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The old campground in the mountains has a shrouded history wrapped in legend. Located by the mysterious mounds of a vanished people, it was once a popular summer destination for children, but closed long ago under tragic circumstances.

Josh and Allison Conner have moved out from the city, inspired to create a retreat for children in need, a place to build skills and character. They've brought their own children with them, and now they're hurrying to rebuild and update the old camp in time for their first opening day.

But something lurks in the wilderness around the old summer camp, something that strikes against the Conners' best efforts to revitalize it. They feel watched, then threatened, but after sinking their savings and their hopes into the place, they are unwilling to walk away.

Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan must sort history from legend to determine what haunts the camp and how to fight it, before it inflicts more harm on the well-meaning family attempting to bring life back to the remote abandoned campground.

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2020

255 people are currently reading
152 people want to read

About the author

J.L. Bryan

53 books1,035 followers
J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife and son. He is the author of the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper books and some other assorted novels like Inferno Park, The Unseen, Jenny Pox, and basically a lot of supernatural stories, some of it dark, some of it very dark, some of it less dark than that.

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5 stars
509 (64%)
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227 (28%)
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49 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Mlpmom (Book Reviewer).
3,197 reviews411 followers
October 19, 2020
It is no secret I adore this series and even thirteen books in, it just keeps getting better and better.

So without further ado, my top five reasons you need to pick this series up and read it:



1. You will have a spooky good time.

2. The places! I love how even the houses and woods surrounding Bryan's stories seem to come alive and have a life of their own.

3. Ghosts! There is nothing like a great ghost story that will have you turning on the lights and looking behind you constantly.

4. Fabulous writing. It is so easy to get drawn into his stories. He makes everything come to life and pop right off the pages.


5. Realistic, lovable characters.
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,236 reviews2,346 followers
March 16, 2021
The Trailwalker
(Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #13)
by J.L. Bryan
I really enjoy this series! This was excellent! A good spooky one with just two of the team out in the wilderness with a family. They wanted to rehab an old camp for kids. The father had went to the camp as a kid and loved it there.
There was something there that was waiting for them. More than one something too! It was a good and creepy story this time! Lots of suspense, clues, A really good ghostly mystery! I haven't gotten tired of these books yet!
Profile Image for Danielle Bush.
1,927 reviews24 followers
October 5, 2020
I love every single book in this series! I have already pre-ordered the next book due out september 2021..
Ellie and Stacy are travelling up into the mountains to an abandoned camp ground to meet their clients.. Strane things have been happening to the family and the wife in particular. She has hired Ellie and Stacy to try and figure out what is going on.. With a handful of mysterious deaths, and an old Indian Legend of the Trailwalker, there are no end to the possibilities of what could be the cause of all the spooky happenings.. but Ellie and Stacy are up to the challenge, and will do whatever they can to help the family and move the ghosts along..
If you love spooky, ghost stories I highly recommend this series.. Its one of my all time favorites and I look forward to every new release..
Profile Image for Laura Thomas.
1,552 reviews107 followers
November 3, 2023
I used to go camping all the time. Couldn’t wait to rough it and just escape from the rat race for awhile. And I can relate to being scared of what’s out there, lurking in the dark, just beyond the fire’s light. My friend and I were camping and telling scary stories one night. Just enough light from the fire to see each other’s faces. We heard a rustling in the bushes. Getting closer. Closer. And just when we thought about running, out popped her brother. Remembering that terror. How strong it felt. It made me so excited to read this book.

The series has a different setting for each book and a campground is what we get in these pages. An old one close to some unusual mounds. When Josh and Allison, along with their kids, decide to fix up and reopen the place, they have no idea how dangerous it is. What they will be disturbing.

The author does a great job of scaring me without having bloody mayhem all the time. But this time there’s a high body county. I feared for this family. They were so hopeful and now so helpless. Ellie and Stacy were hired to come help them and I feared for them too.

