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Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural #2
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger
Only a few months have passed since the day Kester Lanner forced an angry ghost through the spirit door, but business prospects for Dr. Ribero's supernatural agency haven't improved. Things are looking grim when the agency lands a contract which they must share with a rival agency headed by Dr Ribero's sworn enemy, Larry Higgins. Desperate for the job, the team accepts and begins to investigate the seaside town of Lyme Regis, where elderly victims are dying.
The same mysterious clue links the horrendous deaths: the victims all see a double of themselves before dying. The teams wonder if they are dealing with a rogue doppelganger, one that isn't content just predicting deaths, but carrying them out as well. The victims' connection to an ancient grave site leads to speculation that they may have disturbed a spirit more powerful than the two agencies can handle.
One thing is certain, the won't stop unless Kester and the others can overcome their rivalry and stop this deadly spirit.
The same mysterious clue links the horrendous deaths: the victims all see a double of themselves before dying. The teams wonder if they are dealing with a rogue doppelganger, one that isn't content just predicting deaths, but carrying them out as well. The victims' connection to an ancient grave site leads to speculation that they may have disturbed a spirit more powerful than the two agencies can handle.
One thing is certain, the won't stop unless Kester and the others can overcome their rivalry and stop this deadly spirit.
328 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2018
21 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Banks
11 books312 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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December 3, 2017I give this book 5 out of 5 supernatural stars! Even though this was the second in the series I was able to read it as a standalone. This book was filled with twists and turns. I didn’t want to put it down and at times it was hilarious! I loved the characters for the most part but what sold me on 5 stars besides the plot was how the author had a transgendered person in the story and discussed the importance of it being accepted. She covered the issue quite well that trans men and women face. Lucy Banks weaved supernatural elements, humor and sleuthing into a worthwhile series. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the first one to get a better feel for things but this was also great as a standalone. When I read this a couple weeks ago it had me up through the night and kept my mind off of trials in my life and topk me on a fun adventure! I definitely recommend this series for those who love something supernatural!😊👻😄
February 7, 2018
THIS one was way better than the first book - I felt the characters were more likable and more fleshed out, everyone seemed a little more believable and I really am totally in love with Kester. He is such an adorable, clumsy, chubby nerdy man and I adore that so much. He continues to try and believe all that is being thrown at him [even when it is hard] and he come up with a lot of things in this book that are actually quite good.
A couple wrenches in the program and a couple snafus and of course a demented spirit that is killing people deader than door-nails and you have a real humdinger of a book. I really enjoyed every second of this one, bickering and all.
Thank you to NetGalley and AmberJack Publishing for a ARC of this book.
A couple wrenches in the program and a couple snafus and of course a demented spirit that is killing people deader than door-nails and you have a real humdinger of a book. I really enjoyed every second of this one, bickering and all.
Thank you to NetGalley and AmberJack Publishing for a ARC of this book.
November 5, 2017
When I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it. The first book was one of my favorite reads and this one does not disappoint. All the quirky characters have returned and additional ones have been added. The Agency is forced to work with the nemesis of Kester's father, Dr. Ribero. Kester is unique as he has inherited his Mother's ability to see the spirit door opening to sent the evil spirit back to his realm. I found the flow of the words difficult to read at times, but it did not interfere with my enjoyment.
The case involved a number of unusual deaths in the neighboring town. Both Agencies work together to find the reason for the deaths. The victims cry out that they see themselves just before they expire. One mention she was not the person that the spirit was sent to 'fetch'. The story changes direction as the group seem answers and more deaths occur. Lester doesn't agree with group and Kester and one friend takes a different route. Will Kester be able to return the Fetch spirit to his home before he loses his own. I highly recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Amberjack Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
The case involved a number of unusual deaths in the neighboring town. Both Agencies work together to find the reason for the deaths. The victims cry out that they see themselves just before they expire. One mention she was not the person that the spirit was sent to 'fetch'. The story changes direction as the group seem answers and more deaths occur. Lester doesn't agree with group and Kester and one friend takes a different route. Will Kester be able to return the Fetch spirit to his home before he loses his own. I highly recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Amberjack Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 17, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book, is well written and the story moves fast. To my taste it has too many stereotypes. I understand the use of them, they are helpful, but this resource, even if it’s well-used, creates flat characters. In the case of Ribero, doesn’t bother me as much, is funny to see the Argentinian stereotype, but almost every character is somehow a stereotype, therefore, they are predictable.
The supernatural mystery works great, however, it will add value to the book if the author shares some interesting information about the supernatural. Even if it’s fiction, there is always useful information, facts and data that can be employed to enrich the book and the reader experience.
I give this book 3.5 / 5
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
The supernatural mystery works great, however, it will add value to the book if the author shares some interesting information about the supernatural. Even if it’s fiction, there is always useful information, facts and data that can be employed to enrich the book and the reader experience.
I give this book 3.5 / 5
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2017
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review!
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger was a fun supernatural mystery read.
Though I have yet to read the first book, it was not at all difficult to pick up on the characters and their history. It follows a supernatural investigation agency as they try and determine what is behind the murders of seniors in a small English town. I enjoyed the supernatural elements and all of the quirky characters. It was a fun, fairly light read (despite all of the murders) and ended on a cliffhanger that makes me want to read book 3 soon!
I will also be picking up book 1 as I need all the details of this story's beginnings.
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger was a fun supernatural mystery read.
Though I have yet to read the first book, it was not at all difficult to pick up on the characters and their history. It follows a supernatural investigation agency as they try and determine what is behind the murders of seniors in a small English town. I enjoyed the supernatural elements and all of the quirky characters. It was a fun, fairly light read (despite all of the murders) and ended on a cliffhanger that makes me want to read book 3 soon!
I will also be picking up book 1 as I need all the details of this story's beginnings.
August 18, 2017
I usually enjoy a good paranormal mystery and this book was no exception; with plenty of action, some wince-worthy interactions between characters that are decidedly amusing, a killer ghost, senior citizens and two competing agencies compelled to work together to solve the mystery of the ghosts' origin.
This title is number two in the series, but was able to be read as a standalone title. Having said that I'll be adding number one to my TBR list. A very enjoyable few hours were spent reading... and now I really want to know what or who, Thelemites are!
With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.
This title is number two in the series, but was able to be read as a standalone title. Having said that I'll be adding number one to my TBR list. A very enjoyable few hours were spent reading... and now I really want to know what or who, Thelemites are!
With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.
November 5, 2017
A copy of this book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
this review will most likely contain some ranting, but what can one do about it?
The case of the Deadly Doppelganger is the second book in a series of supernatural mystery books. if you, like me, have not read the first book, don’t worry, this is the type of series that does not need to be read in order, the book stands alone pretty well. all relevant information given in the first book are provided during the narrative.
i started reading the book because i loved the premise. i enjoy reading this sort of urban fantasy/supernatural thriller (like the Peter Grant series or the Matthew Swift series) so i was pretty excited to read this one. the result was me being completely disappointed.
for once, i thought the mystery was kind of simple because the twists are very predictable. everything was resolved far too simply and quickly for how much they said the spirit was evil and powerful. also, the characters are complete stereotypes: you have the bickering ‘couple”, the nerdy guy, the motherly but competent woman, the other woman on the team, the foreigner (trade mark), and so on. i couldn’t relate to any of them or even like them.
however, this book is pretty easy and quick to read so if you’re looking for a supernatural book to unwind after a long day, this book is for you. also, the way the supernatural and the human world connect was nice to read.
and now, for some ranting:
- i truly disliked the main characters relationship with a girl in this book. they have no chemistry whatsoever, the character showed more chemistry with bacon than he did with his supposed girlfriend. besides, he was always objectifying her saying how she “was pretty despite the nerdy glasses” and how he needed to treat her right because she was the only girl who has ever shown interest in him. like, i’m sorry to say, but this is not the best reason to start a relationship, my man.
- the two other characters who are always bickering like “an old married couple”. they’re always insulting each other and calling each other names and simply being hostile to each other. but i am supposed to think they only do that because they really like each other but are afraid to admit it. no, this is not cute or romantic. it was not cute with han solo and princess leia back in the seventies (and we know how well that relationship turned out) and it is not cute or romantic now. please, let’s stop this idea that insulting someone is a way to show our true feelings. it is not, it is just bullying.
- now, my main complaint is related to Dr. Ribero.
He is the typical Foreigner of books. Almost all of his sentences end in a question, with ‘no’, ‘yes’, ‘eh’, or ‘okay’. i could not help but read his line with one of those stereotypical (and fake) Spanish accents. he did not know any english curses because every time he cursed was in Spanish (something the text made sure to remind us every single time). the only way he ever showed confusion about english was by saying “how do you say” and immediately saying the word in english (i don’t know you, but i often say the word i’d like to know after i make such question –in my language of course- or try to explain what i want to know). there are so many ways to show a character is bilingual without having to resort to stereotypes or misinformation. it would also be very helpful to talk to bilingual or multilingual people and ask them for tips, just saying.
but i think what really bothered me the most is that he is depicted as the stereotypical spanish speaker, the latin lover type of guy. every woman wanted him because he was very charming. even though he is old now he still manages to charm women and he was even more charming when he was young. he has the perfect argentinian charming smile that ladies love. and he is quick to anger and look like “a rabid dog” or a “charging bull”. he was also incredibly misogynistic because that’s how south american men are. please, can we stop with this stereotype? it is wrong and hurtful. create your south american characters as you would any other without having to resort to stereotypes, please.
besides, every thing he did was south american. he had a south american smile and a south american glare. i really would like to know what those look like. i tried glaring at the mirror to see if it looked like a south american glare but it only looked like a normal glare. maybe i am missing something and that means i am not south american enough, who knows.
anyway, i am sorry for ranting but i felt like i had to.
this review will most likely contain some ranting, but what can one do about it?
The case of the Deadly Doppelganger is the second book in a series of supernatural mystery books. if you, like me, have not read the first book, don’t worry, this is the type of series that does not need to be read in order, the book stands alone pretty well. all relevant information given in the first book are provided during the narrative.
i started reading the book because i loved the premise. i enjoy reading this sort of urban fantasy/supernatural thriller (like the Peter Grant series or the Matthew Swift series) so i was pretty excited to read this one. the result was me being completely disappointed.
for once, i thought the mystery was kind of simple because the twists are very predictable. everything was resolved far too simply and quickly for how much they said the spirit was evil and powerful. also, the characters are complete stereotypes: you have the bickering ‘couple”, the nerdy guy, the motherly but competent woman, the other woman on the team, the foreigner (trade mark), and so on. i couldn’t relate to any of them or even like them.
however, this book is pretty easy and quick to read so if you’re looking for a supernatural book to unwind after a long day, this book is for you. also, the way the supernatural and the human world connect was nice to read.
and now, for some ranting:
- i truly disliked the main characters relationship with a girl in this book. they have no chemistry whatsoever, the character showed more chemistry with bacon than he did with his supposed girlfriend. besides, he was always objectifying her saying how she “was pretty despite the nerdy glasses” and how he needed to treat her right because she was the only girl who has ever shown interest in him. like, i’m sorry to say, but this is not the best reason to start a relationship, my man.
- the two other characters who are always bickering like “an old married couple”. they’re always insulting each other and calling each other names and simply being hostile to each other. but i am supposed to think they only do that because they really like each other but are afraid to admit it. no, this is not cute or romantic. it was not cute with han solo and princess leia back in the seventies (and we know how well that relationship turned out) and it is not cute or romantic now. please, let’s stop this idea that insulting someone is a way to show our true feelings. it is not, it is just bullying.
- now, my main complaint is related to Dr. Ribero.
He is the typical Foreigner of books. Almost all of his sentences end in a question, with ‘no’, ‘yes’, ‘eh’, or ‘okay’. i could not help but read his line with one of those stereotypical (and fake) Spanish accents. he did not know any english curses because every time he cursed was in Spanish (something the text made sure to remind us every single time). the only way he ever showed confusion about english was by saying “how do you say” and immediately saying the word in english (i don’t know you, but i often say the word i’d like to know after i make such question –in my language of course- or try to explain what i want to know). there are so many ways to show a character is bilingual without having to resort to stereotypes or misinformation. it would also be very helpful to talk to bilingual or multilingual people and ask them for tips, just saying.
but i think what really bothered me the most is that he is depicted as the stereotypical spanish speaker, the latin lover type of guy. every woman wanted him because he was very charming. even though he is old now he still manages to charm women and he was even more charming when he was young. he has the perfect argentinian charming smile that ladies love. and he is quick to anger and look like “a rabid dog” or a “charging bull”. he was also incredibly misogynistic because that’s how south american men are. please, can we stop with this stereotype? it is wrong and hurtful. create your south american characters as you would any other without having to resort to stereotypes, please.
besides, every thing he did was south american. he had a south american smile and a south american glare. i really would like to know what those look like. i tried glaring at the mirror to see if it looked like a south american glare but it only looked like a normal glare. maybe i am missing something and that means i am not south american enough, who knows.
anyway, i am sorry for ranting but i felt like i had to.
December 3, 2024
This was a nice little mystery. Once again I picked up book 2 in a series unknowingly but there wasn’t much back story you had to be up to speed on to understand though which is good. Couple of qualms here that I am sure go throughout the series. The constant mentioning that characters are fat was getting old. Kester’s woe is me attitude was annoying. I hope he gets some self confidence soon. Also why did they never go to town to get new clothes? Especially Serena who was literally puked on at one point. Pretty sure they could’ve made a stop somewhere. But despite that, enjoyable
January 5, 2018
Every so often, but not regularly, I pick up a new fiction book, and immediately the characters seem like old friends. It makes me feel comfortable, happy, and a little nostalgic. I felt like this when I read The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, and obviously, as readers, we all bring different prior experiences to our reading endeavors, but for me, this book was an automatic comfort book.
I'm so happy that there is a previous book that has the same group of characters in it that I can read next! And hoping that this will be a long-running series so that I can revisit my "old" friends and their new adventures.
Good setting, good plot, highly recommended.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book, which I may not have come across otherwise!!!
I'm so happy that there is a previous book that has the same group of characters in it that I can read next! And hoping that this will be a long-running series so that I can revisit my "old" friends and their new adventures.
Good setting, good plot, highly recommended.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book, which I may not have come across otherwise!!!
October 11, 2017
Author Lucy Banks takes us on another adventurous paranormal mystery filled with her crew of memorable, quirky employees working at Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural in Exeter, England. The agency has been hired by the Government, along with a rival firm to investigate the deaths of several elderly residents of the English seaside town of Lyme Regis that died under suspicious circumstances that may have involved something, not of this world. The whimsical British mannerisms along with the unique characters woven into an adventurous romp through England to Scotland have me wanting more in this series.
November 30, 2017
Dr Ribero’s supernatural agency are ghostbusters of a sort, though their methods of containment are simple and their technical equipment is often non working. I wouldn't say the novels are meant to be humorous, but the interplay between the vibrant characters can be funny at times. The story centers around Kester, Dr Ribero’s son who has newly become involved in the organization. His uncertainty and self awareness make him a charming character that is easy to identify with. His bickering counterparts on the other hand are hasty sketches with little depth. The previous novel did a far better job of making the supporting characters believable.
There isn't much of a mystery. A spirit is killing people, first taking on their appearance. Readers already know what is going on, so we spend our time watching Kester and the others and wondering when they will get a clue. I wasn't too worried - despite elderly victims dropping like flies, it seemed the greatest worries were the public discovering spirits exist and Ribero’s agency not getting paid. Still, it is a cute book that is a pleasant escapist read and the premise is original. I liked the time spent on the development of Anya and Kester’s friendship. They make a cute couple. I'm also curious to see what will come next.
It is tough to settle on a rating. The book is an enjoyable read, despite its weaknesses. It isn't exactly a mystery per se, but it isn't quite an urban fantasy. The main problem is that if it had a firmer footing in either territory, more would be expected.
3 / 5
I received a copy of The Case of the Deadly Doppelgänger from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
There isn't much of a mystery. A spirit is killing people, first taking on their appearance. Readers already know what is going on, so we spend our time watching Kester and the others and wondering when they will get a clue. I wasn't too worried - despite elderly victims dropping like flies, it seemed the greatest worries were the public discovering spirits exist and Ribero’s agency not getting paid. Still, it is a cute book that is a pleasant escapist read and the premise is original. I liked the time spent on the development of Anya and Kester’s friendship. They make a cute couple. I'm also curious to see what will come next.
It is tough to settle on a rating. The book is an enjoyable read, despite its weaknesses. It isn't exactly a mystery per se, but it isn't quite an urban fantasy. The main problem is that if it had a firmer footing in either territory, more would be expected.
3 / 5
I received a copy of The Case of the Deadly Doppelgänger from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
March 19, 2018
I enjoyed this book, not as much as the first. But look forward to the next book in this series.
September 15, 2018
Fun read. I didn't read the first one of this series but I was able to jump right it. I enjoyed the characters and the case. Very enjoyable.
September 19, 2017
This is my first book from this author. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this discovery!
The story starts off with the gang back in their office a couple of days (?) after the previous book. For someone jumping in the middle, each character is quirky and distinct from the other, making it easy to follow. We have now a new case with an arch rival and Kester coming into his own strength as the book progressed. I like how Kester has grown here, and how being himself saved the day. Also how he impacted on Higgins.
This world also is interesting, with the government outsourcing supernatural business. And supernatural abound and aren't always the bad guys (what with Kester's soon to be professor).
Such a fun read. I don't think I need to know what happened last time to not appreciate this story. But I am curious now. I sincerely enjoyed it. Highly recommended!! 😊
The story starts off with the gang back in their office a couple of days (?) after the previous book. For someone jumping in the middle, each character is quirky and distinct from the other, making it easy to follow. We have now a new case with an arch rival and Kester coming into his own strength as the book progressed. I like how Kester has grown here, and how being himself saved the day. Also how he impacted on Higgins.
This world also is interesting, with the government outsourcing supernatural business. And supernatural abound and aren't always the bad guys (what with Kester's soon to be professor).
Such a fun read. I don't think I need to know what happened last time to not appreciate this story. But I am curious now. I sincerely enjoyed it. Highly recommended!! 😊
December 8, 2017
This is the 2nd book in Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural series. Although I liked the first book in the series (The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost) a little bit better, this was still a good read and can be read as a stand alone.
I wish to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
I wish to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
August 29, 2017
AH! Another flawless hit by Lucy Banks! He second book did not disappoint. It was so wonderful to reunite with this supernatural team and explore a new mystery. I loved the new insights into all the characters. I could picture every scene so vividly, I cannot wait to see these books brought to life on the screen!
August 11, 2020
** I received a free eARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
The paranormal /supernatural mystery is not that type I read often, this book is from my first ever haul from Netgalley and I was just delaying it, now publication date is not even a month far so I decided to read it Finally.
After starting it, I came to know that It is part of a series (It happens to me often), but I was able to read it standalone, Maybe I missed some history of characters but I was not even a little bit curious to know them.
Overall it was a good read, the story was average nothing much offering (for me), Characters were diverse enough to make me enjoy while reading them, Though I liked Mike’s character. It was an easy/quick read. For supernatural, It was fun enough. The book ends with a cliff-hanger but I don’t see myself reading others from the series.
People who like Supernatural may enjoy it, but not people like me, it was good for just one read and pick another book just after that…As soon as I finished it, it left me without leaving any trace. It wasn’t my type.
The paranormal /supernatural mystery is not that type I read often, this book is from my first ever haul from Netgalley and I was just delaying it, now publication date is not even a month far so I decided to read it Finally.
After starting it, I came to know that It is part of a series (It happens to me often), but I was able to read it standalone, Maybe I missed some history of characters but I was not even a little bit curious to know them.
Overall it was a good read, the story was average nothing much offering (for me), Characters were diverse enough to make me enjoy while reading them, Though I liked Mike’s character. It was an easy/quick read. For supernatural, It was fun enough. The book ends with a cliff-hanger but I don’t see myself reading others from the series.
People who like Supernatural may enjoy it, but not people like me, it was good for just one read and pick another book just after that…As soon as I finished it, it left me without leaving any trace. It wasn’t my type.
November 3, 2017
The first thing that grabbed my attention was the cover of the Novel. I loved the red cover with the house in the back ground and the birds flying over. Very nicely done. Even if you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, it sure helps when it is appealing.
Within the first paragraph I was intrigued with this novel. It grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the novel. This tale is of an agency that investigates cases of supernatural, coming mostly from the viewpoint of Kester, a new member of the agency. His mother recently passed away and his father owns the agency. Unbeknownst to him she was a spirit investigator herself and has recently discovered his own powers of dealing with the supernatural; he actually has a skill that is rare for dealing with spirits. This novel tells the events of one investigation dealing with one murderous spirit that must be returned to where it came from. It talks of a renewed relationship with Kester and his father. A new beginning for Kester as his father pushes him to begin his education into the supernatural, as well as a new female relationship. It is fast past and a quick read with a few twists that I didn't see coming.
One of the characters is transgender, and although it is not a main theme in the book I'm glad to see it being added into literature. Banks seems to be speaking directly to the world with this one line;
"I'd rather people were just open about it rather than being scared to talk about it with me, to be honest." *Loc3510
When the group is discussing transgender it feels like it is an important issue for Banks and I applaud her for adding it into her novel. She blends it seamlessly into the novel. She is delicate with the issue but makes it known that it should be talked about more in an open manner. I agree with her that if we talk about it more, more people will be OK with it. This was the first novel that I read with transgender being a part of the novel and I'm glad we are adding it to current literature.
Although it is intriguing and thoughtful I found Kester to be a overly whiny and self loathing and I hope as the series grows he will as well. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, for a few of them were pompous, and they all seemed to have odd behaviors. Serena was overly sarcastic to almost meanness. They were a bit eccentric, but I think that is what Banks is going for. The use of the word spluttered was thrown around a lot. I guess it is something I would need to get use to. I don't typically read British or European novels, it takes a bit of getting use to with the differences in slang.
This novel is the second in a series, and because I didn't know this right from the beginning I was a trifle confused through out the novel. I wished I had read the first so I could feel more connected with the characters, it might be the reason I didn't connect with them in this novel, I need more background with characters.
Overall I enjoyed the novel, it was intriguing and has left me wondering what will happen to the characters next. It wasn't hard to follow and was a quick read. The characters were spunky, if a tad whiny, and I hope they grow with each novel that Banks writes. I will be reading more of the series in hopes of the characters growing and learning what becomes of them and more of there adventures dealing with spirits. This series is reminiscent of Scooby Doo mysteries or Nancy Drew, which I absolutely LOVED as a child.
The only other thing I will mention is that it wasn't as descriptive as I prefer. A bit more descriptive words would have added to the novel a bit more for my taste.
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Within the first paragraph I was intrigued with this novel. It grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the novel. This tale is of an agency that investigates cases of supernatural, coming mostly from the viewpoint of Kester, a new member of the agency. His mother recently passed away and his father owns the agency. Unbeknownst to him she was a spirit investigator herself and has recently discovered his own powers of dealing with the supernatural; he actually has a skill that is rare for dealing with spirits. This novel tells the events of one investigation dealing with one murderous spirit that must be returned to where it came from. It talks of a renewed relationship with Kester and his father. A new beginning for Kester as his father pushes him to begin his education into the supernatural, as well as a new female relationship. It is fast past and a quick read with a few twists that I didn't see coming.
One of the characters is transgender, and although it is not a main theme in the book I'm glad to see it being added into literature. Banks seems to be speaking directly to the world with this one line;
"I'd rather people were just open about it rather than being scared to talk about it with me, to be honest." *Loc3510
When the group is discussing transgender it feels like it is an important issue for Banks and I applaud her for adding it into her novel. She blends it seamlessly into the novel. She is delicate with the issue but makes it known that it should be talked about more in an open manner. I agree with her that if we talk about it more, more people will be OK with it. This was the first novel that I read with transgender being a part of the novel and I'm glad we are adding it to current literature.
Although it is intriguing and thoughtful I found Kester to be a overly whiny and self loathing and I hope as the series grows he will as well. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, for a few of them were pompous, and they all seemed to have odd behaviors. Serena was overly sarcastic to almost meanness. They were a bit eccentric, but I think that is what Banks is going for. The use of the word spluttered was thrown around a lot. I guess it is something I would need to get use to. I don't typically read British or European novels, it takes a bit of getting use to with the differences in slang.
This novel is the second in a series, and because I didn't know this right from the beginning I was a trifle confused through out the novel. I wished I had read the first so I could feel more connected with the characters, it might be the reason I didn't connect with them in this novel, I need more background with characters.
Overall I enjoyed the novel, it was intriguing and has left me wondering what will happen to the characters next. It wasn't hard to follow and was a quick read. The characters were spunky, if a tad whiny, and I hope they grow with each novel that Banks writes. I will be reading more of the series in hopes of the characters growing and learning what becomes of them and more of there adventures dealing with spirits. This series is reminiscent of Scooby Doo mysteries or Nancy Drew, which I absolutely LOVED as a child.
The only other thing I will mention is that it wasn't as descriptive as I prefer. A bit more descriptive words would have added to the novel a bit more for my taste.
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2018
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger is the second book in the Dr. Ribero series by author Lucy Banks. Published by Amberjack publishing and released 6 February, 2018, the series is a NA paranormal mystery. This entry clocks in at an impressive 328 pages and is available in ebook and paperback formats.
There's a popular sub-genre of paranormal mysteries these days which rely on snappy and sarcastic dialogue and ensemble casts. I can think of a half dozen off the top of my head: The Laundry Files, Bryant & May, Peter Grant, Sandman Slim, Dr. Siri Paiboun, The Garrett Files, and there are so many more. It's a sub-genre of which I'm very fond. I was excited to find this example on NetGalley and requested it at once, despite not having read the first book in the series.
Dr. Ribero's Agency is a group of paranormal investigators who deal with hauntings, paranormal activity and other crises which fall outside the purview of normal government agencies. They're about as low budget and ragtag as it's possible to imagine and largely hapless into the bargain. Under normal circumstances, the 'underdog' vibe is a good comedic plot device, but in this particular case I found it more sad and annoying than funny.
The characters (lead protagonist Kester included, unfortunately) are universally whiny, irritating and crude. There are more jokes about bodily functions in this book than I really wanted to count. There's so much mean sniping and crankiness between the characters (who seem to act like 6 year olds with critically low blood sugar than functional adults) that I just found it exhausting.
My other disgruntlement with the book comes from the 2 dimensional cardboard cutout character stereotypes: the chubby nerd, the b*tchy Barbie, the dark inscrutable Russian, the passionate oily Argentinian, the stern schoolmistress-y spinster with a heart of gold, the flakey new-age hippie, the androgynous cowgirl (?!). The author manages to hit almost all, racial, ethnic and physical.
Given the incredibly enthusiastic reviews this book has gotten (4.1 Goodreads average) my experience of the book seems to be in the minority. Your experience will therefore likely vary from mine.
The book does read quite well as a standalone entry. I had no trouble following the plot at all or keeping the characters straight. It would probably be a good light read, undemanding and somewhat humorous.
Two and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger is the second book in the Dr. Ribero series by author Lucy Banks. Published by Amberjack publishing and released 6 February, 2018, the series is a NA paranormal mystery. This entry clocks in at an impressive 328 pages and is available in ebook and paperback formats.
There's a popular sub-genre of paranormal mysteries these days which rely on snappy and sarcastic dialogue and ensemble casts. I can think of a half dozen off the top of my head: The Laundry Files, Bryant & May, Peter Grant, Sandman Slim, Dr. Siri Paiboun, The Garrett Files, and there are so many more. It's a sub-genre of which I'm very fond. I was excited to find this example on NetGalley and requested it at once, despite not having read the first book in the series.
Dr. Ribero's Agency is a group of paranormal investigators who deal with hauntings, paranormal activity and other crises which fall outside the purview of normal government agencies. They're about as low budget and ragtag as it's possible to imagine and largely hapless into the bargain. Under normal circumstances, the 'underdog' vibe is a good comedic plot device, but in this particular case I found it more sad and annoying than funny.
The characters (lead protagonist Kester included, unfortunately) are universally whiny, irritating and crude. There are more jokes about bodily functions in this book than I really wanted to count. There's so much mean sniping and crankiness between the characters (who seem to act like 6 year olds with critically low blood sugar than functional adults) that I just found it exhausting.
My other disgruntlement with the book comes from the 2 dimensional cardboard cutout character stereotypes: the chubby nerd, the b*tchy Barbie, the dark inscrutable Russian, the passionate oily Argentinian, the stern schoolmistress-y spinster with a heart of gold, the flakey new-age hippie, the androgynous cowgirl (?!). The author manages to hit almost all, racial, ethnic and physical.
Given the incredibly enthusiastic reviews this book has gotten (4.1 Goodreads average) my experience of the book seems to be in the minority. Your experience will therefore likely vary from mine.
The book does read quite well as a standalone entry. I had no trouble following the plot at all or keeping the characters straight. It would probably be a good light read, undemanding and somewhat humorous.
Two and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 19, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy Banks is quickly becoming one of my favorite paranormal fiction writers. I recently read book 1, but you could have easily picked up with book 2 as a standalone. The book picks up shortly after book 1 leaves off, but there are only a few references made back to the information of book 1 and it is fairly well summarized so you aren't left feeling completely confused or like you are missing something. I highly recommend book 1 because I loved it, and I loved book 2.
The team of Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural again finds themselves on a mission to extinguish a supernatural being back to the spirit world, but there are plenty of complications. They find themselves working with a rival agency, and the interactions with the owners, Dr. Ribero and Larry Higgins are hilarious. Kester, our main character, is finally settling into his role at the agency, though he still can't control his own supernatural gift. He is starting to find his own way as an adult by living on his own and dating. His roommates provide comic relief throughout the book, as do his co-workers Mike and Serena. Kester is once again left to dig through the clues behind what is really going on in the small seaside town of Lyme Regis where several people have ended up dead. Strange things are afoot and with Kester's ability to research and uncover information. I really loved the history and mythology in this one just like the last one. I felt like I was there with the team as they were walking around, and I want to be a member of their ghost-busting team.
Totally unrelated to the plot but something I really loved about this book was the interaction of the team with the transgender character Lara/Luke. We are introduced to Lara, from Team Higgins, as a female, but Kester sees her out in town and notices that she wears male looking clothing. Eventually Serena calls Lara out for looking manly, and Lara tells the team she has always identified as male. The Ribero Team is so welcoming to this information and immediately asks how they should be addressed going forward to make them feel more comforatable. This is when Lara becomes Luke, and she becomes him. Naturally the team slips up from time to time, but they make every attempt to make Luke comfortable. Luke also is very open to questions to make the team feel comfortable. I like they way this was handled and there were so many sweet moments between the team and Luke, especially Pamela, Ms. Wellbeloved. I will say that I feel like Kester could have spoke out to his father about his narrow minded thinking towards transgender people, that is out of character for Kester, and the inner monologue addressing it was more in alignment with his personality.
Lucy Banks is quickly becoming one of my favorite paranormal fiction writers. I recently read book 1, but you could have easily picked up with book 2 as a standalone. The book picks up shortly after book 1 leaves off, but there are only a few references made back to the information of book 1 and it is fairly well summarized so you aren't left feeling completely confused or like you are missing something. I highly recommend book 1 because I loved it, and I loved book 2.
The team of Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural again finds themselves on a mission to extinguish a supernatural being back to the spirit world, but there are plenty of complications. They find themselves working with a rival agency, and the interactions with the owners, Dr. Ribero and Larry Higgins are hilarious. Kester, our main character, is finally settling into his role at the agency, though he still can't control his own supernatural gift. He is starting to find his own way as an adult by living on his own and dating. His roommates provide comic relief throughout the book, as do his co-workers Mike and Serena. Kester is once again left to dig through the clues behind what is really going on in the small seaside town of Lyme Regis where several people have ended up dead. Strange things are afoot and with Kester's ability to research and uncover information. I really loved the history and mythology in this one just like the last one. I felt like I was there with the team as they were walking around, and I want to be a member of their ghost-busting team.
Totally unrelated to the plot but something I really loved about this book was the interaction of the team with the transgender character Lara/Luke. We are introduced to Lara, from Team Higgins, as a female, but Kester sees her out in town and notices that she wears male looking clothing. Eventually Serena calls Lara out for looking manly, and Lara tells the team she has always identified as male. The Ribero Team is so welcoming to this information and immediately asks how they should be addressed going forward to make them feel more comforatable. This is when Lara becomes Luke, and she becomes him. Naturally the team slips up from time to time, but they make every attempt to make Luke comfortable. Luke also is very open to questions to make the team feel comfortable. I like they way this was handled and there were so many sweet moments between the team and Luke, especially Pamela, Ms. Wellbeloved. I will say that I feel like Kester could have spoke out to his father about his narrow minded thinking towards transgender people, that is out of character for Kester, and the inner monologue addressing it was more in alignment with his personality.
February 1, 2018
3.5 Stars
I was hooked by the hilarity of Dr. Ribero’s agency team member on Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost and is fortunate enough to be given an early copy of this second book. In the first book we learned Kester first found out about his father and his unique ability - which is similar to his late mother. And his adventure on supernatural beings continued in this second entry to Dr. Ribero’s Agency of the Supernatural.
Following the last development on previous book, where he decided to join his father’s agency - albeit focusing on research - Kester also got to know his father better, including his unfortunate condition and Dr. Ribero’s wish for the future. The father and son relationship between them is awkward, touching, and funny at the same time. The agency’s reputation was put in a test when they were assigned a tricky case and had to team up with the rival agency and the bane of Dr. Ribero’s existence.
Compared to the previous book, here Kester was all out and really involved in the case they handled. Especially when the rising body counts forced the team to cluster together near the location the case took place. At the same time, young Kester also juggling a budding relationship with someone out of the supernatural sphere while keeping his real job from her.
As always, the clash of personality among team members were the source of entertainment (even if sometimes the teasings bordered on cruelty and meanness) and exasperation. All the more with additional unique members from Higgins agency. Case-wise, tricky as it might be to solve, was not really impressive. I guess sort of hoping for some sort of big bang, but perhaps there’s still long to go with this particular series.
While it’s interesting to see Kester showed his investigation skill (through research and sheer determination) I did wish he also worked on mastering his supernatural ability. That saying, his dodging it and anything supernatural-related made him a regular young lad and lend ingenuity to the story’s continuation. Especially given the way the book ended, there are endless possibilities to look forward to. I’m still game to continue following this series, for the enjoyment and entertaining aspects it gives me!
Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked by the hilarity of Dr. Ribero’s agency team member on Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost and is fortunate enough to be given an early copy of this second book. In the first book we learned Kester first found out about his father and his unique ability - which is similar to his late mother. And his adventure on supernatural beings continued in this second entry to Dr. Ribero’s Agency of the Supernatural.
Following the last development on previous book, where he decided to join his father’s agency - albeit focusing on research - Kester also got to know his father better, including his unfortunate condition and Dr. Ribero’s wish for the future. The father and son relationship between them is awkward, touching, and funny at the same time. The agency’s reputation was put in a test when they were assigned a tricky case and had to team up with the rival agency and the bane of Dr. Ribero’s existence.
Compared to the previous book, here Kester was all out and really involved in the case they handled. Especially when the rising body counts forced the team to cluster together near the location the case took place. At the same time, young Kester also juggling a budding relationship with someone out of the supernatural sphere while keeping his real job from her.
As always, the clash of personality among team members were the source of entertainment (even if sometimes the teasings bordered on cruelty and meanness) and exasperation. All the more with additional unique members from Higgins agency. Case-wise, tricky as it might be to solve, was not really impressive. I guess sort of hoping for some sort of big bang, but perhaps there’s still long to go with this particular series.
While it’s interesting to see Kester showed his investigation skill (through research and sheer determination) I did wish he also worked on mastering his supernatural ability. That saying, his dodging it and anything supernatural-related made him a regular young lad and lend ingenuity to the story’s continuation. Especially given the way the book ended, there are endless possibilities to look forward to. I’m still game to continue following this series, for the enjoyment and entertaining aspects it gives me!
Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2025
I was expecting more of a horror story than this, more like last time. This is more of a paranormal mystery and not even much of a thriller. I wanted more excitement. I was just fine without the horror aspect but this was a little too chill.
One of my problems was that although the characters are interesting and distinct, I wasn’t really attached to any of them. I didn’t dislike any particularly, but I also didn’t really like them either. There is some gender diversity and the author meant well but didn’t quite get it.
The plot was fine but if you know much folklore, it was given away in the beginning. It was an interesting solution but something in between was missing. I’m not sure how to describe it but the story didn’t completely come together for me.
There is both body positivity and fat shaming. Kester, the MC, is heavy and trying unsuccessfully to lose weight and he is pushed by his coworkers. However, his love interest says he’s fine just the way he is. But then they (including him) joke about the horrible guy as being so fat he looked like Jaba the Hut. His bulk is referred to many times. I guess it’s okay to be fat but not too fat.
This ended on a cliffhanger, not from the main story but from a side plot. I’m moderately interested in that but since both the first and second in the series haven’t done a lot for me, I’m not sure if I’ll read it.
The narrator, Joe Jameson, was very good but his Southern American accent was mediocre. It’s slower than he spoke and it was uncomfortable to listen to for me. This is probably what non-Americans feel like all the time. His other accents sounded great but my ear is not that discerning.
One of my problems was that although the characters are interesting and distinct, I wasn’t really attached to any of them. I didn’t dislike any particularly, but I also didn’t really like them either. There is some gender diversity and the author meant well but didn’t quite get it.
The plot was fine but if you know much folklore, it was given away in the beginning. It was an interesting solution but something in between was missing. I’m not sure how to describe it but the story didn’t completely come together for me.
There is both body positivity and fat shaming. Kester, the MC, is heavy and trying unsuccessfully to lose weight and he is pushed by his coworkers. However, his love interest says he’s fine just the way he is. But then they (including him) joke about the horrible guy as being so fat he looked like Jaba the Hut. His bulk is referred to many times. I guess it’s okay to be fat but not too fat.
This ended on a cliffhanger, not from the main story but from a side plot. I’m moderately interested in that but since both the first and second in the series haven’t done a lot for me, I’m not sure if I’ll read it.
The narrator, Joe Jameson, was very good but his Southern American accent was mediocre. It’s slower than he spoke and it was uncomfortable to listen to for me. This is probably what non-Americans feel like all the time. His other accents sounded great but my ear is not that discerning.
February 11, 2018
After reading the first book in this series, “The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost”, I was confused as to which genre this series belonged. I am glad to see that book two has slightly upped the game and though it is an easy read and in the upper reaches of young adult, I would no longer say that its audience is strictly YA.
Kester Lanner, and his talent as a door opener, is continuing to finding his way around his father’s agency and with funds almost non-existent, the group must take on a job with a rival agency to investigate why the seniors of Lyme Regis are dying peculiar deaths. Deaths that involve the victims crying out that they could see themselves right before they were “fetched”.
With four deaths in the last six months, Dr. Ribero’s agency must team with Larry Higgins, a sworn enemy, to solve this case of the “dopel meaning double and ganger meaning walker” before any more residents meet up with their spirit twin. It appears that the Ancient History Club should have just left things alone, yet they could not and because of this, their numbers are swiftly dwindling, leaving Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural to sort out this mess before the Ministry of the Supernatural shuts them down.
This series still wants to dip its toe in the “Harry Potter” realm with the School of Supernatural Further Education which reads more like an online university than Hogwarts, but the theory is the same where you can earn a BA in Spirit Intervention and Business Studies which according to his father will come in handy when Kester takes over the family, which really isn’t his family’s, business.
Kester Lanner, and his talent as a door opener, is continuing to finding his way around his father’s agency and with funds almost non-existent, the group must take on a job with a rival agency to investigate why the seniors of Lyme Regis are dying peculiar deaths. Deaths that involve the victims crying out that they could see themselves right before they were “fetched”.
With four deaths in the last six months, Dr. Ribero’s agency must team with Larry Higgins, a sworn enemy, to solve this case of the “dopel meaning double and ganger meaning walker” before any more residents meet up with their spirit twin. It appears that the Ancient History Club should have just left things alone, yet they could not and because of this, their numbers are swiftly dwindling, leaving Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural to sort out this mess before the Ministry of the Supernatural shuts them down.
This series still wants to dip its toe in the “Harry Potter” realm with the School of Supernatural Further Education which reads more like an online university than Hogwarts, but the theory is the same where you can earn a BA in Spirit Intervention and Business Studies which according to his father will come in handy when Kester takes over the family, which really isn’t his family’s, business.
November 5, 2017
This story picks up a few months after the first book in this series. Kester is working on fitting in with Dr. Ribero's team, but they are quickly getting discouraged at the limited number of cases they are winning. And then when they bid on a more local case, they are awarded it in coordination with their hated rival, Larry Higgins. The case involves several older residents, who apparently see themselves right before their death. The two teams have been given a set time to solve this case, but can they work together to accomplish the task at hand. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, with its quirky characters and supernatural elements. However, I found there was too much bickering and self doubt among the characters in this new story. It wasn't until near the end of the story that the supernatural element became the primary focus and the varying talents of the team members were utilized. There was some development in the character of Kester, as he begins to date librarian Anya, and considers his future in his father's company. I also enjoyed the new characters introduced from Larry Higgins' team and hope to see more of them in the future, especially in light of the intensely personal secret that the one team member revealed and how the Ribero team dealt with this revelation. And since there were a few unresolved issues (including a bit of a cliffhanger ending), I will probably continue on with future books in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this ARC received from NetGalley.
December 19, 2017
This book is the second in the series, Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural but I haven't read the first one, hence it took time to get into this world. However, I'm deeply immersed in this well written spiritual setting.
Kester Lanner is a new member of the Ribero's supernatural agency and the agency copes with spirits in secret. The team are given the job to solve the murder that the elderly people are dying in Lyme Regis and they saw double of themselves right before they die. Is the malevolent Doppelgänger raging there? The team gets another task not only deal with the spirit but the rival agency, Larry Higgins, as it's a joint investigation.
I enjoyed reading this supernatural mystery book, story moves very fast and the setting is interesting. This is the world in which have the supernatural being, but people doesn't know about. The members of team have their own individual ability to cope with spirits and Kester, himself is a gate opener, who succeeded only once, to spiritual world to send them back. Although the plot is predictable, the setting is gripping enough!
The quirky characters are likable. The team is like a cozy family, they enjoy pulling each other's leg all the time. Full of bitter sarcasms though they are wittyly fun and making the story more amusing.
This story ends on the cliff-hanger, I already can't wait to read the third one to know what happen and what sort of spirit is involved in next!!
Thank you Amberjack Publishing via NetGalley for the advance reading copy of this book.
Kester Lanner is a new member of the Ribero's supernatural agency and the agency copes with spirits in secret. The team are given the job to solve the murder that the elderly people are dying in Lyme Regis and they saw double of themselves right before they die. Is the malevolent Doppelgänger raging there? The team gets another task not only deal with the spirit but the rival agency, Larry Higgins, as it's a joint investigation.
I enjoyed reading this supernatural mystery book, story moves very fast and the setting is interesting. This is the world in which have the supernatural being, but people doesn't know about. The members of team have their own individual ability to cope with spirits and Kester, himself is a gate opener, who succeeded only once, to spiritual world to send them back. Although the plot is predictable, the setting is gripping enough!
The quirky characters are likable. The team is like a cozy family, they enjoy pulling each other's leg all the time. Full of bitter sarcasms though they are wittyly fun and making the story more amusing.
This story ends on the cliff-hanger, I already can't wait to read the third one to know what happen and what sort of spirit is involved in next!!
Thank you Amberjack Publishing via NetGalley for the advance reading copy of this book.
December 30, 2017
This book certainly has an interesting cast of characters and made me laugh out loud more than once. The author is creative and the mystery was fun to solve, but there were also a lot of stereotypes involved and some of them were downright cringe-worthy.
Most of the humour in this novel I appreciated, there were some awfully funny one-liners and so forth, but there were also a few really gross things that I felt the book would have been better off without. I have mixed emotions on how to feel about the main character. Sometimes he's the sorry sort of sap that you just want to hug because he needs it, but other times he made me want to wring his neck. I was particularly annoyed with the way he talked about the girl he's getting involved with in the story, as if she was simply good enough because she was the only thing he could get. Boo!
Still, the mystery was interesting and I got a kick out of the way they wrapped it all up. The group of people working together made for a lot of drama that kept the story moving forward and there were some vibrant dynamics amongst them as they were so different.
Overall, I thought this was a decent story and I appreciated the good laughs I got from it. I would read another book by this author and recommend this to those who are looking for something fun on the lighter side of the supernatural.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Most of the humour in this novel I appreciated, there were some awfully funny one-liners and so forth, but there were also a few really gross things that I felt the book would have been better off without. I have mixed emotions on how to feel about the main character. Sometimes he's the sorry sort of sap that you just want to hug because he needs it, but other times he made me want to wring his neck. I was particularly annoyed with the way he talked about the girl he's getting involved with in the story, as if she was simply good enough because she was the only thing he could get. Boo!
Still, the mystery was interesting and I got a kick out of the way they wrapped it all up. The group of people working together made for a lot of drama that kept the story moving forward and there were some vibrant dynamics amongst them as they were so different.
Overall, I thought this was a decent story and I appreciated the good laughs I got from it. I would read another book by this author and recommend this to those who are looking for something fun on the lighter side of the supernatural.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
January 8, 2018
This is the second book about Dr.Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural and it is hilarious! My attention was held from the first few sentences and it just continued to get better and weirder, I loved it !! An enjoyable read with quirky characters,who possess unusual skills, psychic readers,spirit door openers, all set within a chaotic office belonging to the over the top Dr Riberio.
Elderly people are dying in Lyme Regis on the South Coast( AKA Gods waiting room!) and the connection seems to be,as reported by the survivor partner or friend, they apparently saw their own reflection or mirror image,looking at them. Creepy!. General consensus is that it is the work of a doppelgänger , but the degree of the murderous intent and the general ' wrongness' of the air, leads the team to consider another option. Throw in some Celtic graves and unauthorised grave robbery leads to a satisfying conclusion.
I liked the interactions between the characters. Kester is the son of Dr Riberio,who hates the spirit world,but is being raised to take over one day, Mike is a slob,Serena is sarcastic,Jennifer is the calm one running the office and the other person I liked was Lara,who is making the transition toward becoming male,and wants to known as Luke. I found it to be quite a sympathetic portrayal of this process and still fairly unusual to be discussed in a book.
So, the book ends with a definite/ maybe there will be another book in this series,I do hope so!! A deserved five star read.
Elderly people are dying in Lyme Regis on the South Coast( AKA Gods waiting room!) and the connection seems to be,as reported by the survivor partner or friend, they apparently saw their own reflection or mirror image,looking at them. Creepy!. General consensus is that it is the work of a doppelgänger , but the degree of the murderous intent and the general ' wrongness' of the air, leads the team to consider another option. Throw in some Celtic graves and unauthorised grave robbery leads to a satisfying conclusion.
I liked the interactions between the characters. Kester is the son of Dr Riberio,who hates the spirit world,but is being raised to take over one day, Mike is a slob,Serena is sarcastic,Jennifer is the calm one running the office and the other person I liked was Lara,who is making the transition toward becoming male,and wants to known as Luke. I found it to be quite a sympathetic portrayal of this process and still fairly unusual to be discussed in a book.
So, the book ends with a definite/ maybe there will be another book in this series,I do hope so!! A deserved five star read.
December 12, 2018
Kester Lanner is new to the world of ghosts and still not comfortable with or confident in his role as a door-opener to send spirits away from our world. The agency is not doing well, and must take a job shared with the agency run by Dr. Ribero's sworn enemy Larry Higgins. The groups get along pretty well, except for the two chiefs who are still at war with each other, at least verbally. Kester makes several interesting and correct deductions that are dismissed by the Higgins because they don't agree with Higgins's diagnosis of the problem. Interesting characters, though they're a bit too eccentric and argumentative.
Something is killing off elderly residents of Lyme Regis and all of them are heard to mention seeing themselves. And there's a Celtic connection.
My main quarrel with the book is not the author's fault. At least 13 pages are completely blank. And a couple are about half blank with fading in between the top printed part and the blank bottom part. These are not a single group of pages but several scattered single or double pages. No page number are missing or added, just blank. These are all in the last fourth of the book. This is a library book and I hope they can get a replacement with all the pages.
Something is killing off elderly residents of Lyme Regis and all of them are heard to mention seeing themselves. And there's a Celtic connection.
My main quarrel with the book is not the author's fault. At least 13 pages are completely blank. And a couple are about half blank with fading in between the top printed part and the blank bottom part. These are not a single group of pages but several scattered single or double pages. No page number are missing or added, just blank. These are all in the last fourth of the book. This is a library book and I hope they can get a replacement with all the pages.
January 29, 2018
The characters are different as in a weird different but they work. The book contains a bunch of characters that I never thought would be seen together but in this they not only are but they work really well. The characters and the plot play well with each other in the sense that both of them was the highlight of the book for me.
This is the second book of the series and I do have to point out that I have not read the first one. But the curiosity of the plot weighted heavily and I read it and finished and am glad I did. Though, it would have been great to have read from the start it was not overly dependent on the first book. The author did try to make sure that the first time readers of this was not left out in the cold.
One of the things I loved was the budding romance between Anya and Kester. As well as the animosity between the two agency.
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger was a mystery that drew me in while the characters ensnared me in their web until the end.
Full Review: http://salsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2...
This is the second book of the series and I do have to point out that I have not read the first one. But the curiosity of the plot weighted heavily and I read it and finished and am glad I did. Though, it would have been great to have read from the start it was not overly dependent on the first book. The author did try to make sure that the first time readers of this was not left out in the cold.
One of the things I loved was the budding romance between Anya and Kester. As well as the animosity between the two agency.
The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger was a mystery that drew me in while the characters ensnared me in their web until the end.
Full Review: http://salsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2...
October 11, 2017
This was a wish book, granted by NetGalley - I came across the first in the series just as I saw that this was available, and rushed to wish for it because I was so intrigued by the first (The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost). If you don't know the series, it's a fun regular-guy-learns-there's-more-to-the-world tale - akin to Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London books, but with its own unique slant, unique cast of characters, and a nice cozy-ish writing style that is thoroughly enjoyable. The books are engaging, with entertaining mysteries and a nicely formulated supernatural underpinning. Kester is a darling bundle of raw nerves and makes for a marvelous foil for Dr. Ribero and his agency - their adventures together blend realistic drama (paying the bills, surviving the death of a parent, competition in business) with just enough almost-over-the-top supernatural drama (possessed paintings, spirits captured in water bottles) to keep things light yet just eerie enough to stay darkly entertaining. It's a fine balance, and more fun for its tightrope walking!
In this second installment, Kester is finally starting to come to terms with his new-found place in the world - and the supernatural world is, in turn, starting to adjust to his role in it. His character is developing nicely, adjusting to the bizarre reality he has been unceremoniously dropped into the midst of while still maintaining enough of the wide-eyed innocence of his introduction both to the series and the supernatural world that is so endearing. I think there is tremendous opportunity for growth here, and do look forward to seeing where Banks takes things.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
In this second installment, Kester is finally starting to come to terms with his new-found place in the world - and the supernatural world is, in turn, starting to adjust to his role in it. His character is developing nicely, adjusting to the bizarre reality he has been unceremoniously dropped into the midst of while still maintaining enough of the wide-eyed innocence of his introduction both to the series and the supernatural world that is so endearing. I think there is tremendous opportunity for growth here, and do look forward to seeing where Banks takes things.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
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