Book Review and Givaway: Ghostly Summons by John A Karr

Posted First by Blog Critics as Book Review: Ghostly Summons by John A. Karr

Sometimes in life we choose our own profession. There are numerous reasons for that choice, not always because it is what we love, but because it is what is available. Other times our profession chooses us. These are the professions that those who have them find most interesting.

In Ghostly Summons by John A. Karr, we follow the life and exploits of Lars Kelson. Once a crime reporter, he has put that life behind him.  That was his past, a time in his life when all was crazy. Initially life was good; he had helped the police in their efforts to get the bad guys. All was pretty good with the world.  Then his word had spun out of control after the murder of his son.  Unable to have been there for his own son, he began seeing the ghosts of murder victims. He did not believe in psychic ability so knew that his mind was on a trip to where it might not recover. Choosing to change his career, he took a job that didn’t deal with people. Computers were easy, and the event of ghosts settled into his past.

Or did it? When a beautiful woman shows up in his home, he knows immediately that she is the victim of foul play. Having put his past behind him, it appears that he does not control his destiny, and this ghostly presence will not go away until he helps to reveal the true nature of her death.

Karr has given us and interesting crime reporter sleuth, a person that seems to exude confidence to those around him. The flaw lies in the mind of his protagonist, he is sure he must be on the verge of losing it. This makes mush of the interplay more unique and interesting.  His ghostly partner has her own set of foibles, yet without speech she is hard pressed to really help in any way. Her presence has to be enough to prod him into the search.

As he delves further into the mysterious uncovering of a woman’s body at a bomb site, he finds himself in the cross hairs of a sniper bullet. Knowing from the visitor that shows up when he least expects her, and now with evidence that puts him as risk, he must help to prove that murder really occurred. Can he put her to rest before the rest of his mind takes a hiatus?

If you enjoy paranormal mysteries, you will enjoy this work. The protagonist is interesting and has a interesting take on life. He is tough, and has gone through some very perilous and devastating travails in his own life, which give him a strong character.

This would be a good book for a reading group, and a nice addition to your library.

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John A. Karr's Web Site:
http://www.johnakarr.com/John A. Karr's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JohnAKarr

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John A. Karr's Blog:
http://johnakarr.blogspot.com/John A. Karr's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/Karr

Ghostly Summons' Goodreads:
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Ghostly Summons Book Summary:

Lars Kelsen doesn’t believe in psychic phenomenon. To him, visions of murder victims are a form of mental illness. Once they begin, options are limited; he can try to ignore them or deal with them by exposing a killer. Only the latter provides any semblance of peace. Temporarily, anyway. Five years into his new life as a programmer, Kelsen—ex-crime beat reporter with a penance he can never fully satisfy—sees a victim.

In person. Upright. Staring.

Typical of such past "Visits" as he calls them, he doesn’t welcome this one. The nude form of a beautiful millionairess in his cubicle means murder has come to the vacation haven known as North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It means he’ll have to go places he'd rather avoid. See things he'll wish he hadn’t. Do things that don't come naturally, like in-your-face confrontation and bending the law. Actually, breaking the law ... but with good intent. It also means dealing with one very attractive county coroner, who pushes his buttons in a not entirely unwelcome way.

So begins Kelsen's return to investigative reporting—complete with attempts on his life, fights, deception, and all the technological tricks, such as GPS and computer hacking, at his disposal. And maybe even finding a new love interest.

John A. Karr's Bio:

John A. Karr believes fiction writing each day helps keep the demons at bay. Ghostly Summons is his first full-length novel for Dark Continents Publishing. DCP has also published his Weird West novella, Ujahwek. He is the author of a handful of other novels: Death Clause, Hippocrates Shattered (scheduled for reprint by World Castle Publications as Shattered), Rhone, and Van Gogh, Encore. His short stories have appeared on webzines Allegory, The Absent Willow Review, and Danse Macabre. More works are in progress and in the marketing queue.

Karr is an ardent believer in the quote by Carl Van Doren (1885-1950), U.S. man of letters: Yes, it's hard to write, but it's harder not to.

Format: ebook and paperback
eBook Price: $3.99
Pages: 312
Publisher: Dark Continents Publishing
Release: March 14, 2013

Kindle buy link ($3.99):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BUT38VS?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($3.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostly-summons-john-a-karr/1114842051?ean=2940016384696
Kobo buy link ($3.99):
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Ghostly-Summons/book-bpmT46S2dkKBvBsnJjtGEw/page1.html