How the Ghost Was Won
by Erin Hayes
Rating: 3 stars
Blurb:
There are ghost stories. And there are ghost legends.From orphan to saloon girl to ghost whisperer, Hattie Hart has been and seen a lot of things in her time. Her new job as a detective with the Tremayne Psychic Specters Investigations Agency takes her out to the remote town of Carolina City, Nevada, on a vague assignment to investigate the disappearance of a US Marshal.
Except, when she arrives, she meets the devilishly handsome Grant Madsen, a US Marshal who is alive and well. Certainly not missing, but certainly the man of her dreams. So why did her boss send her out to this small boomtown when there’s nothing for her to investigate?
She soon discovers that in Carolina City, there are strange happenings from the afterlife that threaten to kill her or worse. She’ll have to race against time to save her life, the town, and the US Marshal she was sent to find—and maybe, if she’s lucky, her heart.
My Review:
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book. I knew it was about ghosts and written by Erin Hayes, but that’s about it. This one wasn’t fully a book for me, but there were some things I enjoyed and in the end I am glad I gave it a read. I think this is mostly a case of it’s me not the book. And it’s pretty different from the other books by this author that I’ve read, so maybe my expectations steered me wrong a bit.
How the Ghost was Won follows Hattie Hart she’s a psychic investigator and she can see ghosts. I was curious at first to see what Hattie her assignment would be and how the ghost aspect would be handled. She can’t find any leads when she arrives in the town and she only has half of a telegram, so she doesn’t know everything. I was eve wondering why she stayed in town when it didn’t seem like anyone knew anything. It seems like things went a bit slowly for a bit there and that’s saying a lot as it’s a short read. Then towards the end there are some great twists and while I had predicted part of it I didn’t see all the twists coming. It sure was interesting and I liked how things got wrapped up, while leaving things open enough in case the author ever decides she want to write more. The twists were one of my favorite parts of the book as it was quite nicely done and made sense when looking back. There is lots of foreshadowing going on that only makes sense at the end.
From one of the first scenes it became obvious Hattie is a bit of an unreliable narrator, she’s addicted to drugs even though she doesn’t admit that, but she does admit that she can’t always tell ghosts from the living. I am usually not a fan of unreliable narrators and I was constantly doubting her judgment. I didn’t fully warm up to her as a main character, but she was interesting enough to read about.
I just wish there would’ve been a bit more about Hattie her personality and her ability to see ghosts. I am not sure why, but the story just never fully grabbed me. And I never fully cared about the characters. I did like Betty, the mule Hattie lends. There is a bit of romance as well and while I didn’t fully feel it, I did like how things ended up. The book has a bit of a western historical feel and combined with the ghosts it made for a bit of a haunting feel. It did fit the book.
To summarize: this wasn’t quite the book for me. I never fully got into the story or connected with any of the characters. But there were things I did like, like Hattie her mule and there are some great twists towards the end of the story. The twits took me by surprise and I only partially predicted them. I also liked how looking back I saw the foreshadowing the author did. The book has a bit of an haunting atmosphere which did fit the story. I would recommend this to people who like a a western historical paranormal book with a bit of romance and some nice twists.
Oh that’s too bad that it wasn’t a good match. I love the western paranormal aspect you talk about, but I can see how not connecting with the character and having a slow moving plot would bring down the enjoyment. Oh, and I would want more on her ghost gift, too.
I do like twists in a book. Bitterwood was my last book with twists.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Review: Mind Magic by Eileen Wilks
The western setting was interesting as I rarely read westerns. It just didn’t fully work for me, but overall I am still glad I read this one and the twist was very well done.
A shame it didn’t tick your boxes – but there seems to be quite a stream of western paranormal fiction emerging and some of it is great fun. Thank you for sharing.
This was my first encounter with western paranormal fiction I think. While it didn’t fully work for me, I am glad I read it.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #203
I’ve been wondering about this one. Given the way you described Hattie, I’m not sure I could really connect with her either and that normally pulls me out of the plot.
Angela @Simply Angela recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday {#55}: Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads
It was a shame I couldn’t connect with Hattie. I can still enjoy the book when I don’t connect with the main character, but it does make it more difficult.
That sounds interesting. I like a good twist in a book.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Favorite Picture of the Week
The twist was a really good one!
That’s a shame that you didn’t like it too much. I love the way it sounds and the cover is pretty. But sometimes that does not mean it’s a good book. Well, can’t win them all I guess 🙂 Nice review! ~Aleen
Lampshade Reader recently posted…Blog Tour & Review: Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1) by Debbie Mason
I really like the cover for this one. There were some parts I did enjoy, so I am still glad I read it.
Once I lose the connection to the character its pretty much lights out for me ;/
Lily B recently posted…Review: Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne
There were still parts I enjoyed, but it sure is harder to enjoy the book when I can’t connect with the main character.
I don’t tend to be a fan of unreliable narrators either, but Hattie does sound like one who could be interesting. Sorry the book didn’t really hook you, but at least it had some good twists that surprised you, and the western historical paranormal feel seems pretty unique. The only book I’ve ever read that had any sort of western feel was a zombie book lol, but those odd kind of combinations can make for good stories. I think this one would be too short for me though (I just looked up the pages on Amazon).
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Discussion: Why Are We So Attracted to Pretty Book Covers?
The western historical paranormal feel was pretty unique. It was an odd combination of genres, but it really worked. For some reason I just don’t like the unreliable narrators. The twist in this book was a good one, I liked all the foreshadowing I noticed when looking back. It was pretty short, but it didn’t feel like it was too short. This author writes short reads very well without them feeling too short.
Lola recently posted…Lola’s Kitchen: Sweet Tofu Curry Recipe
Well it sounds interesting and I love the cover but I have trouble with the unreliable narrators as well. I’ve only read one where I felt okay with it. Probably some would love that though. Glad you were able to find some elements in it that you enjoyed 🙂
anna @ herding cats & burning soup recently posted…DNF– Dare You to Run (Unbroken Heroes #2) by Dawn Ryder
I don’t think I’ve read one where the unreliable narrator worked for me, not a fan of them. And yes I think other would love that part. It still had some parts I enjoyed, so I am glad I read it.
I like unreliable narrators, but I’ve grown irritated with how quick books are to claim they have a twist and they really don’t. I actually like Blood Defense by Marcia Clarke most recently only because the twists weren’t trumpeted as twists but they totally reset everything I thought about the characters.
verushka recently posted…Beauty and the Beast: HOW WONDERFUL DOES IT LOOK?!
I thought this one had a pretty good twist. I usually mainly hear people in reviews mention if a book has twist or not, I prefer that over having it be mentioned in the blurb. And sometimes it’s better not knowing a book has a twist as it might come as more of a surprise then.
I think I’m beginning to realise how much better the “surprise” twist is. Nods.
verushka recently posted…The Slaughter Man Book Review
I agree surprise twists can be great
Sorry you weren’t really connected to this one and it didn’t fully grab you. I’ve had a few like that lately and it’s just kind of blah when that happens. I hope you have some way better reads soon!! 😀 😀
AngelErin recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday- I See You By: Clare Mackintosh
It was a shame I didn’t enjoy this one more as I really like this author her books usually. But it still had some good parts as well.