Eve: A Christmas Ghost Story (Psychic Surveys)

Eve: A Christmas Ghost Story:A Psychic Surveys Prequel. Author Shani Struthers.I came across Eve: A Christmas Ghost Story while checking my Facebook feeds and was very much drawn in by the book’s cover. It reminded me of an old spooky photograph that had been found in a forgotten place. So I thought why not give this book a try. I’m really glad I did. The story of those who died and was still holding on in the spirit world was heartbreaking. This book was also packed with very heavy emotions. And the character in this book were really captivating and leapt off each page. It’s very easy to get lost in each ones back story and feelings throughout.The story itself is about Theo and Ness as they are asked to help in the town of Thorpe Morton, where years back a tragic advent took place at a Christmas party for miners and their families that left many people dead and the survivors and generations after with hurt, grief and anger. Now Theo and Ness has to spiritually battle against the darkness and lead those who are still afraid past the flames of their death and in to the light of the life after. Will they be able to help everyone before Christmas is over? Or will those souls still be stuck in a loop of fear and sadness? Read this emotional, but gripping book to find out.I was in tears by the end, especially the scenes with Harriet, Edna and Ruth. They were really well written and each scene was very easy to picture in my mind. I could also feel the emotion of what was happening to them all. I thought Edna was quite a character. I loved how she spoke and her quiet, misunderstood way about her. I also loved the friendship between Theo and Ness, and the way Theo when dealing with the dark energy that a lot of the time fed into her fear of spiders did in the end see them in a much more harmless light.If you have a strong phobia of spiders this book may not be for you. As it does have quite a few spidery type scenes.The end of this book was so emotional and a little unexpected, but wrapped most things up nicely, although I hope there will be another book that answers the question I felt this book left me with by the end…I would recommend this book if you enjoy reading stories with spirits and the supernaturally. And like great character with emotional scenes, mixed with hope that one day they would all find their happiness and be able to move on.

I read this book after Book one when the characters were still developing.One thing that I find a little unbelievable is that two characters travel to a destination and stay at a bed and breakfast/hotel at Christmas, without knowing that they will be paid for services or expenses. They were invited by just one resident of a ex-mining community so who was paying their expenses or was it a busmans holiday?The story was one of a tragic history based on a true story of a fire in Calumet, Michigan in 1913 in which 70 people died, known as "The Italian Disaster". Taking an historic story based in the US and bringing it to a town in the UK keeps the story alive and the people remembered. The fact that it is based on history makes it that bit more tragic.I thoroughly enjoyed this a short story, a prequel to the main story.

As an avid reader I am constantly looking for books to add to my extensive range of authors. I came across Shani Struthers whilst flicking through Amazon - the cover catching my eye immediately. After clicking on the "look inside" button and reading the first few pages - I was hooked!The characters and events are completely believable, making it a compelling read, and I was instantly transported to Thorpe Morton with Ness and Theo wanting to help them solve the towns haunting's born from a tragedy 100 yrs ago.This is a "cant put down" book - one you can't wait to finish but sad when you do!!I am relishing in he fact that Shani has published several books, all of which I can't wait to read.I have already purchased two more of her books - The Haunting of Highdown Hall (Psychic Surveys Book One) and The Venetian (This Haunted World Book One). They are beckoning me from my book shelf (keeping for my holiday read - if I can hold out that long!)It's a shame you can't find Shani's books in the high street, for those without internet access, but trust me - this doesn't deflect from the fact that sge is a first rate author of addictive, compelling books.

This Christmas ghost story has a tragic and potentially atmospheric backdrop. The week before Christmas 1999 two psychic researchers are called upon to investigate ghostly goings on in a small town in Yorkshire where, a century before, on Christmas Eve 1899, 59 people, including many children, were crushed to death trying to escape from a building after a false cry of "fire". I say "potentially" atmospheric, as I found the first half of this novel flat and lacking in atmosphere, with the characters two dimensional and the narrative lacking excitement. Things picked up in the second half, with more tense action and moments of pathos, though there were still unexplained points: just who cried false fire and why? The potential explanation given early on here makes little sense. I found the two leading characters uninteresting, and indeed, the ghost characters had the better parts to my mind. So, overall, not as good as it might be. This is a prequel to a trilogy of novels about this ghost-hunting pair, but I am not sure I will trouble to read those.