meet name Lizzie are trying to figure out what happened to him. These two characters together were very entertaining together an it definitely made me not want to put the book down at all. Charlie’s character was kinda on the shy side at first but later on he opened up an joked around more and Lizzie she was very outgoing and always joked about sex throughout the whole book. There was one part in the book that was spicy but only rating it a 🌶️ in the spicy department.
This book definitely pulls you and keeps you on the edge of your seat on whats gonna happen next because who doesn’t love a good murder mystery book that gets you thinking an keeps your guessing what’s gonna happen next. There was always something happening in the story like an evil ghost coming along and trying to interfere with there investigation on who murdered Charlie, there was so many suspects involved an different theories of what an who could have murdered Charlie.
The character build and the character growth by the end of this book was good. Charlie and Lizzie definitely became the power duo on solving the mystery of who murdered Charlie. The author put a lot of detail into his writing so when you read you can definitely picture each sentence and how things played out. Definitely a great little short read book and I seen there was another book after this so I will definitely be checking it out!. 4.5⭐️
April 3, 2026
"The Ghost Detectives" is written by Charles Townsend. I have to say that I thought this book tried too hard to be both a funny and slightly spooky mystery novel that combines the paranormal with a traditional mystery novel. I did think that the “banter” between the characters got old pretty quickly as did the constant “funny” sexual situations. Lizzie, could have been an interesting character, but she is pretty annoying and I grew tired of her fairly early on.
This book does not fit into one category, being rather a combination of a comical and paranormal mystery. It is a book trying to decide what it wants to be, "Some mysteries aren't meant to be solved – only understood.” and so manages to fail at both.
Namely, the author uses jokes, mostly about sex, which are not particularly funny and, instead, start seeming irritating. “We floated through the door into a flat on the left. A young couple I didn’t recognized looked like they were about to go to bed. “Ooo! Shall we stay and Watch! said Lizzie. “He’s quite a hunk!” is a good example. Moreover, such humor does not contribute to developing the plot and characters and only seems to be forced. Lizzie could have been a decent character, but she failed to do so because of lack of development throughout the whole novel.
I am also not sure what the target audience of the book is since it is written in a way that would fit a middle schooler well. However, the presence of the sexual content does not suit that age range. Thus, it cannot be called “Scooby-Doo” for that matter, though some lines may be considered as such.
Still, it should be admitted that the book is very easy to read. There is no problem with grammar, spelling, or editing; thus, nothing interferes with comprehending the text. As a result, those interested in cozy mysteries might find the book worthwhile.
However, despite its positive aspects, the book was not enjoyable for me. I would give it 5 rating since it was not difficult to read, but I am not going to proceed with other books by the same author.
This book does not fit into one category, being rather a combination of a comical and paranormal mystery. It is a book trying to decide what it wants to be, "Some mysteries aren't meant to be solved – only understood.” and so manages to fail at both.
Namely, the author uses jokes, mostly about sex, which are not particularly funny and, instead, start seeming irritating. “We floated through the door into a flat on the left. A young couple I didn’t recognized looked like they were about to go to bed. “Ooo! Shall we stay and Watch! said Lizzie. “He’s quite a hunk!” is a good example. Moreover, such humor does not contribute to developing the plot and characters and only seems to be forced. Lizzie could have been a decent character, but she failed to do so because of lack of development throughout the whole novel.
I am also not sure what the target audience of the book is since it is written in a way that would fit a middle schooler well. However, the presence of the sexual content does not suit that age range. Thus, it cannot be called “Scooby-Doo” for that matter, though some lines may be considered as such.
Still, it should be admitted that the book is very easy to read. There is no problem with grammar, spelling, or editing; thus, nothing interferes with comprehending the text. As a result, those interested in cozy mysteries might find the book worthwhile.
However, despite its positive aspects, the book was not enjoyable for me. I would give it 5 rating since it was not difficult to read, but I am not going to proceed with other books by the same author.
April 6, 2026
1.5
The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend was a quick, playful read with an intriguing premise, though the writing style and sexual references may make its intended audience a bit unclear.
The story revolves around a murdered man who teams up with a ghostly female sidekick in a murder-mystery whodunit. Despite Amazon marketing the book to the ages of 15-18, I feel it's questionable for two reasons.
First, the prose of this book was a bit simplistic. At times, the writing felt better suited for elementary or early middle school-aged readers. The pacing of the writing was a bit fragmented, and the word and phrase usage was noticeably repetitive.
Second, while the narration appears to be written for younger children, there are frequent references to sex and sexual innuendos. It also appeared as though nearly all of the characters were unfaithful, that it was perfectly acceptable, and everyone knew about it. Not to mention, it also encouraged voyeurism on a few occasions. For that reason, it doesn’t feel appropriate for younger readers.
Now that we have addressed those concerns, it is a lighthearted and playful book. The characters enjoy playing pranks on each other and casting bets with one another. Personally, I found the sexual elements unnecessary and distracting, and it really pulls the story away from what I tend to think of when wanting a “cozy,” quick read.
