The Spirit Girls by Dawn Merriman is the first book in the Rylan Flynn paranormal mystery series. The story introduces readers to a young woman who possesses the ability to see spirits whom she helps to crossover the other side. Merriman delivered an interesting and suspenseful tale which will have readers flipping the pages.
“Where are you taking me?” Rylan follows the figure through the trees. The girl’s dark ponytail swings as she turns back, then walks on without answering. Deep in the woods, she disappears… and Rylan finds her body, mouth wide in a silent, final plea for help. 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? A heart-pounding mystery with a touch of romance, The Spirit Girls begins a new series of paranormal thrillers that are impossible to put down. If you love urban fantasy or psychic thrillers by Heather Graham and Wendy Wang, this book will grab you from the first page and never let go. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: The Spirit Girls
Author(s): Dawn Merriman
Series: Rylan Flynn #1
Also in this series: The Shadow Girls , The Whisper House , The Haunted Child, The River Ghost
Narrator(s): Stephanie Cannon
Published by Hachette UK - Second Sky on May 9, 2023
Pages: 201
Length: 5 hours 48 minutes
Genre(s): Mystery, Paranormal
Source: Publisher
Format: ALC, eArc 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: 
Series Rating: 
Narrated from multiple POVs from Rylan to the villain, The Spirit Girls delivered a light, engaging and quick read. It weaves together the perfect blend of paranormal, witchcraft, mystery and religious themes. It reminded to some extent of the television show, The Ghost Whisperer.
In all her encounters with spirits, she never encountered ones seeking her help to find out who murdered them until now. The police, aware of her claims as a ghost hunter, warned her away from the case. She, however, decides to conduct her own investigation. A decision which places her in the killers’ crosshairs.
The Spirit Girls read like a young adult story, even though most of the characters were definitely over twenty-one. Despite the young adult vibe, I found the story engaging and the characters interesting. Rylan’s family is aware of her gift, however not all of them willingly acknowledges same. She also faces ridicule from some of the townspeople. She doesn’t let it bother her though and besides she has acquired a a lot of followers on her YouTube Channel.
The story hinted at the possibility of a romance between Rylan and the lead detective. Their attraction to each other was clear, but the author chose not to explore it. Hopefully, the upcoming books will deliver on this.
Overall, an enjoyable read and a great start to a series, which will appeal to fans of mystery combined with paranormal elements.
Stephanie Cannon narrated this delightful tale. Although this was my first experience with her narration, I would listen to her again. She delivered a solid performance by bringing the story and characters to life.
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About Stephanie Cannon
A dedicated and professional US voice, you’ll feel a special spark working with me. I’ve been in love with storytelling since I was little. I studied acting at University and now work across voiceover, theatre, film and television, which really is a dream come true. I bring passion (and decades of experience) to each project I undertake, whether the story is told through voiceover, narration or physical performance. My clients receive a positive and professional creative experience, speedily delivered in high quality audio from my home studio. I bring copy to life with clarity and friendliness, but also have the skills to keep listeners engaged in even the most technical of scripts. When I’m not chatting with the many voices in my head, you’ll find me swimming, hiking and travelling the world. I also care deeply about the environment, so you’ll usually find me happily cycling from home to your studio.
About Dawn Merriman
Dawn Merriman writes creepy small town murder mysteries from her small farm in northeast Indiana where she lives with her husband and teenage children. You can often find her with muck boots on her feet and a story in her head. She enjoys animals, auctions, snorkeling and archaeology. Dawn Merriman grew up a small town farm girl, on a small time pig farm in Indiana. She spent her young adulthood sitting on her bedroom floor scribbling stories in notebooks. She won the “Northeast Indiana Young Writers” award as a sophomore in high school. After battling severe depression, she wrote her debut novel “How Murder Saved My Life” as therapy, mixing her love of murder mysteries and farming with climbing out of the darkness of illness.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
I love a fun paranormal read. And this sounds like a quick read, which is exactly what I need right now. 😀
That sounds like it has a slightly creepy feel to it. Sounds good though and I like the cover.
This sounds intriguing and I’ve enjoyed her other series.