Soul Search

A Zackie Story #1

by Reyna Favis, Eleanor Caudill (narrator)

What if everything you knew about the afterlife was wrong?
Welcome to Fia's world.

Fia hates the dead. With bleeding wounds and broken bodies, the spirits infect her with the anguish of their last living moments. Thrust into adult life after a childhood spent in an institution, the assaults escalate and the world thinks she owns the deluxe edition of crazy. Fia needs a dead-free zone if she's going to learn how to cope with life among the living. Convinced that the woods are empty and safe, she signs on with a wilderness search and rescue team.

Bad assumption. Big mistake. There is no relief from the demanding dead.

When Fia witnesses a Psychopomp leading a dead boy through a portal to the afterlife, she is frantic to learn the secret of how to free herself from the dead. Can she overcome her necrophobia and serve the Guide of Souls?

For listeners enjoy a riveting tale with surprises at every turn. Soul Search will keep you listening till the end.

The first novel of the ZACKIE STORIES.

Genres: Paranormal

Audiobook

First published September 28, 2016

About the author

REYNA FAVIS is an Amazon Bestselling Author. She gleefully writes tales of supernatural suspense while dust gathers on the vacuum cleaner. Readers have praised her novels for the very human stories behind the hauntings that create unexpected plot twists, drama, and even moments of humor. Reyna served as a K9 handler and ground pounder for search and rescue for over 10 years. She was frequently found on her belly as she was dragged through the woods by a search dog. If you do not enjoy walks in the woods, she invites you to connect with her on Facebook. Reyna has a Ph.D. in biology and was one lab accident away from becoming a supervillain before she took up writing. She lives as an unapologetic introvert with her husband, dogs, and cats in New Jersey.

Reviews

[Stuart Ashenbrenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and more on ASH REVIEWS

When I picked up this book, I had no idea what I was about to read. I didn't know if it was a thriller, a suspense novel, sci-fi, or whatever in between. Turns out, it was all of them.

Soul Search is a captivating read that has to deal with Fia Saunders, her friend Cam Ramsey, and last but definitely not least, his dog Zackie, the psychopomp (a spirit that leads the dead into the afterlife. I didn't know this before this book). They all see dead people. When they meet up with a producer of a ghost-hunting paranormal television show, they team up to fight the dead once and for all.

I have found many books that revolve around the paranormal are almost too far out there. Meaning, they feel so paranormal, that it is literally unbelievable. I did not feel that with this novel. Although one of the protagonists is a dog, they way the author is able to add immense description and knowledge into the plot allowed me to be fully immersed in the story.

There were some parts, however, that did go too far over my head. This may be that I am not overly versed in the paranormal life, but as I think this books should be read by all, because it is fantastic, there were parts that seemed a little too technically termed.

Overall, this book has a little bit of everything: suspense, action, mystery, and thrilling adventure. This book is a well crafted piece of work, and I can only imagine future books in the series will continue to get better and better.

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Details:

Title: Soul Search

Author: Reyna Favis

Series: A Zackie Story (#1)

Pages: 440 (Paperback)

ISBN: 1530380715

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Release Date: October 6, 2016

Ash Reviews Rating: 7/10

Ash Reviews Audiobook Rating: N/A

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[JimMigut27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Search: A Zackie Story is a fantastic story that can be enjoyed by an audience that loves both sci-fi and non fiction books alike.
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Without giving anything away, some of the brilliance in Soul Search is that it is SCI-FI story written in a way which makes it feel governed by reality. Another great aspect of the story is how this fictional tale ties into real life events, locations, and Search and Rescue methods. Reyna Favis is one of the few authors I've read that manage to tie historic events to fiction without making it feel forced or gimmicky.

The Characters and their development throughout the story are great, the plot is unique, and the twists happen at all the right times (and in directions I never expected)!

When I read, I read with a highlighter and mark the parts of a book that connect with me. My copy of Soul Search is well highlighted & and I can't wait for the next addition to this series!

[Allyson Abu-Hajar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author.

Fia Saunders has a gift, but not one she wants. Because of this gift, Fia has suffered with her parents seeking the help of psychiatrists and medications. The dead are trying to communicate with Fia, but she wants no part with them.

During a search and rescue practice, Fia tries to outrun then scare off a ghost boy, who is trying to reach for her hand, when a man with a dog appear, and the ghost boy takes off after them. Fearing for the man, Fia takes off in search of him. Only to find out, the man can make the ghosts disappear.

A call comes in about a lost child, and Fia finds herself paired in a group with the man and dog. Cam Ramsey and his dog, Zackie. Cam's opinion of Fia is not a good one, but after witnessing her interaction with the lost child they were looking for, he realizes that Fia is in the dark about her abilities.

Fia comes to learn, that Zackie has a talent. Zackie is a pychopomp, she leads the dead to the afterlife. Soon, Fia finds herself an apprentice under Cam. On their first lesson, Fia is tasked with reading a ghost bride and is pleasantly surprised. Suddenly, ghost hunters fly out the church doors yelling and carrying on. When Zackie leads Cam and Fia to a nearby cemetery, and to their surprise find they are caught on camera by one of the ghost hunters, Lucas Tremaine. Lucas is a skeptic, but always on the look out for a story to sell.

When Fia's landlord returns home, shaken and tells her a story involving a home that is under renovations, Fia exclaims that she knows of someone that may be able to help. Enlisting the help from Cam and Zackie, it is learned that Lucas has been invited to investigate. There will be many obstacles, to overcome, with Cam learning from Fia, and accidentally uncovering the main reason for Lucas to chase ghost stories.

Great book!

[Rox Burkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Search is a good story of thrills and suspense in book 1 of the series. Author Reyna Favis creates a creative world with a believable foundation. Reyna pairs the amazing Zackie, a dog who detects spirits lingering amid the living, with a strong character in Fia, who doesn’t fully comprehend her ability to sense the dead. There are surprises at every turn from both living and dead.

Fia and Cam, Zackie’s handler, do not initially like one another. Together this threesome works to search and rescue living people, yet they keep encountering souls who need a different kind of saving. As the story progresses, Cam provides Fia an understanding of her connections to the unliving beings.

The character development is spot on, as is the intermixing of the separate vignettes that allow Fia to understand her powers. Fia is a young girl who left her adoptive parents when they tried to reconcile her behavior with medications. Fia works to earn her way and give back to her community, making her an endearing character. The journey of Fia as she matures and learns to trust is helped by working with Cam and Zackie. Trust is a difficult concept for Fia to accept.

This fast-moving story contains realistic elements and history, making this believable. The mixture of life lessons is skillfully woven throughout the story, making it thought-provoking long after it ends. It is enjoyable suspense that kept me engaged.

The narration by Eleanor Caudill is excellent in her pace and modulation in her narration. Indeed a voice-actor, Eleanor maintains the different voices of all characters expertly from start to finish. There are no issues with the quality of this audible.

Soul Search is a great start to the series. I look forward to more Zackie stories. Listeners who enjoy tales of supernatural, thrills, ghosts, and suspense will love this book and the series.

[Michael Daigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fia Saunders sees dead people, and sometimes fights with them. The condition led to years of therapy. Then she meets Cam Ramsey and his dog Zackie. Cam also sees dead people, but doesn't fight with them. And Zackie, well, Zackie is a psychopomp, a spirit that leads the dead into the afterlife. In SOUL SEARCH, this trio teams up with Lucas Tremaine, a TV producer of ghost-hunting shows, and together they chase spirits and their stories across time and several states. Under Cam's tutelage, Fia learns to channel her powers and begin to see spirits not as things, but as lost people, trying to transition into death. The lessons for Lucas are to understand that the sprit world is real and not just a made-for-TV profit center. Lucas' lesson becomes real as his wife Hannah faces death from cancer.
The story is lively, exciting, at times terrifying and though-provoking. For those new to the paranormal writing world, it is a fun and imaginative introduction.

[Eric Danzeisen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly captivating and enjoyable read, and I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next one in the series. Reyna unfolds the plot in a way that constantly keeps the reader wondering what is going to happen next, with of the surreal and interesting adventures of the main character, Fia.
The coolest thing about this book though, is that it makes the reader think about deeper themes that are hidden below the surface of the plot and characters. What is the difference between being clinically insane and being a genius? Who gets to define what is real and what is imagined?
Also, as a lifelong fan of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, I can say that this books stands out to me in how it feels duly surreal and real. I think Reyna does a brilliant job of making the story unearthly and bizarre, but in a way that still keeps the reader feeling a visceral connection to the characters. I cannot wait to read everything else that she puts out in the future!

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hit the ground running here with someone trying to escape the ghost of a small boy, a spirit determined to do damage. The story revolves around Fia, who sees dead people and is with something like Mountain Rescue, working in the woods. There’s a good deal of technical detail about these rescues which is interesting in itself, but the main theme is how Fia, tutored by Cam, comes to terms with the spirit world and her responsibilities towards the people she sees. It feels a bit episodic at first but the plot is neatly drawn together into one investigation, and with its resolution we’re set up for the series. I normally read in 10% chunks but I’m ready to be carried away by any one book – this was indeed a book that carried me away.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me interested right from the beginning. I will look forward to more from the author. it is well written with a unique and interesting story line.

[Two Bluestockings Podcast & · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reyna Favis plunges us into the mind of our narrator, Fia, as she flees from a seven-year-old ghost boy. Just as she is about to make her escape, the ghost boy grabs her hand. Trying not to cause alarm in the man with her—who can’t see the boy—Fia tries to shake him off. When the boy refuses to let go, she attempts to blast him with her mental powers. Enter Zackie, a psychopomp who has taken the shape of a search dog. (Don’t know what a psychopomp is? I didn’t either. It’s a mythical creature who ferries the dead to the next life.) **Spoiler alert, psychopomps don’t like it when you fight their babies.**
Favis is laying the groundwork for a series in this book. Her characters are fleshed out well, so you don’t feel like they’re lacking. However, there are allusions to pasts that aren’t fully revealed. Fia doesn’t know who her parents are, and her foster parents assumed her visions of ghosts were symptoms of schizophrenia. Cam, the British man who “handles” (I use that term very loosely.) Zackie is mentioned as the first male in his family to possess the qualities of a sibyl. Zackie has a long history, stretching back centuries, mingled with the folklore of the Appalachian mountain people. Lucas, the star of a tv show about ghosts, also has unfinished details that make me think he could show up in the next book. The main story, the cleansing of a house where a gory murder spree took place, loops around to other events and two other sibyls (Parmelia and Bodean). These two will most likely make a reappearance as well.
Now to the gritty rating part. We’ll start with the narrator. Favis sent me a copy of the audiobook, and I had to give the narrator top marks, which I rarely do. Eleanor Caudill speaks clearly, which is essential. Her accents are probably not perfect—the one she used for Cam made me chuckle a little, but if I grant her the same courtesy as I granted Favis and see her as an extension of Fia, she fits. It’s exactly what Fia would sound like if she tried to imitate Cam for us. So, this audiobook was perfectly cast.
I have to give Favis five stars for her character development. As I said before, she manages to provide a great deal of detail about each character without being overwhelming. While Fia can come across as an almost coarse, devil-may-care type of character, Favis makes us sympathize with her since her fear of the dead is a result of her childhood in mental hospitals—which overflow with desperate dead people. Fia feels real because her reactions to ghosts—whether you believe in them or not—are the same as ours would be. (If a homeless spirit grasps your ankle, you don’t ask what peace he’s seeking, you kick at him and run away.) Cam’s character comes across as a bit snobby, but he develops into a very layered character who prefers to keep a cold exterior. It’s safer. It keeps people at arm’s length. Lucas’s character developed most of all, from the punky star of a show to a desperate man trying to save his dying wife. These developments take place through conversations and through Fia’s realization that people don’t always match her perceptions of them.
I also have to give Favis five stars for story intricacy. Even though I preferred not to deviate away from the house cleansing—because a three-year-old ghost girl with a bashed-in head chasing construction workers is more than terrifying—I did realize the importance of setting up the rest of the series. Favis grounded her story in her experience training search and rescue dogs, so the storyline (minus the ghost part) is very realistic. When you read the details of being cold and hungry, scrambling through bushes, following a dog, you can tell that Favis has done those things.
One of my biggest pet peeves in action-packed books is the continuity issues where suddenly they find a flashlight the minute they need one, or somebody suddenly stumbles across a clue that nobody would’ve possibly noticed. (What is it with the dumb guy always accidentally finding the answer?) Favis had none of those issues. Fia and Cam work for SAR. They carry the compasses, the flashlights, the radios, the snacks, and anything else they might need. It turns out the equipment used to find living people works just as well when hunting dead people.

Ratings

• Sexual Content—1 of 5: Characters discuss a case of a child being molested. Otherwise, there was very little sexual content.

• Violence—5 of 5: There were several cases of violence, which should be expected since ghosts tend to hang around scenes of traumatic experiences.

• Language—3 of 5: There were a few words, but not an overwhelming amount. (I might have even said a few of the words myself…like when that dead boy grabbed her hand. Favis wrote it in first-person, so I imagined cold fingers touching my hands for the rest of the day.)

• Thematic Elements—5 of 5: There were many thematic elements.

• Overall—5 Stars. This book is an excellent example of why I read books from new authors. Sometimes you find an incredible book that sends you scrambling to buy the rest of the series. (Side note: The fourth Zackie book comes out next year, so I went and bought the others to make sure I’m fully caught up when the new one comes out.) I will read Soul Search again while I’m at it.

The beauty of this book is that it moves at breakneck speed. Usually, that means details fall through the cracks, and characters are shadows instead of flesh and bone. Not in this case. Favis handled each detail brilliantly.
I want to say so much more and talk about all of the details that made this book truly amazing, but, if I tell you, it will ruin the element of surprise. Let’s just say that I’ve read many ghost stories, and Favis still managed to surprise me. Maybe later in 2021, we can do a full episode on this book complete with spoilers. Until then, read it yourself and meet me back here, so we can talk about it.

**Jayna Gerhart reviewed this book for the Two Bluestockings Podcast, which is available on most major platforms.**

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well when the reviews said Fia was a mess they sure were not kidding! At first read she seems to be rather narcissistic and has no idea of what or whom she is/does. Then she meets up with Clem who sees the 'ghosts' she sees but in a way different perspective and along with Clem is Zackie who is a dog but not really a dog. Zackie is a presence unto herself who takes her job of helping along the spirits very seriously so when Fia fumbles around and disturbs them she is on Zackie's bad list and no one wants to be on that. Throw in a few mysteries and Lucas whom Fia 'lusts for' re his dying wife and you have quite the read!

[Joseph K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great books include dogs

And this is one of those. The dog is awesome, the supporting humans did well too keeping up as best they could. There was an interesting story, lots of action, some adventure, and a case of not sticking your hand where it really shouldn’t go. I recommend this book and am glad it is part of a series.

[Shonna L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, a bit off track, well written

A bit different from the usual paranormal stories you find, which is what first caught my interest. Well written book, I didn't have to spend my time "autocorrecting" poor spelling, grammer, etc... lol.. I'm already starting the 2nd book, can't wait to see how the story & characters "flesh out".

[Dayna Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great surprise

Soul search is a pleasure to read. Well written characters, exceptional story line and very engaging. I am looking forward to reading the second book.

[Crystal Fenerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book

I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I read I straight trough in one sitting. I just could not put it down.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!Fia has been battling the undead her whole life.They notice her,notice them and they swarm her.One day she sees someone who treats a spirit nicely.What the heck?! Then she sees Zackie,an otherworldly dog,help the spirit leave his past life.I really liked this book and hope to get to the rest of the series soon. Eleanor Caudill was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Elizabeth R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short version: Enjoyable and unusual first novel, by a trained scientist engaging in empathetic speculative fiction/mystery.

Expanded version: I'd been meaning to read the Zackie stories for some time, because while I generally avoid self-published fiction, now and then there are some treasures to be found! I had encountered such before, and suspected that Dr. Favis' books would be worth the risk …

… and I was right. I finally got them both via Kindle special offers last winter, and read this, the first one, as late spring turned into steamy summer. “Enjoyed” is too pleasant a word for how I appreciated the character introductions – there are no “Mary Sues” in this book! (A “Mary Sue” – or “Gary Stu” – is the dreamily perfect – and perfectly annoying – main character that many people naturally create when taking up fiction.)

Fia has what may seem like a dramatic set of “issues” when we first meet her – but as it happens I know people with similar challenges and likely you do too. She's unique, but not unbelievably so. We are drawn along through mostly very well described challenges and events, including the, ah, rocky start to her relationships with Zackie and Cam.

I don't read much paranormal fiction any more, or ghost stories, or stuff in that field, so this was a trip down roads I haven't been on for a while. Maybe because Dr. Favis writes in a realistic style, it was easy to suspend disbelief (or, if you believe in ghosts, you might not even have to do that).

One of the things I like about some contemporary fiction, including the Zackie stories, is they can be set in the real world, whether familiar territory or interestingly educational, or both.

I'm a distracted reader nowadays, so the details don't stay with me after a first reading as much as I'd like, and so not only do I want to reread this as well as go on to Soul Scent, but I would also one day like to get autographed hard copies. There's a lot to be said for being able to flip through a physical book to refer back to scenes, quotes, and events.

What I'm trying to say is that, while this book has a handful of red-pencil questions which might have been avoided via more rigorous editing, they are only minor distractions, and the characters and story stand strong amidst today's oceans of fiction, and will probably linger with you as they did for me.

Disclaimer: I was also given a free ebook version to review, but by then I had already purchased my copies. Even so.

[Michael Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

very intense

Great read with lots of action and emotional connection. Caught me by surprise. Ready for the next book in the series 😍😍😍

[Joy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, with well developed characters

I had a hard time putting this book down and finished it in one day. Nicely written. Kept me engaged while weaving dog search and rescue stories with tales of murder and giving the dead victims peace. Two of the characters in the book can see and talk to the dead, and the supposed search and rescue dog, Zackie, is an entity who can transport souls from this world to the next. I look forward to reading more.
I especially liked the history she gave of the events and places she skillfully wove into her novel.
For those who appreciate paranormal stories, I can highly recommend this book and this talented author!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very riveting book with Fia trying to keep her head above water doing several jobs during the day, but the job she excels at most is her volunteer job as a S.A.R. [Search and Rescue] member. It's where she meets Cam and his amazing dog called Zackie. Zackie is able to use a between worlds portal to lead those who have died and lost their way, through to the 'other side'. Fia realizes she is a spectral fighter but a very messy eater.
If you want to know more, please follow me by reading the 3 books in the Zackie series.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story, and the narrator was wonderful. It was easy to follow the story, and differentiate between the characters. I lost myself in the story, and before I knew it, hours had passed, and I was more than halfway through the recording! It's easy to fall in love with Zackie and Fia, as Fia learns more about her strange abilities and Zackie helps those souls in need of her help. Cannot recommend enough!

[C. Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be an unusual take on psychic and paranormal themes. The characters are well developed which keeps one's interest. The details of place get a bit extensive slowing the pace somewhat. The drama is somewhat weak for the nature of the story, but again the characters tie things together. For the nature of the story, I found its elements rather credible except for the 'hand' part. So, if one likes psychic and paranormal tales, I do recommend this book.

[Annie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

search and rescue plus

A combination of active search and rescue teamwork plus these stories of a human team working with a soul seeker who resembles a dog to humans is the background of the Zackie Stories. And these are gritty, not cozy and feel real.. I am intrigued and want to read more Zackie tales.

[Beverly Botelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Gaiman you've got competition!

This captivating novel blends the best of Neil Gaiman with the eeriest of Brom. It has both captivating plot and engaging characters. I can't wait for the next installment: "Soul Scent."

[Casey Masterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

SAR and paranormal

Great combo of SAR and paranormal¡ Wish there was more on the search and rescue. I loved the involvement of the team's and dogs. Lucas evolved from a self centered jerk to a love interest that still wasn't worthy. Keep the ghosts and dogs, ditch the TV show.

[Lottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of dogs and paranormal mysteries, this book combined so many things to make an exciting, enjoyable book. I enjoyed reading it immensely! The continuous action, paranormal adventure and love of dogs made it a wonderful book to read!

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

At rest.

When the souls don't rest they call out to humans. Zackie is the hound that takes then over to the other side. I loved this story. It has a little mystery, a little romance, and a lot of adventure. Lots of fun!!

[Cheryl Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Side

I really liked this book because I am into the paranormal. Nothing I disliked but I hope Via gets her hand back. Not many of my friends read anymore but I did suggest it to another believer. Just got the second one and I can't wait.

[Judy mccaffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost hunters

I enjoyed this book . I would have liked it more without too many description.some scary parts were very good mostly enjoyed those parts .

[Filipa de Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review can also be found in Down The Reading Hole

WHAT IS IT ABOUT
All Fia ever wanted was to have a normal life, but when you can see the souls of the dead, a normal life is no easy task. Fia has been followed by dead people since she can remember. All they want is her help, but all she ever did was fight them off. Running to the woods seemed like a good option, but apparently the dead existed there too. However, when Fia witnesses a psychopomp leading a dead boy through a portal, she decides she will do whatever it takes to get herself rid of the dead once and for all.