With that said, while this book is not my typical read, I did enjoy the premise. The blossoming friendship between Charles and Lizzie was entertaining to watch, and I liked how the ghostly world started unfolding while the investigation was taking place. There was a bit of a secondary story line happening with a “malicious” ghost named Malice. Malice's misdeeds introduced us to the Ghost Council's head, adding an additional layer to the story and setting up the storyline for the next book.
Overall, I do believe some readers will appreciate the book as a lighthearted, easy read that they could complete in one day.
The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend was a quick, playful read with an intriguing premise, though the writing style and sexual references may make its intended audience a bit unclear.
The story revolves around a murdered man who teams up with a ghostly female sidekick in a murder-mystery whodunit. Despite Amazon marketing the book to the ages of 15-18, I feel it's questionable for two reasons.
First, the prose of this book was a bit simplistic. At times, the writing felt better suited for elementary or early middle school-aged readers. The pacing of the writing was a bit fragmented, and the word and phrase usage was noticeably repetitive.
Second, while the narration appears to be written for younger children, there are frequent references to sex and sexual innuendos. It also appeared as though nearly all of the characters were unfaithful, that it was perfectly acceptable, and everyone knew about it. Not to mention, it also encouraged voyeurism on a few occasions. For that reason, it doesn’t feel appropriate for younger readers.
Now that we have addressed those concerns, it is a lighthearted and playful book. The characters enjoy playing pranks on each other and casting bets with one another. Personally, I found the sexual elements unnecessary and distracting, and it really pulls the story away from what I tend to think of when wanting a “cozy,” quick read.
With that said, while this book is not my typical read, I did enjoy the premise. The blossoming friendship between Charles and Lizzie was entertaining to watch, and I liked how the ghostly world started unfolding while the investigation was taking place. There was a bit of a secondary story line happening with a “malicious” ghost named Malice. Malice's misdeeds introduced us to the Ghost Council's head, adding an additional layer to the story and setting up the storyline for the next book.
Overall, I do believe some readers will appreciate the book as a lighthearted, easy read that they could complete in one day.
May 9, 2026
I enjoyed reading The Ghost Detectives and all the ghostly shenanigans Lizzie and Charlie get up to. I enjoyed both Charlie and Lizzie as characters, but felt Lizzie could be too forward and annoying at times. She was constantly making sex jokes and pushing boundaries by not taking no for an answer and making said joke while jumping on Charlie, which I did not like. Furthermore, the characters felt like they had no emotions other then ambiton for solving the murder and joy at their theatrics. I expected Charlie to be more upset at his murder, and while he had ambition for solving his murder and saying he missed food, I never really felt the sadness. The same goes for when the story mentioned Sergeant Hart had just lost her father. Hart and her sister felt more excited and interest about the case than any sort of grief from the loss of their father, which was said to have happened only two days before at first. I also felt no sort of grief from Faye, who said she loved Charlie, Edward, Charlie's son, and all of Charlie's friends, who said they missed him. I was also confused about why Charlie instantly trusted Lizzie, because he didn't know about the auras and had just been murdered by a friend, which would make anyone else instantly distrust people. Also, I felt, at times during the book, that facts were just dropped out of nowhere to add to the story, but just threw me off each time, like Hart’s father being dead even though she showed no signs of grief earlier, and Charlie changing to be a magician. Overall, this book was a fun read. I very much enjoyed Charlie learning about all of his ghost powers and playing around with them, especially when he was trying to make people spin by blowing on their ears with Lizzie. At times, it did feel like the book was focused more on ghost school than the murder mystery, but I enjoyed both the mystery and Lizzie and Charlie playing around being ghosts. I liked how the mystery wrapped up, making it believable, but also not instantly guessable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2026
Hi Charles,
I want to be upfront with you, I normally do not reach out after reading and reviewing books, but The Ghost Detectives genuinely stood out to me as a creative and highly engaging supernatural mystery concept. After spending time with the book, I felt compelled to reach out directly.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its original premise — a murder investigation led by ghosts who are, in many ways, limited yet uniquely positioned to uncover the truth. The idea that Charlie and Lizzie can’t interact with the physical world in conventional ways, yet can still observe, listen, and subtly influence their surroundings, creates a clever and constrained form of detective storytelling that keeps the tension consistently engaging.
I was especially impressed by the way the supernatural rules are defined and used as part of the investigation. The limitations on what the ghosts can do — such as affecting temperature or creating cold gusts of wind — add a layer of creativity to how they approach clues and interact with the living world. That constraint-driven problem-solving gives the story a distinctive investigative rhythm.
Another aspect that stood out was the added layer of conflict introduced by the presence of an evil ghost. This raises the stakes beyond a simple murder mystery and introduces a darker supernatural threat that complicates both the investigation and the characters’ understanding of what is happening. It expands the narrative into something more unpredictable and suspenseful.
What ultimately makes The Ghost Detectives memorable is the way it blends mystery, supernatural elements, and procedural investigation into a cohesive and inventive concept. Beneath the ghostly premise is a classic whodunit structure reimagined in a way that feels fresh, atmospheric, and full of narrative potential.
Thank you for writing a story that takes a familiar genre and gives it an imaginative supernatural twist. The Ghost Detectives offers an engaging mystery with a unique perspective that sets it apart.
Best regards,
Suzanne B.
I want to be upfront with you, I normally do not reach out after reading and reviewing books, but The Ghost Detectives genuinely stood out to me as a creative and highly engaging supernatural mystery concept. After spending time with the book, I felt compelled to reach out directly.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its original premise — a murder investigation led by ghosts who are, in many ways, limited yet uniquely positioned to uncover the truth. The idea that Charlie and Lizzie can’t interact with the physical world in conventional ways, yet can still observe, listen, and subtly influence their surroundings, creates a clever and constrained form of detective storytelling that keeps the tension consistently engaging.
I was especially impressed by the way the supernatural rules are defined and used as part of the investigation. The limitations on what the ghosts can do — such as affecting temperature or creating cold gusts of wind — add a layer of creativity to how they approach clues and interact with the living world. That constraint-driven problem-solving gives the story a distinctive investigative rhythm.
Another aspect that stood out was the added layer of conflict introduced by the presence of an evil ghost. This raises the stakes beyond a simple murder mystery and introduces a darker supernatural threat that complicates both the investigation and the characters’ understanding of what is happening. It expands the narrative into something more unpredictable and suspenseful.
What ultimately makes The Ghost Detectives memorable is the way it blends mystery, supernatural elements, and procedural investigation into a cohesive and inventive concept. Beneath the ghostly premise is a classic whodunit structure reimagined in a way that feels fresh, atmospheric, and full of narrative potential.
Thank you for writing a story that takes a familiar genre and gives it an imaginative supernatural twist. The Ghost Detectives offers an engaging mystery with a unique perspective that sets it apart.
Best regards,
Suzanne B.
May 11, 2026
The Ghost Detectives is a fun and quick read that I would recommend.
The author created a great premise for this book. I was really eager to read it. Ghost Detectives is a concept I had never heard of before.
The main character had no special feelings about dying or having to abandon his wife or son so suddenly; his motivation was only solving the murder, and nothing more, which felt somewhat anticlimactic as he mentioned his life wasn’t bad, and he loved his wife but missed food and drinking with his friends, which didn't feel like the shy and homebody personality the author described.
Lizzie is a good character who suffered from oversexualization since her first appearance. I wished her backstory had been explored more because she is smart, funny, and witty, but the sexual jokes are too much at times, and without an explanation of why she was like that aside from "being a ghost exacerbates your nature," it felt like an overused and unnecessary gag.
The secondary characters felt flat, and some of them only existed to take the story to certain places or to make the reader suspect them with no depth or development.
The world-building felt very detailed and structured, which I dearly appreciated. The ghost characters really helped to establish the world's rules and made me try to guess if there were any historical characters.
In the book, I noticed some typos, for example, in “When got there, we found the search team from Colchester had arrive just a few moments before us.”
The target for this book is not clear, as it has an easy flow and language that reminded me of an elementary level reading, but it has so many sexual jokes that it's not clear who the intended reader is.
I love crime and mystery books, so the concept was something I really wanted to get into. This would be a great book for an entry-level reader who wants to get into reading or is learning English.
The author created a great premise for this book. I was really eager to read it. Ghost Detectives is a concept I had never heard of before.
The main character had no special feelings about dying or having to abandon his wife or son so suddenly; his motivation was only solving the murder, and nothing more, which felt somewhat anticlimactic as he mentioned his life wasn’t bad, and he loved his wife but missed food and drinking with his friends, which didn't feel like the shy and homebody personality the author described.
Lizzie is a good character who suffered from oversexualization since her first appearance. I wished her backstory had been explored more because she is smart, funny, and witty, but the sexual jokes are too much at times, and without an explanation of why she was like that aside from "being a ghost exacerbates your nature," it felt like an overused and unnecessary gag.
The secondary characters felt flat, and some of them only existed to take the story to certain places or to make the reader suspect them with no depth or development.
The world-building felt very detailed and structured, which I dearly appreciated. The ghost characters really helped to establish the world's rules and made me try to guess if there were any historical characters.
In the book, I noticed some typos, for example, in “When got there, we found the search team from Colchester had arrive just a few moments before us.”
The target for this book is not clear, as it has an easy flow and language that reminded me of an elementary level reading, but it has so many sexual jokes that it's not clear who the intended reader is.
I love crime and mystery books, so the concept was something I really wanted to get into. This would be a great book for an entry-level reader who wants to get into reading or is learning English.
