Review- Holy Ghosts by Gary Jansen

Holy Ghosts Or, How a (Not-So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump inthe Night
By Gary Jansen
(Tarcher, Hardcover, 9781585428199, 224pp.)

"Holy Ghosts" is a true story about one man's journey to find a link between his religion and the paranormal. It is also a ghost story - a real ghost story.

Gary Jansen, a respected editor and writer, is not given to flights of fancy, but the events of his life would strain even the most skeptical of us. Growing up in Long Island, his mother often claimed their home was haunted. He wasn't sure he believed her, but strange things did seem to happen in the house. When he moved back into his family home in 2001, he had to accept that the odd occurrences were real. By 2007, he knew he had to do something. His son refused to go into his room, and both Gary and his wife had experienced strange incidents in house.

Through friends, he contacted Mary Ann Winkowski, the inspiration for TVs "The Ghost Whisperer." With her help, he rid his home of the two very real ghosts living there.

This is a wry, sometimes funny, sometimes frightening look at the paranormal and how it relates to the Catholic religion. It is a ghost story, but it is also a a deeply religious memoir of Gary trying to understand the place of spirits and the afterlife in respect to his faith.

This is a relatively short, quickly read, excellently written book for anyone searching for the link between life, death, religion, and what happens next. Recommended for anyone with an interest in religion and/or ghosts.

~Vicky

REVIEW: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

SHADOW HILLS by Anastasia Hopcus
(Egmont USA; July, 2010; YA Paranormal, mystery)

Persephone – Phe (Fee) – Archer lost her sister in a mysterious accident. Now the weird nightmares Athena had been having are haunting Phe. In order to figure out what the dreams mean, Phe enrolls in the Devenish Prep school in Massachusetts, a world away from her Los Angeles home. There she discovers even more mysteries – like the graveyard from her dreams. And people who have extra abilities that are somehow tied to a plague that hit the town in the early 1700s.

With the help of her boyfriend, Zach, one of the “odd” townies, Phe discovers the real truths behind odd deaths and events going on in the town of Shadow Hills. Zach broke a cardinal rule and told her about himself and others in the town. About why metal things move when he's around. And how he can recharge electronics with just a touch. But that knowledge is something that Phe isn't supposed to have. And she knows that since coming here, something has happened to her. Changed her. But she's not sure in what way. How it all ties to Phe is something she needs to figure out, but finding out could mean her death.

This is a well-crafted story with believable characters and an intriguing plot. It contains all the elements of a good mystery, paranormal abilities (without a vampire or werewolf in sight!) and teen angst all rolled into one book. Though a bit slow at times, the overall story is very good and keeps you turning pages until the end. And there was just enough of a carrot left dangling at the end to make me believe this might turn into a series. But even if it doesn't, the ending is satisfying. If you're tired of vampires and werewolves, but still want a good paranormal story, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

~ Vicky

Happy Reading!