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Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #6
Maze of Souls
It's October, and down at newly opened Pine Hollow Farm, the ghosts are running wild!. This “genuine” old-time family farm offers a big heap of fun fall activities. You can drink cider fresh from the orchard, enter a pumpkin-carving contest, and explore the five-acre corn maze. At night, if you aren't too scared, join the haunted hayride through the woods, featuring a genuine eighteenth-century cemetery. According to local legend, the ghost of a horseman has ridden the old dirt road through the woods for nearly two centuries, menacing travelers. Hayriders beware!
Then the real ghosts start to come out, threatening visitors to the farm and the family who live there. Paranormal detective Ellie Jordan travels out to the remote farm to root out the dangerous spirits. Ellie and her assistant Stacey must move fast, because the night is coming when all ghosts will be at full strength and free to roam—the night of Halloween.
Then the real ghosts start to come out, threatening visitors to the farm and the family who live there. Paranormal detective Ellie Jordan travels out to the remote farm to root out the dangerous spirits. Ellie and her assistant Stacey must move fast, because the night is coming when all ghosts will be at full strength and free to roam—the night of Halloween.
Unknown Binding
First published February 24, 2016
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About the author
J.L. Bryan
53 books1,033 followersJ.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife and son. He is the author of the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper books and some other assorted novels like Inferno Park, The Unseen, Jenny Pox, and basically a lot of supernatural stories, some of it dark, some of it very dark, some of it less dark than that.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 18, 2018
Maze of Souls
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper
By: J. L. Bryan
Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer
I really love this series! This one has plenty of surprises in her personal life that pops up unexpectedly! There is a Halloween time haunting, a man on horseback, a woman that crawls up the stairs to the kids room, and more! These books are always good for a good creepy read....wiggles fingers...
I love the characters, the scattered humor, the spooky humor, the plots, the human aspect they give to the ghost (they are not just ectoplasm you know, lol), and the fun dialogue especially between the two female ghost hunters. They crack me up.
The narrator does an amazing job of performing all the voices and the book!
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper
By: J. L. Bryan
Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer
I really love this series! This one has plenty of surprises in her personal life that pops up unexpectedly! There is a Halloween time haunting, a man on horseback, a woman that crawls up the stairs to the kids room, and more! These books are always good for a good creepy read....wiggles fingers...
I love the characters, the scattered humor, the spooky humor, the plots, the human aspect they give to the ghost (they are not just ectoplasm you know, lol), and the fun dialogue especially between the two female ghost hunters. They crack me up.
The narrator does an amazing job of performing all the voices and the book!
March 3, 2016
4.5 Stars!
I have to start off by saying that I just adore this series so I may be a bit biased with this review. Actually no, that isn't true, Bryan deserves all the credit and praise he gets for his work, they really are that good, that fun, and even that creepy and at times, horrific.
This has quickly become not only a favorite series of mine but one that I eagerly await each new installment of.
This was just so much more than the others, don't get me wrong, they are all fabulous, but things were seriously ramped up. The danger was greater, the stakes higher, and Ellie is in a position that she has never been in before, both work wise and relationship wise. This was unputdownable.
It freaked me out, gave me chills, made me mad, made me sad, made me laugh, and almost everything in between. I just adored it and with that ending, I can't wait for more.
I'm so excited about where this series is going and am on edge with what will happen next. This is definitely one serious that needs to be read, talked about, and one that needs to be taken note of.
I have to start off by saying that I just adore this series so I may be a bit biased with this review. Actually no, that isn't true, Bryan deserves all the credit and praise he gets for his work, they really are that good, that fun, and even that creepy and at times, horrific.
This has quickly become not only a favorite series of mine but one that I eagerly await each new installment of.
This was just so much more than the others, don't get me wrong, they are all fabulous, but things were seriously ramped up. The danger was greater, the stakes higher, and Ellie is in a position that she has never been in before, both work wise and relationship wise. This was unputdownable.
It freaked me out, gave me chills, made me mad, made me sad, made me laugh, and almost everything in between. I just adored it and with that ending, I can't wait for more.
I'm so excited about where this series is going and am on edge with what will happen next. This is definitely one serious that needs to be read, talked about, and one that needs to be taken note of.
March 1, 2016
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
I've always liked the characters in this series, and that didn't change in this installment.
This was another good read in the series. There were one or two times where I thought it wasn't quite so good as the previous books, but the last 20% definately proved otherwise!
Overall, An an enjoyable read.
I've always liked the characters in this series, and that didn't change in this installment.
This was another good read in the series. There were one or two times where I thought it wasn't quite so good as the previous books, but the last 20% definately proved otherwise!
Overall, An an enjoyable read.
April 2, 2016
My beta read is done, and I've sent my notes to Mr. Bryan.
Y'all are going to love it!
Y'all are going to love it!
June 11, 2019
Maze Corn on Halloween. In a hidden farm where lots of brutal murders took place. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, this book has the creeps, the humor and the action. The story behind all the hauntings in the farm was really interesting to read about it, I caught myself coming up why a lot of different theories, trying to discover who was the big bad guy after all.
I loved all of it, but the deal with Michael really got me like... UGH. J. L. Bryan is trying to destroy my ship!
Well, this book has the creeps, the humor and the action. The story behind all the hauntings in the farm was really interesting to read about it, I caught myself coming up why a lot of different theories, trying to discover who was the big bad guy after all.
I loved all of it, but the deal with Michael really got me like... UGH. J. L. Bryan is trying to destroy my ship!
March 20, 2016
Four and a half stars: Another creepy installment into an amazing series.
Stacey and Ellie wind carefully down the country road, passing another handmade wooden sign advertising a local pumpkin patch. At last, they reach their destination: Pine Hollow Farm, where they meet their latest client, Amber the owner of the farm. Amber's family recently moved to the country after her husband inherited the farm from his deceased uncle. They had high hopes for the farm, and they quickly established a corn maze, pumpkin patch and haunted wood. Things were going well until some of the local teenagers, who were helping with the attraction, quit after seeing ghostly forms in the woods. Then their eldest daughter was chased by a horseman apparition, while their youngest started seeing a girl in a bloody dress in her room. Ellie and Stacey must determine who is haunting the farm and why. Can they eradicate the ghosts in time for Halloween?
What I Liked:
*I think I say this with each and every book, but this one is better than the last. Maze of Souls is the sixth book in this highly addictive ghostly series. This book delivers all that you love about the series: creepy ghosts, an atmospheric setting, history and more. If you have yet to try this series, I urge you to check it out.
*I loved the setting for this one. It takes place on a rural farm in Georgia. The farm has been around for generations, since the late 1700s, and the old farm house, small cemetery and woods are haunted with layers and layers of ghosts. The woods and the cemetery were particularly creepy. I also enjoyed that one of the ghosts was a Hessian horseman, not headless, a spin off the old Irving story.
*I enjoyed the fall setting. This one takes place a few days before Halloween so there is a nice dose of all things fall.
*With each and every haunting, Ellie and Stacey must uncover the history in order to determine the identity of the ghost who is haunting the property. This time, the ghosts are from the Revolutionary War, and there are several to contend with. As I mentioned, there is a horsemen riding the property, and there is also a girl stained in blood, who climbs the stairs in the home each and every night. The woods are full of terrifying ghosts as well. I loved learning the history of the area, especially concerning the Revolutionary War. The final twists regarding the ghosts and their motives were fantastic, and I loved how it all played out.
*This book is a bit of game changer. Things are getting more and more complicated for Stacey and Ellie. The hauntings they are investigating are getting scarier and more difficult, then they must deal with the selling of the business. There are a couple of other big developments that I won't disclose to avoid spoilers, but I will say this, things are going to get worse I think for Ellie and Stacey.
*The story is as exciting and thrilling as ever. The ending is absolutely stunning. There are a couple of jaw dropping surprises that I didn't see coming. Talk about scary! Once the dust settles, the latest haunting is resolved, but there are some big questions left looming, a bit of a cliffhanger. I was pleased though that at least the haunting was taken care of, and that the next book is due out in Summer of 2016.
And The Not So Much:
*The ending is fast and furious and it does end on a cliffhanger. A lot goes down in those final pages, that left my head spinning. I didn't want it to end, I need the answers.
*I loved learning the history of the farm and uncovering the truth about the horseman and the bloody girl. My only niggle was that there was a big piece of information uncovered at the end that provided the truth. I wished that more from this source was disclosed. I wanted to know further about the girl, and who knew the truth after she died and hid it?
*There is something big that happens with Michael, and I was left wanting to know how.
Maze of Souls is another thrilling and creepy installment in the fantastic Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Series. This is a series that continues to deliver scary ghosts, exciting story lines, ghost hunting and lots of history. I love this series, and I cannot recommend it enough. You need to give it a try.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Stacey and Ellie wind carefully down the country road, passing another handmade wooden sign advertising a local pumpkin patch. At last, they reach their destination: Pine Hollow Farm, where they meet their latest client, Amber the owner of the farm. Amber's family recently moved to the country after her husband inherited the farm from his deceased uncle. They had high hopes for the farm, and they quickly established a corn maze, pumpkin patch and haunted wood. Things were going well until some of the local teenagers, who were helping with the attraction, quit after seeing ghostly forms in the woods. Then their eldest daughter was chased by a horseman apparition, while their youngest started seeing a girl in a bloody dress in her room. Ellie and Stacey must determine who is haunting the farm and why. Can they eradicate the ghosts in time for Halloween?
What I Liked:
*I think I say this with each and every book, but this one is better than the last. Maze of Souls is the sixth book in this highly addictive ghostly series. This book delivers all that you love about the series: creepy ghosts, an atmospheric setting, history and more. If you have yet to try this series, I urge you to check it out.
*I loved the setting for this one. It takes place on a rural farm in Georgia. The farm has been around for generations, since the late 1700s, and the old farm house, small cemetery and woods are haunted with layers and layers of ghosts. The woods and the cemetery were particularly creepy. I also enjoyed that one of the ghosts was a Hessian horseman, not headless, a spin off the old Irving story.
*I enjoyed the fall setting. This one takes place a few days before Halloween so there is a nice dose of all things fall.
*With each and every haunting, Ellie and Stacey must uncover the history in order to determine the identity of the ghost who is haunting the property. This time, the ghosts are from the Revolutionary War, and there are several to contend with. As I mentioned, there is a horsemen riding the property, and there is also a girl stained in blood, who climbs the stairs in the home each and every night. The woods are full of terrifying ghosts as well. I loved learning the history of the area, especially concerning the Revolutionary War. The final twists regarding the ghosts and their motives were fantastic, and I loved how it all played out.
*This book is a bit of game changer. Things are getting more and more complicated for Stacey and Ellie. The hauntings they are investigating are getting scarier and more difficult, then they must deal with the selling of the business. There are a couple of other big developments that I won't disclose to avoid spoilers, but I will say this, things are going to get worse I think for Ellie and Stacey.
*The story is as exciting and thrilling as ever. The ending is absolutely stunning. There are a couple of jaw dropping surprises that I didn't see coming. Talk about scary! Once the dust settles, the latest haunting is resolved, but there are some big questions left looming, a bit of a cliffhanger. I was pleased though that at least the haunting was taken care of, and that the next book is due out in Summer of 2016.
And The Not So Much:
*The ending is fast and furious and it does end on a cliffhanger. A lot goes down in those final pages, that left my head spinning. I didn't want it to end, I need the answers.
*I loved learning the history of the farm and uncovering the truth about the horseman and the bloody girl. My only niggle was that there was a big piece of information uncovered at the end that provided the truth. I wished that more from this source was disclosed. I wanted to know further about the girl, and who knew the truth after she died and hid it?
*There is something big that happens with Michael, and I was left wanting to know how.
Maze of Souls is another thrilling and creepy installment in the fantastic Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Series. This is a series that continues to deliver scary ghosts, exciting story lines, ghost hunting and lots of history. I love this series, and I cannot recommend it enough. You need to give it a try.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
March 2, 2023
Things don't look all the rosy for Ellie at the end of this book and I'm anxious to see how she deals with them. Because, you know, Ellie's strong and she bounces back from some pretty wicked supernatural happenings, but she had THINGS she needs to deal with. She's good at rolling with the punches and all that, but she's also on the verge of some big changes and that might throw her for a loop.
(If I use "things" one more time, feel free to punch me in the face. I'll probably deserve it.)
So. I liked this one. It advanced the overall arc nicely AND gave us some creepy, crawly ghosties Ellie needed to smite. Or whatever it is she does. As I've some to expect from these books, Ellie does her research to hunt down who's causing all the shenanigans and then steps in to take care of business. Sometimes she does it the other way around and it doesn't end as well for her. To be fair, sometimes there isn't a lot of information to be found and she has to wing it.
Man, this is turning into a metaphor for my life, isn't it?
Anyway. Ellie and crew are dealing with a pretty messy one this time around (bloody lady crawling up the stair. YESSSSS!) and they rise to the occasion. As ghost trappers often must do. *slow thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
(If I use "things" one more time, feel free to punch me in the face. I'll probably deserve it.)
So. I liked this one. It advanced the overall arc nicely AND gave us some creepy, crawly ghosties Ellie needed to smite. Or whatever it is she does. As I've some to expect from these books, Ellie does her research to hunt down who's causing all the shenanigans and then steps in to take care of business. Sometimes she does it the other way around and it doesn't end as well for her. To be fair, sometimes there isn't a lot of information to be found and she has to wing it.
Man, this is turning into a metaphor for my life, isn't it?
Anyway. Ellie and crew are dealing with a pretty messy one this time around (bloody lady crawling up the stair. YESSSSS!) and they rise to the occasion. As ghost trappers often must do. *slow thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
March 5, 2016
Another interesting case. I enjoyed the parts when they had to research for the case. I was able to figure things out a little before the reveal. I'm definitely interested in what's going to happen with Michael and where the new case will be.
March 8, 2016
Maze of Souls was a surprise book, with me hearing about it's publication a few hours before it arrived on my iPad. But I am willing admit to dropping everything to read this one. Not only does the cover give off a spooky atmosphere, but the synopsis also promises a real fright.
Maze of Souls begins with Ellie being trapped in a burning house, with her family trapped inside. But thankfully we quickly discover it is a nightmare and that Ellie is in fact safe and sound....for now, and I thought the following quote really portrays Ellie's life as a ghost hunter.
Their newest job takes Ellie and Stacey to Pine Hollow Farm, to investigate strange noises and sightings on the farm. Although the family is getting ready for Halloween and opening a haunted corn maze, the family definitely got more than they bargained for, and seek out Ellie and Stacey for help, before they lose the farm or thier life.
Maze of Souls had a lot of things happening in the pages, the haunting, the merger (which we all saw coming), and something else which I'm not going to mention. But it all works well together, giving us a book that we don't want to put down, and also makes me reevaluate me desire to visit a corn maze.
With a Hessian Horseman, a crawling ghost, and far too many more to name, this was never going to be an easy fix for Ellie and Stacey, and as the story progresses we get to really see how far this haunting has gone, both in history and amount of ghosts present. We also get to see Jason and Michael play a role in this story, and I was happy to see the gang all together at one point, even if there was something off about Michael.
Maze of Souls packs one hell of a punch but also opens the floodgates. It lulls you into a false sense of security before ripping that safety blanket away and throwing a new problem at you. I devoured this book, putting it down in the early hours of the morning, and picking it up as soon as I woke the next day. I thoroughly enjoyed the creepiness of the book and I really enjoyed getting to see the personalities shine through, especially with Stacey's comedic moments at inappropriate times.
With every haunting and removal, you expect some hiccups along the way, and I'd be lying if I said this one was easy. But I really I'd not see that coming, not at all. I knew something wasn't right, but I never expected that. My only issue with this book is the ending, why did it have to end like that, and I really need to know what happens next for these people involved.
Final Verdict
Maze of Souls was an unputdownable read, it was creepy, spooky, and took you on so many twists and turns you never knew what would happen next. The ending was a complete surprise, and I never saw it coming. I really need to have the next book in my hands to see what happens next. I hope the wait isn't too long.
Maze of Souls begins with Ellie being trapped in a burning house, with her family trapped inside. But thankfully we quickly discover it is a nightmare and that Ellie is in fact safe and sound....for now, and I thought the following quote really portrays Ellie's life as a ghost hunter.
It can be hard to separate the reality from nightmare, especially when my waking reality is filled with its own nightmares. I don't need old ghosts pursuing me out of my past. I have enough of them in my present and my future.
Their newest job takes Ellie and Stacey to Pine Hollow Farm, to investigate strange noises and sightings on the farm. Although the family is getting ready for Halloween and opening a haunted corn maze, the family definitely got more than they bargained for, and seek out Ellie and Stacey for help, before they lose the farm or thier life.
Maze of Souls had a lot of things happening in the pages, the haunting, the merger (which we all saw coming), and something else which I'm not going to mention. But it all works well together, giving us a book that we don't want to put down, and also makes me reevaluate me desire to visit a corn maze.
With a Hessian Horseman, a crawling ghost, and far too many more to name, this was never going to be an easy fix for Ellie and Stacey, and as the story progresses we get to really see how far this haunting has gone, both in history and amount of ghosts present. We also get to see Jason and Michael play a role in this story, and I was happy to see the gang all together at one point, even if there was something off about Michael.
Maze of Souls packs one hell of a punch but also opens the floodgates. It lulls you into a false sense of security before ripping that safety blanket away and throwing a new problem at you. I devoured this book, putting it down in the early hours of the morning, and picking it up as soon as I woke the next day. I thoroughly enjoyed the creepiness of the book and I really enjoyed getting to see the personalities shine through, especially with Stacey's comedic moments at inappropriate times.
"A choppa," Stacey said. "You know, a helicopter? I was doing Schwarzenegger from Predator. 'Get to da choppa!'"
Sometimes I wish Stacey would stay quiet when we're meeting new clients.
With every haunting and removal, you expect some hiccups along the way, and I'd be lying if I said this one was easy. But I really I'd not see that coming, not at all. I knew something wasn't right, but I never expected that. My only issue with this book is the ending, why did it have to end like that, and I really need to know what happens next for these people involved.
Final Verdict
Maze of Souls was an unputdownable read, it was creepy, spooky, and took you on so many twists and turns you never knew what would happen next. The ending was a complete surprise, and I never saw it coming. I really need to have the next book in my hands to see what happens next. I hope the wait isn't too long.
January 7, 2018
I’ve been reading this series from the beginning and the author always keeps his character’s genuine, the scares, well…scary, the suspense at the max and the fun stuff in all the right places.
It’s almost Halloween and Ellie Jordan has a new case. It seems ghosts are threatening the owners and visitors at Pine Hollow Farm. It’s an important time at the farm. They expect record numbers to come for the haunted hayrides, the corn maze, and many other fun events. But restless spirits are putting a damper on things, causing the owners to cancel the big holiday bash.
Ellie is called in when the ghosts start to threaten the family and enter their home. She’s going to need all her skills to trap multiple ghosts. And they aren’t going quietly into the night.
The author really writes Ellie as genuine. She’s scared stiff a lot of the time but still makes a stand against the ghosts. Often getting knocked on her butt. And her assistant, Stacey. You can always count on her snark to lighten the bleakest of moments.
I knew this was going to be scary good. I drew on memories of when I was young and our family used to visit a farm like this. I thought it was fun but also got scared pretty good when we went on the hayride. It’s dark in those woods. There were some super creepy ghosts for Ellie and her snarky sidekick, Stacey , to deal with. As I got deeper into the book, Halloween drew closer and the suspense grew. The holiday is the time of year for ghosts. They’re free to roam and there are so many at the farm. As bad as the ghosts already were, I hated to think what was in store for everyone once Halloween night arrived.
Every time I read a new Ellie Jordan book I cross my fingers, hoping it will be as good as the last one. The author made me a happy camper as I loved this book. If you haven’t had a chance to start this series, you really should. There’s plenty of hauntings and scares to keep any horror fan happy.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
It’s almost Halloween and Ellie Jordan has a new case. It seems ghosts are threatening the owners and visitors at Pine Hollow Farm. It’s an important time at the farm. They expect record numbers to come for the haunted hayrides, the corn maze, and many other fun events. But restless spirits are putting a damper on things, causing the owners to cancel the big holiday bash.
Ellie is called in when the ghosts start to threaten the family and enter their home. She’s going to need all her skills to trap multiple ghosts. And they aren’t going quietly into the night.
The author really writes Ellie as genuine. She’s scared stiff a lot of the time but still makes a stand against the ghosts. Often getting knocked on her butt. And her assistant, Stacey. You can always count on her snark to lighten the bleakest of moments.
I knew this was going to be scary good. I drew on memories of when I was young and our family used to visit a farm like this. I thought it was fun but also got scared pretty good when we went on the hayride. It’s dark in those woods. There were some super creepy ghosts for Ellie and her snarky sidekick, Stacey , to deal with. As I got deeper into the book, Halloween drew closer and the suspense grew. The holiday is the time of year for ghosts. They’re free to roam and there are so many at the farm. As bad as the ghosts already were, I hated to think what was in store for everyone once Halloween night arrived.
Every time I read a new Ellie Jordan book I cross my fingers, hoping it will be as good as the last one. The author made me a happy camper as I loved this book. If you haven’t had a chance to start this series, you really should. There’s plenty of hauntings and scares to keep any horror fan happy.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
September 5, 2018
This was one of my favorites in the series so far. I watch too many horror movies not to enjoy a story with a haunted corn maze and possibly-headless horseman. I feel like we're starting to get deep down into Ellie's character now and I've grown to all of the characters, Stacey in particular. Six books into the series and they have all been great, I'm really hoping the trend continues 🤞
March 20, 2016
So, it's now officially Spring... and this book is set in October, but honestly, there's no time set in stone to read a scary story, especially if it's part of the Ellie Jordon, Ghost Trapper series.
As readers have come to expect from this series, there really isn't any down time in Maze of Souls. A lot happens in this book. More than a few of those things Ellie and crew aren't prepared for. Between the emotional moments and the scary moments, Maze of Souls may be my favorite installment in this series so far.
Ellie's world is about to change and she's not ready for it. She's feeling abandoned by someone she's close to, whether it's logical or not, that's how she feels. Her boyfriend semi-ignores her through a lot of the story and there are kids involved in the haunting she's investigating, which is never a good thing. Throw in a hormonal, moody teenager and some seriously powerful ghosts and you have a story that pretty much covers it all.
There were also a few interesting twists in Maze of Souls that I never saw coming... at least not all of them. In the end (no spoilers, I promise) Ellie has to make a decision that leaves more than one person hanging in the balance. I almost forgot how good J.L. Bryan is at throwing his characters into situations that leave them just a little bit broken. (That's an understatement in some cases - Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, #1) ) Needless to say, I'm hoping the next book can't come soon enough.
I received Maze of Souls in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As readers have come to expect from this series, there really isn't any down time in Maze of Souls. A lot happens in this book. More than a few of those things Ellie and crew aren't prepared for. Between the emotional moments and the scary moments, Maze of Souls may be my favorite installment in this series so far.
Ellie's world is about to change and she's not ready for it. She's feeling abandoned by someone she's close to, whether it's logical or not, that's how she feels. Her boyfriend semi-ignores her through a lot of the story and there are kids involved in the haunting she's investigating, which is never a good thing. Throw in a hormonal, moody teenager and some seriously powerful ghosts and you have a story that pretty much covers it all.
There were also a few interesting twists in Maze of Souls that I never saw coming... at least not all of them. In the end (no spoilers, I promise) Ellie has to make a decision that leaves more than one person hanging in the balance. I almost forgot how good J.L. Bryan is at throwing his characters into situations that leave them just a little bit broken. (That's an understatement in some cases - Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, #1) ) Needless to say, I'm hoping the next book can't come soon enough.
I received Maze of Souls in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 2, 2016
Venturing out into the country and away from Savannah, Ellie and Stacy must work to figure out who and what is haunting a family farm. With little information to go on, this may very well be one of their hardest cases to solve since we’ve starting following them. So pull out your thermal goggles and tactical flashlight and get ready for one heck of a spooky ride!
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love everything about it: the pumpkins, the decorations, the spooky feelings it invokes. I cannot get enough. So when I read the blurb for this one I was all in. Of course I would have been all in anyhow. I have loved following this series as it has grew to 6 books so far. 6 books!!! And by the looks of it, Bryan doesn’t seem too eager to shut it down any time soon. (Woohoo!!)
With each book the stories stay fresh and unique. I am in actual awe that Bryan writes them so well and spits them out so quickly. I look forward to each and every one. And towards the end of each book, I sometimes find myself slowing down so not to reach the end too soon. I hate to see them come to a close but I am always happy when I know there is another one soon to follow close behind.
I am absolutely diggin' where Bryan is going with this series. Not that I have any idea where but you can tell there is an urgency-like the books are preparing us for something huge. I, for one, cannot wait. I love the creepy, tingly feelings I get from these books... and MAZE OF SOULS was probably one of favorites of the series. 5 Creeptastic Stars!
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love everything about it: the pumpkins, the decorations, the spooky feelings it invokes. I cannot get enough. So when I read the blurb for this one I was all in. Of course I would have been all in anyhow. I have loved following this series as it has grew to 6 books so far. 6 books!!! And by the looks of it, Bryan doesn’t seem too eager to shut it down any time soon. (Woohoo!!)
With each book the stories stay fresh and unique. I am in actual awe that Bryan writes them so well and spits them out so quickly. I look forward to each and every one. And towards the end of each book, I sometimes find myself slowing down so not to reach the end too soon. I hate to see them come to a close but I am always happy when I know there is another one soon to follow close behind.
I am absolutely diggin' where Bryan is going with this series. Not that I have any idea where but you can tell there is an urgency-like the books are preparing us for something huge. I, for one, cannot wait. I love the creepy, tingly feelings I get from these books... and MAZE OF SOULS was probably one of favorites of the series. 5 Creeptastic Stars!
June 23, 2020
Well, I'm definitely giving up on this series here. Partly that's due to the quality of this book, and partly that's due to the fact that the remaining audiobooks are Audible only. I'm not sure there's a series that exists that could get me to give Audible money in order to keep reading it, but if there was, it definitely wouldn't be this series.
The thing is, I loved this series at first. The first four books, more or less, were a lot of great fun and I reviewed them very highly because I felt they deserved it for doing what they did. The fifth book was a bit of a rocky start but it mostly pulled it off in the end. But this book?
Phew.
The primary ghost plot was... fine. Stacey and Ellie head to a farm-turned-tourist trap out of town to investigate a ghost that's scaring the children. We know by now Ellie doesn't stand for scared children. Fitting with what I've said in earlier reviews, yes, this matches a Real Ghostbusters episode pretty well, with the spooky happenings on a farm in the family for generations and even the ancestors being buried on the land.
And all of that is... fine. It's a little weaker than it has been the rest of the series, but that's, unfortunately, by design. For this book, Bryan decided to focus less on the haunting and more on the personal lives of his characters, particularly Ellie's 'cuz, ya know, she's the main character.
Now, here's the thing. This is Book 6 in a series. When a series has been going on for a while, you don't have to spend as much time waxing on with a character's inner thought process about everything that's happening in their lives. You can assume that if by book 6 we don't already kind of know how these characters feel and react to the things around them, then you didn't do your job in the first five books.
We know the characters, okay?
But this book, like every other series I've ever read, actually does the opposite of trusting its fans and spends drastically more time than any previous book going on and on and on and on about all of Ellie's inner feels about everything. And I mean on. And. On. Every single time - every single time - another character is so much as mentioned in this book, we get a multiple page diversion as Ellie goes back over the same things she thinks about the character that we got the last time the character was mentioned - probably in the last chapter. We don't need her emotions spoon fed to us. Trust that we know the character by now.
I get it. It's hard to keep filling up a novel's length worth of pages in an ongoing series, but if you can't find another way to do it maybe just don't write another book. Or don't write so many in the series. Maybe just give it time for a more cohesive plot to fill out without you having to add these endless extraneous over-explanations to hit the requested page count. I know publishers might be pushing for a short gap between each sequel, but they should probably loosen up too because they have to realize they're going to sell less books because they're going to lose their audience over these problems, and problems like the two below, that could've probably been avoided if a little more time had been taken to think over these things.
First is that the other ghost hunting company introduced in a previous book that's moving in on their turf and trying to buy their company is increasing their pressure. I don't necessarily have a problem with this plot on its own, though it's not really doing the series any favors, but I do have problems with the male representative from that company, who is repeatedly making very strong advances on Ellie despite her having repeatedly shown that she isn't interested at all. That's predatory behavior and it's disgusting. As I'm writing this, in the past week or two, a lot of men have been outed for being predators in the comics industry, and I'm reading these women's stories and a lot of what they're describing sounds like what this guy is kind of doing to Ellie and it's gross and I don't think it should be here. What compounds it is I'm pretty sure he's intended as an actual future love interest. I hope I'm wrong about that, but I guess I'll never really find out.
But even worse is whats going on with her current love interest, which I'll put in spoiler tags for anyone who doesn't want spoiling. And there's no backlash or fallout or disgust or trauma felt about this, and I doubt the next book will deal with it, which is a large part of why I don't want to continue this series. Even if I'm wrong and that's not what the author intended, a little more time thinking about it and the problematic part could have been rephrased to help clarify that this wasn't what was happening. Instead it's very rapidly glossed over, because we had to make more time for Ellie brooding about all the other characters yet a-freakin'-gain.
So TL,DR, while the main story was basically fine, there was just too much that was not the main story that was very much not fine. And if that's any indication of what's coming for the next books... yeah. Count me out.
The thing is, I loved this series at first. The first four books, more or less, were a lot of great fun and I reviewed them very highly because I felt they deserved it for doing what they did. The fifth book was a bit of a rocky start but it mostly pulled it off in the end. But this book?
Phew.
The primary ghost plot was... fine. Stacey and Ellie head to a farm-turned-tourist trap out of town to investigate a ghost that's scaring the children. We know by now Ellie doesn't stand for scared children. Fitting with what I've said in earlier reviews, yes, this matches a Real Ghostbusters episode pretty well, with the spooky happenings on a farm in the family for generations and even the ancestors being buried on the land.
And all of that is... fine. It's a little weaker than it has been the rest of the series, but that's, unfortunately, by design. For this book, Bryan decided to focus less on the haunting and more on the personal lives of his characters, particularly Ellie's 'cuz, ya know, she's the main character.
Now, here's the thing. This is Book 6 in a series. When a series has been going on for a while, you don't have to spend as much time waxing on with a character's inner thought process about everything that's happening in their lives. You can assume that if by book 6 we don't already kind of know how these characters feel and react to the things around them, then you didn't do your job in the first five books.
We know the characters, okay?
But this book, like every other series I've ever read, actually does the opposite of trusting its fans and spends drastically more time than any previous book going on and on and on and on about all of Ellie's inner feels about everything. And I mean on. And. On. Every single time - every single time - another character is so much as mentioned in this book, we get a multiple page diversion as Ellie goes back over the same things she thinks about the character that we got the last time the character was mentioned - probably in the last chapter. We don't need her emotions spoon fed to us. Trust that we know the character by now.
I get it. It's hard to keep filling up a novel's length worth of pages in an ongoing series, but if you can't find another way to do it maybe just don't write another book. Or don't write so many in the series. Maybe just give it time for a more cohesive plot to fill out without you having to add these endless extraneous over-explanations to hit the requested page count. I know publishers might be pushing for a short gap between each sequel, but they should probably loosen up too because they have to realize they're going to sell less books because they're going to lose their audience over these problems, and problems like the two below, that could've probably been avoided if a little more time had been taken to think over these things.
First is that the other ghost hunting company introduced in a previous book that's moving in on their turf and trying to buy their company is increasing their pressure. I don't necessarily have a problem with this plot on its own, though it's not really doing the series any favors, but I do have problems with the male representative from that company, who is repeatedly making very strong advances on Ellie despite her having repeatedly shown that she isn't interested at all. That's predatory behavior and it's disgusting. As I'm writing this, in the past week or two, a lot of men have been outed for being predators in the comics industry, and I'm reading these women's stories and a lot of what they're describing sounds like what this guy is kind of doing to Ellie and it's gross and I don't think it should be here. What compounds it is I'm pretty sure he's intended as an actual future love interest. I hope I'm wrong about that, but I guess I'll never really find out.
But even worse is whats going on with her current love interest, which I'll put in spoiler tags for anyone who doesn't want spoiling. And there's no backlash or fallout or disgust or trauma felt about this, and I doubt the next book will deal with it, which is a large part of why I don't want to continue this series. Even if I'm wrong and that's not what the author intended, a little more time thinking about it and the problematic part could have been rephrased to help clarify that this wasn't what was happening. Instead it's very rapidly glossed over, because we had to make more time for Ellie brooding about all the other characters yet a-freakin'-gain.