May 19, 2026
The book, “The Ghost Detectives” by Charles Townsend was a delightful lighthearted murder mystery. How can murder be delightful? In this case, it was because the murdered man transposed into a ghost and so it didn’t feel like he was REALLY gone. As his spirit was leaving his body, Charles, the murdered man, was met by a flirty, nosy, feminine ghost, Lizzy, who had been a ghost for some time. Because Lizzy was nosy and she had not “crossed over,” she was looking for something interesting to do. She convinced Charles that he should stick around to investigate his own murder. Sadly, the police inspector wanted to call it a suicide so that he could close the case and get home early. But the Sargent thought they should investigate further. As ghosts, Charles and Lilzzy could float through doors and listen invisibly to conversations. They hitched rides by floating through car doors. But we all knew that ghosts could do that. Lizzy, though, also showed Charles that ghosts could create wind and blow it hot or cold on humans. Sargent Hart was especially vulnerable to this, so Lilly and Charles used it to suggest clues to her about the murder. Could they actually solve it AND communicate to the police what really happened they wondered? Besides being murdered, Charles had another problem AFTER he was dead. A vicious ghost was hunting him down. According to Lizzy, the ghost wanted to force Charles to crossover. WHY? Lizzy and Charles had to figure that out too. In the end, Charles decided that being a ghost wasn’t TOO bad. He couldn’t of course eat or even talk to humans, but he didn’t have rent, taxes, or any bills. And he figured he might try to refine a couple of his fake magic tricks that he had plied as a real person. Besides, what choice did he have? Did the ghost detectives figure out why Charles was murdered? Read the book and find out. An extra bonus: This book had no sexual scenes nor any swearing.
April 13, 2026
Title:The Ghost Detectives. I just finished reading this thought-provoking detective novel called "The Ghost Detectives." I must say it is a very interesting and well-thought-out novel. I find myself trying to solve the puzzle of whether Charles Benson, one of the main characters of the novel, died of natural causes or was murdered. It brings about a strange contrast of a ghost trying to investigate his own death upon reawakening in the Ghost Realm, where other ghosts choose to stay for reasons best know to them before passing on. The murder investigation could easily be concluded as one cause by natural causes. Since the murder weapon wasn't something that could easily be suspicious, the writer's style is clear and easy to read. The part I enjoyed most was trying to understand the innovative ways the ghost detectives tried to manipulate the human detectives using all sorts of methods, including giving warm and cold shoulders. It's also interesting to know there's a code of conductor the ghosts follow and breaking the rules comes with some sort of trial that might lead to the ghost being frozen. Another important aspect of the story that I find fascinating is the idea of Charles getting used to being a ghost, the fact that he can't taste food, he can easily go through walls, jump on any train or car and eavesdropping on conversation easily makes the investigations easy. Although the Detective did most of the work on the ground, they wouldn't have achieved much without the Ghost Detectives. I am giving the book a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars because I find it easy to read and easy to follow every investigation and inquiry done by both human and ghost detectives. It turns out there were more murders overlooked, but the investigations unraveled them.I am happy to recommend this book to anyone trying to solve an investigative puzzle.
May 12, 2026
How can anyone give more than 0 stars to this book? I had to DNF it. The premises were very interesting, with the ghost of a dead man having to resolve his own murder, but the writing and the plot itself were terrible. From a syntax perspective, there were often grammar and spelling errors, and the sentence structures were too simplistic and not at all realistic, often repeating the same one various times. For example, when introducing a friend of the protagonist, it was always said "Alex, that is Dr. Enderby". I could understand specifying it one time, but not all the time! From the plot perspective, I didn't like how the protagonist accepts his death and being a ghost right away, as if that was a completely normal thing, and also without question befriends the other female ghost. I especially did not like the oversexualization of the female characters: I noticed it first when the protagonist described his own wife in one of the first chapters; she is also later described during a sex act; but what really grossed me out was the female ghost's "personality" of being obsessed with sex ALL THE TIME, for instance offering to do it with the protagonist, making weird moaning sounds when they entered a car and ended up on each other, and even suggesting of watching people at night in their own homes. Besides that, some scenes were kind of filler to me, like the one where . Was there any point in this scene? I don't think so. Also, I felt it didn't make sense . So, overall terrible writing, oversexualization of female characters, futile scenes, and so on. DNF at 28% (just for reference, I almost never DNF books).
April 6, 2026
*Paid review through onlinebookclub.org
The Ghost Detectives is a fun, cozy, quick mystery read. I feel that the author created a great number of potential subjects to keep the reader’s mind open, but the interrogation process throughout the book was very repetitive as it jumped from character to character regarding the same matter. This could have been done in a much more efficient manner where longer interrogations were noted to keep the story moving in specific directions.
I struggled with feeling like the lead character had no emotional reaction to dying. He expresses no great sadness towards no longer being with his wife, son, or friends, yet does spend time reflecting on how much he’ll miss eating food and going out to pubs, which doesn’t correspond with his character’s personality of being a loving husband.
Lizzie’s character was at times funny, but was frequently overly sexualized with no summary as to why. Her story is vaguely shared and I think it would’ve been helpful to dive into her history to help the reader understand her character better, especially if she’s portrayed as such a sexual being. Not having the understanding made me feel uncomfortable reading her flirtations.
There were instances of improper grammar which had me questioning the review process, notably not including an “s” in “We may need to come back and ask some more question later”, and “When got there, we found the search team from Colchester had arrive just a few moments before us.”
I love mystery books, and the concept of this book was fun, but I felt as though it removed most of the room for reader interpretation. The author was very descriptive which is great for world building, but it extended too far and took away from the reader’s ability to guess the next events. This may be a good recommendation for somebody that’s new to mystery novels and would benefit from having the guidance throughout the book.
The Ghost Detectives is a fun, cozy, quick mystery read. I feel that the author created a great number of potential subjects to keep the reader’s mind open, but the interrogation process throughout the book was very repetitive as it jumped from character to character regarding the same matter. This could have been done in a much more efficient manner where longer interrogations were noted to keep the story moving in specific directions.
I struggled with feeling like the lead character had no emotional reaction to dying. He expresses no great sadness towards no longer being with his wife, son, or friends, yet does spend time reflecting on how much he’ll miss eating food and going out to pubs, which doesn’t correspond with his character’s personality of being a loving husband.
Lizzie’s character was at times funny, but was frequently overly sexualized with no summary as to why. Her story is vaguely shared and I think it would’ve been helpful to dive into her history to help the reader understand her character better, especially if she’s portrayed as such a sexual being. Not having the understanding made me feel uncomfortable reading her flirtations.
There were instances of improper grammar which had me questioning the review process, notably not including an “s” in “We may need to come back and ask some more question later”, and “When got there, we found the search team from Colchester had arrive just a few moments before us.”
I love mystery books, and the concept of this book was fun, but I felt as though it removed most of the room for reader interpretation. The author was very descriptive which is great for world building, but it extended too far and took away from the reader’s ability to guess the next events. This may be a good recommendation for somebody that’s new to mystery novels and would benefit from having the guidance throughout the book.
May 2, 2026
The book was easy to read and kept me engaged throughout the whole story. I really enjoyed the structure of the book, dividing the chapters into different parts of the day as it made it very easy to track the timeline of the mystery as it unfolded. However, I did notice the writing felt a bit unpolished in places, suggesting the author might be new, some parts of the story didn’t quite make sense or flow naturally.
I often felt the story was being rushed. The pacing felt uneven: in some scenes, things were super detailed or focused on parts that, in my opinion, weren’t too important for the main story, while others were only briefly mentioned. For instance, there were no memorial services for the victims, and no time to grieve, instead the story jumped right off the bat into flirtatious scenes that I found were a little bit inappropriate at the time the story was evolving.
Sometimes the story followed common stereotypes we, as a society, have about ghosts, but at other times, new rules were introduced, and I felt a little more context would have been helpful in explaining why things were happening.
I found some of the flirty comments felt super random and could have used more development, and sometimes they fit the context, but others were unnecessary that at some point got annoying.
Overall Rating: 3/5. I enjoyed the process of trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. There was a plot twist that I didn’t see coming, but the others were expected. In general, the execution felt hurried. By the end, I still had a couple of unanswered questions. Maybe in the future I will continue reading the series to see if I find answers to my unanswered questions.
I often felt the story was being rushed. The pacing felt uneven: in some scenes, things were super detailed or focused on parts that, in my opinion, weren’t too important for the main story, while others were only briefly mentioned. For instance, there were no memorial services for the victims, and no time to grieve, instead the story jumped right off the bat into flirtatious scenes that I found were a little bit inappropriate at the time the story was evolving.
Sometimes the story followed common stereotypes we, as a society, have about ghosts, but at other times, new rules were introduced, and I felt a little more context would have been helpful in explaining why things were happening.
I found some of the flirty comments felt super random and could have used more development, and sometimes they fit the context, but others were unnecessary that at some point got annoying.
Overall Rating: 3/5. I enjoyed the process of trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. There was a plot twist that I didn’t see coming, but the others were expected. In general, the execution felt hurried. By the end, I still had a couple of unanswered questions. Maybe in the future I will continue reading the series to see if I find answers to my unanswered questions.
May 14, 2026
Suspicious of everyone until the end
The strongest part of this book for me was the way the ghosts were portrayed. Instead of instantly appearing as fully developed spirits, they slowly became more aware and emotionally complete as they accepted their deaths. It gave the paranormal side of the story a unique emotional depth that I wasn’t expecting. I also enjoyed the balance between humor, mystery, and darker themes. The layered tension between the living-world and ghost-world conflicts kept me curious throughout, and I liked that the story focused just as much on human flaws, betrayal, and manipulation as it did on the supernatural elements.
At times, the pacing and writing felt slightly overly dramatic or repetitive, with certain scenes lingering longer than necessary. Some parts also felt a little scattered, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. While the drama added suspense in places, there were moments where it could have been more refined for a smoother reading experience.
