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GhostWriters #1
City of Ghosts
Winner of the 2018 Kindle Book Review Award for best Horror/Suspense.
On the day the villagers were forced to flee Hensu, not everyone got out alive.
Jackson Stone is touring the abandoned Chinese city when he slips away from the group to spend the night, determined to publish an account of his ghostly experiences there.
Then he meets Yuèhai, a strange, soft-spoken woman who can tell him the city’s secrets—secrets the Chinese government would kill to keep hidden.
As Jackson uncovers the truth about Yuèhai and the ghost city, he’s drawn into a web of conspiracy, betrayal, and murder. He must risk everything to save himself and bring honor back to Yuèhai and her family.
On the day the villagers were forced to flee Hensu, not everyone got out alive.
Jackson Stone is touring the abandoned Chinese city when he slips away from the group to spend the night, determined to publish an account of his ghostly experiences there.
Then he meets Yuèhai, a strange, soft-spoken woman who can tell him the city’s secrets—secrets the Chinese government would kill to keep hidden.
As Jackson uncovers the truth about Yuèhai and the ghost city, he’s drawn into a web of conspiracy, betrayal, and murder. He must risk everything to save himself and bring honor back to Yuèhai and her family.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2018
164 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
J.H. Moncrieff
33 books260 followersJ.H. Moncrieff's City of Ghosts won the 2018 Kindle Book Review Award for best Horror/Suspense.
Reviewers have described her work as early Gillian Flynn with a little Ray Bradbury and Stephen King thrown in for good measure.
She won Harlequin's search for “the next Gillian Flynn” in 2016. Her first published novella, The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave, was featured in Samhain’s Childhood Fears collection and stayed on its horror bestsellers list for over a year.
When not writing, she loves exploring the world's most haunted places, advocating for animal rights, and summoning her inner ninja in muay thai class.
To get free ebooks and a new spooky story every week, go to http://bit.ly/MoncrieffLibrary.
Reviewers have described her work as early Gillian Flynn with a little Ray Bradbury and Stephen King thrown in for good measure.
She won Harlequin's search for “the next Gillian Flynn” in 2016. Her first published novella, The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave, was featured in Samhain’s Childhood Fears collection and stayed on its horror bestsellers list for over a year.
When not writing, she loves exploring the world's most haunted places, advocating for animal rights, and summoning her inner ninja in muay thai class.
To get free ebooks and a new spooky story every week, go to http://bit.ly/MoncrieffLibrary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 4, 2019
CITY OF GHOSTS, by J.H. Moncrieff, is the first book in her "GhostWriters" series. I found this supernatural horror novel to be incredibly immersing in both the setting, and the charters (living and dead). We begin with a tour group on a sightseeing trip to China. The significance of this setting contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the novel--after all, placing us in the midst of a culture so different than our own adds an element of the "unexpected" that we might not have, otherwise.
". . . What the Chinese call ghosts are more like demons to us . . . "
Jackson, a bored IT consultant, gets the idea to write a book about true hauntings. With this in mind, he hides away from the rest of his tour group in order to spend the night in the city of Hensu, a "ghost town" created a few years back when a dam was opened, completely flooding it. The atmosphere is disquieting right from the start. The Chinese had built statues of humans enduring tortures while having their souls judged after death.
"Was Hensu always this disturbing, or did they build this stuff after the place was abandoned . . . Like some Disneyland from hell?"
When Jackson is confronted by a cold, wet, shoeless Chinese girl, he invites her to sit by his campfire.
This is the true beginning of the tale.
I found that the characters Moncrieff chose for this novel were the perfect blend for a story of this type. Mostly flawed individuals, these people had the capacity to learn and progress as time went on. When you take into account that they are in a foreign land, this becomes especially important, as a character who is closed off to new experiences and "knows it all" would simply not work in this setting. The descriptions of the tour group as a whole were at times quite funny, on account of how well I could picture them in real life. The author nailed the "group dynamics", with examples of the women who are quick to pass judgment on all other women, the man (or woman) that studies every aspect of the tour BEFORE it commences, and those that merely "do their own thing" as the drama of their everyday lives has made them habitually stand apart from others.
The first half or so of the novel is spent mainly in getting to know our main characters, and setting the stage for the supernatural mystery that Jackson has unwittingly volunteered himself to reveal. After the woman he met in Hensu begins appearing to him all over China, Jackson is forced to reassess his initial skepticism and must open himself up to the new reality confronting him.
". . . Denial is a powerful thing. It's funny what people will attempt to find rational explanations for . . . "
Kate, a woman with secrets of her own, is the first to understand the seriousness of Jackson's situation, and the two join forces eventually.
". . . When we die, something leaves--breaks off. . . the spirits who stick around? They're not the people they were when they were alive."
The political differences--not only between China and North America--but also between the different "sections" or cities in China, was simply astonishing to me. The Country and cities visited were so expertly described that I felt almost as though I were there, myself. These differences added substantially to the fear factor, as they also posed a direct threat to our characters, in addition to the mission that they realize they must accomplish.
" . . . Ghost stories aren't fun when they're true."
Overall, an outstanding supernatural tale with great characters, excellent atmosphere/location, violence, fear, and death. With everything I love in a horror novel present, my only complaint was that it ended . . .
Luckily, Book 2 in the "GhostWriters" series is now out.
Highly recommended!
". . . What the Chinese call ghosts are more like demons to us . . . "
Jackson, a bored IT consultant, gets the idea to write a book about true hauntings. With this in mind, he hides away from the rest of his tour group in order to spend the night in the city of Hensu, a "ghost town" created a few years back when a dam was opened, completely flooding it. The atmosphere is disquieting right from the start. The Chinese had built statues of humans enduring tortures while having their souls judged after death.
"Was Hensu always this disturbing, or did they build this stuff after the place was abandoned . . . Like some Disneyland from hell?"
When Jackson is confronted by a cold, wet, shoeless Chinese girl, he invites her to sit by his campfire.
This is the true beginning of the tale.
I found that the characters Moncrieff chose for this novel were the perfect blend for a story of this type. Mostly flawed individuals, these people had the capacity to learn and progress as time went on. When you take into account that they are in a foreign land, this becomes especially important, as a character who is closed off to new experiences and "knows it all" would simply not work in this setting. The descriptions of the tour group as a whole were at times quite funny, on account of how well I could picture them in real life. The author nailed the "group dynamics", with examples of the women who are quick to pass judgment on all other women, the man (or woman) that studies every aspect of the tour BEFORE it commences, and those that merely "do their own thing" as the drama of their everyday lives has made them habitually stand apart from others.
The first half or so of the novel is spent mainly in getting to know our main characters, and setting the stage for the supernatural mystery that Jackson has unwittingly volunteered himself to reveal. After the woman he met in Hensu begins appearing to him all over China, Jackson is forced to reassess his initial skepticism and must open himself up to the new reality confronting him.
". . . Denial is a powerful thing. It's funny what people will attempt to find rational explanations for . . . "
Kate, a woman with secrets of her own, is the first to understand the seriousness of Jackson's situation, and the two join forces eventually.
". . . When we die, something leaves--breaks off. . . the spirits who stick around? They're not the people they were when they were alive."
The political differences--not only between China and North America--but also between the different "sections" or cities in China, was simply astonishing to me. The Country and cities visited were so expertly described that I felt almost as though I were there, myself. These differences added substantially to the fear factor, as they also posed a direct threat to our characters, in addition to the mission that they realize they must accomplish.
" . . . Ghost stories aren't fun when they're true."
Overall, an outstanding supernatural tale with great characters, excellent atmosphere/location, violence, fear, and death. With everything I love in a horror novel present, my only complaint was that it ended . . .
Luckily, Book 2 in the "GhostWriters" series is now out.
Highly recommended!
June 14, 2019
CITY OF GHOSTS, by J.H. Moncrieff, is the first book in her "GhostWriters"series. I found this supernatural horror novel to be incredibly immersing in both the setting, and the charters (living and dead). We begin with a tour group on a sightseeing trip to China. The significance of this setting contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the novel--after all, placing us in the midst of a culture so different than our own adds an element of the "unexpected" that we might not have, otherwise.
". . . What the Chinese call ghosts are more like demons to us . . . "
Jackson, a bored IT consultant, gets the idea to write a book about true hauntings. With this in mind, he hides away from the rest of his tour group in order to spend the night in the city of Hensu, a "ghost town" created a few years back when a dam was opened, completely flooding it. The atmosphere is disquieting right from the start. The Chinese had built statues of humans enduring tortures while having their souls judged after death.
"Was Hensu always this disturbing, or did they build this stuff after the place was abandoned . . . Like some Disneyland from hell?"
When Jackson is confronted by a cold, wet, shoeless Chinese girl, he invites her to sit by his campfire.
This is the true beginning of the tale.
I found that the characters Moncrieff chose for this novel were the perfect blend for a story of this type. Mostly flawed individuals, these people had the capacity to learn and progress as time went on. When you take into account that they are in a foreign land, this becomes especially important, as a character who is closed off to new experiences and "knows it all" would simply not work in this setting. The descriptions of the tour group as a whole were at times quite funny, on account of how well I could picture them in real life. The author nailed the "group dynamics", with examples of the women who are quick to pass judgment on all other women, the man (or woman) that studies every aspect of the tour BEFORE it commences, and those that merely "do their own thing" as the drama of their everyday lives has made them habitually stand apart from others.
The first half or so of the novel is spent mainly in getting to know our main characters, and setting the stage for the supernatural mystery that Jackson has unwittingly volunteered himself to reveal. After the woman he met in Hensu begins appearing to him all over China, Jackson is forced to reassess his initial skepticism and must open himself up to the new reality confronting him.
. . . Denial is a powerful thing. It's funny what people will attempt to find rational explanations for . . . "
Kate, a woman with secrets of her own, is the first to understand the seriousness of Jackson's situation, and the two join forces eventually.
. . . When we die, something leaves--breaks off. . . the spirits who stick around? They're not the people they were when they were alive."
The political differences--not only between China and North America--but also between the different "sections" or cities in China, was simply astonishing to me. The Country and cities visited were so expertly described that I felt almost as though I were there, myself. These differences added substantially to the fear factor, as they also posed a direct threat to our characters, in addition to the mission that they realize they must accomplish.
" . . . Ghost stories aren't fun when they're true."
Overall, an outstanding supernatural tale with great characters, excellent atmosphere/location, violence, fear, and death. With everything I love in a horror novel present, my only complaint was that it ended . . .
Luckily, Book 2 in the "GhostWriters" series is now out.
Highly recommended!
". . . What the Chinese call ghosts are more like demons to us . . . "
Jackson, a bored IT consultant, gets the idea to write a book about true hauntings. With this in mind, he hides away from the rest of his tour group in order to spend the night in the city of Hensu, a "ghost town" created a few years back when a dam was opened, completely flooding it. The atmosphere is disquieting right from the start. The Chinese had built statues of humans enduring tortures while having their souls judged after death.
"Was Hensu always this disturbing, or did they build this stuff after the place was abandoned . . . Like some Disneyland from hell?"
When Jackson is confronted by a cold, wet, shoeless Chinese girl, he invites her to sit by his campfire.
This is the true beginning of the tale.
I found that the characters Moncrieff chose for this novel were the perfect blend for a story of this type. Mostly flawed individuals, these people had the capacity to learn and progress as time went on. When you take into account that they are in a foreign land, this becomes especially important, as a character who is closed off to new experiences and "knows it all" would simply not work in this setting. The descriptions of the tour group as a whole were at times quite funny, on account of how well I could picture them in real life. The author nailed the "group dynamics", with examples of the women who are quick to pass judgment on all other women, the man (or woman) that studies every aspect of the tour BEFORE it commences, and those that merely "do their own thing" as the drama of their everyday lives has made them habitually stand apart from others.
The first half or so of the novel is spent mainly in getting to know our main characters, and setting the stage for the supernatural mystery that Jackson has unwittingly volunteered himself to reveal. After the woman he met in Hensu begins appearing to him all over China, Jackson is forced to reassess his initial skepticism and must open himself up to the new reality confronting him.
. . . Denial is a powerful thing. It's funny what people will attempt to find rational explanations for . . . "
Kate, a woman with secrets of her own, is the first to understand the seriousness of Jackson's situation, and the two join forces eventually.
. . . When we die, something leaves--breaks off. . . the spirits who stick around? They're not the people they were when they were alive."
The political differences--not only between China and North America--but also between the different "sections" or cities in China, was simply astonishing to me. The Country and cities visited were so expertly described that I felt almost as though I were there, myself. These differences added substantially to the fear factor, as they also posed a direct threat to our characters, in addition to the mission that they realize they must accomplish.
" . . . Ghost stories aren't fun when they're true."
Overall, an outstanding supernatural tale with great characters, excellent atmosphere/location, violence, fear, and death. With everything I love in a horror novel present, my only complaint was that it ended . . .
Luckily, Book 2 in the "GhostWriters" series is now out.
Highly recommended!
April 20, 2017
A chilling ghost story set in the far east that will keep you reading long into the night. Evil visited the ancient Chinese city of Hensu. Tourist Jackson Stone, hoping to get the scoop on a paranormal tale, gets far more than he wished for. It's one thing to visits a haunted location. It's another to be stalked by the a spirit, one so strong, so corporeal, it's hard to tell the difference between reality and the supernatural. J.H. Moncrieff has penned a winner, with strong characters and palpable tension and frights. If you love a good ghost story, City of Ghosts is a must read.
June 15, 2017
Rating: 4/5
(I received a free copy from the publisher, Death Zone Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
***Minor spoilers***
Jackson is tired of working in an insurance agency. He wants something bigger and more exciting, and sees his chance. He's on a tour in China, and China has many ghost cities. He hopes to stay overnight in one of them and record and hopes to find something he can write a book about. He stays behind in a tour of a ghost city called Hensu, which was evacuated before a flood many years ago. While he is there, a young woman approached him and tells him that she is from Hensu, and that she needs someone to tell her story. He agrees, and returns to his tour after. But the girl doesn't forget. She follows him, telling him to tell her story. But the stranger thing is that when Jackson asks his tour guide, Harold, about what happened in Hensu, he seems to be hiding something and develops a dislike of Jackson. What could have happened there?
I haven't read a horror novel in a while, so reading this and having it be pretty interesting was a huge plus. One of my favourite things about it was the setting. It takes place in China, as Jackson travels around in a tour group and learns more about the country. It's both a learning experience and adds some culture to the novel. It still could have been interesting if it was set in Canada/USA, but having it set in China just added another element of unfamiliarity.
The other thing that stood out to me the most was the chemistry between the characters. The dialogue felt natural, and you could feel for a lot of characters based on their characters even if they don't have a lot of screen time in the book. My favourite relationship was Jackson and Kate, who were able to keep a friendly relationship without awkward romantic notions that you usually see in novels. Kate would have to be my favourite character. She's been through a lot and came out on top, and you know she loves to help peoolé just because it's in her characters.
Overall, this was a pretty great read with an interesting plot and setting, and with awesome characters you could connect with. It was great for getting back into horror, and I would definitely read another book by this author in the future, and also the rest of this series. If you're interested, this book is available for read now on Netgalley, and I would highly recommend it.
(I received a free copy from the publisher, Death Zone Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
***Minor spoilers***
Jackson is tired of working in an insurance agency. He wants something bigger and more exciting, and sees his chance. He's on a tour in China, and China has many ghost cities. He hopes to stay overnight in one of them and record and hopes to find something he can write a book about. He stays behind in a tour of a ghost city called Hensu, which was evacuated before a flood many years ago. While he is there, a young woman approached him and tells him that she is from Hensu, and that she needs someone to tell her story. He agrees, and returns to his tour after. But the girl doesn't forget. She follows him, telling him to tell her story. But the stranger thing is that when Jackson asks his tour guide, Harold, about what happened in Hensu, he seems to be hiding something and develops a dislike of Jackson. What could have happened there?
I haven't read a horror novel in a while, so reading this and having it be pretty interesting was a huge plus. One of my favourite things about it was the setting. It takes place in China, as Jackson travels around in a tour group and learns more about the country. It's both a learning experience and adds some culture to the novel. It still could have been interesting if it was set in Canada/USA, but having it set in China just added another element of unfamiliarity.
The other thing that stood out to me the most was the chemistry between the characters. The dialogue felt natural, and you could feel for a lot of characters based on their characters even if they don't have a lot of screen time in the book. My favourite relationship was Jackson and Kate, who were able to keep a friendly relationship without awkward romantic notions that you usually see in novels. Kate would have to be my favourite character. She's been through a lot and came out on top, and you know she loves to help peoolé just because it's in her characters.
Overall, this was a pretty great read with an interesting plot and setting, and with awesome characters you could connect with. It was great for getting back into horror, and I would definitely read another book by this author in the future, and also the rest of this series. If you're interested, this book is available for read now on Netgalley, and I would highly recommend it.
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May 23, 2018I really enjoyed this while I was reading it, but when I thought about it afterward, I realized I had more problems than I'd thought.
I should say first that Moncrieff's writing is just beautiful. She knows how to turn a phrase and her descriptions are wonderfully evocative. There are scenes that stuck with me long after I finished reading. I also liked the characters, even the minor ones. The main character (and here's where I hit a snag--I can't remember his name two months after finishing the book) was a great choice for narrating the story. And the mystery turned out to be emotionally compelling.
But the ghost was a problem. Her character, unlike the others, changed dramatically over the course of the book, but in a way that felt as if Moncrieff had changed her mind about who she was supposed to be and hadn't gone back to make her consistent. Though she turns out to be scary and dangerous, the first time I ever felt tense was when the main character is taken away by the police, who have the power to make him disappear. I think that's a problem in a suspense novel about a ghost.
There were a few other things, mainly that the main character didn't twig to the nature of the ghost-girl until well after I thought he should, and some red herrings related to the ultimate antagonist that had me very confused as to his true nature. Overall, it was an enjoyable book, but I don't think I'll continue with the series.
I should say first that Moncrieff's writing is just beautiful. She knows how to turn a phrase and her descriptions are wonderfully evocative. There are scenes that stuck with me long after I finished reading. I also liked the characters, even the minor ones. The main character (and here's where I hit a snag--I can't remember his name two months after finishing the book) was a great choice for narrating the story. And the mystery turned out to be emotionally compelling.
But the ghost was a problem. Her character, unlike the others, changed dramatically over the course of the book, but in a way that felt as if Moncrieff had changed her mind about who she was supposed to be and hadn't gone back to make her consistent. Though she turns out to be scary and dangerous, the first time I ever felt tense was when the main character is taken away by the police, who have the power to make him disappear. I think that's a problem in a suspense novel about a ghost.
There were a few other things, mainly that the main character didn't twig to the nature of the ghost-girl until well after I thought he should, and some red herrings related to the ultimate antagonist that had me very confused as to his true nature. Overall, it was an enjoyable book, but I don't think I'll continue with the series.
March 23, 2018
So I'm trying to decide exactly how I'd classify this book. It's horror and suspense all wrapped around a paranormal and is a lot of awesome.
Jackson is a fun main character, but even more he's a well rounded one. There were moments when he wasn't exactly likable, framed by the ones where he proved himself a good man, and I liked seeing the range. The supporting cast was well developed for the most part. There were a lot of secondary characters in the tour group Jackson traveled with, and the sheer number meant that they couldn't all be fully developed, but what we saw of them was interesting.
The mystery/paranormal aspects of the plot were suitably creepy, and the pacing was really well done ramping up chapter to chapter until the horror of Hensu unraveled. I'm not usually a fan of horror stories. My imagination can creep me out just fine without help, but in this case the suspense and the story totally worked. It was disturbing, don't get me wrong, but my empathies were raised and I wanted to see justice done.
