Rylan Flynn can see ghosts. She can speak to them. And she can help them move to the light. But when one ghost directs Rylan to her body and tries to tell her who killed her, Rylan insists on finding the killer even if it puts her in danger.
The Spirit Girls is a paranormal murder mystery set in America.
I loved the premise of the book and the main character Rylan. She has a YouTube channel in which she goes ghost hunting but it is her gift and kindness that make her easy to like. She is led through the forest by a ghost of a young woman until they come across the victim’s body. Rylan want to use her gift to help solve the case but things get more complicated…
Rylan’s situation with her mother simmers in the background (no spoilers!) and there is a romantic tension with police officer Ford Pierce. Neither of them are ready to confront their feelings for each other but I’m hopeful that there will be future books and they’ll let their hearts lead them together. For now though, they are at loggerheads over the murder investigation that he is leading and she is involved in.
The book is written from various first person perspectives including the killer. This adds a sinister edge to the plot developments as we anticipate their next act. However, the majority is from Rylan’s viewpoint with Ford a close second which helps us get to know and like these two main characters.
On a personal level, I loved how the author married together ghosts and religion in a way which reflects my own beliefs. There are some clever twists surrounding ghost lore and interactions with characters. I was less keen on the conclusion of the book and the reveal of the killer along with their final act as I felt it was a bit predictable. There is plenty of potential for future books and unresolved personal issues for Rylan to act upon.
The Spirit Girls is a gripping book with a strong lead character.
“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.
Author Bio
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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