Ghosts in the Asylum

by Roger Alford

An ambitious reporter looking for her big break. A millionaire recluse looking for a cure. Can they survive a violent city ruled by the Mob?

Vicky Rose is a reporter stuck in the City Hall beat, but she’s desperate to cover crime. And fight back against the corruption that permeates her entire city.

She sees her chance at a big break when the Mayor is murdered in his office.

Reclusive millionaire Brent Gregor has been trapped in a wheelchair since the night a home intruder killed his father and destroyed his family. Now, the only thing he cares about is being able to walk again. And regaining what he's lost.

The mayor’s murder reeks of Mob violence, but all the evidence points to an innocent family man. Vicky knows the only hope of finding the truth rests in Gregor’s hands. But he’s unwilling to help until he discovers that in order to walk, he will have to take a stand for justice. And face head-on his greatest fears.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2015

About the author

Roger Alford grew up on a steady diet of Star Wars and Jim Henson. After discovering old time radio and movie serials in college, he realized he’d been born in the wrong decade.

An independent author under the imprint of Black Hood Press, Roger has written multiple novels about The Black Spectre and most recently launched his latest series, Hollywood Newshawk.

When he’s not plotting new mysteries or brushing up on Mafia history, he's traveling the world and eating in amazing restaurants with his wife and family.

Reviews

[Wyntrnoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good retro-pulp.

[Tom Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the origin story for The Black Spectre. In 1921 Three-finger Ned Vogal broke into the DA’s home killing the DA and shooting his son. The boy becomes an invalid, no longer able to walk, and his mother is admitted to the local asylum for the insane. Fifteen years later young Brent Gregor is still confined to the wheelchair, and has broken up with the woman he loves, Abigail Wentworth, an aviatrix. Victoria Rose a reporter for the Daily Crusader is struggling to make the newspaper’s crime beat, and constantly sticks her neck out to get a story. A new crime is similar to the one that killed Brent’s father, and Vicky visits him to obtain information, but is run off. Then a gypsy woman, Madame Ouspenskaya brings a magic salvation to Brent in the form of a ring that gives him strength in the legs to walk, as well as mental powers like telekinetic ability and turning invisible. He has his butler call Vicky for another interview and gives her a report he received from a private detective three years before. Vicky reads the report written by the murdered private detective and discovers the truth. Now she must enter the asylum to prove that the killer is being protected. When she fails to show up for a dinner date, her boyfriend calls Brent to see if he knows where she’s at. Now Dennis Morris and The Black Spectre must rescue the girl before something horrible is done to her.

This was a darn good story, featuring an exciting new pulp hero, even if The Black Spectre doesn’t appear until towards the end of the story. The city is controlled by the mob, and mobsters are at war with each other. But police and city officials are in the pockets of the mob bosses. It’s going to take a fighting reporter like Vicky and The Black Spectre to bring the hoods to justice and return their city from corrupt politicians to a crime-free town of descent government and law-abiding citizens. Highly recommended.

[Jeffery Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. From the cover, I expected more of a pulp, "comic book-y" novel. There are aspects of that, especially in the latter third of the book, but the first part is what really drew me in. The first half focuses primarily on a female reporter in the 30s time period who desperately wants to be on the crime beat and will do almost anything to get there. The character and the world is so well drawn that they are completely immersive. The mob, in particular, feels real, and I never doubted the time period.

In fact, the only complaint I had was that, when the book veered into the comic book territory, it was a bit abrupt and felt forced. It builds perfectly to a sequel, which I'm going to have to get and read, but it took some adjusting. I loved the Shadow-like character that was a perfect callback to dime novels and radio serials, but to be honest, I wanted the story to continue with just the reporter. She was a fascinating character and I would read more of her anytime.

Either way, I will read more. This book definitely shows some real talent, and I love visiting the dark, foggy streets plagued by mob villains who are stalked by a mysterious being and a female reporter who defies conventions and who will do anything to get the story and bring justice.

Great read!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but needs some polish

Let me start off by saying that I really liked the premise of this story. It reads a bit like an old pulp fiction, a very busy one.. For the most part it is good but at times a bit confused. Like so many books i have read recently, it could use a better editor. With a bit of editing and polish it would be a 5 star book. Needless to say this author has a lot of potential.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was, super fun. It isn’t going to be listed for a Pulitzer, but it will keep you happy and make you chuckle. Fun characters, fast plot, some real feeling, a strong female lead, and it hearkens back to a time of novels when they were written for entertainment an not trying to be art. I recommend this book highly, a nice diversion from life.

[Barbara Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

I really enjoyed this read. I really like the Spectre coming to the recuse. She was following her guts feelings.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read.