California Ghosting

by William Hill

Take a luxury resort, add a little bit of romance, a murder, some human suspects, a bunch of ghosts and you have the makings of California Ghosting.

Never having read anything by author William Hill, it was this combination that drew me to his latest novel. I found his blending of all facets created a storyline that would keep you in suspense up until the very end.

The story centers around Ghostal Shores, a coastal resort north of the San Francisco Bay which offers its guests a most unusual hook...ghosts. In building the resort, the owners used bricks which came from deserted boom towns and the spirits came with the bricks. This wasn't discovered until the opening of Ghostal Shores, when the group of spectres made their totally unexpected appearance.

Of course, the haunted hotel is a huge success as visitors from all walks of life; business people to psychics, come to mingle with the apparitions. In the beginning, ghosts and hotel staff work and live together harmoniously. Patrons of the establish-ment are delighted with the idea of being served (by ghostly bartenders and bellmen) and entertained by the ethereal inhabitants of Ghostal Shores. Owners Peter (Mac) MacGuire and Sean Heller, reap the rewards of this arrangement.

When MacGuire turns up dead and some really malicious spirits start arriving; trouble begins with a capital "T and "G. The cast of characters is somewhat long, since suspects include humans and spectres. In the beginning you might have some trouble keeping track of who's who and characters are being introduced until you're about halfway through the story.

However, Hill's characters have plenty of depth, personality and a quality of realism that makes it easy to visualize each one, including the ghosts. The romance between the nephew of the murdered owner (Blasing Madera, who at first doesn't really believe in ghosts) and the murdered man's attorney (Angela Starborne), builds slowly throughout the story without seeming out of place as they search for the killer's identity, motive, purpose of the outlaw ghosts arrival and the mysterious disappearance of many of the resort's resident spooks.

Blasing's acceptance, concern and understanding of the spirits is a gradual unfolding throughout the story. His final championing of the ghosts also brings them to his aid when he needs their help.

At more than 500 pages, the story reads fairly quickly since you won't want to put it down for very long after you've started.

Hill writes to every detail so the reader is never left guessing about where they are in the story. He uses plenty of 'voice' in his descriptions, so the reader feels the character's pain, sorrow and even terror. An example is when two of the ghosts are 'killed' by one of the malevolent newcomers and the remainder of the resident ghosts are 'hunted' by the outlaws.

Hill has used his vivid imagination and combined a number of elements to create a good suspense novel. For myself, it is definitely worth a second read. The story will make you laugh, cry, cheer, and even shudder, as you go California Ghosting.

523 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

William Hill is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and first learned to read through comic books and adventure and science fiction novels.

Since realizing that the corporate world stifled creative thought and discouraged personal imagination, Bill has been employed as an alchemist in South Lake Tahoe and an EMT/Ski Patroller at a North Lake Tahoe resort.

Although his first writing love is magic-oriented fantasy, Hill's first and second novels - Dawn of the Vampire and Vampire's Kiss - were supernatural thrillers published by Pinnacle. The Magic Bicycle and California Ghosting were published by Otter Creek Press.

Bill and his lovely wife, Kat, and their son, Brin, currently reside in the beautiful Carson Valley of Nevada. Bill intends to write imaginative fiction and fantasy until dirt is shoveled upon his coffin. (And friends have joked, beyond, to the supernatural author state.)

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man did this book end up being a marathon read. A murder mystery at a ghost resort, packed with skmany aspects of the spiritual world. While interesting it did take me a few stops and starts to finish.

[natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I had a very hard time reading this book but I persevered and finished it. The small print is very hard to read for 80 year old eyes. Sometimes I wonder if the publishers ever think of the older people that love to read. They love to hold a book in their hand and not read a book on a device or books on tape.

This book was spooky and a fun read with ghosts a plenty. The characters were interesting, but I think it was too long. But it was a good ghose, who done it story.

[Denise Frueh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is imaginative and a fun read. Loved the setting that the author created. Ghostal Shores is a resort set on the California Coast that draws guests not only for it’s beauty but also because of the ghosts that inhabit and staff the resort. A nephew is willed this resort from his uncle that was mysteriously killed. He finds himself involved in a complicated and unusual situation complete with ghosts, crime, murder, romance, mystery, adventure and more. Great read!!!!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure whether I would like this book or not (it's not usually what I read), but I love this book!!! I was hooked from the first pages. It has everything: mystery, murder, ghosts (good and evil) , a little of the old west and romance thrown in for good measure. I read this book in only a few days. I would recommend this book for anyone since it has a little of everything. Great book!!!!

[Brandi Pearl Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very original and creative, well-written and engrossing. The only problem I had with this book is the smaller print, it does get to the eyes after a while, but on the brighter side, it did make me slow down and enjoy the story more. :)

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good read.

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so glad to finally be done with this book.. I guess the concept was neat, but it seemed to drag on forever. I was bored with it.

[Amy Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book!!! I loved it!! Ghost stories are so much fun!!!! It's a I wanna read it again book!!!!!

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say that I did not finish this book. The story was good, but the book is really long -- over 500 pages -- and I found I didn't care whodunit enough to read it through to the end.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! A very entertaining and fun read. Yes it's a bit silly but it should be expected in this genre.

[Mary Tharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading stories with ghosts.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imaginative and fun read.

[Mike B · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 3/4 stars. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable story. But it took a LOT of effort to wade through it. The basic problem is that it is too long. Too wordy. Too many plot elements. Too many characters. I think a good editor would be able to cut out a third of the book and improve it immensely.
The writing could be hard to follow. Within a paragraph in which one character is speaking, the author includes other non-verbal communication from other characters. I was never sure which character was communicating what to whom. I could not keep track of all the characters, and the included list of characters was incomplete, as if even the author couldn't keep track of them all! The interaction between the love interests became tedious and repetitive.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take a luxury resort, add a little bit of romance, a murder, some human suspects, a bunch of ghosts and you have the makings of California Ghosting. Set in Marin County along the coast, with the murder of his uncle, Blasing Madera becomes co-owner of a resort that is staffed by mostly by ghost and soon becomes involved in a deadly game as rouge ghosts appear on the scene and attempt to take control of the resort. A bit of a mystery as to who killed Blasing's uncle and why; a romance - the relationship between Blasing and his uncle's lawyer; the supernatural - ghost both benevolent and malevolent and some humor.

It is a good mystery/story with several interesting characters, especially the ghosts. I gave it 3 stars because I felt it was too long. It was slow starting for me and my interest picked up over the second half.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

California Ghosting is a highly imaginative story. A resort where the ghosts are the main attraction. The numerous ghosts are very entertaining and I found myself forgetting that many of them were ghosts. These ghosts all have character and dare I say "humanity".

You are introduced to the world and it's ghosts at the same time as the new owner of Ghostal Shores. Learning about all the ghosts and mysteries of this world class resort. There are many colorful and likeable characters in this book as well as a number of unlikable, terrible characters.

I really liked this story, Laughing and crying in turn. I highly recommend this story to mystery and ghost lovers as well.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a couple years ago but still remember it as being very funny. It is a ghost story, mystery and romance. I would highly recommend it if you can ever get your hands on a copy of it!