Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison [Review]

4 out of 5 Robots!

  

Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release: February 12, 2013
Hardcover:  336 Pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

They say first love never dies...

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself. 

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

I'm not sure why I put off reading this for so long (I'm sorry publisher!), but I found it to be a pretty compelling ghost/murder mystery story.  Olivia discovers that she is in love with her best friend Lucas (Stern) when they share a kiss.  But a week later, Stern is dead and Olivia's schizophrenic mother is the main suspect.  Olivia, a promising artist, can no longer see in color and drops out of her prestigious art school.  Fast forward a year later and Olivia is struggling.  She attends a regular high school and lives with her dad and his fiance.  Her mother's arraignment in just a few weeks.  Olivia is on a path for self-destruction when a near drowning brings Stern back into her life.  Olivia fears that she is developing schizophrenia like her mother.  But as Stern begins to appear more often, he brings a message that maybe her mother isn't guilty after all.

I really enjoyed how this book was written.  It had just enough tension and pain without wallowing in it.  Olivia is a tough, but caring girl who is dealt a truly bad hand but she grows a lot throughout this book too.  In fact, the devices the author uses of Olivia's colorblindness and Stern's ghost aren't really needed.  The story could stand well on its own.  I actually did not figure out what really happened until almost the same time as Olivia.  Major kudos to the author for that!

If you like mysteries or ghost stories, I recommend checking out this book!  It is a quick, compelling read with some interesting twists. 

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.  All thoughts and views are my own.