I loved this book. Even the research Ellie and Stacy did to find out what might be happening at the campground was fascinating. Made it seem so real to me. And the back and forth between the two of them always makes me laugh. Yin to yang, those two. As long as the author keeps writing this series, I’ll be there, waiting for more.

I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,699 reviews228 followers
March 15, 2023
Yes! Ellie is back (along with her perpetually upbeat sidekick, Stacy) and ready to make the world a safer place. Or, you know, at least put a few restless spirits to rest in this little slice of wilderness. Even though she's not real keen on roughing it. And the camp itself is pretty darn unwelcoming when Ellie and Stacy first get there.

No worries, though, Ellie is up for the job!

Things that stick in my head: Old summer camps that have been left to time and decay are inherently creepy unto themselves. Throw in a burial mound, a stone effigy, and that feeling that something is watching you from the surrounding woods and NO THANK YOU. (I mean that in the best way because it creeeeeps me out, man. Creeps.)

Beyond the campground itself, Ellie is kinda battling Josh's disbelief in all things ghostly. Which sucks because having someone think you're just in it to bilk people out of a few dollars when you're actually pretty awesome at putting angry spirits to rest isn't cool. But Ellie deals with Josh and she and Stacy do their thing to keep the family safe.

A ghostie or two, a creepy campground, a few supernatural run-ins....GOOD STUFF ALL AROUND.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,349 reviews172 followers
October 1, 2020
Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan and her assistant Stacy head deep into the mountains to a remote abandoned campground recently bought by a family. The wife claims there is something haunting the camp and the woods around it.

It doesn't take them long to figure out there is more than just ghost haunting the campground. Another great spooky mystery.
Profile Image for Finn.
127 reviews1 follower
November 2, 2020
Great addition to series

Another great read. Was a bit slow to start but once the action kicked in i couldnt put it down. Also I was really drawn in by the pre European elements.
Profile Image for Liliana.
996 reviews216 followers
October 31, 2020
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

In this installment of Ellie Jordan, we’re heading to a haunted camp! Very exciting! Especially because we don’t get too many cases set outdoors in this series, which is not a bad thing at all! But I really liked the change. Actually, the settings of every book are quite different from one another and I really appreciate that. But yeah! Haunted camp! 👻

“If it’s haunted, kids will be sensitive to that.”
“Which will kinda ruin camp for them. Or make it extra cool?”
“If there’s a dangerous entity involved, it would not be cool.”
“True,” Stacey said. “Kids do hate getting stalked and murdered in the woods.”


Omg I love Ellie and Stacey! 😂 Their relationship and bickering is one of my favorite things about this series. I just love how bubbly and quippy Stacey is and Ellie is just like *sigh* 😂 I love it! And great characters are always a good thing when you’re 10+ books into a series. Another character I love and was itching to have show up sooner than he did is Jacob! He is Stacey’s boyfriend but also a psychic that helps out the girls on cases. He’s also very funny and just an overall fun character. All the major characters in this series are great!

Supernatural I Love You GIF

As for the story itself, I loved it! I liked the setting and the mystery was very intriguing. As you can imagine in a haunted camp, there were deaths left and right and I was just super invested in unraveling the mystery. I’m usually more of an action person (that’s not to say this book wasn’t action-packed, because it was!), but man, I was SO absorbed into the mystery and research and discovering all the little secrets of the camp and the people who worked/went there. It was very intriguing stuff. So you know a book is great when it can make research interesting for me 😂 And speaking of research, I also really love Grant! Ellie seeks out his help when researching things on cases, and he is just a blast! I love every time he shows up, even if it’s only in a phone call.

Supernatural | You're awesome!

This was such a good read! Especially because this Fall I’ve been reading so many mediocre books in a row, it was nice to read a book I actually enjoyed. But then again, this is one of my favorite series 😉 I love the characters and the camaraderie between Ellie and Stacey. It had a cool setting, an intriguing story, and I really enjoyed unraveling the mystery along with the characters. Not gonna lie, the one thing I was little concerned about was the possibility of a Native burial ground. But now having finished the book, I think the subject matter was handled pretty well. The climax with the Trailwalker was incredible! It was just such a cool scene! And I really liked the ending and how things were explained. The Trailwalker itself was just a very intriguing being. It was very interesting to learn what they were doing in the camp and what became of them as the book started to wrap up. It was just a great book all around and I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series! 🖤
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,254 reviews186 followers
October 4, 2020
It can be hard to write a series, especially the 13th book, and still keep people interested. There are several series I’ve given up on halfway through the series, and very few I’ve continued to read as they get into double figures. The Ellie Jordan series is one of those.
Ellie and Stacey are like part of my extended family, I’ve been with them from the beginning and each new instalment means I get to read all about their next adventure, wondering what type of ghosts and hauntings I’ll get to read about.
The Trailwalker drew me in straight away, and over two nights I found myself falling into the story, only putting it down when I almost dropped my iPad on my face.

Upon entering the campground Ellie and Stacey are feeling uneasy, and the more they hear about what is happening the more they are worried about the family, and any future campers. They don’t hesitate to set things up and pretty soon get what they came for, ghost activity. But the more they investigate they realise there is more than one ghost on the grounds, and as the delve deeper into the camps history they worry about what terrifying ghosts are there, and if the campground will ever be safe.

“If there's a dangerous entity involved, it would not be cool.”
“True,” Stacey said. “Kids do hate getting stalked and murdered in the woods.”

The Trailwalker has got to be my favourite book in this series (pretty sure I say this for each new instalment) I loved discovering the history and secrets of the campground as Ellie and Stacey dig into the past, and present, uncovering buried secrets and slowly piecing them all together. I loved the little hints of a haunting, and how things change over the time of the investigation...I did fear for a few lives towards the end. The idea of campgrounds initially sounded interesting to me when I began reading, the friends you make, the activities, and the games, especially as it’s not really done over here, but would definitely hesitate now if I was invited to one.

The Trailwalker is an ideal read for October, and is the 13th (unlucky for some) book, which just adds to the spooky feel.
Profile Image for robyn.
955 reviews14 followers
October 16, 2020
This SHOULD have been a gimme; summer camp is a natural for ghost stories, whether as a setting for hearing them, or for experiencing them firsthand. The abandoned (built on native American religious grounds!) camp in this book has a lot of goose-bumpy potential, but possibly too much going on; I wish Bryan had concentrated on the more mundane ghosts of the dead campers, rather than throwing in a distracting and (eventually) deus ex machina Native American element.

What put me over was a particular scene where Ellie and several of the other characters find themselves in the water in a major storm, one violent enough to swamp their boats, while struggling with ghostly apparitions, and Ellie somehow has the impressive breath control to hold an entire paragraph-long conversation. While keeping her head above water in storm conditions. She also holds her breath for, I don't know, minutes, when pulled underwater.

I think that's a little lazy. I wouldn't call it out if it weren't so silly, and threats of the spiritual and physical variety in these books have usually been pretty convincingly presented.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jan.
229 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2022
It's been a while since I've read any of J.L. Bryan's gorgeous Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper books.
It didn't take 5 minutes for me to get back into the way he writes. Has anyone ever noticed that each author has their own way of writing, like a fingerprint almost?
Anyway, I was soon into the story and am so pleased that I have a Kindle Paperwhite because I have a poorly dog at the moment and it allows me to read on while I sit downstairs at 2am or 4am or both, whilst she settles down.
A Summer Camp for children sets the scene, with an ancient burial site that has been excavated in antiquity. Josh and his family have a very short time to make the camp ready to open but it seems there are spirits there, that think otherwise. Ellie and Stacey are called to 'get rid of them' but it goes a bit deeper than saying just a few words and placing a few gems around the site. The girls know they have their work cut out for them with this case and it's not made any easier by Josh their employer, who gives them the impression that he has no faith in them at all.
21 reviews
April 20, 2024
J.L. Bryan ups the chills in The Trailwalker, the thirteenth instalment in the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper series.

