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Ghost Finders #4
شکارچیان شبح - کتاب 4 - ارواحی از فراسو
Spirits from Beyond (Ghost Finders, #4), Simon R. Green
عنوان: شکارچیان شبح - کتاب 4 - ارواحی از فراسو؛ نویسنده: سیمون آر. گرین؛ مترجم: علی مصلح حیدرزاده؛ تهران، ویدا، 1394؛ در 304 ص؛ شابک: 9786002911384؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان انگلیسی قرن 21 م
عنوان: شکارچیان شبح - کتاب 4 - ارواحی از فراسو؛ نویسنده: سیمون آر. گرین؛ مترجم: علی مصلح حیدرزاده؛ تهران، ویدا، 1394؛ در 304 ص؛ شابک: 9786002911384؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان انگلیسی قرن 21 م
304 pages
First published August 27, 2013
29 people are currently reading
582 people want to read
About the author
Simon R. Green
312 books3,207 followersSimon Richard Green is a British science fiction and fantasy-author. He holds a degree in Modern English and American Literature from the University of Leicester. His first publication was in 1979.
His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 1, 2013
I might as well confess right away. I'm Simon R. Green junkie. Everything from the Droods, to Nightside, to Ghost Finders to his much earlier Hawk & Fisher series and Deathstalker works. So, there is your full disclosure.
"Spirits from Beyond" features the Ghostfinders, a trio of hard edged, bad ass Ghostbusters. Set in the same universe as the Secret Histories and Nightside, Green does an exemplary job of crafting hilarious dialogue, interesting characters and impossible settings.
IMHO, pound for pound, you'll be hard pressed to find more amusing dialogue combined with raw, unadulterated imagination. It is difficult to describe but Green somehow always manages to create way over-the-top scenes and settings while making it look terribly easy. Some of his "throw away" scenes (introductory paragraphs and casual asides) are so original and well-done it makes my brains turn to goo.
His writing style is crisp, funny as hell and brisk. The pace of his work is almost always on target, with only infrequent occasions to catch your breath.
His books are generally somewhat formulaic and predictable, to a degree. I know that turns off some readers, but I've always enjoyed it. Each time he publishes a new book, I feel like I'm sitting down for beers with a good friend I only get to see infrequently.
As a series Green does a great job of resolving immediate conflicts in the work, while dropping enough hints and information to move the "greater" arcs forward as well. Circles within circles, if you will.
His latest Ghostfinders works ensure that I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
"Spirits from Beyond" features the Ghostfinders, a trio of hard edged, bad ass Ghostbusters. Set in the same universe as the Secret Histories and Nightside, Green does an exemplary job of crafting hilarious dialogue, interesting characters and impossible settings.
IMHO, pound for pound, you'll be hard pressed to find more amusing dialogue combined with raw, unadulterated imagination. It is difficult to describe but Green somehow always manages to create way over-the-top scenes and settings while making it look terribly easy. Some of his "throw away" scenes (introductory paragraphs and casual asides) are so original and well-done it makes my brains turn to goo.
His writing style is crisp, funny as hell and brisk. The pace of his work is almost always on target, with only infrequent occasions to catch your breath.
His books are generally somewhat formulaic and predictable, to a degree. I know that turns off some readers, but I've always enjoyed it. Each time he publishes a new book, I feel like I'm sitting down for beers with a good friend I only get to see infrequently.
As a series Green does a great job of resolving immediate conflicts in the work, while dropping enough hints and information to move the "greater" arcs forward as well. Circles within circles, if you will.
His latest Ghostfinders works ensure that I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
November 26, 2013
OK, what can I said except that the book is great and deserves five stars almost by default? I love ghost stories and nobody tells them better than the Brits and nobody tells stories better than Simon R. Green. In this book he made me excited, sad and happy, made me cry, made me laugh and freaked the Hell out of me, sometimes all in the same chapter. There no other author who can do this. This is the best British fantasy author today and he delivered again. I can't wait for the next installments. They are 100% going to be great.
June 1, 2019
This is the fourth book in the Ghost Finders series. It's a bit edgier, in a way, than the previous three, with a more serious look at topics such as drug use than the earlier volumes had, where topics were more often than not played for laughs. Our intrepid trio from the Carnacki Institute are sent to investigate a haunted inn where ghosts and mysteries abound... time travel is involved, and you know that rarely ends well. (Or never necessarily ends at all, 'cause, you know, it's time travel.) Maybe they're just sent there to get them out of the way. And Kim is back, though she may not be what she seems... or maybe she never was. Good characterization and amusing dialog that's tempered with some seriously serious exchanges. Anyway, it's a nice continuation that answers some questions from the prior entries and leaves a couple of big ones hanging that make me ready for volume five.
February 24, 2014
A lot of loose ends still hanging that were hanging from previous novels in the series. Still really enjoy the banter, plot pacing (literally, one damned thing after another, or, more frequently damned than not) and character development but vis a vis "traitor within" left hanging from before, we're still clueless about and the finale of this story left something wanting and left me feeling like there was something else going on that the author kept pointing to (i.e. the power generator behind the storm), but never adequately explained to the degree that he explained the power being generated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2014
Spirits from Beyond was very good. I had a hard time getting into the Ghost Finders books but have have been slowly building an affinity for them as I go.
Here he three Ghost Finders reunite with an old friend, (no spoilers), and take on ancient evils. Ghosts, Outside Entities and ancient gods all stand against the Ghost Finders' fight against the Flesh Undying.
I can honestly say that with this book, I am now eagerly waiting for the next in the series.
Here he three Ghost Finders reunite with an old friend, (no spoilers), and take on ancient evils. Ghosts, Outside Entities and ancient gods all stand against the Ghost Finders' fight against the Flesh Undying.
I can honestly say that with this book, I am now eagerly waiting for the next in the series.
February 3, 2014
Another masterful Supernatural Suspense / Action thriller from Simon R. Green. With this fourth novel in the "GhostFinders" series, he has begun reaching his stride with the overall story arc. This series is every bit as intriguing and enjoyable as both of his other series, the "Nightside" and the "Secret Histories"...
February 1, 2020
Spirits from Beyond is the fourth book in Ghost Finders series written by Simon R. Green. It stars a second string team in the Carnacki Institute, who hunts ghosts.
The Carnacki Institute boss sends their Number One Quartet to a haunted inn in the country. The locals are expecting the likes of Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray with proton packs and power streams, but they gets this quirky dysfunctional team. Everybody in the downstairs pub has tales of haunting experiences at the inn, but most of them are stories told in every English inn.
However, there are a few local legends that seem unusual, that might have happened there. The centuries-old building has spirits that know your weakest link, Russian Roulette rooms that beckon you into other eras of the inn's past and keep you there, along with powers that are tied to an unwilling Druid sacrifice, who really is upset about the whole episode.
Spirits from Beyond is written rather well. Green does a decent job writing action and suspense while also adding in the needed horror aspects and humor and balanced all these aspects rather well. It's a fine balancing act to be able to do all of that without throwing a reader out of the book. His character building for this series has significantly gotten better, although how they solved their situation is a tad Deus ex Machina.
All in all, Spirits from Beyond is written somewhat well and is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
The Carnacki Institute boss sends their Number One Quartet to a haunted inn in the country. The locals are expecting the likes of Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray with proton packs and power streams, but they gets this quirky dysfunctional team. Everybody in the downstairs pub has tales of haunting experiences at the inn, but most of them are stories told in every English inn.
However, there are a few local legends that seem unusual, that might have happened there. The centuries-old building has spirits that know your weakest link, Russian Roulette rooms that beckon you into other eras of the inn's past and keep you there, along with powers that are tied to an unwilling Druid sacrifice, who really is upset about the whole episode.
Spirits from Beyond is written rather well. Green does a decent job writing action and suspense while also adding in the needed horror aspects and humor and balanced all these aspects rather well. It's a fine balancing act to be able to do all of that without throwing a reader out of the book. His character building for this series has significantly gotten better, although how they solved their situation is a tad Deus ex Machina.
All in all, Spirits from Beyond is written somewhat well and is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
July 15, 2024
This is a review for the series (books 1-6) Graphic Audio version. So that means this isn't quite the same as the text version since they dramatize it and basically make it into a play. Perhaps I would have liked the text version better. They are entertaining but like goofy action popcorn flick movies. There isn't any depth here. There tends to be a lot of repetition of phrases and descriptions. Sometimes within the same book, almost always from book to book. This is in a shared universe with his Nightside books but I liked those much more.
It was entertaining but not quite good enough to make the 3 star rating (which is my normal rating for most books - it has to be really good to get 4 or 5 stars for me.)
It was entertaining but not quite good enough to make the 3 star rating (which is my normal rating for most books - it has to be really good to get 4 or 5 stars for me.)
August 22, 2019
Read in 2019
September 28, 2020
This story kind of dragged. I do like the series, but not sure what happened. Maybe too many different story arcs going on, but the ending made me know that i will HAVE to read the next one...
December 22, 2020
An OK book redeemed by a holy hand grenade. After that, I was on board for whatever was to come.
October 10, 2022
Readable
December 16, 2022
This is another strong installment in the Ghost Finders series. Great presentation in Graphic Audio.
January 18, 2014
First published on The Qwillery
Spirits From Beyond is a paranormal series that takes place in modern-day England. It's the fourth book, and my first read, in Green's A Ghost Finders Novel series. I was a little nervous about starting a book so far in a series, but Green does offer a page at the beginning of the book explaining what has already taken place in the series. Granted, there is only so much he can tell us in a page, but I have to commend him for offering it, as most authors make the reader figure things out as they read the book. I Also, I feel I should mention, this is the first paranormal novel I've read, so my review is only based on this book and not on a wealth of information on the genre from past books.
The book has a nice mixture of humor and frightening moments, which I think is needed as it gives the reader time to cool down after a particularly descriptive passage in the book. As an added bonus for readers who may be new to the genre, the book takes place in modern-day England, so there is plenty of British humor and slang to keep you entertained.
The first half of the book is purely dealing with events that took place in previous books, this is the first area of trouble for a new reader, even though Green does a great job of telling us what has happened before-hand I felt he spent too much of the book focused on past events. The first part of the book is heavy on dialogue, which slows the pacing of the book way down. Readers following the series from the beginning probably won't mind, as they are familiar with the world, characters and overall plot. The second half of the book deals with a new case of a haunted inn, which helps to ramp up the action and pacing of the book.
Green does a great job writing action and suspense while also adding in the needed horror aspects and humor. It's a fine balancing act to be able to do all of that without throwing a reader out of the book. My only complaint is when his characters came across several obstacles while battling the dark forces in the inn, and it appeared as if there was no way to escape or win, a character pulled out a literal holy hand grenade to defeat the challenge perfectly at the last second. For me, it felt like a bit of a cheat.
Spirits From Beyond is a fun book in the middle of an ongoing series, however, I would caution readers who would like to read the book to start at the beginning of the series so they can avoid any confusion. I would recommend Spirits From Beyond to anyone who has already read the previous books in the series, or anyone that enjoys witty British dialogue.
Spirits From Beyond is a paranormal series that takes place in modern-day England. It's the fourth book, and my first read, in Green's A Ghost Finders Novel series. I was a little nervous about starting a book so far in a series, but Green does offer a page at the beginning of the book explaining what has already taken place in the series. Granted, there is only so much he can tell us in a page, but I have to commend him for offering it, as most authors make the reader figure things out as they read the book. I Also, I feel I should mention, this is the first paranormal novel I've read, so my review is only based on this book and not on a wealth of information on the genre from past books.
The book has a nice mixture of humor and frightening moments, which I think is needed as it gives the reader time to cool down after a particularly descriptive passage in the book. As an added bonus for readers who may be new to the genre, the book takes place in modern-day England, so there is plenty of British humor and slang to keep you entertained.
The first half of the book is purely dealing with events that took place in previous books, this is the first area of trouble for a new reader, even though Green does a great job of telling us what has happened before-hand I felt he spent too much of the book focused on past events. The first part of the book is heavy on dialogue, which slows the pacing of the book way down. Readers following the series from the beginning probably won't mind, as they are familiar with the world, characters and overall plot. The second half of the book deals with a new case of a haunted inn, which helps to ramp up the action and pacing of the book.
Green does a great job writing action and suspense while also adding in the needed horror aspects and humor. It's a fine balancing act to be able to do all of that without throwing a reader out of the book. My only complaint is when his characters came across several obstacles while battling the dark forces in the inn, and it appeared as if there was no way to escape or win, a character pulled out a literal holy hand grenade to defeat the challenge perfectly at the last second. For me, it felt like a bit of a cheat.
Spirits From Beyond is a fun book in the middle of an ongoing series, however, I would caution readers who would like to read the book to start at the beginning of the series so they can avoid any confusion. I would recommend Spirits From Beyond to anyone who has already read the previous books in the series, or anyone that enjoys witty British dialogue.
October 20, 2016
Although I think that individual cases from previous books in the series are better than the sum total of this one - it gets 4* on the grounds that it is easily the best plotted of the novels so far and the character development is fantastic.
Like all the books there are two cases to be solved but in this one they are actually linked. Wooooooo. We begin by a decent into London Undertown - where our team of paranormal investigators encounter the spirit of the Druid god Lud. While this does feel like an RPG adventure complete with the god's favour they receive upon solving the problem, I couldn't help but enjoy this story - I love the catacombs under London setting and the mythology of Lud/Ludsgate. It was dealt with far too easily - and could easily have spanned a novel in its own right instead of only being 1/4 of one, but hey-ho.
We then enter what's essentially Warehouse 13 and encounter a piece of the Flesh undying - tying this into the overarching series plot before high-tailing it off to a haunted inn built on the place of ancient Druid sacrifices.
The Lud and Haunted inn cases tie together really nicely and I loved the ancient druid mythology/history at play here. However what really makes this is the characters. Ghost girl Kim is back with some very big secrets. While I find the JC/Kim romance a bit fairytale - it has been made far more interesting by her disappearance and sudden secret agenda. It's Happy and Melody that really moved me however. Telepath Happy is pill popping again and Melody feels helpless as they both know the drugs will kill him - but what's tragic is that he'd find that a relief.
Absolutely love the entire team and that is what makes this series unputdownable. The writing isn't the greatest, even for Green this one instalment is a bit pulpy - I found a real overuse of the word 'said' for example. Every single piece of dialogue is followed by 'said character x' a bit of variety or even other words instead of said would be nice. The cases too often have very rushed endings or we get too many epic scenes following in swift succession. Pacing and plotting are not this series strong point and yet.... I find myself eagerly reaching for the next volume. The mythologies used and sheer scope of imagination... peppered with pop/geek culture references are a joy and the characters are among the best in the genre.
Like all the books there are two cases to be solved but in this one they are actually linked. Wooooooo. We begin by a decent into London Undertown - where our team of paranormal investigators encounter the spirit of the Druid god Lud. While this does feel like an RPG adventure complete with the god's favour they receive upon solving the problem, I couldn't help but enjoy this story - I love the catacombs under London setting and the mythology of Lud/Ludsgate. It was dealt with far too easily - and could easily have spanned a novel in its own right instead of only being 1/4 of one, but hey-ho.
We then enter what's essentially Warehouse 13 and encounter a piece of the Flesh undying - tying this into the overarching series plot before high-tailing it off to a haunted inn built on the place of ancient Druid sacrifices.
The Lud and Haunted inn cases tie together really nicely and I loved the ancient druid mythology/history at play here. However what really makes this is the characters. Ghost girl Kim is back with some very big secrets. While I find the JC/Kim romance a bit fairytale - it has been made far more interesting by her disappearance and sudden secret agenda. It's Happy and Melody that really moved me however. Telepath Happy is pill popping again and Melody feels helpless as they both know the drugs will kill him - but what's tragic is that he'd find that a relief.
Absolutely love the entire team and that is what makes this series unputdownable. The writing isn't the greatest, even for Green this one instalment is a bit pulpy - I found a real overuse of the word 'said' for example. Every single piece of dialogue is followed by 'said character x' a bit of variety or even other words instead of said would be nice. The cases too often have very rushed endings or we get too many epic scenes following in swift succession. Pacing and plotting are not this series strong point and yet.... I find myself eagerly reaching for the next volume. The mythologies used and sheer scope of imagination... peppered with pop/geek culture references are a joy and the characters are among the best in the genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2014
This book only gets two stars because it's Simon R. Green, and his throw-aways are still a sight better than many authors best works. But I really wish I could stop reading this series.
