Jane Monson (1)

This is the second book in a series, and not having read the first, I didn't really get to see how the protagonist, Catherine, discovered her abilities. But it's plain that she's still struggling with them. This time she has to help the ghost of a young man who died with a classmate on the night of her prom. He doesn't know who killed them and has waited 25 years for someone like Catherine to come his way.

Catherine isn't particularly thrilled with her abilities, but she can't help but want to help the ghost of the young man and she counts on the help of her cop boyfriend, Jake.

The idea is very interesting, but unfortunately, the writing fell short. It's fragmented and disjointed and I couldn't really relate to any of the characters.… (more)

In Ghost Lovers, Catherine and Jake team up once again to solve the murders of a rich husband and wife who were killed in their own home. Despite the fact that Catherine has experience tucked under her belt when it comes to dealing with ghosts, she still finds it uncomfortable being in the same room with them. Imagine her surprise (and chagrin) when, in the course of showing the murdered couple’s house as part of her realtor duties, a third ghost appears! With the help of her friend, Camilla, and Jake, Catherine’s sweet, understanding boyfriend, Catherine is able to help solve the mystery and find her own resolve in dealing with ghosts in the process.

Monson has once again created a well-written romantic ghost story that readers can devour in one sitting. I actually enjoyed this novella more than the original, and I can’t wait to read more of this captivating series.… (more)

Monson’s Ghost series is perfect for readers who welcome a touch of the supernatural without being deluged by vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of that world. Catherine finds herself in that rare situation of having a foot in both realms. Having only recently learned that she can see and communicate with the ghosts of murder victims, she is a funny protagonist who takes the reader with her as she juggles the advantages and (many!) disadvantages that come with her newly discovered ability. In Ghost from the Past, Catherine has to deal with a situation that is unusual even by her standards: The ghost of a murdered teenager wants her to discover who murdered his beautiful and popular schoolmate. Complicating matters is the fact that these murders happened 15 years ago, which makes tracking down witnesses and suspects difficult.

Because of the length of the novella, readers can expect a fast-paced read that nonetheless gives them sufficient details to endear the characters to them despite development that would have otherwise been present in a longer novel. In Catherine, Monson has created an amiable, reliable, and altogether appealing character whose burgeoning relationship with Jake—a police detective—and newly formed friendship with Camilla—another “sensitive”—ensure every day is an exciting one.… (more)