WHAT I LOVED
This was an action-packed book! I really enjoyed the fact that it didn't focus on just one ghost or one event. Sometimes the problem with books in the paranormal genre is that they focus on just that one problem, but Soul Search actually allowed us to get away from the main event for a few chapters. With this we managed to get a few more glimpses into the characters' personalities and also acquire some valuable information that was later used to deal with the original problem.

I also enjoyed the fact that Soul Search focused on other aspects of character's lives. Both main characters, Fia and Cam, were part of a Search and Rescue Team. This was actually something I knew very little about, so I really enjoyed learning more about what they do and how they operate by following the teams through several search cases. Plus, 50% of the profits from this book are divided equally between the Search and Rescue Teams of Warren County and Wayward Plotts, so that's one more reason to read it :p

A lot of research went into this book. Most of the paranormal activity roamed around the Changewater Murders which actually happened! I didn't know this until I got to the "Author's Notes" at the end of the book, but I really enjoyed this. It added that tinge of realism of the story.

I also most admit that I feel a bit guilty for shipping Fia and Lucas so badly. Lucas' wife was dying in a hospital bed and here I was shipping him with another woman! But well, I couldn't help it - sorry.

WHAT WAS NOT SO GOOD
The problem with Soul Search is that it was rather confusing at times, especially in the beginning. It started right in the middle of action and suddenly Fia was being chased by the ghost of a dead boy. She also had some ability to fight them of, but this was never properly explained. A few other abilities were introduced regarding other characters, but no time was ever dedicated to explain them. I never really managed to figure out what was the "look" of Fia's power. She fought them off with some kind of energy, but was it some kind of energy ball or ray? I think that some more time should have been used to explain these paranormal abilities, especially because the whole book revolved around them.

The other issue with this book is also in the start of the story. So Fia spent her whole life thinking that she was probably crazy, and she never knew anyone who had her ability. Then, she decides to move into the woods thinking that there will be less souls to disturb her in a rural environment. However, right in the first chapter, she finds someone that can see dead people such as her. And he has a dog that's a psychopomp! It just felt a bit rushed, especially taking into account all the other information that we are introduced to in this chapter. I just felt that maybe this encounter could have been delayed a bit, so that the reader got a feeling of the surroundings.

Another thing that left me a bit confused was when Fia placed her hand into the portal created by Zackie and a weird thing happened to her limb (I won't tell you what it is because it would be a major spoiler :p). Didn't Zackie know that that could happen? Maybe she didn't care. But what's more annoying is that Fia did all that to get a message for Cam. She does receive a piece of paper from the other side, but we never get to know what it was inside. I know it was meant to let the reader use his imagination, but I'm curious, I want to know!



Soul Search was a really interesting book. I don't read many books in the paranormal genre, but I really enjoyed all the other aspects of the story that added a new depth to the characters such as the search teams' cases and the situation with Lucas' wife and her reactions to it. There's a new book coming up in the series and I'm quite excited for it because I still have a lot of question's unanswered. I want to know if Fia manages to get rid of that weird hand and if she and Lucas have any chance together :p

[Sharon H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angry Ghosts or are they confused?

Many facets of this story are new to me, but wrapped within some old tales and superstitions. Neither the sin-eaters nor the escort to eternity are new. Even the bright light at the moment of a soul crossing into eternity is a common thread running through most tales near death experiences. However, the confusion about their personal status, the personality continuing after death, the evil that could be inflicted onto one spirit from another is certainly new to me. As are the plotthound, the "sybils," and the energy expulsions from both ghosts and sybils that could cause physical manifestations in the solid world.
MS Davis has written a remarkable story with troubled people who try to live normal lives in spite of the unique abilities that they have. While most of these characters can't in good conscience resist using their abilities to aid those who, for one reason or another, haven't crossed, they are human. Like all humans, some are less compassionate than others. Jackie is not exactly a dog, but a centuries old spiritual entity that has a sole purpose of leading the dead to their eternity. Trying to assist a contractor to rid a house of a little girl ghost who is still carrying the wounds of her murder, our sybils discover a literal field of spirits being kept in torment and unable to cross over. Even calling on other sybils, none have ever before seen such a dark entity, and the outcome of the joined battle is, by no means, sure.