So TL,DR, while the main story was basically fine, there was just too much that was not the main story that was very much not fine. And if that's any indication of what's coming for the next books... yeah. Count me out.
July 30, 2020
Maze of Souls is definitely a turning point in the series. I'm not sure if I have the words to explain it but I'll try (:
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.
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Starting out, the haunting we get to learn about is quite fascinating. Ghost that craws on her hands and knees up the stairs, while being covered it blood? Give me more haha. I was so spooked when the ghost came out from under the bed...I really wasn't expecting it and neither was Ellie.
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.
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By the time we reach the end of the story, things heat up(literally). Poor Michael...but I'm not really sure if he's right for Ellie anyways. While reading the end you can just feel how it's setting up a turning for the stories to come. I'm so excited to jump Into the next!
.
.
.
Starting out, the haunting we get to learn about is quite fascinating. Ghost that craws on her hands and knees up the stairs, while being covered it blood? Give me more haha. I was so spooked when the ghost came out from under the bed...I really wasn't expecting it and neither was Ellie.
.
.
.
By the time we reach the end of the story, things heat up(literally). Poor Michael...but I'm not really sure if he's right for Ellie anyways. While reading the end you can just feel how it's setting up a turning for the stories to come. I'm so excited to jump Into the next!
Read
May 28, 2021I can’t look at a Fall Farm the same way again. 😂😂
August 16, 2018
I really liked this instalment. The last book had a lot of action and confusing characters towards the end but this one was a straight out ghost mystery with some intrigue on the side. I liked the tchange of setting as it changed things up for the characters but I also liked the way it did connect from the book before so you had some closure for a few things left hanging after the last book. I kind picked the what had happened with the ghost story quite early on but I didn't quite expect other aspects of the story that came to light towards the end,
This is one series that i am really enjoying and I look forward to continuing on with the next book in the series.
This is one series that i am really enjoying and I look forward to continuing on with the next book in the series.
July 22, 2025
2.75 / 5
I've really enjoyed the Ellie Jordan series up until now, but this one kind of felt like a slog to get through. It seemed to me like the focus was more on Ellie's past and her parents' death and how she has lost everyone she cared about but keeps pushing away those she cares about. Which are very valid feelings to have! But the ghost mystery felt a bit slapdash and forced into the story instead of the focus.
And while the return of a Certain Someone was destined to happen, I'm not sure the return was handled in the best of ways.
Also, I really hope something happens with Paranormal Solutions and they don't end up taking over Eckhart Investigations because that's really going to suck the fun out of these books. Really not a fan of Kara or Nicholas!
And this book could have used one final edit. In the final scene, it seems that both Calvin and Ellie are driving...the same car??
I've really enjoyed the Ellie Jordan series up until now, but this one kind of felt like a slog to get through. It seemed to me like the focus was more on Ellie's past and her parents' death and how she has lost everyone she cared about but keeps pushing away those she cares about. Which are very valid feelings to have! But the ghost mystery felt a bit slapdash and forced into the story instead of the focus.
And while the return of a Certain Someone was destined to happen, I'm not sure the return was handled in the best of ways.
Also, I really hope something happens with Paranormal Solutions and they don't end up taking over Eckhart Investigations because that's really going to suck the fun out of these books. Really not a fan of Kara or Nicholas!
And this book could have used one final edit. In the final scene, it seems that both Calvin and Ellie are driving...the same car??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
Spoilers for the whole thing because I am pretty drunk and don't want to have to think about what I'm rambling about.
But I don't even think I care. It's still a good series and I prefer it to a lot of other things I could be reading. So yarp.
But I don't even think I care. It's still a good series and I prefer it to a lot of other things I could be reading. So yarp.
October 28, 2020
I liked this one pretty well. In some ways it was a departure from other books in the series (focusing a little more on psychology) and it some ways it was very similar to another book in the series, as far as story beats, imo. There were a couple moments in this story that really bothered me but it is hard to talk about them much without being spoilery. So, slightly spoilery, there is a moment in this book where Ellie seems to behave as if she has the hauntings under control, but she is IMMEDIATELY made aware of ghostly goings on right after that, and doesn't seem to give it any credence, for some reason. Then acts surprised when it matters later.
I usually complain about Stacy's moments of unprofessionalism in these stories, but in this one, Ellie wasn't doing so hot. And I wasn't a fan of an unprofessional lead investigator for the series. I hope that had more to do with other things that were going on-- like the psychology stuff I was mentioning, of this job getting to her more for reasons in this story. I do hope this unprofessionalism isn't going to be a continuous trend in this series. I had hoped it would be stamped out by now honestly.
I usually complain about Stacy's moments of unprofessionalism in these stories, but in this one, Ellie wasn't doing so hot. And I wasn't a fan of an unprofessional lead investigator for the series. I hope that had more to do with other things that were going on-- like the psychology stuff I was mentioning, of this job getting to her more for reasons in this story. I do hope this unprofessionalism isn't going to be a continuous trend in this series. I had hoped it would be stamped out by now honestly.
March 24, 2020
Elle and Stacy are investigating a home of a family that the property is being used as a haunted attraction..
There is a bloody women that crawls through the house, and a shadow man on a horse that has chased one of the kids.
I really enjoyed this book, we have a family legend of a hessian mercenary who was said to have defected from the war, and became a highwayman. Its said he killed a young women and was then hunted down by her father and townspeople and killed.
Elle and Stacy have to unravel the true facts about this family myth, and help the ghosts to move on..
Then as a secondary thing going on, that sets up a new plot for the upcoming books, Michael get possessed by the Evil Anton Clay. He is the ghost that burned down Ellie's house as a child that killed her parents. He takes over Michael, and tries to kill her, and stacy..
