Helpful Score: 5
I really enjoyed this book. It's a bit hard to describe, as the story is part murder mystery, part ghost story, and part teenaged coming-of-age. The author slowly unwinds the story bit by bit, making it a real page-turner.
Helpful Score: 3
Sylvie Mason is a young girl trying to make sense of her family and the world. Her older sister Rose is angry and often estranged, and their parents are very religious ghost hunters.
One cold night, the Mason's receive a late phone call asking them to meet the estranged Rose at the local church. The parents take Sylvie along. When the father is gone for several minutes, the mother goes into the church looking for him. Sylvie falls asleep, but is startled awake by loud gunshots. She turns off the car, and approaches the church. Her investigation leaves her orphaned and confused.
Angry and rebellious Rose takes custody of Sylvie. Things only get worse, as she is detached and offers no answers or security for Sylvie. The town ostracizes Sylvie and their family based upon the fact that the parents were known ghost hunters, even advertising their "Help for the Haunted".
Sylvie sets out to find answers about her parents, her sister, their basement, and the paranormal activity surrounding them all. Both curious and afraid, the journey is confusing and difficult for Sylvie.
John Searles has written a very intense novel. The title is fitting for the field that the Mason's worked in, but also for Sylvie's journey for answers.
One cold night, the Mason's receive a late phone call asking them to meet the estranged Rose at the local church. The parents take Sylvie along. When the father is gone for several minutes, the mother goes into the church looking for him. Sylvie falls asleep, but is startled awake by loud gunshots. She turns off the car, and approaches the church. Her investigation leaves her orphaned and confused.
Angry and rebellious Rose takes custody of Sylvie. Things only get worse, as she is detached and offers no answers or security for Sylvie. The town ostracizes Sylvie and their family based upon the fact that the parents were known ghost hunters, even advertising their "Help for the Haunted".
Sylvie sets out to find answers about her parents, her sister, their basement, and the paranormal activity surrounding them all. Both curious and afraid, the journey is confusing and difficult for Sylvie.
John Searles has written a very intense novel. The title is fitting for the field that the Mason's worked in, but also for Sylvie's journey for answers.
This is a book that reminds me of the movie, "The Conjuring," though it is in no way related to it. It is the story of a family, the Masons: the mom, dad, and their two daughters. Mom and Dad Mason are demonologists and ghost hunters and try to help people with their pesky ghost problem. One night Mom and Dad Mason go out on a mission and don't come back, leaving behind their daughter, Sylvie, who may have witnessed the whole thing. This book quickly becomes a murder mystery where absolutely everyone is a suspect including a creepy doll. The author deftly weaves together the story, teasing you with just enough information to keep you going. I really enjoyed this book and would read more by this author!
This started out fantastically. However, I was expecting something very different than where the author ends up taking us.
I expected ghosts, a haunted house or a haunted person. I suppose it does include a haunted person but again not in the sense I expected. There was so much back and forth in this book, I didn't know which was present and which was past. Even in the same paragraph you would go back to the past. I couldn't keep up with it half of the time.
I got a little more than half way and mind you this is a big book. I had to lay it down, with great reluctance. I DO NOT like setting a book down for good until its been read completely. I just couldn't help it. Instead of HELP FOR THE HAUNTED, I felt it was more like, HELP FOR THE READER.
Sorry, it wasn't for me. There are people who will like this book. I think it is deff a book of, you either LOVE it or HATE it. I dont hate it, It just wasnt my cuppa Joe!
I expected ghosts, a haunted house or a haunted person. I suppose it does include a haunted person but again not in the sense I expected. There was so much back and forth in this book, I didn't know which was present and which was past. Even in the same paragraph you would go back to the past. I couldn't keep up with it half of the time.
I got a little more than half way and mind you this is a big book. I had to lay it down, with great reluctance. I DO NOT like setting a book down for good until its been read completely. I just couldn't help it. Instead of HELP FOR THE HAUNTED, I felt it was more like, HELP FOR THE READER.
Sorry, it wasn't for me. There are people who will like this book. I think it is deff a book of, you either LOVE it or HATE it. I dont hate it, It just wasnt my cuppa Joe!
man, i really tried to get into this book!but you know you are not into it when you have rear 6 other books! maybe i'll put it on my WL later.
