Ghost Hunter's Daughter

by Dan Poblocki

A spooky stand-alone middle-grade novel from Dan Poblocki, perfect for fans of John Bellairs and Mary Downing Hahn.
"They say if you see him, it's already too late."

Claire doesn't believe in ghosts, even though her dad is a ghost hunter on TV. But then her dad disappears. And a strange boy in her class, Lucas, knows something about ghosts. One of them has a message for her: Her dad has been taken, and he's in grave danger.

Together, Claire and Lucas set out for the town of Hush Falls, where her dad was last seen. Legend says that a tall man in a dark tattered coat lurks near the local reservoir, and anyone who gets too close to old Lemuel Hush is never heard from again.

Claire and Lucas are determined to rescue her father. But how can they save him from the ghost of Hush when everyone knows that seeing the ghost means that you're destined to die...

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade, Paranormal, Mystery, Ghosts, Family, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Author of The Stone Child, The Nightmarys, The Ghost of Graylock, and the Mysterious Four series,The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe, and The Book of Bad Things.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Holiday is the Ghost Hunter’s Daughter. She is not crazy about the title, but her father is on television and does seek out and banish ghosts. Lucas Kent lives with his grandmother Irene who communicates with spirits. While Miles Holiday terrorizes ghosts and banished them, Miss Irene delivers messages for them. Apparently Lucas has inherited her gift. When Lucas gets his first unearthly visitor, it is Claire’s mother. She is frantic to save her husband. A chance visit from a ghost leads the two children to leave home on a mission. The ghost they are seeking is not benign and the dying town is depressing. Dolly, a resident about their age, helps them. A bit scary, a bit heart breaking, this quest is filled with surprises and unexpected twists. The book is an entertaining read and perfect for introducing young readers to the horror genre.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly think I liked this more than the Shadow House series. As someone who LOVES ghost hunting shows, I'm always fascinated about the world behind them, whether they are real or not, and if so, how real and how fabricated. This was a short, sweet little spooky romp just perfect for right before Halloween!

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t wild about this book. The beginning felt stiff and paced funny, none of the relationships or characters felt…real… and the ending went by way too fast compared to the rest of the book. It turned out surprisingly sad at the end, but even that didn’t feel resolved and not in a “you can’t resolve this kind of thing” way. It felt like it ended too fast. Probably not something I would buy for my classroom library.

[Chelsea Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think there will ever be a Dan Poblocki book I don't like. This is the first book in all my 28 years that I preordered and the absolute glee that I felt when it arrived was indescribable. If you like spooky books and if you're a kid (or a kid at heart like me), you'll like this. Trust me.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really good ghost story from Dan Poblocki. I really loved the story and the characters. Claire and Lucas are great main characters. I mistrusted Dolly at first but came to like her too. Especially since she is named after Dolly Parton. Who doesn't love Dolly Parton?

The story was just spooky enough and not too scary that some kids might have a problem. Just imagine the white orb surrounding you and keeping you safe. That's good advice for many things.

One thing that kind of put me off. For so long I've read juvenile fiction books where the authors called the parents and other adults by their married names, for example, Mrs. Jones or Mr. Johnson. I always thought that was too formal for me. In this book the author called the adults by their first names and it sounded weird to me. So I don't know how I feel about which way it should be. Maybe I just need to read more books like this.

I can't wait to see what next spooky tale this author has in store for us.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Poblocki’s books always bring me back to that mystical time growing up where my friends and I would seek out the ghost story. We would explore the old barn with a perfect outline of the Jersey Devil created in a broken window. Creeping around the barn investigating and hoping not to get caught. We would explore the old cemetery containing a headstone with a pentagram and another close by that seemed to have the word evil etched in the headstone. All of Dan Poblocki’s books bring back these great memories and feelings. The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter is a great addition to his collection of novels. I am happy my kids have the chance to read these great novels and I get to share a little of my childhood adventures with them while reading.

[SUZANNE TASSITANO · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter was perfect for my daughter and my spooky season bedtime routine. It’s the perfect mix of scary, sad, and suspenseful, with twists that kept us both hooked. It is a great introduction to spooky stories for young readers. We’re excited to dive into the Shadow House series next by this author.

[Madisyn Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

It leaves you on so many cliff hangers so you continue reading and reading

[preppy lorax · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a spooky book lots of details!

[Jennifer Gallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"They say if you see him, it's already too late."

I remember being obsessed with Ghost Hunters back when the show started in 2004 as I love all things paranormal. So when I saw the synopsis of Poblacki’s new book following the daughter of a famous tv ghost hunter, I was hooked.

Claire lost her mother suddenly and has been trying to find out if she is still with her, spiritually, but when the book opens, Claire has not received any messages from her so maybe Claire isn’t as sensitive as she would like, considering her father’s profession. She regularly meets up with her friends Norma, Francine, Mikey, and Whit after school to tell ghost stories and try to find their own evidence that ghosts exist.

Before they can start their next ghost hunt, Claire notices that she is being followed by a kid named Lucas whose Aunt LIzzie is known for being able to communicate with the dead, supposedly. Claire isn’t sure she believes it until Lucas tells her that her father is in trouble (he’s away on a ghost hunting adventure) and that the message to save her dad is coming from her mom. At first, Claire doesn't believe Lucas, but then she tries to contact her dad, and he doesn’t answer. He’s missing.

Claire enlists Lucas for his help, and they run away to take the bus to find her dead, with Claire’s mother following along through Lucas who has inherited his family’s “gift”. But Claire’s mom can only go so far as the outskirts of Hush Falls where Claire’s dad could be is filled with spirits, both good and evil, following a historic flood. Together, Claire and Lucas have to find and save Claire’s father before it’s too late.

Set for publication on July 7, 2020, Poblocki takes readers on a wild ghost ride with many twists and turns. Perfect for those young ghost hunters who love to read about action and adventure within the horror genre. Scary but not gory--enough to make you leave the night light one for at least one night!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucas is the creepy kid at school because his grandmother can see ghosts. Conversely, Claire has an in with the cool kids because her dad is a Crossing Over/John Edwards-style ghost whisperer on TV. Their lives intersect when Lucas himself realizes he has his grandmother's talent and his first ghostly visitor is Claire's late mother with an ominous warning for her family.

I love a good ghost book and this had some creepy moments but it didn't quite all hang together for me. I wanted there to be more of a resolution to the rift between Lucas's grandmother and Miles, Claire's dad. Claire and her dad's relationship doesn't feel very well-developed and I'd have loved to see more with Lucas and his grandmother as he's developing abilities. There's also references to the characters dealing with aftermath from some natural do disaster event--, tsunamis or flooding (possibly from climate change?) that is just a thing in the background that we don't get much explanation about. I leave a lot of books feeling--"this really needed to be edited down" and with this one it was almost the opposite. It had the feeling of something that had been trimmed down in such a way that the connective tissue also got lost in the process.

I like the idea so much; I just wish more could have been done with it.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this with my 11 year old. Neither of us found this to be scary or suspenseful. We were hoping for a good ghost hunting book, but there wasn't a lot of interaction with the ghosts. The characters were fine, it was the plot that was lacking in the end.

The ending was very sad, and didn't really add to the story. Then there was not a lot of info about how things were going for Claire after the loss of her father. No real closure for the character.

[Arkrayder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to my nine year old daughter and she loved it and I must admit I liked it too. I was surprised with the ending and poor sap that I am found it sad. It brought up memories of my dad and how much I miss him.

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The newest scary book from my favorite scary author....

Claire's dad is a famous ghost hunter with his own TV show! He hunts ghosts to get rid of them.

Lucas's grandma (who he lives with) can talk to ghosts when they come and knock on their door. She wants to help them deliver a message to ones left behind. Lucas has inherited the same gift.

When Claire's deceased mom visits Lucas and tells him Claire's dad is in danger and they must go help him, he really doesn't want to go on this journey, but the ghost won't leave him alone until he does. Claire and Lucas set off for Hush Falls Holler looking for her dad. There they encounter another girl, Dolly who lost her mom last year to the ghost of Lemuel Hush. As they dive deeper into the mystery they encounter more and more danger and they question becomes if any of them will survive!

Great book for a read aloud with themes of family, looking past first appearances, helping others, and of course supernatural. :)

[Vanessa Safavi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Claire doesn't believe ghosts, but when her famous TV ghost hunter father vanishes, she is forced to believe they are real. A spirit-sensitive classmate named Lucas receives a desperate message from Claire's mother, wearing them that her father is in danger. Together, Claire and Lucas travel to the town of Hush Falls.Where her father was last seen. They must confront a local legend about a vengeful ghost who never lets anyone who sees him get away. The fast-paced supernatural mystery follows Claire and Lucas as they navigate their own insecurities and walk together to rescue her father.
I think this book was interesting and creative. I like how the author was very descriptive with like setting of the book. Though, I didn't like how they just talked about one topic to the next and that got confusing. Also they were parts that just kept repeating. It was a okay book I don't really recommend it. It was kind of boring.

[Dakota Glaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ghost Hunter's Daughter"

Rating: 3 stars

This was a very fast-paced book, and due to that, I had finished it within the span of 1 day. I liked it but I didn't love it. I feel like this book could have been phenomenal if there was a tiny bit more detail in it, making it a little bit longer. The ending kind of made me get a bit teary-eyed, but that was it. This was a pretty relaxing calm books that I didn't really feel the need to have to force myself through which makes me feel less stressed. This book is also amazing if you need to get through a book to complete your reading goal but you need it to be quick. In the end it was very fast paced and it had a good plot so it was good just not my type of book.

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire hates being called the Ghost Hunter's daughter. But that's the price you pay when your dad has a popular show in which he seeks out ghosts and sends them on their way. But then, her father disappears. And a classmate--Lucas, who lives with his "witch" grandmother has a message for her from her dead mother. Her father is in mortal danger and needs her help. The adults in both Lucas and Claire's lives don't want the kids getting involved, but they take matters into their own hands and head for the very haunted town of Hush Falls, where the Ghost Hunter disappeared. I think this one has a lot of appeal for younger middle graders. They will probably find it very spooky and engaging.

[J.L. DuRona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not bad, nor good. It falls solidly in the "just okay" category for me. I liked the characters and the premise, but it felt rushed overall and underdeveloped. The oddest thing is how much lore it sets up with no payoff. The semi-post apocalyptic elements seemed only to exist as an excuse to make cell phones useless. The stalker character was introduced too late and did nothing, making him completely pointless. It either needed to be longer, or part of a series. Worth reading, but ultimately left me neutral.

[kendall walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It definitely wasn’t a horror or scary book. It was mostly just a mystery or fantasy. The idea was eh but I really enjoyed this.

Lucas has a rare ability to talk to ghosts. The ghost of a concerned mother visits him saying he has to help her husband. She believes he is in great danger. Her husband is a well known ghost hunter who recently visited a town believed to be haunted. When he goes missing Lucas starts to wonder if he needs to help…

This book is pretty good and I recommend!

[Teresa Grabs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Poblocki! When Claire's father, a renowned ghost hunter, goes missing, her deceased mother contacts Lucas for help. Claire is a skeptic who dislikes being the ghost hunter's daughter and definitely doesn't like Lucas, but together, they must travel to Hush Falls and save the ghost hunter, the town, and themselves from the clutches of Lemuel Hush. Racing from start to finish, this book is a must-have for any young paranormal fan.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a middle school ELA teacher. I wanted to read this book before I put it in my classroom library. I would highly recommend this to my students, especially those who like scary tales. I liked it and the only reason I gave it four starts is because it is written for middle schoolers. Sometimes when I read children's fiction I lose myself in the story and forget I was not the audience. While I enjoyed the story, I was keenly aware it was for kids.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for 4th grade and up (depending on their reading level) for kids who like horror and suspense. I like horror and ghost suspense books but adult books give me bad dreams that make me talk in my sleep, cursing at the devil. Young adult / kids scary books are fun and not much to them. This had a good ghost story with supernatural powers too.

[Zona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire absolutely does not believe in ghosts and she’s rather embarrassed because her father is the host of a popular ghost hunting TV show. I recommend this book to readers who will enjoy creepy thrillers.Although the end of the story was quite sad, people will want to read more even after finishing the book.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like a good ghost story and this one is pretty sinister with plenty of people being dragged into a
haunted reservoir.
Claire's dad is a famous ghost hunter who goes missing. A kid at her school sees ghosts. Together
they skip school to find Claire's dad before it's too late.....

[Reba · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced ghost story with lots of spookiness, and a few twists along the way. It's more of a 2.5 than 3, and that rating reflects solely on me as a reader. Middle-grade isn't my strongest area, and I'm rating this for me, not for the middle schoolers who might read it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire is the daughter of a celebrity -- the Ghost Hunter. Her friend Lucas is the grandson of a ghost "whisperer." When the Ghost Hunter goes missing, it is Lucas who tells Claire and offers to help. This spooky, supernatural mystery will have you on the edge of your seat!

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great title and cover...it took me a while to get into this book, but I enjoyed the second half and really liked the ending.

Good for kids in 3rd grade and up looking for spooky stories - if they like this one, give them Victoria Schwab's City of Ghosts, which will knock their socks off.

[Michael Linton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this along with my 9-year-old daughter. Neither of us enjoyed it. It really picked up in the last 80 pages or so. But it's a bit confusing because ghosts are real and seem to interact with the alive as the ghosts are alive. I guess you have to have read a lot of ghosts books to "get it."

[Lindsay McDella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute middle grade read. I started this with my kids and then got impatient and finished it in a sitting on my own after they went to sleep. I did not expect it to be so sad, I did feel a bit heartbroken at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed the writing in this book!

[Alexandria Baxa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teach 4th grade and a student asked me to read this because she loved it so much! I love reading books they recommend. It was so good! A little scary for 8-12 year olds as the book states-but a good intro to thrillers & a scarier genre!