If I have any complaint, it's one personal to my tastes and that's the language. I found myself bouncing a bit off of the number of fbombs. That doesn't mean it wasn't well written, just that it's not my personal cuppa.
Jackson is a fun main character, but even more he's a well rounded one. There were moments when he wasn't exactly likable, framed by the ones where he proved himself a good man, and I liked seeing the range. The supporting cast was well developed for the most part. There were a lot of secondary characters in the tour group Jackson traveled with, and the sheer number meant that they couldn't all be fully developed, but what we saw of them was interesting.
The mystery/paranormal aspects of the plot were suitably creepy, and the pacing was really well done ramping up chapter to chapter until the horror of Hensu unraveled. I'm not usually a fan of horror stories. My imagination can creep me out just fine without help, but in this case the suspense and the story totally worked. It was disturbing, don't get me wrong, but my empathies were raised and I wanted to see justice done.
If I have any complaint, it's one personal to my tastes and that's the language. I found myself bouncing a bit off of the number of fbombs. That doesn't mean it wasn't well written, just that it's not my personal cuppa.
March 23, 2017
I wasn’t sure before I read City of Ghosts if it was going to be a psychological thriller, supernatural horror, or an action/adventure. Somehow J.H. manages to incorporate elements of each in this haunting story that grips you by the heart and doesn’t let go. Moncrieff is a natural-born storyteller, and what struck me even more than the fast-paced plot was the depth of her characters.
The book opens with the protagonist, Jackson, having snuck away from his tour group to spend the night in a Chinese ghost city. He’s cute, good with the ladies, and is hell-bent on writing a spooky account of his experiences, regardless of whether or not anything actually happens or who he inconveniences. It’s easy enough to write a glib, chauvinistic male character, but you soon find out Moncrieff’s hero isn’t one-dimensional at all. You can see glimmers of depth to him even from the early pages, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch him grow over the course of the novel into a man who can put others before himself and think about the bigger picture.
The other main character, Kate, is also realistically drawn. It’s refreshing to see a female character with a strong personality of her own. She has her friends, both men and women, but she also has people in her tour group she doesn’t get along with. It was great to see a realistic depiction of a tour group, instead of the we’re-all-BFFs approach. The villain wasn’t the typical villain; the wronged ghost wasn’t the typical wronged ghost, and the nuanced characters made this a pleasure to read.
I loved the characters, and found myself getting so caught up in the action and intrigue that I kept saying, “Okay, just one more chapter before bed.” Moncrieff is an excellent writer, and the story picks up steam until your heart is racing along with the action. I won’t give away anything about the gut-wrenching ending other than to say that you may want to have a tissue handy.
If this action/mystery/supernatural/horror/adventure thrill-ride is par for the course for Moncrieff, I can’t wait to read the sequel!
The book opens with the protagonist, Jackson, having snuck away from his tour group to spend the night in a Chinese ghost city. He’s cute, good with the ladies, and is hell-bent on writing a spooky account of his experiences, regardless of whether or not anything actually happens or who he inconveniences. It’s easy enough to write a glib, chauvinistic male character, but you soon find out Moncrieff’s hero isn’t one-dimensional at all. You can see glimmers of depth to him even from the early pages, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch him grow over the course of the novel into a man who can put others before himself and think about the bigger picture.
The other main character, Kate, is also realistically drawn. It’s refreshing to see a female character with a strong personality of her own. She has her friends, both men and women, but she also has people in her tour group she doesn’t get along with. It was great to see a realistic depiction of a tour group, instead of the we’re-all-BFFs approach. The villain wasn’t the typical villain; the wronged ghost wasn’t the typical wronged ghost, and the nuanced characters made this a pleasure to read.
I loved the characters, and found myself getting so caught up in the action and intrigue that I kept saying, “Okay, just one more chapter before bed.” Moncrieff is an excellent writer, and the story picks up steam until your heart is racing along with the action. I won’t give away anything about the gut-wrenching ending other than to say that you may want to have a tissue handy.
If this action/mystery/supernatural/horror/adventure thrill-ride is par for the course for Moncrieff, I can’t wait to read the sequel!
August 8, 2017
Moncrieff delivered a compelling tale with government cover-ups, hauntings and interesting characters. When he is picked up the next day he is curious about the real story of Hensu and that of the strange woman he encountered but things quickly turn weird when the woman begins following him.
While Jackson is the main protagonist another character on the tour named Kate, is a medium. Through her, Jackson discovers he is in trouble. As Yuèhai insistence Jackson questions their tour guide. This places him in danger.
The tale that unfolds is captivating and filled with suspense, intense pursuits, and an urgency to uncover the truth. I easily slipped into the story and while occasionally it slipped into "tell" not "show" moments I was just as anxious as Jackson to learn what happened. Being American and traveling abroad added to the suspense, since the government seemed determined to thwart Jackson's efforts.
I enjoyed the setting from the descriptions of the tour to the food. I can assure you I will not be booking a similar tour anytime soon.
While this is a ghost story, and some classified it as horror, aside from a few scenes this wasn't scary and fell more in the realm of paranormal suspense. Fans of the Experiment in Terror series will liken it to the first two books by Karina Halle. It shares the same vibe. I enjoyed the nightmares and Moncrieff's descriptive voice.
The ending wrapped up nicely and it looks like THE GIRL WHO TALKS TO GHOSTS, the next book offers a new setting and Kate as the protagonist. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
While Jackson is the main protagonist another character on the tour named Kate, is a medium. Through her, Jackson discovers he is in trouble. As Yuèhai insistence Jackson questions their tour guide. This places him in danger.
The tale that unfolds is captivating and filled with suspense, intense pursuits, and an urgency to uncover the truth. I easily slipped into the story and while occasionally it slipped into "tell" not "show" moments I was just as anxious as Jackson to learn what happened. Being American and traveling abroad added to the suspense, since the government seemed determined to thwart Jackson's efforts.
I enjoyed the setting from the descriptions of the tour to the food. I can assure you I will not be booking a similar tour anytime soon.
While this is a ghost story, and some classified it as horror, aside from a few scenes this wasn't scary and fell more in the realm of paranormal suspense. Fans of the Experiment in Terror series will liken it to the first two books by Karina Halle. It shares the same vibe. I enjoyed the nightmares and Moncrieff's descriptive voice.
The ending wrapped up nicely and it looks like THE GIRL WHO TALKS TO GHOSTS, the next book offers a new setting and Kate as the protagonist. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
January 10, 2018
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but wow, did I. City of Ghosts by J.H. Moncrieff succeeded at not only being a creepy ghost story, but a fascinating assay into another culture, and an action-packed adventure all in one. I’m a huge horror fan, but books don’t usually creep me out—and this one did. I was up till 2 am reading, and I couldn’t stop myself from checking out the dark corners of my house—just to be sure. My attempts to pronounce Yuehai out loud to myself during my read-through made me feel as if I were conjuring her ghost into my house.