I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy supernatural murder mysteries with humor, adult themes, morally complicated characters, and plenty of suspicion and twists. It’s especially suited for readers who like paranormal stories that focus on character emotions and psychological tension rather than relying only on ghosts or horror elements.
I gave this book 4 stars because it genuinely surprised me and kept me invested despite being outside my usual reading preferences. The unique ghost concept, emotional undertones, and engaging mystery stood out enough to make the experience memorable. While it wasn’t perfect and had a few overly dramatic moments, the creativity of the story and the suspense outweighed those flaws for me.
The strongest part of this book for me was the way the ghosts were portrayed. Instead of instantly appearing as fully developed spirits, they slowly became more aware and emotionally complete as they accepted their deaths. It gave the paranormal side of the story a unique emotional depth that I wasn’t expecting. I also enjoyed the balance between humor, mystery, and darker themes. The layered tension between the living-world and ghost-world conflicts kept me curious throughout, and I liked that the story focused just as much on human flaws, betrayal, and manipulation as it did on the supernatural elements.
At times, the pacing and writing felt slightly overly dramatic or repetitive, with certain scenes lingering longer than necessary. Some parts also felt a little scattered, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. While the drama added suspense in places, there were moments where it could have been more refined for a smoother reading experience.
I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy supernatural murder mysteries with humor, adult themes, morally complicated characters, and plenty of suspicion and twists. It’s especially suited for readers who like paranormal stories that focus on character emotions and psychological tension rather than relying only on ghosts or horror elements.
I gave this book 4 stars because it genuinely surprised me and kept me invested despite being outside my usual reading preferences. The unique ghost concept, emotional undertones, and engaging mystery stood out enough to make the experience memorable. While it wasn’t perfect and had a few overly dramatic moments, the creativity of the story and the suspense outweighed those flaws for me.
May 31, 2026
The Ghost Detectives was an okay read for me. The story was interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading and find out what would happen next. I liked the mix of mystery and supernatural elements because it made the investigation more exciting compared to a regular detective story.
One thing I liked about the book was that it moved at a good pace. There was always something happening, so it never felt too boring or too slow. The detective aspect of the story was probably my favorite part because I enjoyed seeing how the clues connected to the mystery. The ghost and paranormal parts also added something different to the story.
However, I think the book could have been better if it showed more of the characters' thoughts and feelings. Most of the time, the story focused on what the characters were saying and doing, but not much on what they were thinking. Because of that, I found it hard to really connect with them emotionally. Some scenes that were supposed to feel important didn't have as much impact on me because I didn't know enough about what the characters were feeling.
Another thing I noticed was that the book sometimes felt more like a script than a novel. There was a lot of dialogue and scene-to-scene action, but not much description or inner thoughts. It almost felt like I was watching a show instead of reading a book. Adding more narration and character reflection could have made the story feel deeper and more immersive.
Overall, I think Ghost Detective is a decent book with an interesting concept. The mystery and supernatural elements kept me entertained, but I wish there was more character development and emotional depth. Even with those weaknesses, it was still an enjoyable read and I can see why fans of paranormal detective stories would like it.
One thing I liked about the book was that it moved at a good pace. There was always something happening, so it never felt too boring or too slow. The detective aspect of the story was probably my favorite part because I enjoyed seeing how the clues connected to the mystery. The ghost and paranormal parts also added something different to the story.
However, I think the book could have been better if it showed more of the characters' thoughts and feelings. Most of the time, the story focused on what the characters were saying and doing, but not much on what they were thinking. Because of that, I found it hard to really connect with them emotionally. Some scenes that were supposed to feel important didn't have as much impact on me because I didn't know enough about what the characters were feeling.
Another thing I noticed was that the book sometimes felt more like a script than a novel. There was a lot of dialogue and scene-to-scene action, but not much description or inner thoughts. It almost felt like I was watching a show instead of reading a book. Adding more narration and character reflection could have made the story feel deeper and more immersive.
Overall, I think Ghost Detective is a decent book with an interesting concept. The mystery and supernatural elements kept me entertained, but I wish there was more character development and emotional depth. Even with those weaknesses, it was still an enjoyable read and I can see why fans of paranormal detective stories would like it.
April 10, 2026
The Ghost Detectives by Charles Townsend is a simple, quick read about Charlie, a man who dies in suspicious circumstances. His ghost remains behind, and he meets another ghost named Lizzie. Together, they set out to discover how Charlie died. Along the way we meet other ghosts, as well as Charlie’s wife and friends.
I enjoyed the premise of a dead man trying to solve his own murder. I also liked that the identity of the murderer was not obvious until the end, and that we gradually learn more about Charlie’s friends throughout the book.
However, I found myself confused about the intended target audience. The writing is very simple and uses childish expressions such as “yukky,” “oooo yes,” “ooo, lovely,” “rumpy pumpy,” and “hunk,” which makes it feel as though the book is aimed at young teenagers. At the same time, there are frequent and unnecessary references to sex. Within three hours of Charlie’s death, Lizzie begins asking sexual questions, such as, “Have you ever done it on the back seat of a car?” and “Can ghosts… do it… have sex?” These comments occur repeatedly throughout the book. Many of Charlie’s friends, including his wife, are also having affairs, which Charlie discovers on the day he dies. This content feels inappropriate for a younger audience and adds nothing to the storyline. I believe it is meant to be humorous, but it is mentioned so often that it becomes annoying.
