What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghost Files #1
The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files
The criminal underworld meets the spiritual otherworld in this thrilling debut collaboration between the inspiration for television's The Ghost Whisperer and an award-winning writer/director. Anza O'Malley is in most ways a typical single mom. She lives a happy, busy life with her five-year-old son in Cambridge, Massachusetts, juggling the joys and challenges of life as a doting parent and a freelance bookbinder. But there is more to Anza than meets the "ungifted" she can see and speak with ghosts. Although she's been solving cold cases for the police for years, Anza has been hoping to focus her energies on her son and her bookbinding career. But when an exquisite and priceless illuminated manuscript is stolen from the Boston Athenaeum, and when its desecration spurs the appearance of some very unhappy spirits, Anza can neither look nor walk away. With an unlikely trio of ghosts by her side–a charming butler and two medieval monks–Anza leads us on an urgent journey through Boston's winding, cobbled streets to uncover a trail of deceit, danger, and ghoulish intrigue.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
12 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ann Winkowski
7 books28 followersA happily married, devout Catholic, suburban mother and full-time paranormal investigator, Mary Ann Winkowski has been able to see earthbound spirits, spirits that are trapped on earth and haven't "crossed over," since she was a little girl. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here - whether it be people they can't let go of or homes they love. "
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 11, 2010
The story started out really well and the ending was okay. It was the many not so interesting pages in between that almost made me not finish this book.
August 9, 2010
Wow. Sure am glad to finally get this finished. This is 300 pages of my life I will never get back again.
February 19, 2021
One of the authors of this book, Mary Ann Winkowski, wrote scripts for the TV series "The Ghost Whisperer", so I had high hopes for a good ghost story. Well, my hopes were dashed. The author couldn't seem to decide whether this should be a ghost story or a family drama about the woes of being a single parent. The book was disappointing. There's a sequel, but I won't be rushing to read it.
June 11, 2022
This book is written by Maureen Foley and Mary Ann Winkowski (the real life inspiration behind the tv show 'The Ghost Whisperer'). I loved Mary Ann Winkowski's first book 'When Ghosts Speak' which is an autobiographical account of her life as a medium. I was so excited to hear she had teamed up with another writer to publish a novel that I had to buy it right away. I savoured the sight of it on my bookshelf until I couldn't wait any longer and I dove right in.
The novel has so many cool elements: a character who can see and communicate with ghosts, two characters who are bookbinders by trade, ancient manuscripts, medieval monks, a rich family with a massive mansion and a butler, and a crime that needs solving.
I had such high expectations for the book that I couldn't help but be a little disappointed at the end result. I definitely believe too much time was spent on the main character's son and family arrangements (boring and not key to the plot) and I definitely wanted to read more about her ability to communicate with ghosts and how she decided to use this gift in her every day life.
In my opinion, the plot line was too complicated for these authors to successfully tackle in their first novel together, and the book would have worked better if they'd kept it simple instead of aiming so high.
Will I read any of their work in the future? Of course I will! Mary Ann Winkowski is the kind of author I will follow blindly, and I hope she hones her style and gains the confidence to write novels on her own. I'm confident she can do it and I'll support her work all the way.
The novel has so many cool elements: a character who can see and communicate with ghosts, two characters who are bookbinders by trade, ancient manuscripts, medieval monks, a rich family with a massive mansion and a butler, and a crime that needs solving.
I had such high expectations for the book that I couldn't help but be a little disappointed at the end result. I definitely believe too much time was spent on the main character's son and family arrangements (boring and not key to the plot) and I definitely wanted to read more about her ability to communicate with ghosts and how she decided to use this gift in her every day life.
In my opinion, the plot line was too complicated for these authors to successfully tackle in their first novel together, and the book would have worked better if they'd kept it simple instead of aiming so high.
Will I read any of their work in the future? Of course I will! Mary Ann Winkowski is the kind of author I will follow blindly, and I hope she hones her style and gains the confidence to write novels on her own. I'm confident she can do it and I'll support her work all the way.
March 4, 2014
[2.5 stars]
My question is this: Was this book intended to be a family drama with ghosts in it or a ghost story with a background of family life?
This book could have been so much better. Rather than focus on the mystery at hand – the disappearance of the illuminated manuscript – Anza describes the minutiae of her life in Boston, such as riding the T, going to iconic restaurants (Charlie's Kitchen, Café Algiers), visiting the Charles Hotel, and high rents in the city. And I really don't care about her childcare arrangements, the good relationship she has with her son's father, or the neighbors. I want to read about ghosts and old books, dammit!
It's almost as if the authors took a class in creative writing, then applied their new knowledge without discrimination. So, a chair isn't just a chair in this story. No, it's more likely to be described as a colonial-style dining room chair with plush red velvet upholstery, an intricate floral design on the back, curving armrests, and delicate legs that sunk into the luxuriant Turkish carpet laid on the home's original wide-plank floors. Because why use one word when you can use 35?
It wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was slightly above mediocre.
My question is this: Was this book intended to be a family drama with ghosts in it or a ghost story with a background of family life?
This book could have been so much better. Rather than focus on the mystery at hand – the disappearance of the illuminated manuscript – Anza describes the minutiae of her life in Boston, such as riding the T, going to iconic restaurants (Charlie's Kitchen, Café Algiers), visiting the Charles Hotel, and high rents in the city. And I really don't care about her childcare arrangements, the good relationship she has with her son's father, or the neighbors. I want to read about ghosts and old books, dammit!
It's almost as if the authors took a class in creative writing, then applied their new knowledge without discrimination. So, a chair isn't just a chair in this story. No, it's more likely to be described as a colonial-style dining room chair with plush red velvet upholstery, an intricate floral design on the back, curving armrests, and delicate legs that sunk into the luxuriant Turkish carpet laid on the home's original wide-plank floors. Because why use one word when you can use 35?
It wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was slightly above mediocre.
March 19, 2010
Can I give this a half a star for trying? This book was a last minute add-on in Barnes & Noble and a moment I regret. I thought it might contain a bit of history about monks in the 12th century, you know, something that took a little research on the authors' parts (otherwise, why else have two authors--was one really that bad that the other had to help?), but instead, it was more on the surface mommy-lit with a very basic mystery plot. Predicable. No wonder one of these authors creates for the t.v. series, "The Ghost Whisperer." Those plots are as full of holes as this one.
December 13, 2009
My review is colored by the fact that I thought this was going to be a non-fiction book about ghosts. We read it for book club and it lead to good discussion on whether we believed in ghosts. However, this book did not have enough ghosts and their history and too much of the marriage of Q to U (the single mom subplot), which made it fall a little flat.
May 21, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I think the TV show it's kind of associated with made me question how much I'd like it. I would give it 3.5 stars--the extra .5 star is for having a lot of Irish stuff in it without making the characters sound like they're advertising "Lucky Charms". I would love it if this was the start of a series--I'd definitely read the next book!
August 11, 2016
Written by a consultant for the TV show The Ghost Whisperer, this is a supernatural mystery that reads like a cozy. Because of that I didn't care for it. There was also way too much detail written in. I don't care how the protagonist takes her coffee, or about all the neighbors in a building. Too much detail, not enough action.
April 8, 2010
I did not find this book that entertaining. It was kind of all over the place and never settled on one plotline. It was a disappointment.
July 2, 2015
Nice little story. Developed well. Really did not need so much writing about her very busy family life. Did not add to the main story.
May 7, 2023
This is a book mainly about the illuminated book, the book of Kildare. It is a first novel of Mary Ann Window ski and Maureen Foley arisen in 2009 with the inspiration by Ghost Whisperer series. It is a better version of the series. It weaves the of Anza as a book binder in Boston and the world of Art theft in Harvard. Anza is a single mother who gets involved with ghosts haunting a rare book binder the Anathema and uncovers the world of Art theft and corrupt individuals at Harvard . It has good plot and we find out that Anza can create a portal or light for ghosts to walk through. It has interesting plot and learned the hydrogen Parkside to get the skunk smell for dogs.
January 12, 2020
Knowing that one of the authors is an honest-to-goodness medium/psychic, I was intrigued. This was a well-written, quick read. The plot isn't too drawn out - things happen at a pretty quick, but not rushed, pace.
October 14, 2020
I like Anza. This reminds me of Ghost Whisperer, which makes complete sense, considering both this book and that series were based on the author's own experiences. I like Anza's family.
I enjoyed the mystery and the resolution.
I enjoyed the mystery and the resolution.
March 11, 2025
It was a good light read. I was traveling this weekend and read it on the plane. A little sentimental for me and everything wraps up in the end. Nice tidy and neat finish, alls well and everyone is happy. If that’s what you’re looking for it fits the bill.
January 11, 2023
Not exactly a page turner, but fairly well written with an interesting plot.
July 15, 2024
A fun concept but seemed like an overly complicated storyline.
August 5, 2012
I enjoyed this story, which combinded books, ghosts, family angst, and history into one clever, interesting plot.
Anza O'Malley is a single mom, who makes her living as a book-binder. Oh, also, she sees and can talk to ghosts.
When a family friend asks Anza to help an acquaintance who thinks she's being haunted at the famous Boston Athanaeum, Anza would prefer to not get involved. But she feels a responsibility to use her gift to help when she can, so she visits the Athanaeum, and finds the ghosts of two 12th Century monks, who are extrememly angry about a priceless illuminated manuscript that was in the building, but has now disappeared.
Before long, Anza is caught up in a mystery/thriller of a situation involving art experts, other ghosts, family squabbles, art theft, not to mention the father of her son, who just happens to be a Boston cop!
Lots of excitement, clever twists and turns and interesting characters. A very quick and easy read with a fun story.
Anza O'Malley is a single mom, who makes her living as a book-binder. Oh, also, she sees and can talk to ghosts.
When a family friend asks Anza to help an acquaintance who thinks she's being haunted at the famous Boston Athanaeum, Anza would prefer to not get involved. But she feels a responsibility to use her gift to help when she can, so she visits the Athanaeum, and finds the ghosts of two 12th Century monks, who are extrememly angry about a priceless illuminated manuscript that was in the building, but has now disappeared.
Before long, Anza is caught up in a mystery/thriller of a situation involving art experts, other ghosts, family squabbles, art theft, not to mention the father of her son, who just happens to be a Boston cop!
Lots of excitement, clever twists and turns and interesting characters. A very quick and easy read with a fun story.
October 18, 2010
From the description I expected this to be a ghost story. Instead it's a story with ghosts in it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The story was okay, although some of the characters could have been developed a bit better. Although the story in itself is good I think it isn't worked out to it's full potential. There is so much happening in the main character's life (that hasn't got anything to do with the story) that the main plot gets snowed under. The ending also feels hastened.
Despite this it was an enjoyable read. It should have been a quick book for me to read but somehow it took me longer to finish this book than most books this length. I think it was because I simply didn't really care for the characters and what happened to them.
The story was okay, although some of the characters could have been developed a bit better. Although the story in itself is good I think it isn't worked out to it's full potential. There is so much happening in the main character's life (that hasn't got anything to do with the story) that the main plot gets snowed under. The ending also feels hastened.
Despite this it was an enjoyable read. It should have been a quick book for me to read but somehow it took me longer to finish this book than most books this length. I think it was because I simply didn't really care for the characters and what happened to them.
November 29, 2009
If you enjoyed Geraldine Brook's People of the Book you might want to try this light read involving an illustrated text (along the lines of the Book of Kells) that has disappeared in 21st century Boston. The best part of the story is the setting - Greater Boston comes to life in the descriptions of the neighborhoods and landmarks. I am normally not into "spectral" storylines (this was my first) and while necessary to the plot the characters from the past here were believable enough ...I focussed on the book and Boston parts of the storyline and was able to suspend my belief long enough to make it to the end. In fact, I would probably read a second if it becomes a series.
June 28, 2012
I read the second book in this new series first and it really didn't bother me as it had with other series. The authors have given us an excellent read. Anza, the main character, has the ability to see, hear and speak with spirits who are earth bound. She is also the single mother of a five year old boy. Her main occupation is as a book binder and her vocation is helping the spirits to cross the threshold into the light. Set in the Boston area, it is an enjoyable book that allows the reader to open the mind to new and different possibilities. It is a great new series. . .
January 22, 2010
I kept going back and forth with this one. Whenever it dealt with the ghost's stories I kept going briskly along, but as soon as it got back to the character's crush on her kid's father I felt it lost momentum. I did find myself loathing the villain with a hatred I only reserve for those who cut up books. Horrible! Terrible! You disrespect an 11th century illuminated manuscript, you feel my wrath!
November 16, 2009
I was skeptical of the ghost aspect of this book, but it turns out I'm perfectly fine with ghosts in fiction. I liked the two ghost story lines, but I expected/wanted them to be more intertwined than they were. In fact, that's maybe my one complaint about this book -- there were so many little stories and details going on, but in the end they all seemed kind of random. Nothing was tied together as well as I'd hoped. But overall I liked the book. It was a quick and entertaining read.
April 13, 2011
Move over Ghost whisperer, as a matter of fact the author consulted on the show! The main character Anza O'Malley searches for the lost manuscript through the streets of rich historical Boston. She works as a book binder & has been able to see ghosts all her life. The mystery is further afoot with the ghosts of the monks who created the lost manuscript. The characters are well thought out. A light and enjoyable read.
January 2, 2010
I rarely read books by two authors, but this was great. I read it New Years Day while "watching" football. I enjoyed the premises of the book, a person who can see and communicate with ghosts, the search for a lost manuscript, and the extended family concept. I look forward to other books in the series.
April 9, 2013
the first half of the book was pretty hard to muddle through. i found the last half to be more interesting. there were alot of characters to keep straight in my mind, so that made the read alot more tedious. but the story was good and i am glad that i stuck with it and didnt give up, and trust me, there were a few times when i wanted to close the book and not finish it.
November 11, 2009
If you enjoy the Ghost Whisperer on TV then I think you will really enjoy this book. There are several different stories going on at once but by the end of the book all have been resolved and its great the way they all interlocked.
May 17, 2011
I enjoyed it enough to consider getting the next book, "Ice Cradle" another novel with the same characters. It is very much like an episode of the show "Ghost Whisper",light entertainment with neither the mystery or the ghosts being too complicated.
July 23, 2016
I've read Mary Ann's When Ghosts Speak, about her real life as a psychic and I can see how much inspiration she pulled from her own life to create this story. But despite the similarities, it's a beautifully unique work and I felt completely connected to Anza the whole time.
October 5, 2014
I gave this three stars because it was a fun read even if the character development for the supporting characters was a bit uneven. Actually the best part of the story isn't about the missing book at all, but instead about one of the other ghosts - the old butler.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews