Stevie‘s review of The Spirit Girls (Rylan Flynn Mystery, Book 1) by Dawn Merriman
Paranormal Romantic Suspense published by Second Sky 09 May 23
The premise of this book really appealed to me – Rylan can see spirits and makes a ghost-hunting YouTube series with her best friend, as well as helping the dead move on once the main part of the filming is done. Sadly, the execution let it down. Rylan has an antagonistic relationship with local police officer Ford Pierce, who (understandably, given his profession) doesn’t like Rylan and her friend poking around in potentially dangerous, old buildings. What Rylan interprets as signs of hauntings, Ford possibly views as evidence that the building is about to collapse. Not to mention how he can’t be seen as condoning trespassers.
Away from her filming work, Rylan is haunted, literally and emotionally, by her mother, who was murdered in the house where Rylan still lives. Rylan deals with her unresolved issues around her mother through hoarding, which hit a little close to home, given that I have friends with similar tendencies. I’d have liked to have seen that side of her explored more, though. Rylan has a good relationship with her aunt and often visits when her home life gets to be too much. On one such visit, Rylan encounters the ghost of a murdered girl and feels compelled to investigate, in spite of warnings from Ford and others.
As Rylan’s interference threatens to get close to the truth, the killer leaves evidence from a second murder that directly implicates Rylan’s aunt, giving her even more reasons to get in Ford’s way. It seems pretty clear the author is setting this series up as a slow- burn romance between Rylan and Ford, but little actually happens between them in this book.
There was some pretty dodgy handling of the mental health issues of people-not-Rylan, on the other hand, and I was not at all impressed by the framing of the big reveal towards the end.
Not a series I’ll be following any further.
Grade: D
Summary:
Rylan Flynn has always been able to see what others don’t—the restless spirits haunting Ashby, Indiana. She’s learned to live with her “gift” but sometimes she longs to escape.
The woods have always been a peaceful place for Rylan. But on a visit to her aunt’s cabin, she catches sight of a spirit in the trees. The ghost of a young woman approaches, leading Rylan to her body.
With a flood of horror, Rylan realizes that the girl, Celeste Monroe, has been murdered. An outgoing newcomer to town, Celeste had no enemies. Who on earth would want to see her dead?
When a coin carved with strange symbols is discovered in Celeste’s throat, it’s clear that a twisted, cold-blooded killer is at work.
Rylan’s abilities could be the only way to prevent further deaths. But Ashby’s handsome head detective, Ford Pierce, has made it very clear that he doesn’t want her help.
And any unexplained knowledge of the case could make Rylan the perfect suspect.
When another body is discovered and blood at the scene points to Rylan’s family, she is more determined than ever to uncover the truth. She must race against time to untangle a web of dark secrets… but can she find answers before the murderer claims another victim?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