This time, Ellie ventures deep into the heart of a remote, legend-shrouded mountain campground – a setting guaranteed to send shivers down even the most seasoned ghost hunter's spine. The story skilfully taps into the inherent creepiness of abandoned summer camps (who doesn’t get the creeps when it comes to summer camps?!?) even while the new owners try to restore it, perfectly capturing the unsettling atmosphere and amping up the scares.

Fans who have loved the series' previous instalments will find themselves right at home with The Trailwalker. It delivers a satisfyingly creepy adventure, weaving together local folklore with a chilling ghost story.

If you're looking for a good scare and enjoy Ellie Jordan's ghost-busting exploits, The Trailwalker is a must-read!

PS: If my husband did what Josh did, to me… oh boy, would he be in the doghouse!!!"
Profile Image for Shirley .
1,944 reviews58 followers
October 19, 2020
Ellie and Stacy have their hands full in Trailwalker. It doesn’t take long for them to figure out that they are probably dealing with more than one ghost and maybe even something else? J.L. Bryan didn’t pull any punches in this one. Yikes!

Their investigation might have gone a little smoother if they didn’t have the added obstacle of Josh. He wasn’t exactly a believer and although he had agreed to have them come, it was more to prove to Allison that she was letting her imagination get away with her.

As usual, Stacy and Ellie had to use more than their paranormal tools to solve the mystery of who their ghosts were and why they were still hanging around. Their research revealed more than they bargained for and made things even more interesting.

I was happy to see some of my favorite characters make brief appearances, especially my favorite part-time historian. 😉 There was more than enough spookiness, outright terror and danger to keep the pages turning. There was even an unexpected alliance that took everyone by surprise. In other words, Trailwalker had everything I’ve come to expect from an Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper book and more. As usual, J.L. Bryan succeeded in making me walk away wanting more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of The Trailwalker. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Karel .
201 reviews3 followers
October 9, 2020
Another Amazing Read!

This new Ellie Jordan book was so different and well done!! I really wish the next one would come out sooner than September, 2021!! In this new adventure Ellie and Stacey have no idea what they were getting into. Their clients, Josh and Allison, have different ideas of what's going on. Josh is not being completely honest about what he knows and claims he's humoring his wife. Well there are definitely paranormal activities and things really are twisted. Will Ellie and Stacey solve the mystery before anyone is hurt? Read on!
339 reviews2 followers
January 19, 2021
Book 13

Ellie and Stacey go to an old "Summer Camp" a family is trying to revive at the request of the Mother. She has heard and felt ghostly things and is frightened for her children and herself. Her husband seems oblivious.
More than one ghost and definitely from more than one era are haunting the campsites. Annoying teens and a tunnel vision husband make The Ghost Teams jobs harder. Tragic campers deaths over the years and disturbed ancient burial mounds have the women fighting different ghosts for such different reasons.
Good read, all of JL Bryans books are.
Profile Image for Mender.
1,451 reviews14 followers
March 18, 2022
Really enjoyed this one. Stacy and Ellie investigating an old school camp that a couple has purchased to fix up and invite kids to get back to nature, just like the dad Josh did back when he was a kid, before the camp closed down.

The reason the camp closed down might be tied to a few pesky deaths, so our intrepid ghost hunters are on the case.

I liked the mysteries, and the pacing, and it all tied together nicely for me. Good times and looking forward to trying to finish this series before my ku membership runs out in a week.
Profile Image for Tonya OK.
537 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2021
This is the last instalment in the series so far (at least until September 2021) and I CAN’T wait for more. This series is one of the most underrated hidden gems out there. Consistently good writing, excellent humour, engaging story lines and enjoyable characters that develop throughout the series. I also admire the authors ability to keep me riveted and engaged for 13(!) books. I am totally addicted.
840 reviews
August 24, 2021
This was a good one. Lots of chills and spooky goings on. A variety of ghosts kept me guessing which one(s?) were the baddies. Sidekick Stacey wasn't as annoying as in other books which was a plus. Unfortunately, the gal's significant others played very minor roles. I like Michael and Jacob and wish they were more prominent characters. I'll be moving on to the next book soon. They are all great stories.
Profile Image for Lesley Hewitt.
832 reviews6 followers
October 7, 2020
Absolutely brilliant

A really great read, well worth five stars. Ellie and Stacey go to a camp ground that has been closed for many years. The new owners want to re-open it but some thing strange keeps happening there. Mysterious shadows, giggling and things that go bump in the night. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to read the next one.
53 reviews1 follower
October 31, 2020
Perfect Scary Read for Halloween

Every book is immersed in history and local details. It makes the read so interesting and believable. As usual, I could not put it down and am looing forward to the next and have pre-ordered it. I like the background of the series and how it builds on the next book in line.
Profile Image for Theresa Materazzi.
246 reviews6 followers
January 24, 2021
Quite the pair!

As always, these novels just grab me! I love the camp atmosphere for this one, reminiscent of 70-80’s ghost/horror movies. The best part of this one is the fantastic partnership that has grown between Ellie and Stacey! I am all caught up and can’t wait for the next!!
1 review
March 3, 2021
The Trailwalker

I loved this book! It reminded me of my days at camp.
Our intrepid duo is at it again using locations that are and aren't part of the world we know in daylight! Thrills and chills abound with a Camp bound ghost looking for new prey. And romantic rivals for Stacey's affections! Need a good book to keep you up at night? Look no further, and enjoy!
Profile Image for Fatimah Gunn.
156 reviews8 followers
December 13, 2021
Always A Guaranteed Great Read

I missed these amazing group of people! This series never ceases to bring the scare factor along with the historical components. This book has so many layers to it and it was so satisfying to finally see all the pieces come together. I really hope this series never ends!
Profile Image for Thompson615.
550 reviews5 followers
February 19, 2022
Excellent!

Ellie and Stacy go to investigate an old camp that the new owners are restoring and hoping to reopen. My favorite parts of this book centered on the ancient Native American history of the area. Yep, plenty of ghosts for Ellie to research and try to remove. I have loved this series and especially enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read what’s next!
Profile Image for Jo Anna Part.
73 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2020
Love 💘

I absolutely love this series I will continue to read the books as long as this author decides to write them! If you have not yet read this series, I would say you will not be disappointed!! Can not wait for more!!!!
195 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2020
As good as it gets

Not the most murderous story, but still a great read and a brilliant ending, with a nice surprising twist. Drawn back to his childhood days, with an unwilling wife, Josh and his family attempt to restore an old campground with an unknown history, and ghostly goings on. What is Josh keeping back?
Profile Image for Lacey.
1,490 reviews28 followers
October 16, 2020
So much to love about this newest Ellie Jordan ghost hunting story. Great backdrop for our story to take place in with lots of creepy happenings. There are some well thought out ghosts with believable backstories and the situations feel reasonable. Looking forward to the next one!
17 reviews
November 18, 2020
Off the trail

I have read every book in this series and i have loved them all, until now. I have to say that the writing was so much different in this book i almost put it down halfway through. I missed the interaction with Jacob. I was really disappointed.
Profile Image for Kim.
282 reviews14 followers
Read
November 23, 2020
Another really fun location, which is something I really love about the Ellie Jordan books. I felt like the ending was a little abrupt and things wrapped up very suddenly, but as always I enjoyed this quick and fun read.
Profile Image for Paranormal Books R Us.
461 reviews31 followers
December 18, 2020
The Trailwalker Review

Another excellent Ellie Jordan book! I'm not sure how Bryan continues to come up with such detailed and interesting ghost stories but he did an amazing job. Add to that his awesome characters and I couldn't put this one down. I can't wait to see what kind of ghosts Ellie and Stacey dig up next and in my opinion The Trailwalker is a spooky treat and definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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