The characters are also very one-dimensional and lack depth, again making me think it is being written for young teenagers. From the beginning, Charlie seems surprisingly calm about his death, aside from briefly thinking, “I think I’m dead… something isn’t right.” He quickly moves on to solving his murder with Lizzie, a ghost who appears with very little explanation. His death feels overly light-hearted, and even when other characters die, their deaths seem to exist only to complicate the plot rather than deepen the story. Overall, the lack of character development makes it difficult to feel invested in the characters or their outcomes.
I enjoyed the premise of a dead man trying to solve his own murder. I also liked that the identity of the murderer was not obvious until the end, and that we gradually learn more about Charlie’s friends throughout the book.
However, I found myself confused about the intended target audience. The writing is very simple and uses childish expressions such as “yukky,” “oooo yes,” “ooo, lovely,” “rumpy pumpy,” and “hunk,” which makes it feel as though the book is aimed at young teenagers. At the same time, there are frequent and unnecessary references to sex. Within three hours of Charlie’s death, Lizzie begins asking sexual questions, such as, “Have you ever done it on the back seat of a car?” and “Can ghosts… do it… have sex?” These comments occur repeatedly throughout the book. Many of Charlie’s friends, including his wife, are also having affairs, which Charlie discovers on the day he dies. This content feels inappropriate for a younger audience and adds nothing to the storyline. I believe it is meant to be humorous, but it is mentioned so often that it becomes annoying.
The characters are also very one-dimensional and lack depth, again making me think it is being written for young teenagers. From the beginning, Charlie seems surprisingly calm about his death, aside from briefly thinking, “I think I’m dead… something isn’t right.” He quickly moves on to solving his murder with Lizzie, a ghost who appears with very little explanation. His death feels overly light-hearted, and even when other characters die, their deaths seem to exist only to complicate the plot rather than deepen the story. Overall, the lack of character development makes it difficult to feel invested in the characters or their outcomes.
April 2, 2026
The Ghost Detectives review by Debbie
I loved this book. Lizzie's character was very refreshing. Charlie was very intelligent and sweet. When reading this book I was trying to solve the murder of Charlie Banson, I came to the conclusion towards the end before sergiant Hart and detective Anderson was able to. But, was floored when they discovered that Helen murdered a lot more people. The ghost Malice was frightening. Knowing at the end that he forced other ghosts to pass on and almost got to Charlie? Wow just wow. He was extremely lucky that lizzie was there for him.
While reading there were a lot of missing words and words that shouldn't have been. I noticed also, misspelled words. Detective Hudson was misspelled quite a few times. Words like it's should have been alone in the sentence, instead it read it's is. There were sentences that didn't make any sense, such as in chapter 11. Sentence says "It does rather seem rather like that" that made no sense to me. I think it should have been worded like this, "It does seem like that"
I also found missing punctuation, commas mostly, throughout the story.
Chapter 18, there's another sentence that didn't make sense to me. "It's important because YOU father did not make a will. " Should be YOUR.
In chapter 19 the word "Inquiries" was spelt "enquiries".
Ghost Detectives was an exciting book. I'd recommend reading to all murder/mystery lovers.
I loved this book. Lizzie's character was very refreshing. Charlie was very intelligent and sweet. When reading this book I was trying to solve the murder of Charlie Banson, I came to the conclusion towards the end before sergiant Hart and detective Anderson was able to. But, was floored when they discovered that Helen murdered a lot more people. The ghost Malice was frightening. Knowing at the end that he forced other ghosts to pass on and almost got to Charlie? Wow just wow. He was extremely lucky that lizzie was there for him.
While reading there were a lot of missing words and words that shouldn't have been. I noticed also, misspelled words. Detective Hudson was misspelled quite a few times. Words like it's should have been alone in the sentence, instead it read it's is. There were sentences that didn't make any sense, such as in chapter 11. Sentence says "It does rather seem rather like that" that made no sense to me. I think it should have been worded like this, "It does seem like that"
I also found missing punctuation, commas mostly, throughout the story.
Chapter 18, there's another sentence that didn't make sense to me. "It's important because YOU father did not make a will. " Should be YOUR.
In chapter 19 the word "Inquiries" was spelt "enquiries".
Ghost Detectives was an exciting book. I'd recommend reading to all murder/mystery lovers.
May 6, 2026
great concept wanted to LOVE IT!
“This book has real potential. The plot and idea was intriguing the way the MC moved through the mystery of his death and figured out how to communicate with the living to get it solved together. Some of the conversation was extremely robotic or juvenile, which made it hard to want to continue on. A lot of repeating of info that was unnecessary and book filler. If it was any other book I might have DNF for this alone. Lizzy’s character was also kind of cringy with how “sex” obsessed she was. I also felt there was soooooo much time spent on how they got from place to place and it didn’t matter to the story line.
Overall I think it could use some dialogue refinement, and some better character development on Lizzy.
I loved the concept!”
“This book has real potential. The plot and idea was intriguing the way the MC moved through the mystery of his death and figured out how to communicate with the living to get it solved together. Some of the conversation was extremely robotic or juvenile, which made it hard to want to continue on. A lot of repeating of info that was unnecessary and book filler. If it was any other book I might have DNF for this alone. Lizzy’s character was also kind of cringy with how “sex” obsessed she was. I also felt there was soooooo much time spent on how they got from place to place and it didn’t matter to the story line.
Overall I think it could use some dialogue refinement, and some better character development on Lizzy.
I loved the concept!”
May 3, 2026
⭐️3.5/5
It is a lighthearted story that reads easily.
I found that, given the information provided, it was easy to identify the killer, but I still enjoyed reading it. It was funny, and the vocabulary used is easy to understand. Sometimes the writing style was descriptive and heavy, but I found it manageable.
I would recommend this book, as it is a pleasant and easy read. Non-native English speakers and young adults should be able to read it easily, as the vocabulary is accessible. However, I would not recommend it to readers younger than 15–16 due to the sexual content present throughout the book.
It is a lighthearted story that reads easily.
I found that, given the information provided, it was easy to identify the killer, but I still enjoyed reading it. It was funny, and the vocabulary used is easy to understand. Sometimes the writing style was descriptive and heavy, but I found it manageable.
I would recommend this book, as it is a pleasant and easy read. Non-native English speakers and young adults should be able to read it easily, as the vocabulary is accessible. However, I would not recommend it to readers younger than 15–16 due to the sexual content present throughout the book.
April 9, 2026
Death creates a new ghost.
Charlie Benson wakes up to discover that he is floating and looking at his body. He had an argument with his wife the previous evening and was sleeping in the spare bedroom with the door locked from the inside. Enter an evil presence and then something shimmering who chased it away. That's Lizzie who becomes Charlie's guide. She is flirty and very suggestive.. This was overdone in my opinion which is why I gave it 4 stars. They follow the police around and guide them to the killer, with lots of red herrings along the way.
Charlie Benson wakes up to discover that he is floating and looking at his body. He had an argument with his wife the previous evening and was sleeping in the spare bedroom with the door locked from the inside. Enter an evil presence and then something shimmering who chased it away. That's Lizzie who becomes Charlie's guide. She is flirty and very suggestive.. This was overdone in my opinion which is why I gave it 4 stars. They follow the police around and guide them to the killer, with lots of red herrings along the way.
April 7, 2026
Charlie and Lizzie are ghosts. Charlie has just died and us puzzled who killed hum. Lizzie has been around for a while and becomes Charlie's companion. The plot has many twists and turns as they try to send the live detectives in the right direction. I found it a great read and recommend it to all readers.
April 8, 2026
A Ghostly Case That Will Keep You Thinking
It earns a strong rating for its eerie atmosphere and clever mystery, but loses a point for slightly slow pacing and some underdeveloped characters. Still, it’s a solid and enjoyable read,especially if you like detective stories with a supernatural twist.
It’s was a funny read overall. I will definitely reread it again.
It earns a strong rating for its eerie atmosphere and clever mystery, but loses a point for slightly slow pacing and some underdeveloped characters. Still, it’s a solid and enjoyable read,especially if you like detective stories with a supernatural twist.
It’s was a funny read overall. I will definitely reread it again.
April 11, 2026
Thank you to Charles Townsend and and online bookclub.org for this arc copy!! I really enjoyed this book other then the countless spelling errors I do believe the story of Charlie's death was super cool especially the plot twists I was so hooked on this book I could not put it down and I'm excited to read book 2! once again thank you!! This story is perfect for anyone just getting into mystery!
April 21, 2026
A new viewpoint makes a great story
A wonderfully refreshing take on a typical mystery. Taking the viewpoint of a ghost trying console their own death while being chased by a ghostly enemy adds something to the story. The author does a good job creating characters worth investing my time in and a surprisingly well fleshed out world.
A wonderfully refreshing take on a typical mystery. Taking the viewpoint of a ghost trying console their own death while being chased by a ghostly enemy adds something to the story. The author does a good job creating characters worth investing my time in and a surprisingly well fleshed out world.
April 22, 2026
A very well written book. If not for the sexual references I would recommend to kids that reads fantasy books. This was definitely a book I struggled to put down especially as there are 2 plots working together. U are always guessing and thinking with this book. Information on what we know about ghost was used very cleverly.
April 25, 2026
Thank you Goodreads and publisher for the advanced copy. As one who is used to American English, I had a difficult time getting past phrases like “ I had just got dressed” “ I had got up earlier “ and others. The characters were not particularly likable, though the concept of the book was clever. I wanted to like it more, but I just didn’t.
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