Jaime Lee Moyer (–2024)

3.5 stars

It’s 1919 in San Francisco. When Delia and Gabe, Sophie and Jack (and their two kids), and Sam and Libby head to a parade, they never expected a riot to break out. Not only a riot, but then gunfire and explosions. Gabe and Jack are police so they go to help. Delia is a “spiritualist” – she can see ghosts; not only that, Sophie’s young son Connor sees them, too, but he is too young to do anything about it and they scare him. Delia does what she can to protect him. She also noticed the people who ended up rioting had something odd happen just before the riot. Once again, Delia and her friend Dora (also a spiritualist) must help Gabe solve this mystery.

I liked this. This is the third (and final, I’m guessing?) in a series. The POV changes between Gabe and Delia. Like the 2nd book, I think I liked Gabe’s storyline a bit better. I really liked the police officer, Jordan Lynch, whom they brought in from Chicago. There were a few times I really didn’t like Dora. I would continue with this series if it was to keep going (and would hope Jordan Lynch would continue to be in it, as well), but I see there aren’t (currently) more and this was published in 2015, so I’m not sure how likely another one is. It also kind of ended in a way that appears that there is unlikely to be more in the series.… (mais)

Boy, Gabe and Jack sure killed the heck out of the baddie in the end. That was rather satisfying.

Liked the atmosphere and the main characters in this one. Looks like it might be the start of a series, and I would certainly pick up another book about Delia and co. The combination of ghost story and murder mystery was done well (maybe a little too well-one night when I was walking my dog in the dark, I was constantly on the lookout for ghosts and serial killers).

I do wish the author hadn't switched back and forth between first and third person, depending on if we were with Gabe or Delia. It would have worked fine all in third person or all in first person, still alternating between characters, and I would have liked it more. I don't know why she didn't consult me first.

I also felt like matters of disbelief were resolved rather quickly. On the one hand, it was refreshing not to have the story move in predictable patterns, in which the people in touch with the spirit world spend lots of time convincing the unbelievers. On the other, it didn't always ring true, especially Matt Ryan's quick turnaround from scoffer to believer.

Still a good read that got inside my head.… (mais)

3.5 stars

It’s 1917. Delia sees ghosts, and lately there have been a lot of them following her detective husband Gabe around. Gabe is now investigating what looks like a ritual murder. As Gabe and his partner/friend, Jack, continue in their investigation, they discover more and more people who have disappeared. Sometimes Delia and her mentor/friend Dora are brought in to help Gabe and Jack with their cases, and this appears to be needed this time around.

This is the second book in a series. The chapters alternate between Delia and Gabe, and in this one, I found Gabe’s murder investigation more interesting than Delia’s ghosts. In my opinion, this wasn’t nearly as good as the first book. It’s been a few years, so I can’t compare directly, but the first one did make my favourites that year. This one – there was a lot going on – a lot of action – and I’m usually interested in ghosts, as well as murder mysteries, but this one didn’t pull me in as much. I’m still rating it “good”. There is currently one more book in the series (I’m not sure if it ends at a trilogy, or if she’s writing more for the series) and I will be reading it.… (mais)