What do you think?
Rate this book
Memory Guild #4
A Haunting Touch
Nightmare on memory lane.
I’m Darla. I’m a psychometrist. I can read thoughts and emotions left upon objects. Some people call my ability a “gift.” Some people are idiots.
You see, my ability isn’t providing easy answers when I try to learn who killed one of my inn’s guests, a developer about to cover a scenic meadow with condos.
The dead developer created another problem. Turns out his job site was the location of a long-ago demolished sanatorium. Unmarked graves are uncovered. And my “gift” is leaving me haunted by the memories of some of the sanatorium’s deceased patients: shifters and other supernaturals.
I feel obligated to find justice for the victims, as well as solve the murder of my guest, with the help of the Memory Guild. They’re great at uncovering forgotten history.
But they’re no help whatsoever in solving my problems. Like finding my second husband who’s still missing, without offending the dreamy detective who wants to be more than friends.
Or, teaching my daughter how to help me at my historic inn, without her burning the place down.
Or, making sure my inn’s own resident ghosts behave, without encouraging the Elvis impersonator’s spirit to sing “Hound Dog” in the middle of the day.
I’d always believed that in middle age I’d be living the good life. Instead, I’m living the psychic life. Of magic, mayhem, and murder.
I’m Darla. I’m a psychometrist. I can read thoughts and emotions left upon objects. Some people call my ability a “gift.” Some people are idiots.
You see, my ability isn’t providing easy answers when I try to learn who killed one of my inn’s guests, a developer about to cover a scenic meadow with condos.
The dead developer created another problem. Turns out his job site was the location of a long-ago demolished sanatorium. Unmarked graves are uncovered. And my “gift” is leaving me haunted by the memories of some of the sanatorium’s deceased patients: shifters and other supernaturals.
I feel obligated to find justice for the victims, as well as solve the murder of my guest, with the help of the Memory Guild. They’re great at uncovering forgotten history.
But they’re no help whatsoever in solving my problems. Like finding my second husband who’s still missing, without offending the dreamy detective who wants to be more than friends.
Or, teaching my daughter how to help me at my historic inn, without her burning the place down.
Or, making sure my inn’s own resident ghosts behave, without encouraging the Elvis impersonator’s spirit to sing “Hound Dog” in the middle of the day.
I’d always believed that in middle age I’d be living the good life. Instead, I’m living the psychic life. Of magic, mayhem, and murder.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2021
140 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Ward Parker
40 books59 followersWard is a Florida native and author of the the Memory Guild midlife paranormal mystery thrillers, the Monsters of Jellyfish Beach paranormal mysteries, and the Freaky Florida humorous paranormal series, all of which are chock full of psychics, witches, vampires, werewolves, dragons, and other bizarre, mythical creatures, such as #FloridaMan. He also pens the Zeke Adams series of noir mysteries. He lives in Florida (of course) with his wife, cats, and a demon who prefers to remain anonymous.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 15, 2021
A Haunting Touch: A midlife paranormal mystery is the 4th novel in the Memory Guild Book. There is so much going on in this novel that it just keeps you on your toes. Darla our protagonist is an inn keep – well not just and inn keep it is a historic inn with ghosts that she has to keep behaving. Darla herself is a psychometrist. She can read thoughts and emotions left upon objects. Interesting A Haunting Touch!. One of her guests is murdered. He was a developer and the land he wanted to build on was the site of a long-ago demolished sanatorium. Unmarked graves are uncovered. And her “gift” is leaving her haunted by the memories of some of the sanatorium’s deceased patients: shifters and other supernaturals.Darla felt obligated to find justice for the victims, as well as solve the murder of her guest, with the help of the Memory Guild. They’re great at uncovering forgotten history. Will Darla’s gift help her solve the murder and perhaps give some peace to the patients of the sanitation? Darla though middle age meant she would be well settled in life and shortly on her way to retirement – little did she know.
I have had the opportunity to read a few of Ward Parker’s Freaky Florida’s novel and the are just stupendous! This is the first I have read of the Memory Guild Book and this was a joy. It is so nice to sit down and read a novel that keeps you on your toes, has some fund and every other word does not have to be profanity! Ward Parker writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. His heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. He novels are just straight right out fun and I can’t wait to get my hands on his next one! I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the novel
I have had the opportunity to read a few of Ward Parker’s Freaky Florida’s novel and the are just stupendous! This is the first I have read of the Memory Guild Book and this was a joy. It is so nice to sit down and read a novel that keeps you on your toes, has some fund and every other word does not have to be profanity! Ward Parker writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. His heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. He novels are just straight right out fun and I can’t wait to get my hands on his next one! I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the novel
September 20, 2022
4 If The Angel's Deem You Worthy, They Will Assist You Stars
A Haunting Touch is the fourth book in the Memory Guild series by Ward Parker.
Cervantes overly protective nature towards the friendship between Darla and Samuel (Detective Werewolf) is hilarious. It's entirely too precious that his familiar, whom he hasn't even met yet, is already defending him. While he patiently waits for his Wizard to return from the In Between.
It's interesting that Darla was able to travel back in time. I enjoyed this short escape from the normal timeline of the story. It was great thinking on the authors part to give us an in person glimpse of her missing Cory Slaughter. A short and sweet moment in time, for them to kiss and hold out hope for his release. We found out a little bit more about Texas Tom, the warlock holding him captive, and apparently draining his power. I wonder if he's already moved to another time? Or if Cory is even still safe given Tom realizes they were discovered there...
This entire story following the the terrible hidden murders, and tortures of the supernatural and Paranormal community at this sanitarium run the Church. I'm sad for all of the shifter species that seem to have dwindle because they were targeted, and less common than the Werewolf variant.
I'm still waiting for more information into the magical community, or magic in this world to be more thoroughly explained. My hope is Sophie's journey in discovering her abilities will allow the readers to learn as well..
Will every book involve her inn in some murderous scandal? I hope not. It would honestly get fairly old, pretty fast. I wonder what the author has in store for us next, to keep this series exciting and fresh?
A Haunting Touch is the fourth book in the Memory Guild series by Ward Parker.
Cervantes overly protective nature towards the friendship between Darla and Samuel (Detective Werewolf) is hilarious. It's entirely too precious that his familiar, whom he hasn't even met yet, is already defending him. While he patiently waits for his Wizard to return from the In Between.
It's interesting that Darla was able to travel back in time. I enjoyed this short escape from the normal timeline of the story. It was great thinking on the authors part to give us an in person glimpse of her missing Cory Slaughter. A short and sweet moment in time, for them to kiss and hold out hope for his release. We found out a little bit more about Texas Tom, the warlock holding him captive, and apparently draining his power. I wonder if he's already moved to another time? Or if Cory is even still safe given Tom realizes they were discovered there...
This entire story following the the terrible hidden murders, and tortures of the supernatural and Paranormal community at this sanitarium run the Church. I'm sad for all of the shifter species that seem to have dwindle because they were targeted, and less common than the Werewolf variant.
I'm still waiting for more information into the magical community, or magic in this world to be more thoroughly explained. My hope is Sophie's journey in discovering her abilities will allow the readers to learn as well..
Will every book involve her inn in some murderous scandal? I hope not. It would honestly get fairly old, pretty fast. I wonder what the author has in store for us next, to keep this series exciting and fresh?
October 24, 2021
This is another Great Addition to Darla's saga of another Inn, guests dying, and trying to figure out why. Some vampires are harmless (sort of), some werewolves are detectives, and some people turned to a monster are just plain Bad! I love this book in the series, I think it would still be good as a standalone, but extra laughs would be missed along with history. The only bad thing about this book, is that it came to an end...
Thank You Mr. Ward Parker for yet another Great Story! ... when is the next one out?...
Thank You Mr. Ward Parker for yet another Great Story! ... when is the next one out?...
May 24, 2022
Talk about a great history lesson!
Well, our intrepid innkeeper and Memory Guild psychometrist, Darla, is really up to her eyebrows in enemies, vampires and death! She can't seem to keep all her guests alive, but it isn't slowing business down. And I hope she and her inn are around for a long time!
Parker delivers yet another engrossing and impressive story that literally will enthrall from the first page! Keep writing this series, and many many readers will stay on the Memory Guild wagon!
Well, our intrepid innkeeper and Memory Guild psychometrist, Darla, is really up to her eyebrows in enemies, vampires and death! She can't seem to keep all her guests alive, but it isn't slowing business down. And I hope she and her inn are around for a long time!
Parker delivers yet another engrossing and impressive story that literally will enthrall from the first page! Keep writing this series, and many many readers will stay on the Memory Guild wagon!
October 14, 2021
A whole bunch of unmarked graves are found on the property to be developed by the Pustoole's. Next to the graves Mr.Pustoole's body is found. Who killed him and why? Was it the wife for life insurance? Was it her boyfriend in a love triangle? Or was it a vampire? So many suspects. Darla has her hands full trying to find out who killed her guest. Who are in the unmarked graves? A great read.
December 20, 2021
Ward made her abilities very real
Darla's ability to take psychic readings from objects is a real ability and some of us have it to a minor degree. Ward has created a story where the ability possessed by the protagonist actually makes the story. I enjoyed it and am looking for more.
Darla's ability to take psychic readings from objects is a real ability and some of us have it to a minor degree. Ward has created a story where the ability possessed by the protagonist actually makes the story. I enjoyed it and am looking for more.
October 15, 2021
A really well written very enjoyable cosy style fantasy murder mystery! A great group of characters, brilliant ideas & imagination! A really good fun read! I do recommend this story & all that I have read by this writer! You are in for a treat!
October 24, 2021
incredible
Beyond the paranormal, one of the things I really like about these books is the way they explore issues that are current today even when viewed through the lense of history. These characters are colorful and the relationships are developing in interesting ways.
Beyond the paranormal, one of the things I really like about these books is the way they explore issues that are current today even when viewed through the lense of history. These characters are colorful and the relationships are developing in interesting ways.
March 27, 2022
A Haunting Touch, A Review
This is the fourth book in the series and I must say, I'm impressed by both the author's storytelling, and good writing. Imaginative, creative, a truly enjoyable read.
This is the fourth book in the series and I must say, I'm impressed by both the author's storytelling, and good writing. Imaginative, creative, a truly enjoyable read.
March 5, 2023
Not my kind of book. Too graphic about what happened at the sanitarium. I have no doubt atrocities were committed in the name of getting rid of evil, but I do not enjoy reading about it. Even saying that, the book is worth reading if you like graphic suspense paranormal mysteries.
July 21, 2025
Hmm
I am concerned that I am reading these faster and faster. Just hard to put down. While I am still missing more back story on many of the characters, these books sure are addictive!
I am concerned that I am reading these faster and faster. Just hard to put down. While I am still missing more back story on many of the characters, these books sure are addictive!
October 19, 2021
I'm inexplicably drawn to this series. Meh because the character development is a bit flat, but enjoyable nonetheless.
October 22, 2021
A Haunting Touch
Good book. Great characters with an awesome storyline created a great story. The action, mystery and romance was good. Enjoy.
Good book. Great characters with an awesome storyline created a great story. The action, mystery and romance was good. Enjoy.
November 29, 2021
Fun read
I’ve enjoyed the whole series so far. The characters and storyline are pure fantasy and there’s humor as well. Well written, good to read.
I’ve enjoyed the whole series so far. The characters and storyline are pure fantasy and there’s humor as well. Well written, good to read.
March 27, 2022
Every book in this series has been a page turner. I love the humor the author throws in the stories. If you like ghost stories you will thoroughly enjoy this series. Great series! ❤
May 15, 2022
Best one
This a really fun series. I like how she had made the back stories of so many characters. They are just fun reading.
This a really fun series. I like how she had made the back stories of so many characters. They are just fun reading.
October 24, 2021
Darla is mid-life she now has developed a new skill, having so witchy blood lines. So when
one of her guests was murdered. She felt like she had to find out why he was a developer and the land he wanted to build on was the site of a long-ago demolished sanatorium. During the investagation unmarked graves are uncovered. Her "Magic Touch" is leaving her wondering why the sanatorium’s deceased patients: shifters and other supernaturals were burried in unmarked graves. Darla felt obligated to find justice for the victims, as well as solve the murder of her guest, with the help of the Memory Guild; great at uncovering forgotten history. Can Darla’s gift help her solve the murder and perhaps give some peace to the patients of the sanitation? Will Darla take a risk, to find out more about her husband who disappeared, one night withot a trace?
one of her guests was murdered. She felt like she had to find out why he was a developer and the land he wanted to build on was the site of a long-ago demolished sanatorium. During the investagation unmarked graves are uncovered. Her "Magic Touch" is leaving her wondering why the sanatorium’s deceased patients: shifters and other supernaturals were burried in unmarked graves. Darla felt obligated to find justice for the victims, as well as solve the murder of her guest, with the help of the Memory Guild; great at uncovering forgotten history. Can Darla’s gift help her solve the murder and perhaps give some peace to the patients of the sanitation? Will Darla take a risk, to find out more about her husband who disappeared, one night withot a trace?
June 29, 2022
Keeping me hooked
So far, I have loved each book in the series. The individual plots and the overall concept of the series.
So far, I have loved each book in the series. The individual plots and the overall concept of the series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews