Book Review: The Ghost's Story

Posted on  20/08/2024 17:07:21

The Ghost's Story by Nick Moseley

book : The Ghost's Story
author : Nick Moseley
series : The Brackenford Cycle #2.5
publisher : Kindle Edition
length :
My rating: 5 ghostly stars


This short story is dedicated to Agatha, the puritanical Victorian ghost who keeps Trev company at times and helps him out of a scrape or another whenever he least expects it.

“My name is Agatha Cragton. I have been dead since the year eighteen seventy-nine.”

I admit I was curious about her story from the very first time I met her in Location, Location, Damnation. And now that I know it, I want more!

As Agatha might tell you, being dead isn’t much fun. The hours are long, the benefits non-existent, and she regularly has to suffer the company of Trev Irwin, Brackenford’s number one estate agent, part-time demon-slayer and full-time cynic. A man with all the subtlety and sensitivity of a motorway pile-up.
With friends like that, who needs exorcists?

From the above excerpt alone we can clearly make out the two don't really get along. Because Trev is, well.... Trev! And Agatha is too prim and proper to approve of his insufferable ways! And yet, when they’re stuck with each other for an evening, the small talk runs short. After all, as Trev remarks:
'And it's not like we can kill two hours by talking about the weather. I know we're British but that's pushing it even for us.'
So the subject of Agatha's life - and more importantly death - arises. And it was sweet and funny and absolutely heartbreaking!!
Sweet and funny because of the relationship between Agatha and her husband George and heartbreaking because of the end!

I loved Agatha's voice! The author managed to beautifully portray a 19th century ghost. Prim and proper and perfectly fitted to that time period! KUDOS for that!

I also loved the way Trev teased the story out of our aloof ghost, in his typical Trev manner!

'Never try to bullshit a bullshitter', he said. 'And I'm an estate agent so bullshitting is my stock-in-trade.'
...
'Are you presuming to call me a liar?'

'I wouldn't go that far although I reckon there's a ninety-five percent chance that your pants are on fire,' he said, winking at me over the top of his beer glass. Insufferable man.


And yes, despite the seriousness of the tale, I found my lips curling up in a smile at times and I even burst out laughing at others. The above snippets should give you a good glimpse at this author's style of telling a tale. All around fun but also engrossing and fully action packed!

I am now looking forward to the next instalment in this series, especially since this short story revealed a few very intriguing plot points that I'm suspecting will be central to the sequels.

If you love Urban Fantasy with a heavy dose of humour, a solid touch of paranormal and a full pint of action, this is just the right series for you! Give it a try and I'll bet you won't regret it!

Happy reading! :)

Check out this book and more of Nick Moseley here
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