Ghost

A John Spector Novel, Volume 1

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

Narrated by: Brandon McKernan

Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Protector and punisher…

Hunter and hunted…

Down-to-earth and otherworldly…

John Spector, aka GHOST, isn’t your ordinary investigator.

He carries a shiny badge, a billfold ID, and a mysterious silver suitcase. His mission? Seek the forgotten ones, the abandoned ones, the ones no one else can or will help. Visit blunt force trauma upon the world’s blackest souls and deny the devil his day by any means necessary. And never stop. Never.

For more than a decade, the "Smiling Jack" killer has been posting photos of his victims on the Web, daring anyone to catch him, daring anyone to care. But when no missing person files match and no victims are ever found, the FBI closes the case.

Years later, a digital camera washes up on shore, and GHOST finds it. Each macabre photo becomes a clue that will lead GHOST and FBI Special Agent Deanna Rezvani on the trail of one of the most diabolical killers of this world…or beyond.

"No one gets away with murder. Not for long."

NOTE: This audiobook is intended for mature reading audiences. The appropriate listener age is: 16+

©2013 Wayne Thomas Batson (P)2014 Wayne Thomas Batson

A very compelling story

What made the experience of listening to Ghost the most enjoyable?

The story was engaging and the narration was easy to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ghost?

I enjoyed the story as it unfolded and secrets were revealed.

Have you listened to any of Brandon McKernan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first by Brandon McKernan

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I look forward to the other books in the series.

Get ready to meet a new kind of superhero

Some call him 'Ghost', a few call him 'Horseman', he is on assignment in Florida to find a serial killer. He carries a silver case with fantastic tools but no cell phone. His detective work is familiar to Phillip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Inspector Linley, and Kinsey Milhone, as well as the FBI and local law enforcement. But he is dramatically different from all of them. Just ask FBI Special Agent Deanna Rezvani, some crooks, and a whole lot of supernatural bad guys. See the publisher's summary for more hints. No spoilers here. I was fortunate to get this one super cheap courtesy of Book Gorilla, but it is worth real money. Excellent imagery and characterization make this a fine urban fantasy with a twist.
Brandon gives a remarkable performance with just the right touch.
Hope that there are more John Spector books coming soon!

If you like urban fantasy, this is a must!

Would you listen to Ghost again? Why?

I would listen to Ghost again, and I have, multiple times. The story itself is perfectly structured, with the suspense flowing seamlessly into character revelation. The action and dialogue were of the utmost quality. I am a long time fan of urban fantasy, and this was no disappointment.

What other book might you compare Ghost to and why?

Ghost belongs alongside urban fantasy greats, especially the Dresden Files and the Iron Druid Chronicles. As a Christian, I deeply appreciated a Christian author who was unafraid to venture into dangerous territory. I read a lot of books considered evil by Christian standards, and to see a Christian author write a story like this, with incredible action and fantasy but not compromising any moral standards, was an encouragement to me.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was the weak point of this book. His delivery felt unnatural to the tone of the book, and his voices often did not fit the characters he portrayed. To be fair, however, I listened to this after I had listened to the Dresden Files audiobooks. James Marsters is nearly incomparable as a narrator, especially in that series. So I probably had my expectations set too high.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Multiple points in this book made me laugh out loud. It is not a terribly emotional book, but neither is it straight action/fantasy with no depth. It has incredible moral points and discussions, along with incredible characters of depth and personality.

Any additional comments?

Anybody who loves urban fantasy should love this novel, and ought to give it a try. It is definitely in my library of greats, and likely to stay there. I cannot wait to read the second one, if it ever comes out.

Brandon made this book come alive! Great book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes-great story and even better audio. Brandon becomes each character.

Would you be willing to try another book from Wayne Thomas Batson? Why or why not?

Yes only if Brandon McKernan has narrated the book. He has such a easy listening sound.

Which scene was your favorite?

When I figured out that Ghost was an angel

Appealing Plot

I read reviews before I started listening to this. A lot of reviewers said the author, Wayne T. Batson, was heavy-handed with his pro-life message. I disagree. That's like saying Dickens was preachy when Scrooge renounced materialism. Chapters 40-41 present some coherent arguments for women's rights. Though there is a clear call to evaluate abortion from a life-valuing viewpoint, the work is not without nuance--it's art with a message, not a club. Even pro-choice readers can enjoy this book as it will give them the opportunity to understand those who hold opposing viewpoints. The pro-life message is often censored from the media--so evaluate this author as a person of courage; he won't disappoint. The work could become a platform for thoughtful discussion.

On to the plot--I enjoyed that Ghost had human and supernatural foes; the author kept the action and pace of the story electric. I found Ghost's use of money interesting twist. At first I was annoyed with the silver case, but I grew fond of it by the end of the story. I did wish the FBI was a tad smarter.

The performance was strong, especially in the John Spector persona. Some of the accents were overdone, but not so bad as to cause cringes. He also did a great job with Smiling Jack's character--to give more detail will spoil the plot. Since I listen while doing housework, I very much appreciated Brandon McKernan's clear enunciation. I NEVER had to replay to understand what was going on.

Overall this book is a solid addition to the urban fiction genre. I'm hoping there's a book 2. I like John Spector.

******Amazing ****

What an incredible original strong moral story.
It left me and my older teenage boys having discussions for a while.
It reminded me to not forget
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Not for young listeners

Just Wow!

When you don’t want a story to end… that is what it was like listening to this novel. I truly hope WTB is able to get book 2 funded and written soon. I am a huge fan of crime novels. This is a mixture of mystery and mayhem that keeps you listening. I almost didn’t go to bed last night because I didn’t want to pause the book lol. I don’t want to give any spoilers but honestly I was kept on my toes trying to figure this one out. I did not know how it was going to end and to me, that is what great writing is about. Well done my friend. Well done.

Awesome!

I loved it! Watson didn't disappoint. This has been his best work so far. Incredible!

I Loved This Book. Can't Wait for the Next One!

I really enjoyed this book and the audiobook just made it that much more enjoyable.

The narrator was perfect for this book!

The chemistry between John Spectre, aka Ghost aka Horseman, and FBI Special Agent Reznazi,aka Rez, was fantastic.

When a pro-choice serial killer known as Smiling Jack reappears after a four year hiatus, Ghost and Rez team up to track the killer down before he kills again. Rez's goal is to stop these killings and bring the killer to justice. Ghost, on the other hand, is seeking a more permanent and lethal end to the killer.

At first the FBI refuses to reopen the Smiling Jack case believing it to be a hoax. However, when a body turns up in Florida this time they can no longer deny that Smiling Jack is real, and they must take the case seriously if they are to catch the killer. Rez is pulled from the investigation that she started on her own time, and Ghost is threatened with federal jail time unless he backs off the case and lets the FBI handle things from here on out.

None of this stops Ghost and Rez from doing whatever they have to do to catch the killer. There are some supernatural events that slow Ghost down and make his life more difficult, but in the end Ghost overcomes all obstacles.

Brandon McKernan does a wonderful job as narrator. Only one time did I hear him mispronounce a word that I thought was a rather common word. His timing and pacing were very nearly perfect for this story. I never had a problem keeping up with who was doing the talking in any conversation. I think that I have found a new narrator to love.

Exciting supernatural adventure

Loosely based on Christian cosmology Wayne Thomas Batson writes a compelling supernatural adventure. Batson does an excellentjob of not reaviling too much too soon and keeps you hooked throughout the adventure.

Warnings: Not for children. Some possible trigger warnings regarding abussive situations (physical, mental, verbal) as well as hostage (kidnapping, trafficking) situations are depicted.