Ghosts of the Past

Wasteland Marshals #3

by Gail Z. Martin, Larry N. Martin

A creepy roadside attraction, a disappearing hotel, and a murder house. These are the things that US Marshals Shane Collins and Lucas Maddox find when they arrive in Ansted, WV, at the insistence of the Bedford coven of witches.

The local scholars have chosen the mysterious Mountain Cove Hotel as an archival site for the books and other materials that still remain after the Events. But something is very wrong.

Time moves differently there, and the songs of the genius loci are discordant, haunted, out of sync. Ghostly sentinels guard the ancient graveyards and beasts of legend roam the hills, but evil has still set its sights on the Mountain Cove Hotel.

Can Shane and Lucas cleanse the hotel of the malignant energy that has been building for generations? Will they be able to depend on the abilities they’ve gained from the spirits that reside inside themselves? Will the records of the past be secured for the future? These are questions Shane and Lucas never thought they’d have to answer…

Ghosts of the Past is the suspenseful third installment in the Wasteland Marshals series by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin, authors of Spells, Salt, & Steel and The Joe Magarac Chronicles.

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2020

About the author

Gail Z. Martin discovered her passion for science fiction, fantasy and ghost stories in elementary school. The first story she wroteat age fivewas about a vampire. Her favorite TV show as a preschooler was Dark Shadows. At age 14, she decided to become a writer.

She enjoys attending science fiction/fantasy conventions, Renaissance fairs and living history sites. She is married and has three children, a Maltese and a golden retriever.

Gail Z. Martin is also Morgan Brice, which is her pen name for urban fantasy MM paranormal romance.

In addition to the online sites listed below, you can find me on
Facebook.com/Groups/MartinShadowAlliance
Facebook.com/Groups/WorldsOfMorganBrice
Twitter: @GailZMartin and @MorganBriceAuthor
YouTube: YouTube.com/c/GailZMartinAuthor
IG: @MorganBriceAuthorGail & Larry newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj
Morgan Brice newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dy_8oL
BookBub for Morgan: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/morga...
Bookbub for Gail: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gail-...
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Morgan-Brice/e...?
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/...
Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail) www.Pinterest.com/Gzmartin

Reviews

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third novella of the Wasteland Marshals continues in the manner of the previous two. If you enjoyed the last two, the third will make you happy.

Shane and Lucas finally make it to the scholars after the last novella's life-changing alterations. They find much more than they bargained for with an inn that make Hotel California look like a healthy vacation choice. Can they solve the issues with this ghost-like property before the next problem, which they passed on the road, catches up to them?

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

EDITING COMMENTS: As a developmental editor, there were a couple-few things that bugged me and I would have tried to fix. Only read if you are thinking about becoming an editor.

1. Continues with the Smurfette syndrome I noticed in other novellas. Part of this is the two Main Character are male, but part of it is choices by the authors. For example - the four magic users in the battle outside the hotel. Only one was female. There were a couple other named females in this series - but none of the females ever interacted. And I think the ratio throughout was one female per three males. Second example is the bad guys and ghosts inside the hotel - okay, two females, but one was so faded a lamp could replace her without changing the story. If I edited this, I would ask for a 50-50 distribution of character genders outside of the two marshals.
2. Continues the SHOW AND TELL issue. Worst was toward the beginning of the book. For example before going to the Roadside Attraction they discuss ley lines, the history of the museum --- and then the host discusses ley lines and the history of the museum. Worse was Rocky saying the host may be able to sense the wolf and the spirit, then the host immediately going "I sense you both...". I would likely have hacked about half the first and second chapters down for the SHOW AND TELL issue.
3. On the other hand, I would want to beef up the back of the action. It is ACTION PACKED, but not as much emotion packed. I would have liked a little more emotional bleeding. Being a Novella, I understand the limits of space may have made that expansion not possible.

None of these issues make the book wrong. I just think tweeking them could make the book better. This is why I put it under spoilers - this is strictly developmental editing MY STYLE. What MY choices would have been if I had been editing the Martins on this manuscript. Someone else did the editing and they made different choices. Not right or wrong, just different.

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was aware that being a law enforcement officer is a tough gig; that’s why addictions, PTSD and divorces are so common in the profession. This novel puts the risks of the regular job in the shade. This is the third time that Shane and Lucas have prevented another apocalypse in a way that Schully and Mulder never had to. I am awed by how matter of fact Shane and Lucas are about putting their skins on the line and I can believe that any other law enforcement officer in the same situation would do the same. This messy, eerie story hits all the right buttons for a shivery thrill observing everyday heroes in action. Definitely worth the read!

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You really need to read the previous books before reading this one, they help give the background for Lucas and Shane.

A hotel that is unstuck in time, here and then not. A group of scholars want to use the hotel as a way to preserve knowledge, but first they need to discover the evil that is inhabiting their new home. Lucas and Shane have skills that might be able to assist in getting rid of the evil, but will their fledgling skills be enough against the unknown.

[Andrea Laws · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Wasteland Marshalls, the mythology blends so well with the distopian setting. Think a spaghetti western, Supernatural mix. Can be read individually but the characters develop so well as the series progresses that reading from the start would be advisable. Please say that there will be more!

[irv Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book to get and read.

You are taken on a journey that will involve many different twists like demons , ghosts, witches . They thought they could make a difference , the book is well done and keeps you wanting to read more.

[Ineken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely was my favourite of the series.