The Spooky Life (The Spectral Files 4) by S.E. Harmon
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Paranormal / Agents/Spies / Law Enforcement / Ghosts/Spirits/Hauntings / Psychic Powers / Romance / Mystery/Suspense/Thriller |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 16-May-2022 |
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Paranormal / Agents/Spies / Law Enforcement / Ghosts/Spirits/Hauntings / Psychic Powers / Romance / Mystery/Suspense/Thriller |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 16-May-2022 |
Rain Christiansen isn’t sure he’ll ever fully understand the supernatural. But he’s finally finding his groove as a reluctant medium and cold-case detective. That’s not to say everything is going smoothly—there’s a wedding in the works, after all. He’s finally taking that enormous step with fellow detective, Daniel McKenna, and he couldn’t be happier…about the marriage. Not so much the wedding. The hoopla is enough to make him wish for a quick flight to Vegas and an Elvis officiant.
At least work is keeping Rain and the PTU plenty busy. Their latest case involves Hannah Caldwell, a silent ghost who can’t—or won’t—speak. She still manages to request that they find her dear friend, Cherry Parker, so that she can say goodbye. Piece of cake. Finding people is pretty high on the list of things that Rain does best.
But when it comes to ghosts, nothing is ever quite what it seems. Before long, his simple missing person’s case takes a dark and twisted turn. And Rain realizes he’s been so busy trying to protect Danny that he forgot to protect himself.
If he doesn’t turn things around—and quickly—his spooky life might be cut short for good.
“Ghosts have a way of misleading you; they can make your thoughts as heavy as branches after a storm.” ~ Rebecca Maizel, Infinite Days
It's taken a while and has been a stormy, often spooky journey, but Danny and Rain of ‘It’s a Spooky Life’ by S.E. Harmon, are ready to take the plunge and make it “official”. But the wedding planning isn't turning out as expected, especially since Danny's mother has taken it over. Also, the ghosts won't leave him alone long enough to check out a venue. Unable to ignore her, Rain communicates with a spirit standing in the garden. That sets him on a quest to help her cross, but this one turns out to be the most dangerous interaction of all.
Since they are busy with work, they take turns accompanying Danny's mom to the appointments she deems necessary. However, Rain ends up going with his soon-to-be mother-in-law more than Danny. Rain is concerned about Danny's lack of interest. Danny reassures him that whatever his mom wants is okay. She's been so good to him that he doesn't want to disappoint her.
The latest ghost who needs his help won't speak but clarifies that she wants to say goodbye to her old friend Cherry before she crosses. This sets Danny and Rain on a closed case missing person's search that becomes more convoluted with each step. They interview all the suspects in the case but, as in years ago, can't ascertain whether Cherry was killed or left of her own volition. Everyone and no one seem suspect. So they keep digging.
Rain soon learns more about the ghost communicating with him. Her name is Hannah, and she has seriously misrepresented herself and her relationship with Cherry. By the time Rain figures out what he is dealing with, Rain does what he can to ensure the safety of everyone around him. Yet, he is in more danger than anyone else because he is the one Hannah can make use of the most.
‘The Spooky Life’ was a whirlwind of emotions. I love Danny and Rain, and they were put through the wringer in this story. They both learned essential lessons about expressing themselves, and their love and passion deepened with that knowledge. This was the spookiest of all in the series. I held my breath through a lot of it, angry and fearing the worst, wondering how they would get out of the mess they were in. I always love Rain’s snark. A lot of it was expressed as thoughts, i.e., what he should say instead of what he did say. Also, it was good to visit with the other characters in the series, all of whom are wonderfully eccentric in their own ways. I'm going to miss these guys! Thanks, S.E., for an excellent addition to the series.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.
Format | ebook |
Length | Novel, 324 pages |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 18-April-2022 |
Price | $4.99 ebook |
Buy Link | https://www.amazon.com/Spooky-Life-Spectral-Files-Book-ebook/dp/B09W9TYZLS |