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Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural #1
The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost
Kester Lanner didn't know what to expect when he followed his mother s dying request to contact the mysterious Dr. Ribero, but he wasn't expecting to find his long lost father. Nor was he expecting to join the family business: catching supernatural spirits.
Kester is intrigued despite his fear, and finds himself drawn into an ancient ghost story that will test the entire agency.He soon becomes enmeshed in a struggle with the spirit, who is so malevolent and haunting that his first real case might just be his last.
Kester is intrigued despite his fear, and finds himself drawn into an ancient ghost story that will test the entire agency.He soon becomes enmeshed in a struggle with the spirit, who is so malevolent and haunting that his first real case might just be his last.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2017
969 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Banks
11 books313 followersLucy Banks grew up in provincial Hertfordshire, before fleeing to the wilds of Devon, where she now lives with her husband and two boys. As a child, she spent a disproportionate amount of time lurking in libraries, and prowling car-boot sales to feed both her hunger for books and her book collection. It's fair to say that she's bypassed being a bookworm, and become a book-python instead. Today, most of the available space in her house is stuffed to the brim with literature, which is just the way she likes it.
Regular forays into fictional realms at a young age created a desire for more, and she soon began to create alternate realities through writing. After teaching English Literature to teens, she set up her own copywriting company and turned her love for the written word into a full-time career. However, the desire to create never went away, so Lucy turned her insomnia into a useful tool--penning her novels in the wee small hours of the night and the stolen moments of the day.
Regular forays into fictional realms at a young age created a desire for more, and she soon began to create alternate realities through writing. After teaching English Literature to teens, she set up her own copywriting company and turned her love for the written word into a full-time career. However, the desire to create never went away, so Lucy turned her insomnia into a useful tool--penning her novels in the wee small hours of the night and the stolen moments of the day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
July 2, 2018
This was a really enjoyable book. The characters were on the whole quite lovable, and I am hooked to the extent that I want to read more about Dr Ribero's agency and especially Kester.
The premise, that is the setting for this book is an excellent one, and I am not giving anything away if I say it is present day England with a slight twist in that spirits, phantoms, banshees and all manner of ghosts are prevalent in the country and known about by the appropriate government department. This department calls upon various spirit agencies to resolve annoying spirit situations. And then the adventure begins....
Great writing, great characters and a riveting story. Really good
The premise, that is the setting for this book is an excellent one, and I am not giving anything away if I say it is present day England with a slight twist in that spirits, phantoms, banshees and all manner of ghosts are prevalent in the country and known about by the appropriate government department. This department calls upon various spirit agencies to resolve annoying spirit situations. And then the adventure begins....
Great writing, great characters and a riveting story. Really good
September 20, 2017
I'm not really into ghost stories but this book was recommended to me and it had some great reviews so I thought I would request it from Netgalley.
I should have trusted my instincts because I couldn't connect with any of the characters or the story.
Someone likened the story to ghost busters - I hated ghost busters! Obviously I have no sense of humour.
2 stars for the suspense and the mystery.
My thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review. It's not you, it's me!
I should have trusted my instincts because I couldn't connect with any of the characters or the story.
Someone likened the story to ghost busters - I hated ghost busters! Obviously I have no sense of humour.
2 stars for the suspense and the mystery.
My thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review. It's not you, it's me!
August 17, 2018
I didn't enjoy this book at all.
There's a scene where Our Hero, Kester, is trying to make himself useful to the fourth-generation supernatural agency he's become associated. Research! He can do research! (Apparently no one in this long-established agency has ever considered researching their subjects before.)
Kester, apparently, is very good at research. He notes he got top marks in his year on his dissertation; he studied at Cambridge. (I don't think we ever learn what he studied.) There's quite a lot more to a dissertation than research, but okay. I have no idea why someone getting top grades at Cambridge has been unable to convert this into any kind of employment, further education, or internship, but he is shy and not very driven, so okay.
Kester goes to the local library to research a painting found in a local attic. He trots to the local history section, and thinks happily about how much he loves books; the pages, the leather bindings, and so on. Then he sits down at a computer and starts doing web searches.
...okay, buddy, you don't need to be in the local history section of the library to do that, but maybe the ambience helps you out. Anyway, he does a lot of web searching, and finally finds mention of a book that may be relevant. Fantastic! Research comes through! But alas, the book is expensive and rare. Kester is plunged into despair.
Then he accidentally attracts the attention of an elderly library volunteer. She hobbles over, and despite his best attempts to shoo her off, manages to convey to him that she has read the book he is sighing wistfully over.
What a breakthrough! Does she own this book?
No. It's in the library. It is in the library they are sitting in. Our research genius did not, while looking for a book, think to check the catalogue of the library he was sitting in. HE COULD NOT FIND A BOOK IN A LIBRARY.
It turns out the book is in the Local Art section. Kester did not think to look in the local art section while researching a painting. Nor did he think to do so when researching a local painter. Despite this, he leaves the library thinking about how good he is at research.
Let me say again, Kester was praised by his tutors at one of the top universities in the country for the quality of his research skills, and he didn't even think to check if a book was in the library he was in.
(Further, as a graduate of a UK university, he would have been able to get easy and cheap access to most of the academic libraries in the country. He doesn't appear to know this. Cambridge really failed him.)
Later, he decides he needs to research further, and uses the office Internet rather than go back and look in the local art section. (To be fair, he does later go back to the library, where he spends two hours scanning the shelves and decides it's hopeless.)
This was the most ridiculous scene, but it's a pretty good example of how half-assed the whole thing felt. The characters are half-formed and unpleasant, the plot is nonsense, the setting is barely sketched in, other characters have to carry the Idiot Ball to make our hero seem smart and useful.
And also - the constant fat-shaming. If we're not mocking an employer's "elephantine" figure or a supernatural researcher's "voluminous" breasts, we've got Kester agonising over his "paunch", guilting himself over a Cornish pasty, struggling with the temptation of a chocolate bar, and generally feeling totally ashamed of himself while obsessing about food.
I did not find a single redeeming feature in this book, and I only finished it because I intended to leave a review and so felt obliged to read the whole thing.
There's a scene where Our Hero, Kester, is trying to make himself useful to the fourth-generation supernatural agency he's become associated. Research! He can do research! (Apparently no one in this long-established agency has ever considered researching their subjects before.)
Kester, apparently, is very good at research. He notes he got top marks in his year on his dissertation; he studied at Cambridge. (I don't think we ever learn what he studied.) There's quite a lot more to a dissertation than research, but okay. I have no idea why someone getting top grades at Cambridge has been unable to convert this into any kind of employment, further education, or internship, but he is shy and not very driven, so okay.
Kester goes to the local library to research a painting found in a local attic. He trots to the local history section, and thinks happily about how much he loves books; the pages, the leather bindings, and so on. Then he sits down at a computer and starts doing web searches.
...okay, buddy, you don't need to be in the local history section of the library to do that, but maybe the ambience helps you out. Anyway, he does a lot of web searching, and finally finds mention of a book that may be relevant. Fantastic! Research comes through! But alas, the book is expensive and rare. Kester is plunged into despair.
Then he accidentally attracts the attention of an elderly library volunteer. She hobbles over, and despite his best attempts to shoo her off, manages to convey to him that she has read the book he is sighing wistfully over.
What a breakthrough! Does she own this book?
No. It's in the library. It is in the library they are sitting in. Our research genius did not, while looking for a book, think to check the catalogue of the library he was sitting in. HE COULD NOT FIND A BOOK IN A LIBRARY.
It turns out the book is in the Local Art section. Kester did not think to look in the local art section while researching a painting. Nor did he think to do so when researching a local painter. Despite this, he leaves the library thinking about how good he is at research.
Let me say again, Kester was praised by his tutors at one of the top universities in the country for the quality of his research skills, and he didn't even think to check if a book was in the library he was in.
(Further, as a graduate of a UK university, he would have been able to get easy and cheap access to most of the academic libraries in the country. He doesn't appear to know this. Cambridge really failed him.)
Later, he decides he needs to research further, and uses the office Internet rather than go back and look in the local art section. (To be fair, he does later go back to the library, where he spends two hours scanning the shelves and decides it's hopeless.)
This was the most ridiculous scene, but it's a pretty good example of how half-assed the whole thing felt. The characters are half-formed and unpleasant, the plot is nonsense, the setting is barely sketched in, other characters have to carry the Idiot Ball to make our hero seem smart and useful.
And also - the constant fat-shaming. If we're not mocking an employer's "elephantine" figure or a supernatural researcher's "voluminous" breasts, we've got Kester agonising over his "paunch", guilting himself over a Cornish pasty, struggling with the temptation of a chocolate bar, and generally feeling totally ashamed of himself while obsessing about food.
I did not find a single redeeming feature in this book, and I only finished it because I intended to leave a review and so felt obliged to read the whole thing.
February 7, 2017
I really loved this coming-of-age ghost busting story! It's the first of the Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural, and I hope there will be many more. If you liked the Ghostbusters movies, I'm sure you'll like this.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 14, 2017
An outstanding paranormal that caught my attention on the first page. I found myself unable to put it down until I finished. All I could say is WOW! It has everything you could want in a story. There is a mystery, quirky characters, myths, and action.
Kester Lanner on the death of his Mother honors her dying request to find Dr. Ribero and tell him his name. You will feel Kester dismay when he does. He learns that Dr. Ribero is his Father and owns an agency that catches and removes unwanted ghosts from their locations. Kester is scared but determined to handle himself when he sees his first ghost. His despair when is unable to control his actions. Kester must learn to manage his life if he is to survive. I highly recommend this debut story and look forward to reading many stories of Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Amberjack Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Kester Lanner on the death of his Mother honors her dying request to find Dr. Ribero and tell him his name. You will feel Kester dismay when he does. He learns that Dr. Ribero is his Father and owns an agency that catches and removes unwanted ghosts from their locations. Kester is scared but determined to handle himself when he sees his first ghost. His despair when is unable to control his actions. Kester must learn to manage his life if he is to survive. I highly recommend this debut story and look forward to reading many stories of Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Amberjack Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars
Kester Lanner is a 22-year-old young man who follows his mother's dying request to go to Dr. Ribero’s Agency. Not knowing who or what Dr. Ribero is, Kester discovers that a whole new world that he never knows before, the world of supernatural investigations, including catching them and such. Not only that, Kester also learns a lot more about his family and the secret that his mother keeps all these years. Then Kester is thrown to the business when he is roped to help with a case of haunted painting of an apparently very viscious lady in green-dress...
I couldn't help feeling curious with The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost because of the GORGEOUS cover and the blurb that said "family business: catching supernatural spirits". Look, British Ghostbusters! *smile* And well, I quite liked this debut...
Kester is definitely the youngest addition to the supernatural agency; all of the other characters are a whole lot older than he is. Maybe because of that, at first I didn't feel a cohesive and welcoming team towards Kester. Especially coming from Serena, the extinguisher on the team.
After a while, I understand that it is caused by Serena's fear of Kester taking over her job, since it turns out Kester has "something" running in his blood that apparently is very useful in the ghost-hunters business. Plus Kester is the boss's son. But still I didn't feel that closeness yet between them which influences my enjoyment a bit.
However, I could see that this may be a work in progress. After he welcomes the idea of supernatural world, Kester would be quite helpful for the agency. He has a knack for research -- and actually enjoys it! -- which will contribute to the other skills that the rest of the team has.
I enjoyed reading about the rest of Kester new co-workers -- in addition to Serena, we have Ms. Wellbeloved who is a conversant, Pamela - the resident psychic, Mike who designs all the equipment, and of course the head of the team, Dr. Julio Ribero. Even if they sometimes squabble quite loud; it is also probably due to the fact that they had been together for years.
The ghost case is quite engaging; I loved that this book mixes supernatural beings from legends as well as cultural folklore (we have sighting of a dislocated Japanese spirit who wakes up in a wrong time-zome *lol*)
I'd say this is a lovely debut and I'm looking forward to future sequels :)
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Kester Lanner is a 22-year-old young man who follows his mother's dying request to go to Dr. Ribero’s Agency. Not knowing who or what Dr. Ribero is, Kester discovers that a whole new world that he never knows before, the world of supernatural investigations, including catching them and such. Not only that, Kester also learns a lot more about his family and the secret that his mother keeps all these years. Then Kester is thrown to the business when he is roped to help with a case of haunted painting of an apparently very viscious lady in green-dress...
I couldn't help feeling curious with The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost because of the GORGEOUS cover and the blurb that said "family business: catching supernatural spirits". Look, British Ghostbusters! *smile* And well, I quite liked this debut...
Kester is definitely the youngest addition to the supernatural agency; all of the other characters are a whole lot older than he is. Maybe because of that, at first I didn't feel a cohesive and welcoming team towards Kester. Especially coming from Serena, the extinguisher on the team.
After a while, I understand that it is caused by Serena's fear of Kester taking over her job, since it turns out Kester has "something" running in his blood that apparently is very useful in the ghost-hunters business. Plus Kester is the boss's son. But still I didn't feel that closeness yet between them which influences my enjoyment a bit.
However, I could see that this may be a work in progress. After he welcomes the idea of supernatural world, Kester would be quite helpful for the agency. He has a knack for research -- and actually enjoys it! -- which will contribute to the other skills that the rest of the team has.
I enjoyed reading about the rest of Kester new co-workers -- in addition to Serena, we have Ms. Wellbeloved who is a conversant, Pamela - the resident psychic, Mike who designs all the equipment, and of course the head of the team, Dr. Julio Ribero. Even if they sometimes squabble quite loud; it is also probably due to the fact that they had been together for years.
The ghost case is quite engaging; I loved that this book mixes supernatural beings from legends as well as cultural folklore (we have sighting of a dislocated Japanese spirit who wakes up in a wrong time-zome *lol*)
I'd say this is a lovely debut and I'm looking forward to future sequels :)
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
February 1, 2018
This book just about drove me nuts; all the bickering and blathering and sniping at each other - for an agency that is supposed to work together, they can barely stand each other. Until Kester shows up and apparently is the glue that will hold them all together [as only a nerdy, chubby, white-bread, pansyish boy can do - and of course when he does he does it amazingly]. And once they started working together, I started really enjoying it.
I liked the story a lot; the characters are what was driving me batty. Once they got over themselves, I started loving the whole book. I think in my family we are not big on bickering and blathering and so that is why I am bothered by it [my Mom is also very much bothered by it and it is apparently an inherited trait. LOL]
By the end of the book, I was looking forward to the idea of reading the second one. I'll take that as success.
I liked the story a lot; the characters are what was driving me batty. Once they got over themselves, I started loving the whole book. I think in my family we are not big on bickering and blathering and so that is why I am bothered by it [my Mom is also very much bothered by it and it is apparently an inherited trait. LOL]
By the end of the book, I was looking forward to the idea of reading the second one. I'll take that as success.
March 23, 2017
*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
It is authors debut novel and I can applaud for a solid story. It was a quick and enjoyable read with some places, that could have been developed better.
The only two things that kept me away from giving a higher rating was a rushed and a little bit too dramatized ending and the main character Kester. If it wasn't mentioned that he is 22 year old, I would think he was a whiny teenager.
Non the less, it would be interesting to read more from this series.
It is authors debut novel and I can applaud for a solid story. It was a quick and enjoyable read with some places, that could have been developed better.
The only two things that kept me away from giving a higher rating was a rushed and a little bit too dramatized ending and the main character Kester. If it wasn't mentioned that he is 22 year old, I would think he was a whiny teenager.
Non the less, it would be interesting to read more from this series.
March 14, 2017
Review to come! :)
August 9, 2017
Kester Lanner is recovering from the death of his mother when he sees a note from her asking him to visit Dr. Ribero. When he does, he finds out that the doctor is not only his father, but he runs an agency that investigates supernatural occurrences. Kester is not sure how he feels about these new developments, but he goes with Dr. Ribero and his crew of investigators as they capture a ghost.
But the second ghost proves to be more elusive, and it hits Kester hard, and frightens him. Especially when the ghost tries to attach herself to him. Kester will have to come to terms with not only his new discovery about his parentage, but about his newfound abilities, ones that he's not sure he wants.
This is a supernatural tale, but it is also a coming of age tale. Kester is in his twenties when his mother passes away, and he's still struggling with her death when he meets his father. When he discovers his mother's past it hits him and he has to deal with his feelings about discovering his father's identity, a plot line that has been explored in many different stories before.
But the supernatural element of this story adds an interesting twist, and it made this tale a fast, and intriguing read. I have been searching for a true ghost series for some time, one that didn't go in for blood and gore, and I've found it.
This is the author's first outing, and I found the plot to be tight, and the characters to be well-drawn. I am definitely eager for the next story in this series.
But the second ghost proves to be more elusive, and it hits Kester hard, and frightens him. Especially when the ghost tries to attach herself to him. Kester will have to come to terms with not only his new discovery about his parentage, but about his newfound abilities, ones that he's not sure he wants.
This is a supernatural tale, but it is also a coming of age tale. Kester is in his twenties when his mother passes away, and he's still struggling with her death when he meets his father. When he discovers his mother's past it hits him and he has to deal with his feelings about discovering his father's identity, a plot line that has been explored in many different stories before.
But the supernatural element of this story adds an interesting twist, and it made this tale a fast, and intriguing read. I have been searching for a true ghost series for some time, one that didn't go in for blood and gore, and I've found it.
This is the author's first outing, and I found the plot to be tight, and the characters to be well-drawn. I am definitely eager for the next story in this series.
May 6, 2020
A good start to an interesting paranormal mystery with some unfortunate characters.
The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: While I really love paranormal mysteries this one was a bit bogged down with some unlikable characters. Serena is a secondary character within the series who has an important skill in collecting wayward spirits for their agency. Her personality is so negative. I'm not even sure how she has been working with the group (made of 5 people before Kester joined) for as long as she has (something like 5 years). She is rude to her co-workers and exhibits a hatred towards Kester upon meeting him for the first time. She ridicules everything he says and does. She also turns this attitude towards another male teammate, Mike.
Unfortunately, Kester, who is the main character isn't a whole lot better. He has a self depreciating attitude and puts himself down time after time. I don't like to read over and over how much he isn't someone to look at and how he is an overweight pasty looking man who looks older than he really is. He also had unfortunate reactions to his first encounter with a spirit. Granted, he didn't even know or believe in the paranormal so I'm sure it was a bit traumatic but his reaction was similar the second and third time....what a wuss.
Despite those two terrible characters the researching involved in the Green-Dressed Ghost was interesting although it took more than half the book to get to this point. Each team member also contributes something special to the investigation and spirit removal. With the addition of Kester to the team Serena's place within the team might be compromised with Serena even commented on towards the end of the book. I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen with that and some interpersonal relationships that look like they may develop during the series.
The audio version was Ok and Joe Jameson had a decent voice for Kester. His accent for Dr. Rubio's Argentinian voice grew on me but at first I wasn't sure what accent it was. I almost thought it was Russian 😖I was able to listen to the book at my normal speed which is almost 2Xs. Although the audio was decent enough it didn't enhance the book as much as some other productions do.
In a Nutshell: Since I'm so character driven the negative characters almost turned me off the series but I think the investigation of the spirit mystery compensated for this. I'm looking forward to listening to the next book in the series or reading it myself, whichever version I can get from the library but I probably won't purchase it.
The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: While I really love paranormal mysteries this one was a bit bogged down with some unlikable characters. Serena is a secondary character within the series who has an important skill in collecting wayward spirits for their agency. Her personality is so negative. I'm not even sure how she has been working with the group (made of 5 people before Kester joined) for as long as she has (something like 5 years). She is rude to her co-workers and exhibits a hatred towards Kester upon meeting him for the first time. She ridicules everything he says and does. She also turns this attitude towards another male teammate, Mike.
Unfortunately, Kester, who is the main character isn't a whole lot better. He has a self depreciating attitude and puts himself down time after time. I don't like to read over and over how much he isn't someone to look at and how he is an overweight pasty looking man who looks older than he really is. He also had unfortunate reactions to his first encounter with a spirit. Granted, he didn't even know or believe in the paranormal so I'm sure it was a bit traumatic but his reaction was similar the second and third time....what a wuss.
Despite those two terrible characters the researching involved in the Green-Dressed Ghost was interesting although it took more than half the book to get to this point. Each team member also contributes something special to the investigation and spirit removal. With the addition of Kester to the team Serena's place within the team might be compromised with Serena even commented on towards the end of the book. I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen with that and some interpersonal relationships that look like they may develop during the series.
The audio version was Ok and Joe Jameson had a decent voice for Kester. His accent for Dr. Rubio's Argentinian voice grew on me but at first I wasn't sure what accent it was. I almost thought it was Russian 😖I was able to listen to the book at my normal speed which is almost 2Xs. Although the audio was decent enough it didn't enhance the book as much as some other productions do.
In a Nutshell: Since I'm so character driven the negative characters almost turned me off the series but I think the investigation of the spirit mystery compensated for this. I'm looking forward to listening to the next book in the series or reading it myself, whichever version I can get from the library but I probably won't purchase it.
April 7, 2017
Book received from NetGalley.
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started reading it. I was a bit confused on where it was going. Once we finally meet Dr. Ribero the book really takes off. Finding out the agency removed ghosts from troublesome areas made the book for me. It was a bit slow in areas, and I really felt for the main character. He was so confused and out of his element when the book started, but he really came into his own at the end. He was a very changed person. It's a cute little cozy mystery, a very quick read and I believe that most people who enjoy paranormal cozy's will like it.
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started reading it. I was a bit confused on where it was going. Once we finally meet Dr. Ribero the book really takes off. Finding out the agency removed ghosts from troublesome areas made the book for me. It was a bit slow in areas, and I really felt for the main character. He was so confused and out of his element when the book started, but he really came into his own at the end. He was a very changed person. It's a cute little cozy mystery, a very quick read and I believe that most people who enjoy paranormal cozy's will like it.
March 28, 2017
This is such a delightful supernatural romp! I loved the characters and I loved the writing, and now that I am done with the book, I miss my new friends at Dr. Ribero's Agency! I can't wait for the next installment of this series. An absolutely delightful book!
January 27, 2018
I had a good laugh reading this. Interesting blend of crew, somewhat annoying yet hilarious! Now move on to the next book!! :)
February 7, 2017
https://literaryweaponry.com/2017/01/...
It has been a very long time since I finished a book in less than twenty-four hours. In fact, I was probably a teenager at the time. A time when responsibilities were few, your folks still gave you dinner every night, and free time was pretty much constant. Anyone else feeling nostalgic? Now we all have a to-do list a mile long and a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. Unless you have a maid. If you do I’m incredibly jealous. In any case…
After my last read, which was an utter disappointment of a story that lasted 200 pages too long, I wanted an easy read. A slam dunk. Needed to get my reading mojo back. So, I went with what appeared to be a nice sci-fi mystery. Even the title reminded me of a Scooby-Doo episode and what heathen doesn’t like Scooby? There is even a mystery solving gang with a van! Fun, right?
We begin with Kester Lanner whose mother has recently passed. The last thing she said to him was a request to find a fellow named Dr. Ribero. Following his mother’s last request he manages to find Dr. Ribero in a dilapidated old building. Now, Kester is a lovable wuss and does not want to investigate in this building even though this is where he tracked Ribero to. Being loyal to his mother’s final request, he ventures into the building and finds himself thrown into what he previously thought was only fiction. The group of folks he finds inside hunts ghosts and banshees and all sorts of paranormal things. He also learns that the mysterious Dr. Ribero is his father. *dramatic music*
Kester finds himself pulled into this world of the supernatural and watching his discovery is just, well, fun! He has always been an awkward fellow and has very little confidence or courage in himself. Still, he joins this group of folks in their hunt (granted they sure pressured him into it) and discovers he has a rare power that significantly helps his father and the rest of the team in capturing these otherworldly creatures. Of course, it scares the pants right off of him. The reader gets to watch this young man with no confidence start to discover himself and his place in the world.
I very much enjoyed this book. It was simple and fun. After my previous read being such a let down this is exactly what I needed. The author states that this is the first book in a series featuring our paranormal fighting group and I am looking forward to reading more about them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was provided to me by Net Galley
It has been a very long time since I finished a book in less than twenty-four hours. In fact, I was probably a teenager at the time. A time when responsibilities were few, your folks still gave you dinner every night, and free time was pretty much constant. Anyone else feeling nostalgic? Now we all have a to-do list a mile long and a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. Unless you have a maid. If you do I’m incredibly jealous. In any case…
After my last read, which was an utter disappointment of a story that lasted 200 pages too long, I wanted an easy read. A slam dunk. Needed to get my reading mojo back. So, I went with what appeared to be a nice sci-fi mystery. Even the title reminded me of a Scooby-Doo episode and what heathen doesn’t like Scooby? There is even a mystery solving gang with a van! Fun, right?
We begin with Kester Lanner whose mother has recently passed. The last thing she said to him was a request to find a fellow named Dr. Ribero. Following his mother’s last request he manages to find Dr. Ribero in a dilapidated old building. Now, Kester is a lovable wuss and does not want to investigate in this building even though this is where he tracked Ribero to. Being loyal to his mother’s final request, he ventures into the building and finds himself thrown into what he previously thought was only fiction. The group of folks he finds inside hunts ghosts and banshees and all sorts of paranormal things. He also learns that the mysterious Dr. Ribero is his father. *dramatic music*
Kester finds himself pulled into this world of the supernatural and watching his discovery is just, well, fun! He has always been an awkward fellow and has very little confidence or courage in himself. Still, he joins this group of folks in their hunt (granted they sure pressured him into it) and discovers he has a rare power that significantly helps his father and the rest of the team in capturing these otherworldly creatures. Of course, it scares the pants right off of him. The reader gets to watch this young man with no confidence start to discover himself and his place in the world.
I very much enjoyed this book. It was simple and fun. After my previous read being such a let down this is exactly what I needed. The author states that this is the first book in a series featuring our paranormal fighting group and I am looking forward to reading more about them.
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This book was provided to me by Net Galley
September 9, 2018
Quite a slog. Silly concept, unlikeable characters.
December 15, 2017
Who doesn't like a good ghost story? Perhaps a good "coming of age" story involving a young man meeting a father he never knew he had is more your style? Or, how about a story of a quirky little business struggling to stay afloat in the shadow of their giant corporate competitor? If you smash them all together, you get Lucy Banks' debut paranormal novel, The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost.
The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost is the first installment in the Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural series, and what an installment it is. Kester's mother has just passed away, leaving a dying message for her son: "Go see Dr. Ribero." It's an odd message considering that Kester has never heard his mother mention the name before. His search for Dr. Ribero takes him to a dilapidated door down a dark alley in Exeter. Beyond the door lies an adventure unlike anything that Kester ever could have imagined or wanted.
Lucy Banks' debut is a light-hearted ghost story with a cast of quirky characters that more resemble a dysfunctional family than a team of close knit co-workers. Set in modern day England, the novel creates a world where ghost hunting is a legitimate (if not secret) business, with some agencies being more successful than others. Banks interweaves plenty of humor throughout the novel, which takes it from being a straight paranormal story to a more lighthearted ghost tale that amuses and entertains.
Although ghostly hauntings abound throughout The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost, it is also a "coming-of-age" story focusing on Kester's efforts to get to know his mysterious newly discovered father. It is a relationship that is not without its challenges, and one that I'll be interesting in seeing developed further in the next books.
Overall, Lucy Banks has written a fun introduction to Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural series. The second book in the series, The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger, is slated for release in February of 2018. The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost is a delightfully entertaining novel and a great debut from Lucy Banks.
The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost is the first installment in the Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural series, and what an installment it is. Kester's mother has just passed away, leaving a dying message for her son: "Go see Dr. Ribero." It's an odd message considering that Kester has never heard his mother mention the name before. His search for Dr. Ribero takes him to a dilapidated door down a dark alley in Exeter. Beyond the door lies an adventure unlike anything that Kester ever could have imagined or wanted.
Lucy Banks' debut is a light-hearted ghost story with a cast of quirky characters that more resemble a dysfunctional family than a team of close knit co-workers. Set in modern day England, the novel creates a world where ghost hunting is a legitimate (if not secret) business, with some agencies being more successful than others. Banks interweaves plenty of humor throughout the novel, which takes it from being a straight paranormal story to a more lighthearted ghost tale that amuses and entertains.
Although ghostly hauntings abound throughout The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost, it is also a "coming-of-age" story focusing on Kester's efforts to get to know his mysterious newly discovered father. It is a relationship that is not without its challenges, and one that I'll be interesting in seeing developed further in the next books.
Overall, Lucy Banks has written a fun introduction to Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural series. The second book in the series, The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger, is slated for release in February of 2018. The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost is a delightfully entertaining novel and a great debut from Lucy Banks.
June 25, 2019
Ecco spiegato perchè era gratis su amazon. Parte piuttosto bene: il protagonista è goffo, ma all'inizio è simpatico. Va a trovare quello che scopre essere suo padre che ha un'agenzia di investigazione paranormale, ma qui iniziano i problemi: sembrano tutti dei dilettanti. Nessuno che faccia ricerche sui luoghi/oggetti e sulla loro storia prima di andare sul posto a filmare i fenomeni paranormali. Il protagonista, che ha studiato a Cambridge e non manca di ricordarcelo, deve fare una ricerca sul quadro misterioso, e va in biblioteca. Per cercare su google con i pc della biblioteca, ma ci tiene ad andare nella sezione specifica di storia locale. Guarda che non è che i pc di quella sezione siano più bravi a trovare le informazioni su google degli altri!! Scopre che questo quadro è citato in un famoso e rarissimo libro antico. Orrore e disperazione, dove trovarlo? Una signora anziana cerca di aiutarlo, facendogli notare che sono in una biblioteca... che lì hanno i libri, ma lui niente, non ci arriva. Pagine imbarazzanti da leggere, in cui lei cerca di fargli capire che lo ha letto, e che basta andare nella sezione Arte locale per trovarlo. Il ragazzo è andato a Cambridge ma non sa che può trovare un libro in una biblioteca. Ridicolo. Ma noto che anche nella sezione domande di GR dicono all'autrice che c'è un buco nella trama che non è quello di cui parlo io, quindi questo libro è da dimenticare.
Ah, e non vi ho parlato dell'ossessione per la ciccia! Fat shaming ogni capitolo, con lui che si lamenta che è grasso, con la tipa che è grassa, con l'altra che ha le tette grosse... per favore, ci mancava solo questa.
Ah, e non vi ho parlato dell'ossessione per la ciccia! Fat shaming ogni capitolo, con lui che si lamenta che è grasso, con la tipa che è grassa, con l'altra che ha le tette grosse... per favore, ci mancava solo questa.
October 10, 2021
A Different Look Into The Spirit World.
I purchased this book when it first came out and I have to admit I had trouble getting into it so it sat,with only the first few pages read. Until yesterday.
I'm not sure why I started to read it but I'm so happy I did. Once I started on Kester's journey into his unexpected life I couldn't stop.
I'm not a person who really reads about the supernatural yet this story isn't solely about the supernatural. It's about a 22 yr old who lost his mother to cancer and decides to find Dr. Ribero. His mother's dying words. And this is where the story became interesting for me.
The characters of Kester, Mike, Serena, Pamela, Jennifer and Dr. Ribero were written so vividly that I would know them anywhere. As with the description of the agency itself. Dealing with ghost removal, and I like that term, is something Kester doesn't believe in. Seeing a banshee and witnessing a lost ghost removal doesn't really convince him either. But when he is bewitched by the painting of the Woman in Green and discovers long ago secrets about his mother that he truly begins to believe.
I purchased this book when it first came out and I have to admit I had trouble getting into it so it sat,with only the first few pages read. Until yesterday.
I'm not sure why I started to read it but I'm so happy I did. Once I started on Kester's journey into his unexpected life I couldn't stop.
I'm not a person who really reads about the supernatural yet this story isn't solely about the supernatural. It's about a 22 yr old who lost his mother to cancer and decides to find Dr. Ribero. His mother's dying words. And this is where the story became interesting for me.
The characters of Kester, Mike, Serena, Pamela, Jennifer and Dr. Ribero were written so vividly that I would know them anywhere. As with the description of the agency itself. Dealing with ghost removal, and I like that term, is something Kester doesn't believe in. Seeing a banshee and witnessing a lost ghost removal doesn't really convince him either. But when he is bewitched by the painting of the Woman in Green and discovers long ago secrets about his mother that he truly begins to believe.
March 22, 2018
Kester (a young man in his twenties) didn't know much of anything about his past, and he was content with the quiet life he shared with his mother. But illness steals her away, and her dying wish leads him to an agency that deals with cases of a supernatural nature. And its owner is his father.
The book takes an amiable pace toward the mystery promised in the title, but that's because we're grappling with all the shocking changes along with Kester. The office is full of quirky (and very likeable) co-workers. The past comes out in dribs and drabs. And Kester flounders with believing all the crazy stuff his father insists is real ... and with finding a way to fit in with the team.
I do like a paranormal twist ... and ferrets. So I shall be watching for more books in the series.
The book takes an amiable pace toward the mystery promised in the title, but that's because we're grappling with all the shocking changes along with Kester. The office is full of quirky (and very likeable) co-workers. The past comes out in dribs and drabs. And Kester flounders with believing all the crazy stuff his father insists is real ... and with finding a way to fit in with the team.
I do like a paranormal twist ... and ferrets. So I shall be watching for more books in the series.
September 2, 2018
I didn't read the blurb before I went in so had no idea what to expect. What I got was a cosy story about a staid young man whose mother has died. Her last words directed him to seek out a Dr Ribero who, when he followed her instructions, turned out to be his father. Dr Ribero heads a small company which investigates and deals with paranormal activities, usually ghosts and spirits. The young man gets drawn into their strange work. I thought all of the characters were likeable by the end of the story and although the father-son relationship wasn't explored at all I strongly suspect this will unfold more in future books.
February 24, 2020
I only finished reading the book because I needed something mindless to read while on the treadmill and elliptical at the gym. This was a British ghostbusters, just not as entertaining. Soooo heavily padded. There would be as many as 8 paragraphs on a single page, with white space between paragraphs. Some "paragraphs" were as short as a single word. The characters were always asking another character, "What do you mean?" to provide an opportunity for repetition. Also, it shouldn't take several pages to make the point that there was a big difference between the dinginess at the front of the office and the modernity at the back. Nor should the reader need constant reminders that the lead character had poor self esteem and was afraid of ghosts. On the bright side, you can read this remarkably quickly: just as fast as your thumb can keep scrolling down the Kindle page.
March 4, 2021
It wasnt bad, but its wasnt exactly interesting either. It was kind of okay story.
I did start listening to this book because of Joe Jameson's narration, and he's good but this was not a good choice for him. For once, that was probably the worst argentinian accent I ever heard. Also female voices arent his strong spot, and this book had a lot of women speaking.
I did start listening to this book because of Joe Jameson's narration, and he's good but this was not a good choice for him. For once, that was probably the worst argentinian accent I ever heard. Also female voices arent his strong spot, and this book had a lot of women speaking.
June 4, 2017
...sweet paranormal cozy.
June 22, 2017
Loved it! Lucy Banks surely does a good job at keeping you belted in throughout the book. This one is the 1st of 'Dr Ribero's Agency Of The Supernatural', and I hope there are many more to come.
October 28, 2017
Not bad. Good concept. Took a little while for me to warm up to the character. Looking forward to reading the rest in the series.
December 27, 2022
It was a good read and a fun world to enter into.
February 3, 2021
This is a fun book! It has some frightening scenes as well. I look forward to seeing where this delightful team will take us!
unreadable
July 31, 2017I made it to page 82 and am bailing. I don't like any of the characters. The MC absolutely makes my skin crawl and I find some of the secondary characters to just be vile. No rating, just review notes for when I can't remember why I dropped the book like a hot potato.
July 5, 2018
An amusing tale with some strange characters. As long as you are willing to be open minded and suspend your credibility checks, the story unfolds quite pleasantly without ever really being "gripping".
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