Series: Haunts for Sale #2
Whom would you rather be trapped with, crazed killers or the ghosts of their victims? This is a tough choice and a position I would not want to find myself in anytime soon. Sloane Osborne, however did not have a choice. She found herself trapped with both with no visible escape route.
First Contact, the first book in the Haunt for Sale series, tells the story of Sloane Osborne a paranormal real estate agent. Yes, you read right. Her job involves locating haunted houses for persons desirous of owning such properties. Lately, her heart is not into the job as she is searching for a particular ghost that of her fiancé, which she needed to contact as time, was running out. Devastated by his death she sets out on a mission one year and a day later after his death to connect with his spirit. This was her last chance to contact her dead fiancé, and she had until the stroke of midnight to do so. Her search took her to Wisconsin and found more than she bargained for. She found herself caught up in the middle of a murder investigation, which ultimately placed her at the mercy of deranged killers and the tormented spirits of their victims.
The Story
When I received this book for review, I had no idea what to expect. Now on completion I must confess I was pleasantly surprised. First Contact was an entertaining and unique story, which held my attention from beginning to the end. The concept was intriguing, and I eagerly dived in to discover more about this unique profession. The chill factor intensified as the story progressed. The ghosts Sloane encountered are creepy enough to scare you witless and the killers will make your skin crawl. Great combination for a horror story.
The mystery arc was disappointing, which was due in part to the identity of the killers being revealed early into the story. However, the suspense and the chill factor made up for it.
I enjoyed the flashbacks, which revealed the depth of feelings, Sloane and Michael had for each other. Their love for each other ran deep and so I understood why she had difficulty letting go.
The ending was a letdown. Not that the story was not resolved, but given all that had transpired I was expecting the ending to be dramatic.
The Characters
Of the two protagonists, Sloane is the most relatable. She is mourning the loss of her fiancée and even though a year has passed since his death, the pain was still raw. I could relate to her pain and I understood her need to connect with her fiancée’s spirit, not that I would do something like that. (As far as I am concerned, the dead should remain just that, dead.) She is stubborn, feisty and brave. Her stubborn nature placed her in this chilling situation.
Jonah, a friend of Sloane and Michael. He is an FBI agent and has the ability to see ghosts. Based on how he treats Sloane, one can see that he cares deeply for her. He would do anything to keep her safe, which includes protecting her from psychotic killers. Although I had sufficient information to help me understand the type of person Jonah is, I could not connect with him. I believe it had to do with him not getting as much focus as Sloane.
The villains played their part well. Despite, their evil actions and appearance one cannot help admire the manner in which they executed their plans.
Conclusion/Recommendation
First Contact is chilling and unique story. If you enjoy horror stories, then may want to try this book. I cannot wait to see what net is in store for Sloane and Jonah.
Sloane Osborne is a paranormal realtor in the business of selling haunted houses but, in truth, she’s only searching for one ghost.And her time is running out. It’s the 366th day after her fiancé’s death. Michael used to like putting things off for “a year and a day”—so tonight’s the night.
Sloane will do anything to make contact with him before the clock strikes midnight. When she gets a call to check out a home in Waukesha, Wisconsin, it’s the last place she thinks Michael would contact her. Sloane is dead wrong.
