A Ghost for a Clue – Immortology Book One by C.L.R.Draeco

Are ghosts real? Can they be proven and communicated with, whether you’re psychic or not, with the help of advanced technology?

Set in the year 2032, A Ghost for a Clue takes place just far enough in the future to make you wonder if some parts of the story could actually happen by then. Robotic waiters and cops are just two elements that belong to the time period in the book.  It has a strong beginning, several intriguing side stories, and keeps readers wanting more.

Main character Bram works at a company that makes robots – sophisticated ones that are capable of far more than we have in the present time. Yet in spite of this, he is saddened and shocked at the fact that his friend and co-worker Franco has just been killed in something as simple and outdated as a car crash. Franco’s death triggers the beginning of an exploration into ghostly activity. At first it appears to be a hoax when Bram hears Franco’s voice, but as time goes on, things appear more real.

Bram has been dreaming of a career as an astronaut, though he’s been turned down three times. Then, he is offered a job working at an offshoot of NASA, on a project called PANGAEA, the International Space Exploration Alliance. It would mean leaving Earth for good to work on the mission. He’s seriously considering the job but feels it would only be worthwhile if he can convince the love of his life, his former girlfriend Torula, to give up everything and go with him, even though they haven’t seen each other for years.
 
When Bram returns to the town where he once lived, he’s determined to re-connect with Torula and see if she will make this commitment.  But before asking her, he has more ghostly encounters and Torula seems involved in them.  The story is fascinating and well written. The best part? There’s a Book Two on the way!  I can’t wait!

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The Dungeons of Dogwood by Dom Maggiore

I’m not the target audience for The Dungeons of Dogwood – that would probably be pre-teens or young adults. But the cover caught my eye, and when I saw that the theme was about the supernatural, I was hooked! I can only imagine how captivated a younger audience would be by this story of 11-year-old Archie Riddle, who has been bounced back and forth between schools and has just been enrolled in Dogwood School, a former castle.
His abilities to sense ghosts and the paranormal have gotten him into trouble at previous schools, but hope runs high that his luck will change. Once he arrives at Dogwood, though, he senses the haunted essence of the school and is drawn to solving the school’s mysteries, one of which is the tale of The Three Robbers, who passed away in the dungeon of the castle, near the school’s library.
Grumpy Headmaster Mr. Belchard is leery of Archie because of his track record, but sends him on to his first class. He meets straggly but friendly fellow student Hamish, who quickly becomes his “ghostbusting partner in crime.” Their search for the dungeons and the ghosts takes them through secret passages and spooky areas, and it’s a thrilling read at all times. The book’s illustrations are a perfect fit for the story and add a great deal to the experience. This is Book 1 in a series, and I’m now planning to read the others. Highly recommend it!

The Haunted House Diaries by William J. Hall

Objects moving or disappearing, a child playing with an invisible entity, voices and groans, mysterious balls of light – it all sounds like the making of a blockbuster ghost movie. But the stories shared in The Haunted House Diaries are chillingly true.

They took place in a 1790s Connecticut farmhouse over a long span of time, and the last five decades of events were chronicled in journals by Donna Fillie, a longtime resident of the property, whose family has had a long history there.

She began making the entries when she was 16, never dreaming that the spine-tingling events would continue, or even realizing what she was capturing on those pages.

It wasn’t just Donna living through the events – her parents, sister, eventually her children, and several other family members, experienced the unexplainable phenomena. Eventually famed ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the secluded farmhouse, declaring it “Ghost Central.” Connecticut resident, paranormal researcher and columnist – not to mention magician – William J. Hall visited the home, spending hours reading Donna’s diaries and then calling in experts and other researchers to further investigate.

What they found amounts to a portal of sorts, also known as a paranormal flap, opening the farmhouse and its surroundings to not only ghosts but perhaps aliens, UFOs, and any number of otherworldly creatures. The stories and findings are presented in the book in a simple but highly effective manner. It will have readers looking over their shoulders and jumping at noises.

Its only flaw lies in the selection of photos. Most are not paranormal in nature, but rather innocent pictures of rooms and areas mentioned in the book – disappointing. The very few that are said to show spirits or orbs are less than convincing. There is, however, a link to a site that is said to have examples of video and sound recordings during the ghostly encounters. However, when this reviewer repeatedly tried the link, it was not working. Nevertheless, the book is well worth a read.

Published simultaneously on http://www.bookpleasures.com.

Supernatural Hero by Eran Gadot

It’s always refreshing to discover a new author and Eran Gadot is a real “find”!  Supernatural Hero is a very down-to-Earth yet mystical tale that should appeal to all ages – certainly the young people it’s intended for, but also those of a slightly older (ok, in my case, considerably older!) age range. The overall message of the book is to believe in yourself, face your fears, and never stop believing that things are possible. But the book holds a very special message for those young people who might have special supernatural abilities but are afraid to face them or admit them to others. As a longtime researcher and writer in the paranormal field, I can say that Eran Gadot definitely got it right in accurately portraying the matters of seeing and hearing spirits and what happens to us once we “die.”

Young sixth-grade student Andy is the main character in the book and a classic “nerd” – big glasses, skinny, not good at sports, and perhaps most discouraging in his young mind – he never gets invited to birthday parties. He’s also seriously in love with popular girl Zoe, but figures he never stands a chance with her. He’s bullied at school and even at home, by his older sister. His parents no doubt love him, but don’t really express that love and never really take time for him. It’s a scenario that sadly many young people go through on a daily basis.

To add to his feelings that he’s unusual, Andy secretly knows that he’s been communicating with his grandma, who passed away many years ago. And with the impending passing of his beloved grandpa, the one person who understands him better than anyone else, will he find a sympathetic spirit guide once Grandpa moves to the spirit world?  At the risk of providing a SPOILER — yes, he does indeed inherit a kindly spirit who will help teach him about life and love.

Gadot makes references to Harry Potter, perhaps most of all in the characterization of Andy shown on the book’s cover. This is a wise move in the sense that young people will identify with the concept of a boy who is somewhat like Harry. But the book stands on its own with no further need to compare itself to anything. In fact, in some ways it is a much more honest book than the Potter series. It keeps the mystical quality but brings it to a level that can — and does —  actually happen in real life. Gadot is a beautiful writer, and illustrations by Salit Krac, while a little dark and perhaps a bit homespun, feel totally appropriate for the book and will no doubt resonate with young people.

I can’t say enough good about Supernatural Hero. It deserves attention and a place in the home library of people young and old. Author Gadot got everything “dead on” in this Volume I of a series.