Unwanted Guest by Gary McPherson
I was so excited to read this book when I first saw it and it did not disappoint. I have been a fan of ghost stories my whole life so when I saw it was about a team of ghost hunters entering an old haunted mansion, I was all in! Just like the ghost hunter team in this story, I got even more than I had bargained for (and in all the best ways).
Unwanted Guest by Gary McPherson is an excellent paranormal/horror thriller that delivers on all fronts. As a lover of ghost stories and a resident of North Carolina myself, I was thrilled to delve into this chilling tale set in the mountains of our state. And I was not disappointed.
The story follows Oliver, the lead investigator for a local ghost-hunting team, as he searches for the one elusive ghost he can never seem to find – his best friend Tracy, who passed away from cancer. As he and his team investigate the Hollister House, a haunted mansion, they stumble upon something unexpected and not at all supernatural – a human trafficking ring. Authorities are called in, the pimp, Juan, disappears, and investigators tell them they have nothing more to worry about.
Now the team believes they can finally return to their ghost hunting, but something demonic seems to be lurking in the small town of Hopewell. Did they get more than they bargained for on this ghost hunt?
The author does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the book, and the pacing is spot-on. The characters are well-developed, and I found myself invested in their journey. The ghost-hunting scenes are especially well-written, and the descriptions of the haunted mansion and its surroundings are vivid and atmospheric.
What sets this book apart from other ghost stories is the addition of a human trafficking ring and the presence of demonic forces and possessions. It adds an extra layer of complexity to the story and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. I love the whole team, love how Oliver is determined to see Tracy again, and I love the conclusion to this great story.
Overall, Unwanted Guest is a gripping and thrilling read that will satisfy any lover of ghost stories. Gary McPherson is a talented author, and I can’t wait to read more from him. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear that he’s fairly local to me. Maybe we can do a meet up one day and I can get a signed copy?!
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