This story was well written. I didn’t run into any obvious typos, grammatical errors, or formatting mistakes. The narrative voice was both detailed and easy-to-follow without being overbearing or poetic. The characters were interesting and although not terribly complex, I couldn’t help but like them—even the ones I grew to hate. (I’m looking at you, Meghan & Harold).
Overall—this was just a fantastic book. I read through it in a matter of hours, and I almost hated to stop and sleep (but I was only halfway in at that point, so I figured I better!) It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a ghost story that I’ve liked as much as I did this one. There were elements of the Chinese culture, a ghost story, action/adventure, human rights, and even a tad bit of a romance within its pages. If you’re looking for a good all around read, I’d highly recommend picking up this book. I’m excited to read on into the rest of the series!
This story was well written. I didn’t run into any obvious typos, grammatical errors, or formatting mistakes. The narrative voice was both detailed and easy-to-follow without being overbearing or poetic. The characters were interesting and although not terribly complex, I couldn’t help but like them—even the ones I grew to hate. (I’m looking at you, Meghan & Harold).
Overall—this was just a fantastic book. I read through it in a matter of hours, and I almost hated to stop and sleep (but I was only halfway in at that point, so I figured I better!) It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a ghost story that I’ve liked as much as I did this one. There were elements of the Chinese culture, a ghost story, action/adventure, human rights, and even a tad bit of a romance within its pages. If you’re looking for a good all around read, I’d highly recommend picking up this book. I’m excited to read on into the rest of the series!
April 6, 2017
When a camping trip doesn’t go the way you hoped.
Jackson has a plan- Overnight stays in some of the most haunted places in the world, hoping to encounter something supernatural, write a series of books, make a fortune. Easy stuff, right?
His first attempt (sneaking away from his tour group in the ghost city of Hensu, China) offers him a night of shaking from the cold, fear of creepy statues, and a visit from a shoe-less pale woman in a blue coat, who he assumes is a transient. He invites her to get warm around his fire. She claims to be looking for someone to tell her story, the story of her village. Jackson, thinking this might be good for his book writing plans, agrees. Oops.
What follows is a fast paces, thrill ride of a book where a persistent ghost, corrupt government officials, an annoying tour group member, a sinister tour guide, unexpected friends, and a very tuned in Medium combine with Jackson to discover the secret of what actually happened to the village near Hensu.
J.H. Moncrieff has written a book I was unable to put down. Well written and suspenseful, filled with engaging, fully realized characters, City of Ghosts delivered over and over again. Moncrieff never lets her creations be one dimensional and constantly challenges stereotypes and tropes. Romances bloom slowly, deliberately, honestly. Suspense always has a rewarding payoff, and twists and turns surprise and delight.
Five stars.
Jackson has a plan- Overnight stays in some of the most haunted places in the world, hoping to encounter something supernatural, write a series of books, make a fortune. Easy stuff, right?
His first attempt (sneaking away from his tour group in the ghost city of Hensu, China) offers him a night of shaking from the cold, fear of creepy statues, and a visit from a shoe-less pale woman in a blue coat, who he assumes is a transient. He invites her to get warm around his fire. She claims to be looking for someone to tell her story, the story of her village. Jackson, thinking this might be good for his book writing plans, agrees. Oops.
What follows is a fast paces, thrill ride of a book where a persistent ghost, corrupt government officials, an annoying tour group member, a sinister tour guide, unexpected friends, and a very tuned in Medium combine with Jackson to discover the secret of what actually happened to the village near Hensu.
J.H. Moncrieff has written a book I was unable to put down. Well written and suspenseful, filled with engaging, fully realized characters, City of Ghosts delivered over and over again. Moncrieff never lets her creations be one dimensional and constantly challenges stereotypes and tropes. Romances bloom slowly, deliberately, honestly. Suspense always has a rewarding payoff, and twists and turns surprise and delight.
Five stars.
May 29, 2017
Jackson Stone doesn't believe in ghosts. That's why he sneaks off from the organised tour of the allegedly haunted Chinese town and spends the night in its scary temple. Alone. At least, that was how he planned it before a mysterious young woman joins him. Before long, Jackson will wish he had stayed with the rest of the group when everything he has believed in - and hasn't believed in - is called into question. He asks questions. Too many questions for one man, but what really went on the day they flooded the town of Hensu? J.H. Moncrieff first came to my attention with her novella, The Bear Who Wouldn't Leave I love her brand of scary, suspenseful horror where the story takes you through chills, fears, the supernatural and paranormal. Great start to a new series. I have already bought book 2!
February 27, 2018
Don't read this book if you must have a good night's sleep because you won't be able to put it down. It hits the ground running with the first ghostly encounter and a naive Jackson who thinks it will be "interesting" to experience the City of Ghosts on an overnight campout. It turns out to be more than he ever bargained for.
The horror of what happened to the people of the village slowly reveals itself through Jackson's nightmares and an irate ghost insistent upon justice. There's danger at every turn once the Chinese tour guide understands that his secret might be revealed.
Jackson's tour group is perfect, both for the story and for accuracy. Kate, the girl with the power to connect the dead and the living is a great companion during the escapes and the chases. The flavor of China with the matriarchs high-pitched indignation is spot on. And the end...very gratifying.
The horror of what happened to the people of the village slowly reveals itself through Jackson's nightmares and an irate ghost insistent upon justice. There's danger at every turn once the Chinese tour guide understands that his secret might be revealed.
Jackson's tour group is perfect, both for the story and for accuracy. Kate, the girl with the power to connect the dead and the living is a great companion during the escapes and the chases. The flavor of China with the matriarchs high-pitched indignation is spot on. And the end...very gratifying.
May 16, 2017
Wonderful supernatural series opener! The characters are incredible, the mystery is super interesting, and the setting in China is breathtaking and definitely adds a whole different dimension to the story on the whole. If you like supernatural suspense, I highly recommend this!
November 27, 2021
YA writing with a ghost story but hardly any sense or logic I could follow.. Supernatural? The tone of conversations just seemed juvenile weird. I could not connect to scared or even creepy. I would be far more worried about the police and the comrades posting the "no tourists permitted" signs.
Was down to my last two books or I would not have finished it.
Was down to my last two books or I would not have finished it.
October 1, 2020
If you’ve followed along with me on social media or with any of my reviews, you know how much I love J.H. Moncrieff and her writing. From ‘The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave,’ to ‘Return to Dyatlov Pass,’ and over to ‘Those Who Came Before,’ Moncrieff has crafted some of the best and creepiest horror/thrillers out there.
Through chatting with her, she herself had said she wasn’t sure if I’d like her GhostWriters Series, as it’s not as horror and gore as the others, but she said these were the books closest to her heart.
When the Ladies of Horror Fiction announced their ‘Read Ladies First’ in 2020, I decided to jump on that and make ‘City of Ghosts’ as my #LadiesFirst2020 read.
‘City of Ghosts’ follows Jackson, as he travels in China on a holiday tour. He’s booked this trip to experience a country that has always fascinated him and he’s excited to see some of the tourist spots. We pick up in the fictional Hensu – a ghost city that the tour attendees are told used to be a town, but when the dam was put in, the village was relocated.
Here Jackson decides he wants to try and write a book about ghosts and decides to sneak away from the group and spend the night in Hensu, hoping to have a paranormal experience.
From here, Moncrieff crafts a fast moving thriller. Once that has as much mystery in it as ghostly happenings and she uses the country of China as a fantastic character all on its own. Things are different than in North America over there and this creates added issues, which I loved.
Along the way, Jackson meets Kate, a gorgeous red-head who he is quickly smitten with, but who he holds back his feelings about as she keeps helping him as things unravel. Normally, I wouldn’t mention any of this – but I simply need to make a point here. One of the best things that happen throughout, is that even though Jackson and Kate get closer and closer and there is some distinct chemistry between the two – Moncrieff purposefully holds off on them becoming intimate. While most authors would have these two shack up and use both the pros and cons of that as story fodder, by having them remain respectful of each other’s space and having some really meaningful conversations around the expectations put on men and women, I found the characters became elevated and I really wanted to root for them to become a couple.
I have the other books in the series and I’ve heard from a very reliable source that another book is in the works, so I’m excited to jump into Book 2 ‘The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts,’ soon.
As for those who haven’t read Moncrieff before, this is a great spot to start, but as mentioned, don’t expect too much gore, creatures or dark, dark horror. This book doesn’t suffer because of that. No, in a way, not having those features made it all that more enjoyable.
Through chatting with her, she herself had said she wasn’t sure if I’d like her GhostWriters Series, as it’s not as horror and gore as the others, but she said these were the books closest to her heart.
When the Ladies of Horror Fiction announced their ‘Read Ladies First’ in 2020, I decided to jump on that and make ‘City of Ghosts’ as my #LadiesFirst2020 read.
‘City of Ghosts’ follows Jackson, as he travels in China on a holiday tour. He’s booked this trip to experience a country that has always fascinated him and he’s excited to see some of the tourist spots. We pick up in the fictional Hensu – a ghost city that the tour attendees are told used to be a town, but when the dam was put in, the village was relocated.
Here Jackson decides he wants to try and write a book about ghosts and decides to sneak away from the group and spend the night in Hensu, hoping to have a paranormal experience.
From here, Moncrieff crafts a fast moving thriller. Once that has as much mystery in it as ghostly happenings and she uses the country of China as a fantastic character all on its own. Things are different than in North America over there and this creates added issues, which I loved.
Along the way, Jackson meets Kate, a gorgeous red-head who he is quickly smitten with, but who he holds back his feelings about as she keeps helping him as things unravel. Normally, I wouldn’t mention any of this – but I simply need to make a point here. One of the best things that happen throughout, is that even though Jackson and Kate get closer and closer and there is some distinct chemistry between the two – Moncrieff purposefully holds off on them becoming intimate. While most authors would have these two shack up and use both the pros and cons of that as story fodder, by having them remain respectful of each other’s space and having some really meaningful conversations around the expectations put on men and women, I found the characters became elevated and I really wanted to root for them to become a couple.
I have the other books in the series and I’ve heard from a very reliable source that another book is in the works, so I’m excited to jump into Book 2 ‘The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts,’ soon.
As for those who haven’t read Moncrieff before, this is a great spot to start, but as mentioned, don’t expect too much gore, creatures or dark, dark horror. This book doesn’t suffer because of that. No, in a way, not having those features made it all that more enjoyable.
June 26, 2017
City of Ghosts is the first book I’ve read by J.H. Moncrieff. Based on how much I liked this one, I’m almost certain to read another.
I won’t bother to repeat everything that’s in the book blurb as far as the plot, but will focus on the writing and plot/character development. Since this was billed as horror/dark fiction, I expected to be scared, or at least have a little bit of looking-over-my-shoulder-while-reading moments. I didn’t find it scary, but it was pleasantly suspenseful.
The main character, Jackson, seems to be a decent guy who simply wants an adventure and pulls a pretty dumb move to get one. Hiding from the people you’re touring with in a foreign country is foolish and immature, and I have to believe it’s unrealistic to think he’d get away with actually being separated from them overnight. However, it progresses the plot and it wasn’t a stumbling block for me.
The ghostly parts were interesting, and I thought Jackson was a little slow on the uptake as far as realizing he was dealing with a dead person. After all, he was hoping for a ghost story to write about, and yet he didn’t put two and two together when all the evidence kept stacking up to point him in the “this is a ghost” direction.
The side characters were nice enough but not very developed. They didn’t need to be, in that they didn’t appear often, but there were a couple odd instances where an abrasive character was over the top in her abrasiveness, and there was never an explanation of why she was such a difficult character, or why her temper seemed to be on a hair trigger all the time. Also, there were a perhaps a few too many side characters who were unnecessary. Their names blurred for me because they weren’t really important for 90% of the story. Still, it didn’t wreck anything for me.
I saw a one-star review on Amazon that spoke extensively of Jackson’s anti-women attitude, and frankly, I didn’t see it. He’s not the most mature 20-something, but my first thought when reading that particular review was “someone has a chip on her shoulder.” The book isn’t perfect, but it’s not the misogynistic free-for-all that reviewer portrays.
A lot of development in both character and plot happened in the second half of the book, rather than throughout, but it didn’t feel like a hindrance to the reading experience.
Overall, I enjoyed the story quite a bit. I especially liked the way it resolved, and felt satisfied when I got to the final page.
I won’t bother to repeat everything that’s in the book blurb as far as the plot, but will focus on the writing and plot/character development. Since this was billed as horror/dark fiction, I expected to be scared, or at least have a little bit of looking-over-my-shoulder-while-reading moments. I didn’t find it scary, but it was pleasantly suspenseful.
The main character, Jackson, seems to be a decent guy who simply wants an adventure and pulls a pretty dumb move to get one. Hiding from the people you’re touring with in a foreign country is foolish and immature, and I have to believe it’s unrealistic to think he’d get away with actually being separated from them overnight. However, it progresses the plot and it wasn’t a stumbling block for me.
The ghostly parts were interesting, and I thought Jackson was a little slow on the uptake as far as realizing he was dealing with a dead person. After all, he was hoping for a ghost story to write about, and yet he didn’t put two and two together when all the evidence kept stacking up to point him in the “this is a ghost” direction.
The side characters were nice enough but not very developed. They didn’t need to be, in that they didn’t appear often, but there were a couple odd instances where an abrasive character was over the top in her abrasiveness, and there was never an explanation of why she was such a difficult character, or why her temper seemed to be on a hair trigger all the time. Also, there were a perhaps a few too many side characters who were unnecessary. Their names blurred for me because they weren’t really important for 90% of the story. Still, it didn’t wreck anything for me.
I saw a one-star review on Amazon that spoke extensively of Jackson’s anti-women attitude, and frankly, I didn’t see it. He’s not the most mature 20-something, but my first thought when reading that particular review was “someone has a chip on her shoulder.” The book isn’t perfect, but it’s not the misogynistic free-for-all that reviewer portrays.
A lot of development in both character and plot happened in the second half of the book, rather than throughout, but it didn’t feel like a hindrance to the reading experience.
Overall, I enjoyed the story quite a bit. I especially liked the way it resolved, and felt satisfied when I got to the final page.
June 9, 2017
I found City of Ghosts to be a riveting story, hard to put down, and I'm not normally drawn to horror novels. Author J H Moncrieff knows how to pull her readers in and keep them hooked from beginning to end in this well structured novel. Set in China, with an engaging main character, Jackson Stone --along with his ally Kate and lively tour companions, all well rounded characters-- the vivid details and excellent dialogue bring the haunted setting alive and keep the pages turning in this well written and exciting read. Now I can't wait to dive into The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts, and learn more about Jackson's warm and mysterious friend Kate. The Ghostwriter Books promise to be a great series.
June 18, 2017
I loved it! I felt like the characters were very relatable and I loved the setting in China. I've never been to China and I feel like she did a great job of setting the scene here. I felt like I was on the tour with the group. I hated Meghan and I wished something more happened with Jackson and Kate but I loved their relationship overall. I was also hoping for a little more..ghostly action I guess you could say but was thoroughly satisfied once I got to the end!
March 29, 2017
I think my only complaint about this book is that I couldn't put it down. Very relatable, very easy to lose yourself in - the characters are well developed, the truth behind the fiction adds an element of social commentary, and the emotion conveyed through the writing was wonderful. A great read, very fun, thank you!
May 16, 2017
Chilling doesn't even begin to describe this book. City of Ghosts by J.H. Moncrieff is the most intense novel I've read in a long time!
May 19, 2017
This review was originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2017/05/1...
City of Ghosts by J.H. Moncrieff centres around Jackson Stone, an American tourist in China who breaks away from his group to spend the night in the abandoned city of Hensu. When residents were forced to flee Hensu, not everybody got out alive and Jackson is determined to get the paranormal recording which will turn him into a best-selling author. But he gains so much more when he meets soft-spoken Chinese woman Yuèhai.
I read this book in two days – I couldn’t put it down – so you know it was a good one. For me, it had everything I wanted in a horror story. It was fast-paced, intriguing and chilling and Moncrieff has a way of writing which has the reader feeling tense throughout the story. What I really liked was that it wasn’t just about Jackson and his experiences with Yuèhai. Yuèhai’s story was a fascinating story in itself and would have made for a novel in its own right. She wasn’t the most likeable character, but she did bring tears to my eyes in the end.
In fact, most of the characters in this book weren’t particularly likeable – but that doesn’t mean they weren’t interesting. Especially those you would call the ‘main characters’: Jackson, Kate, Harold and Yuèhai – very different people formed as three-dimensional characters, thanks to the skill of Moncreiff. Kate, a medium was probably my favourite character (always a bonus to have a strong female character), but it was Harold, the tour guide, who intrigued me the most. It was obvious from the start there was something shifty about him and his character brought a lot of mystery to the story.
This is my first book by J.H. Moncrieff and I am hooked! I really can’t wait to see what comes next in this series ( I hear it centres around Kate, which I am thrilled about!).
A copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
City of Ghosts by J.H. Moncrieff centres around Jackson Stone, an American tourist in China who breaks away from his group to spend the night in the abandoned city of Hensu. When residents were forced to flee Hensu, not everybody got out alive and Jackson is determined to get the paranormal recording which will turn him into a best-selling author. But he gains so much more when he meets soft-spoken Chinese woman Yuèhai.
I read this book in two days – I couldn’t put it down – so you know it was a good one. For me, it had everything I wanted in a horror story. It was fast-paced, intriguing and chilling and Moncrieff has a way of writing which has the reader feeling tense throughout the story. What I really liked was that it wasn’t just about Jackson and his experiences with Yuèhai. Yuèhai’s story was a fascinating story in itself and would have made for a novel in its own right. She wasn’t the most likeable character, but she did bring tears to my eyes in the end.
In fact, most of the characters in this book weren’t particularly likeable – but that doesn’t mean they weren’t interesting. Especially those you would call the ‘main characters’: Jackson, Kate, Harold and Yuèhai – very different people formed as three-dimensional characters, thanks to the skill of Moncreiff. Kate, a medium was probably my favourite character (always a bonus to have a strong female character), but it was Harold, the tour guide, who intrigued me the most. It was obvious from the start there was something shifty about him and his character brought a lot of mystery to the story.
This is my first book by J.H. Moncrieff and I am hooked! I really can’t wait to see what comes next in this series ( I hear it centres around Kate, which I am thrilled about!).
A copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2018
Nice quick read, likable characters. Some of the arguing was a bit over the top. But interesting book. Not a TERRIFYING read like some of King's old books could be, but a nice satisfying story, that was more of a mystery. Recommend to people. However, this had some language in it and I would say either skip over, or avoid. But it had some really great characters in it, and I would recommend the book for them alone.
January 8, 2018
Fantastic journey to China
I loved how realistic Jackson’s experiences were because I have been to China too. This book enchanted me and I was so enthralled that I stayed up to finish the book! Great plot and story. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I loved how realistic Jackson’s experiences were because I have been to China too. This book enchanted me and I was so enthralled that I stayed up to finish the book! Great plot and story. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 24, 2018
Poorly written, but at least my eyes got a good workout from all the eye-rolling.
So much of what happened was either not at all necessary to the story in any way, or it was just downright silly.
So much of what happened was either not at all necessary to the story in any way, or it was just downright silly.
November 30, 2019
Creepy!
I thought this story was well written and had a good plot. I'm looking forward to reading more of this Author's books!
I thought this story was well written and had a good plot. I'm looking forward to reading more of this Author's books!
June 12, 2018
Enjoyed the pace of the book.could not guess what was going to happen
Recommend to mystery buffs. The action was good but wanted Megan to go away she was a total clueless idiot in the story
Recommend to mystery buffs. The action was good but wanted Megan to go away she was a total clueless idiot in the story
May 22, 2017
“City of Ghosts” is a ghost story with a strange problem; there isn’t much “ghost” in it. Not for fans of the ghoulish, anyway. And as a fan of the non-ghoulish, I appreciate that a great deal. Once I got used to the fact that this was a story about people and their own problems, I stopped expecting the ghost to show up every page or so and started to enjoy the reactions of the main character to his dilemma.
A note about characterization. I have taken several tours of the sort Jacks is on in the story. I quite enjoy them. And while I suppose it is possible that two people would get on each others’ nerves enough to start screaming matches after the first week, it is rather unusual. Plus it is unlikely that such an upset would occur so suddenly, and without apparent motivation. And since that conflict has very little to do with the main action, I don’t really see the reason for including it. A little subtlety in human interaction among the minor characters would have been more realistic.
Likewise the tour guide, who is cast as the villain of the piece from the start, has little subtlety. Twists and turns the plot may have, but there are few surprises.
The strength of the story is the writing style. The first person main character, Jackson, is wonderful. He is sympathetic, well rounded and slightly edgy, and we fall in line with his objectives easily.
I enjoyed the flow of the story. The secondary plot – his romance with Kate – was rather predictable, in pleasant contrast to the sharp nastiness of the supernatural element of the main plot. Pacing was great, with a constant supply of new elements to the conflict at all the right places. Dialogue, especially that inside Jackson’s head, was realistic, drawing us into his feelings from the first page.
And as far as the supernatural element, it did not appear often, but when it did, it made up for the lack. If ghosts are like that, I don’t want anything to do with them.
Top marks for main characters. Not so happy with the supporting cast. Recommended for Supernatural fans and those who enjoy good travel adventure.
A note about characterization. I have taken several tours of the sort Jacks is on in the story. I quite enjoy them. And while I suppose it is possible that two people would get on each others’ nerves enough to start screaming matches after the first week, it is rather unusual. Plus it is unlikely that such an upset would occur so suddenly, and without apparent motivation. And since that conflict has very little to do with the main action, I don’t really see the reason for including it. A little subtlety in human interaction among the minor characters would have been more realistic.
Likewise the tour guide, who is cast as the villain of the piece from the start, has little subtlety. Twists and turns the plot may have, but there are few surprises.
The strength of the story is the writing style. The first person main character, Jackson, is wonderful. He is sympathetic, well rounded and slightly edgy, and we fall in line with his objectives easily.
I enjoyed the flow of the story. The secondary plot – his romance with Kate – was rather predictable, in pleasant contrast to the sharp nastiness of the supernatural element of the main plot. Pacing was great, with a constant supply of new elements to the conflict at all the right places. Dialogue, especially that inside Jackson’s head, was realistic, drawing us into his feelings from the first page.
And as far as the supernatural element, it did not appear often, but when it did, it made up for the lack. If ghosts are like that, I don’t want anything to do with them.
Top marks for main characters. Not so happy with the supporting cast. Recommended for Supernatural fans and those who enjoy good travel adventure.
May 29, 2017
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
City of Ghosts in the first book in the GhostWriters series by J.H. Moncrieff. It’s a supernatural suspense featuring ghosts, conspiracies and murder. The setting and characters were very intriguing and I felt immersed in the world of this series almost right away.
Jackson Stone is touring the abandoned Chinese city Hensu when he slips away form the group, determined to spend the night and then record his ghostly experiene. He meets Yuèhai, a woman who can tell him all about the city’s secrets. But the more Jackson uncovers, the more he finds himself at risk, with betrayal waiting around every corner. From the moment Jackson runs away from the group, the atmosphere becomes eerie and unsettling.
Jackson is a flawed individual but I liked him that way, the flaws made him seem more realistic to me. The setting was great, I loved getting to know the Chinese culture as I’m not all that familiar with it. I also enjoyed getting to know more about the way they see ghosts, and some of their ghostly legends and tales.
This is a chilling ghost story in an unique setting with engaging characters and excellent writing. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal mysteries, and I look forward to the second book.
City of Ghosts in the first book in the GhostWriters series by J.H. Moncrieff. It’s a supernatural suspense featuring ghosts, conspiracies and murder. The setting and characters were very intriguing and I felt immersed in the world of this series almost right away.
Jackson Stone is touring the abandoned Chinese city Hensu when he slips away form the group, determined to spend the night and then record his ghostly experiene. He meets Yuèhai, a woman who can tell him all about the city’s secrets. But the more Jackson uncovers, the more he finds himself at risk, with betrayal waiting around every corner. From the moment Jackson runs away from the group, the atmosphere becomes eerie and unsettling.
Jackson is a flawed individual but I liked him that way, the flaws made him seem more realistic to me. The setting was great, I loved getting to know the Chinese culture as I’m not all that familiar with it. I also enjoyed getting to know more about the way they see ghosts, and some of their ghostly legends and tales.
This is a chilling ghost story in an unique setting with engaging characters and excellent writing. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal mysteries, and I look forward to the second book.
July 12, 2017
Jackson, an IT consultant is bored. He goes on tour to China where he gets the idea to write a book about haunting S even if he has to make some up. While on tour, he decides to stay behind at Hensu, a ghost town. He spends the night and meets a cold, wet, without shoes Chinese girl. She eventually tells him, that she wants him to tell her story. When Jackson is found at Hensu in the morning, the tour guide, Harold is angry with him. He becomes more angry with Jackson asks him about Hensu. Meanwhile Jackson goes back and forth about telling the ghost's story. There is so much more that happens and I don't want to give any spoilers, so this is all I will say about the story in general.
The characters in the tour are described so realistically that I felt I was on the tour with them. The atmosphere is perfect. There is violence, scarey moments and death in this ghost story. I didn't want the story to end!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The characters in the tour are described so realistically that I felt I was on the tour with them. The atmosphere is perfect. There is violence, scarey moments and death in this ghost story. I didn't want the story to end!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
June 5, 2017
Well...what can I say? This book had me hooked from the first chapter to the very last page. I planned to read a chapter or two and then head to bed... Riiiiiiiight!! That did not happen! Instead, I found myself turning in at about 2:30 a.m. after reading to the very end! The characters grab you right from the very start and they don't let go until they have concluded their story. The pace is good, the settings very well described and if I didn't believe in ghosts before, I might very well start to. It's the little nuances; the talk of when you've ever had a strange "feeling"... All very well written and in some cases, as if the experience came directly from me!! Can't wait to read the next one!
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