In this outing, the Ghostfinders investigate a haunting at a pub/inn with a tragic backstory that involves a former colleague. (Shades of the pseudo-military story, see below.) It's an onion of a haunting, really, but that's not what bothers me. What bothers me about this case in particular is that this whole situation they find themselves in is legitimately Drood jurisdiction and the numbskulls of the Carnacki Institute (their motto: mucking about and saving ourselves by coincidence or by accident since 1845) seem to choose to remain blissfully ingnorant of the superpowered-but-also-more-qualified-in-every-other-sense-of-the-word family that lives three postal codes away.
I really hate the "Ghostfinders" series. I realize that Green is trying to have a few different genres ticking along inside his universe: Nightside is noir/mystery, Secret Histories is spy/action, and Ghostfinders is supposed to be suspense/paramilitary, maybe? It's definitely got the pseudo-military fiction vibe to it, where there really is no specific lead and each of the characters is mentioned by name and defining characteristic every time they are in the scene, just so you can remember who's who.
But it doesn't work for me. I find the Ghostfinder novels to be low-grade stuff at best, standard airport bookstore fiction with a light dusting of Simon R. Green flavour powder. I read them because I'm a completist and because I really hope Green is building up to something worthwhile, but at this point....
In this outing, the Ghostfinders investigate a haunting at a pub/inn with a tragic backstory that involves a former colleague. (Shades of the pseudo-military story, see below.) It's an onion of a haunting, really, but that's not what bothers me. What bothers me about this case in particular is that this whole situation they find themselves in is legitimately Drood jurisdiction and the numbskulls of the Carnacki Institute (their motto: mucking about and saving ourselves by coincidence or by accident since 1845) seem to choose to remain blissfully ingnorant of the superpowered-but-also-more-qualified-in-every-other-sense-of-the-word family that lives three postal codes away.
I really hate the "Ghostfinders" series. I realize that Green is trying to have a few different genres ticking along inside his universe: Nightside is noir/mystery, Secret Histories is spy/action, and Ghostfinders is supposed to be suspense/paramilitary, maybe? It's definitely got the pseudo-military fiction vibe to it, where there really is no specific lead and each of the characters is mentioned by name and defining characteristic every time they are in the scene, just so you can remember who's who.
But it doesn't work for me. I find the Ghostfinder novels to be low-grade stuff at best, standard airport bookstore fiction with a light dusting of Simon R. Green flavour powder. I read them because I'm a completist and because I really hope Green is building up to something worthwhile, but at this point....
October 16, 2013
The fourth in the Ghost Finders series.
J.C. Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer have been geting noticed lately. So after retreiving the ghost girl Kim, their boss gives them an easy assignment of a haunted inn in the country so they will be out of the way for awhile. But naturally nothing is ever easy for this team of ghost finders.
This one was creepy. I had to sit up half the night to finish this book because I didn't want to go to sleep until J.C. and team had taken care of all of those ghosts. It didn't matter that it was set thousands of miles away across a whole ocean or that it is fiction, I just wasn't going to go to sleep before that. Simon R. Green is really hitting his stride with this series. The characters are becoming more real with each book and they are finding their own voice. They are developing more individuality instead of just being part of the team. At the same time, they are working more as an integerated team as well. There is plenty of foreshadowing to set up bigger and badder things to come in future volumes. As always, Mr. Green does an excellent job of describing the ordinary to make it extraordinary.
While I still miss the Nightside, Ghost Finders is coming close to filling that gap.
J.C. Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer have been geting noticed lately. So after retreiving the ghost girl Kim, their boss gives them an easy assignment of a haunted inn in the country so they will be out of the way for awhile. But naturally nothing is ever easy for this team of ghost finders.
This one was creepy. I had to sit up half the night to finish this book because I didn't want to go to sleep until J.C. and team had taken care of all of those ghosts. It didn't matter that it was set thousands of miles away across a whole ocean or that it is fiction, I just wasn't going to go to sleep before that. Simon R. Green is really hitting his stride with this series. The characters are becoming more real with each book and they are finding their own voice. They are developing more individuality instead of just being part of the team. At the same time, they are working more as an integerated team as well. There is plenty of foreshadowing to set up bigger and badder things to come in future volumes. As always, Mr. Green does an excellent job of describing the ordinary to make it extraordinary.
While I still miss the Nightside, Ghost Finders is coming close to filling that gap.
August 29, 2013
I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. This was enjoyable, but didn't seem to forward the plotline and only gave us a few crumbs of new information about our group.
While our two haunting were great to read they weren't nearly as nail-biting as the last book. It felt more like filler then anything. Anyways I did enjoy the book and I do look forward to the next one.
Spoilers:
While our two haunting were great to read they weren't nearly as nail-biting as the last book. It felt more like filler then anything. Anyways I did enjoy the book and I do look forward to the next one.
Spoilers:
September 20, 2013
I had read the first book in the Ghostfinders series, ‘Ghost of A Chance’ when it came out originally. It was very good, but didn’t wow me. When I received ‘Spirits from Beyond’ from the publisher for review, I was excited to see how the characters had grown and what had changed. In ‘Spirits from Beyond’, the new A-team, JC, Melody, and Happy Jack are sent to a haunted inn located in a very small village. At first they don’t think there is anything going on at the inn, but as they listen to the stories of the locals, there are two which ring true. Now as their investigation digs deeper, the entire team’s mettle is tested. ‘Spirits from Beyond’ is an extremely fast-paced book with some great gallows humor, introspection, and references to both the Nightside and Secret Histories series. As I read ‘Spirits from Beyond’ as a stand-alone, I found it intriguing and highly enjoyable with some crazy action and twisted characters. I might just have to jump back into this series!
Ghostfinders series: Ghost of A Chance (1), Ghost of A Smile (2), Ghost of a Dream (3), Spirits from Beyond (4)
Ghostfinders series: Ghost of A Chance (1), Ghost of A Smile (2), Ghost of a Dream (3), Spirits from Beyond (4)
April 14, 2016
I didn't review this series right after I finished each book because I felt I was being repetitive in my reviews as the books get repetitive. And yet after a few weeks has passed and after reading another book, I still don't know what to say.
This one was nice enough. The main mission felt like the "1408" movie to me. And the introductory mission was linked to the main one for a change. Which was a welcome change.
But the main issues remained. The characters are generic, and there is no need for Melody! She doesn't do anything, except Happy. Which might be her only contribution to the mission. Most of the time, she is whining about her equipment not working.
The whole team is repetitive. By this book, I'm sure you are tired of hearing Happy describing something as old and powerful.
But then again, I don't read Green's work for his literary prowess. I read them for fun, and they are. It is just that lately, they feel like they are all the same. His work is becoming a mass produced product.
This one was nice enough. The main mission felt like the "1408" movie to me. And the introductory mission was linked to the main one for a change. Which was a welcome change.
But the main issues remained. The characters are generic, and there is no need for Melody! She doesn't do anything, except Happy. Which might be her only contribution to the mission. Most of the time, she is whining about her equipment not working.
The whole team is repetitive. By this book, I'm sure you are tired of hearing Happy describing something as old and powerful.
But then again, I don't read Green's work for his literary prowess. I read them for fun, and they are. It is just that lately, they feel like they are all the same. His work is becoming a mass produced product.
October 3, 2013
Simon R Green's Ghost Finders series has found its voice after four novels. He finally starts to delve beneath the brave fronts that JC Chance, Happy Jack Palmer and Melody Chambers need to put up in order to save their sanity from the paranormal threats they face. Green also starts to give Happy's drug problems more attention and explores the relationship between Happy and Melody a little. JC's ghostly girlfriend Kim returns to the fold with new powers and officially claims a spot on the team. And finally we catch glimpses of the mysterious past of Catherine Latimer, head of the Carnacki Institute and big bad boss of the Ghost Finders. It is hinted that there is an unexpected connection between her and JC--hopefully more info on that will be forthcoming in book 5...
November 3, 2013
The Ghost Finders: JC Chance (team leader and a little too charming for anyone's good); "Happy" Jack Palmer (telepath, depressed, and paranoid enough for any three people); and Melody Chambers (a geek's geek, with a passion for Happy Jack and really big guns.) They are the Carnacki Institute's A team, sent out whenever the world needs someone to Do Something about ghosts. They take names and kick ectoplasmic behind.
This time, the ectoplasmic behind they need to kick is at a small inn, the King's Arms, in a small British town. But there may be more to this haunting than a simple ghost. And it might cost the team one of their own, if they can't figure it out in time...
This time, the ectoplasmic behind they need to kick is at a small inn, the King's Arms, in a small British town. But there may be more to this haunting than a simple ghost. And it might cost the team one of their own, if they can't figure it out in time...
November 8, 2016
Green is a good writer and this world is intriguing and well made. There are surprises which is good and we find out some more about Happy-what makes him tick and how he thinks. The descriptions are good, the character stay within their perimeters. Green knows how to write, and he has a great imagination for sticky situations.
The Ghost Finders do good in this one, helping people. The ending though, I mean the very end after the back guy is vanquished. Oh oh, something is up they won't like. Remember though this number four in a series, you need to start with number one.
I recommend it if you like great writing, something different, and dark.
The Ghost Finders do good in this one, helping people. The ending though, I mean the very end after the back guy is vanquished. Oh oh, something is up they won't like. Remember though this number four in a series, you need to start with number one.
I recommend it if you like great writing, something different, and dark.
October 25, 2013
man...read two great books in a row by two of my favorite authors. this is the fourth novel is the ghostfinders series by the awesome simon r. green. this one finds the groups having to go to a haunted inn in order to exorcize the hot spot. while there they realize that they have once again been thrust into an unlikely situation they they will be forced to handle with extreme ghost busting! i love where this series is going...green is really starting to open it up to some entertaining times ahead!
September 9, 2013
It was good enough to kill some time but it feels really repetitive of authors previous works
like joining of all four members of team just like maze survivors of death stalker series or coming darkness like that of last book in hawk and fisher series or rooms changing position like in first book of forest kingdom series or favor from old god in climax fight like in the recent book of secret histories series
it seems author has gone out of original ideas and plots and is dragging the horse which dies long time ago in both secret histories as well ghost finder series
like joining of all four members of team just like maze survivors of death stalker series or coming darkness like that of last book in hawk and fisher series or rooms changing position like in first book of forest kingdom series or favor from old god in climax fight like in the recent book of secret histories series
it seems author has gone out of original ideas and plots and is dragging the horse which dies long time ago in both secret histories as well ghost finder series
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January 12, 2016Bk. 4 in series. JC Chance and his team manage to re-acquire his ghostly girlfriend before being assigned to an “easy” job of a haunted inn in a small country village. But it’s not so simple. There’s some really ancient nastiness there. As the team investigates, they are forced, one by one, to face some hard truths about themselves, their relationships, and the haunting itself--truths that may push Happy Jack over the edge into the madness that he has always feared.
Interesting main characters and the relationships between and among them.
Interesting main characters and the relationships between and among them.
September 27, 2013
Sorry. It was just too irritating to continue reading. I didn't like the characters at all, and after 35 pages I didn't even have a feel for what the plot line would be. Instead of going to a haunted inn as the blurb indicated, they went into a hole in London on steps that weren't real. Conversations about the Flesh that Cannot Die or some such thing—must refer back to earlier books, but without having read those it just sounds stupid to me.
June 22, 2014
I keep meeting JC, Melody and Happy in audio books. So far I have listened to the entire series. I liked this one. Happy is back on the pills, Kim is back, Melody feels like she has failed Happy and JC is the same as always. I love listening to the dialog and how they once again they succeed in their task. However, Kim keeps telling them there are things she cannot share and the last scene is Kim at the Carnacki Institute and you just know something big is coming up in the next book.
July 26, 2016
Some reviewer said that this series "...is better than 'Nightside' and 'the Secret Histories (Edwin Drood)'" I wish I could say the same, but such is not the case. While the characters are interesting, they almost feel 'one note' to me: all words and no substance. I'm still holding out hope that it "takes off" as it should; we'll see...
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