However Ellie is smart, and uses the hessian ghost to get clay out of Michael..
Maze of souls had a lot going on, and I loved every minute of it.
There is a bloody women that crawls through the house, and a shadow man on a horse that has chased one of the kids.
I really enjoyed this book, we have a family legend of a hessian mercenary who was said to have defected from the war, and became a highwayman. Its said he killed a young women and was then hunted down by her father and townspeople and killed.
Elle and Stacy have to unravel the true facts about this family myth, and help the ghosts to move on..
Then as a secondary thing going on, that sets up a new plot for the upcoming books, Michael get possessed by the Evil Anton Clay. He is the ghost that burned down Ellie's house as a child that killed her parents. He takes over Michael, and tries to kill her, and stacy..
However Ellie is smart, and uses the hessian ghost to get clay out of Michael..
Maze of souls had a lot going on, and I loved every minute of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
I've read multiple books from this series and they always are well written and interesting. This one was one of the best in the series though. A creepy farm known for their haunted hayride and Halloween celebrations is having REAL paranormal problems this year and it's up to Ellie and Stacy to figure out what's hiding in the corn maze.
Without spoiling too much I was shocked at the twists and turns in this haunting Ellie is facing. She is really put to the ultimate test and is forced to face her biggest fear or she will lose everyone she cares about. The second half of the book will keep you biting your nails on the edge of your seat eagerly reading all the problems Ellie has to overcome this time.
Man this was a good one!!
Without spoiling too much I was shocked at the twists and turns in this haunting Ellie is facing. She is really put to the ultimate test and is forced to face her biggest fear or she will lose everyone she cares about. The second half of the book will keep you biting your nails on the edge of your seat eagerly reading all the problems Ellie has to overcome this time.
Man this was a good one!!
June 7, 2018
I love this scary series and this book did not disappoint! There were plenty of chills and thrills and the climax had me reading at a furious pace. Ellie has a lot more than ghosts on her plate this time and how she'll manage everything remains to be seen. The cliffhangers at the end are a perfect setup for the next book which I'll be picking up sooner rather than later. I can only hope the author will keep writing and expand this great series. Highly recommended if you want a good scare especially late at night!
December 18, 2021
I am really enjoying this series; I think it is getting better with each book. Ellie and Stacey are great characters, with just enough dark humour and faults to feel real.
Maze of Souls is wonderfully creepy and we get another glimpse of the PSI characters - I think I will enjoy their inclusion (even if Ellie doesn''t). And I can't wait to find out more about Anton Clay.
Maze of Souls is wonderfully creepy and we get another glimpse of the PSI characters - I think I will enjoy their inclusion (even if Ellie doesn''t). And I can't wait to find out more about Anton Clay.
November 5, 2022
What can I say about this book that I haven't already said about the others? It takes place at Hallowe'en and the ambiance is wonderful. The setting is a spooky old farm, the female characters are strong and well rounded, intelligent and funny. I just love these women. The plot is well written and there is a twist at the end that really gave me a jolt. Didn't see that one coming at all!! I couldn't put this one down and had it read in one sitting. I highly recommend this book and this series. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the next installment! 5*****
April 7, 2025
Although I'm late to this series I see reviews are a few years old, I like it. Up till this book is good, creepy and scary with a strong female hero. I'm over the Anton storyline it would have been great to cut it off here but I think it's going to drag out, also I'm not a fan of the new takeover and those incoming characters, I feel like going from 4 main characters and a handful of reoccurring to 6 main possibly is going to be a lot to follow. I'm continuing the series for now to see what happens, I have high hopes.
October 29, 2019
I just love this series. Another great read in the Ellie Jordan saga.
Ellie and Stacy (and Micheal and Jacob) leave Savannah to help a family in a more rural setting. The family has ghost maze (in the maize) that seems to be inhabited by real ghosts (this is not a spoiler - if the ghosts were faked it would be a Scooby Doo Novel..).
Just a real enjoyable read
Ellie and Stacy (and Micheal and Jacob) leave Savannah to help a family in a more rural setting. The family has ghost maze (in the maize) that seems to be inhabited by real ghosts (this is not a spoiler - if the ghosts were faked it would be a Scooby Doo Novel..).
Just a real enjoyable read
February 25, 2020
Made of Souls Review
Another great book in the series. The ghosts are as spooky and interesting as ever. And now I'm top of the usual ghostly drama Ellie's past is coming back to haunt her quite literally.
I am jumping right into the next story because I need to know what happens next and I would recommend reading this one.
Another great book in the series. The ghosts are as spooky and interesting as ever. And now I'm top of the usual ghostly drama Ellie's past is coming back to haunt her quite literally.
I am jumping right into the next story because I need to know what happens next and I would recommend reading this one.
November 12, 2025
The Gloves are Off
Another great book in the series! Masterfully written, Bryan brings back his loveable characters with all their charm and flaws. And of course, humor!
In this story, Ellie's genius shows she is ready for her next move in life!
Thanks, Bryan, for another great read!
Another great book in the series! Masterfully written, Bryan brings back his loveable characters with all their charm and flaws. And of course, humor!
In this story, Ellie's genius shows she is ready for her next move in life!
Thanks, Bryan, for another great read!
October 8, 2020
Ellie, Ellie, Ellie!
She is strong and this book shows just how strong she is! This has to be one of the more difficult cases thrown her way and she just showed her strength tremendously!
Grabbing hold of the next book ASAP!
She is strong and this book shows just how strong she is! This has to be one of the more difficult cases thrown her way and she just showed her strength tremendously!
Grabbing hold of the next book ASAP!
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