Book Title: The Ghost’s Call.
Author: Kristina Adams.
Series Name: Afterlife Calls.
Book No.: #1.
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, YA, Women’s Fiction.
First Published: June 2021.
Publisher: Self-Published.
A Ghost Calls has been on my to be read list for a long time. I have actually met the author before reading the book. She was an alumni for the very same university course I am, and our course has strong relationships with alumni. So, A Ghost Calls has been one of the books I’ve just been meaning to read since publication in 2021. That, alongside What Happens in New York, which also sounds interesting.
I finally have read it and I can say, it didn’t disappoint at all. Kristina Adams keeps the story moving at a fast pace, following Niamh and her daughter Edie. The language is modern. You could really sense where in England the mother and daughter are from due to the nuance of the language.
I’m an odd one, I think. Because, on one hand… I would say paranormal is not my thing. I tend to avoid paranormal films. But then, growing up The Ghost Whisperer and Medium were two TV Series I could never get enough off (at least until Ghost Whisperer ruined itself with the birth of Aiden).
The Ghost’s Call is my first paranormal book and, consequently, the first I am reviewing.
Synopsis of The Ghost’s Call
Niamh desperately doesn’t want her daughter Edie to go into the ghost hunting business like she did. But when Edie receives an important message from a ghost, she may not have a choice.
Their hometown is haunted. With the town’s rich history, it could be anyone. And they could be anywhere. When a ghost arrives on the doorstep of family friends, Niamh and Edie must race against time to protect the people love.
World-building in The Ghost’s Call
I said I loved Ghost Whisperer as a child. And I do. Through The Ghost’s Call, I am able to read a novelised alternative. This book has given me nostalgia for the show and I found delight reading something that reminded me of something I connected with in the past.
Kristina Adams paints a vivid world in The Ghost’s Call. The lines between the living and the dead are blurred—at least for Niamh and Edie anyway. Edie, in particular, has a strong connection with the ghost realm, stronger than Niamh, but i’m not sure the characters are aware how much stronger Edie is. This really works well in the narrative as part of it is told through Edie’s POV, and the other part from Niamh. The reader can visibly see the difference between the characters and while the mother suspects that her daughter is more sensitive to paranormal activity, it is clear she doesn’t know to what extent.
There are different types of ghosts. Some are weaker than others which can alter their appearance and also what abilities they have. I also suspect that Niamh and Edie see them differently. The stronger ones, perhaps, are seen the same or nearly the same. I think Edie sees the weaker ones stronger than her mother does. I really enjoyed seeing the little details between the mother and daughter and how their powers differ.
Handling the Plot
Kristina Adams handles and writes the plot really well. Amongst the ghosts is every day life. Niamh is a widow and a divorcee, trying to do the best that she can for her daughter in a world where their secret causes bullying by skeptics if found out. The gift is uncommon (I wouldn’t say rare as 4 people have the gift in a small town – three being Niamh, Edie and Edie’s father before he died). As the gift is uncommon, it makes life difficult for those that have it. Especially love life. Niamh’s divorce—while not a massive part of the plot—surrounds her husband’s scepticism. Edie’s first crush and best friend almost ends their relationship when he discovers the truth. Additionally, Edie is bullied because of her mom’s gift.
I like this. It’s like having a disability. The way it affects the characters, making them socially unaccepted and outcast. There are those that believe in them. Niamh’s childhood best friend being one. That said, I do think Edie’s crush, Josh, forgave her too soon because his mother (Niamh’s best friend) confirmed the gift is real. In the sense that there was no real conflict between them and it was resolved almost instantly. That said, the crush on Josh is a sideline.
I do feel the book does end abruptly though. It’s a series so the story will continue. I’m just not sure if I would have added a bit more. However, when you have written a series, it is hard to know when to finish one book and start the next. I think what makes it feel abrupt is that the ghosts clearly want Edie but no one knows that yet and a bit of confirmation would have made it feel more rounded.
Characterisation in The Ghost’s Call
I thought that most of the characters are really drawn out. Niamh and Edie are stellar protagonists, and their relationships with the other characters are strong.
Edie
I like Edie a lot. As a teenager, she knows her own mind and realising her mother won’t teach her about ghosts, she starts her own journey into who she is and what she can do. A lot of her discovery comes from the help of Josh and a ghost called Tom. There’s a lot that hasn’t been unpacked yet but promised for the other books, which a lot of her development and discovery prepares for.
One of the things that does confuse me though is that Edie doesn’t tell her mom when one of her school bullies is possessed by a ghost. Like, it’s established that only one can live in a body for any length of time… is Edie just going to watch the bully die? Does that make her any better?
Niamh
Niamh is reluctant to start another relationship after her messy divorce. The marriage broke down when he discovered Niamh and Edie’s relationship and she fears entering another just for it to be broken again. However, it is clear that Ben is an interest, and a good one at that. I do kind of wish it wasn’t because they share the same gift, but then I suppose that’s where Josh comes in.
Niamh’s life surrounds protecting her daughter. Part of that is attempting to shield Edie from the ghosts that surface every day. Realising that she cannot stop Edie from interacting with ghosts and vice versa, Niamh has to learn to let go. This is especially true when she realises she needs Edie’s help to save her best friend’s daughter.
Maggie
I love the strong relationship Niamh has with her best friend, Maggie. I have several friends that I grew up with, (2 as a teenager, one as a pre-teen) that have always been there for me and I can imagine always will. We’re talking about the kind of friend where you might not speak for a year or so… and then when you meet again, it’s like nothing has changed. You’re still just as close. This is the vibe that I am getting from Niamh and her friend and it is just beautiful.
Josh
Josh doesn’t have the power of sight. He cannot see a ghost except when his phone camera is pointed at one with thermal imaging on. I think this is why I wish he had a bit more development. Other than Josh, everyone else is rounded—all down to the old neighbour that sticks her oar into other people’s business. But Josh accepts Edie for who she is because his mother confirmed it, and it’s just a little too brushed under the rug for me.
The thermal imaging could have been used to open up his mind more, bring his acceptance to another level rather than: “oh, my mother says you’re telling the truth, so you must be”. However, they do make a good team as they explore the mystery of why several hundred ghosts just rise from the ground.
Ben
Like Josh, Ben doesn’t seem as fully drawn out as he could be. However, this feels more of an intentional thing. Not enough room to develop him out yet, but there will be as the series unfold. There’s nothing about Ben that I think could have been developed more at current, just that he seems relatively simple compared to the drawn out main characters. But again, I think that’s because the author is showing what we needed to know for now and developing him as the series unfolds.
Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed this book and would love to read the rest. Just so I know how Edie is connected to everything going on. Kristina Adams kept me entertained throughout. Now I am invested in how it all plays out. I imagine any fans of The Ghost Whisperer and Medium would love this book. It’s simple tone also helps to make it a quick read without sacrificing the quality of the story.