Glenn Rolfe

This was a very quick short read - too short in my opinion, as the book read like a draft but not a full story. The plot was well constructed and I loved the dramatic development in this creature feature. But I think it really missed some flesh to its bone: deeper introduction to the characters and more background detail regarding the history of the lake creature (maybe strewn in as past-time chapters). So while I'm usually all in for stories without too much rigmarole ("Gedöns"), I felt this creature feature did not tap its full potential.

What if you reflection in a window or mirror wasn't just that? What if there was a demonic force waiting to subdue you and take over your body? When James' dad is acting weirdly, he has to take action...

I loved the way the story was told - short chapters that served the fast pace of the story, and well-drawn characters who immediately evoked strong feelings toward them, be they positive or negative. Add to that a couple teenage friends who have to stand up against some evil force in the manner of 'It' (my mother of coming-of-age horror stories) and I'm totally swept off my feet.

As another reviewer said, this is a possession story but thankfully without a priest, which probably would have ruined it's allure to me as well. But the author managed to keep the mention of God and the everlasting good vs. evil to a negligible minimum. Even the demons, while being truly horrible monsters, appeared human in their desires and goals, especially towards the end where some explanations were made.

Gory and perverse on the outside (don't let the inconspicuous cover fool you!), but character-driven and emotional on the inside, this book really kept me awake reading, a feat not easily achieved these nights...

Chasing Ghost is a fast and gripping read, and you won't find time to take a break - so make sure there are no upcoming appointments - or you will miss them! Once I started reading, I couldn't stop...the whole story felt like happening in real-time, and after a very short introduction there was non-stop action.

Honestly, I could not sympathize with most characters and cared even less for their simple-minded dialogues, so I was glad when the action gathered speed and moved into the woods. However, I immediately fell for police chief Walt Henderson, the anti-hero/hero in this story, and the second half of the book went by in a rush of bloody gore perfection. It even brought the obligatory creepy ending scene to make sure you either won't rest comfortably - or fall asleep in a satisfied bliss...

(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)