The Book: Unwanted Ghost

The Author: Maer Wilson

The Story: Thulu & La Fi have inherited an old, furnished Victorian. What they weren’t expecting was that the furnishings included a ghost.

Usually the Thulukans are happy to take on supernatural clients for their detective agency. But there’s something about Darla Redding that bothers La Fi – and with good reason. They discover that Darla has a much darker past than hinted at by her “normal” life. She’s definitely not a ghost they want haunting them. So, if they want to be rid of their unwelcome house ghost, Thulu and La Fi need to solve her murder.

Unwanted Ghost is the second prequel novelette to Relics in the Modern Magics series.

About Maer Wilson:

After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she’s a writer.

She’s always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard.

When she’s not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. She also co-hosts the literary podcast MythBehaving. Maer lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her three dogs, a chihuahua and two poodles.

Maer is the author of MODERN MAGICS, a series that chronicles what happens when magic returns to present-day Earth. There are currently three books in the series: RELICS, PORTALS, and MAGICS. There are also four prequel novelettes.

Review by Thomas Baker:

This short story is a fast read. There are no wasted words; everything is in its place. It is as if author Maer Wilson knows you are reading this book on your coffee break, and you need to be finished in 25 to 30 minutes. I finished in 21 minutes.

It is extremely well written, grabbing your attention right from the first sentence and holding it to the last one. Let me quote here the first sentence: (quote) “The dead woman bounced off the walls like a demented dervish, shrieking and moaning.” (end of quote) As you can see, if you read that sentence, it is impossible not to keep reading. You must find out what the problem is. And then this book is so well written that you keep reading until you read this sentence: (quote) “You can go into the light now.”

That’s when you go on to finish the rest of the book, or as in my case, you begin to reflect. You see, despite the enjoyable story you are reading, there is a bit more there, between the lines, if you care to tease it out.

You can reflect on who is the more sympathetic person: A. an attempted rapist, B. his murderer, or C. the rapist’s avenging girlfriend, or D. none of the above. You could also just finish your coffee and go back to work…

Again, this is an enjoyable, intriguing story that will give you something to think about. “You can go into the Light now.” Highly recommended.

Review by Louann Carroll:

Unwanted Ghost is a well-written short story, a novelette if you will, that includes Relics characters, Thulu and La Fi Thulukan. The Thulukan’s meet in college, La Fi can see and hear ghosts, while Thulu can ‘find’ things and sees ghosts, but cannot hear them. They marry and set up shop as Paranormal Detectives whose only clients are ghosts in need of assistance. They are paid by the things La Fi and Thulu find, like boxes in the walls containing ????? And dead bodies found ?????

One of their payments comes by way of an inheritance. An old Victorian replete with dust, bugs and mysterious beings that go bump in the night. Which is how they meet the ghost who haunts the Victorian and refuses to leave. One of the agreements La Fi and Thulu make is that they will NOT bring their work home from the office. Which means only one thing. They have to find the murderer of this Unwanted Ghost.

Unwanted Ghost is a great read, short and fun, and easy on the eyes. The writing is wonderfully paced and you will soon lose yourself in a sweet little book that is well worth the time and the money. Just don’t expect to know (at least right away) what the hidden box contains or how the body down the street got there!