Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend

I don't know why I like this series so much. Well, maybe I do. It flies by and leaves you ready for the next book. Victoria Laurie has a great wit and allows her characters to show a wonderful balance of humor and realism that keeps you invested. As for the paranormal side of the books, even though the reader may not completely agree with the exact ghostly details, so what?, it's fiction and very interesting to read. It parallels any good spooky film that keeps you guessing what is around the corner, down the hall or behind the door. You just have to keep reading to see..what..it..is!

Ghost hunter M.J. Holliday has a tough task on her hands - her friend Karen (Teeko) has asked her to investigate some ghostly activity at a New York boarding school. Some of the students there claim to have been chased by a ghost carrying an ax. M.J. doesn't have much time to work on this case - renovations at the school start in a week. As M.J. and her partners, Gilley Gillespie and Dr. Steven Sable, work to send Hatchet Jack back to the portal he came from, they also work to free the spirits of three young boys. This isn't easy - outside of the students, no one will admit to knowing anything about Hatchet Jack or any missing boys. The deeper M.J. digs, the more secrets she uncovers - secrets that someone is willing to once again show more commit murder in order to hide the truth.

"Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend" is the second book in Victoria Laurie's delightful Ghost Hunter mystery series (the first was What's a Ghoul to Do? (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Book 1)). I love the ghost busting premise and Laurie does a good job of making it realistic. M.J. is a nicely written character and her ability to communicate with the dead is believable - I especially liked the side encounters she has with characters such as telling a policeman what happened to another cop and helping the deceased cop to "cross over". She is seemingly fearless and her tendency to rush into dangerous locations adds much to the excitement in the novel. Her partners - the gay and not so fearless Gilley and Steven "Dr. Delicious" Sable - are also well done. Laurie treads a fine line with Sable's tendency to mangle phrases - it could be irritating but she manages not to overdo it. The ghost aspects of the book are well done in many ways. The ghost of Hatchet Jack chasing after the students is a nice plot line and adds not only scary moments but a mystery as M.J. tries to find out not only who Hatchet Jack was, but who the three young boys were. While I figured out some of the plot aspects before the end, there is a nicely written twist at the end involving the ghosts and some of the "live" characters.

"Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend" is a nicely done paranormal cozy mystery. show less

Opening Sentence: "...'He's late,' snapped Gilley, my business partner and best friend, as he stared gloomily out of the window..."

I am really enjoying this series. MJ is a ghost buster - she assists ghosts to going over to where ever it is the ghosts should be. Some peacefully follow the light up. Other, more nasty ones, need to be forced down their portal and the portal blocked to prevent their return. Hatchet Jack is one such nasty critter, he is terrorizing the exclusive Northelm Boarding School on Lake Placid. However, the headmaster is thwarting MJ's attempt to rid this ghost because he can't risk the bad publicity. Renovations are starting at the school in one week - so that is the timeframe that MJ, Gilley and Dr Delicious have show more to find Hatchet Jacks portal and get him back in it.

There are a few layers to this quick and easy book - there is action as the gang knocks heads with the evil ghost, then there is pathos with the three young boy ghosts, victims of Jack, that are lost and don't know how to 'go home', there is the mystery as MJ tracks down who Jack is and why he is there, and, in the back ground is romance.

My favourite character? Doc, the African Grey Parrot - people who read the book may think this bird is over the top and its talent exaggerated. Trust me, as someone who spent many years with an African Grey called Charlie - this birds antics are very, very believable. show less

I love this series! It's a quick, fun read with just the right amount of laughs and creeps (especially if you're reading it with a storm raging outside in the middle of the night, the way I did!). It also doesn't hurt that M.J. and I are from the same small town in South Georgia! And really, who couldn't fall in love with the book's obvious main character and hero, Doc? ;)

Oh my.... This book was better than the first, more ghostly violent (which normally puts me off), more mystery (part of which I figured out), Less off sync/balance romance....ooooo and suspense!

I liked the storyline: M.J. is a "ghostbuster" whose best friend asks for her help. Teeka's niece attends a very posh private boarding school in Lake Placid, N.Y.

School has run late for the year due to inclimate weather.... and this is Hatchet Jack's time of year to haunt....

Teeka's niece decides to take a short cut back to class which is when Hatchet Jack appears & chases her through the halls, cornering her in a classroom & THUMP Goes his ax at her head.

Of course everything gets hushed up.....we wouldn't want to hurt the schools pristine show more reputation...... Teeka calls in M.J. and her crew.....

Ok, I stayed up until 1:00 am reading this.... I'd say I liked it very much and I already have the next book in the series in hand. show less

This 2nd book in the Ghosthunters Series finds MJ and the gang at an exclusive private school who's superintendent is in denial concerning ghosts. While trying to rid the school of Hatchet Jack, the ghostbusters discover the ghosts of 3 young boys who are doomed to be chased by Jack for eternity unless MJ can cross them over. MJ also discovers who Hatchet Jack is, and the dark secret the superentindent is trying to hide

This was part of my Crafting While Listening to An Audiobook, narrated by Eileen Stevens who did a fantastic job.

I loved it! The story is great, the mystery well plotted with a nice touch of a darker, almost horror-like element to it, MJ rocks, Gillie is the perfect sidekick, and Doctor Delicious.... is just yummy!

Definitely a great novel in this delightful series.