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Curses
Martin Gallagher buys an old house in the country. While pursuing Hannah, a widow from the neighborhood, he encounters a sexy but psychotic ghost named Agnes. To make matters worse, Agnes is dead set on derailing his blossoming relationship. Meanwhile, an eccentric medium offers to help Martin exorcise his home, but this means resisting the temptress, encountering the bizarre, and braving the unknown. Can Martin overcome his desires and fears long enough to lift the curse? Curses is three connected stories that elicit laughter, warmth, even tears.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Calvin Dean
5 books52 followersCalvin Dean is the author of two best selling novels: “The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff” and "A Door Unlocked". "Curses", a humorous paranormal mystery, and "Geriatric Delinquents", a cozy southern parody are available on Amazon and other book sellers.
Calvin started working in the creative field at age 15. As a young radio disc jockey he wrote advertising for local retailers -- even won a state-wide award at age 18.
From there he worked for an in-house advertising agency for a large department store, hired by a former copywriter for the famed Macy's in New York.
Next came television promotions and production. Calvin's promotional campaign for the news department took the station's ratings from a poor #2 to #1.
Calvin spent much of his professional career in video production, and was fortunate enough to work with creative types who's resumes include ZZ Top, The Beatles Yellow Submarine animations, and sound engineering for Bob Dylan.
Today, Calvin enjoys spring breaks on the Redneck Riviera, summers on the baseball diamond, and winters sipping a frothy cappuccino. In fact, when Calvin isn't reading or writing, he's behind home plate umpiring USSSA, Perfect Game, or Dizzy Dean baseball. Calvin lives with his family in the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee. Follow him on Twitter @jcalvindean, or like him on Facebook at Calvin Dean-Author.
Calvin started working in the creative field at age 15. As a young radio disc jockey he wrote advertising for local retailers -- even won a state-wide award at age 18.
From there he worked for an in-house advertising agency for a large department store, hired by a former copywriter for the famed Macy's in New York.
Next came television promotions and production. Calvin's promotional campaign for the news department took the station's ratings from a poor #2 to #1.
Calvin spent much of his professional career in video production, and was fortunate enough to work with creative types who's resumes include ZZ Top, The Beatles Yellow Submarine animations, and sound engineering for Bob Dylan.
Today, Calvin enjoys spring breaks on the Redneck Riviera, summers on the baseball diamond, and winters sipping a frothy cappuccino. In fact, when Calvin isn't reading or writing, he's behind home plate umpiring USSSA, Perfect Game, or Dizzy Dean baseball. Calvin lives with his family in the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee. Follow him on Twitter @jcalvindean, or like him on Facebook at Calvin Dean-Author.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 4, 2016
After a long corporate career, Martin is looking forward to a relaxing retirement in a charming old home in the country, working in his garden, and possibly romancing the widow down the street. It sounds good in theory, but the ghosts in his house have other plans.
Curses is a light-hearted read for the most part and the blend of supernatural and humor is very enjoyable. That being said, when Martin is awakened by voices and bumps in the night, the author certainly creates some atmospheric, spine-tingling scenes as well (which thrilled my inner horror fangirl). I laughed at Martin's awkward attempts to juggle both Hannah and Agnes and his reluctant acceptance at having to share his home with a tempting and meddlesome ghost.
I've never read a book quite like this one and wonder if Dean has created a new category - cozy supernatural maybe? Curl up with this novel on a lazy weekend and spend time with some charismatic characters (both human and ghost) for an engaging, humorous read that may also raise some hairs occasionally.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
Curses is a light-hearted read for the most part and the blend of supernatural and humor is very enjoyable. That being said, when Martin is awakened by voices and bumps in the night, the author certainly creates some atmospheric, spine-tingling scenes as well (which thrilled my inner horror fangirl). I laughed at Martin's awkward attempts to juggle both Hannah and Agnes and his reluctant acceptance at having to share his home with a tempting and meddlesome ghost.
I've never read a book quite like this one and wonder if Dean has created a new category - cozy supernatural maybe? Curl up with this novel on a lazy weekend and spend time with some charismatic characters (both human and ghost) for an engaging, humorous read that may also raise some hairs occasionally.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
January 10, 2017
Martin Gallagher is a middle-aged bachelor, who recently moved into a house that seems to be haunted. But that’s ridiculous, right? It all started with a sudden appearance of a mysterious boy in his backyard. Then came the advice from the town’s clairvoyant, Madame Z. Help the boy? What could that possibly mean? And where were those noises coming from? Something’s obviously wrong with this house.
Suddenly, Martin gets tossed into the whirlwind of Stone’s Curse, and he must convince a ghost to kill another ghost. What in the world? How does one go about doing this?
But it turns out this was just the beginning. “A family of four ghosts occupied my home when the exorcism started. Three passed to the afterlife. One lingers.” (119) Odd thing is that Agnes (the ghost) is a spiritual seductress who is only tempting Martin to his weakest point. And, hey, the guy’s only human—unlike Agnes. I so enjoyed the comedic torture brought on by Agnes. It wouldn’t be so bad being haunted by Agnes, except for one thing... “One minute Agnes wants to seduce me. The next she tries to kill me. The woman is schizo. Psychotic.” (230)
Written in three-part sections, this book captivates the reader with its intellectual prose, avant-garde style, and dark irony. Author infused his character with a kooky sense of humor and witty dialogue, while exploring the sinister recess of a mysterious terror. The best part about Martin is that he had virtually no clue how to get rid of a ghost. Hey, we’re not all ghost busters here. But he approaches it in a way that is both sensible and tactical while also carrying on with wry, unequivocal humor.
Curses is a riveting compilation of one ghost-hunt after another.
Very entertaining!
Suddenly, Martin gets tossed into the whirlwind of Stone’s Curse, and he must convince a ghost to kill another ghost. What in the world? How does one go about doing this?
But it turns out this was just the beginning. “A family of four ghosts occupied my home when the exorcism started. Three passed to the afterlife. One lingers.” (119) Odd thing is that Agnes (the ghost) is a spiritual seductress who is only tempting Martin to his weakest point. And, hey, the guy’s only human—unlike Agnes. I so enjoyed the comedic torture brought on by Agnes. It wouldn’t be so bad being haunted by Agnes, except for one thing... “One minute Agnes wants to seduce me. The next she tries to kill me. The woman is schizo. Psychotic.” (230)
Written in three-part sections, this book captivates the reader with its intellectual prose, avant-garde style, and dark irony. Author infused his character with a kooky sense of humor and witty dialogue, while exploring the sinister recess of a mysterious terror. The best part about Martin is that he had virtually no clue how to get rid of a ghost. Hey, we’re not all ghost busters here. But he approaches it in a way that is both sensible and tactical while also carrying on with wry, unequivocal humor.
Curses is a riveting compilation of one ghost-hunt after another.
Very entertaining!
July 9, 2017
Styled in 3 parts, Curses, is a well crafted comedic mystery. Martin is new to the paranormal world and guessing as to what the logical moves in ridding ones self of ghosts might be. We meet our hero after the fact and he’s not a natural believer in the supernatural. He sees a young boy in period costume tossing a ball up in the air in his backyard and his assumption is that this is one of the neighborhood children and while its odd that he’d be in the backyard there’s no alarm. He drops little hints to the reader that the worst is yet to come Martin’s overall likability, affability and logical approach to what he faces makes it a lot of fun to have a beer and hear his story.
November 22, 2016
I totally LOVED this book
It reminded me of a cross between
The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (from back in the day) and modern day Beetlejuice. It is light, whitty, funny. I READ IT TWO TIMES
Bravo Mr. Dean
It reminded me of a cross between
The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (from back in the day) and modern day Beetlejuice. It is light, whitty, funny. I READ IT TWO TIMES
Bravo Mr. Dean
November 1, 2017
A cute read. The main character is likable and finds himself in a number of different ghost-related quandaries. Not exactly what I was expecting, but still enjoyable. 3.5 stars
November 18, 2016
Excellent! A fun read. 5 stars.
February 1, 2017
“Curses” is very different from anything I have read lately and is certainly a genre-defying novel. This book is comprised of three different, but interrelated stories about curses and ghosts. Martin is a handsome advertising retiree that has left the city life in Memphis for a small town and a beautiful, old home in Sycamore Grove. Ready for a relaxing and peaceful retirement, Martin plans to spend his time gardening and tinkering around his house. He meets his beautiful neighbor, Hannah, with whom he quickly forms a friendship with a possibility for more, but soon realizes he has more “neighbors” than expected. Between seeing strange people in his yard and hearing footsteps and arguments in the middle of the night, Martin begins to question his sanity – until the day he meets Madame Zelda in the grocery store, who soon confirms his suspicions that he is sharing his home and property with ghosts.
Martin meets several different ghosts throughout this book, but one ghost named Agnes is the most troublesome. She’s beautiful and desirable while also being stubborn and refuses to leave. While he’s trying to help various ghosts move forward to the afterlife, Martin is also constantly experiencing new and strange phenomena in his home, battling Agnes and her temper and trying to build a relationship with Hannah – without letting her know about the ghosts. Martin’s funny and sarcastic personality, especially his inner dialogue, make this book funny and spooky all at the same time.
So, I started out loving this book, primarily because of Martin. He’s intelligent, calm, funny, and creative all at once. Martin’s patience is tested over and over dealing with the strange sights and sounds he experiences while also trying to appear sane and in control. Parts 1 and 2 were my favorite, but honestly, the author lost me a bit in the 3rd story. I liked it at first, but without giving spoilers it ended up being quite silly regarding one of Martin’s final visitors. I still don’t get where that came from and why it was included but overall this was a light, fun read. Each story, as well as, the book as a whole was extremely creative and entertaining. Kudos to Calvin Dean’s creativity and imagination while composing these 3 stories and all of Martin’s adventures. “Curses” is classified on Amazon as literature and fiction/horror/ghosts, but I would add humor to the top of the list. There are definitely some creepy elements, but Martin’s light-hearted reaction to everything that happens softens the spookiness and suspense. This is not the book for you if you are looking for straight-up horror and ghost stories, but more for the person that wants a little bit of creepy mixed with humor and creative problem-solving!
*Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Martin meets several different ghosts throughout this book, but one ghost named Agnes is the most troublesome. She’s beautiful and desirable while also being stubborn and refuses to leave. While he’s trying to help various ghosts move forward to the afterlife, Martin is also constantly experiencing new and strange phenomena in his home, battling Agnes and her temper and trying to build a relationship with Hannah – without letting her know about the ghosts. Martin’s funny and sarcastic personality, especially his inner dialogue, make this book funny and spooky all at the same time.
So, I started out loving this book, primarily because of Martin. He’s intelligent, calm, funny, and creative all at once. Martin’s patience is tested over and over dealing with the strange sights and sounds he experiences while also trying to appear sane and in control. Parts 1 and 2 were my favorite, but honestly, the author lost me a bit in the 3rd story. I liked it at first, but without giving spoilers it ended up being quite silly regarding one of Martin’s final visitors. I still don’t get where that came from and why it was included but overall this was a light, fun read. Each story, as well as, the book as a whole was extremely creative and entertaining. Kudos to Calvin Dean’s creativity and imagination while composing these 3 stories and all of Martin’s adventures. “Curses” is classified on Amazon as literature and fiction/horror/ghosts, but I would add humor to the top of the list. There are definitely some creepy elements, but Martin’s light-hearted reaction to everything that happens softens the spookiness and suspense. This is not the book for you if you are looking for straight-up horror and ghost stories, but more for the person that wants a little bit of creepy mixed with humor and creative problem-solving!
*Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2016
“Curses” was my first Calvin Dean novel, but it will certainly not be the last. After a successful advertising career, Martin Gallagher just wants to get away from the hustle of the big city and enjoy his retirement in the small, fictional Mississippi town of Sycamore Grove. To that end, he buys a quaint old house on a quiet old street and prepares for relaxing days ahead.
He is soon welcomed to the neighborhood by the attractive and remarkable Hannah, who makes an admirable love interest. But a host of other townspeople greet him as well. Unfortunately, these other visitors no longer live in town. Oh, they are certainly still in town… they simply are no longer alive!
Martin has apparently purchased a haunted house, where spirits and specters travel through the home like the warm Spring breezes off the cotton fields. Some guests want to visit, while others want to play. A few need help, and others cause untold problems for our reluctant hero. Madam Zelda, the town psychic, offers her guidance and advice as he sorts through the problems of the afterlife. But it’s Agnes Stone, trickster, manipulator and seductress, who makes Martin’s life most difficult. She refuses to move on and seems to delight at Martin’s distress. In the end, he simply wants to be left alone to build something special with the neighbor, Hannah.
Calvin Dean takes an often dark subject of ghosts and hauntings, and successfully spins a tale of light humor and amusing situations which will push you to read “just one more chapter”. Readers will be guessing at the outcome up to the very last page as one wonders if Agnes Stone will cross over, or continue to torment Martin in order to amuse herself. I anxiously anticipate Dean’s future return to Sycamore Grove in another book, but until then, his other novels are at the top of my reading pile next to my favorite chair.
He is soon welcomed to the neighborhood by the attractive and remarkable Hannah, who makes an admirable love interest. But a host of other townspeople greet him as well. Unfortunately, these other visitors no longer live in town. Oh, they are certainly still in town… they simply are no longer alive!
Martin has apparently purchased a haunted house, where spirits and specters travel through the home like the warm Spring breezes off the cotton fields. Some guests want to visit, while others want to play. A few need help, and others cause untold problems for our reluctant hero. Madam Zelda, the town psychic, offers her guidance and advice as he sorts through the problems of the afterlife. But it’s Agnes Stone, trickster, manipulator and seductress, who makes Martin’s life most difficult. She refuses to move on and seems to delight at Martin’s distress. In the end, he simply wants to be left alone to build something special with the neighbor, Hannah.
Calvin Dean takes an often dark subject of ghosts and hauntings, and successfully spins a tale of light humor and amusing situations which will push you to read “just one more chapter”. Readers will be guessing at the outcome up to the very last page as one wonders if Agnes Stone will cross over, or continue to torment Martin in order to amuse herself. I anxiously anticipate Dean’s future return to Sycamore Grove in another book, but until then, his other novels are at the top of my reading pile next to my favorite chair.
November 2, 2016
What a funny little story. Gets total props for originality in my book. It's like Inspector Cluseau or Barney Fife meets the Ghost Whisperer. Martin is a retiree with a haunting problem, and he is bound and determined to deal with it...as long as his girlfriend - the living and breathing one, anyway - doesn't have him committed first.
I found the story to be more of a comedy, although there were a couple eerie scenes, and even some touching scenes. Martin's bumbling efforts to conceal his "it's complicated" status from his neighbor (who he just so happens to believe is the love of his life) are enjoyably comical. I got the greatest visual of the man going about his days, dealing with some truly trying ghosts.
Not sure how you would categorize Curses. Maybe a cozy horror mystery? It was a definite fun break, for Halloween or any time.
I found the story to be more of a comedy, although there were a couple eerie scenes, and even some touching scenes. Martin's bumbling efforts to conceal his "it's complicated" status from his neighbor (who he just so happens to believe is the love of his life) are enjoyably comical. I got the greatest visual of the man going about his days, dealing with some truly trying ghosts.
Not sure how you would categorize Curses. Maybe a cozy horror mystery? It was a definite fun break, for Halloween or any time.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews