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Detective Harlan Ulrich #1
Deep Night
IT COMES AT NIGHT Pawn shop owner Nancy Pruitt is being stalked. Every night since bringing a mysterious painting into her home, she's been awakened by a rapping at her bedroom window. What's more, the nightly visitor seems to bear quite the resemblance to a figure in her new painting... Enter Harlan Coffee-fueled eccentric and private detective. Running from a ghost-filled past, Ulrich settles down in Tanglewood, Ohio, hoping to turn a new leaf and put the supernatural behind him. But upon getting involved with Nancy's case, the detective realizes he may have just gotten wrapped up in precisely the kind of investigation he's been trying to avoid. DEEP NIGHT is a novel of supernatural suspense, the first in the Detective Harlan Ulrich series.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2019
86 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Ambrose Ibsen
58 books662 followersOnce upon a time, a young Ambrose Ibsen discovered a collection of ghost stories on his father's bookshelf. He was never the same again.
Apart from horror fiction, he enjoys good coffee, brewed strong.
Apart from horror fiction, he enjoys good coffee, brewed strong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 22, 2025
Deep Night
by Ambrose Ibsen
This was s good ghost story, and mystery. Just the right suspense, not spooky but had some creepy spots. Great plot and characters.
Enjoyable read.
by Ambrose Ibsen
This was s good ghost story, and mystery. Just the right suspense, not spooky but had some creepy spots. Great plot and characters.
Enjoyable read.
March 25, 2022
This story reminds me of the old Columbo who is always trying to figure things out. But this is a great story about a possessed painting and the mystery behind it! Entertaining and funny in parts.
May 16, 2021
As always, adore the detective. Will continue with the series.
September 16, 2019
This was out of my normal comfort zone, I'm not usually a paranormal fan, but this was a good dive into the genre. I really wasn't sure where this one was going, and when I thought I had it figured out, it twisted another way. It was a great story, performed by one of my favorite narrators. Looking forward to book 2.
July 18, 2019
Deep Night is a supernatural detective story that plays fair with the reader even as it offers a healthy portion of make-the-hairs-stand-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck terror. As with all good horror novels, author Ambrose Ibsen builds the reader’s feelings of unease slowly and with a brilliant mechanism that absolutely everyone can relate to. A woman is awakened in the middle of the night by a tapping on her window. Just think about that for a moment. It’s almost midnight and she’s shaken from her sleep by a quiet tap tap tap on her bedroom windowpane When she builds the courage to peak outside, no one is at her window, but she catches sight of a figure watching her from the street. She quite sensibly calls the police, but the responding officer doesn’t find anything. The next night, matters progress further and when the police again come up empty handed, the woman goes in search of a private investigator to discover who is harassing her.
Enter Harlan Ulrich, formerly of Toledo. He’s lazy and uninterested in the case until his landlord increases his rent and he realizes if he doesn’t earn some money he’s going to lose his office. It was in many ways an unfortunate way to introduce the character because it made Ulrich initially unlikeable. We, the reader, knows this woman desperately needs help and he seems uncaring about her predicament. Fortunately, Ulrich quickly wins the reader back by sticking with the case when it immediately goes bad. You see, Ulrich quickly uncovers evidence that the client’s nocturnal visitor is not human.
From this point forward, the novel revolves around the investigation into why the client is being harassed by a supernatural creature. The creature’s appearance is quickly connected to a painting the woman has just acquired so Ulrich opens his investigation by looking into the painting’s origins and how it came into the woman’s possession. This investigation did not take the direction I initially assumed it would, and that’s always a good thing. Not all of the twists and turns in the rest of the novel were as surprising, but when an author fairly provides the clues to a mystery, he has to risk readers putting the pieces together faster than his detective does.
This novel is boosted by the excellent vocal talents of narrator, Kyle Tait. He provides excellent pacing and clearly discernable voices for all the characters. His low voice and quiet style added significantly to the tension Ibsen builds in the story as the scope of the supernatural problem is uncovered. If you like solid detective stories with a healthy (or should that be “unhealthy”) dose of the supernatural, you’ll enjoy Deep Night. I intend to read the next mystery in this series.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
Enter Harlan Ulrich, formerly of Toledo. He’s lazy and uninterested in the case until his landlord increases his rent and he realizes if he doesn’t earn some money he’s going to lose his office. It was in many ways an unfortunate way to introduce the character because it made Ulrich initially unlikeable. We, the reader, knows this woman desperately needs help and he seems uncaring about her predicament. Fortunately, Ulrich quickly wins the reader back by sticking with the case when it immediately goes bad. You see, Ulrich quickly uncovers evidence that the client’s nocturnal visitor is not human.
From this point forward, the novel revolves around the investigation into why the client is being harassed by a supernatural creature. The creature’s appearance is quickly connected to a painting the woman has just acquired so Ulrich opens his investigation by looking into the painting’s origins and how it came into the woman’s possession. This investigation did not take the direction I initially assumed it would, and that’s always a good thing. Not all of the twists and turns in the rest of the novel were as surprising, but when an author fairly provides the clues to a mystery, he has to risk readers putting the pieces together faster than his detective does.
This novel is boosted by the excellent vocal talents of narrator, Kyle Tait. He provides excellent pacing and clearly discernable voices for all the characters. His low voice and quiet style added significantly to the tension Ibsen builds in the story as the scope of the supernatural problem is uncovered. If you like solid detective stories with a healthy (or should that be “unhealthy”) dose of the supernatural, you’ll enjoy Deep Night. I intend to read the next mystery in this series.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
April 30, 2022
Book 1 in the Detective Harlan Ulrich Series. Plot. Nancy brings a landscape painting home from the pawnshop she owns and immediately begins to be harassed by a ghost - the woman who appears in the painting—tapping on Nancy's window, standing in the shadows of her yard, entering the house! Police investigate and find nothing. Enter Detective Harlan Ulrich, a single, middle-aged cat owner, who lives alone, eats junk food and loves good coffee. Nancy hires Ulrich to help her solve the ghostly mystery.
Liked. No sex, no explicit language; gift it to grandma if she likes ghostly mysteries. Narration is fine, nothing exceptional, but very listenable. Ulrich is a good character development to begin a series.
Not so hot. Bumped the speed to 1.4 - not a complaint, more a preference. Deep Night is just over six hours of listening - a bit short for my taste.
Written by Ambrose Ibsen, narrated by Kyle Tait, in unabridged audiobook format, released in June 2019 by Ambrose Ibsen (self-published).
Considering the sea of self-published garbage out there, this one is one of the hidden gems.
Recommended.
Liked. No sex, no explicit language; gift it to grandma if she likes ghostly mysteries. Narration is fine, nothing exceptional, but very listenable. Ulrich is a good character development to begin a series.
Not so hot. Bumped the speed to 1.4 - not a complaint, more a preference. Deep Night is just over six hours of listening - a bit short for my taste.
Written by Ambrose Ibsen, narrated by Kyle Tait, in unabridged audiobook format, released in June 2019 by Ambrose Ibsen (self-published).
Considering the sea of self-published garbage out there, this one is one of the hidden gems.
Recommended.
April 13, 2025
3.5
a haunted painting and a determined PI. Can Ulrich solve the case and save the ghost? I rounded this one up because the story wasn't horrible and I enjoyed the move from the other Ulrich books. these seem a bit better than the toledo ones.
a haunted painting and a determined PI. Can Ulrich solve the case and save the ghost? I rounded this one up because the story wasn't horrible and I enjoyed the move from the other Ulrich books. these seem a bit better than the toledo ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2022
I liked the idea and the story of the paranormal investigator, but I just didn’t care for the main character at all.
May 31, 2022
I enjoyed this one and would read more in the series. Good characters and fast moving.
May 14, 2019
Good night's read!
I having been a fan of Mr Ambrose Ibsen for some time and found his reboot of Harlan Ulrich entertaining and rather amusing. I noticed for one thing the book cover to be an improvement over his recent books. In this particular dome he does not describe our good defective and I am wondering if he plans on making him slightly younger. If you are in the mood for a fast read that still makes you more invested then a short story and are fond of both detective books and the supernatural you have found your man in Harlan Ulrich. I am waiting still for Mr. Ibsen to graduate to a full novel and add a hundred or more pages to his books. Right know the author is the best writer in Kindle Unlimited or seller of one dollar books on Amazon. He is ready for the next level get him on the cheap well you can
I having been a fan of Mr Ambrose Ibsen for some time and found his reboot of Harlan Ulrich entertaining and rather amusing. I noticed for one thing the book cover to be an improvement over his recent books. In this particular dome he does not describe our good defective and I am wondering if he plans on making him slightly younger. If you are in the mood for a fast read that still makes you more invested then a short story and are fond of both detective books and the supernatural you have found your man in Harlan Ulrich. I am waiting still for Mr. Ibsen to graduate to a full novel and add a hundred or more pages to his books. Right know the author is the best writer in Kindle Unlimited or seller of one dollar books on Amazon. He is ready for the next level get him on the cheap well you can
September 12, 2019
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
This was a beautifully written ghost story which had a really great narrator for the audio which just added to the feel of the story. I loved discovering whether the figure in the painting was actually haunting the owner and if so why? It did not disappoint but I don’t want to spoil any of it however if you like the ghost stories of bygone days like me this is a great find.
This was a beautifully written ghost story which had a really great narrator for the audio which just added to the feel of the story. I loved discovering whether the figure in the painting was actually haunting the owner and if so why? It did not disappoint but I don’t want to spoil any of it however if you like the ghost stories of bygone days like me this is a great find.
June 30, 2020
This was a fun, quaint mystery. It is set in modern times but feels more like the 80s before the internet and cell phones were common. The mystery was predictable and I had guessed who the culprit was long before we had a body. Still, it was fun to see our hero Ulrich work it out for himself.
The strongest element to this story was the atmosphere of suspense. Even though I had guessed early on what was going on, I still liked that it felt like a good campfire story.
I love the cat! Everyone needs to take their pet cat to work. Ulrich is a bit of a grump at the start but once he realizes he needs a case to make rent, he goes back to Nancy almost begging for the job. I eventually warmed up to him. Once I did, I really got into the story. This tale made me crave fancy coffee. 4/5 stars.
Narration: Kyle Tait had unique voices for all the characters. The ladies were pretty good but sometimes sounded just a touch cartoony, especially the jilted angry wife. Pacing is good. No tech issues. 4/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book. My opinions are 100% my own.
The strongest element to this story was the atmosphere of suspense. Even though I had guessed early on what was going on, I still liked that it felt like a good campfire story.
I love the cat! Everyone needs to take their pet cat to work. Ulrich is a bit of a grump at the start but once he realizes he needs a case to make rent, he goes back to Nancy almost begging for the job. I eventually warmed up to him. Once I did, I really got into the story. This tale made me crave fancy coffee. 4/5 stars.
Narration: Kyle Tait had unique voices for all the characters. The ladies were pretty good but sometimes sounded just a touch cartoony, especially the jilted angry wife. Pacing is good. No tech issues. 4/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book. My opinions are 100% my own.
June 15, 2019
Kept waiting for that great thing this author does !
I kept waiting for that great thing this author does so well and that’s scare the living daylights our of me! Unfortunately it didn’t happen. I figured way way before the reveal who the murderer was and although the supernatural Spector seemed eerie she never really was that scary.
I can say I’ve read books by this author that have left me sleeping with a light on!! However his last couple of books seem hurried and I’m no longer seeing that brilliance of terrifying stories present lately. Almost as if he’s being pressured into writing a certain quota of books and is rushed.
By all means please don’t miss some of his first works!!
I’m still haunted by those terrifying stories to this day!!!
I kept waiting for that great thing this author does so well and that’s scare the living daylights our of me! Unfortunately it didn’t happen. I figured way way before the reveal who the murderer was and although the supernatural Spector seemed eerie she never really was that scary.
I can say I’ve read books by this author that have left me sleeping with a light on!! However his last couple of books seem hurried and I’m no longer seeing that brilliance of terrifying stories present lately. Almost as if he’s being pressured into writing a certain quota of books and is rushed.
By all means please don’t miss some of his first works!!
I’m still haunted by those terrifying stories to this day!!!
August 20, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
This is the first book in the Dectective Harlan Ulrich series. It is a standalone story with no cliffhanger ending. However there is a setup for the next book in the series.
Here, Nancy owns a pawn shop. She has brought home a painting depicting a landscape with an odd figure in the foreground. One night she is awakened by a tapping on her window. She calls the police but they find nothing. The next night, Nancy again is awakened by the tapping and this time Nancy sees a figure. She
again calls the cops who find nothing and question her mental
clarity. Nancy decides to hire an investigator to look into the night
visitor. Harlan Ulrich is initially disinterested in helping Nancy but
then changes his mind after his office rent is increased and he
needs the money. Harlan believes it will be a quick investigation.
However, after his first night of surveillance, Harlan discovers that
the painting and the visitor may be linked and paranormal. Harlan
investigates the link with the painting which leads to an even
greater discovery.
This is a very well-written engrossing story - although I did figure out the mystery before Harlan, I still found the story to be
completely engaging. Harlan is an interesting character who has an
extreme love of coffee, a well-trained cat named Beardsly, and is
observant and bright. He has the ability to manipulate the skills of
others by observing their characters and playing up to their egos. I
liked the mystery but I did not find the paranormal element to be
scary but creepy in a Twilight Zone kind of way. I especially liked
the ending/set up for the next book. Overall, I enjoyed the story very much - I finished it in one sitting - and look forward to the next book in the series.
I listened to this book - The narrator, Kyle Tait, has a wonderful baritone voice which lends itself well to this story.
This is the first book in the Dectective Harlan Ulrich series. It is a standalone story with no cliffhanger ending. However there is a setup for the next book in the series.
Here, Nancy owns a pawn shop. She has brought home a painting depicting a landscape with an odd figure in the foreground. One night she is awakened by a tapping on her window. She calls the police but they find nothing. The next night, Nancy again is awakened by the tapping and this time Nancy sees a figure. She
again calls the cops who find nothing and question her mental
clarity. Nancy decides to hire an investigator to look into the night
visitor. Harlan Ulrich is initially disinterested in helping Nancy but
then changes his mind after his office rent is increased and he
needs the money. Harlan believes it will be a quick investigation.
However, after his first night of surveillance, Harlan discovers that
the painting and the visitor may be linked and paranormal. Harlan
investigates the link with the painting which leads to an even
greater discovery.
This is a very well-written engrossing story - although I did figure out the mystery before Harlan, I still found the story to be
completely engaging. Harlan is an interesting character who has an
extreme love of coffee, a well-trained cat named Beardsly, and is
observant and bright. He has the ability to manipulate the skills of
others by observing their characters and playing up to their egos. I
liked the mystery but I did not find the paranormal element to be
scary but creepy in a Twilight Zone kind of way. I especially liked
the ending/set up for the next book. Overall, I enjoyed the story very much - I finished it in one sitting - and look forward to the next book in the series.
I listened to this book - The narrator, Kyle Tait, has a wonderful baritone voice which lends itself well to this story.
January 30, 2022
Eccentric private investigator Harlan Ulrich has moved to Tanglewood, Ohio, from Toledo. He came with his cat and very little money. He's renting an office - actually a storage closet - on the third floor of a building housing a used bookstore on the first floor and an accounting firm on the second floor. He's placed an ad in the newspaper but spends most of his time doing crossword puzzles and drinking coffee.
When Nancy Pruitt comes to find him, he is reluctant to take her case. Nancy, the owner of the local pawnshop, has brought home a picture someone sold her and now finds herself being stalked by a ghostly presence. Harlan left Toledo because of too many paranormal incidents, but the rent is coming due and it is either taking Nancy's case or selling his blood.
The story is nicely creepy. When the investigation of Nancy's "stalker" leads to an investigation of the possible murder of a cheating husband's lover, Harlan finds himself following the trail of a possible - probable - murderer. The cheater's ex is sure that he and his lover have run off, but the lover's ghostly presence has convinced Harlan that something fatal happened to her.
The plot has a variety of twists. I was listening to it with a friend and we kept asking each other why the detective jumped to one conclusion or another and we each had our own opinion about who the murderer was. Both of us were distracted by the red herrings and chose incorrectly until very near the end.
The characters were quirky as was Harlan's work situation. I can see the potential for lots more stories with these characters.
When Nancy Pruitt comes to find him, he is reluctant to take her case. Nancy, the owner of the local pawnshop, has brought home a picture someone sold her and now finds herself being stalked by a ghostly presence. Harlan left Toledo because of too many paranormal incidents, but the rent is coming due and it is either taking Nancy's case or selling his blood.
The story is nicely creepy. When the investigation of Nancy's "stalker" leads to an investigation of the possible murder of a cheating husband's lover, Harlan finds himself following the trail of a possible - probable - murderer. The cheater's ex is sure that he and his lover have run off, but the lover's ghostly presence has convinced Harlan that something fatal happened to her.
The plot has a variety of twists. I was listening to it with a friend and we kept asking each other why the detective jumped to one conclusion or another and we each had our own opinion about who the murderer was. Both of us were distracted by the red herrings and chose incorrectly until very near the end.
The characters were quirky as was Harlan's work situation. I can see the potential for lots more stories with these characters.
February 16, 2023
Ambrose Ibsen's _Deep Night_ receives three stars from me. The writing is clear, and the story is nice; however, I found it simple in crime complexity (if that's a thing).
This was an audio book read by Kyle Tait, so I'll address his reading first. His reading and interpretation of the characters is good. His voices were each distinguishable from each other. I'd listen to a book read by Tait again.
The book.
At first, I enjoyed the text. I found to be right in the cozy genre and enjoyable. However, as the text progressed I had a few issues. These are rather subjective, which means for others it may not be an issue. But this is my experience with the book. I felt there was a lot of text on the detective before the plot got underway. This dragged the text for me a bit. The book could have ended earlier--a shorter bit after the reveal. This dragged the text for me too.
The crime is rather simple, and I'd like to see more complexity from the author in other books. What I mean by that is that when it comes to the crime there are no twists and turns, there are not surprises. Readers of mysteries will figure it out quickly.
What he does well. I think the he builds his world well. I think there are periods of tension where we worry about the detective's safety. This are all pluses.
Recommended: for new readers to mystery, it will be good. The ghost part of the story adds to the interests. For seasoned readers of mystery, it may not be as engaging as they are used to.
This was an audio book read by Kyle Tait, so I'll address his reading first. His reading and interpretation of the characters is good. His voices were each distinguishable from each other. I'd listen to a book read by Tait again.
The book.
At first, I enjoyed the text. I found to be right in the cozy genre and enjoyable. However, as the text progressed I had a few issues. These are rather subjective, which means for others it may not be an issue. But this is my experience with the book. I felt there was a lot of text on the detective before the plot got underway. This dragged the text for me a bit. The book could have ended earlier--a shorter bit after the reveal. This dragged the text for me too.
The crime is rather simple, and I'd like to see more complexity from the author in other books. What I mean by that is that when it comes to the crime there are no twists and turns, there are not surprises. Readers of mysteries will figure it out quickly.
What he does well. I think the he builds his world well. I think there are periods of tension where we worry about the detective's safety. This are all pluses.
Recommended: for new readers to mystery, it will be good. The ghost part of the story adds to the interests. For seasoned readers of mystery, it may not be as engaging as they are used to.
January 30, 2021
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book, freeof charge, in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good ghost story, and I particularly like one where the event isn't restricted to 'The spooky house on the hill' but has instead intruded on the sanctity of our homes. In this case an unknown and unseen presence has been knocking on Nancy's bedroom window ever since she brought an unusual painting home from her Pawn Shop business and she fears that she's been targeted by a stalker.
As the events take a more frightening turn, she approaches Harlan Ulrich, a private detective and new resident of the town, but it quickly becomes apparent that this is no mere case of stalking.
While Nancy is clearly a means to an end and really little more than a reason for the book to exist, Harlan is a fantastic character. Channeling a bit of Agent Cooper from Twin Peeks and his love for cake, I was constantly amused by his love for coffee and his way of coping with the weird happenings always felt realistic, believable but heartfelt. All the characters, whether Male or Female, were presented in a very clear, distinctive and enjoyable way by the narrator and at no point was I unsure as to who was speaking.
With a great flow, a great sense of mystery and a really satisfying ending I thoroughly enjoyed this book and await the next Harlan Ulrich book with interest.
I love a good ghost story, and I particularly like one where the event isn't restricted to 'The spooky house on the hill' but has instead intruded on the sanctity of our homes. In this case an unknown and unseen presence has been knocking on Nancy's bedroom window ever since she brought an unusual painting home from her Pawn Shop business and she fears that she's been targeted by a stalker.
As the events take a more frightening turn, she approaches Harlan Ulrich, a private detective and new resident of the town, but it quickly becomes apparent that this is no mere case of stalking.
While Nancy is clearly a means to an end and really little more than a reason for the book to exist, Harlan is a fantastic character. Channeling a bit of Agent Cooper from Twin Peeks and his love for cake, I was constantly amused by his love for coffee and his way of coping with the weird happenings always felt realistic, believable but heartfelt. All the characters, whether Male or Female, were presented in a very clear, distinctive and enjoyable way by the narrator and at no point was I unsure as to who was speaking.
With a great flow, a great sense of mystery and a really satisfying ending I thoroughly enjoyed this book and await the next Harlan Ulrich book with interest.
February 1, 2023
Since reading 'The Ulrich Files' I have become a fan of the main character: Harlan Ulrich. Not only because of his character, but also because of the development he is going through. In the first part of this series, Ulrich is again masterfully confronted with the supernatural.
In the first part of this series, Harlan Ulrich is again a sympathetic hero. Two constant factors in his life are coffee and Beardsley the cat. Ulrich is a coffee drinker and connoisseur of different ways to drink the drink. In the development that he is going through, I think that shows that he enjoys what he does more. Ulrich enjoys the little things.
And Beardsley is awesome! Not only literally in the story, but also in the figurative sense. I associated his presence with the supernatural things that happen to Ulrich. A cat symbolizes exploring the unknown, the night, healing and independence. These subjects touch on Ulrich's development.
The macabre apparition is very successful. The ghosts in Ambrose Ibsen's work are often described with lyrical accuracy. And that is also the case in 'Deep Night'. In the right way, the author gives the ghost a deeper meaning, making it a reference to dark thoughts (power) and nice thoughts (joyfulness) hidden inside someone. The descriptions always show the ghost in a terrifying and striking way.
This first part of the series focuses on asking for help. Both realistic and in a macabre fantastic way. Both together form a well-balanced whole, and I really enjoyed the latter way. Dark, terrifying and yet vulnerable. The poetic images with which this is described are great!
So 'Dark Side' is another successful book by Ambrose Ibsen because of the lyrical images and the different ways in which the theme is approached. It is also a great opening of this series of which I hope many more parts will follow.
In the first part of this series, Harlan Ulrich is again a sympathetic hero. Two constant factors in his life are coffee and Beardsley the cat. Ulrich is a coffee drinker and connoisseur of different ways to drink the drink. In the development that he is going through, I think that shows that he enjoys what he does more. Ulrich enjoys the little things.
And Beardsley is awesome! Not only literally in the story, but also in the figurative sense. I associated his presence with the supernatural things that happen to Ulrich. A cat symbolizes exploring the unknown, the night, healing and independence. These subjects touch on Ulrich's development.
The macabre apparition is very successful. The ghosts in Ambrose Ibsen's work are often described with lyrical accuracy. And that is also the case in 'Deep Night'. In the right way, the author gives the ghost a deeper meaning, making it a reference to dark thoughts (power) and nice thoughts (joyfulness) hidden inside someone. The descriptions always show the ghost in a terrifying and striking way.
This first part of the series focuses on asking for help. Both realistic and in a macabre fantastic way. Both together form a well-balanced whole, and I really enjoyed the latter way. Dark, terrifying and yet vulnerable. The poetic images with which this is described are great!
So 'Dark Side' is another successful book by Ambrose Ibsen because of the lyrical images and the different ways in which the theme is approached. It is also a great opening of this series of which I hope many more parts will follow.
January 31, 2022
The supernatural element of this is deliciously spoopy. The mystery part? Well, I guessed the killer's identity long before the end, just by paying attention to characterization and . Still, there was a little twist that I wasn't anticipating. :)
Disappointing mystery arc aside, the ghost stuff was great (lots of memorable imagery and suspense!). I also like that this detective is a cat dad and is kind of bumbling rather than a superman. Not a fan of the constant references to him eating. (Grossed me out and seemed unnecessary.) Not a fan of some silly stereotypical characterizations, especially of the artist. Huge chunks of Chapter 26, 27, and 28 (post-mystery) could have been cut outright with the remainder merged into one brief chapter. But overall, I enjoyed the story (finished it in one 24-hour period!), and Kyle Tait's narration was great.
Disappointing mystery arc aside, the ghost stuff was great (lots of memorable imagery and suspense!). I also like that this detective is a cat dad and is kind of bumbling rather than a superman. Not a fan of the constant references to him eating. (Grossed me out and seemed unnecessary.) Not a fan of some silly stereotypical characterizations, especially of the artist. Huge chunks of Chapter 26, 27, and 28 (post-mystery) could have been cut outright with the remainder merged into one brief chapter. But overall, I enjoyed the story (finished it in one 24-hour period!), and Kyle Tait's narration was great.
January 31, 2022
3.5 Stars 🌟
Another "new to me" author that I found as the Audible "Book of the Day". There is not too much to say about this other than it was a quick and easy listen. The narrator was not the greatest, but wasn't bad enough to truly bother me. The characters were EXTREMELY superficial. We really don't get to know much more about them than very surface level stuff.
There is a PI who has moved to a new city because he was experiencing TOO many cases that dealt with the supernatural where he used to live. Is that in another series? How does this happen?I would really enjoy knowing more about that.
Anyway, he gets a case - his first in the new town and guess what? Yep, it ends up having a supernatural spin to it.
He ends up cracking the case and wrapping everything up - piece of cake. Like I said, a quick and easy listen. Would I continue with this series? Hmmm, possibly. Like I said, I'm intrigued, but would like to have a bit more meat to the story......
Another "new to me" author that I found as the Audible "Book of the Day". There is not too much to say about this other than it was a quick and easy listen. The narrator was not the greatest, but wasn't bad enough to truly bother me. The characters were EXTREMELY superficial. We really don't get to know much more about them than very surface level stuff.
There is a PI who has moved to a new city because he was experiencing TOO many cases that dealt with the supernatural where he used to live. Is that in another series? How does this happen?I would really enjoy knowing more about that.
Anyway, he gets a case - his first in the new town and guess what? Yep, it ends up having a supernatural spin to it.
He ends up cracking the case and wrapping everything up - piece of cake. Like I said, a quick and easy listen. Would I continue with this series? Hmmm, possibly. Like I said, I'm intrigued, but would like to have a bit more meat to the story......
February 8, 2022
The premise is engaging, but the overall effect came across to me as amateurish. The client's first name is Nancy, but at least once, the narrator called her Nora. Harlan's character is not fleshed out well enough; why exactly did he leave Toledo, what is his romantic history, what does he look like other than tall with salt-and-pepper hair, etc. Also, why doesn't he behave rationally; for instance, even though he is desperate for cash (at his age, why is he living from hand to mouth), at one juncture he deliberately cheats himself of a payment that would have set him up for a few months of rent.
The reveal was too convenient and the spookiness of the atmosphere didn't live up to its hype.
The reveal was too convenient and the spookiness of the atmosphere didn't live up to its hype.
April 14, 2022
Mr. Ulrich is a private eye that just moved to a smaller town to get away from insane cases involving the supernatural. So it doesn't surprise him in the least that this type of work just seems to follow him.
Nancy has been dealing with taps on her window every midnight for three nights in a row. When the police won't do anything she hires the P.I.
He begins the case by staking out the place at midnight in hopes of catching the " prankster " in the act.
Only problem is: when the tapping starts, there is no one there...
Enjoyed the story but it leaned, for me, more towards mystery then horror.
Not necessarily a bad thing since I enjoyed it as a really good story, just mentioning the genres in case anyone is interested in that type of thing.
Nancy has been dealing with taps on her window every midnight for three nights in a row. When the police won't do anything she hires the P.I.
He begins the case by staking out the place at midnight in hopes of catching the " prankster " in the act.
Only problem is: when the tapping starts, there is no one there...
Enjoyed the story but it leaned, for me, more towards mystery then horror.
Not necessarily a bad thing since I enjoyed it as a really good story, just mentioning the genres in case anyone is interested in that type of thing.
May 23, 2019
Great!
I am an avid reader of Ambrose Ibsen because his books never disappoint, but I was a tad leary of reading this one because of the detective character. Generally, I get bored in books, regardless of genre, when we visit the detective point of view, but vector was Ambrose Ibsen, I have it the good old college try.
I could not put the book down. The story mixed paranormal elements with mystery and some intrigue. The book remained fast pace and let usual, had some great humorous elements. I'd say that when it comes to the detective pov, I stand corrected, because this book changed my mind. I am already looking forward to the next installment!!
I am an avid reader of Ambrose Ibsen because his books never disappoint, but I was a tad leary of reading this one because of the detective character. Generally, I get bored in books, regardless of genre, when we visit the detective point of view, but vector was Ambrose Ibsen, I have it the good old college try.
I could not put the book down. The story mixed paranormal elements with mystery and some intrigue. The book remained fast pace and let usual, had some great humorous elements. I'd say that when it comes to the detective pov, I stand corrected, because this book changed my mind. I am already looking forward to the next installment!!
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February 12, 2022To quote an old TV commercial, I can't believe I ate the whole thing. The description of the book made it sound like something I might enjoy, since I often like books where the supernatural coexists with the natural/physical world, so I gave it a chance. But I really didn't like the narrator, or rather the style of the narration; still, I wanted to give the story the benefit of the doubt: a good book can be poorly narrated. But to me, this is a bloated short story, expanded to a length under which it simply cannot stand. I'm not sure who will enjoy this book (obviously some people have, because it's received some positive reviews) and Your Mileage May Vary. But this one is NOT for me.
December 14, 2019
The narration by Kyle Tait was great, brings from the first pages, the emotion of fear, this woman has. Nancy wondered why after 20 years of living in this house, would this tapping be happening. PI Harlan is once again drawn to a case with the supernatural. Nancy is a pawn shop owner
and the painting she recently brought home, is there a connection. First I have read anything by this author and did enjoy. The audio was great, of which I got an ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
and the painting she recently brought home, is there a connection. First I have read anything by this author and did enjoy. The audio was great, of which I got an ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
January 6, 2023
I have recently read both Deep Night and Dressed in Smoke. Read them back to back.
As usual from Ambrose Ibsen, the writing is fantastic and his scene setting so descriptive, you are totally transported. Both stories were a departure from the 'haunted house' stories I have read from this author in the past, but who cares. His stories are imaginative, exciting, with enough scares to keep me coming back for more. If you haven't read any of Ambrose Ibsen's work, I suggest you do, especially if you love haunting genre.
As usual from Ambrose Ibsen, the writing is fantastic and his scene setting so descriptive, you are totally transported. Both stories were a departure from the 'haunted house' stories I have read from this author in the past, but who cares. His stories are imaginative, exciting, with enough scares to keep me coming back for more. If you haven't read any of Ambrose Ibsen's work, I suggest you do, especially if you love haunting genre.
February 8, 2023
I was hoping to like the book. I, however, found the book really dumb and boring. If Ulrich was a real private investigator, he would know how to do very basic database searches, know how to find properties belonging to certain individuals, and would act much more confident in his basic investigative knowledge. But since he is useless as an actual detective, he gets hauled around from one place to another by a ghost. Truth is, the story would have been better without the ghostly aspect. Instead, the book should have just focused on the ruined painting that then led to the murders.
May 11, 2023
This was interesting.
The killer was obvious pretty early on, but then as a reader you know to doubt the first information you're given.
I liked the tone, it wasn't too dark or too light, it was a good combination of the two.
I liked the...mechanics of the haunting? If that's the right way to say it, which it surely isn't.
The mix of a standard PI Detective novel and the detective just accepting that he's stumbled into another supernatural mystery was a nice mix. He's not completely ignoring it, but he's also not happy that it's happening.
The killer was obvious pretty early on, but then as a reader you know to doubt the first information you're given.
I liked the tone, it wasn't too dark or too light, it was a good combination of the two.
I liked the...mechanics of the haunting? If that's the right way to say it, which it surely isn't.
The mix of a standard PI Detective novel and the detective just accepting that he's stumbled into another supernatural mystery was a nice mix. He's not completely ignoring it, but he's also not happy that it's happening.
August 8, 2023
Hmmmm, not sure what to make of this one. Harlan Ulrich seems to find himself investigating cases that involve those who have moved on from this world - whether he wants to or not. I'm always a fan of a good ghost story but the main character, Harlen Ulrich, is rude and kind of stupid for a detective. What kind of private investigator doesn't have the tools or know how to do a simply property search or find someone's family member? I figured out the killer pretty early on in the story - it was pretty obvious. Doubt I'll continue with this series.
June 22, 2019
Love Harlan Ulrich! 😍
I'm giving this book 5 🌟 even though I figured out who the ghost and the killer was before Harlan did. He's a great character though and he always manages to surround himself with a wonderful supporting cast and a even a grumpy old cat named Beardsley. Not giving anything away so here's some advice to all readers out there just sit back and enjoy the world of PI Harlan Ulrich! You won't be sorry!
I'm giving this book 5 🌟 even though I figured out who the ghost and the killer was before Harlan did. He's a great character though and he always manages to surround himself with a wonderful supporting cast and a even a grumpy old cat named Beardsley. Not giving anything away so here's some advice to all readers out there just sit back and enjoy the world of PI Harlan Ulrich! You won't be sorry!
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