Parrish

Parrish Chronicles #1

by Shannen Crane Camp

Sadie Smith was absolutely certain of three things: (1) ghosts were indisputably real; (2) she and her three friends were some of the best (if not the most . . . conventional) ghost hunters in Oregon; (3) her teammate Jefferson Parrish was always the scariest thing in the room—even during a paranormal investigation. In a face-off between supernatural beings and Jefferson's lack of social skills and Tim Burton-esque vibe, there really was no contest.


But ghosts—unsurprisingly—aren't great at helping to pay the rent, so when Sadie and her friends receive an anonymous letter from a mysterious client offering an undisclosed sum of money in return for finding the link between four haunted locations, it's an easy sell. Going on blind faith and a few vague instructions on how to reach their first location, the ghost hunters set out only to see clue after clue falling into place. As they piece together a sinister mystery reaching back to the early 1900s, the group starts to wonder if they're in over their heads, or if they're on the path to unraveling a love story that was buried long ago—and one that should stay buried.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Ghosts, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

310 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2015

About the author

Shannen Crane Camp was born and raised in Southern California, where she developed a love of reading, writing, and anything having to do with film. After high school, she moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she received a degree in Media Arts and found herself a husband in fellow California native Josh Camp. The two now live in Utah with their miniature schnauzer Hemingway. Shannen's true love is Young Adult Fiction though she often dabbles in New Adult, Paranormal, and Mystery. She takes any opportunity to include her love of film and video games in her writing and you might just find a nerdy Easter Egg or two hidden in her works.
Shannen loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her at Shannencbooks@hotmail.com or visit her website for more information: http://shannencbooks.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Heather Ostler]

Parrish is the perfect blend of mystery, romance, and wit. Camp pulls you in with adorkable characters, spooky settings, and laugh-out-loud dialogue. This book should come with a warning. Beware, you won’t be able to put it down!

[Adrienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

too junior highish for my liking. I prefer my ghost hunters to be a bit more mature while hunting ghosts and solving mysteries.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Future House Publishing who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was a fun read, and I feel it would get a better review if I hadn't gone in expecting something else.
Sadie is paranormal investigator, along with her friends Brighton, a beautiful girl with crippling social anxiety (best character ever!); Deacon, a bit of a nerd who is unable to talk to girls and is madly in love with Brighton; and Jefferson, who is somewhat of a lovable sociopath.
One day the team each recieve a letter asking them to investigate a series of locations, and in exchange, their financial woes will be over. You know, they're college kids, working minimum wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet.
So this part of the story had me seriously on board. Great characters? Check. Interesting premise? Check. They get to the first location, the Queen Mary 2, and this was when I realised that the book was not going to go in the direction I hoped.
I was excited for it to be a little spooky. A good mystery. There were some sparks between some of the characters, and I was happy with that. I always like a little romance. I didn't really expect the book to turn into an angsty will they, won't they? with a small mystery in the background. I liked the romance, and I think I would have given a book just about that quite a good rating.
Having said this, I definitely know a few people who would love this book, and I have recommended it to them. It wasn't a bad book at all. It's not you, Parrish. It's me.

Parrish is available from Amazon for 99c

Enter here to win a physical copy of Parrish: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

[VJ Stock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really different. To start off, I was actually really drawn to the synopsis and the characters. Sadie and her friends has the coolest job ever, searching for ghosts. I’ve always wanted to be part of those “Ghost Adventures” shows, but then I realize I would freak the crap out by a little noise in the wood floors (eek the thought makes me shiver). Back to the story–Parrish has this fun and mysterious journey of a group of people trying to uncover the story behind these four places.

For the rest of the review check out: http://www.floralsndragons.com/2016/0...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie is a 21-year old waitress by day, and a paranormal investigator by night. While struggling to make ends meet enough to pay rent, she and her three friends (Jefferson, Brighton, and Deacon) each receive an anonymous letter promising that their financial burdens will become a thing of the past if they can solve a century-old mystery by piecing together the clues they find in four separate locations throughout the United States. Throughout their cross-country journey, they end up encountering a variety of ghosts and a variety of emotions. Sadie in particular finds herself all confused and tangled in feelings she doesn't entirely understand about the crazy Tim Burton-esque Jefferson, who writes love poems like a psychotic serial killer.

This was a fantastic story!! And while I tend to avoid ghost stories because I get easily freaked out and can't sleep afterwards, I was thoroughly hooked while reading this book! This book does a great job of showing everyone has their quirks (some stronger than others), no matter how "normal" they might try to be. While there's a lot more to the story than the normal/weird debate, I think this book did a great job stating that normalcy is overrated, though at times, toning down the weirdness can be a necessity at times.

I read this book both when it was initially released and again after Future House Publishing republished it. While much of the story is the same, the twist at the end was not one I expected, and now I'm even more excited to read the sequel!!!!

Parrish will be available for $0.99 April 28 - 30 (discounted from the initial price of $3.99)
Readers can enter to win an autographed copy of Parrish today, April 28th here: http://wp.me/p4x4ek-t2
FHP will also be giving away some physical copies on their Goodreads giveaway starting April 30: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

I received a copy of Parrish from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly a fun read. The story revolves around 21 year old Sadie and her friends who are paranormal investigators. One day, they all get envelopes that sends them on an investigation to four different locations and they have to figure out the connection between them. I really loved all the characters. They were extremely quirky. I adored Jefferson. He's weird, broody and intense but very swoonworthy in a Tim Burton-esque way. I adored the budding romance between him and Sadie. It wasn't forced at all and neither was it insta-romance. And there is no love triangle. It just a friendship that slowly builds into something else. I liked the blend of mystery with the paranormal. The scary, creepy parts were interwoven extremely well into the story and the ending was satisfying. It has me already pumped up for book 2. I can't wait to see how the characters grow and where their investigations take them. :)

[Erin Cobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wondered how I would feel about this book. I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were kind of interesting in of themselves, but also how they all interacted together. The basis of the story was a group of young adults who where attracted into "ghost hunting". They did it on their own time/dime and somehow got pulled into a mystery of a who-dun-it from the past. All clues were unusual and there definitely were some twists to the story. Along the way, romance also happens.

Part of the reason I really liked this book was because of the characters. They weren't the "typical" ones you see and that's what made it so believable. I'm thankful I received this book from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Lacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even get 20% of the way through this novel on my Kindle. Not only was the main character irritating, but all she did was complain about her 'best friends.' They're not really your friends when the only good thing you have to say about them is that, they're creepy and happen to be British. Then you get mysterious letters that tell you to go somewhere for an absurd amount of money and you just decide to go? If I got a mysterious letter in my purse and at my place of work with my name on it... I'd call the freaking police, not decide to go where the whack job writer asks me to go. What a disappointing novel.

[Lari :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 4.25.

And one more thing: I didn't think Jefferson was actually that weird or creepy.

[Alexandra]

12/6/17 $.99 for Kindle.

[Tink Magoo is bad at reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this may be the first ghost hunting book I've read and I was pleasantly surprised. The group dynamics were fun, the slow romance build-up was amusing, sweet and weirdly hot and the investigation was compelling.

[Book Geek Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Clever Genre-Mixing, Ghost-Hunting, Mystery with Thrills & Chills!

This ghost-hunting foursome—Parrish, Sadie, Brighton, and Deacon—are awesome in their quirky uniqueness. I loved all four of them. In their early 20’s, they’re still trying to work out their place in life, relationships, personal identities. All while hunting ghosts. Sadie has a lot of the insecurities of a teenager but she is getting her wings. I found her character to be completely believable. Sadie’s best friend, Brighton, is a techno genius who is afraid of ghosts, not to mention phobias and allergies galore—but she’s not a wimp. Deacon is a skeptic who is along for the adventure. (And maybe some romance.) And Parrish—oh, my gosh! He is brilliant, a tad sociopathic, and just plain weird. (And I totally have a book-boy crush on him.)

The interaction and dialog between this group as they try to solve the mystery is funny and clever. They work together well. Well, sort of… maybe I should say, quirkily good enough. I loved it.

Plot? Okay, this is tricky because there are twists and turns, and at times I was wondering if they’re chasing ghosts or a murderer? Or something else entirely. As I was reading, I was trying to figure it out—but then I just gave up and decided to enjoy the ride. And it was a great ride! There is a lot to be revealed in future books, this one doesn’t quite wrap up the mystery and hand it to you with a bow on top. But the big (almost) reveal of the mystery letter and the “person” behind the job was good.

There’s quite a bit of genre-mixing in this story, which for me just added to the enjoyment. First, this is a supernatural story because GHOSTS! And there are plenty of them. But other than a few scenes that made me stop reading it at night (like the one in her hotel bathroom & at the house at the end), it wasn’t too creepy. Then you get the Urban Fantasy/Paranormal part because it’s a contemporary setting, and each of the foursome have some unique, almost otherworldly talents, some of which are only hinted at in this book. But it’s clear that they belong together as a team.

Romance? Yes! Just enough to be interesting, but not enough to take over the fantasy/paranormal elements. And mystery—when they get an anonymous letter with a job offer that’s too good to be true, things start to get twisty.

If you like ghosts and mild horror, I recommend this book. I’d be fine with teens reading it. Although labelled as New Adult, there’s not the sex or language that you often find in those books. I can’t wait until the next book comes out to re-visit these four ghost hunters and see what they discover next! I give it a strong 4 1/2 STARS.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiz time:



Do you like YA ghost stories?

a. Yes
b. No



Are you ok with a perpetually cranky heroine? (OK, so she's Cuban, not Puerto Rican, but the gif is pretty dang accurate)

a. I guess
b. Nope



Is Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock attractive?

a. Yes! Brainy is the new sexy
b. Uh...dude looks like the offspring of a horse and an alien.

If you answered "a" to all of the above, have I got a book for you! Otherwise, mosey along.

OK, so I loved this book. Sadie's annoying, as she's uptight and grumpy about a lot of things, but she knows it and the author knows it, and there's a little bit of character development in this book. Hopefully we'll see more in the next.

Jefferson's....fantastic. He takes things to a whole new level of weird and creepy, but he's got a heart of gold and good intentions.

"I will breathe in your boiled-down truth and essence. If I have to retreat within my own for that solace, I will take it. I choose drowning in madness if it is but in your glory," I read in the most incredulous tone possible. "What in the world is this?" I asked, shock lining my voice.

"It's a love letter," Jefferson said defensively.

"It sounds like you're two seconds away from making a skin suit out of this girl," I corrected him.

Not sure how Camp made Jefferson so dang attractive and hilarious at the same time, but kudos to her.

The writing's weak in a few places, and the atmosphere could have been built up a lot more. (It's a ghost story, so creepy atmospheres are an absolute must for me or I'm not buying it.) Other than that, I loved the characters and I'm very, very hopeful book 2 will come soon and we'll get to see the gang up to their usual Scooby-Doo hijinks in England.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way that Shannen Camp writes, so I was way excited to get to read and review her re-release of Parrish. This is one that I hadn't read before and I loved every bit of it!

I loved Sadie, she's part of a ghost hunter group. She's the unlucky girl who always has to dress up and try to get the ghosts to answer to her nonsensical questions fed to her by Jefferson Parrish. She truly is a character, she's just a bit afraid of the dark and doesn't want anything to do with her family. She's also a waitress because the ghost hunting gig just doesn't pay the bills. I love the way that she always says just what's on her mind. And how pretty much what you see is what you get.

Her friends are pretty fun characters too! There's Brighton, she has almost every phobia you can think of, but she always seems put together. Then the two Parrish boys, Jefferson, who seems like he's out of a way earlier time period and Deacon, neither of which can hold onto a job.

Things are looking bad for the group, ghost hunting just doesn't pay very well, but somehow a mysterious benefactor slips them all envelopes basically hiring them for a job that this mysterious person claims will put their monetary fears to rest. And the group is quickly off on a cross country mission hunting ghosts and learning more about themselves and each other. And just hoping that somehow they'll be able to have enough money to meet their needs along the way.

This book is really well-written! I was a bit scared myself in some of the ghost spots! There's no way I'd read this one at night, but I really loved reading the story and I'm really hoping for more!

I was sent an e-copy of this book from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[April Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would be hooked into a book simply by a character's physical description. I was a few pages in when one of the main characters, Jeffrey Parrish, is described as a "Tim Burton character come to life". I love Tim Burton and to be honest this book had a cool, creepy kind of vibe all the way through. I laughed out loud quite a bit and of course there is also just the right amount of romance involved.

Sadie and her 3 friends are ghost hunters and while they may not be the best, they are the most interesting. Sadie is always stuck as "ghost bait" while her other friends stay behind the scenes. Each one of her friends has their own unique skill set that helps them work as a team even when they may just want to kill each other. I think the most interesting thing about the book is that you are never really sure what is gonna happen next. The team is young, all in their early 20's, and fresh out of college trying to figure out what they want to do with themselves and how to make ends meet. Enter the mysterious letter promising to end all their financial struggles if they can just solve a mystery that is over a century old. Easy, right? They end up all over the US trying to follow the clues. The end of the book was a surprise I didn't see coming and even better the set up for future books involving this group is done nicely.

The publishing company is currently running a Goodreads giveaway that started April 30 to win a physical copy of the book (https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...). Now I actually received an advanced reader copy of this book from Future House Publishing for free in exchange for my honest review but I loved it so much I actually purchased a copy from Amazon (http://amzn.to/1XR1usQ ).

[Sonia Lopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a paranormal, ghost story book that got me hooked from the first page. I have to confess that this is not the sort of book genre that I normally read, so I wasn't sure what to expect or if I would like it, but I was curious when I read the summary so I picked it. So I was really surprised that I got hooked so fast to the point that it took me less than 2 days to finish it. Every little bit of spare time I had I would go straight to the computer to read some more. It is extremely well written and the author, Shannen Crane Camp, really picked an interesting mixed plot. There is a perfect mix of mystery, humour and suspense.

The four main characters are well developed and easy to understand since they represent real people with real problems and help you understand a bit better those specific situations/problems (not going to say much more regarding this since I don’t want to spoil it for my fellow readers). The action is well paced and takes you on a cross-country ghost chase/mystery solving adventure full of twists and turns, where four very different people do their very best to solve the mission they were entrusted with. And despite their differences, friendship is the key word that helps them overcome all obstacles. There is some underlying romance but in a really soft way, making this book also appropriate for pre-teens and teenagers alike.

I really got into this book and felt sorry when it was finished, so I'm definitely hoping and waiting for the next one. I received a copy of Parrish from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. #futurehousepub

[Carrie Munroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of paranormal and romance books, so I had high hopes for “Parrish” and it did not disappoint. The author has done her homework -- fans of ghost hunting-type shows will recognize the gear and at least one location. The supernatural parts of the book are well done, with lots of suspense and eerie details. I definitely got the chills a few times, yet it is the romance part of the book that pleasantly surprised me. So many romance novels are about getting the characters in bed. “Parrish” is more about the journey, complete with some of the confusing feelings that come when couples are just starting to get to know each other as more than friends. I don’t want to label this as a “clean” romance or YA novel (I’m not sure how it’s being marketed) because that diminishes the wonderfully crafted romance and really engaging mystery at the book’s core. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series (I’m hoping that there will be more than just one more book), and will definitely re-read this book when the second one comes out. It’s one of those that, once you know how it ends, will be interesting to go back and re-examine how the author crafted the story and wove in all of the many details.

Disclosure – I purchased this book, but it was brought to my attention by Future House Publishing. I did not receive any compensation for this honest review.

[Judy Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love novels about the paranormal; I love mystery’s, and I love quirky love stories. The book has it all!

Sadie, Brighton, Jefferson and Deacon are a group of ghost hunters. The characters are very believable, each has their strengths & weaknesses, but as a team they balance each other. The relationship they have with each other makes you want to know them.

A mysterious benefactor slips them all envelopes and gives them a job hunting chasing ghost and trying the solve a mystery that takes them across the country.

The plot twists keep you on your toes, and the ghost hunt seems believable (based on the programs I see on TV). A few of the scenes scared me a little and I had to put the book down and check my house for intruders (or maybe ghosts?).

This is a “young adult” book, no sex but it does have a lot of kissing and there isn’t any swearing. That is one reason I do like to read young adult books, it doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable.

I received this product in exchange for my fair, honest and unbiased review. I received no financial compensation for this review. #futurehousepub

[Elizabeth (BookishConnoisseur) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parrish is a fun, paranormal romance. It is told from the point of view of Sadie, a girl in her early twenties who works alongside her best friends, Brighton, Jefferson, & Deacon, as paranormal investigators. Jefferson & Deacon are cousins and make up the British half of the group, while Brighton, who is great with all things technology, struggles with anxiety. The group gets a proposition to work investigating some fun paranormal haunts that take them across the country on a roadtrip.

I really enjoyed this book! It had just the right amount of creepy and romance. I absolutely loved each of the characters and found myself connecting to each of them, especially Brighton who struggles when talking to people, like me! I also fell in love with Jefferson, who was so adorably dorky and intelligent that I couldn’t help but compare him to a modern day Sherlock Holmes. This book was fast-paced, quirky and fun! I definitely recommend this to all paranormal fans.

I received a copy of Parrish from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book for 99 cents based on the reviews. I agree with the majority of them, that Jefferson Parrish is a marvelous character-- in a serial-killer boyfriend kinda way. He has some of the best deadpan dialog I've read in a long time. Unfortunately, as much as i enjoyed the well-written personalities of the 4 paranormal investigators, I didn't care for the story itself and found myself skipping paragraphs because I didn't find then interesting (like the names of the machines). The writer also had a talent for wielding coincidences and crazy leaps of logic with careless abandon-- this moved the story forward, but allowed me to disconnect as I found some of the segues and deductions too convenient and lacking suspense. A fun read, but no meat on the bones of this one... more like a Scooby-do cartoon put to paper. Teens may appreciate it more, but adults may be frustrated by the simplicity.

[Arlene Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an example of to not judge the book by its cover. Even though I like the cover and liked the book I think it doesn't reflect what the book is all about.
A YA paranormal romance where four friends battle their inner feelings between each other. It is a mix of love hate relationship, where the two main characters struggle to accept the feelings each other have for one another. They are set in a mystery quest to find the answers to an unknown client, finding clues leading by ghosts or another entity. They are amateur ghost hunters trying to find evidence of paranormal activity while struggling with money issues.
Note: I received a copy of Parrish from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. It is well written and a lot of fun...in a scary way. I believe in ghosts, so maybe that is why I enjoy it so much. I found the writing in this book was detailed enough for me to get an image in my head. What I thought they all looked like and the scenes that are being portrayed. I feel like I could be sadie or one of her friends, it is something we would do and something I now want to do. Ghost hunting and detective work really do go hand and hand sometimes. When I started reading, I got really into it and hated to stop for the night. Needless to say it did not take me long to read!

I received this product at a discount in exchange for my review.

[Shana Fidalgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parrish tells you the adventure of 4 paranormal investigators which have a lead on someone or something very special.
This is the type of the book and subject that I do like to read, but the way Shannen wrote, makes you be in there.
You can almost see the places and feel what the characters are doing.
I have to praise Shannen in the book and writing. Is excellent!!
If you do like paranormal investigation and follow a couple of shows like it, you will definitely see most of the places described in the book.
Waiting for the next one! :)

[Amanda Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Definitely recommended if you are a fan of paranormal. It was so much better than I thought it would be.

[Michael Goleniewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost stories in this day and age are absolutely nothing new. We are all interested in the unknown and what lies beyond the grave and we all love to be spooked and scared to some degree even if we ourselves are afraid to admit it. However, we've seen them done in so many different forms and varieties that it seems like the spooktacular horror genre as a whole is starting to become stagnant to us in most forms of media. It's gotten to the point where we as consumers of said media in all its forms crave uniqueness and something truly different to really give us the heebie-jeebies and keep us hiding under the covers. This is why new and innovative horror films such as "The Witch" or "The Babadook" get rave reviews and praise while other films such as "Paranormal Activity" or "Saw" (while scary in their prime) simply stagnate as time goes on and become boring even though I wouldn't say there is anything necessarily wrong with them. We all want something fresh and new to keep us scared, something to shake things up and bring us out of our comfort zone in new and interesting ways. For me personally, there is no better place to find some good new scares and fears than in the medium of the written word and books. There is nothing more scary than your own imagination and this is where horror novels come in to the fray. To be honest, I haven't read a genuinely good ghost story in quite a long time and this is why I'm so excited to present my first foray in to the world of book reviews with today's book, the atmospherically fun and spooky novel "Parrish" written by one of our amazing Spotlight entries previously discussed Shannen Crane Camp. I received this e-book for free from Future House Publishing in exchange for my honest review (though I am more than happy to do it for the author regardless). All opinions are my own.

"Parrish" is a supernatural/urban fantasy/paranormal romance mystery novel as described by Amazon.com and it's a very apropos description. From the offset, it seems like a very typical ghost story especially if you judge solely based on the cover and the synopsis which isn't entirely reflective of content. A group of young paranormal investigators are caught up in a mystery seemingly way over their heads when they are sent a mysterious request by an undisclosed client. They are to investigate 4 haunted locations scattered throughout the country in order to find the mysterious link that binds them all together for a substantial sum of money. Seems like an easy sell, right? Well as is to be expected, nothing is as it seems and there is a deeper mystery present with true emotional consequences. From roaming the dank and lavish corridors of the haunted ship "The Queen Mary" in California to investigating haunted houses in Texas to an eventual climax in Boston, this is one cross-country investigation that will bring revelations and feelings to the forefront and have long-lasting ramifications for all involved. From that brief summary, you might be able to guess exactly what kind of a novel you are getting in to i.e. a Paranormal Activity novel with a little bit of Scooby-Doo and Twilight thrown in to the equation to say the least. While I won't deny that those elements are definitely in there and there are few things about it that do sound quite boilerplate at times, everything is laid out and mixed together with a few other surprising influences thrown together in such a way that it really stands out from all of the other "horror" young adult novels out there right now. This is one of those books that seems standard at first but the more you dig in to it, the more interesting and gripping it becomes and in many ways it almost defies its genres with how ingeniously it mixes everything together. This is reflected in every element from the characters and the setting down to the plot and especially in the writing.

Shannen as a writer has always been amazing at creating believable and interesting characters you want to follow and learn more about and she definitely doesn't disappoint here. The 4 main ghost hunters Sadie, Brighton, and Deacon and Jefferson (the Parrish brothers whom the book is named) are fascinating and fun to be around throughout the whole story. Our main lead, Ms. Sadie Smith (pictured on the cover), is a Cuban bombshell with a fiery personality and a strong presence but also real weaknesses too that most readers will definitely relate to. Brighton is a walking contradiction in the gorgeous and modelesque geek serving as the techie and the backbone of the group even with her phobias in all shapes and sizes. Deacon is the younger Parrish brother with a skeptical mind but a good heart and a major shy streak with women. And then there is the older Parrish brother, Jefferson. The best way I can describe him is imagine if a younger Sherlock Holmes as played by Benedict Cumberbatch were thrown in to a Tim Burton film and had an affinity for hunting the paranormal as opposed to the criminal. That's Jefferson Parrish in a nutshell. The dynamic and interaction between these 4 is so quirky, dynamic, and geniune and is easily one of the most believable group of friends I have ever read in fiction. However, that's not to say that all of them specifically remain just friends throughout and of course there are feelings and relationships that eventually come out in the course of the story, in particular between the main pair Sadie and Jefferson. While it's not one I would easily see coming if it weren't in the synopsis of the book itself, the relationship between the two is very believable and sweet enough that I wanted things to work out with even through the different personalities and vibes the two have. It's one of those cases where opposites attract in a sense and it works great here. There is also a budding romance between the other pair Deacon and Brighton but it's not touched on quite as much and it's an element that I hope is explored a bit more in future installments.

In terms of the plot, there is so much genre mixing and so many unexpected moments that half of the time you really aren't sure what you are in for. Are we pursuing a ghost, a real-life murderer, or both? Who is the mysterious client that has employed them and for what purposes? Is all as it seems or is there something else entirely? We swerve from one incident to another and eventually it's best to simply let things go and enjoy the ride because I guarantee you will not see half of these twists and turns coming for the foursome as you are reading. The setting is absolutely fantastic and beautifully written all the way from Portland, Oregon to the Queen Mary ship and beyond. The descriptive writing by Shannen here is beyond amazing and you really feel like you are there as all of these events are going down. With a breakneck and tense pacing established from the minute the first envelope appears, you immediately want more once you hit the last page. Not to mention the main fact that.....well.....this book is genuinely creepy. There are several moments especially at the beginning of the novel that made my hair stand up on end and the sequence in the Queen Mary is one of those that really needs to be filmed or shown visually because it legitimately made me drop the book for a second in terms of scary factor. However, it's not scary to the point to where it turns off younger or less mature readers and there is no gore, sex, or anything like that other than the main romances which are substantially PG rated. This really makes it a book that everyone can read which is so nice to see with a ghost story novel. The ending is genuinely a shock that you won't see coming and not everything is immediately solved (obviously setting up things for a bigger excursion of sorts in Book 2) but I'm OK with that considering how things ended and I definitely will be back for the sequel!

FINAL VERDICT: "Parrish" has just the perfect balance of creep factor, romance, mystery, and fun to thrill old and new readers alike. This is one novel that will keep you up at night because you are spooked out by it, hooked on it to the point that you can't put it down, or most likely both. With an immensely likable main cast, genuinely creepy moments, big twists, some adorkable romances, and a true accessibility for all, this is a mystery that kept me guessing and one that I couldn't wait to finish and I can't recommend this one highly enough! -- 10/10.

[Carole Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when an author makes me care about characters, and makes me feel as if I actually know them. That's what Shannen Crane Camp has done in Parrish, to the point where I almost wish I hadn't found this book until she had more stories written for them, so I wouldn't have to wait....

I almost don't even care what the stories ARE, as long as I get to read more about them and enjoy them interacting. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed the story tremendously, but the all-too-real characters are what kept me reading more than anything else. A day and a half after finishing Parrish, I still find random lines (description and/or dialogue) popping into my head and making me smile or even laugh out loud. I stopped several times while reading the book to tell my husband that I thought he should read it—even though this is NOT his normal genre—because I thought he'd really enjoy the interaction between the characters. (I kept finding myself wanting to read parts to him, but didn't, in case he does decide to read it himself....)

Anyway, all that said, I'm very much looking forward to more stories in this series, and I hope we don't have to wait too long!

Disclaimer: I received this ebook for free from Future House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. S'alright. There's potential here and it was a fun read, but you can't have a character repeatedly criticizing another for being creepy and weird without SHOWING how he's creepy and weird. Otherwise she just seems like, well, a huge bitch for no reason.

It feels like the author had a great mental picture of all her characters, which is a good thing, but she sometimes forgot that the rest of us are just meeting them for the first time and need some help getting to know them.

[Desireè Wingate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was easily one of the cutest mysteries I’ve read in awhile. It was really easy to get sucked into from the beginning. It wasn’t scary or overly suspenseful. But it was fun and you quickly fall in love with the characters and the story. It really felt like hanging out with a bunch of friends trying to figure out a mystery together. I absolutely loved it! And if I was ever a character in a book, Brighton would be it - 110% 😂 I can’t wait to start the 2nd book!

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could give this 2.5 stars. It was a unique story and I wanted to like it. My main criticism is that I didn’t buy into the characteristics assigned to each person. Crazy Parrish #1 didn’t seem all that weird or creepy so when the protagonist kept saying he was crazy, it felt mean and harsh. I will not continue with the series.