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Lost Souls Society #1
Grave Wrong
From USA Today bestselling author Kate Allenton comes the first book in a new series about murder and deception, and a woman running from her past—a past that’s about to catch up to her present.
Dying is easy. It’s living with the dead that’s hard.
Psychic Ryley St. James was a mere five years old when she witnessed her first murder. Twenty years and multiple therapy sessions later, Ryley desires a normal life, a life free from hiding in the shadows, looking over her shoulder each day.
When a close friend reveals they’re being stalked by a vengeful ghost, Ryley sets out to uncover the truth about the ghost’s mysterious death. As the ghost shifts her attention to Ryley, attempting to stop her from discovering the truth, Ryley’s identity is thrust back into the limelight, revealed for all to see.
And now, the life that needs the most saving may be her own.
The Lost Souls Society supernatural suspense series is brimming with ghosts who don’t always play nice and a psychic who doesn’t always play by the rules.
Download your copy today and get lost in a mystery that keeps you turning pages and a plot twist you won’t see coming.
Dying is easy. It’s living with the dead that’s hard.
Psychic Ryley St. James was a mere five years old when she witnessed her first murder. Twenty years and multiple therapy sessions later, Ryley desires a normal life, a life free from hiding in the shadows, looking over her shoulder each day.
When a close friend reveals they’re being stalked by a vengeful ghost, Ryley sets out to uncover the truth about the ghost’s mysterious death. As the ghost shifts her attention to Ryley, attempting to stop her from discovering the truth, Ryley’s identity is thrust back into the limelight, revealed for all to see.
And now, the life that needs the most saving may be her own.
The Lost Souls Society supernatural suspense series is brimming with ghosts who don’t always play nice and a psychic who doesn’t always play by the rules.
Download your copy today and get lost in a mystery that keeps you turning pages and a plot twist you won’t see coming.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2020
507 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Kate Allenton
111 books337 followersI'm an Indie Author with a focus on everything Supernatural from psychics to witches in the genres of Romance, Cozy Mysteries, and Time Travel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 17, 2024
Grave Wrong
By Kate Allenton
This book pulled me out of my reading slump! I haven't had a book I could put in my favorite category in a long time! This book has some of my favorite things, and they are done right! Ghosts and psychics!
A girl who's has a psychic gift is in the witness protection program with her brother. But they still have to be careful because their evil father still wants to kill them even now after they have grown up.
There are multiple plots going on, which I love, and lots of ghosts. Good guys and bad guy, and same with the ghosts. Then, there is the constant treat of the father. Excellent story all around!
By Kate Allenton
This book pulled me out of my reading slump! I haven't had a book I could put in my favorite category in a long time! This book has some of my favorite things, and they are done right! Ghosts and psychics!
A girl who's has a psychic gift is in the witness protection program with her brother. But they still have to be careful because their evil father still wants to kill them even now after they have grown up.
There are multiple plots going on, which I love, and lots of ghosts. Good guys and bad guy, and same with the ghosts. Then, there is the constant treat of the father. Excellent story all around!
October 23, 2023
I love books about psychics and this one started off awesome but by the end I was confused. Who were all these people? I liked both guys, Crews and Logan, but I can't tell if they will end up being love interests. I like the story about the little boy ghost she saw at the graveyard and his sister. I liked Stretch. But towards the end it just fell short. Too many characters and it got confusing. But I will keep reading it. There are some typos and such but they don't bother me as much but I did notice them. Normally I don't. I still liked it and will read the next one to see if it gets better. The book started off as a five, but the ending was just too combobulated! Is that a word? Lol. But it did get confusing.
October 22, 2020
Grave Wrong is a hopefully new series by Kate Allenton because this first book is one of her BEST books yet and I have read them all. This one is also longer than her other books which I loved.
Ryley is the main character and she can see, communicate and try to get ghosts to move on to whatever their afterlife may be, go to the light as she puts it. It started out when she was a little girl and her dad not only beat her but took her to bad places where he and his friends would have her do things to get the information they wanted, from people that they refused to give to them willingly. One night (one of many) her dad beat her for not telling them what she extracted from the dead man his friend killed shot in front of her. The mother was furious for what he did to her daughter, so he then beats the mother almost to death. Then son comes homes and attacks him, they fight until dad almost beats the life out of her brother. Someone called the police and when Ryley tells them this is all because her daddy trying to kill her family and another man who killed a man in front of her. Mother, daughter and son are guaranteed life in Witness Protection in exchange for daughter's testimony. That's pretty much the family history, the dad was a monster and they were terrified of him ever finding them. There was more to it than that but the first three chapters set up how they live their lives as adults.
Move forward 20 years and mom is no longer with them. Older brother Tucker still watches out for his sister, sometimes more than she wants. After more moves than than they could count they have finally found a little town that is home. Her brother is now a successful attorney. Ryley works in a bar at night and goes to funerals during the day and no she doesn't know the individuals but she feels like no one should leave this life alone. Plus it's easier to get them to go on their journey to the light before they find reasons to stay here as ghosts and then she can see all of them and some are real trouble and dangerous and it is much harder to get them to leave.
Ryley has only one real friend in town who over ten years ago was her shrink and knew and believed in her abilities. The day comes when her friend needs her help because a ghost (prior patient) is trying to kill her. The ghost does not like Ryley's interference and tries to kill her also, landing her in the hospital. Not only is she dealing with the potentially deadly ghost but also the police. She gets arrested by her friends son, the sexy police officer that thinks she is pulling a con on his mother. Then bring a sexy Private Investigator into the equation and things you had never thought of start coming to light with even more twist and turns. The ghost did not commit suicide as the shrink had said but the who did it you are blown away by.
If all of this isn't enough for Ryley to deal with, she finds out she has been included in a will of someone she doesn't know. Have you ever heard of people leaving things to people who show up to pay their last respects at a funeral? I had not either but it was fun. Her name and picture being in the paper were not, especially when she found out that her brother who was always searching for their dad, had found him. He was in her town and he left her a present on her dresser one day, one that could only come from him.
Oh, almost forgot one of my favorite characters. It is another friend of Ryley's only she is a ghost who worked as a stripper when she was alive. She is hanging around and being good by helping Ryley hoping her good deeds as a ghost will send her to the good light. She is funny and dead but still obsessed with men.
This book was fabulous and I couldn't put it down. I have read all night, it's now 7:30 am. It was worth staying up all night though and I will re-read the book in my mind today every time I get sleepy.
Ryley is the main character and she can see, communicate and try to get ghosts to move on to whatever their afterlife may be, go to the light as she puts it. It started out when she was a little girl and her dad not only beat her but took her to bad places where he and his friends would have her do things to get the information they wanted, from people that they refused to give to them willingly. One night (one of many) her dad beat her for not telling them what she extracted from the dead man his friend killed shot in front of her. The mother was furious for what he did to her daughter, so he then beats the mother almost to death. Then son comes homes and attacks him, they fight until dad almost beats the life out of her brother. Someone called the police and when Ryley tells them this is all because her daddy trying to kill her family and another man who killed a man in front of her. Mother, daughter and son are guaranteed life in Witness Protection in exchange for daughter's testimony. That's pretty much the family history, the dad was a monster and they were terrified of him ever finding them. There was more to it than that but the first three chapters set up how they live their lives as adults.
Move forward 20 years and mom is no longer with them. Older brother Tucker still watches out for his sister, sometimes more than she wants. After more moves than than they could count they have finally found a little town that is home. Her brother is now a successful attorney. Ryley works in a bar at night and goes to funerals during the day and no she doesn't know the individuals but she feels like no one should leave this life alone. Plus it's easier to get them to go on their journey to the light before they find reasons to stay here as ghosts and then she can see all of them and some are real trouble and dangerous and it is much harder to get them to leave.
Ryley has only one real friend in town who over ten years ago was her shrink and knew and believed in her abilities. The day comes when her friend needs her help because a ghost (prior patient) is trying to kill her. The ghost does not like Ryley's interference and tries to kill her also, landing her in the hospital. Not only is she dealing with the potentially deadly ghost but also the police. She gets arrested by her friends son, the sexy police officer that thinks she is pulling a con on his mother. Then bring a sexy Private Investigator into the equation and things you had never thought of start coming to light with even more twist and turns. The ghost did not commit suicide as the shrink had said but the who did it you are blown away by.
If all of this isn't enough for Ryley to deal with, she finds out she has been included in a will of someone she doesn't know. Have you ever heard of people leaving things to people who show up to pay their last respects at a funeral? I had not either but it was fun. Her name and picture being in the paper were not, especially when she found out that her brother who was always searching for their dad, had found him. He was in her town and he left her a present on her dresser one day, one that could only come from him.
Oh, almost forgot one of my favorite characters. It is another friend of Ryley's only she is a ghost who worked as a stripper when she was alive. She is hanging around and being good by helping Ryley hoping her good deeds as a ghost will send her to the good light. She is funny and dead but still obsessed with men.
This book was fabulous and I couldn't put it down. I have read all night, it's now 7:30 am. It was worth staying up all night though and I will re-read the book in my mind today every time I get sleepy.
April 19, 2024
This was an unexpected surprise. I liked it! Our heroine, Ryley, is sarcastic and had me laughing several times. Going directly to the next book in the series.
October 27, 2020
Excellent Read⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Grave Wrong is one of the BEST Kate Allenton novels I have ever read! It’s a paranormal mystery of the life of Ryley St.James. The mysteries revealed are only the beginning to stories to be told. I also think that a romance could be a future story, but, as I stated before, we are only getting started on Riley’s story. Hang on to your hats, this is gonna be a wild ride!
Grave Wrong is one of the BEST Kate Allenton novels I have ever read! It’s a paranormal mystery of the life of Ryley St.James. The mysteries revealed are only the beginning to stories to be told. I also think that a romance could be a future story, but, as I stated before, we are only getting started on Riley’s story. Hang on to your hats, this is gonna be a wild ride!
February 24, 2021
Due to Ryley's traumatic childhood she tries to right grave wrongs. Since she was a little girl she has always been able to see and speak to the dead. She even has the ability to move them on to the other side. It's these abilities her father abused along with physically abusing her Mom, brother and herself.
Twenty years later Ryley and her brother have different last names due to being relocated to witness protection but we see Ryley has chosen to use her gifts to help others. Her childhood could have made her weak but instead she is tough and not afraid of any ghostly case that comes her way.
This was such a perfect blend of spooky, paranormal, humor, and emotional. Features great secondary characters both alive and dead. There was not one aspect of this book I didn't like. Love finding new authors and new series. This is the first in the series and I am looking forward to hopefully many more.
Twenty years later Ryley and her brother have different last names due to being relocated to witness protection but we see Ryley has chosen to use her gifts to help others. Her childhood could have made her weak but instead she is tough and not afraid of any ghostly case that comes her way.
This was such a perfect blend of spooky, paranormal, humor, and emotional. Features great secondary characters both alive and dead. There was not one aspect of this book I didn't like. Love finding new authors and new series. This is the first in the series and I am looking forward to hopefully many more.
December 1, 2020
A hidden gem
I found this as a recommendation, and I am so glad I gave it a chance! Ryley is such a vivid character, her flaws and her her strengths are so relatable. The guys (where is the romance headed?!) are all so hot and protective of her in their own way. I loved this book, I can't wait to see where it's going next.
I found this as a recommendation, and I am so glad I gave it a chance! Ryley is such a vivid character, her flaws and her her strengths are so relatable. The guys (where is the romance headed?!) are all so hot and protective of her in their own way. I loved this book, I can't wait to see where it's going next.
March 4, 2021
This book was absolutely fantastic. What a concept! I love paranormal combined with mystery. And this book was off the charts good. I stumbled on an ad and showed a friend. She read and told me I would love. It was just the perfect blend with fantastic characters. I can’t wait for more Riley is so badass.
October 7, 2021
Can’t wait for future books!
The humor, mystery, ghosts, and touch of possible romance make this the perfect book! I can’t wait to see what is in store for Ryley and her crew:)
The humor, mystery, ghosts, and touch of possible romance make this the perfect book! I can’t wait to see what is in store for Ryley and her crew:)
October 19, 2023
Surprisingly good
I grabbed this book off KU as the blurb intrigued me, yet it sat on my Kindle, unread, as I plowed through other options. Last night, I finally clicked into it, having forgotten I had picked it up to start with.
I love finding new to me authors, though I rarely find one I’ll read again. Allenton has a new fan! Not only is this book plotted decently, the writing itself is well done. Creative without being flowery, showing more than telling.
I will continue this series.
I grabbed this book off KU as the blurb intrigued me, yet it sat on my Kindle, unread, as I plowed through other options. Last night, I finally clicked into it, having forgotten I had picked it up to start with.
I love finding new to me authors, though I rarely find one I’ll read again. Allenton has a new fan! Not only is this book plotted decently, the writing itself is well done. Creative without being flowery, showing more than telling.
I will continue this series.
March 19, 2023
Lo he disfrutado mucho, me ha parecido como la presentación de los personajes, el contexto de la historia y la línea mística pero me dejaron todo abierto, lo que hace que desee leer el siguiente lo antes posible.
I have enjoyed it a lot, I found it like the presentation of the characters, the context of the story and the mystical line but they left everything open to me, which makes me want to read the next one as soon as possible.
I have enjoyed it a lot, I found it like the presentation of the characters, the context of the story and the mystical line but they left everything open to me, which makes me want to read the next one as soon as possible.
March 10, 2024
Grave Wrong is a good introduction to what will surely be a great series. What can go wrong when a psychic wants to send errant ghosts into the light? Quite a bit! A great paranormal read with wonderful characters.
October 9, 2022
Got interested in the blurb. We meet Ryley, a woman who can see and talk to ghosts. Who also helps solve murders. She's also very likeable which is a very plus in continuing this series.
January 4, 2024
I wanted to like this one more - been on a psychic kick since the grave series by Charlaine Harris, but this one had a mix of too juvenile feel, too choppy, and too unrealistic feeling with the characters and plotting. Also would randomly change to other points of view for not much reason or adding to the scene.
October 25, 2021
Loving Riley
I really appreciate the strength of the female lead in this book. She stands on her own feet and protects those weaker than herself. I hope she sticks around for a long time to come.
I really appreciate the strength of the female lead in this book. She stands on her own feet and protects those weaker than herself. I hope she sticks around for a long time to come.
October 29, 2020
This book starts out with an air of mystery and a strong insinuation of child abuse, although it there aren't any really graphic scenes. Ryley is just a little girl and is psychic. Her father is an abusive bastard and uses her abilities to gain information from dead people and for some bad dudes. Things go sideways and little Ryley ends up shooting her father.
It's too bad she didn't kill him because she and her brother, who are now grown and have jobs and lives of their own, are in Witness Protection. Her dad somehow keeps track of her and sends her menacing messages once a year. She's terrified that he's going to kill her and anytime she hears from him, she moves again. She's always on the run and looking over her shoulder.
She does something that brought tears to my eyes. It's almost like a hobby. She goes to funerals that nobody else goes to. Her mindset is that everybody deserves to have someone remember them. That tugged at my heart. She does this on a regular basis and sometimes has to make the spirits go to the light.
Meanwhile, her former psychiatrist is being haunted by a violent ghost. An angry ghost. That whole part of the book is unhinged in a good way. She can't get to the bottom of the case until she holds something personal of this ghost and it just got nuts. I was so surprised at why the ghost was so angry and the ending was just tragic.
So, we have a suicide victim, who is the angry ghost. We have Ryley chasing this angry ghost and trying to send a stubborn little boy ghost to the light (that did make me cry), a vast inheritance that was a total surprise and one she wasn't sure she wanted, and three guys who are a part of her life and are demanding a sequel to this book. I want to see if she hooks up with one of them. My vote is for Logan, but Jake or Felix would work, too.
This is a very busy book, but I didn't have any trouble keeping anything straight. It had a lot of characters, including ghosts, that I enjoyed, although I do think more character descriptions would be helpful. I never got a look at Ryley at all and got a brief glimpse of Jake, Logan, and Felix. I would also like to get a description of Tucker. There were a few typos (spirt instead of spirit and desert rather than dessert, for example), but they didn't destroy the reading experience. I was also hoping for some romance. There were a few allusions to it, but nothing came together, which is why we need that sequel.
With the things mentioned above, the twists and turns in the plot, and the ending, this was a solid four stars. I liked it very much.
*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
It's too bad she didn't kill him because she and her brother, who are now grown and have jobs and lives of their own, are in Witness Protection. Her dad somehow keeps track of her and sends her menacing messages once a year. She's terrified that he's going to kill her and anytime she hears from him, she moves again. She's always on the run and looking over her shoulder.
She does something that brought tears to my eyes. It's almost like a hobby. She goes to funerals that nobody else goes to. Her mindset is that everybody deserves to have someone remember them. That tugged at my heart. She does this on a regular basis and sometimes has to make the spirits go to the light.
Meanwhile, her former psychiatrist is being haunted by a violent ghost. An angry ghost. That whole part of the book is unhinged in a good way. She can't get to the bottom of the case until she holds something personal of this ghost and it just got nuts. I was so surprised at why the ghost was so angry and the ending was just tragic.
So, we have a suicide victim, who is the angry ghost. We have Ryley chasing this angry ghost and trying to send a stubborn little boy ghost to the light (that did make me cry), a vast inheritance that was a total surprise and one she wasn't sure she wanted, and three guys who are a part of her life and are demanding a sequel to this book. I want to see if she hooks up with one of them. My vote is for Logan, but Jake or Felix would work, too.
This is a very busy book, but I didn't have any trouble keeping anything straight. It had a lot of characters, including ghosts, that I enjoyed, although I do think more character descriptions would be helpful. I never got a look at Ryley at all and got a brief glimpse of Jake, Logan, and Felix. I would also like to get a description of Tucker. There were a few typos (spirt instead of spirit and desert rather than dessert, for example), but they didn't destroy the reading experience. I was also hoping for some romance. There were a few allusions to it, but nothing came together, which is why we need that sequel.
With the things mentioned above, the twists and turns in the plot, and the ending, this was a solid four stars. I liked it very much.
*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
May 31, 2022
I loved this book!
I read all the books of the "Family", both sides , as well as your others. (Sorry this novel is still in my head, and names escape me. )
But this novel, truly my favorite! This heroine was so cool! Her life was real and no fairy tale. Howe, she made so much of out what she was gifted. She did so much for so many and asked nothing in return. Those she charged, those were valid. Those that truly needed she was there for, how they needed.
Now, I cannot give away this story, so I must stop here or I will give so many unique details and examples new readers will be disappointed.
However, Ms. Kate Allentown, this is absolutely one of your best novels! It kept me captivated from beginning to end!
Loved!
Karen
I read all the books of the "Family", both sides , as well as your others. (Sorry this novel is still in my head, and names escape me. )
But this novel, truly my favorite! This heroine was so cool! Her life was real and no fairy tale. Howe, she made so much of out what she was gifted. She did so much for so many and asked nothing in return. Those she charged, those were valid. Those that truly needed she was there for, how they needed.
Now, I cannot give away this story, so I must stop here or I will give so many unique details and examples new readers will be disappointed.
However, Ms. Kate Allentown, this is absolutely one of your best novels! It kept me captivated from beginning to end!
Loved!
Karen
March 1, 2021
This book was a fantastic start to The Lost Souls Series. I can’t wait for the next book comes out. Tucker and Ryley are in witness protection due to their father looking into harming them. Tucker takes care of his psychic sibling Ryley, who help the dead cross over. She shows up at funerals by herself to make sure the dead go to the light. Since she is the only one at the funeral, she inherits the man’s property. Of course, he shows up to tell her to sign the papers. There is also a suicide-murder and Ryley is trying to solve. Two single men are involved, one a detective and the other a PI. Can’t wait.
August 18, 2024
OK, Strong start to a series, I'm listening....
Riley and Tuckers childhood story is heartbreaking. And it continues to be terrifying in their adulthood.
The storytelling was heart wrenching!!!
I absolutely loved the different take on Ryley's ghost abilities and how she helps ghosts cross over. It was very refreshing.
The book moved at a great pace and definitely held my attention the whole time.
Riley and Tuckers childhood story is heartbreaking. And it continues to be terrifying in their adulthood.
The storytelling was heart wrenching!!!
I absolutely loved the different take on Ryley's ghost abilities and how she helps ghosts cross over. It was very refreshing.
The book moved at a great pace and definitely held my attention the whole time.
November 1, 2020
A really good book
This was a little bit different to books I usually read. Riley can see and speak to ghosts. She helps them move on. She also inherits a farm from a stranger and helps a little boy ghost go into the light. I do hope there will be more books. I really enjoyed reading this one.
This was a little bit different to books I usually read. Riley can see and speak to ghosts. She helps them move on. She also inherits a farm from a stranger and helps a little boy ghost go into the light. I do hope there will be more books. I really enjoyed reading this one.
June 2, 2021
Great Read!
Kate Allenton is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read all her books multiple times. With this book, it seems she has reached a new level of writing. The depth of the story, the richness of the characters, and the multiple converging story lines display a new maturity in her craft. I’m blown away!
Kate Allenton is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read all her books multiple times. With this book, it seems she has reached a new level of writing. The depth of the story, the richness of the characters, and the multiple converging story lines display a new maturity in her craft. I’m blown away!
October 26, 2020
Another excellent series by Late Allenton
I love the new series. I can't wait for the next book. This is a fun new series. I recommend this to anyone who likes a paranormal mystery light read.
I love the new series. I can't wait for the next book. This is a fun new series. I recommend this to anyone who likes a paranormal mystery light read.
November 21, 2020
Loved this book!
Ryley and all of the characters were really well written and complex with good and bad aspects to their personalities. I can't wait for the next installment. I highly recommend.
Ryley and all of the characters were really well written and complex with good and bad aspects to their personalities. I can't wait for the next installment. I highly recommend.
December 8, 2020
Loved it!
If you love a book with just a little extra, you will love any of Kate Allenton books. She as always delivered with books that move at a fast pace and heroines that are anything but sissy.
If you love a book with just a little extra, you will love any of Kate Allenton books. She as always delivered with books that move at a fast pace and heroines that are anything but sissy.
March 8, 2021
Wow great story
I found this book by accident & so glad cause this author keeps you interested& guessing. I loved all the characters from the very first paragraph. I can't wait to read more of Ryley St.James story.
I found this book by accident & so glad cause this author keeps you interested& guessing. I loved all the characters from the very first paragraph. I can't wait to read more of Ryley St.James story.
March 13, 2021
The woman who sees to much · _ ·
Ryley has a complicated life. She sees and talks to ghosts. This book is fast paced and easily holds your interest. I am looking forward to more books in this series and exploring the author's other works.
Ryley has a complicated life. She sees and talks to ghosts. This book is fast paced and easily holds your interest. I am looking forward to more books in this series and exploring the author's other works.
December 22, 2020
Loved it!
I could not put this book down! I hope there will be more in this series! I love the characters.
I could not put this book down! I hope there will be more in this series! I love the characters.
June 16, 2023
This is an honest attempt at a nuanced story with shades of grey instead of black and white but it fails on the execution.
This one makes many of the mistakes I consider to be amateur mistakes.
For example, it tries a lot to craft deeply emotional scenes but it rarely actually builds up an emotional connection to most of the characters involved which frequently leads to scenes that come across as melodramatic and over the top.
The tragic thing is that some of the scenes that could have built emotional investment with these characters could have been part of the story but the book deliberately skipped over many of these opportunities via narration.
In regards to the shades of grey, the author couldn't help but make these more like shades of white with a tiny bit of grey sprinkled in. The book tries to portray white knight characters that almost couldn't be more morally uncompromisingly good as ambiguous and questionable which really threw me off.
And in the process, the book has no subtlety whatsoever. The author might as well write out what emotion she intends a scene to invoke, it's so obvious.
The book beats the reader over the head with things that need to be handled with much more subtlety.
This is also the case with moral conflicts. It's just so incredibly prescriptive and it feels judgmental even though this was clearly not the intention.
On top of it all, it very much seems like it will develop into a love triangle. I have a lot of problems with the love triangle trope but so far the book didn't get far enough into any of the relationships between them to reach this problematic territory, but even without the many other problems, seeing that this is just going to become some stupid romantic back and forth with the MC essentially being either an asshole or spineless and passive I have no interest at all in continuing with the story. I am not saying this because she currently is either of those things. But a love triangle by definition doesn't work without the center of the triangle being at least one of those two things and that is why I hate the trope. It compromises even otherwise really good characters by its very nature.
I want to be clear about one thing. Excluding the whole love triangle shenanigans, I would have liked this book a lot if the execution was stronger. The general trope mix and the intentions behind it are right down my alley.
But the actual book just didn't live up to its potential.
This one makes many of the mistakes I consider to be amateur mistakes.
For example, it tries a lot to craft deeply emotional scenes but it rarely actually builds up an emotional connection to most of the characters involved which frequently leads to scenes that come across as melodramatic and over the top.
The tragic thing is that some of the scenes that could have built emotional investment with these characters could have been part of the story but the book deliberately skipped over many of these opportunities via narration.
In regards to the shades of grey, the author couldn't help but make these more like shades of white with a tiny bit of grey sprinkled in. The book tries to portray white knight characters that almost couldn't be more morally uncompromisingly good as ambiguous and questionable which really threw me off.
And in the process, the book has no subtlety whatsoever. The author might as well write out what emotion she intends a scene to invoke, it's so obvious.
The book beats the reader over the head with things that need to be handled with much more subtlety.
This is also the case with moral conflicts. It's just so incredibly prescriptive and it feels judgmental even though this was clearly not the intention.
On top of it all, it very much seems like it will develop into a love triangle. I have a lot of problems with the love triangle trope but so far the book didn't get far enough into any of the relationships between them to reach this problematic territory, but even without the many other problems, seeing that this is just going to become some stupid romantic back and forth with the MC essentially being either an asshole or spineless and passive I have no interest at all in continuing with the story. I am not saying this because she currently is either of those things. But a love triangle by definition doesn't work without the center of the triangle being at least one of those two things and that is why I hate the trope. It compromises even otherwise really good characters by its very nature.
I want to be clear about one thing. Excluding the whole love triangle shenanigans, I would have liked this book a lot if the execution was stronger. The general trope mix and the intentions behind it are right down my alley.
But the actual book just didn't live up to its potential.
July 12, 2023
"Grave Wrong" by Kate Allenton is an enjoyable read, slightly let down by occasionally strangulated writing and questionable grammar.
Ryley St. James can see and communicate with ghosts. She also has the ability to make them give up their secrets before sending them into the hereafter.
Those secrets, and the criminals who tried to use her as a child, forced Ryley, her brother and mother, into Witness Protection two decades ago. Her abusive father, who she shot and sent to prison, is now free and tracking her down.
She has a ghostly sidekick, Stretch, a former stripper, who has taught her much of what she knows about the paranormal.
There are a number of strands, including a female ghost intent on, or so it seems, killing Ryley's psychiatrist, Dr. Rosalind Crews, a peculiar bequest from a stranger (it's briefly outlined but the details remain mostly hidden), the interest of not one but two men, P.I. Logan Bane and police detective Logan Crews (son of the psychiatrist) and, of course, her vengeful father.
Ghosts play a large part in the story but, with the exception of the vengeful one, don't help move the main plot along.
I'll be reading further in the series to see if it firms up - I thought this first book in the 'Lost Souls Society' series was somewhat unfocussed at times.
3 Stars.
Ryley St. James can see and communicate with ghosts. She also has the ability to make them give up their secrets before sending them into the hereafter.
Those secrets, and the criminals who tried to use her as a child, forced Ryley, her brother and mother, into Witness Protection two decades ago. Her abusive father, who she shot and sent to prison, is now free and tracking her down.
She has a ghostly sidekick, Stretch, a former stripper, who has taught her much of what she knows about the paranormal.
There are a number of strands, including a female ghost intent on, or so it seems, killing Ryley's psychiatrist, Dr. Rosalind Crews, a peculiar bequest from a stranger (it's briefly outlined but the details remain mostly hidden), the interest of not one but two men, P.I. Logan Bane and police detective Logan Crews (son of the psychiatrist) and, of course, her vengeful father.
Ghosts play a large part in the story but, with the exception of the vengeful one, don't help move the main plot along.
I'll be reading further in the series to see if it firms up - I thought this first book in the 'Lost Souls Society' series was somewhat unfocussed at times.
3 Stars.
May 28, 2022
Grave Wrong - Lost Souls Society Book 1 by Kate Allenton.
I like Kate Allenton writing style and storytelling ability. I have purchased many of her previous books and have enjoyed the various characters and settings. Most of her series are available in Box sets.
The main character in this series, psychic Ryley St. James is an interesting character who at the beginning of this book tries to stay under the radar and has a small circle of people around her. Over the course of the story in this first book in the series, the reader finds out a bit about her background, what drives her and the way she reacts to the events taking place. There were a few minor issues with missing words, extra words, spelling of words but not enough to kick me out of the story. The story kept me engaged enough to purchase book 2 in the series. A great read.
The tagline for this series "The Lost Souls Society supernatural suspense series is brimming with ghosts who don’t always play nice and a psychic who doesn’t always play by the rules." sums up the story arc.
I like Kate Allenton writing style and storytelling ability. I have purchased many of her previous books and have enjoyed the various characters and settings. Most of her series are available in Box sets.
The main character in this series, psychic Ryley St. James is an interesting character who at the beginning of this book tries to stay under the radar and has a small circle of people around her. Over the course of the story in this first book in the series, the reader finds out a bit about her background, what drives her and the way she reacts to the events taking place. There were a few minor issues with missing words, extra words, spelling of words but not enough to kick me out of the story. The story kept me engaged enough to purchase book 2 in the series. A great read.
The tagline for this series "The Lost Souls Society supernatural suspense series is brimming with ghosts who don’t always play nice and a psychic who doesn’t always play by the rules." sums up the story arc.
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