Hi there! Welcome to my stop on The Ghost Files Blog Tour hosted by Limitless Publishing. Please click here to follow along with the blog tour schedule! :)
Title: The Ghost Files (The Ghost Files #1)
Author: Apryl Baker
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: August 13th 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Source: Review copy
Blog Tour organized by: Limitless Publishing
~ Synopsis ~
Cherry blossom lipstick: check
Smokey eyes: check
Skinny jeans: check
Dead kid in the mirror: check
For sixteen year old Mattie Hathaway, this is her normal everyday routine. She's been able to see ghosts since her mother tried to murder her when she was five years old. No way does she want anyone to know she can talk to spooks. Being a foster kid is hard enough without being labeled a freak too.
Normally, she just ignores the ghosts and they go away. That is until she sees the ghost of her foster sister...Sally.
Everyone thinks Sally's just another runaway, but Mattie knows the truth - she's dead. Murdered. Mattie feels like she has to help Sally, but she can't do it alone. Against her better judgment, she teams up with a young policeman, Officer Dan, and together they set out to discover the real truth behind Sally's disappearance.
Only to find out she's dealing with a much bigger problem, a serial killer, and she may be the next victim...
Will Mattie be able to find out the truth before the killer finds her?
~ My Thoughts ~
My Rating: 4 / 5
As I read The Ghost Files, there were so many possibilities of where the story could go, and I really liked that. This is a fast paced book full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I really liked the pacing - with this kind of story, any other speed would have slowed things down way too much.
Mattie is a character you can't help but love and connect with right from the start. She's been in foster care almost her entire life because her mother tried to kill her when she was only five years old. The scene Mattie describes is one of the most chilling of the entire book for me and was Carrie-esque. Thinking she had killed Mattie, she then killed herself, while Mattie watched her die.
Mattie has always thought her mother's attempted murder and suicide was what caused Mattie to gain the ability to see and talk to ghosts; however, this made me wonder if her mother tried to kill her because she was already seeing and talking to ghosts. Kids are more receptive to the supernatural than adults it's been said. This is a great example of the possibilities I saw in The Ghost Files.
Mattie has a great boyfriend in Jake, but Dan, the policeman who is investigating Mattie's foster sister's disappearance, seems like he'd be a good match for Mattie if she was older. They have a dynamic between them that is filled with humor, and Dan can see past Mattie's snarkiness. Jake is captain of the football team but is the complete opposite of the stereotypical football player. He's insightful and honest and doesn't mind talking about feelings with Mattie.
The only thing that bugged me was the dialogue at times. I think it could have been stronger, but this is a scary and fun story to read, perfect for this time of year. I loved the mystery and trying to figure out what was going on as much as I did being scared, especially by the ghost from the mirror! The Ghost Files ends with a cliffhanger, so I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens next.
~ Purchase Link ~
~ About the Author ~
So who am I? Well, I'm the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn't love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.
Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals. I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there's always someone to tell your mama you were seen kissing a particular boy on a particular day just a little too long. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled "Lord Margrave's Deception." I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters.
Now, I live in Huntersville, NC where I entertain my niece and nephew and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce...lol.
I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories.
PS: DO NOT GET IN MY WAY IF THERE IS A SALE ON AT TARGET - my home away from home!
~ Social Links ~
~ Check Out Apryl's Other Books! ~
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The Promise (Coven #1)
Purchase on Amazon
The Awakening (Bloodlines #1)
Purchase on Amazon
That looks like an interesting read, very appropriate for this time of year!
ReplyDeleteI was happy to find it at this time of year especially! :D
DeleteThis sounds wonderful, Jennifer. I love a book with lots of twists and turns that keep my guessing. And I'm curious about whether or not Mattie shares her ability with Jake and/or Dan. You've got me curious! Thanks for sharing a great review!
ReplyDeleteOnce you start this, you won't be able to stop reading until the end. You'll have to find out what happens next - at least that's how I was while reading this. :) And see what I mean? You're already thinking about all of the possibilities this story could hold! :D
DeleteOoh. Just in time for the spooky holiday! Thanks for your fun and detailed review. I want this one!
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect for this time of year! Really cool time to have a tour for it - I couldn't believe my luck. Hope you love it! :D
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