Review of Ghosts

[John Rehg]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ghosts" by Lacynda Mathes.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Ghosts weaves an intricate tale of mystery surrounding the protagonist, Gavin Mahoney. The story focuses on events that happened during the war in Afghanistan over a decade earlier against the backdrop of a family preparation for Christmas.

Gavin is a recently retired police officer battling Breacher Syndrome, a disorder brought on by repeated exposure to explosions. Smoking medical marijuana is the only thing that helps his condition.

He works to uncover a memory block from the war in order to unravel the secrets behind several attempts on the lives of family members.

As the tale unfolds, family relationships are revealed and ghosts play a small part in helping Gavin and his wife understand some of the background to their stories. The family dynamics are quite complicated and the revelations are never-ending.

The gatherings of Gavin’s large, extended mixed-ethnicity family play a prominent role as the setting for most of the action.

The story is well-edited; no mistakes were found. The only drawback involves family relationships. The book introduces new characters often and links them in multiple ways through blood and marriage relationships. A large diagram would come in handy in trying to keep all the character’s connections straight for the reader.

The story moves at a relaxed pace, detailing the parties and the back-and-forth banter among family members during Christmastime. This gentle tempo gives the reader a chance to understand Gavin, both in how capable he is and how he manages the symptoms of his neurological disorder.

Many of the relationships feel authentic; the dialogue is first-rate. I give this 4 out of 5 stars. One star was deducted for the confusing family connections that make it difficult to follow all the twists and turns. If readers can keep up with them, they will find this an intriguing little mystery.

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Ghosts
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[Sinimol]

The story's unique blend of mystery, family drama, and the psychological struggles of its protagonist, Gavin Mahoney, creates an engaging narrative. The exploration of Breacher Syndrome adds depth to Gavin’s character, making his journey of uncovering suppressed war memories even more compelling.

The book’s well-developed family dynamics and holiday setting provide warmth and authenticity. However, the complex web of relationships might be overwhelming for some readers, and a family tree diagram could have been helpful. Despite this, the strong character development, realistic dialogue, and steady pacing make Ghosts an enjoyable read.

Overall, the review offers a fair assessment with a 4 out of 5 stars rating, acknowledging the book’s engaging mystery and well-crafted storytelling while noting the challenge of keeping track of the numerous characters. Fans of intricate family dramas and slow-burning mysteries will likely appreciate this novel.

[Shaniz Tobiaz]

This would be a great book if the author gave it another round of editing. This a must read for me, and thanks for the great review.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

This is a good thriller story. So much mystery and at the same time the medical issue. Is Gavin really seeing ghosts? I like that there are twists and turns. Thank you for your clear review, it made me want to read this book. I am adding it to my shelves.

[George Bastem]

Sounds like a thoughtful mix of mystery, family drama, and psychological depth. The slow-burn pacing and rich dialogue seem to bring Gavin’s struggles and resilience to life, though keeping track of all the family ties might be a challenge.