Ghostly Clues

by Kay LaLone

Middle Grade Mystery


The sweet scent of lilacs permeates the air around Grandma’s gravesite. Only Sarah Kay can smell Grandma’s favorite flower, and they’re not even in bloom.

Sarah Kay and her best friend, Mary Jane, believe the lilacs are a sign from Grandma’s ghost. The girls follow one ghostly clue after another, uncovering a secret that Mom never wanted Sarah Kay to know.

Grandma makes sure Sarah Kay gets the message even from the grave. As the evidence piles up, Mom still refuses to accept the possibility Sarah Kay’s father is alive.

Sarah Kay finds Dad’s parents. A set of grandparents she didn’t realize existed. They make it clear her father is alive but days and miles separate the father and daughter reunion because Dad is a truck driver on a long haul.

Sarah Kay waits. The news reports a fatal car accident involving a semi and Sarah Kay fears the worse. She runs away which leads to Dad and the truth, Mom wanted Dad to remain dead.

Dad had faked his death so why not just stay dead. The ghostly clues of Grandma wouldn’t allow Dad to remain dead to Sarah Kay.

194 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

About the author

Author of Ghostly Clues. Loves to write about ghosts, witches, demons, supernatural characters, and things that go bump in the night.

Reviews

[Teresa Nordheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Ghostly Clues’ by Kay LaLone follows a tween girl named Sarah Kay as she sets out on a quest to discover her family’s deep, dark secrets. The clues began at her grandma’s gravesite when Sarah Kay tries desperately to hold in a sneeze attack. There is only one scent that gets her nose irritated and there isn’t a lilac in sight. However, the scent reminds her of her grandma who loved to play hide and seek with Sarah Kay and her best friend Mary Jane. Grandma always discovered her hiding spot when Sarah Kay got to close to the lilac bushes.
Could Grandma’s ghost really be leaving clues and if so, what was she trying to tell Sarah Kay? All of the clues revolve around Sarah Kay’s father, but he was a long haul truck driver who passed away in a horrible crash. The lilac scent leads Sarah Kay to a photo of her father, an old ragged doll, and even a truck stop that is over an hour drive away. Can Sarah Kay piece together Grandma’s ghostly clues and discover her past before Grandma is lost forever?
Kay LaLone has a wonderful sense for telling a supernatural story without the fright. Readers get a sense of things going bump in the night, but knowing the spirit is friendly and helpful takes away the fear. While the main characters face many obstacles and a few scary moments, they are likable and fun. The entire voice of the story feels like it is coming straight from the main character, a tween girl. She is believable, as is the story.
This book would be good for anyone but especially tweens and teens who are interested in the world of paranormal and ghosts.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult enough for any girl to deal with finding herself on the brink of becoming a teenager, but when Sarah Kay (SK to her best friend) must deal with the death of her beloved grandmother, it's almost more than she can bear. If that isn't enough, she discovers her father wasn't killed in a car wreck years before after all. Her bff, Mary Jane, is the kind of special friend everyone needs when they're growing up. She helps Sarah Kay on her journey of discovery. Ghostly Clues is filled with séances, strange noise, spooky attics and messages from beyond the grave. It's just the kind of book kids will love, and yet there's more. Kay Lalone writes a touching story about having to say goodbye to those we love before we are ready and learning that adults sometimes make the wrong decisions, too.

[Conda Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, enjoyable Middle Grade paranormal mystery read. I loved that the characters were believable and acted age appropriate and that the paranormal world was developed in a believable way too. The main character, Sarah's voice came across as strong and empathetic.

I did get "bumped out" of the story a couple of times because I wondered, "Why don't they call on their cells or use the Internet?" But then I realized that tweens might not always go that way.

[Suzanne Montigny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little mystery with a ghost that's real but not too scary and who lets herself be known by the scent of lilacs. I thorougly enjoyed following the clues left behind by grandma and lol'd at some of the places they had to look! A great story for your tweeny or teen.

[Savina Nguyen]

I think this book will be scary!