To Kill A Ghost

by J. Warren Weaver

Inspired by thrillers such as The Bourne Identity , as well as classics of mistaken identity such as Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley , To Kill A Ghost is a novel about organized crime, intergenerational trauma, and twisted loyalties. What if you aren’t who you think you are? And what if your enemies know more about you than you know about yourself?

When Erik’s grandfather is murdered on the front steps of his home, Erik is forced to put medical school on hold and deal with his grieving family. When the case runs cold and things don’t seem to add up Erik finds himself leading his own investigation into the grisly murder.

As Erik becomes embroiled in escalating acts of violence, a message from beyond the grave activates his hidden skills; a set of skills carefully planted in him by his grandfather Victor. By the time Erik realizes what is happening, he is involved in drug-dealing, kidnapping, and organized crime. Unexplained murders seem to follow him, but the deepest secret is still to come.

Can Erik face the truth about Victor’s past and how it affects his own future?

Genres: Fiction

385 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2022

Reviews

[J. Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels silly for me, the author, to rate and review my own book but goodreads keeps requesting I do so... So, here we go. I love my book. I poured my heart and soul into the pages. I spent many a sleepless night wondering where my characters would go and what they'd be able to survive. As the story took shape, it became more than anything I could've imagined. It took on a life of its own as it explored the family dynamic and the effects if inter-generational trauma. The way the story twists and turns, the happy accidents a tired mind can stumble upon, the very real feeling of grief I experienced and manifested in Erik.

I think my book is wonderful, but I'm less concerned with my thoughts, and more interested in the thoughts of the reader. What did you feel as you turned the pages? What worked? What didn't? I'm cursed with a curious mind and always ready to hear what landed and what missed. Don't hesitate to let me know what can be better!

Thank you for giving my debut novel a chance! Your support means more to me than I can ever convey in words.

[Alex Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! The Bourne Identity influence is apparent and implemented well. Loved learning about the characters at the same time they were learning about themselves. Great pacing and ability to connect and build empathy with the characters. Hope to get more from the author in the future!

[Alyssa Huskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 it took me a little while to really get hooked on this book but once I did I was anxious to see where it was headed. Looking forward to the sequel.

[BookTrib.com]

This is a carefully constructed tale of mystery, action and vengeance. Weaver shows great balance in presenting enough details to bring each scene to life and advance this intricate plot one step at a time, without bogging the reader down with excessive descriptions or narrative. Reminding us that every family has its secrets, TO KILL A GHOST will become a favorite for those who enjoy a fast-paced plot that also explores hidden identities and makes intriguing connections to the past.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/04/13/confr...

[Emma von Borstell · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5⭐) When Victor Brown is found dead on his doorstep, his family is left in shock. A pillar of his community, a Norwegian immigrant and an inspiration to his youngest grandson Erik, Victor's death sends a wave of despair crashing over the whole family, throwing Erik into a grief filled tailspin. Erik delves further into his grief when he discovers that Victor didn't die of natural causes; he was murdered. In his search for answers, Erik stumbles upon a mystery that he is inadvertently a part of, a mystery that is decades in the making but is only just beginning. "To Kill A Ghost" by J. Warren Weaver is a twisting turning thriller about familial secrets and how they echo down the generations.
🤙🏻
While the story takes a little while to set up, once it's revealed in its entirety, it takes off. I've never been a big crime thriller fan, but this kept my attention and kept me guessing. It was a little clunky in the beginning, but it more than made up for by the end. Rather than throwing us into the deep end and hoping we swim, Weaver gives us all the clues and sits back and waits while we figure it out. The world building and backstory were well done and well researched, and it made for a very entertaining read. In a brief conversation I had with Weaver, he told me he is a big World War Two buff and is specifically fascinated by Poland's role in the war. Based on his research, he wanted to create a fun spy 'what if' story set around his favorite war and his favorite aspect of said war. His love of history and his dedication to the specifics are revealed in his writing. It's also obvious that Weaver is a fan of all things crime and thriller, and that reflects in his writing. Being a fan makes his debut novel a love letter to the genre as well as an exciting addition to its canon.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bounces between a 3 star and a 3.5 star book and ultimately I settled on 3. The action is good and the pacing is very good. I think my biggest challenge with the book was that the main character was, in theory, trained by his grandfather with "a special set of skills" unbeknownst to him (and that's ok) but he keeps slip-sliding on these skills.

His skills at reading people are abysmal for somebody who supposedly was trained to observe people and learn from observation who they really are, as an example. As another example, and probably my biggest grip, for somebody who was trained in kick boxing since he was a kid, he gets his ass handed to him...a lot.

That said, the character's pretty interesting and doesn't fall into the trap of a person with Job-like challenges being a whining cry-baby all the team. He moves forward, as best he can and I kept moving along in the book because I did want to see what happened next.

[Cam Torrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book from the author at a writing conference. Best decision I made that weekend! To Kill A Ghost by J. Warren Weaver is a gripping thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With a complex plot that explores organized crime, inter-generational trauma, and twisted loyalties, this novel will leave readers questioning their own identities and the secrets that may be lurking in their own pasts. Weaver's skillful writing and well-crafted characters make this a must-read for fans of the genre.

[C Doddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun mystery thriller

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was easy to get drawn in and I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter before I put it down. I enjoyed seeing how the main character grew throughout the story and how the author gives you insight on all the characters and their motivation. He does a really good job creating strong female characters instead of the cliche damsel in distress. I can't wait to read the second book in the trilogy!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! Really enjoyed this one!

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't say I enjoyed it. The plot gets more implausible as it progresses.
I had to finish it to see how it ended - not worth the effort.

[Eivind Jessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery & suspense novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It kept me up late trying to get to the next parts. Always in suspense.

[Sarah Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I loved this book so much. Formulating a review and will update when all my thoughts are together in an understandable way 😅

[Myranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual speed but a nice couple of twists and turns. It doesn't seem quite set up for a sequel, despite having one so we will see how it is as well.