The Ghost Finders

by Adam McOmber

Fledgling occult detective Henry Coxton has taken up recent stewardship of a ghost finding firm, investigating gaslit mysteries in the damp cobblestone streets of Edwardian London. Along with his friends and associates—Violet Asquith, a telekinetic with a mysterious past, and Christopher X, a monster of dubious origins—Henry must work against the clock to solve the agency’s most terrifying case, one that threatens to destroy all he holds dear and perhaps even the very fabric of reality itself.

Strongly influenced by the weird horror of Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, and William Hope Hodgson, The Ghost Finders explores the darkest corners of London’s occult realities.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Gothic, Fiction, Ghosts

238 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2021

About the author

Adam McOmber is the author of three novels, The White Forest (Simon and Schuster), Jesus and John (Lethe), and The Ghost Finders (JournalStone) as well as three collections of stories, This New & Poisonous Air and My House Gathers Desires (BOA Editions) and Fantasy Kit (Black Lawrence). His queer, erotic reimagining of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles was released by Lethe Press in October 2022. His work has appeared recently in Conjunctions, Kenyon Review, Salt Hill and Diagram. He teaches in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing Program and is the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Hunger Mountain.

Reviews

[Richard Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edwardian London meets cosmic terrors in Adam McOmber’s new novel of ghost hunters and old gods fighting for the fate of our world.

Henry Coxton is a supernatural detective, taking on cases where no worldly explanation can be found. Taken under the wing of an elderly mentor after a tragic sea voyage, he is taught the occult arts in a passing of the torch to continue the ghost finding business of Coxton & Co.
Violet Asquith is a young woman with a troubled past. Raised by a strict father with a steadfast belief in otherworldly influences, she has the gift of telekinesis, a power that she both covets and fears.

Christopher X, a seven-foot giant with a face he must hide behind a mask at all times, does not remember his past but has found a new family with Henry and Violet. His past cannot remain forgotten, however, as his time with the Ghost Finders will lead to revelations about his greater purpose and terrible destiny.

With the books’ description drawing comparisons to the weird fiction of Algernon Blackwood or William Hope Hodgson, or blurbs proclaiming the story to be gritty and grisly, I was expecting a more sombre and eerie story and was surprised when ‘Ghost Finders’ turned out to be a great deal of fun. There are certainly some tense and spooky sequences, and added splashes of violence to keep things firmly rooted in the ‘horror’ genre, but there is also a great deal of action and adventure to be found between these pages, and I found it to be just as much a fast-paced historical fiction romp, heavy on the big and bold set-pieces, as it is a classic story of ghosts and other ghastly goings-on.

The major highlight of the book is its three titular ghost finders. Henry, Violet and Christopher are all very distinct and larger than life presences throughout the book. Henry, perhaps my favourite of the three, the staunch and reliable friend holding the team together, while self-imposed loner Violet and child-like Christopher are awarded rich and complex backstories which cleverly dovetail together in the books’ big finale. It is a joy to follow these three through the various escapades they find themselves embroiled in.

The things I enjoyed most about ‘Ghost Finders’, namely the core cast of characters, and how these disparate and very different individuals are so much fun on the page together, also highlight the only real frustration I had with the book, as the trio don’t actually spend all that much of the books 238 pages together as a team. Events quickly transpire to bring them apart and the group get little opportunity to work together. The scenes we do get of them interacting with each other are highlights and I would have liked to read more of it.

Like an M.R James inspired melding of ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentleman’ and ‘From Hell’, ‘Ghost Finders’ is atmospheric and action-packed, making the most of its period setting, and excelling in rich characters and unexpected plot developments, resulting in a fast-paced and fun romp through cobbled streets and lamplit alleyways. While McOmber offers the reader a satisfactory conclusion to proceedings, I for one hope that Henry, Violet and Christopher have at least one more adventure in them.


You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/richard-m...
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[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghost Finders firm, founded by Phillip Langford, consists of Henry Caxton, Violet Asquith, and Christopher X. Phillip rescues Henry from the gutters of London and sets him up as an occult detective. They add Violet, a telekinetic whose mysterious past will soon catch up with her, and Christopher, a monstrous being with an unknown past and werewolf-like qualities. They take up paranormal (abnatural in the book) investigations--tracking down ghostly figures on horses, the "Up-Train Terror" (which manifested in a dark tunnel) and a tree-climbing pig, among others.

Things get really interesting and dangerous when the mysterious Sister Rose, a black-bonneted woman, begins dogging Violet tracks and the ghost finders find themselves drawn into a trap that may put a permanent end to their investigations. Each of our characters have a part to play--even the Ghost Finders' housekeeper Mrs. Hastur. How has Violet's training under her father's guidance prepared her for the trial to come? Has Henry received all the preparation he should have? Does it matter that Christopher can't remember anything about who (what) he was before meeting Henry. And what is the job that Mrs. Hastur tells him he must do? What plans do Sister Rose and the "New Lord" have for them? And who is this New Lord that is behind all the mysterious events? What is the dark mirror and can it really be controlled? Or will it destroy everything the Ghost Finders hold most dear?

This is a wonderfully gothic, horrifically fun mysterious adventure. The three main characters are vividly drawn with interesting backstories that are at once disparate, yet also fitting together so perfectly to provide friendship and kinship among these three wildly different individuals. The separate histories weave together to create the fabric necessary for the final scenes. It was interesting to watch these three work their way through various layers of loyalty and betrayal to discover what is necessary to save themselves...and perhaps all reality.

McOmber is a compelling storyteller. He creates a gaslit world with fully realized characters with complicated stories & complicated relationships and an urgent sense of place. One opens the book and immediately steps into a world of gothic creatures and paranormal manifestations....and it all seems perfectly normal. One shouldn't be surprised by a seven-foot giant with a dog-like head or bones that become animated or men who survive a fatal knife blow. And one isn't because McOmber has created a believable world where anything could happen...and does. ★★★★ and 1/2. (rounded up)

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.

[Bertie (LuminosityLibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost Finders was a fantastically fun horror story featuring a strange group of outcasts, an Edwardian setting, a cult, and a creepy as fuck mirror. You've got Henry, the leader of the group, a gay man who's trying his best to wrangle his weird found family. There's also Violet, a woman with a form of telekinesis and a hidden past. Finally, there's Christopher, my favourite character. He's a monstrous creature with a doglike face who's doing his best to be good and civilised. They work together in a ghost-finding organisation and their latest case is a lot trickier and more dangerous than they realised. This book packs in many different horror elements, from cosmic, unfathomable dangers to gothic settings, to the human horrors of betrayal and manipulation. I'd definitely recommend dark fantasy, historical, and horror fans give this one a go!

CW: death, violence, child abuse, cults, homophobia

Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you enjoy diverse sci-fi, fantasy, and horror you should check out my Blog! You could also follow me on Twitter or Instagram.

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review appears in the June 2021 issue of Library Journal here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?revie...

Three Words That Describe This Book: atmospheric, strong sense of place, character centered

Draft Review:
When his mentor retires, Henry is left in charge of an occult detective agency in Edwardian London exploring cases of the “abnatural,” feeling his way as the boss of Violet and Christopher, but a new case threatens to upset everything. A menacing evil has launched a very personal and well researched attack on the trio and, through them, the world at large. This atmospheric tale has strong world building and a well constructed mystery plot, but where this novel shines is in its characters and their outcast status: Christopher is a monster not of this world, Violet has dark, paranormal powers with deep and misunderstood roots, and Henry must deal with being a gay man in world where nothing could be worse. McOmber keeps the pace quick by switching the point of view between the three. Readers watch as the burdens of their pasts must be reckoned with, adding intrigue and suspense, building sympathy for all, and allowing the necessary background details and twists to flow naturally.

Verdict: This series opener will have a wide readership in libraries because of the authentic setting, the well drawn protagonists, and the compelling but not overly terrifying mystery. It also expertly walks the line between playing homage to authors like Blackwood who originated this type of story and those exploring it to great success today like in The Deep by Katsu or the Stoker’s Wilde series by Hopstaken and Prusi.

Notes: This will have a wide readership in libraries because of the authentic Edwardian setting, the interesting, outcast protagonists who come together despite their troubled pasts, the secrets/burdens they carry, and the scary but not overly terrifying mystery.

And it was a fun fast paced read. The switching of POV between the three protagonists increased the pace and added more suspense. Very well done. Like the very best suspense novels.

A nice touch of "the weird" in the classic sense too.

A chance at a sequel!

Readalikes: For fans of historical horror with a strong sense of place, where the frame and the characters are as enjoyable as the supernatural parts. And it has the right amount of mystery like the Stoker's Wilde series and The Deep by Alma Katsu. Pays homage to experts of this genre from the past like Blackwood but yet still fresh and original.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam McOmber is both a skillful storyteller and verbal stylist - his characters, settings, and plots - they are all so well drawn (and in the case of his settings, they are immersive and often intensely eerie). He is also adept at creating suspenseful and engrossing narratives.

I recommend all of his books - his two previous novels (The White Forest and Jesus and John) and his story collections (This New and Poisonous Air and My House Gathers Desires) along with The Ghost Finders.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Finders is a gothic character study of three colleges and friends, Henry, Violet, and Christopher. Each one is a integral part of Coxton & Co. a company that specializes in finding and eradicating ghosts.
Henry is the leader of the group whose boyfriend was murdered before he joined the company. Violet is telekinetic and Christopher is a brute of a being who can smell ghosts.
The trio has great chemistry and would do anything for each other. when Violet is threatened the book becomes a curious supernatural mystery. Help and harm come from surprising sources but who can really be trusted?
There were several scenes that were creepy as hell and I could feel my flight response kicking in even though it is not a horror story.

[J.A. Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon to Kendall Reviews.

[Ray Palen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Coxton begins the novel THE GHOST FINDERS attempting to sort together a group of individuals with particular skills to help him form his occult Detective Firm. His first target is a local medium known around London as Lady Death. Violet Asquith is not nearly as horrible as her nickname and she is more than happy to join Coxton in his new venture. As a legitimate medium, she is well aware that London is full of spirits both benevolent and malevolent.

Coxton does not use the term ‘ghosts’ and prefers to refer to these spirits as ‘Abnaturals’, a term he found in a book of stories named Thomas Shadow: The Ghost Finder. Another key member of his team is the being known simply as Christopher X, a monster of dubious origins. Together the team, with a few other human supporters, are about to face a case that will threaten all they believe and possibly all of mankind.

Part of the problem may lie in Violet’s own past. Her powers specifically came from a mirror or magician’s glass she had been given. When the glass shattered into three pieces all were located except for one piece. That missing piece might be playing a part in the increasing amount of dangerous evil spirits that the area is now exposed to. Coxton and his newly found agency take on this mystery while trying to plug up the spiritual dam that is threatening to break all around them.

Adam McOmber’s novel is full of atmosphere of old London during a time when believing in ghosts and all sorts of spirits was commonplace. THE GHOST FINDERS harkens to the works of classic masters of the horror genre such as Algernon Blackwood and M.R. James. We can only hope that this will be the start of a series featuring this eclectic team of ghost hunters as it seems the ideas for possible plots could be endless.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for JournalStone Hell Notes

[Sen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I warn you that my business may be not to your taste," I said.
"What business might that be, sir? If you don't mind my asking."
"Ghost finding. Like Thomas Shadow himself."
"Ghosts, is it? Well, I do like a good shiver from time to time."

★★★½

Reading The Ghost Finders really felt like experiencing a truly classic gothic ghost hunter story with its gritty, gloomy, gaslamp ambiance and its cast of memorable occult detectives with larger than life personalities. Coxton and Co. are the titular Ghost Finders who investigate all manners of "abnatural" (aka supernatural) cases. The investigators that comprise Coxton and Co. have formed a found family of sorts, and the interactions between these very different characters were definitely one of the big highlights of the book for me. Henry Coxton is the kindly leader of the group, and the other two main characters are Violet Asquith, an irritable but tortured telekinetic, and Christopher X, a giant man with a terrible visage but a somewhat childlike personality. I thought it was interesting how even though every one of these characters have found ways to essentially blend into society, they still all have their own personal secrets that, if revealed, would make others see them as "monstrous" or "outsiders." All 3 of the main characters are also POV characters, and Adam McOmber has really done a fantastic job of giving each POV a unique voice as well.

However, this book overall did feel too rushed in my opinion, and some plot issues especially towards the end were introduced and resolved way too abruptly. The Ghost Finders would've been fantastic as a lengthier novel. Adam McOmber was able to breathe a lot of life into his three main characters in such a short number of pages. However, I would've liked to have seen more of the group dynamic of this found family and to also more slowly and organically learn about their histories rather than having it all dumped onto us in a couple of paragraphs. Also, while the protagonists were very well crafted, the main antagonists felt a bit cheesy and tacky in comparison.

The Ghost Finders is a satisfying slice of atmospheric historical horror that I just wished would've taken the time to fully immerse the reader in its amazing characters and setting.

— ♩♫♩ ~ Be True

[Julia Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com

The Ghost Finders has to be one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read. It is the story of Henry Coxton, who is as the name of the novel suggests, an occult detective. He works alongside his partners; Violet and Christopher. Violet has telekinetic powers and a mysterious past, and Christopher is a monster who lost all memories of his life prior to being with Henry.

Together they must work to overcome their most dangerous case yet as a cult is closing in on them!

Usually, I will tell you what I liked and didn’t like about a book. But in this case I don’t have much to say. I absolutely adored this book. The characters are perfect, the story is unique and fantastic, and the writing is perfect for the time period it is set in.

I’m looking forward to reading more of Adam’s work! Thank you again for the review copy Adam!

[James Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam McOmber’s third novel, The Ghost Finders, is entertaining, spooky gothic fare steeped in gas-lit (in the traditional sense) Edwardian London with a queer, character-driven story arc.

But please see my complete review at Plenitude Magazine, with the header, "Cosmically Bent Queer Characters in Gas-Lit London: A Review of Adam McOmber’s The Ghost Finders".

https://plenitudemagazine.ca/cosmical...

[Kupel Yosef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters are intriguing, the mystery was solid, the plot choices were not satisfying. A strong initial start, but was rushed. Overall, if odd fiction is your thang than this might be for you...

[Darel Krieger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be a "good read" it wasn't.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this dark, propulsive, found-family horror. While I do wish we got to spend a little more time with our main characters before the action really kicks off, it is a wild ride.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handled the action sequences very well, but is just short on all-round detail, from characters to world building, it just falls a wee bit flat and forgettable.

[G Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book not only in the storyline but how it was written. The story followed a group of "misfits" who investigated ghosts in Victorian England. Hired to investigate a haunting they find instead they enter into a trap and all their lives are in danger. Discovering who is behind the trap and why is how the story unfolds. The ending left some questions as to how certain items were resolved, but to avoid spoilers I will not go into this in any more detail.
If a unique ghost story is desired, this is a good book, easily read and fairly fast paced. This could have been the start of a series if Mr. McOmber had desired.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wanted to help the world. You've done nothing but destroy. You are death itself."

Detective Henry Coxton runs a ghost hunting firm where he investigates mysteries in the streets of Edwardian London. He and his colleagues, a telekinetic named Violet Asquith and an intriguing monster, Christopher X, have accepted their most challenging case. One that may destroy the firm and perhaps reality itself.

I love finding books that I've never heard of and end up really enjoying them. I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised at how engaging it was. I mean, it had everything I love in a mystery - the occult, a historical setting, supernatural and horror elements, and wonderful characters.

I liked that it didn't follow the typical ghost hunter trope you see on TV. Henry was a caring man with a frightening past. Violet was tough, but sweet with her telekinetic abilities coming in handy. Christopher felt lost, but get on his wrong side and he would tear you apart. They all had something to bring to the table and they worked well together as a team despite their individual troubles.

The ending felt a little rushed, but it was still enjoyable overall. This book was mysterious, engaging, magical, and surprisingly gory at times. If you're looking for something a little different, I recommend this book!