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Ghost of a Chance
A damaged detective, out of a job
A relationship on the rocks
What does the future hold for David Snow?
Just when he thought life couldn’t get any worse
A ghost with a grudge adds to his pain
A ghost hell bent on stopping him from rebuilding his life…
A relationship on the rocks
What does the future hold for David Snow?
Just when he thought life couldn’t get any worse
A ghost with a grudge adds to his pain
A ghost hell bent on stopping him from rebuilding his life…
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
2 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Jaye Marie
18 books59 followersMy name is Jaye Marie, the 'oily rag' and one half of the establishment that is https://jenanita01.com.
I came to writing rather late but have always loved books. I think I trained to be a writer due to so many years of transcribing and editing my sister, Anita Dawes's books.
When I was growing up, I wanted to be so many things, a doctor, a pianist, or an artist. In all my 75 years, I have had so many jobs and hobbies that my family call me Worzel Gummidge, convinced I have a selection of different heads in a cupboard somewhere!
I love to make things, whether it is something to wear, eat or simply enjoy looking at. These days however, time is becoming my enemy, but I can still stretch it a bit when I need to!
I enjoy reading many different genres, so was very surprised to discover a passion for writing detective thrillers. Four of them to date, with more to follow I'm sure.
I also enjoy running our website/blog, Books & Bonsai, and love meeting all the wonderful people who drop in to say hello!
I came to writing rather late but have always loved books. I think I trained to be a writer due to so many years of transcribing and editing my sister, Anita Dawes's books.
When I was growing up, I wanted to be so many things, a doctor, a pianist, or an artist. In all my 75 years, I have had so many jobs and hobbies that my family call me Worzel Gummidge, convinced I have a selection of different heads in a cupboard somewhere!
I love to make things, whether it is something to wear, eat or simply enjoy looking at. These days however, time is becoming my enemy, but I can still stretch it a bit when I need to!
I enjoy reading many different genres, so was very surprised to discover a passion for writing detective thrillers. Four of them to date, with more to follow I'm sure.
I also enjoy running our website/blog, Books & Bonsai, and love meeting all the wonderful people who drop in to say hello!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 2, 2023
Ghost of a Chance was recommended to me by a friend.
It is apparently the fourth book in a series about a former detective who has been pensioned off following a debilitating attack.
The story opens with a prologue that brought the hairs up on the back of my neck. There is a paranormal thread running through the tale that is genuinely creepy!
Ghost of a Chance is told through four separate perspectives. Snow’s is related in the first person, but the other three are told in the third and this works well.
David Snow, the protagonist, is drawn in to helping others despite his early retirement. He faces some unpleasant and believable characters who have so far remained above the law. One of these characters has done all he can to remove Snow from the scene so that he can step into his shoes. We learn about his past, and the sentence about his mother - ‘The day his father hit her too hard was the day his own temper was born’ – goes some way to explain his aggression.
Snow has other problems apart from his early retirement; his wife is having an affair and the tension between the two of them was handled beautifully.
One of the characters that struck a particular chord with me was Laurie, a young student who is enthusiastic and willing to face danger to help others. She and Snow form an unusual alliance that worked well in the book.
I won’t say any more in case I give away important parts of the plot, but I am now looking forward to going back and reading the series from the start.
It is apparently the fourth book in a series about a former detective who has been pensioned off following a debilitating attack.
The story opens with a prologue that brought the hairs up on the back of my neck. There is a paranormal thread running through the tale that is genuinely creepy!
Ghost of a Chance is told through four separate perspectives. Snow’s is related in the first person, but the other three are told in the third and this works well.
David Snow, the protagonist, is drawn in to helping others despite his early retirement. He faces some unpleasant and believable characters who have so far remained above the law. One of these characters has done all he can to remove Snow from the scene so that he can step into his shoes. We learn about his past, and the sentence about his mother - ‘The day his father hit her too hard was the day his own temper was born’ – goes some way to explain his aggression.
Snow has other problems apart from his early retirement; his wife is having an affair and the tension between the two of them was handled beautifully.
One of the characters that struck a particular chord with me was Laurie, a young student who is enthusiastic and willing to face danger to help others. She and Snow form an unusual alliance that worked well in the book.
I won’t say any more in case I give away important parts of the plot, but I am now looking forward to going back and reading the series from the start.
October 16, 2023
A wonderful read.
December 29, 2022
There are four main characters in this book. DI David Snow has lost his job and, it seems, most of his police skills and common sense. His wife, Jane Snow, lurches from one bad choice to another throughout the book. Their marriage is at best shaky, at worst shattered. Then there's Alan Turner, who zig-zags from one irrational violent confrontation to the next. The Guildford police service definitely made a bad choice when they hired him. Finally, reluctant student Laurie Cole is a pleasant contrast to the three sad sacks. She at least pursues a number of goals with enthusiasm, unlike the others, who spend many pages wallowing in their emotions and reliving past disasters.
The plot revolves around Snow's regrets over the injury that cost him his job, Jane's sex addiction and broken marriage, Turner's irrational pursuit of revenge on Snow, and Laurie's obsession with an older woman who appears to have lost her memory. There are several murders and a vengeful ghost, but the story's focus and point of view shifts frequently, and only a few of the situations are resolved by the end of the book.
I would describe this book a psychological thriller, rather than a mystery. Yes, two of the characters are policemen, but this is not a police procedural. I spent way too much time in the heads of the muddled, unhappy, embittered characters, as they flail through various encounters with one another. The supernatural element was intriguing but insufficiently developed. The ending was saved by hints of future hope for a few of the characters. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
The plot revolves around Snow's regrets over the injury that cost him his job, Jane's sex addiction and broken marriage, Turner's irrational pursuit of revenge on Snow, and Laurie's obsession with an older woman who appears to have lost her memory. There are several murders and a vengeful ghost, but the story's focus and point of view shifts frequently, and only a few of the situations are resolved by the end of the book.
I would describe this book a psychological thriller, rather than a mystery. Yes, two of the characters are policemen, but this is not a police procedural. I spent way too much time in the heads of the muddled, unhappy, embittered characters, as they flail through various encounters with one another. The supernatural element was intriguing but insufficiently developed. The ending was saved by hints of future hope for a few of the characters. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
March 7, 2023
A tale full of mystery, supernatural aspects and love on the fringes. The characters were well defined and interesting in this story told entirely through third person POVs and one in first person by the main character, David Snow, a detective who has been tossed out of work due to an injury received in the line of duty.
Something is amiss with the man who took over David’s job. Does he have designs to do more damage to David’s reputation? David must fight his way back to do what he loves to do and not settle for less by being a private investigator.
Other characters come into play that forces David to look at his life more closely, his past romantic involvement and present friendship with a woman who needs his help to investigate a disappearance.
An intriguing story that held my attention right to the end.
Something is amiss with the man who took over David’s job. Does he have designs to do more damage to David’s reputation? David must fight his way back to do what he loves to do and not settle for less by being a private investigator.
Other characters come into play that forces David to look at his life more closely, his past romantic involvement and present friendship with a woman who needs his help to investigate a disappearance.
An intriguing story that held my attention right to the end.
October 5, 2022
Although this book is a continuation in a series, the author did a good job of establishing characters and their past relationships. As a reader I felt on firm footing. The story is told from alternating POVs, all in third person, with the exception of the MC, David Snow, a former DI, who has suffered a debilitating injury that has changed his career path. We get his POV in first person.
While the story itself is gritty, the writing is polished, and the pacing strong. The writer has a deft hand with dark investigative crime. A splash of the supernatural adds an intriguing element to this hard-hitting tale that explores the bleaker side of human nature and relationships.
While the story itself is gritty, the writing is polished, and the pacing strong. The writer has a deft hand with dark investigative crime. A splash of the supernatural adds an intriguing element to this hard-hitting tale that explores the bleaker side of human nature and relationships.
October 12, 2022
David Snow fails his fitness test after getting shot with a crossbow. As a result, he loses the detective job he loved. But that’s not the only thing in his life falling apart. His wife, Jane, is having a torrid and dangerous affair, and his attempt to work as a private investigator is ticking off Alan, a rival who seems determined to make him suffer. The only good thing happening in his life is Laurie, a college student with a couple of mysteries to solve. She becomes his sidekick, affectionately known as Nancy Drew.
The story unfolds in four POVs (for the aforementioned characters). David tells his story in 1st person and the other three in 3rd person. The pace moves along quickly with plenty of action and just the right amount of reference to previous books in the series. I had no trouble following and polished off the book in a single day.
The characters were complex and multifaceted. Laurie is a ray of sunshine, and it was a toss-up as to whether I liked her or David the best. Jane and Alan are much more troubled and less likable, particularly Alan who falls deeply into a villainous role.
The read seems to work well as a stand-alone, but two major plot threads are left open for a future book: 1) a creepy paranormal/possession case that David is investigating. And 2) an unexpected murder that points in a few different directions. For readers who don’t mind a couple of loose ends, both are reasons to look forward to the next book. Highly recommended to fans of crime novels and thrillers who enjoy a paranormal twist.
The story unfolds in four POVs (for the aforementioned characters). David tells his story in 1st person and the other three in 3rd person. The pace moves along quickly with plenty of action and just the right amount of reference to previous books in the series. I had no trouble following and polished off the book in a single day.
The characters were complex and multifaceted. Laurie is a ray of sunshine, and it was a toss-up as to whether I liked her or David the best. Jane and Alan are much more troubled and less likable, particularly Alan who falls deeply into a villainous role.
The read seems to work well as a stand-alone, but two major plot threads are left open for a future book: 1) a creepy paranormal/possession case that David is investigating. And 2) an unexpected murder that points in a few different directions. For readers who don’t mind a couple of loose ends, both are reasons to look forward to the next book. Highly recommended to fans of crime novels and thrillers who enjoy a paranormal twist.
April 6, 2024
DI David Snow was seriously injured in a previous encounter and has been officially retired from the police. He is wrestling with the breakdown of his marriage at the same time.
He goes to the police station to try to convince them that he is still able to do his job. While there, he sees a young woman bringing in an elderly woman in great distress. He goes to help. No one knows who the elderly woman is, and she has amnesia. The girl had found her in a state of stress and wants to help.
DI Snow decides to help find out who the woman is, and why she is upset. This leads him into an investigation involving murder and ghostly happenings.
CHARACTERS
All the characters in this novel are believable. They all have problems and faults as well as their good points..
David Snow is wrestling with depression after losing his wife and his job. He finds some relief in investigating the mystery woman.
David's wife, Jane, has had a string of affairs after the breakup. Not all were satisfactory, especially one. She regrets this, but cannot find the strength to stop.
Laurie, the girl who brought the old woman to the police station, has her own problems. After a difficult childhood and adolescence, she finds it difficult to settle to anything. She has enrolled at University, and is determined to graduate, but finds the commitment difficult, as well as commitment to another human being.
Alan Turner is a person who was jealous of David Snow’s success. He is a thoroughly nasty person who plots Snow's downfall, wanting his job. He has few positive traits. I disliked him all the way through. (Which I suspect I was intended to.)
WRITING.
Jaye Marie has created an exciting and enthralling story. The writing is good and there are very few typos.
She manages to build up the tension well, creating an unputdownable book.
The story is told mainly in third person past tense, but David Snow's chapters are in first person. This, I think, brings us closer to him and his problems. I like the idea.
I give it 5*
He goes to the police station to try to convince them that he is still able to do his job. While there, he sees a young woman bringing in an elderly woman in great distress. He goes to help. No one knows who the elderly woman is, and she has amnesia. The girl had found her in a state of stress and wants to help.
DI Snow decides to help find out who the woman is, and why she is upset. This leads him into an investigation involving murder and ghostly happenings.
CHARACTERS
All the characters in this novel are believable. They all have problems and faults as well as their good points..
David Snow is wrestling with depression after losing his wife and his job. He finds some relief in investigating the mystery woman.
David's wife, Jane, has had a string of affairs after the breakup. Not all were satisfactory, especially one. She regrets this, but cannot find the strength to stop.
Laurie, the girl who brought the old woman to the police station, has her own problems. After a difficult childhood and adolescence, she finds it difficult to settle to anything. She has enrolled at University, and is determined to graduate, but finds the commitment difficult, as well as commitment to another human being.
Alan Turner is a person who was jealous of David Snow’s success. He is a thoroughly nasty person who plots Snow's downfall, wanting his job. He has few positive traits. I disliked him all the way through. (Which I suspect I was intended to.)
WRITING.
Jaye Marie has created an exciting and enthralling story. The writing is good and there are very few typos.
She manages to build up the tension well, creating an unputdownable book.
The story is told mainly in third person past tense, but David Snow's chapters are in first person. This, I think, brings us closer to him and his problems. I like the idea.
I give it 5*
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews