Not your average ghost story
357503
Excellent supernatural thriller/suspense/ghost story! I've found a number of wonderful new authors via my Kindle Unlimited membership, many from Scare Street. David Longhorn is definitely one to watch. Am eagerly awaiting the second part of this trilogy!
3408755
I was in the mood for a good ghost story, and I found one. Listen to the Ghost is a ghost story with some interesting "human" twists. There's a stalking ex-boyfriend that you want to smack for being obnoxious. There's an interesting and handsome musician who joins the house sitting group during the ghostly excitement. Then there's  a brother and sister who learn how to deal with each other in different ways than they did as children. This is a nice theme and one that added to the texture of the book.

It's a wholesome young teen read that has some nicely spooky events as the the kids try to help the sad ghost, Phoebe, escape her predicament. You have to read to the to find out what happens.
2815893
This was a great read. Detailed in suspense and so many twists. Wow. I would recommend highly. Not your typical ghost story.
134525
I am not normally a reader of ghost stories, or horror.  I have never finished a Stephen King book, because they have not held my interest.  Somehow, though, this ghost story grabbed me, and several times through the course of the book, it really did give me shivers.

I disagree with the reviewers who didn't like the characters.  I found them satisfyingly likable and felt real, three-dimensional.

Another excellent thing about the book is that the author does seem to really know a lot about music, and what it is like to make music.  Too often, movies or books about musicians ring false, because the process of music-making is portrayed as being all about having a vague sense of "feeling it," or being "carried away." There's some of that here, but this book also has a satisfying sprinkling of things that make me believe that the author has some familiarity with the nitty-gritty details of what musicians actually think about. Time-signatures, chords, bass-lines, scales. I appreciated that.

It wasn't a perfect book.  Shivers aside, the book did not provide a huge amount of fear or suspense.  That said, I still recommend it, and believe I will soon be reading other books by this author.
1320603
This is not, as I expected, a run of the mill ghost story. The setting of this novel is deliciously creepy and atmospheric, but the core of the story is the relationship between father and daughter. The relationship between David and Elizabeth gives the novel its heart and also cranks up the tension.  The story takes place in a well imagined near future when children attend school over the internet and play fully immersive video games, which added to the sense of isolation and dread. Definitely recommended.
580377
As most, I love a good ghost story. Supernatural novels will always capture my attention. This was a well thought out yet complex book. Some parts were a bit drawn out but I stuck with it. Usually I can see the characters in my minds eye immediately, which means the author has captured my soul with their words and descriptions, lending me to fall face first into the world laid out before me. It didn't happen immediately and at first I felt very disconnected with the characters. They were faceless until everything was getting complex and I felt the anxiety Kate and Henry felt. About a quarter way through I couldn't put this down. Read this. I never expected the trials and pitfalls that had taken place and was surprised more than once by the constantly moving events. The authors knowledge and imagination were infectious. Like I said some parts became a tad long but it all led to the body of his work. Thank you for writing this. And I wish you success on future endeavors.
2881199
Liked this book it  was a different kind of ghost story and you didn't have to get the next book to find out what happened next!
3471783
A trail of paranormal bread crumbs led me gently into a refreshingly different, often chilling, twist on the afterlife--or "between," at any rate. A great read if you're in the mood for something mysterious that isn't a mystery, romantic that isn't a romance, and chilling that isn't horror. Can't really say more about the plot without spoilers (yeah, it's that kind of book :>)). I loved the relationship between Lucy and her best friend. The pets were a nice addition, too. Can't say much about the other major (paranormal) characters (again, without spoilers), other than to say they were developed and complex. The settings were outstanding, especially Lucy's veterinary practice and her house. The town, its inhabitants, and other minor and minor-ish characters were also richly drawn--as were the trips to the medieval past--all making the story feel authentic.
4851912
I liked the characters, especially the Verity and the different ghosts.  The paranormal situations were well done and were different than other books of this type.  There were surprises that I didn't see coming and I appreciate that since it doesn't happen that much for me anymore.  I'm looking forward to reading more of this authors work.
465511
I don't usually enjoy short stories, especially a whole bunch of them, but after reading Hill's wonderful Heart Shaped Box, I bit.  Well worth the investment!  The title story is heart-warming--for a ghost story.  "My Father's Mask" is one of the most unusual and disturbing stories I've ever read.  "Voluntary Committal" is Twilight Zone-ish and a wonderful metaphor for artistic creation.  11 CDs and 12 hours, touches of brilliance, the compelling readability that apparently runs in the family (dang, I'm sorry, Joe, but it's true, your wonderful voice just keeps one turning the pages, just like your dad, even if it's a different voice). Narrator Ledoux doesn't always interpret the voice the way I would've read it to myself, but he's a master and captures the essence of the characters, especially the many youthful ones, expertly.
767057
The Returned is not your atypical paranormal drama. Don't expect ghosts with elaborate make-up. Don't expect monsters lurking in the darkness. Don't expect predicable plot lines or to rely on your hunches on what will happen next.  Don't expect any form of logic. Do expect a rediscovery of the paranormal/horror genre.  Do expect to be spooked in the most unexpected manner.

The baseline of the story is about a small French alpine town where the town people's lives, both past and present, intertwine in complex and disturbing manners. The first episode focuses on Camille, who awoke from the location of her accident mysteriously and returned to her life as if nothing ever happened and utterly confused by the reaction of her family. The story unfolds carefully so as to not disclose the amount of time that passed nor the logic to the story. Every other episode then shifts focus onto another character, living or undead, but without missing a beat on the flow of all the story lines. Time, as does the town itself, also becomes an important character that drives the plot line. This is not particularly apparent in the first episode, but as the series goes on, it becomes more and more prevalent and important. Nevertheless, the stories are carefully pieced together and the tempo is well paced so that the audience follows all the backstories without missing a beat. That's when the creepy factor works itself in under your skin.

The creepiness and the spookiness is not derived by your atypical ghosts and monsters in the dark of the night.  Rather, as the other reviews noted, it comes from the atmosphere (mostly daytime), it comes from the environment surrounding the stories, and it also comes from the situation and the sequence of events.  You may also become emotionally invested in each character and the strange story developments will take its effect on you.

The cinematic direction is similar to Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), Lars von Trier (The Kingdom), and Gus Van Sant (Elephant), who all managed to challenge their audience's expectation of what shock and horror is. They, too, utilized the mood, the atmosphere, the sets, and the natural locations to build the story.  These elements themselves become pseudo characters in the fourth dimension as something both the audience and the character can sense and feel but have no control over. In "Let the Right One In", it is the apartment.  In "The Kingdom," it is the hospital.  In the "Elephant," it is the school.  As the story unfolds in "The Returned," you will begin to see this fourth dimensional "character" manifest itself slowly in subtle yet disturbing ways.

The artistic direction of the show is also noteworthy.  The opening credits is hauntingly beautiful and elegant.  The cinematography is very composed and effortless.  The result is a perfect blend of the paranormal and the super ordinary with the gorgeous French alps as the backdrop.
425495
I wasn't really sure what to expect about this story.  I was very pleasantly surprised to find a thoughtful, well planned murder mystery, which is not typically a genre that I read or enjoy reading.  I liked this story very much, particularly because I could related to the protagonist's feelings and to some degree, her experiences with high school.  The atmosphere of the town is creepy and conspiratorial, perfect for this kind of story.  This was the 6th or 7th book I've read by this author, and his work remains consistently excellent.
2715843
Not for the faint of heart. This dark ghost story is told in two converging tales. One through a diary, the other through illustrations. It's an excellent book - but if you only read cheery, HEA stories, this one isn't for you. It's creepy, and it builds in tension throughout.
215424
I don't usually read ghost related stories, but I have to admit I had a good time reading this book and enjoyed it more than I actually expected to.  The cover caught my eye and intrigued me, and once I started reading the story I couldn't stop.  I'd be lying if I said it didn't scare me in some parts, but overall it's more thought provoking than a horror movie type of plot.  Maybe that is why I liked it so much.  This is a great book to read on a dark and stormy Autumn night, or any time for that matter.
1196599
Everyone, at some time in their life, has an experience that can't be explained with logic.  Whether it's Dj vu, the inexplicable feeling of being watched or that spooky feeling it is unnerving.  The author takes this phenomenon and builds an engrossing ghost story around it.  At just over 200 pages the book is a quick read that I would not suggest for bedtime reading.  A few editing errors but not enough to be distracting and overall a good book even for people who don't normally read ghost stories.
2579050
Ms. Danley completely surprised me with this book. This is not your normal cozy ghost story. Excellent story that grabs you from the beginning and brings you to a very unexpected conclusion. I have already purchased the other books in the series and anticipate the final book in the series which will be published in October will not disappoint.
271244
For those of us who love a great ghost story, this one goes over and above.  It has more twists than a pretzel and keeps you interested throughout the entire story.  I could not put it down and I'm a tough customer in that respect.  Joe Hart has a very creative way of describing his scenarios and almost makes it seem as if you are watching the movie in your head as you're reading.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for the perfect supernatural getaway.