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Phantom Forensics
Not yet published
Expected 18 Sep 26A cop with nothing left to lose. A man trapped between life and death. And a mob of angry locals who have it out for both of them.
Douglas Blythe’s old money supports his hobby of sardonic manipulation of the fates of others. His spooky Victorian home adds to his mystique by supporting local suspicions. When his antagonists attack and leave him in a coma, he’s stuck: invisible, untethered, and infuriatingly dependent on the one person in Mill Spring least inclined to take orders from a ghost.
Dawn Henson is the respected town cop until she stands up for Blythe. Now the town turns on her. She loses her badge, her income, and the support of her family. What’s the worst thing she could do? Move into the Blythe mansion to care for the man everybody hates. But Douglas can communicate with her, he can see what the living can't, and he needs her as much as she needs him. Even if neither of them will admit it.
As they work to expose the man who masterminded the attack — whose reach extends further than either of them expected — something else is growing between them. Something complicated. Something that probably shouldn't exist between a woman and her employer, a man who may never wake up.
Phantom Forensics is the thrilling first book in a paranormal romantic suspense series. With its spooky Victorian setting and compelling characters, this book will appeal to fans of Heather Graham and HD Carlton. In following books, Dawn and Douglas use his unique invisibility to investigate crimes no one else can solve — and navigate a relationship no one could have predicted.
Fans of Heather Graham, HD Carlton, and Maggie March will find themselves at home in Mill Spring.
Phantom Forensics publishes September 18, 2026. Review copies are available now — visit the author's website to request yours.
Douglas Blythe’s old money supports his hobby of sardonic manipulation of the fates of others. His spooky Victorian home adds to his mystique by supporting local suspicions. When his antagonists attack and leave him in a coma, he’s stuck: invisible, untethered, and infuriatingly dependent on the one person in Mill Spring least inclined to take orders from a ghost.
Dawn Henson is the respected town cop until she stands up for Blythe. Now the town turns on her. She loses her badge, her income, and the support of her family. What’s the worst thing she could do? Move into the Blythe mansion to care for the man everybody hates. But Douglas can communicate with her, he can see what the living can't, and he needs her as much as she needs him. Even if neither of them will admit it.
As they work to expose the man who masterminded the attack — whose reach extends further than either of them expected — something else is growing between them. Something complicated. Something that probably shouldn't exist between a woman and her employer, a man who may never wake up.
Phantom Forensics is the thrilling first book in a paranormal romantic suspense series. With its spooky Victorian setting and compelling characters, this book will appeal to fans of Heather Graham and HD Carlton. In following books, Dawn and Douglas use his unique invisibility to investigate crimes no one else can solve — and navigate a relationship no one could have predicted.
Fans of Heather Graham, HD Carlton, and Maggie March will find themselves at home in Mill Spring.
Phantom Forensics publishes September 18, 2026. Review copies are available now — visit the author's website to request yours.
308 pages, ebook
Expected publication September 18, 2026
About the author
Tim E. Koch
3 books1 followerTim E Koch writes paranormal and supernatural fiction — ghost romance, sci-fi, and steampunk — for readers who like their stories dark, atmospheric, and a little bit twisted. This newsletter goes out every Tuesday to an engaged list of readers who showed up specifically for the strange and the supernatural.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy
Review of advance copy from Author through Origin Story.
I found this book through an ad on my Instagram feed and the book cover art was the first selling point. The post suggested that an advance copy could be requested. I had never done this before.
Opening my account on Origin Story was fairly simple and requesting a copy of the book from the author very straight forward.
I very much enjoyed this story. The premise is unique and the humour drole. The first few chapters were a little difficult to follow due to the narration beginning with two first person interacting accounts. Many "I" statements with not enough context to easily differentiate between the speakers. But the story is compelling and it was well worth the back tracking to confirm who is who. Imagine you speaking in your head having a conversation with your internal voice and you both using I about yourself. I digress. Before you know it, the chapters are divided by differing points of view, and although both main characters are active in all chapters it is less difficult to differentiate between them.
Doug, is a complex person, made more interesting by the fact that he has been beaten fairly early on in the book and his mental force has been able to separate from his comatose body. He is at turns philosophical and forthright.
Dawn begins as a small town officer and loses her job, endangers her relationships, and has everyone questioning her mental stability as she works to find justice for a man she isn't certain she even likes.
The story melds mystery, romance, and drama together with a heavy dollop of irreverence as brought by Eli.
The author took a chance with the last scene; I'm not certain it works, but it won't keep me from reading future arcs with these characters.
I found this book through an ad on my Instagram feed and the book cover art was the first selling point. The post suggested that an advance copy could be requested. I had never done this before.
Opening my account on Origin Story was fairly simple and requesting a copy of the book from the author very straight forward.
I very much enjoyed this story. The premise is unique and the humour drole. The first few chapters were a little difficult to follow due to the narration beginning with two first person interacting accounts. Many "I" statements with not enough context to easily differentiate between the speakers. But the story is compelling and it was well worth the back tracking to confirm who is who. Imagine you speaking in your head having a conversation with your internal voice and you both using I about yourself. I digress. Before you know it, the chapters are divided by differing points of view, and although both main characters are active in all chapters it is less difficult to differentiate between them.
Doug, is a complex person, made more interesting by the fact that he has been beaten fairly early on in the book and his mental force has been able to separate from his comatose body. He is at turns philosophical and forthright.
Dawn begins as a small town officer and loses her job, endangers her relationships, and has everyone questioning her mental stability as she works to find justice for a man she isn't certain she even likes.
The story melds mystery, romance, and drama together with a heavy dollop of irreverence as brought by Eli.
The author took a chance with the last scene; I'm not certain it works, but it won't keep me from reading future arcs with these characters.
August 30, 2026
What an unusual mystery and somewhat paranormal tale.
The reader is left guessing as to the true cause of the disappearance of two young people before the story begins (but is still under investigation).
The families of those missing and two additional young people who have befriended a man in town, spending time in his home playing video games, etc., are convinced that he is to blame, and call on the police to do something about it.
When they get no satisfaction, they take matters into their own hands, and with the aid of a Doctor, break into his home and administer enough drugs into his system to put him into a coma. If one of the parents were not a nurse, feeling remorseful and pressing 911 on his phone before they leave him, he would have unlikely survived.
The policewoman who responds to the call becomes suspicious about the suspected overdose, and begins a search on her own to determine the facts. During this time, she loses her job, as the entire community wish for a scapegoat to blame for the disappearances. She can communicate with the man while he is in a coma, and is instrumental in ensuring he comes to no more harm at the hands of those vigalanties.
The reader is left guessing as to the true cause of the disappearance of two young people before the story begins (but is still under investigation).
The families of those missing and two additional young people who have befriended a man in town, spending time in his home playing video games, etc., are convinced that he is to blame, and call on the police to do something about it.
When they get no satisfaction, they take matters into their own hands, and with the aid of a Doctor, break into his home and administer enough drugs into his system to put him into a coma. If one of the parents were not a nurse, feeling remorseful and pressing 911 on his phone before they leave him, he would have unlikely survived.
The policewoman who responds to the call becomes suspicious about the suspected overdose, and begins a search on her own to determine the facts. During this time, she loses her job, as the entire community wish for a scapegoat to blame for the disappearances. She can communicate with the man while he is in a coma, and is instrumental in ensuring he comes to no more harm at the hands of those vigalanties.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I honestly could not put this book down once I started it.
The overall premise of the story was really interesting... a guy, Doug, is in a coma due to being attacked by vigilante townsfolk who think he killed a couple of teens, despite him having been released from any charges. The small town officer, Dawn, starts getting mental visits from his phantom, somehow able to communicate with and guide her in the investigation. Chaos ensues.
The suspense was pretty fabulous. So many things happen throughout this story that really leave you wanting to continue. There were a few points where the character interactions, particularly between Dawn and Eli, that could have been worked on a bit. And the way it ended was a tad unnecessary - I would have liked to see something a bit different and didn't really feel like it fit the rest of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and wouldn't mind reading more! Rating this a 3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR and BS.
The overall premise of the story was really interesting... a guy, Doug, is in a coma due to being attacked by vigilante townsfolk who think he killed a couple of teens, despite him having been released from any charges. The small town officer, Dawn, starts getting mental visits from his phantom, somehow able to communicate with and guide her in the investigation. Chaos ensues.
The suspense was pretty fabulous. So many things happen throughout this story that really leave you wanting to continue. There were a few points where the character interactions, particularly between Dawn and Eli, that could have been worked on a bit. And the way it ended was a tad unnecessary - I would have liked to see something a bit different and didn't really feel like it fit the rest of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and wouldn't mind reading more! Rating this a 3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR and BS.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dawn is the sole employee, of the local police department in the town of Mill Spring. Her job description is traffic cop and she is assigned a position several miles from town, where the speed limit is reduced and the signs partially hidden. This is all in order to raise revenue. Then the town pariah is attacked in his own home. Dawn doesn’t particularly like the man, she is uncertain of his guilt over an earlier case, involving two missing teenagers but he is now a victim, regardless. When Douglas Blythe is left in a coma, no-one seems concerned except Dawn. She loses her job and clashes with her mother over her insistence on investigating the attack. The story has two strong protagonists, contains a fair bit of humour, snark and drama.
Review of advance copy
This was an entertaining, fast paced read with a nice blend of mystery and romance. While the story felt a little jumpy at times, it never took away from my overall enjoyment. The love triangle and the determined cop-versus the town storyline kept me engaged and the ending delivered a great plot twist. I gave the book 4 stars. If you enjoy mysteries with a touch of romance, this is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What is initially suspected as a suicide becomes apparent to officer Dawn Henson that it's actually attempted murder. Obstacles are thrown in her path by the town folk, family, and officials. Henson has to be very creative in bypassing those obstacles. She can't really tell the truth "A man in a coma is communicating with me." That wouldn't convince too many people. Well written story. I'll buy sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed this entertaining and engaging PNR storyline with drama, danger, violence, misconceptions, scheming townspeople, and a traffic cop who is determined to do the right thing. The MCs are defined, determined, capable, intelligent, and seizes every opportunity to save a victim. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
August 25, 2026
Oh My Dog!-
The concept was very different. And the occasional inappropriateness made you really think .
People who are respected in the community - being seen as not possibly capable of doing the things they were doing.
Yes; I am being very vague —- don’t want any spoilers in my review!
I do suggest you read this yourself.
The concept was very different. And the occasional inappropriateness made you really think .
People who are respected in the community - being seen as not possibly capable of doing the things they were doing.
Yes; I am being very vague —- don’t want any spoilers in my review!
I do suggest you read this yourself.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews